Christianity, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Immaculate Conception of Mary, is it logically and theoretically possible? My answer is yes. And the truth.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you”. (Luke 1:26-28)

There has been the debate about Mary’s status, particularly on two points. The conception and her perpetual virginity. Today, we will look at the first point. It is the theology of the Holy Catholic Church, that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin. The original sin spoken of in this regard is the consequence of the sin of Adam in Eden. ‘Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:’ (Romans 5:12) For the understanding of this article, it means the desire or propensity to sin.

All people are born with a propensity to sin, once they reach the understanding what right and wrong are. One first has to know what is a sin. In simple terms, sin is any action, word, or thought that goes against the will and commands of God. Sin we are born into a fallen world, we have that propensity to do what is right to us. So looking at what sin is, comes the discussion on whether Mary could have been conceived without that original stain.

We will look at scripture and definition to determine, not if she was but if it is theoretically possible. To definitively say if she was (which is the way my belief leans) starts the discussion off with a loss of ability to make a true presentation. The purpose of this article is to make the reader at least come to the conclusion that it is a possibility. Non-Catholics, in general, say a definitive no. Catholics speak with a definitive yes. Both disallow for a truly open discussion.

Scripture says that all have sinned. ‘For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;’ (Romans 3:23) So, to make clear, this statement is not in dispute. So then the question. If all have sinned, how can she be conceived without sin? And the understanding by most Christians that only Jesus himself was conceived and born without sin.That understanding is bionically wrong. Scripture shows three were born without sin. Jesus, God in flesh definitely was since He is God. So who are the other two?

Adam and Eve of course. But you may say, they were created from the dirt and you would be right. But look at the wording about them and then look in anther book of scripture.’And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul’. (Genesis 2:7) ‘And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man’. (Genesis 2:21-22) In these two passages, we see that man is created and given life through the breath of God. This is echoed in David ‘I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well’. (Psalm 139:14) These passages show conception as being made and the breathe of life would be birth. So keep that in mind. Adam and Eve were made (conceived) prior to having the breath of life (birth).

They were made (conceived) sinless. Sin didn’t enter into their being until the whole fruit incident. ‘Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat’. (Genesis 3:1-13)

Now that scripture has shown that Adam and Eve began with no sin, it sets one perimeter of discussion. The knowledge that Jesus was not the only one in the history of man to be born in a sinless state. While Adam and Eve were sinless at the beginning, they still weren’t perfect. Only Jesus was perfect, the whole being God part. The other perimeter for this discussion is God being sovereign. The first understanding of this is the fact He created everything that came into existence. (Genesis) The second understanding of His sovereignty is that He is in charge. ‘Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases’. (Psalm 115:3)

Now, we will look at the greeting by Gabriel. Full of grace. Full, by definition (it has two as an adjective in how it is used in the passage). 1) containing or holding as much as possible; having no empty space. 2) not lacking or omitting anything; complete. Grace, the Greek word used in the original form is ‘charis’. The definition of charis is: divine favor and the gift of salvation. So by definition, Full of Grace means Mary had been given as much divine favor and salvation as she needed. Sinless. That does not mean she no longer has the ability to sin. It means she did not have the desire or will to sin.

So at this point, I can hear the statement, ‘that does not mean she was conceived without sin’. But it also does not prove she wasn’t. Scripture shows us to normal human beings that were born without (created) without sin, since sin was not present at their creation. That combined with the fact, the angel Gabriel said she was Full of Grace, shows that she had all the grace she needed. And the final fact of God’s sovereignty to do as He wills. Unless one knows the mind of God, which one doesn’t. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts’. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Is anyone in the real position to say she was not conceived and born without original sin? Are you willing to place your understanding against the Sovereign God doing what He wants? So historically, logically and theoretically it is possible. I’ll ask when I get there.

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Human Right, immigration, Theology, Uncategorized

AVOID THE SCARIEST VERSE IN SCRIPTURE

Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I was listening to a video that said that this passage is normal glossed over in many of the modern Christian pulpits today. And truth be told, the ones that I have attended over the last few years did not speak on it much. And if they did, it was only as a prelude to a sermon that ultimately allowed for sin. They would use it to lead into verses like Matthew 7:1 ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged’ and Matthew 22:39 ‘And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.Both of which are generally taken out of context. But that is for another article.

In verse 21 above, it states that the ones who will make it to eternal glory (heaven) are those that DO the Lord’s will. That little two letter word is the hangup for many Christians. That DO in the verse means there is work to be done.Both spiritual and physical. And I can here the screams now quoting Sola Fidei ‘Faith alone’ which in being saved by the sacrifice of Christ is true. But They neglect many areas of the Gospels and Epistles (and the Old Testament).

To understand verse 21, you must look at the preceding verses. Matthew 7:15-20 ‘Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them’.

Know them by their fruits. Doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. If anyone has worked in agriculture, planted a garden, or done a plant based science project in school, one thing is certain. The fruit does not come by faith but through work. Having a seed and having faith it will produce will not make it produce. The ground has to be readied (plowed, fertilized), the seed has to be planted and tended. Then the fruit comes to bear. As the physical is a mirror of the spiritual, Jesus gave us the parable of the sower and the seed. The physical: Mark 4:1-8 ‘And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred’.The spiritual: Mark 4:14-20 ‘The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred’.

Now that we have linked the two sets of verses as they should be, let us look at what the fruits are and what they produce. Looking at these will give one a full understanding of the text. Because too many pastors and christians today take a verse, usually out of context, and make a sermon that has nothing to do with the context that is required to understand the verse.

The parable above discusses the process of planting in various soils. So let us first look at the fruits of the world, sowed by the devil (Satan) and see what they produce. Galatians 5:19-21 ‘Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God’. So, this is the fruits that lead to the second death because God said He does not know those who do the opposite of God’s will.

Now, to do God’s will, we look at the fruits that the Holy Spirit help instill in the hearts and minds of the redeemed. Galations 5:22-26 ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another’.

So you may ask, if one has these fruits, what does it mean for us to do? These are split into two categories. Jesus says they are the two greatest commandments. Matthew 22:34-40 ‘But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”What Jesus did in this passage was regive the Ten Commandments in abbreviated form. The first set of four Commandments are how we related to God. (I have articles on my page about these if you wish to study further). The second set of six commandments are how we relate to our fellow man, and that is where the fruits come into play. Exodus 20:12-17 ‘Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s’.

The fruits of the Spirit, mentioned above, are seen in the way we do God’s will toward our fellow man. As I said previously, they are both spiritual and physical. Some call them the works of mercy. Some call them being the hands of God. However one chooses to term it, it is the meaning behind the writings of James in his epistles James 2:14-24 ‘What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only’.

Spiritual

Counsel the doubtful:
Mark 4:10-20
Mark 9:14-29
John 14:27
Instruct the ignorant:
Matthew 28:19-20
John 20:21
Admonish sinners:
Proverbs 27:17
Luke 15:7, 10
Luke 17:3
Comfort the afflicted:
Psalms 9:8-11; 22:23-27; 27:4-5; 30:2-4; 46:2
Psalms 55:22; 56; 71:20-22; 116; 119:49-50
Isaiah 40:1-11
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Lamentations 3:21-24, 31-33
Nahum 1:7-8
Matthew 11:28-30
John 14:15-18, 27
John 16:20-23
1 Peter 5:6-11
Revelation 21:4
Forgive offences:
Mark 11:25
Matthew 6:14-15
Matthew 18:15-35
Luke 11:1-4
Luke 17:1-4
Bear patiently those who do us ill:
Matthew 5:38-48
Luke 6:27-36
1 Peter 2:18-25
Pray for the living:
Philippians 1:3-5
Colossians 1:3

Corporal (Physical)

Feed the hungry:
Proverbs 22:9 – “The generous will be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”
2 Kings 4:42-44 – “A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing the man of God twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” / But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred?” Elisha again said, “Give it to the people to eat, for thus says the LORD: You will eat and have some left over.” / He set it before them, and when they had eaten, they had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.”
Luke 3:11 – [John the Baptist preaches to the crowds]: “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Jesus Feeds the 5000 – Mark 6:30-44; Matt 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14
Jesus Feeds the 4000 – Mark 8:1-10; Matt 15:32-39
Give drink to the thirsty:
Isaiah 55:1 – “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, buy grain and eat; Come, buy grain without money, wine and milk without cost!”
John 7:37-38 – On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. / Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.'”
Revelation 21:6b – “To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.”
Revelation 22:17b – “Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.”
Clothe the naked:
Luke 15:22 (Parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son) – “But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.”
Welcome the stranger:
Ezekiel 47:21-23 –“You shall divide this land according to the tribes of Israel. / You shall allot it as heritage for yourselves and for the resident aliens in your midst who have fathered children among you. You shall treat them like native Israelites; along with you they shall receive a heritage among the tribes of Israel. / In whatever tribe the resident alien lives, there you shall assign his heritage– oracle of the Lord GOD.”
Heal the sick:
Luke9:1-2 – “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.”
Visit the imprisoned:
Hebrews 13:1-3 – “Let mutual love continue. / Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. /
Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body.”
Bury the dead:
Acts 5:6 – And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

These are the works of God that go with our faith. These, done in a right mind, heart, and spirit that are aligned with GOD, will keep you from hearing Matthew 7:23.

Christianity, Current events, faith, Human Right, Uncategorized

CHURCH IN NEED

The other day, I was contacted by Pastor Emmanuel Mezu with a request for aid for his church, The Vessel Of The Lord’s Assembly International in Nigeria. Here is the request and reason in his words.

Please permit me to explain a little bit of our Ministry’s present condition:

For a long time now, our Ministry has been operating as a Fellowship in my compound, even before we were advised by the Government to register it with them, through their Corporate Affairs Commission, hence we are duly registered with the Federal Government of Nigeria as THE VESSEL OF THE LORD’S ASSEMBLY INTERNATIONAL. Note, this Certificate can be verified through your embassy here in Nigeria.

Since after the registration in 2018, we are yet to operate as a church because of the stipulated rules and regulations guiding the estate where I live, and that is where we do our fellowship on every Thursday. The rules and regulations was that, there will be no church nor mosques in the community in other to avoid such incident that happened in the past (Religious Clash). But, as a fellowship we were allowed only on Thursday and between the hours of 9:00Am to 12:00Noon.

Now, to your question; early last month, the estate management came and gave us a quit notice, and we demanded to know why, and they said that our numbers has grown so much that they cannot allow us to continue in the estate, but advised that we should relocate out of the estate. And considering the timing of the notice, after going through the Christian Leaders alliance Minister Directory, I deemed it fit to contact you for help on how to get a place outside the estate. During our last week’s Thursday program, the estate management came and which I saw as an embarrassment when our new converts left in anger. Please, we need your assistance at this time because we do not want to lose both our new and old members.

Beloved brother, it might sound strange for us to ask that you to send us money when you do not know us, but no, we would rather ask, if you really want to assist raise the money to either buy a land or building for us, you can arrange with your consulate here in Nigeria, so that they can invite us to meet with them in their office with all proves. Though, your professional advise is highly needed here, because I know that it takes process. Or if you would be willing to either come or send a representative that can help to oversea all.

And finally, you may wish to checkout some of our activities through Facebook, YouTube or google for your scrutiny.

Yours in service.

Pastor Emmanuel.

While I do not have the personal funding for his mission and request, I do reach out to others in hopes that God will use His people to aid this church in need. Below are pictures and verification of his church. If you have the ability, or can forward this to someone who does, I pray that you will.

This is his contact information:

Pastor Emmanuel Mezu

Leader, The Vessel Of The Lord’s Assembly International

Resident/Church addresses:

House 1, D Close Home Foundation Estate Lagos Nigeria.

Tel/WhatsApp: +2348020925724

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Human Right, Theology, Uncategorized

Four Leadership Positions of Christ

This week’s article is on four distinct areas of ancient Israel and the transfer of those functions to Jesus Christ. John 1:1-14 already tell us that Jesus is God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14)

Now, during the phases of Faith and Government of ancient Israel, we see each position of ancient Israel’s leadership in Christ.

First was the priesthood. We see this foreshadowed in Genesis after Abraham rescued his people that had been taken captive. ‘And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God’. (Genesis 14:18) Remember this because it will appear later. Then after the Exodus, Aaron the Levite (Tribe of Levi) and his lineage become the priestly class, when God alone headed the Israelites. This consecration of Aaron (and his descendants) came after the incident with the golden calf and the giving of God’s law in the Commandments. ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office’. (Exodus 40:1-13)

Second were the judges. These were a few individuals that then led the Israelites. We are given a few names and Samson being one of the most remembered. And there was a female in the group as well. Not that women hold a position of leadership in the church, they were used by God for specific purposes. For a period of 40 years (from Joshua to the time of the first king), Judges were either military leaders or advisors. ‘Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them’. (Judges 2:16)

Third were the Kings. Israel looked around and saw that the other nations had a king to guide them. They wanted to be as other nations (to their detriment) and not be ruled solely by God or guided by the judges. ‘And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh; And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands’. (1 Samuel 10:17-19)And Saul was set as the first King of Israel. ‘And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel. Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly’. (1 Samuel 11:12-15)

Fourth were the prophets. These extend through the ages of all of the history of Israel. Moses being the first of the Old Testament prophets and John being the last of the Old Testament prophets. One must remember that Testament means Covenant. The New Testament (Covenant) did not start with birth of Jesus. It started with the proclamation of the last Old Covenant prophets John. ‘And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God’. (John 1:19-34) Jesus himself was the only prophet of the New Testament (Covenant). His prophecies came through various parts of His teachings. Most were of His death and resurrection ‘Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said’. (John 2:18-22), His placement with the Father and second coming ‘Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven’. (Matthew 26:64) ‘“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other’. (Matthew 24:29-31), the issues that His followers will face throughout the ages ‘As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather’. (Matthew 24:3-28) And the whole book of the Revelation of Jesus ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:1-3)

So now let us see how Jesus Christ (God on earth) meets all four of these positions of Divine leadership that was seen in earthly leadership.

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

And remember I said to remember the priest Melchizedek? There was this reason to remember. ‘For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedek’. (Hebrews 5:1-10)

Second, we see Christ as a judge. ‘I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom’. (2 Timothy 4:1) ‘And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war’. (Revelation 19:11)

Third, we see Christ as King. ‘His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords’. (Revelation 19:12-16)

Fourth, we see throughout the four Gospels that He is prophet.

He holds these four positions of leadership because He is God. For those who question this (mostly Muslims, Jews, and some Christian denominations), it states it clearly in various places. ‘Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us’. (Matthew 1:23) ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth’. (John 1:1,14) ‘And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God’. (Revelation 19:13)

The question you need to ask is not ‘Is Jesus God’ or ‘Is He coming back’, because both those answers are YES. But, Are you ready for eternal salvation? ‘And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works’. (Revelation 20:11-12)

Believing in Jesus is not enough. ‘Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only’. (James 2:19-24) And we see that the works (commandments of God) have to be alongside faith. ‘And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ’. (Revelation 12:17) ‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus’. (Revelation 14:12)

This is not legalism. It is how God told us to relate to Him and others. Even Christ said so when he reminded the Jews of the two sections of the Ten Commandments. ‘But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment’. (Matthew 22:34-38) ‘ And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:1-11) Isn’t interesting that only ONE commandment says REMEMBER? ‘And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets’. (Matthew 22:39) ‘Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s’. (Exodus 20:12-17)

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Human Right, immigration, Theology, Uncategorized

Christians That Hate Those That Are Different

Since the vote took place in American politics back in November, and the changing of power in January, we have seen those that take the name of Christian forget how they are to act toward others. Christian Nationalism is not a Christian attitude. They tend to forget that the US is not our home, not our true nation. Heaven is.

In this article, I will hit only one topic, the current Ethnic Cleansing that has persisted since the colonies. It started with the Indigenous nations here at the time. Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing are accurate terminology since that point in time. First, one must understand what those terms mean. So they will be defined.

Genocide: According to the Genocide Convention (Dec 1948- Adoption, Jan 1951-Placed into effect), in Article II states: Genocide means any of the following acts are committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national/racial/religious group. As such:

a) Killing members of such groups;

b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or part;

D) Imposing measures intended to prevent births in the group;

E) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

So look back at our history. Actions like: 1782-Gnadhutten Massacre, 1800s-Battle of Tippecanoe (being from the Indiana area, this one is is close to home), the Jackson removals, slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, the lynchings, the zoot suit riot, Japanese WW2 internment camps, etc.

Today, we see this continually taking place in the ending of legal visa status, mass deportations, attempt of Constitutionally protected birthright citizenship, actions to attempt to classify indigenous as non-citizens, etc.

And of course, when looked at, it shows two very dark things about white (European descendant) America. Those affected have melanin. You know, what whites try to get when they go tan.

According to the US codes of law, entry into the US without proper permission is only a misdemeanor, and generally viewed more as a civil infraction. US Code 1325. The penalty is a fine and/or 6 months confinement. The ‘violator’ can then be removed or given the ability to obtain the proper paperwork.

Also seen in the past couple weeks is the invalidation of specialty permits by the Trump administration. One of these is a protection visa (CBP-ONE) for those fleeing death and violence from a certain group of nations. These people were here legally until Trump removed those protections and visas by Executive Order. Here is an interesting point, it is the State Department (not the President) that determines validity of visas and programs.

The genocide and ethnic cleansing of non-European descendants in this nation (born or arrived, despite classification) is still genocide. It is set against people of darker skin tone, from specific areas, and violates international law of genocide as agreed upon in 1948 by the US government.

How ever one feels, Christ gave us directives on how to deal with people not from our home nation. It does not define whether or not they are legally within the borders.

The Final Judgment Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

God also told us how to act in this situation.

Exodus 22:21-24: You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

Deuteronomy 24:14: “You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. If you will take the title Christian (Christ follower), then act like Him.

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

I Went Back to the Well

Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love”.

We have all seen followers of Christ that have veered off course, started to follow the money and fame, or even left the faith. Something can happen to cause doubt and wandering in a Christian. Whether its the cares of this world, the money that can be had by fame, or simple a wrong turn. The losing of the first love, the fire and zeal one has for the study and preaching/teaching of Jesus and the only means of salvation, the Cross.

That was where I found myself for about the last year. I didn’t walk away or follow some money scheme.I just lost the fire and zeal of the love of Jesus the Christ. A couple years, I left the Catholic church and set out on what turned out to be a journey. I went from the Catholic church back to my Protestant roots.

I went from Roman Catholic to a local Pentecostal church, the Healing Ministries Church of God of Mountain Assembly. I had been there a few times, saw my oldest son saved and baptized there. But felt it wasn’t for me.

And I ended up being a partial Calvinist. I say partial because I could get behind all of the points of TULIP (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Preserving Grace). The petal of this flower I had issue with was the Calvinist view of election. I could merge this with the concept of freewill and the words “Whosoever” from verses like John 3:16 and Acts 10:43. So I knew I could no longer be a Calvinist.

Now I was at at point that I tried the Healing Ministries church again. This time it was an older pastor who had been pastor at the church before. He is an old-timey preacher. Everything in his messages leads one back to the cross. I knew people that went there and figured I need a church, so why not. Pastor Wright became a mentor to me. I suppose you could say more of a grandfather to me, although we are only 30 years apart.

But even that, after awhile, I felt like I needed to be there. So I left the board and church and found myself back in the Roman Catholic Church. I think it was more because I knew the mechanics of the faith. By mechanics, I mean the set prayers (Rosary, Magnificat), the procedure of the service (the ups, downs, kneels, etc), and the celebrations (required Holy days, the Eucharist). But after a time, I found myself being pulled to the Eastern Churches (Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox). Having already determined that the Pope is the Bishop of Rome and not the prime ruler over Christendom, I became an Orthodox Catechumen in the Antiochian Church.

It still had the mechanics (although a slightly different style) and the belief were almost the same as the Roman Church. So I traded the Rosary for the Jesus Prayer, which I still recommend people to pray from time to time because it is the prayer that gives all 4 main points of a prayer and is scriptural. “Lord Jesus Christ (name and position on the faith), Son of God (who He is), Have mercy on me (what we seek), A sinner (what we are)”. But in time, I found myself praying for something more than mechanics.

I found myself prayer for the zeal and the fire I had when I gave myself to Jesus in 1996. During my prayer regime (the Orthodox call it a prayer rule), the point of prayers when the Jesus prayer is said, it is 10 prayers followed by a personal prayer. This is done 5 times for a total of 50 Jesus prayers and 5 personal prayers said in a prostate position. For those who don’t know, the prostate position is face to the ground, forehead touching the floor. A position of submission to God’s sovereignty. During the personal prayers I cried out to God to fix in me what was broken so I could have that fire for Christ and the Cross that I had decades before. It consumed me, this longing for the walk I once had. And while there were times over the decades that it would flicker, it never became full flame again.

This last week, before Sunday last, I was told that Pastor Wright was having health issues, so I decided to o to Healing Ministries so that I could check on him after service. Something in me started to make itself known, so to speak, during the sermon. Not much because of the message, although Pastor Wright always had a way preaching that makes one think the message is for them (that’s the prodding of the Holy Spirit).

Those under the umbrella of Pentecostal faith believe in healing. I also do because I have seen it in my own family. At the end of the service I walked down to see how Pastor Wright was doing. I didn’t even get to ask. I got to the point where I said how great the message was and how I felt like I belonged there (at least for that day) and that’s when things took a different turn. The floodgates opened and I found myself unable to talk.

Pastor Wright laid his hand on my shoulder and started praying. I felt a heat inside that I hadn’t felt in almost three decades. By the time he was done, a small group (including a dear friend) were at my side praying jointly with Pastor Wright. I went to check on his health and the Holy Spirit used him to heal my struggling soul.

The stories of well’s in scripture are a metaphor and symbol of the life giving water that is Jesus. “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:6-14).

I found on that Sunday that sometimes, the best place for a Christian to go is back to the well. For us country folk, going back to the well means going back to the beginning. For me, this meant going back to my Protestant roots to a place and person that are so dear to me. While the fire is still starting to reignite, its no longer smoldering in ash. I had forgotten the Cross and replaced it with church mechanics. I had to be shown the thing that matters in this life. The Cross of Christ, the cleansing blood, and the empty tomb. The Cross and the cleansing blood washes away the sin and the empty tomb is the sign of hope of redemption in Christ. Something I needed reminded of.

People today expect concert style entertainment and a soft message in church. And God may use those (He is Sovereign and does as He wills). But never putdown a grandfatherly Cross/Sin/Hellfire/Need of redemption preacher in a backwoods little throwback church. Because I found that the well in those old country walls has the most refreshing Living Water of Christ one can ever drink.

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Human Right, Theology, Uncategorized

We Don’t Need Revival, We Need Persecution

Good afternoon on this blessed day. I had the urge (or prodding) to go to a church that I was formerly a member of. I currently attend an Eastern Orthodox church as a Catechumen. But from time to time I do get that prodding to go back to the well, so to speak.

The messenger today wasn’t the normal pastor, but a young man that does give messages when he comes to the church. He is called to do missions around the globe and today was kind of a missions message and update. The message started with a video of the power of our Lord, Jesus Christ in areas other than here in the US.

As we look around in the west today, we can see that we once having a great faith as a people, we now see every evil of the scriptures on full display without regret or fear of the judgment of God. From extreme liberal murder of the unborn to the LGTBQ on full display of its debauchery. From the extreme right that allows no compassion for anything to presidential candidates on all sides except for the side of God.

The young messenger asked a question that made a powerful point. The question was this. What if God is allowing all of this evil to happen instead of revival that so many want? And then he went into his message of Jesus is the only power that will save any person or any nation. Definitely a message more so called ‘christians’ need to hear and think on.

The writer John stated things this way. “By this, everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another”. (John 13:35). But today, many ‘christians’ think that love means acceptance. It doesn’t mean that at all. Part of true love, is the truth. And sometimes, while the truth seems hateful, it is truly for the love that one feels for another in the saving of the soul.

Jesus never said I came accept everyone. He actually said the exact and polar opposite. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 13:34-39).

We wonder why there is no revival back to the ways of God that were in this country. We wonder where the men like Wesley, Sheen, Graham, etc are in today’s society. Simple, most pastors (including all those that have concerts not worship, ask for your money and buy jets, etc) have sold out. In some manner they have sold out to society so that they can be liked. But mostly, they have sold out to Satan himself. And the writer’s of scripture speak of this. As well as our Lord Jesus Christ does.

Matthew 7:15 states, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves”. Just because a man uses the name of Jesus, stands behind a pulpit, or speaks under a tent, it doesn’t mean he is a man of God. The reason that we seem to be under judgment and not having a revival of God’s power, is because to many that claim His name, deny His authority and divinity. Today, being ‘christian’ is a flex (to use a modern term). But to day to be Christian, is hateful to the world and the ‘christians/non-christians’ in it.

Look at areas like China, Indiana, multiple places in Africa, and the Middle East. Being a Christian will get you harassed, imprisoned, and martyred. To convert from Buddhism, Hindu, or Muslim will get you beaten and martyred. Here, we whimper if someone hurts our feelings, afraid of being jailed, or willingly close our doors if told to by the government.

YET, most churches will allow rampant sinful actions and lifestyles in the church. They speak of God’s love and forget His justice. They get so high handed, that those who truly seek God through Christ are turned away at the church door. They preach inclusiveness forgetting that the Kingdom of Heaven isn’t inclusive. It’s exclusive. Only one way in, Jesus Christ. Only by receiving His gift of the purifying blood from the cross and following His words. Most think faith is enough. Say a little prayer and its done. But that is in error. We must still do His work.

We must show love, but only in its divine truth. We must wait on the Lord. To many think that means sitting back and act like you’re at the bus depot. What it really means is act like a waiter in a restaurant. Always doing the task before us. Telling others about Christ and His loving and redemptive power. But also telling them of the fact that Christ never leaves you the same as you were when you first came to Him.

I no longer pray for revival. I no longer pray for our people to be safe. I pray for what we as western Christians and ‘christians’ need. To have our faith in Him built like those Christians in areas where they learn and grow in the trials of fire. Yes, I said it. We need PERSECUTION.

The disciples didn’t get it until Christ was Crucified and Risen. The Apostle’s didn’t get it fully until they were forced to go out into the world, out of Jerusalem. Our our faith truly fails unless tested. Until we are forced to, not give our testimony or says God love’s everyone, BUT to have the true threat of loss and death. Saying we are willing to die in a place where it is not the norm (like in Muslim controlled countries) is not faith.

In places like Africa, groups like Boko Haram, wipe out Christian villages and kidnap/kill those would proclaim their faith. In Pakistan, Christians face slave work and death for proclaiming their faith. Isis killed Egyptian Christians because they would not convert. And yet, here christians whine because someone said something nasty to them. They fear going to jail for their faith when it should be looked upon as a mission field. Christ and the New Testament writers said it was going to get worse. They said it would be family that turned against us and brought us to the authorities for punishment for defending our faith. We don’t need more Billy Grahams. We don’t need more Billy Sundays. We need more Timothies. We need more Pauls. We need more of the martyrs of the 1st and 2nd century church. We need more men like Ignatius of Antioch who was sent to the lions. Or those that were dipped in oil and used as torches for the emperor’s night games. Or those of the Middle East and Africa that face Islamic torture and death.

Christianity, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Journey of Faith in Battle

It has been a time since I have written and posted. I have been on a journey of transition from Roman Catholicism to Eastern Orthodoxy. This journey has been a long one. I left RC and became more of a Calvinist. Sola Scriptura (scripture alone) led me back to the RC parish I had left. But this was just a step in a direction that God had for me.

I found something still lacking in the western church. It was not the Eucharist, as this is the whole moment that the Mass is about. But I didn’t feel like I belonged there and started attending the Eastern Catholic church. In that, I found the beauty of the ancient of traditions in the way the service (Divine Liturgy) was presented. The fluidity of beginning to end, the scents and aromas, the singing and chants. I started to fell a drawing. But there was something still lacking.

It was this longing that made me seek out the ancient church, Eastern Orthodoxy. A church more in line with style and teaching of the first century Church. The Antiochian Church is where the followers of Christ (the Way) were first called Christians.

I started as an inquirer. This is a section of time to ask questions, attend Divine Liturgy, and seek God’s guidance. A made the decision after this period to become a Catechumen. This is a student’s learning period. It will go from the New Year of the liturgy and find fulfillment of this period at Pascha (Easter).

But here is why I now write. Since making that decision, I have been fighting a spiritual battle that I had not had. I have always struggled between faith and personal desires. All Christians have this fight in varying levels. But for me, it was a fight unlike I have been used to. The desires of my human flesh fought intensely against my faith in God. A battle that consumed my. Passions I didn’t know that cold be that intense and overpowering. Battling my full desire to follow God through Christ.

This fight, I still deal with. Although not as all consuming, but still a hard fight. I know I am in the right church and walk of faith. The powers of darkness do not fight so hard against something that isn’t of God. This is not a message of defeat, nor a message of my abilities. But a message of the fact that it takes God alone in our battle to defeat the powers of darkness and evil. If life gets hard, the battle gets vicious, it means two things. First, you no longer belong to the dark. Second, remember it is God alone that we find our strength.

Christianity, Current events, faith, Human Right, Uncategorized

Persecution in Pakistan: A Place of my Heart

Within the last year, I wrote an article on the suffering Christians in Pakistan and the persecution and martyrdom they face daily. The past weeks have been hard for these wonderful people of our Lord Jesus Christ. So this weeks article is going to be a bit different. Not only was another Christian martyred, the organization Persecution.org, International Christian Concern did their monthly magazine on those in Pakistan. So this article is going to contain links to the organization’s website and all of their social media accounts.

At the bottom will be 8 links. One to my former article, one to their main page, one to their newsletter, one to their magazine, one to their prayer calendar, one to their podcast, and one to their donation information.

We speak so much today of human slavery and the need for it to end. Most of the time, sex slavery comes to mind. But modern day slavery comes in many forms. And the children of Jesus Christ are in modern day slavery around the world.

I know a few wonderful preachers and ministries in Pakistan. I want to give special honor to them before I post the the articles below. Please check out their pages. The content in them shows both the wonders of God’s glory and the evil of man’s heart.

Pastor Ravi in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

https://www.facebook.com/psravidaniel.daniel

Evangelist Mariam in Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073638895836

Evangelist Farah in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069345996262

Pastor Shakeel in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

https://www.facebook.com/shakeel.bhatti.3551

Now, Let’s get to the article. First is the news story of the latest attacks.

LAHORE, Pakistan, May 25 (Reuters) – At least 10 members of a minority Christian community were rescued on Saturday after a Muslim crowd attacked their settlement on a blasphemy accusation in eastern Pakistan, police and a community leader said.

The crowd, which accused the Christian group of blasphemy, also hurled stones and bricks at the police, said Shariq Kamal, the police chief of Sargodha district.

At least one house and a small shoe factory was set on fire by protesters who had gathered after neighbours alleged that the Muslim holy book, the Koran, had been desecrated by a minority community member, according to a police spokesman and Akmal Bhatti, a Christian leader.

“They burned one house” and several Christians were badly beaten, Bhatti said.

A large contingent of police cordoned off the settlement, Kamal said, adding that the crowd had been pushed back. One member of the Christian community who was taken to hospital was later said to be in a stable condition.

Some 25 of the protesters have been arrested, said police official Assad Malhi, adding that 11 police officers suffered injuries during the operation to rescue the Christian community members from the crowd.

The situation had calmed down by late evening, with leaders from both sides calling for peace, police said.

A Christian rights group – Minority Rights March – said a 70-year-old man accused of the blasphemy was beaten and dragged by the mob.

It said video footage showed that the police did not intervene. The police have denied the claim.

Videos posted on social media showed protesters looting items from burning properties. Others were seen throwing the items in a heap on fire in a street.

Bhatti said the videos were images from the scene.

Reuters could not independently verify the pictures.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said the Christian community was “at grave risk to their lives at the hands of the charged mobs”.

Blasphemy is a sensitive subject in conservative Muslim- majority Pakistan, where just an accusation can lead to a street lynching.

Human rights groups say Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores.

While blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, no one has been executed by the state for it, though numerous accused have been lynched by outraged mobs.

A Muslim crowd attacked a Christian community in eastern Pakistan last year, vandalizing several churches and setting scores of houses on fire after accusing two of its members of desecrating the Koran.

Writing by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Mike Harrison and David Gregorio

The Store owner recently died from his injuries.

Biblical Baptism

Over the last couple of months, three of my children have been baptized with believer’s baptism. This type of baptism comes in the form of full immersion, an the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-19. ‘And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:’.

So today, I would like to speak about baptism in the New Testament and beyond. The first New Testament baptism is John’s baptism prior to the baptism of Jesus. ‘Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;’ (Luke 3:1-3)

According to the Jewish Mikveh ritual, which is used for various reasons, total immersion is used for purification. This is believed to be the reason that John was baptizing as part of his ministry. To purify the person in the eyes of God. Purification was a part of everyday life. Women needed purification after their menstrual cycle. The diseased needed purification after healing. And with the holiest feast being for the Day of Atonement, purification was needed to present sacrifice, for the priests to enter into their duties, and the High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies. So as part of preparing the way of the Messiah, it would be natural for John to incorporate this ritual into his ministry.

Christ required full immersion to fulfill the symbolic purification. ‘Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3:13-17)

Peter changed the wording. He removed the ‘Father,Son, Holy Spirit’ replacing it with the Name and title of Jesus. ‘Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.’ (Acts 2:38)

Most churches use the version taught by Jesus. Some New Testament churches use Peter’s version. So one needs to contemplate, when it comes to wording, to listen to the Apostle or to the Lord when speaking during baptism. This baptismal form shows the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Over time, other forms of baptism came to be used. Sprinkling and pouring are the two that are most notable. Pouring comes not from scripture but from the Didache (which has been posted on this site). In the Didache, the writer’s (reportedly Apostles and disciples of the 1st and 2nd centuries) gave baptismal instruction. From Didache 7:1 “CONCERNING BAPTISM” ‘ Concerning baptism, baptize in this way. Having instructed him in all of these teachings, baptize the catechumen in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water. But if you do not have running water, then baptize in other water. And if you cannot in cold water, use warm. But if you have neither, then pour water on the head three times, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And before the baptism, let both the baptizer and the catechumen fast, and also any others who are able. And be sure that the catechumen fasts a day or two before.’

Those who use sprinkling (such as the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian church) use two sources for their reasoning. The difference between the classical Greek word baptizmo (immerse) and the 1st Century Greek word koine (washing or cleansing). They site Ezekiel as a source for sprinkling in baptism. ‘Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.’ (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

One more matter in the concept of baptism. That is infant baptism. Most Christian churches do have an infant ceremony, christening. This is to give the child a name, give the child to God, and to dedicate the child’s rearing in the faith.

Some churches, like the Catholic Church and some Protestant denominations, give full baptism to infants. Having been Catholic for a couple decades before leaving and becoming Protestant, some of my children were given infant baptism. And those churches use the story of Cornelius and the jailer to justify that practice. ‘While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.’ (Acts 10:44-48). ‘And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.’ (Acts 16:27)

While neither of these verses say directly infants were baptized, those that do infant baptisms believe it is implied. Most Christian denominations and Independents believe that believer’s baptism is the scriptural standard. Many verses say so specifically. Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:41, etc, all speak of believing in Jesus’s redemptive power and then baptism.

While baptism is an outward sign, it is not part of the redemption of Christ. Only the acceptance of His gift of Salvation saves us.

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Christ is Coming Back…Prepare the Way of the Lord

The things told in Scripture about the second Coming of Jesus we see coming to pass. But most that He mentions, have always been coming to pass. ‘And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.’ ’Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.’ (Matthew 24:4-12,23-24)

Everything these days (and for the last few decades) has brought the inevitable “HE”S COMING BACK, THE RAPTURE IS UPON US” It’s time to put this foolishness to rest through scripture.

First, the timing of the RAPTURE (taking up). The fights between pre-mid-post tribulation is getting ridiculous. It doesn’t matter when He comes. If you are His, you go to e with Him. If not, you don’t. Its that simple. So quit fighting about it and go tell people to kneel at the cross and prepare yourself to be received by Him.

Here are Q&A to answer those questions. And to be open, I believe fully in the post tribulation rapture because there is more evidence in going through the tribulation that being taken from it. God saved Israel through the plagues in Egypt. God save the Noah through the flood. God saved Jews through Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. God saved Job through tribulation. And that is a few of the biblical accounts of being saved through tribulation of those times. Nowhere did He take people from out of tribulation. Ask yourself, if He didn’t save His chosen from tribulation but through it, why would He change how he does it to the church.

1. Can we be positive Jesus will return a second time?

“Christ … will appear a second time” (Hebrews 9:28).
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again” (John 14:3).
Answer: Yes! In Matthew 26:64, Jesus testified that He would come back to this earth again. Since the Scriptures cannot be broken (John 10:35), this is proof positive. It is Christ’s own personal guarantee. Besides, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of His first coming—so we can be absolutely certain that He will fulfill the prophecies concerning His second coming too!

2. In what manner will Jesus return the second time?

“When He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’ ” (Acts 1:9–11).

Answer: The Scriptures promise that Jesus will return to this earth in the same manner that He left—in a visible, literal, bodily, personal manner. Matthew 24:30 says, “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” He will come in the clouds literally, as a personal being with a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:36–43, 50, 51). His coming will be visible; Scripture is clear on these facts!

3. Will the second coming of Christ be visible to everyone or only to a select group?

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7).
“As the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).
“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Answer: Every man, woman, and child living in the world when Jesus returns will see Him at His second coming. The staggering brightness of His appearance will stretch from horizon to horizon, and the atmosphere will be charged with brilliant glory like lightning. No one will be able to hide from it. This will be a loud, dramatic event in which even the dead are raised.

Note: Every person will know the second coming is occurring! Some use 1 Thessalonians 4:16 to suggest a “secret rapture,” where the saved disappear from the earth quietly, but it’s actually one of the noisiest verses in the Bible: The Lord shouts, a trumpet blasts, and the dead are raised! The second coming is not a quiet event, nor is it only a spiritual coming into the heart. It does not take place at a person’s death, nor is it figurative. All these theories are human inventions, but the Bible plainly states that the second coming will be a literal, worldwide, visible, personal appearance of Christ in the clouds.

4. Who will come with Jesus at His second coming, and why?

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31)

Answer: All the angels of heaven will come with Jesus at His second coming. As the bright cloud nears the earth, Jesus will send forth His angels, and they will quickly gather together all of the righteous people in preparation for the trip back to heaven (Matthew 24:31).

5. What is the purpose of Jesus’ second coming to this earth?

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
“I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).
“That He may send Jesus Christ … whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:20, 21).

Answer: Jesus is coming back to this earth to save His people, just as He promised, and to take them to the beautiful home He has prepared for them.

6. What will happen to the righteous people when Jesus comes the second time?

“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven … and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
“We shall all be changed … and the dead will be raised incorruptible. For … this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51–53).
“We also eagerly wait for… the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Philippians 3:20, 21).

Answer: Those who accepted Christ during their lives but have died will be raised from their graves, given perfect and immortal bodies, and will be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord. The saved living will also be given new bodies and will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Jesus will then take all the saved to heaven.

Note: that Jesus does not touch the earth at His second coming. The saints meet Him “in the air.” So God’s people won’t be fooled by any report that says Christ is in, for instance, London, New York, Moscow, or anywhere else on the earth. False christs will appear on the earth and do miracles (Matthew 24:23–27), but Jesus will remain in the clouds above the earth at His second coming.

7. What will happen to the wicked people when Jesus comes again?

“With the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4).
“At that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth” (Jeremiah 25:33).

Answer: Those who are rebelliously clinging to sin when Jesus comes will perish from His radiant glory.

8. How will Christ’s second coming affect the earth itself?

“There was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. … Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” (Revelation 16:18, 20).
“I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of the Lord” (Jeremiah 4:26).
“The Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste. … The land shall be entirely emptied” (Isaiah 24:1, 3).

Answer: The earth will be seized by a great earthquake at the coming of the Lord. This earthquake will be so devastating that it will leave the world in a state of total destruction.

9. Does the Bible give specific information regarding the nearness of Christ’s second coming?

Answer: Yes! Jesus Himself said, “When you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” (Matthew 24:33). The Lord placed signs all along the way from His ascension to His second coming. See below …

A. The Destruction of Jerusalem
Prophecy: “Not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down. … Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:2, 16).

Fulfillment: Jerusalem was destroyed in ad 70 by the Roman warrior Titus.

B. Great Persecution, Tribulation

Prophecy: “Then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world” (Matthew 24:21).

Fulfillment: This prophecy points primarily to the tribulation that took place during the Dark Ages and was instigated by the apostate Christian church. It lasted more than 1,000 years. Over 50 million Christians were slain by the false church, which “has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind.” W.E.H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, (Reprint New York: Braziller, 1955) Vol. 2, pp. 40-45.

C. Sun Turned into Darkness

Prophecy: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened” (Matthew 24:29).

Fulfillment: This was fulfilled by a day of supernatural darkness on May 19, 1780. It was not an eclipse. One eyewitness described, “The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. … A very general opinion prevailed that the day of judgment was at hand.” Connecticut Historical Collections, compiled by John Warner Barber (2nd ed. New Haven: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1836) p. 403.

D. Moon Turned into Blood

Prophecy: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31).

Fulfillment: The moon became as red as blood on the night of “the dark day,” May 19, 1780. One observer said, in Stone’s History of Massachusetts, “The moon which was at its full, had the appearance of blood.”

E. Stars Fall from Heaven

Prophecy: “The stars will fall from heaven” (Matthew 24:29).

Fulfillment: A stunning star shower took place on the night of November 13, 1833. It was so bright that a newspaper could be read on an otherwise dark street. People thought the end of the world had come. Look into this. It is most fascinating—and a sign of Christ’s coming. One writer said, “For nearly four hours the sky was literally ablaze.”*

*Peter A. Millman, “The Falling of the Stars,” The Telescope, 7 (May-June, 1940) 57.

F. Jesus Comes in the Clouds

Prophecy: “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).

Fulfillment: This is the next great event. Are you ready?

10. How can we know when we have reached the very last days of earth’s history? Does the Bible describe the world and its people in the last generation?

Answer: Yes! Look at the following signs of the last days. You will be amazed. And these are just a few of many signs that show we are in the closing days of earth’s history.

A. Wars and Commotions

Prophecy: “When you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass” (Luke 21:9).

Fulfillment: Wars and terror attacks are affecting millions worldwide. Only Jesus’ soon coming will bring an end to the pain and destruction.

B. Unrest, Fear, and Upheavel

Prophecy: “There will be … on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity … men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:25, 26).

Fulfillment: This is a very accurate picture of the world today—and there is a reason: We are the people of the very last days of earth’s history. The tense atmosphere present in the world today should not surprise us. Christ foretold it. It should convince us that His coming is near.

C. Increase of Knowledge

Prophecy:“The time of the end … knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4).

Fulfillment: The dawn of the Information Age makes this one obvious. Even the most skeptical mind must admit that this sign is fulfilled. Knowledge is exploding in all areas of science—medicine, technology, and more.

D. Scoffers and Religious Skeptics

Prophecy: “Scoffers will come in the last days” (2 Peter 3:3). “They will not endure sound doctrine. … They will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3, 4).

Fulfillment: It isn’t difficult to see the fulfillment of this prophecy today. Even religious leaders are denying the plain Bible teachings of Creation, the Flood, the divinity of Christ, the second coming, and many other Bible truths. Public educators teach our youth to scoff at the Bible record and substitute evolution and other false teachings for the plain facts of God’s Word.

E. Moral Degeneracy, Decline of Spirituality

Prophecy: “In the last days … men will be lovers of themselves … unloving … without self-control … despisers of good … having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1–3, 5).

Fulfillment: America is in the midst of a spiritual crisis. People from all walks of life are saying so. Nearly one marriage in two ends in divorce. The current generation’s decreasing interest in Bible spirituality is a plain fulfillment of God’s Word. For a real shock, see how many of the last-day sins listed in 2 Timothy 3:1–5 you see described in the news today. Nothing short of the coming of the Lord will stem the tide of evil now engulfing the world.

F. Craze for Pleasure

Prophecy: “In the last days … men will be … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1, 2, 4).

Fulfillment: The world has gone crazy for pleasure. Only a few people attend church regularly, but thousands jam sporting arenas and other places of amusement. Americans are spending billions each year for pleasure and only “peanuts,” in comparison, for God’s causes. Pleasure-mad Americans waste billions of hours in front of the TV searching for worldly gratification—in direct fulfillment of 2 Timothy 3:4.

G. Increasing Lawlessness, Bloody Crimes, and Violence

Prophecy: “Lawlessness will abound” (Matthew 24:12). “Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse” (2 Timothy 3:13). “The land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence” (Ezekiel 7:23).

Fulfillment: It is obvious that this sign is fulfilled. Lawlessness is increasing with shocking rapidity. Many fear for their lives just stepping out the door of their homes. Many today are concerned about the survival of civilization because crime and terror sweeps forward relentlessly.

H. Natural Disaster and Upheaval

Prophecy: “There will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences … and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity” (Luke 21:11, 25).

Fulfillment: Earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods are increasing at an unprecedented rate. Thousands die daily of starvation, disease, and lack of water and health care—all signs that we live in earth’s last hours.

I. A Special Message to the World in the Last Days

Prophecy: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

Fulfillment: The great, last-warning message of Christ’s second coming is now being presented in nearly every world language. Before Jesus’ second coming, every person in the world will be warned of His soon return.

J. A Turning to Spiritism

Prophecy: “In latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits” (1 Timothy 4:1). “They are spirits of demons” (Revelation 16:14).

Fulfillment: People today, including a vast number of the heads of nations, seek counsel from psychics, channelers, and spiritists. Spiritism has invaded Christian churches as well, propped up by the unbiblical teaching of the immortality of the soul. The Bible teaches that the dead are dead. (See Study Guide 10 for more on this subject.)

K. Capital Labor Trouble

Prophecy: “The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord. … Be patient … for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:4, 8).

Fulfillment: Trouble between capital and labor is predicted for the last days. Do you doubt this is fulfilled?

11. Just how near is the Lord’s second coming?

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matthew 24:32–34).

Answer: The Bible is very specific and plain on this point. Almost all the signs have been fulfilled. We cannot know the day and hour of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36), but we can know that His coming is near. God has promised to finish things very quickly now (Romans 9:28). Christ is coming back to this earth for His people soon. Are you ready?

12. Satan is telling many falsehoods regarding the second coming of Christ and, with lying wonders and miracles, will deceive millions. How can you be certain you will not be deceived?

“They are spirits of demons, performing signs [miracles]” (Revelation 16:14).
“False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).
“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

Answer: Satan has invented many false teachings about the second coming and is deceiving millions into believing that Christ has already come or that He will come in a manner not consistent with the Bible’s teachings. But Christ has warned us of Satan’s strategy, saying, “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). He has exposed Satan’s falsehoods so we can be forewarned, and He reminds us, “See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:25). For example, Jesus stated specifically that He will not appear in the desert or come to a séance chamber (verse 26). There is no reason to be deceived if we learn what God teaches about Christ’s second coming. People who know what the Bible says about the second coming will not be led astray by Satan. All others will be deceived.

13. How can you be certain you’ll be ready when Jesus comes back?

“The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
“I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts” (Hebrews 8:10).
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Answer: Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20). Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus knocks and asks to come into your heart so that He can change your life. If you turn your life over to Him, He will erase all your sins (Romans 3:25) and give you the power to live a godly life (Philippians 2:13). As a free gift, He bestows upon you His own righteous character so you can stand unafraid before a holy God. Doing His will becomes a pleasure. It is so simple that many doubt its reality, but it’s true. Your part is simply to give your life to Christ and let Him live within you. His part is to work the mighty miracle within you that changes your life and prepares you for His second coming. It is a free gift. You need only accept it.

14. Of what great danger does Christ warn us?

“Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).
“Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly” (Luke 21:34).
“As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37).

Answer: There is great danger in becoming so busy with the cares of this life or so entranced by the pleasures of sin that the coming of the Lord could sneak up on us as the Flood did on the world in Noah’s day, and we would be surprised, unprepared, and lost. Sadly, this will be the experience of millions. Jesus is coming back very soon. Are you prepared?

15. Do you want to be ready when Jesus returns for His people?

Answer:

Thought Questions

1. Isn’t the great tribulation yet to come?

It is true that a terrible tribulation will cover the earth just before Jesus returns to deliver His people. Daniel described it as “a time of trouble, such as never was” (Daniel 12:1). However, Matthew 24:21 refers to the awful persecution of God’s people during the Dark Ages, when millions were slain.

2. Since the Lord is coming “as a thief in the night,” how can anyone know anything about it?

The answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:2–4: “You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” The emphasis of this passage is on the suddenness of the day of the Lord. It comes as a thief only for those who are unprepared, not for those who are prepared—those called “brethren.”

3. When will Christ set up His kingdom on the earth?

After the great 1,000-year period of Revelation 20. This millennium begins at the second coming, when Jesus takes the righteous from earth to heaven to live and reign with Him “a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4). At the close of the 1,000 years, “the holy city, new Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:2) comes down from heaven to the earth with all the saints (Zechariah 14:1, 5) and the wicked dead of all ages are raised to life (Revelation 20:5). They surround the city to capture it (Revelation 20:9), but fire comes down from out of heaven and devours them. This fire purifies the earth and burns up all traces of sin (2 Peter 3:10, Malachi 4:3). Then God creates a new earth (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1) and gives it to the righteous, and “God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3). Perfect, holy, happy beings, restored once again to the perfect image of God, will at last be at home in a sinless, spotless world as God originally planned. (For more information on God’s beautiful new kingdom, see Study Guide 4. For more about the 1,000 years, see Study Guide 12.)

4. Why don’t we hear more preaching and teaching today regarding Christ’s second coming?

The devil is responsible. He well knows that the second coming is the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13) of the Christian, and that once understood, it changes the lives of men and women and leads them to take a personal, active part in spreading that good news to others. This infuriates Satan, so he influences those who have “a form of godliness” (2 Timothy 3:5) to scoff, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning” (2 Peter 3:3, 4). Those who deny or make light of Christ’s second advent as a literal, soon coming event are fulfilling Bible prophecy—and doing the devil a service.

5. But wasn’t Jesus speaking of a secret rapture when He said in Luke 17:36, “One will be taken and the other left”?

No. There is no indication that the event is secret. Jesus was describing Noah’s flood and the destruction of Sodom. (See Luke 17:26–37.) He told how God spared Noah and Lot and destroyed the wicked. He said specifically that the flood and fire “destroyed them all” (verses 27, 29). Plainly, in each case, a few were taken to safety and the rest were destroyed. Then He added, “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (verse 30). To illustrate, Jesus continued, “Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left” (verse 36). There is nothing secret about His return. “Every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7). At His second coming, Christ publicly and openly takes the righteous up into the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17), while His holy presence slays the wicked (Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8). That’s why Luke 17:37 speaks of the bodies of the wicked and mentions the eagles (or vultures) gathered around them. (See also Revelation 19:17, 18.) The wicked who are left behind at Christ’s coming are left dead. (For more on the “secret rapture” theory, contact us for our book on the subject.)

Quiz Questions

1. At His second coming (1)

_____   Christ will arrive privately and visit certain cities of the earth.
_____   Christ will appear in the desert.
_____   Christ will remain in the clouds and call the righteous up to meet Him in the air.

2. When Jesus returns to this earth (1)

_____   Only the righteous will see Him.
_____   Every eye will see Him.
_____   People will not know it until it is announced on TV.

3. What will happen to the righteous at Christ’s second coming? (2)

_____   Righteous dead will be raised, given immortality, caught up into clouds, and taken to heaven.
_____   Righteous living will be given immortality, caught up into clouds, and taken to heaven.
_____   Righteous will stay here and convert the wicked.
_____   Righteous will be secretly snatched away.

4. On the basis of biblical signs, Christ’s coming (1)

_____   Will be very, very soon!
_____   Will be several hundred years from now.
_____   Has already occurred.

5. The wicked who are living when Jesus returns will be (1)

_____   Placed in hell, where they will burn forever.
_____   Slain at His second coming.
_____   Spared and given another chance.

6. Check the statements below that tell the truth about Christ’s second coming: (4)

_____   He will come secretly.
_____   The second coming is the experience of conversion.
_____   He will come in the clouds.
_____   Christ comes for us on our deathbed.
_____   The wicked will not see Him.
_____   All the angels will be with Him.
_____   He will not actually touch the earth.
_____   It is possible to know the day and hour of His coming.
_____   Millions will be surprised and lost.

7. At Christ’s second coming (1)

_____   The whole world will be ready and waiting.
_____   There will be a devastating, worldwide earthquake.
_____   The wicked will be converted.

8. Mark all statements that are true signs of the last days of earth: (7)

_____   The world will get better and better.
_____   Strife between capital and labor.
_____   Fewer earthquakes, storms, etc.
_____   Falling away from Bible truth.
_____   Craze for pleasure.
_____   Moral degeneracy.
_____   A great drop in the crime rate.
_____   Great famines.
_____   Increase of knowledge.
_____   Unrest and upheaval.

9. Which signs in the heavens are signs of Christ’s return? (2)

_____   Haley’s comet.
_____   The dark day of May 1780.
_____   The falling stars of November 1833.
_____   The moon falling to the earth.

10. How do we know that Jesus is coming back to earth very soon? (1)

_____   The Bible gives signs and specific descriptions of the last days.
_____   Because so many people believe that Jesus is coming soon.
_____   Some fortune-tellers predict it.

11. Millions will be deceived regarding the manner and time of Christ’s return because (1)

_____   God does not want all to be saved.
_____   They do not give large enough offerings.
_____   They do not study their Bibles to find the truth of the matter.

12. I can be ready for Christ’s return if (1)

_____   Jesus lives within me.
_____   I read the newspaper daily.
_____   I do what my minister suggests.

13. I am planning to be ready when Jesus returns.

_____ Yes.
_____ No.

Q&A Provided through Amazing Facts Ministries. To learn more go to https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/read/c/2/t/bible-study-guides

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Human Right, Theology, Uncategorized

The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached

This week, my article will be a bit different. I am posting a sermon by one of the fathers of the first Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards. He gave the sermon to the Congregational Church in Enfield, Connecticut on July 8, 1741. Many pastors and theologians agree, that this is the best sermon given in what is now the US.

Read it slowly and digest it. In this modern age of so-called Christianity, many may not like the message. It speaks of two great themes of the Christian faith, God’s Sovereignty and deserved judgment in HELL. And the sole fact that it is God alone that holds us from that judgment.

This is the type of message that the world, and many Christians, need to hear.

SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD

Their foot shall slide in due time (Deut. xxxii. 35).

In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God’s visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God’s wonderful works towards them, remained (as ver. 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. The expression I have chosen for my text, Their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following doings, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed.

That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm lxxiii. 18. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction.”

2. It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm lxxiii. 18, 19. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!”

3. Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down.

4. That the reason why they are not fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God’s appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.

The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this. “There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God.” By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God’s mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment.

The truth of this observation may appear by the following considerations.

There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men’s hands cannot be strong when God rises up. The strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands.—He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it. Sometimes an earthly prince meets with a great deal of difficulty to subdue a rebel, who has found means to fortify himself, and has made himself strong by the numbers of his followers. But it is not so with God. There is no fortress that is any defence from the power of God. Though hand join in hand, and vast multitudes of God’s enemies combine and associate themselves, they are easily broken in pieces. They are as great heaps of light chaff before the whirlwind; or large quantities of dry stubble before devouring flames. We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that any thing hangs by: thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell.

What are we, that we should think to stand before him, at whose rebuke the earth trembles, and before whom the rocks are thrown down? They deserve to be cast into hell; so that divine justice never stands in the way, it makes no objection against God’s using his power at any moment to destroy them. Yea, on the contrary, justice calls aloud for an infinite punishment of their sins. Divine justice says of the tree that brings forth such grapes of Sodom, “Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?” Luke xiii. 7. The sword of divine justice is every moment brandished over their heads, and it is nothing but the hand of arbitrary mercy, and God’s mere will, that holds it back.

3. They are already under a sentence of condemnation to hell. They do not only justly deserve to be cast down thither, but the sentence of the law of God, that eternal and immutable rule of righteousness that God has fixed between him and mankind, is gone out against them, and stands against them; so that they are bound over already to hell. John iii. 18. “He that believeth not is condemned already.” So that every unconverted man properly belongs to hell; that is his place; from thence he is, John viii. 23. “Ye are from beneath.” And thither be is bound; it is the place that justice, and God’s word, and the sentence of his unchangeable law assign to him.

4. They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God, that is expressed in the torments of hell. And the reason why they do not go down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they are, is not then very angry with them; as he is with many miserable creatures now tormented in hell, who there feel and bear the fierceness of his wrath. Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many that are now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell. So that it is not because God is unmindful of their wickedness, and does not resent it, that he does not let loose his hand and cut them off. God is not altogether such an one as themselves, though they may imagine him to be so. The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.

5. The devil stands ready to fall upon them, and seize them as his own, at what moment God shall permit him. They belong to him; he has their souls in his possession, and under his dominion. The scripture represents them as his goods, Luke xi. 12. The devils watch them; they are ever by them at their right hand; they stand waiting for them, like greedy hungry lions that see their prey, and expect to have it, but are for the present kept back. If God should withdraw his hand, by which they are restrained, they would in one moment fly upon their poor souls. The old serpent is gaping for them; hell opens its mouth wide to receive them; and if God should perrnit it, they would be hastily swallowed up and lost.

6. There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God’s restraints. There is laid in the very nature of carnal men, a foundation for the torments of hell. There are those corrupt principles, in reigning power in them, and in full possession of them, that are seeds of hell fire. These principles are active and powerful, exceeding violent in their nature, and if it were not for the restraining hand of God upon them, they would soon break out, they would flame out after the same manner as the same corruptions, the same enmity does in the hearts of damned souls, and would beget the same torments as they do in them. The souls of the wicked are in scripture compared to the troubled sea, Isa. lvii. 20. For the present, God restrains their wickedness by his mighty power, as he does the raging waves of the troubled sea, saying, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;” but if God should withdraw that restraining power, it would soon carry all before it. Sin is the ruin and misery of the soul; it is destructive in its nature; and if God should leave it without restraint, there would need nothing else to make the soul perfectly miserable. The corruption of the heart of man is immoderate and boundless in its fury; and while wicked men live here, it is like fire pent up by God’s restraints, whereas if it were let loose, it would set on fire the course of nature; and as the heart is now a sink of sin, so if sin was not restrained, it would immediately turn the soul into a fiery oven, or a furnace of fire and brimstone.

7. It is no security to wicked men for one moment, that there are no visible means of death at hand. It is no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he does not see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect in his circumstances. The manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows this is no evidence, that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step will not be into another world. The unseen, unthought-of ways and means of persons going suddenly out of the world are innumerable and inconceivable. Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that they will not bear their weight, and these places are not seen. The arrows of death fly unseen at noon-day; the sharpest sight cannot discern them. God has so many different unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world and sending them to hell,that there is nothing to make it appear, that God had need to be at the expence of a miracle, or go out of the ordinary course of his providence, to destroy any wicked nian, at any moment. All the means that there are of sinners going out of the world, are so in God’s hands, and so universally and absolutely subject to his power and determination, that it does not depend at all the less on the mere will of God, whether sinners shall at any moment go to hell, than if means were never made use of, or at all concerned in the case.

8. Natural men’s prudence and care to preserve their own lives, or the care of others to preserve them, do not secure them a moment. To this, divine providence and universal experience do also bear testimony. There is this clear evidence that men’s own wisdom is no security to them from death; that if it were otherwise we should see some difference between the wise and politic men of the world, and others, with regard to their liableness to early and unexpected death: but how is it in fact? Eccles. ii. 16. “How dieth the wise man? even as the fool.”

9. All wicked men’s pains and contrivance which they use to escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ, and so remain wicked men, do not secure them from hell one moment. Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing, or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail. They hear indeed that there are but few saved, and that the greater part of men that have died heretofore are gone to hell; but each one imagines that he lays out matters better for his own escape than others have done. He does not intend to come to that place of torment; he says within himself, that he intends to take effectual care, and to order matters so for himself as not to fail.

But the foolish children of men miserably delude themselves in their own schemes, and in confidence in their own strength and wisdom; they trust to nothing but a shadow. The greater part of those who heretofore have lived under the same means of grace, and are now dead, are undoubtedly gone to hell; and it was not because they were not as wise as those who are now alive: it was not because they did not lay out matters as well for themselves to secure their own escape. If we could speak with them, and inquire of them, one by one, whether they expected, when alive, and when they used to hear about hell ever to be the subects of that misery: we doubtless, should hear one and another reply, “No, I never intended to come here: I had laid out matters otherwise in my mind; I thought I should contrive well for myself: I thought my scheme good. I intended to take effectual care; but it came upon me unexpected; I did not look for it at that time, and in that manner; it came as a thief: Death outwitted me: God’s wrath was too quick for me. Oh, my cursed foolishness! I was flattering myself, and pleasing myself with vain dreams of what I would do hereafter; and when I was saying, Peace and safety, then suddenly destruction came upon me.

10. God has laid himself under no obligation, by any promise to keep any natural man out of hell one moment. God certainly has made no promises either of eternal life, or of any deliverance or preservation from eternal death, but what are contained in the covenant of grace, the promises that are given in Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and amen. But surely they have no interest in the promises of the covenant of grace who are not the children of the covenant, who do not believe in any of the promises, and have no interest in the Mediator of the covenant.

So that, whatever some have imagined and pretended about promises made to natural men’s earnest seeking and knocking, it is plain and manifest, that whatever pains a natural man takes in religion, whatever prayers he makes, till he believes in Christ, God is under no manner of obligation to keep him a moment from eternal destruction. So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger, neither is God in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment; the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out: and they have no interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of, all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God.

APPLICATION

The use of this awful subject may be for awakening unconverted persons in this congregation. This that you have heard is the case of every one of you that are out of Christ.—That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell’s wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of, there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.

You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his band, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it.

Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment; for you are a burden to it; the creation groans with you; the creature is made subject to the bondage of your corruption, not willingly; the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God’s enemies. God’s creatures are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end. And the world would spew you out, were it not for the sovereign hand of him who hath subjected it in hope. There are black clouds of God’s wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm, and big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would immediately burst forth upon you. The sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, stays his rough wind; otherwise it would come with fury, and your destruction would come like a whirlwind, and you would be like the chaff of the summer threshing floor.

The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given; and the longer the stream is stopped, the more rapid and mighty is its course, when once it is let loose. It is true, that judgment against your evil works has not been executed hitherto; the floods of God’s vengeance have been withheld; but your guilt in the mean time is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath; the waters are constantly rising, and waxing more and more mighty; and there is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, that holds the waters back, that are unwilling to be stopped, and press hard to go forward. If God should only withdraw his hand from the flood-gate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God, would rush forth with inconceivable fury, and would come upon you with omnipotent power; and if your strength were ten thousand times greater than it is, yea, ten thousand times greater than the strength of the stoutest, sturdiest devil in hell, it would be nothing to withstand or endure it.

The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligatioti at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood. Thus all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all you that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light and life, are in the hands of an angry God. However you may have reformed your life in many things, and may have had religious affections, and may keep up a form of religion in your families and closets, and in the house of God, it is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction. However unconvinced you may now be of the truth of what you hear, by and by you will be fully convinced of it. Those that are gone from being in the like circumstances with you, see that it was so with them; for destruction came suddenly upon most of them; when they expected nothing of it, and while they were saying, Peace and safety: now they see, that those things on which they depended for peace and safety, were nothing but thin air and empty shadows.

The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you was suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God’s hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.

O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in hell. You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. And consider here more particularly

1. Whose wrath it is: it is the wrath of the infinite God. If it were only the wrath of man, though it were of the most potent prince, it would be comparatively little to be regarded. The wrath of kings is very much dreaded, especially of absolute monarchs, who have the possessions and lives of their subjects wholly in their power, to be disposed of at their mere will. Prov. xx. 2. “The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger, sinneth against his own soul.” The subject that very much enrages an arbitrary prince, is liable to suffer the most extreme torments that human art can invent, or human power can inflict. But the greatest earthly potentates in their greatest majesty and strength, and when clothed in their greatest terrors, are but feeble, despicable worms of the dust, in comparison of the great and almighty Creator and King of heaven and earth. It is but little that they can do, when most enraged, and when they have exerted the utmost of their fury. All the kings of the earth, before God, are as grasshoppers; they are nothing, and less than nothing: both their love and their hatred is to be despised. The wrath of the great King of kings, is as much more terrible than theirs, as his majesty is greater. Luke xii. 4, 5. “And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”

2. It is the fierceness of his wrath that you are exposed to. We often read of the fury of God; as in Isaiah lix. 18. “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay fury to his adversaries.” So Isaiah lxvi. 15. “For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and wifh his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.” And in many other places. So, Rev. xix. 15, we read of “the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” The words are exceeding terrible. If it had only been said, “the wrath of God,” the words would have implied that which is infinitely dreadful: but it is “the fierceness and wrath of God.” The fury of God! the fierceness of Jehovah! Oh, how dreadful must that be! Who can utter or conceive what such expressions carry in them! But it is also “the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” As though there would be a very great manifestation of his almighty power in what the fierceness of his wrath should inflict, as though omnipotence should be as it were enraged, and exerted, as men are wont to exert their strength in the fierceness of their wrath. Oh! then, what will be the consequence! What will become of the poor worms that shall suffer it! Whose hands can be strong? And whose heart can endure? To what a dreadful, inexpressible, inconceivable depth of misery must the poor creature be sunk who shall be the subject of this!

Consider this, you that are here present, that yet remain in an unregenerate state. That God will execute the fierceness of his anger, implies, that he will inflict wrath without any pity. When God beholds the ineffable extremity of your case, and sees your torment to be so vastly disproportioned to your strength, and sees how your poor soul is crushed, and sinks down, as it were, into an infinite gloom; he will have no compassion upon you, he will not forbear the executions of his wrath, or in the least lighten his hand; there shall be no moderation or mercy, nor will God then at all stay his rough wind; he will have no regard to your welfare, nor be at all careful lest you should suffer too much in any other sense, than only that you shall not suffer beyond what strict justice requires. Nothing shall be withheld, because it is so hard for you to bear. Ezek. viii. 18. “Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them.” Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may cry now with some encouragement of obtaining mercy. But when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain; you will be wholly lost and thrown away of God, as to any regard to your welfare. God will have no other use to put you to, but to suffer misery; you shall be continued in being to no other end; for you will be a vessel of wrath fitted to destruction; and there will be no other use of this vessel, but to be filled full of wrath. God will be so far from pitying you when you cry to him, that it is said he will only “laugh and mock,” Prov. i. 25, 26, &c.

How awful are those words, Isa. lxiii. 3, which are the words of the great God. “I will tread them in mine anger, and will trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.” It is perhaps impossible to conceive of words that carry in them greater manifestations of these three things, vis. contempt, and hatred, and fierceness of indignation. If you cry to God to pity you, he will be so far from pitying you in your doleful case, or showing you the least regard or favour, that instead of that, he will only tread you under foot. And though he will know that you cannot bear the weight of omnipotence treading upon you, yet he will not regard that, but he will crush you under his feet without mercy; he will crush out your blood, and make it fly, and it shall be sprinkled on his garments, so as to stain all his raiment. He will not only hate you, but he will have you, in the utmost contempt: no place shall be thought fit for you, but under his feet to be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

The misery you are exposed to is that which God will inflict to that end, that he might show what that wrath of Jehovah is. God hath had it on his heart to show to angels and men, both how excellent his love is, and also how terrible his wrath is. Sometimes earthly kings have a mind to show how terrible their wrath is, by the extreme punishments they would execute on those that would provoke them. Nebuchadnezzar, that mighty and haughty monarch of the Chaldean empire, was willing to show his wrath when enraged with Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego; and accordingly gave orders that the burning fiery furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was before; doubtless, it was raised to the utmost degree of fierceness that human art could raise it. But the great God is also willing to show his wrath, and magnify his awful majesty and mighty power in the extreme sufferings of his enemies. Rom. ix. 22. “What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endure with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?” And seeing this is his design, and what he has determined, even to show how terrible the unrestrained wrath, the fury and fierceness of Jehovah is, he will do it to effect. There will be something accomplished and brought to pass that will be dreadful with a witness. When the great and angry God hath risen up and executed his awful vengeance on the poor sinner, and the wretch is actually suffering the infinite weight and power of his indignation, then will God call upon the whole universe to behold that awful majesty and mighty power that is to be seen in it. Isa. xxxiii. 12-14. “And the people shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut up shall they be burnt in the fire. Hear ye that are far off, what I have done; and ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites,” &c.

Thus it will be with you that are in an unconverted state, if you continue in it; the infinite might, and majesty, and terribleness of the omnipotent God shall be magnified upon you, in the ineffable strength of your torments. You shall be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and when you shall be in this state of suffering, the glorious inhabitants of heaven shall go forth and look on the awful spectacle, that they may see what the wrath and fierceness of the Almighty is; and when they have seen it, they will fall down and adore that great power and majesty. Isa. lxvi. 23, 24. “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”

4. It is everlasting wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you shall see a long for ever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts, and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all. You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that all is but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite. Oh, who can express what the state of a soul in such circumstances is! All that we can possibly say about it, gives but a very feeble, faint representation of it; it is inexpressible and inconceivable: For “who knows the power of God’s anger?”

How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in the danger of this great wrath and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation that has not been born again, however moral and strict, sober and religious, they may otherwise be. Oh that you would consider it, whether you be young or old! There is reason to think, that there are many in this congregation now hearing this discourse, that will actually be the subjects of this very misery to all eternity. We know not who they are, or in what seats they sit, or what thoughts they now have. It may be they are now at ease, and hear all these things without much disturbance, and are now flattering themselves that they are not the persons, promising themselves that they shall escape. If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the whole congregation, that was to be the subject of this misery, what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him! But, alas! instead of one, how many is it likely will remember this discourse in hell? And it would be a wonder, if some that are now present should not be in hell in a very short time, even before this year is out. And it would be no wonder if some persons, that now sit here, in some seats of this meeting-house, in health, quiet and secure, should be there before to-morrow morning. Those of you that finally continue in a natural condition, that shall keep out of hell longest will be there in a little time! your damnation does not slumber; it will come swiftly, and, in all probability, very suddenly upon many of you. You have reason to wonder that you are not already in hell. It is doubtless the case of some whom you have seen and known, that never deserved hell more than you, and that heretofore appeared as likely to have been now alive as you. Their case is past all hope; they are crying in extreme misery and perfect despair; but here you are in the land of the living and in the house of God, and have an opportuniry to obtain salvation. What would not those poor damned hopeless souls give for one day’s opportunity such as you now enjoy!

And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God. Many are daily coming from the east, west, north and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. How awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining and perishing! To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in such a condition? Are not your souls as precious as the souls of the people at Suffield*, where they are flocking from day to day to Christ?

* a town in the area

Are there not many here who have lived long in the world, and are not to this day born again? and so are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and have done nothing ever since they have lived, but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath? Oh, sirs, your case, in an especial manner, is extremely dangerous. Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely great. Do you not see how generally persons of your years are passed over and left, in the present remarkable and wonderful dispensation of God’s mercy? You had need to consider yourselves, and awake thoroughly out of sleep. You cannot bear the fierceness and wrath of the infinite God.—And you, young men, and young women, will you neglect this precious season which you now enjoy, when so many others of your age are renouncing all youthful vanities, and flocking to Christ? You especially have now an extraordinary opportunity; but if you neglect it, it will soon be with you as with those persons who spent all the precious days of youth in sin, and are now come to such a dreadful pass in blindness and hardness. And you, children, who are unconverted, do not you know that you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath of that God, who is now angry with you every day and every night? Will you be content to be the children of the devil, when so many other children in the land are converted, and are become the holy and happy children of the King of kings? And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now harken to the loud calls of God’s word and providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favours to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others. Men’s hearts harden, and their guilt increases apace at such a day as this, if they neglect their souls; and never was there so great danger of such persons being given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind. God seems now to be hastily gathering in his elect in all parts of the land; and probably the greater part of adult persons that ever shall be saved, will be brought in now in a little time, and that it will be as it was on the great out-pouring of the Spirit upon the Jews in the apostles’ days; the election will obtain, and the rest will be blinded. If this should be the case with you, you will eternally curse this day, and will curse the day that ever you was born, to see such a season of the pouring out of God’s Spirit, and will wish that you had died and gone to hell before you had seen it. Now undoubtedly it is, as it was in the days of John the Baptist, the axe is in an extraordinary manner laid at the root of the trees, that every tree which brings not forth good fruit, may be hewn down and cast into the fire.

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Piliin Ngayon Kung Sino ang Paglilingkuran Mo

Si Josue ay nakipag-usap sa mga anak ni Israel samantalang siya’y naghahanda na mamatay sa pinagpalaang pag-asang iyon na darating pa. Kaya’t ngayo’y matakot kayo sa Panginoon, at maglingkod kayo sa kaniya sa katapatan at sa katotohanan: at inyong alisin ang mga dios na pinaglingkuran ng inyong mga magulang sa kabilang dako ng Ilog, at sa Egipto; at maglingkod kayo sa Panginoon. At kung sa inyong mga mata ay masama na maglingkod sa Panginoon, piliin ninyo sa araw na ito kung sino ang inyong paglilingkuran, kung ang mga dios na sinambaan ng inyong mga magulang na nasa kabilang dako ng baha, o ang mga dios ng mga Amoreo na inyong tinatahanan sa lupain nila: nguni’t tungkol sa akin at sa aking sangbahayan, ay maglilingkod kami sa Panginoon. (Josue 24:14-15).

Ang simbahan ngayon ay talagang nakagugulat sa akin. Hindi laging sa mabuting paraan. Iyan ang dahilan ng artikulong ito. Kung titingnan ng isa ang mga lugar na gaya ng Aprika, at Silangan, makikita natin ang dalawang magkakaibang grupo na tinatawag ang kanilang sarili na Kristiyano. Sa mga lugar na hindi kanluranin, ang mga Kristiyano ay nahaharap sa araw-araw na pagkamartir.

Hindi lamang tinatrato ng Islamikong pinamumunuan ang mga Kristiyano bilang isang uri ng alipin, wala silang problema sa pagwasak ng mga simbahan, paaralan, at mga tahanan. Tingnan ang Pakistan noong nakaraang taon. Dahil sa isang maling ulat na isang ministro ang nagpakapahamak sa Qur’an, ang malalaking grupo ng mga gusali at ang kanilang mga nilalaman ay sinunog nang buo. Ang mga Kristiyano ay walang mga simbahan, walang mga tahanan, at nawalan ng kanilang mga ari-arian. Kahit na ang mga bata ay napipilitang magtrabaho sa mga lugar ng mga hurno ng ladrillo kasama ng kanilang mga magulang.

Sa India, sila’y nahaharap sa mga pag-atake mula sa parehong mga tagasunod ng Hindu at Islam. Kung hindi pinatay, ang mga Kristiyanong ito pagkatapos ng pag-atake ay patuloy na nangangaral ng ipinako sa krus na Kristo. Sila’y nakaharap sa dalawang kaaway sa bansang iyon. Dalawang frontong ipagtanggol.

Sa mga lugar sa Aprika, ang mga Islamikong grupo na gaya ng Boko Haram ay hindi lamang pumatay ng mga Kristiyano. Sinasakop nila ang mga nayon ng mga Kristiyano at dinukot ang mga estudyante na Kristiyano. Ang ilan ay tinubos, ang ilan ay natagpuan, ang ilan ay tumakas, at ang ilan ay pinatay.

Sa Tsina, sinasabi ni Pangulong Xi Jinping at ng kanyang kinokontrol na administrasyon sa mga simbahan kung sino ang maaaring maging mga pastor, pari, atbp. Kailangan nilang ilagay ang kaniyang larawan sa mga simbahan, walang mga krus, at ayon sa ilang ulat, ay nagpaplano na muling isulat ang Banal na Kasulatan. Sa bagong pamumusong ito, ang estado ang magiging tagapagligtas at si Jesus ang anti-Kristo.

Kaya ano ang nangyayari sa Kanluran? Ang makasalanang ideolohiya ay nakaupo sa pulpito at mga bangko. Yaong mga nangangaral ng Kristo na ipinako sa krus ay tinutuya, tinutukso, “kinansela” at ikinulong dahil sa pulisya ng kaisipan. Oo, kung minsan sila’y sinasalakay at pinapatay, ngunit hindi sa pangkalahatan.

May tatlong kampo sa Kanluran na nagngangalang Christian. Ang una ay yaong mga hindi sumasalungat sa lahat ng pagsuway at kasalanan, sapagkat ang kanilang ipinangangaral ay ang Diyos ay pag-ibig at samakatuwid tinatanggap ka Niya at hindi ka hinihiling na magbago. Ang mga ito ay hindi mga Kristiyano ni ipinapangaral ang Kristo ng Kasulatan. Nagbabala si Pablo tungkol sa mga ito (Galacia 1:8-9). Ang mga ito ay ang mga lobo (Mateo 7:15). Sila’y maliwanag na nagpapahamak sa Soberanong Diyos at sa Kaniyang Anak. Sila, gaya ng sanlibutan, ay tumatawag sa masama na mabuti at sa mabuti na masama (Isaias 5:20).

Pagkatapos ay mayroon ding kampo ng mga debotadong Kristiyano. Ito ang mga nangangaral ⁇ kung gayon ang sabi ng Panginoon ⁇ . Naniniwala sila na ang bawat salita ng Kasulatan ay totoo. Naniniwala sila na ikaw ay dumating kay Kristo kung ano ka, ngunit hindi ka iiwan ni Kristo kung paano ka dumating (2 Corinto 5:17). Sila’y nangangaral gaya ni Jesus, ni Juan Bautista at ng mga Apostol. Tinatawag nila ang tao na magsisi (Mateo 3:2, Marcos 1:15, Gawa 2:3). Ang pagsisisi ay pagbabago ng isip at puso. Isang bagay na tanging ang Soberanong Diyos lamang ang maaaring gawin. Sila’y nangangaral ng Krus ni Kristo na ipinako sa krus (1 Corinto 2:2). Ipinapangaral nila na ang tanging daan sa walang hanggang kaligtasan sa Diyos ay sa pamamagitan ni Jesu-Kristo (Gawa 4:12).

Pagkatapos ay may ikatlong grupo. Ito ang mga naniniwala na katulad ng ikalawang grupo. Ngunit magngangalit kapag dumating ang mga suliranin. Habang ang mga Kristiyano ay ipinatapon sa bilangguan dahil sa pulisya ng pag-iisip (Inglatera) at dahil sa pagtatanggol sa kanilang mga karapatan (Canada at E.U.A.), sila’y nag-aayuno at nagrereklamo. Ang pagpunta sa bilangguan dahil sa pananampalataya ay dapat na maging isang kagalakan. Kung ikulong ka nila sa bilangguan, kung gayon sila’y nagtagumpay sa kanilang sariling layunin. Binigyan ka nila ng isang nakabilanggo na madla. Isaalang-alang ito. Isinara ka nila dahil sa pagsasabi mo sa ilang tao tungkol sa kapangyarihan ni Kristo na magliligtas, pagkatapos ay inilalagay ka nila sa isang naka-lock na gusali ng maraming tao na hindi makaiwas sa iyo. Tulad nina Pablo at Silas. Ang pagtangis at pagiging tahimik ay ipinagbabawal sa Kasulatan (Mateo 10:33). Ito ang mga taong matatakot sa pagkawala at panganib upang sabihin ang pangalan ni Jesus (Mateo 15:8).

Sinabi ni Jesus sa atin, bilang tunay na mga alagad, kung ano ang ating haharapin. “Kung magkagayo’y kayo’y ibibigay nila upang kayo’y madusa at papatayin kayo; at kayo’y mangapopoot sa lahat ng mga bansa dahil sa aking pangalan. At sa panahong iyon marami ang masisira, at magtataksil sa isa’t isa, at magkapoot sa isa’t isa ⁇ (Mateo 24:9-10). Kung kinapootan nila ang mga propeta, si Jesus, at ang mga Apostol, kung gayon bakit hindi maniniwala ang mga Kristiyano na tayo’y kinapootan din? Si Jesus ay dumating upang iligtas tayo mula sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ng kaligtasan ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang sarili. Hindi niya sinabi na magiging madali ang buhay. Hindi niya sinabi na siya ay nagmamahal sa lahat at pinapayagan silang mabuhay ayon sa kanilang nais. ⁇ Huwag ninyong isipin na ako’y naparito upang magpadala ng kapayapaan sa lupa: hindi ako naparito upang magpadala ng kapayapaan, kundi ng tabak. Sapagkat ako’y naparito upang paghiwalayin ang anak na lalaki laban sa kaniyang ama, at ang anak na babae laban sa kaniyang ina, at ang manugang na babae laban sa kaniyang biyenan. At ang mga kaaway ng tao ay ang mga nasa kaniyang sariling sambahayan. Ang nagmamahal ng ama o ina higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin; at ang nagmamahal ng anak na lalaki o babae higit sa akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa akin. At ang hindi tumatagal ng kaniyang krus, at sumunod sa akin, ay hindi karapatdapat sa akin. Sinumang makahanap ng kanyang buhay ay mawawala ito: at sinumang mawawala ng kanyang buhay dahil sa akin ay makakahanap ito ⁇ (Mateo 34-39).

Ang Pastor na si Adrian Rogers ang pinakamahusay na nagsabi nito. Ang kaligtasan ay walang bayad. Ang pagiging alagad ay magugugol sa iyo ng lahat. Kailangan mong magpasya ngayon, kung aling kampo ng Kristiyano ang nasa iyo bago ang digmaan. Kami’y nakikipaglaban sa maliliit na labanan ngayon, ngunit ang digmaan ay darating pa. Isusuot ang armadurang ibinigay sa atin ng Diyos. Sa wakas, mga kapatid ko, maging malakas kayo sa Panginoon at sa kapangyarihan ng kanyang kapangyarihan. Magsuot kayo ng buong sandata ng Dios, upang kayo’y makapagtakda laban sa mga panlilinlang ng diyablo. Sapagkat tayo’y nakikipaglaban hindi laban sa laman at dugo kundi laban sa mga pamumuno, laban sa mga kapangyarihan, laban sa mga pinuno ng kadiliman ng sanlibutang ito, laban sa mga espiritu ng kasamaan sa kataas-taasang dako. Kaya’t magsuot kayo ng buong sandata ng Dios, upang kayo’y makapaglaban sa masamang araw, at pagkatapos na gawin ninyo ang lahat, ay makatatayo. Kaya’t kayo’y tumayo, na ang inyong mga baywang ay nakasuot ng katotohanan, at nakasuot ng kalasag sa dibdib ng katuwiran; at ang inyong mga paa ay nasusukat ng paghahanda sa ebanghelyo ng kapayapaan; higit sa lahat, na ang inyong hawak ay ang kalasag ng pananampalataya, na sa pamamagitan nito ay inyong mapapalag ang lahat ng nagniningning na mga baril ng masama. At tanggapin ninyo ang helmet ng kaligtasan, at ang tabak ng Espiritu, na siyang salita ng Diyos: na lagi kayong nananalangin sa lahat ng panalangin at pagsusumamo sa Espiritu, at sa pag-iingat na ito ay magpatuloy kayo sa lahat ng pagtitiyaga at pagsusumamo para sa lahat ng mga banal; at para sa akin, na ako’y bigyan ng pananalita, na aking buksan ang aking bibig nang may katapangan, upang ipabatid ang hiwaga ng ebanghelyo, na kung saan ako’y isang embahador na nasa mga tanikala; upang sa pamamagitan nito’y ako’y makapagsalita nang may katapangan, gaya ng dapat kong pagsalita. ⁇ (Efeso 6:10-20)

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

The Watcher on the Wall

Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. (Ezek 33:4-6)

Through the ages, armies have always kept a watch. From the watchtowers of old to walk watches today. Ask a historian about the watcher on the wall and you will be told that he had the most important job. It was the watchman’s duty look for any sign of the coming enemy. Once something was seen or heard, the watchman would sound the alarm for the rest of the troops. If he failed to do his duty, the fort fell and the men died.

As a watchman for Christ, it is duty to sound the alarm. In Israel, the shofar (ram’s horn) was the sound heard when the enemies of the Israelite nation approached. Today, we Christians (in the sense of bowing to Christ as King and Savior) are to blow the shofar. The enemy has not only approached, but has entered the gates of even the church.

Charles Spurgeon said that Satan is most effective in the pulpit. And when you look at mainline churches, of all denominations, this Satanic enemy is dressed as a pastor. And the pews are full of those that seek not Jesus as our Lord and God, but seek a false and weak Jesus that has nothing to do with the Jesus of Holy Scripture.

Churches have replaced doctrine with a watery feeling of acceptance. They have replaced hymns with songs that have no solid foundation in Christ. Hillsong has a worship song that sounds like a good song for the church. The tag line in it tells a different story. The tag is ‘ your fire fall down on us’. If you read scripture, fire falling from God is judgment.

Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. (Genesis 19:24-25)

And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. (2 Kings 1:10-14)

And when the Lord Jesus returns upon this earth, His judgment will come the same way as it came in the days of the patriarchs and prophets.

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Rev 20:7-9)

However, don’t be fooled. Satan, through his earthly representative, will also look to perform this to deceive those who don’t have a solid faith in Christ.

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Rev 13:11-14)

As one sees, they have replaced worship with worldly concerts. Churches look like party venues. And the worst, men calling themselves preachers, apostles, prophets, and women who think they have the ability to preach and produce prophecy, lead people to hell not heaven. They preach acceptance of sin in the name of love. We are to bring the sinner to hear the Word of God. When the Holy Spirit convicts them to a point that they have to to turn to Christ, that person is not left living in a sinful state.

We want revival like the days of Wesley and Edwards. But they allow sin, false teaching, false teachers, and worldly songs into the house that belongs to God alone. You can’t pray for revival and sing like the world. You can’t preach revival and accept what God calls sin. You can’t love the person and say living in sin is okay (pre-martial relations, lgtbq, the idea that all paths lead to heaven, that all faiths are acceptable, etc).

You can’t have revival while preaching that you have the power to speak things into being (only one is the creator of all things). You can’t have revival when you preach life will be all wine and roses (Christ and the Apostles tell us that tribulation, trial, and even death is coming for those who truly believe).

Where is true revival? Look at Africa, the Middle East, the Far East. These places see true revival. These places see true conversion. These places see true worship in Christ. What brought that kind of revival? Was it worldly music in the church? Was it acceptance and love of sin? Was it belief in the word of faith movement or life/health/wealth? No. It is tribulation. Its is hardship that is building the muscle of faith. And it is still having faith in Christ when they are called to be martyrs. It is sing praises and evangelizing to a captive audience when they are thrown into prisons.

All of this weak and powerless type of western church is condemned in scripture.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:6-9)

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (Luke 6:22-23)

We are watchmen of the wall. It is our duty to sound the alarm. We do that knowing that we will not be liked. We do that knowing that we will be ‘canceled’. And eventually, we will do that as we face the ultimate testament of our faith. The ability to praise God alone while facing death.

One can hate or like me. I quit caring about those opinions. I would rather be judged by man than by God. Yes, I mess up and need to repent. Yes, I fail and need to seek God’s mercy and grace. You can call me a hypocrite. Join me, the church can use you too.

I am blowing the Shofar from the walls. The time of Christ’s coming is at hand. The day and time are not known by any but God alone. The signs of His approach are being seen.

Turn to Christ and from sin as if He is coming today. I’d rather you be upset with me all the way to Heaven (only through the blood of Jesus the Christ) than be happy with me as you enter the gates of hell.

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

Joshua spoke to the children of Israel as he prepared to die in that blessed hope yet to come. “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15).

Today’s church really amazes me. Not always in a good way. That is the reason for this article. If one looks to places such as Africa, and the East, we see two different groups that call themselves Christian. In the non West areas, Christians face martyrdom on a daily basis.

The Islamic ruled world not only treat Christians like a slave class, they have no issue destroying churches, schools, and homes. Look at Pakistan last year. Because of a false report that a minister had desecrated the Quran, massive groups of buildings and their contents were burned to the ground. Christians had no churches, no homes, and lost their belongings. Even children are forced to work in the brick kilns areas with their parents.

In India, they face attacks from both Hindu and Islam followers. If not killed, these Christians after assault continue to preach Christ crucified. They face two enemies in that nation. Two fronts to defend against.

In areas of Africa, Islamic groups like Boko Haram not only kill Christians. They raid Christian villages and kidnap Christian students. Some are ransomed, some are found, some escape, and some are executed.

In China, President Xi Jinping and his controlled administration tell churches who can be pastors, priests, etc. They have to have his picture in the churches, no crosses, and according to some reports, is planning to rewrite the Holy Scriptures. In this new blasphemy, The state would be the savior and Jesus is the anti-Christ.

So what happens in the West? Sinful ideology sits in the pulpit and pews. Those who preach Christ crucified are ridiculed, cursed at,’canceled’ and jail because of the thought police. Yes, sometimes they are physically assaulted and killed, but not generally.

There are three camps in the West that take the name of Christian. The first are those that except all perversion and sin, because all they preach is God is love and therefore He accepts you and doesn’t ask you to change. These aren’t Christians nor preach the Christ of Scripture. Paul warned of these (Galatians 1:8-9). These are the wolves (Matthew 7:15). They openly blaspheme the Sovereign God and His Son. They, like the world, call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

Then there is the devout camp. These are the ones that preach ‘thus says the Lord’. They believe every word of Scripture is true. They believe that you come to Christ as you are, but Christ doesn’t leave you how you came in (2 Corinthians 5:17). They preach like Jesus, John the Baptists and the Apostles. They call man to repentance (Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:15, Acts 2:3). Repentance is the changing of mind and heart. Something only the Sovereign God alone can do. They preach the Cross of the Crucified Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2). They preach that the only way to eternal salvation with God is through Jesus the Christ (Acts 4:12).

Then there is the third group. These are those that believe like the second group. But whine when troubles come. As Christians are being jailed because of the thought police (England) and for standing for their rights (Canada and the US), they whine and complain. Going to jail for the faith should be a joy. If they lock you in jail, then they have defeated their own purpose. They gave you a captive audience. Think about it. They lock you up for telling a couple people about the salvation power of Christ, then they place you in a locked building of multiple people who can’t get away from you. Like Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25-32). Whining and being silent are spoke against in Scripture (Matthew 10:33). These are the ones who will be to scared of loss and danger to speak the name of Jesus (Matthew 15:8).

Jesus told us, as true disciples, what we would face.“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:9-10).If they hated the prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles, then why would Christians not believe that we will be hated as well. Jesus came to save us from God through the salvation of God through Himself. He didn’t say it would be an easy life. He didn’t say he came to love everyone and let them live as they want. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 34-39).

Pastor Adrian Rogers said it best. Salvation is free. Discipleship will cost you everything.You have to decide now, which Christian camp you are in before the war. We fight small battles now, but the war is yet to come. Put on the Armor God gave us. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Desafío, devoción y consecuencias

La humanidad tiene dos elecciones que hacer en esta vida Para seguir a Dios o para desafiar a Dios (que está siguiendo a Satanás).Jesús el Hijo y Dios el Padre han dejado claro a través de toda la escritura, que solo hay estas dos elecciones Una conduce a la vida eterna con Dios, la otra conduce a la condenación eterna.
Hoy veremos una historia en Daniel que ilustra estas dos elecciones Conocemos la historia del rey Nabucodonosor de la antigua Babilonia Sabemos cómo su sueño del estatuto multimetálico fue interpretado por Daniel.
Daniel 2
Y en el segundo año del reinado de Nabucodonosor Nabucodonosor soñó sueños, con los que su espíritu estaba turbado, y su freno de sueño de él Entonces el rey mandó llamar a los magos, y a los astrólogos, y a los hechiceros, y a los caldeos, para mostrar al rey sus sueños Entonces vinieron y se pusieron delante del rey. Y el rey les dijo: He soñado un sueño, y mi espíritu se turbó para conocer el sueño Entonces habló los caldeos al rey en siriaco, oh rey, vive para siempre: di a tus siervos el sueño, y mostraremos la interpretación El rey respondió y dijo a los caldeos: La cosa se ha ido de mí: si no me hacéis saber el sueño, con la interpretación del mismo, seréis cortados en pedazos, y tus casas serán hechas estercolero Pero si muestras el sueño, y su interpretación, recibirás de mí regalos y recompensas y gran honor; por tanto, muéstrame el sueño, y la interpretación del mismo Respondieron otra vez y dijeron: Que el rey diga a sus siervos el sueño, y mostraremos la interpretación del mismo El rey respondió y dijo, Sé con certeza que ganarías tiempo, porque ves que la cosa se ha ido de mí Pero si no me haces saber el sueño, sólo hay un decreto para ti; porque has preparado palabras mentirosas y corruptas para hablar delante de mí, hasta que cambie el tiempo; por tanto, dime el sueño, y sabré que podéis mostrarme la interpretación de ello Los caldeos respondieron delante del rey, y dijeron: No hay hombre sobre la tierra que pueda mostrar el asunto del rey: por tanto, no hay rey, señor, ni gobernante, que pidiera tales cosas a ningún mago, ni astrólogo, ni caldeo Y es raro lo que el rey exige, y no hay otro que pueda mostrarlo delante del rey, excepto los dioses, cuya morada no es con carne Por esta causa el rey se enojó y se enfureció mucho, y mandó destruir a todos los sabios de Babilonia. Y salió el decreto de que los sabios fueran asesinados; y buscaron que mataran a Daniel y a sus semejantes. Entonces Daniel respondió con consejo y sabiduría a Arioc el capitán de la guardia del rey, que había salido a matar a los sabios de Babilonia: Respondió y dijo al capitán del rey Arioc: ¿Por qué es tan precipitado el decreto del rey? entonces Arioc hizo saber la cosa a Daniel Entonces entró Daniel, y deseó del rey que le diera tiempo, y que mostraría al rey la interpretación Entonces Daniel fue a su casa, e hizo saber la cosa a Hananías, a Misael y a Azarías, sus compañeros: Que desearían misericordias del Dios del cielo acerca de este secreto; que Daniel y sus semejantes no perecieran con el resto de los sabios de Babilonia Entonces el secreto fue revelado a Daniel en una visión nocturna. Entonces Daniel bendijo al Dios de los cielos Respondió Daniel y dijo: Bendito sea el nombre de Dios por los siglos de los siglos; porque la sabiduría y el poder son suyos; y cambia los tiempos y las estaciones; quita reyes y establece reyes: da sabiduría a los sabios, y conocimiento a los que saben entendimiento: revela las cosas profundas y secretas: sabe lo que hay en las tinieblas,y la luz mora con él Te doy gracias y te alabo, oh Dios de mis padres, que me has dado sabiduría y poder, y me has dado a conocer ahora lo que deseábamos de ti; porque ahora nos has dado a conocer el asunto del rey Por eso Daniel entró a Arioc, a quien el rey había ordenado destruir a los sabios de Babilonia: fue y le dijo así; No destruyas a los sabios de Babilonia; tráeme delante del rey, y mostraré al rey la interpretación. Entonces Arioc trajo a Daniel delante del rey apresuradamente, y le dijo así: He encontrado un hombre de los cautivos de Judá, que dará a conocer al rey la interpretación. Respondió el rey y dijo a Daniel, que se llamaba Beltesasar: ¿Puedes darme a conocer el sueño que he visto y su interpretación? respondió Daniel en presencia del rey, y dijo: El secreto que el rey ha exigido no pueden los sabios, los astrólogos, los magos, los adivinos, mostrar al rey; Pero hay un Dios en el cielo que revela secretos y hace saber al rey Nabucodonosor lo que será en los últimos días. Tu sueño y las visiones de tu cabeza sobre tu cama son estos; En cuanto a ti, oh rey, tus pensamientos vinieron a tu mente sobre tu cama, lo que sucederá en lo sucesivo: y el que revela secretos te hace saber lo que sucederá Pero en cuanto a mí, este secreto no me es revelado para sabiduría alguna que yo tenga más que ningún viviente, sino por causa de ellos que darán a conocer la interpretación al rey, y para que conozcas los pensamientos de tu corazón Tú, oh rey, viste, y contemplas una gran imagen. Esta gran imagen, cuyo brillo era excelente, estaba delante de ti; y su forma era terrible. La cabeza de esta imagen era de oro fino, su pecho y sus brazos de plata, su vientre y sus muslos de bronce, sus piernas de hierro, sus pies parte de hierro y parte de barro. Tu viste hasta que una piedra fue cortada sin manos, el cual hirió la imagen sobre sus pies que eran de hierro y barro, y los partió en pedazos Entonces fue el hierro, el barro, el bronce, la plata, y el oro, hechos pedazos, y se hizo como la paja de las eras de verano; y el viento se los llevó, que no se les halló lugar; y la piedra que hirió la imagen se convirtió en un gran monte, y llenó toda la tierra Este es el sueño; y diremos su interpretación delante del rey. Tú, oh rey, eres rey de reyes; porque el Dios del cielo te ha dado reino, poder, fuerza y gloria. Y dondequiera que habiten los hijos de los hombres, las bestias del campo y las aves del cielo las ha entregado en tu mano, y te ha puesto por gobernante sobre todos ellos. Tú eres esta cabeza de oro. Y después de ti surgirá otro reino inferior a ti, y otro tercer reino de bronce, que gobernará sobre toda la tierra. Y el cuarto reino será fuerte como el hierro; por cuanto el hierro rompe en pedazos y somete todas las cosas; y como el hierro que rompe todo esto, se romperá en pedazos y moretones. Y mientras viste los pies y los dedos de los pies, parte del barro de los alfareros y parte del hierro, el reino se dividirá; pero habrá en él fuerza del hierro, por cuanto viste el hierro mezclado con arcilla de espejos. Y como los dedos de los pies eran parte de hierro y parte de barro, así que el reino será en parte fuerte, y en parte quebrantado Y mientras viste hierro mezclado con barro de espejos, se mezclarán con la simiente de los hombres: mas no se partirán unos a otros, así como el hierro no se mezcla con barro Y en los días de estos reyes el Dios del cielo levantará un reino, que nunca será destruido: y el reino no será dejado a otros pueblos, sino que romperá en pedazos y consumirá todos estos reinos, y se mantendrá para siempre Por cuanto viste que la piedra fue cortada del monte sin manos, y que rompe en pedazos el hierro, el bronce, la arcilla, la plata, y el oro; el gran Dios ha hecho saber al rey lo que sucederá en lo sucesivo: y el sueño es seguro, y su interpretación segura. Entonces el rey Nabucodonosor cayó sobre su rostro y adoró a Daniel, y mandó que le ofrecieran una oblación y dulces olores. El rey respondió a Daniel y dijo: De cierto es que vuestro Dios es un Dios de dioses, y un Señor de reyes, y revelador de secretos, viendo que podías revelar este secreto Entonces el rey hizo a Daniel un gran hombre, y le dio muchos grandes regalos, y le hizo regidor sobre toda la provincia de Babilonia, y jefe de los gobernadores sobre todos los sabios de Babilonia Entonces Daniel pidió al rey, y puso a Sadrac, Mesac y Abednego, sobre los asuntos de la provincia de Babilonia; pero Daniel se sentó a la puerta del rey.
Pero como veremos en el capítulo 3, el rey decidió frustrar la visión y construyó una estatua de oro macizo y ordenó adoración a la imagen Esto es un presagio de Apocalipsis 13:15 ‘Y tenía poder para dar vida a la imagen de la bestia, que la imagen de la bestia debería hablar ambos, y porque todos los que no adoraran la imagen de la bestia deberían ser asesinados.’
Daniel 3
Nabucodonosor el rey hizo una imagen de oro, cuya altura era de sesenta codos, y su anchura de seis codos: la puso en la llanura de Dura, en la provincia de Babilonia Entonces Nabucodonosor el rey envió a reunir a los príncipes, a los gobernadores y a los capitanes, a los jueces, a los tesoreros, a los consejeros, a los alguaciles y a todos los gobernantes de las provincias, para venir a la advocación de la imagen que Nabucodonosor el rey había puesto Entonces los príncipes, los gobernadores, y capitanes, los jueces, los tesoreros, los consejeros, los alguaciles, y todos los gobernantes de las provincias, fueron reunidos a la advocación de la imagen que Nabucodonosor el rey había puesto; y se pusieron delante de la imagen que Nabucodonosor había puesto Entonces un heraldo clamó en voz alta, A vosotros os está ordenado, oh pueblo, naciones y lenguas, que a qué hora oigáis el sonido de la corneta, la flauta, el arpa, el saco, el salterio, el dulcimer y toda clase de musiqueos, os postráis y adorad la imagen de oro que el rey Nabucodonosor ha puesto: Y el que no caiga ni adore, será arrojado la misma hora en medio de un horno de fuego ardiente. Por tanto, en aquel tiempo, cuando todo el pueblo oyó el sonido de la corneta, flauta, arpa, sacos, salterio y toda clase de musique, todo el pueblo, las naciones, y las lenguas se postraron y adoraron la imagen de oro que había puesto Nabucodonosor el rey, por lo cual en aquel tiempo se acercaron ciertos caldeos, y acusaron a los judíos Hablaron y dijeron al rey Nabucodonosor, oh rey, vive para siempre Tú, oh rey, has hecho un decreto, que todo hombre que oiga el sonido de la corneta, flauta, arpa, cilicio, salterio y dulcémele, y toda clase de musick caerá y adorará la imagen de oro: Y el que no caiga ni adore, para que sea arrojado en medio de un horno de fuego ardiente. Hay ciertos judíos a quienes has puesto sobre los asuntos de la provincia. de Babilonia, Sadrac, Mesac y Abednego; Estos hombres, oh rey, no te han mirado: no sirven a tus dioses, ni adoréis la imagen de oro que habéis puesto Entonces Nabucodonosor en su rabia y furor mandó traer a Sadrac, a Mesac y a Abed-nego Entonces llevaron a estos hombres delante del rey Nabucodonosor habló y les dijo: ¿Es verdad, oh Sadrac, a Mesac y a Abed-nego, no sirváis a mis dioses, ni adoréis la imagen de oro que he puesto? Ahora bien, si estáis preparados para que en qué tiempo oigáis el sonido de la corneta, la flauta, el arpa, el saclo, el salterio y el dulcémele, y toda clase de musique, os postréis y adoréis la imagen que he hecho; bueno; pero si no adoráis, seréis arrojados a la misma hora en medio de un horno de fuego ardiente; ¿y quién es ese Dios que os librará de mis manos? respondieron Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego, y dijeron al rey: Oh Nabucodonosor, no tenemos cuidado de responderte en este asunto. Si es así, nuestro Dios a quien servimos puede librarnos del horno de fuego ardiente, y él nos librará de tu mano, oh rey. Pero si no, sé tú, oh rey, que no serviremos a tus dioses, ni adoraremos la imagen de oro que has puesto Entonces Nabucodonosor estaba lleno de furia, y la forma de su rostro fue cambiada contra Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego; por eso habló, y mandó que calentaran el horno una siete veces más de lo que solía calentarse. Y mandó a los hombres más valientes que estaban en su ejército que ataran a Sadrac, a Mesac y a Abed-nego, y que los echaran en el horno de fuego ardiente Entonces estos hombres fueron atados en sus abrigos, en sus mangueras, y en sus sombreros, y en sus otras vestiduras, y fueron echados en medio del horno de fuego ardiente Por lo tanto porque el mandamiento del rey era urgente, y el horno excediendo caliente, la llama del fuego mató a los hombres que tomaron Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego Y estos tres hombres, Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego, cayeron atados en medio del horno de fuego ardiente Entonces el rey Nabucodonosor se asombró, y se levantó apresuradamente, y habló, y dijo a sus consejeros: ¿No arrojamos tres hombres atados en medio del fuego? Respondieron y dijeron al rey: Verdadero, oh rey Respondió y dijo: He aquí, veo a cuatro hombres sueltos, caminando en medio del fuego, y no tienen daño; y la forma del cuarto es como el Hijo de Dios Entonces Nabucodonosor se acercó a la boca del horno de fuego ardiendo, y habló, y dijo: Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego, vosotros siervos del Dios altísimo, salid, y venid acá Entonces Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego, salieron de en medio del fuego Y los príncipes, gobernadores, y capitanes, y los consejeros del rey, estando reunidos, vieron a estos hombres, sobre cuyos cuerpos el fuego no tenía poder, ni un pelo de su cabeza estaba chamuscado, ni se les cambiaban los abrigos, ni el olor del fuego había pasado sobre ellos Entonces Nabucodonosor habló, y dijo: Bendito sea el Dios de Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego, que ha enviado a su ángel, y ha entregado a sus siervos que confiaban en él, y han cambiado la palabra del rey, y dado sus cuerpos, para que no sirvan ni adoren a ningún dios, excepto a su propio Dios Por eso hago un decreto: Que todo pueblo, nación, y la lengua, que habla cualquier cosa mal contra el Dios de Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego, será cortada en pedazos, y sus casas serán hechas un estercolero; porque no hay otro Dios que pueda librar después de esta especie Entonces el rey promovió a Sadrac, Mesac y Abed-nego, en la provincia de Babilonia.
Las dos elecciones para toda la humanidad están presentes en esta historia Ambos grupos en esta historia muestran las tres partes de elección a favor o en contra de Dios El desafío, la devoción y la consecuencia.
Desafío
Por Dios: Los tres hombres de Israel desafiaron la orden del rey y se negaron a inclinarse ante la estatua.
Contra Dios: El rey desafió el mandato de Dios de tener sólo a Él como Dios.

Devoción
Por Dios: Los tres de Israel dijeron que, aunque Dios no los salvara de la muerte, todavía lo adorarían.
Contra Dios: Los soldados del rey, incluso después de que el fuego fuera más caliente que nunca, se dedicaron a seguir órdenes de colocar a los tres de Israel en el fuego.

Consecuencia
Para Dios: A pesar de ser arrojados al infierno ardiente, los tres no fueron perjudicados, sus ataduras se desprendieron, su vestimenta intacta Pero lo más importante, incluso el rey vio su redención El Hijo de Dios antes de que se encarnara “Lo, veo a cuatro hombres sueltos, caminando en medio del fuego, y no tienen daño; y la forma del cuarto es como el Hijo de Dios.” (Daniel 3:25).
Contra Dios: La elección de seguir las órdenes del rey, costó la vida a los soldados La llama que el rey ordena que se caliente, se convirtió en el juicio de fuego de Dios a los soldados Esto un presagio del fuego final que caerá sobre esta tierra. ‘y cuando los mil años hayan expirado, Satanás será desatado de su prisión, Y saldrán a engañar a las naciones que están en los cuatro cuartos de la tierra, Gog y Magog, para reunirlos en la batalla; cuyo número es como la arena del mar. Y subieron sobre la anchura de la tierra, y rodearon el campamento de los santos y la ciudad amada; y descendió fuego de Dios del cielo, y los devoró.’ (Apocalipsis 20:7-9).

Al ver en esta historia, vemos las consecuencias de a quién servimos Solo hay dos elecciones: Dios o Satanás Si no eliges ser salvo por la sangre de Cristo y seguirLO, entonces sigues a Satanás Incluso si crees que te sigues solo a ti mismo, el desafío a Dios es seguir a Su enemigo, Satanás.
Las elecciones son: Eternidad con Dios en el Cielo o Eterna Condenación en el Infierno.
Josué lo dijo mejor. ‘Y si os parece mal servir al Señor, escogeos hoy a quién serviréis; ya sean los dioses a los que sirvieron vuestros padres que estaban al otro lado del diluvio, o los dioses de los amorreos, en cuya tierra habitáis; pero a mí y a mi casa serviremos al Señor.’ (Josué 24:15)

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Defiance, Debosyon, at Bunga

Ang sangkatauhan ay may dalawang pagpipilian na gagawin sa buhay na ito. Ang sumunod sa Diyos o ang suwayin ang Diyos (na sumusunod kay Satanas). Si Jesus na Anak at ang Diyos Ama ay nilinaw sa pamamagitan ng lahat ng banal na kasulatan, na mayroon lamang ang dalawang pagpipiliang ito. Ang isa ay humahantong sa buhay na walang hanggan kasama ang Diyos, ang isa ay humahantong sa walang hanggang kapahamakan.Ngayon ay titingnan natin ang isang kuwento sa Daniel na naglalarawan ng dalawang pagpipiliang ito. Alam natin ang kuwento tungkol kay Haring Nabucodonosor ng sinaunang Babilonya. Alam natin kung paano ang kanyang panaginip tungkol sa multi metal na palatuntunan ay binigyang kahulugan ni Daniel.

Daniel 2At nang ikalawang taon ng paghahari ni Nabucodonosor ay nanaginip si Nabucodonosor ng mga panaginip, na kung saan ang kaniyang espiritu ay nabagabag, at ang kaniyang pagtulog ay naputol mula sa kaniya. Nang magkagayo’y iniutos ng hari na tawagin ang mga salamangkero, at ang mga astrologo, at ang mga mangkukulam, at ang mga Caldeo, sapagka’t upang ipakita sa hari ang kaniyang mga panaginip. Kaya’t sila’y lumapit at tumayo sa harap ng hari. At sinabi ng hari sa kanila, Ako’y nanaginip ng panaginip, at ang aking espiritu ay nabagabag upang malaman ang panaginip. Nang magkagayo’y nagsalita ang mga Caldeo sa hari sa Siria, Oh hari, mabuhay ka magpakailan man: sabihin mo sa iyong mga lingkod ang panaginip, at aming ipapakita ang kahulugan. Sumagot ang hari at sinabi sa mga Caldeo, Ang bagay ay nawala sa akin: kung hindi ninyo ipaaalam sa akin ang panaginip, kasama ng kahulugan niyaon, kayo’y puputolputol, at ang inyong mga bahay ay gagawing isang dumi ng dumi. Datapuwa’t kung inyong ipakita ang panaginip, at ang kahulugan niyaon, kayo’y tatanggap sa akin ng mga kaloob at mga gantimpala at malaking karangalan: kaya’t ipakita ninyo sa akin ang panaginip, at ang kahulugan niyaon. Sila’y sumagot uli at nagsabi, Sabihin ng hari sa kaniyang mga lingkod ang panaginip, at aming ipapakita ang kahulugan nito. Sumagot ang hari at sinabi, Nalalaman ko nang may katiyakan na inyong matatamo ang panahon, sapagka’t nakikita ninyong ang bagay ay nawala sa akin. Datapuwa’t kung hindi ninyo ipaalam sa akin ang panaginip, ay iisa lamang ang utos sa inyo: sapagka’t kayo’y naghanda ng mga kasinungalingan at mga salitang bulok na magsalita sa harap ko, hanggang sa ang panahon ay mabago: kaya’t sabihin ninyo sa akin ang panaginip, at aking malalaman na inyong maipapahayag sa akin ang kahulugan niyaon.Sumagot ang mga Caldeo sa harap ng hari, at nagsabi, Walang lalake sa lupa na makapagpapakita ng bagay ng hari: kaya’t walang hari, panginoon, o pinuno, na humingi ng gayong mga bagay sa sinomang salamangkero, o astrologo, o Caldeo. At ito’y isang bihirang bagay na hinihingi ng hari, at walang ibang makapagpapakita nito sa harap ng hari, maliban sa mga dios, na ang nananahan ay hindi may laman. Dahil dito’y nagalit ang hari at labis na nagalit, at inutusang lipulin ang lahat ng pantas ng Babilonia. At ang kautusan ay lumaganap na ang mga pantas na lalaki ay papatayin; at hinanap nila si Daniel at ang kanyang mga kapwa upang patayin.Nang magkagayo’y sumagot si Daniel na may payo at karunungan kay Arioch na kapitan ng bantay ng hari, na nagsilabas upang patayin ang mga pantas sa Babilonia: Siya’y sumagot at sinabi kay Arioch na kapitan ng hari, Bakit ang utos ay nagmamadali sa hari Pagkatapos ay ipinaalam ni Arioch ang bagay kay Daniel. Nang magkagayo’y pumasok si Daniel, at hiniling sa hari na bigyan siya ng panahon, at ipahayag niya sa hari ang kahulugan. Nang magkagayo’y nagsiparoon si Daniel sa kaniyang bahay, at ipinaalam ang bagay kay Hananias, kay Misael, at kay Azarias, na kaniyang mga kasama: Na sila’y magsisipagnais ng mga awa ng Dios ng langit hinggil sa lihim na ito; upang si Daniel at ang kanyang mga kapwa ay hindi mapahamak kasama ng iba pang mga pantas na tao sa Babilonia.Nang magkagayo’y nahayag kay Daniel ang lihim sa isang pangitain sa gabi. Pagkatapos ay pinagpala ni Daniel ang Diyos ng langit. Sumagot si Daniel at sinabi,

Purihin ang pangalan ng Diyos magpakailanman at walang katapusan:

sapagkat ang karunungan at kapangyarihan ay sa kanya:

At kaniyang binabago ang mga panahon at ang mga kapanahunan:

kaniyang inaalis ang mga hari, at nagtatayo ng mga hari:

siya’y nagbibigay ng karunungan sa mga pantas,

at kaalaman sa mga nakakaalam ng pag unawa:

Inihahayag niya ang malalim at lihim na mga bagay:

alam niya kung ano ang nasa dilim,

at ang liwanag ay nananahan sa kanya.

Pinasasalamatan kita, at pinupuri kita, Oh ikaw na Dios ng aking mga ninuno,

na nagbigay sa akin ng karunungan at kapangyarihan,

at ipinaalam mo sa akin ngayon ang aming ninanais sa iyo:

sapagkat ipinaalam mo na ngayon sa amin ang bagay na hari.Kaya’t pumasok si Daniel kay Arioc, na inordenan ng hari na lipulin ang mga pantas na tao sa Babilonia: siya ay yumaon at nagsabi ng ganito sa kaniya; Huwag mong lipulin ang mga pantas na lalake sa Babilonia: ipasok mo ako sa harap ng hari, at aking ipapakita sa hari ang kahulugan. Nang magkagayo’y isinugod ni Arioch si Daniel sa harap ng hari na nagmamadali, at ganito ang sinabi sa kaniya, Ako’y nakasumpong ng isang lalake sa mga bihag ng Juda, na magpapaalam sa hari ng kahulugan. Sumagot ang hari at sinabi kay Daniel, na ang pangalan ay Beltsasar, Ikaw ba’y makapagbibigay alam sa akin ng panaginip na aking nakita, at ng kahulugan niyaon Sumagot si Daniel sa harapan ng hari, at nagsabi, Ang lihim na hiniling ng hari ay hindi maipakikita ng mga pantas, ng mga astrologo, ng mga salamangkero, ng mga manghuhula, sa hari; Datapuwa’t may Dios sa langit na nagpapahayag ng mga lihim, at nagpapaalam sa haring Nabucodonosor kung ano ang mangyayari sa mga huling araw. Ang iyong panaginip, at ang mga pangitain ng iyong ulo sa iyong higaan, ay ito; Tungkol sa iyo, Oh hari, ang iyong mga pagiisip ay pumasok sa iyong isipan sa iyong higaan, kung ano ang mangyayari sa kabilang buhay: at siya na nagbubunyag ng mga lihim ay nagpapakilala sa iyo kung ano ang mangyayari. Datapuwa’t tungkol sa akin, ang lihim na ito ay hindi inihayag sa akin dahil sa anumang karunungan na mayroon ako nang higit kay sa sinumang nabubuhay, kundi dahil sa kanila na magpapaalam ng kahulugan sa hari, at upang malaman mo ang mga kaisipan ng iyong puso.Ikaw, Oh hari, ay nakakita, at narito ang isang dakilang larawan. Ang dakilang larawang ito, na ang ningning ay napakaganda, ay nakatayo sa iyong harapan; at ang anyo niyaon ay kakila kilabot. Ang ulo ng imaheng ito ay yari sa pinong ginto, ang kanyang dibdib at ang kanyang mga bisig ay pilak, ang kanyang tiyan at ang kanyang mga hita ay tanso, ang kanyang mga binti ay bakal, ang kanyang mga paa ay bahagi ng bakal at bahagi ng putik. Nakita mo hanggang sa ang isang bato ay pinutol nang walang mga kamay, na humampas sa larawan sa kaniyang mga paa na yari sa bakal at putik, at pinagputolputol ang mga ito. Nang magkagayo’y ang bakal, ang putik, ang tanso, ang pilak, at ang ginto, ay pinagputol-putol, at naging gaya ng mga dawag ng mga bakuran ng tag-init; At sila’y dinala ng hangin, na walang dakong nasumpungan para sa kanila: at ang batong humampas sa larawan ay naging malaking bundok, at napuno ang buong lupa.Ito ang panaginip; at sasabihin natin ang kahulugan nito sa harap ng hari. Ikaw, Oh hari, ay hari ng mga hari: sapagka’t binigyan ka ng Dios ng langit ng isang kaharian, kapangyarihan, at lakas, at kaluwalhatian. At saan man nananahan ang mga anak ng tao, ang mga hayop sa parang at ang mga ibon sa langit ay ibinigay niya sa iyong kamay, at ginawa kang pinuno sa kanilang lahat. Ikaw ang ulo na ito ng ginto. At pagkatapos mo ay babangon ang ibang kaharian na mas mababa sa iyo, at ang isa pang ikatlong kaharian na tanso, na siyang maghahari sa buong lupa. At ang ikaapat na kaharian ay magiging matibay na parang bakal: yamang ang bakal ay nagsisira at sumasakop sa lahat ng bagay: at gaya ng bakal na nagsisira ng lahat ng ito, ay magsisipagputol putol at magsisira. At samantalang nakikita mo ang mga paa at daliri ng paa, bahagi ng putik ng mga palayok, at bahagi ng bakal, ang kaharian ay hahatiin; ngunit magkakaroon sa loob nito ng lakas ng bakal, yayamang nakita mo ang bakal na hinaluan ng putik na putik. At kung paanong ang mga daliri sa paa ng mga paa ay bahagi ng bakal, at bahagi ng putik, gayon ang kaharian ay magiging bahagyang malakas, at bahagyang masira. At samantalang ikaw ay nakakita ng bakal na hinaluan ng putik na miry, ay makikihalubilo sila sa binhi ng mga tao: nguni’t hindi sila magkakadikit sa isa’t isa, gaya ng bakal na hindi nahahalo sa putik. At sa mga kaarawan ng mga hari na ito ay magtatayo ang Dios ng langit ng isang kaharian, na hindi kailanman malilipol: at ang kaharian ay hindi iiwan sa ibang bayan, kundi ito’y magsisipagputol putol at lulubusin ang lahat ng kaharian na ito, at ito’y mananatili magpakailan man. Yayamang nakita mo na ang bato ay pinutol mula sa bundok nang walang mga kamay, at na pinutol nito ang bakal, ang tanso, ang putik, ang pilak, at ang ginto; ipinaalam ng dakilang Dios sa hari kung ano ang mangyayari sa kabilang buhay: at ang panaginip ay tiyak, at ang kahulugan niyaon ay tiyak.Nang magkagayo’y nagpatirapa ang haring Nabucodonosor, at sinamba si Daniel, at iniutos na sila’y maghandog ng isang handog at mga mabangong amoy sa kaniya. Sumagot ang hari kay Daniel, at nagsabi, Sa katotohanan nga, ang inyong Dios ay Dios ng mga dios, at Panginoon ng mga hari, at tagapaghayag ng mga lihim, yamang maaari mong ihayag ang lihim na ito. Nang magkagayo’y ginawa ng hari si Daniel na isang dakilang lalake, at binigyan siya ng maraming dakilang kaloob, at ginawa siyang pinuno sa buong lalawigan ng Babilonia, at pangulo ng mga gobernador sa lahat ng pantas na lalake sa Babilonia. Nang magkagayo’y humingi si Daniel sa hari, at kaniyang inilagay si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abednego, sa mga gawain ng lalawigan ng Babilonia: nguni’t si Daniel ay naupo sa pintuang daan ng hari.Ngunit tulad ng makikita natin sa kabanata 3, nagpasiya ang hari na hadlangan ang pangitain at nagtayo ng rebultong solidong ginto at iniutos ang pagsamba sa imahen. Ito ay isang foreshadowing ng Apocalipsis 13:15 ‘At siya ay may kapangyarihang bigyan ng buhay ang larawan ng hayop, upang ang larawan ng hayop ay parehong magsalita, at maging sanhi na ang maraming mga ayaw sumamba sa larawan ng hayop ay dapat patayin.’

Daniel 3Si Nabucodonosor na hari ay gumawa ng isang larawang ginto, na ang taas ay tatlong pung siko, at ang lapad niyaon ay anim na siko: kaniyang itinayo sa kapatagan ng Dura, sa lalawigan ng Babilonia. Nang magkagayo’y nagsugo si Nabucodonosor na hari upang tipunin ang mga prinsipe, ang mga gobernador, at ang mga kapitan, ang mga hukom, ang mga ingat yaman, ang mga tagapayo, ang mga sheriff, at ang lahat na pinuno ng mga lalawigan, upang lumapit sa paglalaan ng larawang itinayo ni Nabucodonosor na hari. Nang magkagayo’y ang mga prinsipe, ang mga gobernador, at mga kapitan, ang mga hukom, ang mga tagapagingat yaman, ang mga tagapayo, ang mga serapido, at ang lahat ng pinuno ng mga lalawigan, ay nagtipon-tipon sa paglalaan ng larawang itinayo ni Nabucodonosor na hari; at sila ay tumayo sa harap ng imahen na itinayo ni Nabucodonosor. Nang magkagayo’y sumigaw ng malakas ang isang tagapagbalita, Sa inyo’y iniutos, Oh bayan, mga bansa, at mga wika, Na sa panahong inyong marinig ang tunog ng korneta, plauta, alpa, sakopa, salterio, dulcimer, at lahat ng uri ng musika, kayo’y magpatirapa at sambahin ang larawang ginto na inilagay ni Nabucodonosor na hari: At ang sinomang hindi magpatirapa at sumamba ay ihahagis sa gitna ng nagniningas na nagniningas na hurno. Kaya’t nang panahong yaon, nang marinig ng buong bayan ang tunog ng korneta, plauta, alpa, sackbutt, psaltery, at lahat ng uri ng musika, ang lahat ng mga tao, ang mga bansa, at ang mga wika, ay nagpatirapa at sumamba sa larawang ginto na itinayo ni Nabucodonosor na hari.Kaya’t nang panahong yaon ay lumapit ang ilang Caldeo, at inakusahan ang mga Judio. Sila’y nagsalita at sinabi sa haring Nabucodonosor, Oh hari, mabuhay ka magpakailan man. Ikaw, Oh hari, ay gumawa ng isang pasiya, na ang bawa’t tao na makaririnig ng tunog ng korneta, plauta, alpa, sakopa, psaltery, at dulcimer, at lahat ng uri ng musika, ay magpapatirapa at sasamba sa larawang ginto: At ang sinomang hindi magpatirapa at sumamba, upang siya’y ihagis sa gitna ng nagniningas na nagniningas na hurno. May ilang Judio na iyong inilagay sa mga gawain ng lalawigan ng Babilonia, sina Sadrach, Mesach, at Abednego; ang mga lalaking ito, Oh hari, ay hindi nagbigay-pansin sa iyo: hindi sila naglingkod sa iyong mga dios, ni sumasamba man sa larawang ginto na iyong itinayo.Nang magkagayo’y si Nabucodonosor sa kaniyang galit at galit ay nag utos na dalhin si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abednego. Pagkatapos ay dinala nila ang mga lalaking ito sa harap ng hari. Nagsalita si Nabucodonosor at sinabi sa kanila, Totoo ba, Oh Sadrach, Mesach, at Abednego, hindi ba kayo naglilingkod sa aking mga dios, ni sumasamba man sa larawang ginto na aking itinayo Ngayon, kung kayo ay handa na sa oras na inyong marinig ang tunog ng korneta, plauta, alpa, sackbutt, psaltery, at dulcimer, at lahat ng uri ng musika, kayo ay magpapatirapa at sasamba sa larawang aking ginawa; mabuti: subalit kung hindi kayo sasamba, kayo ay itatapon sa oras ding iyon sa gitna ng nagniningas na nagniningas na hurno; at sino ang Diyos na yaon na magliligtas sa inyo mula sa aking mga kamay? Sina Sadrach, Mesach, at Abednego, ay sumagot at nagsabi sa hari, Oh Nabucodonosor, hindi kami maingat na sagutin ka sa bagay na ito. Kung gayon, ang ating Diyos na ating pinaglilingkuran ay may kakayahang iligtas tayo mula sa nagniningas na nagniningas na hurno, at ililigtas niya tayo sa iyong kamay, O hari. Ngunit kung hindi, alamin mo sa iyo, Oh hari, na hindi kami maglilingkod sa iyong mga dios, ni sasamba man sa gintong larawan na iyong itinayo.Nang magkagayo’y si Nabucodonosor ay puno ng galit, at ang anyo ng kaniyang visage ay nabago laban kay Sadrach, kay Mesach, at kay Abednego: kaya’t siya’y nagsalita, at iniutos na kanilang initin ang hurno nang makapitong beses na higit kay sa nakasanayan na mapainit. At kaniyang inutusan ang mga pinakamakapangyarihang lalake na nasa kaniyang hukbo na igapos si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abednego, at ihagis sila sa nagniningas na nagniningas na hurno. Nang magkagayo’y ang mga lalaking ito ay iginapos sa kanilang mga balabal, ang kanilang mga hosen, at ang kanilang mga sumbrero, at ang kanilang iba pang mga kasuotan, at itinapon sa gitna ng nagniningas na nagniningas na hurno. Kaya nga dahil sa ang utos ng hari ay kagyat, at ang hurno ay labis na mainit, ang apoy ng apoy ay pumatay sa mga lalaking yaon na nagdala kina Sadrach, Mesach, at Abednego. At ang tatlong lalaking ito, si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abednego, ay nahulog na nakatali sa gitna ng nagniningas na nagniningas na hurno. Nang magkagayo’y nagulat si Nabucodonosor na hari, at nagmadaling bumangon, at nagsalita, at nagsabi sa kaniyang mga tagapayo, Hindi ba’t naghagis tayo ng tatlong lalake na nakatali sa gitna ng apoy Sila’y nagsisagot at sinabi sa hari, Totoo, Oh hari. Sumagot siya at sinabi, Narito, nakikita ko ang apat na lalaking nakawala, na naglalakad sa gitna ng apoy, at wala silang nasaktan at ang anyo ng ikaapat ay katulad ng Anak ng Diyos.Nang magkagayo’y lumapit si Nabucodonosor sa bibig ng nagniningas na nagniningas na hurno, at nagsalita, at nagsabi, Sadrach, Mesach, at Abednego, kayong mga lingkod ng Dios na kataastaasan, magsilabas kayo, at magsiparoon kayo rito. Nang magkagayo’y si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abednego, ay nagsilabas sa gitna ng apoy. At ang mga prinsipe, mga gobernador, at mga kapitan, at ang mga tagapayo ng hari, na nagkakatipon, ay nakita ang mga lalaking ito, na sa kanilang mga katawan ay walang kapangyarihan ang apoy, ni isang buhok sa kanilang ulo ay inawit, ni ang kanilang mga balabal ay nagbago, ni ang amoy ng apoy ay dumaan sa kanila. Nang magkagayo’y nagsalita si Nabucodonosor, at nagsabi, Purihin ang Dios ni Sadrach, ni Mesach, at ni Abednego, na nagsugo ng kaniyang anghel, at nagligtas sa kaniyang mga lingkod na nagsitiwala sa kaniya, at nagbago ng salita ng hari, at nagbigay ng kanilang mga katawan, upang hindi sila maglingkod o sumamba sa anomang dios, maliban sa kanilang sariling Dios. Kaya’t ako’y gumagawa ng isang kautusan, Na ang bawa’t bayan, bansa, at wika, na nagsasalita ng anomang bagay ay nagkakamali laban sa Dios ni Sadrach, ni Mesach, at ni Abednego, ay puputulin, at ang kanilang mga bahay ay gagawing isang dumi ng dumi: sapagka’t walang ibang Dios na makapagliligtas ayon sa ganitong uri. Pagkatapos ay itinaguyod ng hari sina Sadrach, Mesach, at Abednego, sa lalawigan ng Babilonia.Ang dalawang pagpipilian para sa buong sangkatauhan ay naroroon sa kuwentong ito. Ang dalawang grupo sa kuwentong ito ay nagpapakita ng tatlong bahagi ng pagpili para sa o laban sa Diyos. Ang pagsuway, ang debosyon, at ang resulta.

Pagsuway

Para sa Diyos: Sinuway ng tatlong lalake ng Israel ang utos ng hari, at tumangging yumuko sa rebulto.

Laban sa Diyos: Sinuway ng hari ang utos ng Diyos na Siya lamang ang Diyos.

Debosyon

Para sa Diyos: Sinabi ng tatlo sa Israel na, kahit hindi sila iligtas ng Diyos mula sa kamatayan, sasambahin pa rin nila SIYA.

Laban sa Diyos: Ang mga kawal ng hari, kahit na ang apoy ay mas mainit kaysa dati, ay nakatuon sa pagsunod sa mga utos upang ilagay ang tatlo ng Israel sa apoy.

BungaPara sa Diyos: Sa kabila ng pagkahagis sa nagniningas na impiyerno, hindi napinsala ang tatlo. Ang kanilang mga gapos ay bumaba, ang kanilang mga damit ay hindi nahawakan. Ngunit higit sa lahat, maging ang hari ay nakita ang kanilang pagtubos. Ang Anak ng Diyos bago siya nagkatawang tao. “Narito, nakikita ko ang apat na lalaking nakawala, na naglalakad sa gitna ng apoy, at wala silang nasaktan; at ang anyo ng ikaapat ay katulad ng Anak ng Diyos.” (Daniel 3:25).Laban sa Diyos: Ang pagpili na sundin ang utos ng hari, ay nagdulot ng buhay sa mga kawal. Ang apoy na utos ng hari na gawing mas mainit, ay naging apoy na paghatol ng Diyos sa mga kawal. Ito ay isang foreshadowing ng huling apoy na babagsak sa mundong ito. ‘at pagka ang libong taon ay lumipas, si Satanas ay palalayain sa kaniyang bilangguan, At lalabas upang linlangin ang mga bansa na nasa apat na sulok ng lupa, si Gog at si Magog, upang tipunin sila sa pakikipagdigma: ang bilang nila ay gaya ng buhangin sa dagat. At sila’y umahon sa lawak ng lupa, at pinalibutan ang kampamento ng mga banal sa palibot, at ang minamahal na bayan: at ang apoy ay bumaba mula sa Dios mula sa langit, at sila’y nilamon.’ (Apocalipsis 20:7-9).Nakikita natin sa kuwentong ito ng kasaysayan, nakikita natin ang mga bunga ng ating pinaglilingkuran. Dalawa lang ang pagpipilian: ang Diyos o si Satanas. Kung hindi mo pinili na maligtas sa pamamagitan ng dugo ni Cristo at sumunod sa KANYA, kung gayon sinusunod mo si Satanas. Kahit na naniniwala ka na sinusunod mo lamang ang iyong sarili, ang pagsuway sa Diyos ay ang pagsunod sa Kanyang kaaway, si Satanas.

Ang mga pagpipilian ay: Walang Hanggan kasama ang Diyos sa Langit o Walang Hanggang Kapahamakan sa Impiyerno.Mas maganda ang sinabi ni Joshua. ‘At kung tila masama sa inyo ang maglingkod sa Panginoon, piliin ninyo sa araw na ito kung sino ang inyong paglilingkuran; kung ang mga dios na pinaglingkuran ng inyong mga magulang na nasa kabilang dako ng baha, o ang mga dios ng mga Amorrheo, na sa lupain ay nananahan kayo: nguni’t tungkol sa akin at sa aking sangbahayan, ay maglilingkod kami sa Panginoon.’ (Josue 24:15)

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Defiance, Devotion, and Consequence

Mankind has two choices to make in this life. To follow God or to defy God (which is following Satan). Jesus the Son and God the Father have made it clear through out all of scripture, that there are only these two choices. One leads to eternal life with God, the other leads to eternal damnation.

Today we will look at one story in Daniel that illustrates these two choices. We know the story of King Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon. We know how his dream of the multi-metal statute was interpreted by Daniel.

Daniel 2

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.   Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.   And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.   Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.   The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.   But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.   They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.   The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.   But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
   The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.   And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.   For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.   And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
   Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:   He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.   Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.   Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:   That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
   Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.   Daniel answered and said,
Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:
for wisdom and might are his:
   And he changeth the times and the seasons:
he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:
he giveth wisdom unto the wise,
and knowledge to them that know understanding:
   He revealeth the deep and secret things:
he knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth with him.
   I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers,
who hast given me wisdom and might,
and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee:
for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.
     Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.   Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.   The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?   Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;   But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;   As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.   But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
     Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.   This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,   His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.   Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.   Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
   This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.   Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.   And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.   And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.   And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.   And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.   And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.   And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.   And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.   Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
   Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.   The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.   Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.   Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

But as we will see in chapter 3, the king determined to thwart the vision and built a statue of solid gold and commanded worship to the image. This is a foreshadowing of Revelation 13:15 ‘And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.’

Daniel 3

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.   Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.   Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.   Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,   That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:   And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.   Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
   Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.   They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.   Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:   And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.   There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
     Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.   Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?   Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.   If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.   But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
   Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.   And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.   Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.   Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.   And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.   Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.   He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
   Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.   And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.   Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.   Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.   Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

The two choices for all of mankind are present in this story. Both groups in this story show the three parts of choice for or against God. The defiance, the devotion, and the consequence.

Defiance

For God: The three men of Israel defied the order of the king, and refused to bow to the statue.

Against God: The king defied the command of God to have only Him as God.

Devotion

For God: The three of Israel said that, even if God would not save them from death, they would still worship HIM.

Against God: The soldiers of the king, even after the fire was hotter than it had ever been, were devoted to following orders to place the three of Israel in the fire.

Consequence

For God: Despite being thrown into the blazing inferno, the three were not harmed. Their binds came off, their clothing untouched. But most important, even the king saw their redemption. The Son of God before he became incarnate. “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25).

Against God: The choice to follow the king’s orders, cost the soldiers their life. The flame that the king order to be made hotter, became the fire judgment of God to the soldiers. This a foreshadowing of the final fire that will fall on this earth. ‘and when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.’ (Revelation 20:7-9).

Seeing in this story of history, we see the consequences of whom we serve. There are only two choices: God or Satan. If you don’t choose to be saved by the blood of Christ and follow HIM, then you follow Satan. Even if you believe you follow only yourself, defiance of God is following His enemy, Satan.

The choices are: Eternity with God in Heaven or Eternal Damnation in Hell.

Joshua said it best. ‘And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ (Joshua 24:15)

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

The Cessation of the Apostolic Signs and Wonders

Anyone who has been in a church under the umbrella of Charismatic Christianity (which includes Pentecostal, Assembly of God, etc) has seen the ‘signs and wonders’ which had been seen in the works of the Apostles in the first century of the church. I have already written on tongues, that can be view by going to the main list of articles. This article is going to be a general overview and why the ‘signs following’ as seen in Holy Scripture no longer occur in that manner.

First we must look at the position of Apostle. With the original apostles (the 11), and we will include Justus Matthias as he was chosen by lot to replace Judas. This will also include the Apostle Paul. These 12 men were the only Apostles of Christ. By definition, an Apostle has to have one very specific criteria. Interacted with and chosen by Jesus Christ himself. Matthias is included, because Judas needed to replaced after his apostasy and death. The number was 12 because there were to be 12 main disciples (later Apostles) to correspond with the 12 tribes of Israel. And while Paul started towards the Jews, he was sent to the Gentiles. While others also went out of Israel into the world, we know that Paul was the one for the Gentiles.

From the death of John on Patmos, no other disciple (slave of Christ) meets the requirements to be an Apostle. And I do understand that today we have many self described “apostles”, but they don’t meet the requirements of the first century Apostles. Today’s so called apostles, are so only because of a supposed personal revelation. Revelation tells us not to add or detract from scripture. A personal revelation adds to scripture and would make the Holy Scriptures a continually added to book, not the Inspired Word of God in its finality.

None of those deemed Apostolic Father (those who studied under the Apostles like Clement and Polycarp). The majority of denominations recognize these men because there is proof of their being with the original Apostles. But their writings are not considered Inspired of God and placed in Canon of Scripture. They are considered theologians, but humanly so, meaning their writings could contain errors. But if you read their writings (and I do suggest that you do for theological perspective due to their proximity to the Apostles), you will not see any ‘signs and wonders’ beyond the Apostles.

Nowhere between the death of John and the early 20th century are there any records of ‘signs following’ from any slave of Christ. None. For a great history on the modern Charismatic Umbrella ‘signs and wonders’ check the Strange Fire Conference and the Charismatic history presented by Justin Peters. Both can be found on YouTube. These programs have a very detailed history of the Charismatic Umbrella.

The gifts of the Spirit: tongues (which is a known language according to the Greek word helios), healing, etc were for the Apostles to show the magnificence of God’s glory when the church was first being formed. After that, what the Holy Spirit gives us is listed in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” It is these fruits that show a person has the Holy Spirit indwelling in them.

James tells us how healing comes. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:13-15).

We are told by Paul that even those who come from Satan will show signs. “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thess 9-12)

I must make this clear. YES, God still heals. Yes, God still can raise from the dead. Yes, God can do as He wishes. With something like healing, yes its real. Not because a person lays hands on someone, but because God chooses to. Paul himself asked for healing for an eye issue. God told him no. I have seen the power of healing. In my own family, as well as others. But in the Charismatic Umbrella, when someone is not healed, its because the person ‘lacks faith’. NO, its because there are times when God’s glory shines the brightest through the tribulations and trials we have to face.

So be careful and don’t fall into the erroneous assumption that signs and wonders are from God. 1900 years, or so, of history shows that the signs by the Apostles were for that time of the church. Now everything needed to know comes from scripture, not personal revelation. Healing is from God’s sovereignty alone. And as James tells us, comes through prayer. But we have to remember that sometimes, God says NO. Not because you lack faith or that God is mean. But because He will show His glory however he chooses to.

Read Holy Scripture, listen to theologically sound biblical doctrine, and pray. If you are a true believer in Christ and follow his commandments (yes, those two go together as stated in multiple verses), then you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The fruits are the proof, not Apostolic signs and wonders as promoted by the Charismatic umbrella of denominations.

May God keep you blessed.

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Total Depravity

In today’s society, we have come to a point of replacing righteousness with people being good to their fellow man. Doing good works (ie giving to the poor, helping someone when they need it, being nice) is always a good thing. Even Joel Olsteen (a false doctrine teacher)and many other mainline modern churches (especially mega churches) say, at their heart people are good. That they are not bad, just make bad decisions.

But is that what scripture says? This article will use only scripture to to understand the human mind and the human heart. According to the Holy Scriptures, we are told the opposite. We will look at Old and New Testament scriptures that show the modern version of the human heart and mind are not what the writers of the Holy Scriptures (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) say.

Genesis 3:6-13 tells us of the willful choosing to not follow the one command in the Garden of Eden. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”

As we move onto the flood, Genesis 6:1-8 tells us why God decided to kill all but 8 people. “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

As Noah and his family started the new life of earth after the flood, sin was still in the hearts of man. In Genesis 9:20-24 we are told about the first sin after the flood. “And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.” In this passage, we see one sin (drunkenness) led to the second sin (looking on his father’s nakedness). So even Noah, who was found righteous and was saved, still had sinful heart and mind.

Before the people were spread to all the earth, man held the same position of pride as did Lucifer before his fall from grace as Satan. “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4)

Even Abram (Abraham), who is in the book of Hebrews hall of fame of Faith, sinned twice by lying (bearing false witness). “And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee”. (Genesis 12:10-13). And “But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake. And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.” (Genesis 20:7-13)

He also committed adultery because he did not believe God in giving him a child and listened to Sarai (Sarah), his wife. “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived:” (Genesis 16:1-4a)

During this time period, we see the evil of Sodom and Gommorah. “And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:20-21) “But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” (Genesis 19:4-5) The knowing them means to have homosexual relations. Sodom is the root for our term of Sodomy (male homosexual relations).

And after Lot left with his wife and two daughters, we see the two daughters causing Lot to sin and then sinning by committing incest, which is two sins (seeing their fathers nakedness and having sexual relations with someone not their husband). “And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.” (Genesis 19:31-36).

In Exodus we see that sin was in the hearts and minds of those that were just removed from slavery. “And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it;” (Exodus 32:1-5a)

We can go through each book of the Old Testament and the New Testament and find examples of the depravity of man’s heart and mind. King David, many of the kings from his lineage. Samson the Judge. The Pharisees. Judas Iscariot, Those who sough the deaths of the Christians.

Now let us view statements in both the Old and New Testaments about man’s hearts and minds.

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

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

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are a folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5)

For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. (Psalm 58:3)

As it is written: “None is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. (Romans 3:10-11)

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (Romans 7:13-19)

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because All sinned. (Romans 5:12)

ALL have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. (Romans 3:12)

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

We are all born totally depraved because of the stain of original sin. Scripture tells us that no man seeks for God. This is become of the depravity of the heart and mind. So when looking at verses that tell us to seek God and seek and you shall find him. These verses have to be understood with the idea, that it has to be the Holy Spirit that draws us. We can’t do it on our own since anything Holy and of God is alien to the human mind an heart without the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We are told, all throughout scripture, that we are the ones that are sought. That’s the meaning of the parable of the 99 v 1 sheep. We cannot come to God through Christ without being drawn first. If we hear an altar call and have the push to repent, that is the Holy Spirit, not us. We do not make that decision. The only decision we make is AFTER the conviction of the Holy Spirit. This leads to 2 things we then do. The first is to repent and the second is the public affirmation.

Can you deny that prompting? Yes, It’s called grieving the Holy Spirit.

The a few things we need to remember are this: 1) before Christ is our Lord and King, our hearts and minds are totally depraved with the results of original sin. 2) Only God, through the Holy Spirit can call us to Christ through repentance. 3) And we will still sin after being saved, because it is our human nature. 4) We need to repent as often as the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. May you hear the call of God, come to Christ, and repent.

Christianity, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

New Year, New Start, But in Need of a New Life

Today starts a new year. And most people will name their resolutions for a new start. Things that are named are like: stop smoking, exercise more, eat healthier, be nicer, not take lip from others, and the list goes on. And while these things are good, most will admit (if they are honest) do not last in their daily walk through the year. But what is needed is a new life.

I don’t mean just walking away from job or family and start over. I mean real life. While Paul is writing to the Romans, he speaks of the new life we all need. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:1-4)

There are three things Jesus the Christ said in one statement that gives us a new start to an eternal new life. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). In this statement, Jesus speaks three things that we, as a depraved and corrupt humanity, need to hear.

He is the way. Luke restates this in his accounting of the Acts of the Apostles. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

He is the truth. “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” (Psalms 25:5). “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).

He is life. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:4) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)

Jesus told John in His revelation, that those without being written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, the eternal penalty is death. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:12-15)

Eternal condemnation and punishment or Eternal grace and mercy. No other choice is optional. So as you start the new year, kneel at the Cross of Christ and begin a new life that will be eternal in grace and mercy. Or continue making resolutions that only work on the outer person and not the soul, and receive eternal damnation at the end of your last earthly breath.

May God draw you, bless you, and lead you to the eternal kingdom of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ.

Christianity, Current events, faith

The Journey Seeking God’s Forgiveness

A biblical answer to the confessional: part two on confession

Being a Catholic means Eucharist and Confession. The two work together, for without confession, one cannot partake in the Eucharist. This article is about a journey to understand forgiveness in the biblical sense of how to obtain it.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church has regulations on how forgiveness is to be administered. While they do teach that only God can forgive sin, they also adhere to the clergy are the one’s to administer the rite (sacrament). This is found in the Catechism. Part Two Section Two Article 4 No. 1441, “ Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, “The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” and exercises this divine power: “Your sins are forgiven.” The second part of No. 1441 states “Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.”

They take this ‘authority’ for two reasons. The first is a single line in scripture (John 20:23) “After His resurrection, Jesus told the disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”. The second is the belief that the power of the Catholic Church derives straight from the Apostles and Peter as the first designated Pope. It must be understood that other denominations along with the Latin Rite Catholic also make this claim. This article is not about their claims of authority. Although through it, that authority may be questioned.

Let us look at the history of priestly confessions. The Fathers of the Church (those after the Apostles) did speak on confession. But not always to a priest. Barnabas in his letter (AD 74) simply states “you shall confess your sins”.Since he was an Apostles he would be referring to this verse (1 John 1:9) “If we confess our sin,he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”. The he that is spoken of here is God.

Tertullian (AD 203) states, “The Church has the power of forgiving sins.” Hippolytus (AD 215) states while speaking of a new appointed bishop in the church, “and by the Spirit of the high priesthood to have the authority to forgive sins, in accord with your command.” John Chrysostom (AD 387) states John 20:23 and then says this. “The Father has give all judgment to the Son. And now I see the Son placing all this power in the hands of men”.

So this belief dates back to at least the third century. The command to receive forgiveness and penance from a priest, was not placed into the rules and regulations of the church until the 4th Lateran Council in 1215. Two things came out of this council, in relation to this article. The first being the Eucharist, the real presence in the communion wafer and wine after a priest consecrates the host. The second point relating to this article is the addition to canon (law) that confession must be made to a priest once a year at the minimum. So, for the first 1200 years of the church, confession to a priest was not commanded.

There is the first issue with the ‘need of a priestly mediator, instead of God’s omnipotent grace and ability. The second is that none of the Apostles ever forgave a sin. The book of Acts in the New Testament is the continuing story of the post resurrection disciples (some now given the term of Apostle). They heal, the teach, they preach, but nowhere in the entire accounting of their ministries and travels do they once forgive a sin.

The third thing to discuss in this, is the supposed need for a human mediator between man and God. We are told in 1 Timothy 2:15 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” If one sees the bible as the true word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and written by the various writers over the various centuries from Moses to John, then this statement in itself eliminates a priest as mediator in which is needed by the canon of the Church of Rome. It also calls into question of Mary as co-mediatrix. This article is not to condemn or deny the mother of Christ. But does put into light any source as a mediator between man and God that is not Christ.

Martin Luther gave the reformative concept of salvation and grace through Christ alone. So, as the Bereans would do, let us search scripture.

In Acts 2:38, Peter said “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

It is also stated in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Jesus says in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Through the words of the Apostle Peter and Jesus the Christ, it is only through Jesus that a man can be saved and forgiven his sins. And being the only mediator between man and God, Jesus does not relinquish or share that ability with anyone.

And let us take the warning of the Apostle Paul when it comes to teaching. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9)

So as my journey in faith with Christ continues, I see an opening of possibilities in faith and ministry, as well as the possible ending of part of this path. Never take as gospel what you hear or read. Always search it for yourself. Be guided by the Holy Spirit. And be ready to defend your faith. And never let tradition take the place of scripture.

Christianity, faith, Uncategorized

The Four Advents of Jesus

While we celebrate the Advent season in the watching for the coming of the baby Jesus (God incarnate), Let us look at all the advents of Jesus. The incarnate was the first. The second would be the advent of the coming of Jesus to the beginning of his ministry. The third would be the advent of the coming from the tomb in Resurrection. The last would be the advent of his final coming as our King.

Many speak of the first advent and the last advent. But I have yet to hear a message on the other two as advents. But they were if you look at the term in its definition. In the Oxford dictionary, advent has two definitions. 1) the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. 2)the coming or second coming of Christ. For this article, we will use both definitions. The Incarnation and the final return as King are defined with the second definition. The in-between two fall under the first definition.

Incarnation

The first advent of Jesus was the coming of God incarnate in man.

Matthew 1-2:1 (The lineage and birth of Jesus)

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Boaz of Rachab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the 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 Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem

Luke 1:26-35, 41-43; 2:1-14 (The message of Gabriel, Elizabeth, and the angels)

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. / And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? / And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

John 1:1-14 (God coming as man)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Baptism

The second advent started with the baptism of Jesus to start his mission on earth.

Matthew 3:13-17

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 1:1-11

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Luke 3:21-23

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age,

John 1:15-16, 29-36

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. / The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Resurrection

The third advent started at the death on the cross and ended three days later

Matthew 27:50-28:10

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Mark 15:37-16:9

And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Luke 23:46-24:35

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Mark 19:30-20:18

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

King’s Enterance

The fourth advent will be at the end of the age, when Christ returns to collect his own, give due justice to the unrighteous and the eternal home with Christ.

Matthew 24:31-34

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mark 13:24-27

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Luke 17:20-24

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

John 14:1-3

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Revelation 19:11-22:21

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

I pray that his short study in the different advents will give you a desire to study deep into the Word of God through the Scriptures. To see each of these advents as ways to remember that we are watching in hope of our eternal home.

May this article bless you. Always study and pray. And as John ends the Revelation of Christ “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Christianity, faith, Uncategorized

Tongues: Language or Not

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:1-11).

When we speak of tongues, many automatically think of the Charismatic movement. This term is an umbrella term used to define those that have the doctrines of signs following and Pentecost type of experience. So I want to delve into the concept of ‘speaking in tongues’ starting with an understanding of the Pentecostal message of the Apostles.

We first need to remember that Jews were living all over the known world at the time. Israel was the gateway to three continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa). So in all of that, there would have been dozens, if not a hundred different languages and dialects. This is seen in the understanding of the four languages of Israel at the time. We know Galileans spoke Aramaic. Hebrew was the language of the temple. Greek was the language of civil government and business. And the Romans would have spoken Latin amongst each other. The above passage identifies various areas of the Jewish diaspora.

Looking at the Greek of the New Testament writers, the word translated into the English as tongue is glossia. It simply means tongues of nations, or simply put as known languages of a geographical area. The main point is ‘known languages’. Even when expositing upon this set of verses, theologians and pastors agree that it was known languages spoken at the Pentecost message. So, we will look at the other New Testament uses of the word tongues and its Greek wording and meaning.

One of the most used scriptures for the concept of speaking in tongues is in1 Corinthians 14:2-5, ‘For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.’The Greek here is still the word glossia, ‘tongues of nations’. It is a known language, unknown by those listening in this case. A couple verses later, it is better to prophecy for the edification of the church.

On top of the misunderstanding of what tongues meant in the Greek writing of the New testament, there are actually a few rules. The first rule is to have an interpreter. Look above at the last verse of the passage.

This is also mentioned in chapter twelve of 1 Corinthians, that tongues is only one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and not mentioned as the defining gift of the Holy Spirit. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Cor 12:4-11). Here, diverse tongues simply means multiple languages.

Nowhere in scripture is the ability to speak a non-language tongue (which seems to be the only vocalization during the ‘speaking in tongues’) ever mentioned. I have been to many churches where this vocalization occurs. Never have I seen anyone interpret. Just people being in awe of the action itself. How does that edify the body of believer’s of Jesus Christ.

Sid Roth, a charismatic that has a show ‘Its Supernatural’ that airs on stations like TBN and Daystar. I will include a you tube link of Mr Roth teaching how to speak in tongues. Of course this cancels any validity of the action. https://yout.be/hJl7li1ajKs?si=ZhbuwpSvmKvuCvJk. Or just look up Sid Roth Teaching Tongues.

The history of speaking in tongues, as done within the umbrella of the charismatic movement starts in the 19th century. Two groups are noted to having the non-language tongues. One was the Catholic Apostolic Church and the other were the Mormons. As for the charismatic umbrella of denominations, their start came from two men, Charles Parham and William Seymour. Their view of ‘speaking in tongues’ was an addition to justification and sanctification (biblical truths). They assumed it to be a work of grace. They saw it as the single proof that one had the Holy Spirit. However, biblical teaching show that the Holy Spirit is working in every believer. That it is not a special dispensation.

I understand that this small article will cause discontent of those that adhere to an unbiblical principle. But it must be pointed out that scripture does not speak of this type of tongues, but of known languages whether or not the speaker knows said languages. And how a person lives in relation to God’s will is the determining factor of the Holy Spirit. Yes, there are the gifts. But tongues is a language that is known (even if not known by the speaker) and is the last listed. And has been relegated below the gift of prophecy.

It is dangerous and destructive to a believer if they are convinced that the Holy Spirit does not work in them strictly because they don’t have the gift of ‘speaking in tongues’. It will a least discourage them. At most, it will destroy their faith in God through Christ.

Christianity, Current events, faith

The Storms We Face

While watching a sermon out of Ireland on Jesus calming the storm on Galilee, it got me to thinking about the storms we deal with. So in this article, we will look at three types of storms we encounter as Christians. One point he made I’ll throw into a section later, it changed the way i looked at the storm on Galilee.

Natural Storms

The first is the easiest to talk about. These are the storms that occur naturally but bring fear with them. I was seven during the Blizzard of 1978. It shut down a lot of the country. I’ve also lived on the east cost (South Carolina) and my mother lived in Florida. So I feel for coastal areas when hurricanes go through. I’ve seen the devastation of floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and wildfires. These occur often.

Scripture tells us that as the end days approach, these natural occurrences will increase.“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:7-8)

Now, before someone starts yelling ‘climate change’ rhetoric, let me say this. These patterns of increased weather related issues have been going on for ages. The magnetic poles shift, the earth cleanses itself, and there are other myriads of reasons these things happen. Carbon and methane from cars and cattle are not a huge part of the issue. Now we scream about global warming. In the 1970s, they were sure a new ice age was coming.

I’ll take the word of scripture over the talking head rhetoric and just say that it was already predicted. Christ shows the increase of natural disasters. We have seen recently about the Euphrates drying up. That was foretold by John on Patmos. “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof dried up, that the way of the kings of the east be prepared.” (Revelation 16:12)

God Given Storms

Another set of storms we deal with are those that God himself sends. These can be physical storms that seem like natural storms. The two best cases are seen in the stores of Noah and Jonah. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord...And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die...And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.” (Genesis 6:5-8,17; Genesis 7:10)

“But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. (Jonah 1:3-4)

Both of these were storms created for a reason. So was the storm of fiery hail in Egypt. These are physical storms God used for a purpose. With Egypt, it was to finally lead His people Israel out of Egyptian bondage. For Noah’s day, it was to rid the world of evil. And in Jonah’s case, it was to put Jonah where he needed to be.

We also know that God sends or allows things to strengthen us. The storms of life faced by Job were allowed storms to show Satan that not all would look to self interest and disavow God, no matter what occurred. We face these as well.

The Storms of Satan

As we have seen from the above mention of Job, Satan is allowed to send storms into our lives. However, I truly thinks he can manipulate the weather as well. I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the storm of Galilee. I stated that a pastor made a statement that made see this story in a different way. This story is in three books of the gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke).“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (John 4:35-41)

Anyone who has been in Sunday School or been to a good Sermon has heard of this story. And has garnered from it that Christ calms the storms in our lives. However, this pastor from today made a point I didn’t see before or even consider. That is this. That Satan caused the storm. And before you scoff, let me explain why I have a tendency to agree with him.

The pastor, when talking on this story said to look at the next set of verses. So, let’s look. “And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.” (Mark 5:1-13)

When you put the storm and the immediate placement of Jesus after it together, it makes a bigger picture. Was it just a storm on Galilee like any other? Or, was it Satan trying to stop Jesus and his disciples from accomplishing the banishment of demons?

Application of Scripture

So you can view the story of the storm in two ways. The traditional look at it. Christ calming the storms in our lives. Or you can view it for I what I now believe it to be. Satan brings storms in our lives to keep us from accomplishing what God has planned for us and our mission for Him.

We see the shirts, posters, and memes that have a knight with a sword in his hand and his head bowed. The wording is is two parts. The first part is of defeat. ‘The devil thought he had won when he saw me with my head bowed.’ The second part is the part of a warrior heading into battle.’Until I said AMEN.’

So when a storm comes, remember that it can be one of three reason. Natural, which you just prepare for and pray. God given, you pray and seek the answer to what God is trying to teach you. Or the third. Satan doesn’t want us to do the will o r fulfill the mission of God. And when these third one comes, are you the first part of the knight’s message or the second. Is your head bowed in defeat? Or is it the second, and you are preparing for battle against the enemy?

Christianity, faith

Healed or Restored?

‘On a different Shabbat, Yeshua entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there, whose right hand was paralyzed. But closely watching Him were the Torah scholars and Pharisees, to see if He heals on Shabbat, so that they might find grounds to accuse Him. But He knew their opinions and said to the man with the paralyzed hand. “Get up and stand in our midst.” And getting up, the man stood.

Yeshua said to them, “I ask you, is it permitted on Shabbat to do good or to do evil, to save or destroy a life?” Then looking around at everyone, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed among themselves what they might do to Yeshua.’ (Luke 6:6-11, TLV)

To start out this article, the Tree of Life Version of Holy Scripture is used. It uses the original Hebrew wording. If you use a different version, you will understand the translation variances.

What is read in most translations is fairly simple. Yeshua (Jesus) healed a man on the Sabbath and the powers that be did not like it. But reading it translated from Hebrew, we find a telling message. So, let’s break it down.

In the KJV, the term Scribes is used. For understanding, Scribes are generally seen as those who write. Many translations use this term, meaning those with the Pharisees were those that wrote Holy Scripture. Using translations from Hebrew, we see that they were actually those that taught and studied the Torah (the 5 books of Moses commonly translated as the law). The Hebrew terminology needs to be understood so the reader can see that those present were the religious leadership and those that taught the law.

This is an important point when Yeshua is asking the question of what is permitted on Shabbat. He asked a specific question, knowing that those around him were well versed in the Mosaic law as opposed to the laws that the Pharisees input as regulation. The fact that the were not quoted as saying anything, shows that they understood Yeshua was silently telling them that their version of Mosaic law was not the true interpretation of the law.

The second thing we see is that mercy by Adoni through Yeshua restores, not heals. The is a difference. To heal means just to fix an issue. While restore means to put back into original form. Ask any car person whether they want a 1956 Thunderbird fixed or restored. You get the point.

This story follows the story of Yeshua and the Apostles in the fields on Shabbat (Luke 6:1-5). Where Yeshua stated that Shabbat was made for man (Genesis 2:1-3) and that the Son of Man is Lord of Shabbat.

What we find in this story is that the Torah, while still being in effect for all generations, was tampered with by the religious elite that used their version of the Torah to control the people and get wealthy.

BUT, the most important thing is the restoration of the man’s hand. The story is a foreshadowing of the power of restoration of those who follow Yeshua at the time of our entering into His eternal kingdom. Not only will our bodies be restored but we will be restored to what humanity was meant to be before the fall in the garden.

This is why, the Hebrew translation of restoration is a better wording than just healing. The healing of man’s walk away from the things of Adoni is good. Restoration by Yeshua’s grace and mercy through His shed blood is best. While on this planet we are healed through that sacrifice in faith. In the world to come, we shall be restored to Holy perfection.

Christianity, Current events, faith

The Cross’s Price

Many western Christians have not truly been tried in the fires. Not to say that they don’t face a few hardships. But compared to the Christians of the East, the West has it easy. To a point. This article will take a look at what it will cost to walk with Yeshua. The cross a true believer will need to carry and the things that it can cost in terms of lifestyle, family relations, and life itself.

In today’s western society, Christianity has merged with paganism and sin, and yet go to church, sing praise and worship songs, and claim they (the modern hip ‘Christians’) know what the bible actually means. They will tell of how certain things were left or put into scripture my men to keep the patriarchy. How words used don’t mean what they say. How the scriptures are man’s construct and less reliable than a cookbook.

And when those that follow God, in Yeshua, through the power of the Holy Spirit, try to correct misconceptions, fail to go with the societal norms, and preach the faith that has stood the test of time for thousands of years, they are ridiculed, blasted, and attacked. And these attacks don’t come from the ungodly, They come from ‘Christians’ that have been enlightened to a special understanding and truth.

In this article, we will look at what scripture says, what great theologians and preachers have said through the ages, and show the difference of what western society thinks a Christian should be, how they should act, and what the truth is.

There is no prosperity gospel in scripture. There is no ‘you get everything you want’ in scripture, and there is NO easy path when walking in the righteous grace and mercy of God. Yeshua points this out at different times.

He spoke against the prosperity gospel. ‘And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no travel bag, no bread, no money, nor even to have two shirts.Whatever house you enter, stay there and depart from there.And whoever does not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a witness against them.” (Luke 9:3-5)

Again when talking to rich young man. ‘Yeshua said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you own, and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving, for he had much property.Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “Amen, I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:21-23)

And a third time. ‘Yeshua tells him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)

Through these verses, we see that Christians won’t always be worth millions and have personal jets. In fact, ‘Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.’ (Acts 3:6)

In fact, the opposite is true. It is not being said that wealth may not be part of God’s plan for a believer. But Yeshua did say that it hard for a rich man to get to heaven. So as we go through a few points about what will happen when a Christian follows Yeshua like scripture says, take a look at how the Gospel has been distorted in western society, what Yeshua and scripture writers taught on that point, and look at real world consequences of following the Scripture based Gospel instead of modern man’s anti-gospel.

In June of 2015, the liberal leaning US Supreme Court legalized homosexual marriage. Former President Obama said that ‘love is love’. As you look through the last eight years, a mass of ‘churches’ jumped on the gay pride ship. They preach God is all loving (and He is) so He would never send a member of the lgtbq to hell for being a homosexual.

In the last few years, mainline Protestant denominations have started to have infighting and breakups over acceptance of homosexual unions and lgtbq ordainment. One of the largest fights is within the United Methodist Church. This denomination is the second largest in the US, with Roman Catholic being the largest. The have agreed to split the two factions. https://theweek.com/religion/1024883/the-united-methodist-church-has-lost-20-of-us-congregations-in-schism-over-lgbtq. The one’s that stayed with the General Conference are more allowable for this pro-gay agenda.

Scripture says specifically what God’s views on the LGTBQ are. Here are a few.

God created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination, and they shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be on them. (Leviticus 20:13)
Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, those who practice homosexuality,thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. (1st Corinthians 6:9-10)

Since it can be seen what God’s views are on the lgtbq, let’s look at what it can cost a follower of Yeshua for defending God’s position. https://www.christianpost.com/news/street-preacher-arrested-in-england-for-preaching-during-pride.html

Staying in the lgtbq frame, look at the next run which includes transgender (not a real thing) and actions like drag queens. Trans is the concept that a person was born with the wrong sexual parts. So Eve becomes Steve and Adam becomes Amy. Then there is a special grouping, drag queens. And while it is a tradition in acting (Mary Martin as Peter Pan, Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria, or Tyler Perry as Madea. These two actions can be combined into one for looking into scripture.

Posted above was the creation of mankind, so need to repeat it. So look at these verses on cross-dressing. God’s view can be seen on both cross dressing and transgender in light of these verses.

A man’s apparel is not to be on a woman, nor is a man to wear woman’s clothing—for whoever does these things is detestable to Adonai your God.(Deuteronomy 22:5)
Likewise, women are to adorn themselves in appropriate clothing with modesty and sound judgment… (1st Timothy 2:9)

Since God’s views on this are written, let’s see what happens to those that go against this part of the lgtbq as a Christian. https://www.theblaze.com/news/pastor-shoved-out-door-knocked-flat-on-his-back-after-protesting-librarys-drag-queen-event-for-children-now-canadian-cops-have-charged-pastor-with-hate-crime

These are just a few things that have happened to those who present the Gosspel of Yeshua and the commands of God about these ideologies in the west. We also see faithful Christians in other areas of the world enslaved, brutally attacked, imprisoned, and killed because of there faith in Yeshua.

Yeshua has told us that being a Christian won’t be easy.“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues.You will be brought before governors and kings because of Me, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles.But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you should say, for it shall be given to you in that hour what you should say.For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end shall be saved.Whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next. Amen, I tell you, you will never finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

“So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed and nothing hidden that will not be made known.What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear in your ear, proclaim from the housetops!And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them shall fall to the ground apart from your Father’s consent.But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.So do not fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“Therefore whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father who is in heaven.But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to bring shalom on the earth; I did not come to bring shalom, but a sword.For I have come to set ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.’ (Matthew 10:16-36)

Yeshua tells us we are to carry our cross. That can men facing persecution, prosecution, and death. It can also mean taking the chance on losing a job or position, losing friends, and even losing family. When the scripture above quotes Yeshua about family turning against a family member for his/her faith, He understand that family is one thing that would make someone question between faith and their spouse or child.

Yeshua, after the statement above, tells us where Christians must stand. Even if the believer becomes the pariah of the family, and his/her family turns there backs on them. “He who loves father or mother more than Me isn’t worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me isn’t worthy of Me.And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me isn’t worthy of Me.He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39)

So, to pick up the cross and follow Yeshua, may cost you everything this planet can give you: money, fame, friends, and family. But one thing comes from it that none of those things can give….eternal salvation in Yeshua. It’s not an easy walk. It’s not for the timid, so to speak. Because it is a battle in the spiritual war zone. That’s why Paul writes in Ephesians.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the times are evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm then! Buckle the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. Strap up your feet in readiness with the Good News of shalom. Above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation[d] and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Ruach on every occasion, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, keep alert with perseverance and supplication for all the kedoshim.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Christianity, faith

Our Dark Nights

All Christians go through a period of wondering why things go bad for them when the world gets what it wants or when they pray and those they prayed for are helped. I have gone through it more times than I care to count. So we ask, why? I have come to realize that reasons vary.

One of the greatest stories to illustrate this question is the story of Job. After having everything, he lost it. The story goes through friends and his wife trying to give advice. His friends told him that it must be because he had unforgiven sin. His wife said to curse God and die. We all feel like Job at some point. Try to do what we should and still get the worst end of it.

The reason Job was harshly dealt with was through no fault of his own. In this instance, Satan wanted to prove to God that man would disavow Him if everything was taken from them. God allowed that trial to prove that there are people that would not deny God, no matter the trials they faced. (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-7)

Another view is that God allows His children to suffer, because what comes from it is better. Take Joseph, the son of Israel. Sold as a slave by his brother’s. (Genesis 37:12-36). Accused of rape by the wife of a high ranking official in Egypt (Genesis 39:7-20). Had Joseph not been allowed to suffer, Egypt and the family of Israel would have died from famine. (Genesis 41, Genesis 45:3-7).

Then there is the reason of chastisement (Hebrews 12:6-11). This can best be seen in the Babylonian exile. (Kings, Chronicles, the prophetical books). They moved away from God by idolatry and by foregoing the laws of a rest for the land every 7 years. They were taken by Nebuchadnezzar, a Babylonian king (who destroyed Solomon’s temple) and returned by the Persian king, Darius. (Ezra 6:1-22). The total of the time in exile from Israel was 70 years. This was to make up the time the land needed to be come usable again.

The one that is hardest to understand is when God says NO. In modern Christianity (especially the Evangelical and Prosperity movements), it is said that with enough prayer and faith, God will answer all your prayers and give you what you ask for. They take a simple set of verses out of it true understanding (John 16:23-24). If we ask for anything, it does not mean it will be given in all circumstances. Sometimes, the request goes against the edicts of God. Sometimes, the request is not what God wants for us. What is meant by the verses in John is simple. The request must fit within God’s plan and not be against the laws and dictates He has given.

Jesus asked for the coming crucifixion to be taken from him. (Matthew 26:39). He understood that God, the Father, knew best. God told him no. And he was crucified. The reason was that the unanswered prayer was the best decision for all of mankind.

In 2019, I ended up 49 and divorced. I went through the emotions and finally did what I had not done in 20 years. I hit my knees and cried out to God to fix my family. It was not to be answered the way I asked. Nineteen years early, I married and because of that, left the church and my faith. After the prayers and tears, and a re-dedication to God, I came to realize that the one thing that kept me from him needed removed. And that my prayers received a NO from God, because it was what was best for me. It took away the things that had been placed between me and him.

Just because things are going the way you think they should, or that God has said No or is delaying an answer, does not mean he has left you. Sometimes, bad happens for good reasons. It is to get us back on the right track, the devil is allowed to try and draw us away, or there is something better coming.

We can learn a couple lesson about how to deal with it. We can let it destroy us and turn from God’s grace and care. OR we can be like Jacob wrestle God. (Genesis 32:22-32) until our breakthrough and blessing comes.

Nobody said becoming a follower of Christ made life easier (except for the prosperity gospel preachers). Nor is that walk with God going to be fair (Matthew 5:45). But we can always be comforted no matter what the darkness seems like to us at the moment, that something better is coming (Psalm 30:5).

I saw this in a post somewhere and it fits this issue when you think God is not answering your prayer. I hope it helps.

5 Things to do when it feels like God isn’t listening

Check Your Heart (Psalm 24:3-4).

Check Your Motives (Matthew 6:10).

Check Your Focus (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Ask for a Belief Increase (Mark 9:24).

Keep Praying (Luke 18:1-8).

Christianity, faith

ہم سب وقت سے وقت تک گر جاتے ہیں

میں عام طور پر اپنے مضامین میں ذاتی گواہی نہیں دیتا ہوں. لیکن آج تھوڑا سا مختلف ہے. امید ہے کہ جو لوگ اس مضمون کو پڑھتے ہیں وہ اس میں دو چیزوں میں سے ایک تلاش کرتے ہیں جو روح القدس کو ان میں کام کرنے کی اجازت دیتا ہے.
غیر مومن کے ل I ، میں امید کرتا ہوں کہ آپ یہ سمجھنا شروع کردیں گے کہ یہاں تک کہ عیسائی بھی اب بھی پیدا ہونے والے شیطانی مسائل کا مقابلہ کرتے ہیں. ہم کامل نہیں ہیں اور جب تک مسیح واپس نہیں آتا تب تک نہیں ہوگا. ہاں ، منافق ہیں جو ایک بات کہتے ہیں اور دوسری چیز کرتے ہیں. لیکن بہت سے لوگوں پر آپ کو یقین ہے کہ ایسا ہی ہے ، صرف مسیح کے پیروکار ہیں جو اب بھی ناکام اور زوال پذیر ہیں.
مومن کے ل it ، یہ میری امید ہے کہ جب آپ گرتے ہیں یا ناکام ہوجاتے ہیں تو آپ کی حوصلہ شکنی نہیں ہوتی ہے. جیسا کہ اوپر بیان کیا گیا ہے ، ہم اب بھی انسان ہیں اور گوشت سے لڑتے ہیں. کچھ جنسی مسائل کے ذریعے ، کافر ازم سے بقیہ تعلقات ، یا اس معاملے میں غصے کے ایک لمحے کے ذریعے. اس کا مطلب یہ نہیں ہے کہ ہم ایمان میں ناکامی ہیں. اس کا مطلب ہے کہ ہم نے ابھی تک اسے کامل گھر نہیں بنایا ہے.
میں تمباکو نوشی کے معاملے سے نمٹ رہا ہوں اور اس نے نیکوٹین فری ( کی تاریخ طے کی ہے جس میں ماہ کے آخری دن تک ) واپس لینا بھی شامل ہے. لہذا جب میں کام میں داخل ہوا تو مجھ پر سگریٹ نہیں تھا. میں ایک اسٹور پر کام کرتا ہوں جس کی تزئین و آرائش ایک نئے مالک کی وجہ سے کی جارہی ہے. لہذا ہمارے پاس مختلف منصوبوں کے ٹھیکیدار موجود ہیں ، اور کم سے کم یہ کہنا کہ اسٹور مصروف ہے اور معاملات پیدا ہوتے ہیں.
میں ہیڈ وصول کرنے والا ہوں اور اپنی ملازمت کے لئے کمپیوٹر کے سامان پر انحصار کرتا ہوں. میں آج اندر چلا گیا اور اپنا پورا نظام نیچے پایا. اسٹور میں موجود دیگر تمام سسٹم آپریشنل تھے. اسے ہلکے سے ڈالنے کے لئے ، میں چلا گیا. میں رات کے معاہدہ کرنے والے عملے سے پوچھنے گیا تھا کہ کیا ہوا ہے تاکہ میں اس معلومات کو آئی ٹی ڈیپارٹمنٹ کو بھیج سکوں. چیزیں ٹھیک نہیں ہوئیں. میرا غصہ بھڑک اٹھا اور میں نے کچھ ایسی باتیں کہی جو مجھے نہیں کہنا چاہئے تھے. اس تکرار کے بعد ، ان کے براہ راست سپروائزر نے اپنے کارکنوں کا دفاع کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا. یہ گرم ہوگیا.
میرے غصے نے کچھ سالوں میں اس طرح بھڑک نہیں اٹھایا ، اور میں نے سوچا کہ یہ ختم ہوچکا ہے. میں غلط تھا. اس کے بعد صرف چند منٹ کے بعد ، میں جانتا تھا کہ مجھے توبہ کرنا ہے ، خدا سے معافی مانگنا ہے ، اور معافی مانگنا ہے. دعا کے بعد ، میں اپنے معمول کے پرسکون نفس پر واپس آگیا. میں اس مسئلے کو سامنے لاتا ہوں ، کیوں کہ میں جانتا ہوں کہ میں واحد شخص نہیں ہوسکتا جو مسیح کی پیروی کرتا ہے اور پھر بھی ، تھوڑی دیر میں ، اس بوڑھے کو ایک لمحے کے لئے واپس آتا ہوں. ایسا نہیں ہے کہ یہ اکثر ہوتا ہے ، لیکن ایسا ہوتا ہے.
جب میں گھر پہنچا تو میں نے کچھ صحیفے کارڈ دیکھے اور غصے میں ایک پایا. کارڈ پر پہلی آیت امثال 15: 1 ‘ ایک نرم جواب قہر کو دور کرتا ہے ، لیکن ایک سخت لفظ غصے کو بھڑکاتا ہے۔ ’ سپروائزر کا رد عمل اس کے عملے کے ساتھ میرے غصے کی وجہ سے تھا. اگر میں سوچ کر پرسکون ہوتا تو ، یہ اس مقام تک نہیں بڑھتا تھا.
افسیوں 4: 26-27 ہمیں بتاتا ہے ‘ ناراض رہیں اور گناہ نہ کریں: سورج کو اپنے قہر پر نیچے جانے نہ دیں ، اور نہ ہی شیطان کو جگہ دیں۔ ’ عطا کی گئی ، ایک بار صورتحال ختم ہونے کے بعد ، میں نے دعا کی اور پرسکون محسوس کیا. لیکن اس لمحے میں ، شیطان کی صورتحال میں اپنی جگہ تھی. وہ جانتا تھا کہ اس وقت میری ذہن کی حالت اس وقت نہیں جا رہی تھی کیونکہ اسے ( ہونا چاہئے کیونکہ کوئی بھی عادی بھی ) کی تصدیق کرسکتا ہے اور صرف میرے سامنے کی صورتحال کو گھٹا سکتا ہے اور میں نے لے لیا بیت. اس کا رجحان مسیح کے پیروکاروں کے ساتھ ایسا کرنے کا ہے. وہ ہماری کمزوری اور ہماری ماضی کی زندگی کو جانتا ہے. وہ جانتا ہے کہ صحیح حالات کے پیش نظر ہمیں کیا ملے گا.
پولس ہمیں بتاتا ہے ، ‘ آخر کار ، بھائی ، خداوند میں اور اس کی طاقت کے اختیار میں مضبوط ہوں. خدا کے پورے کوچ کو رکھو ، تاکہ آپ شیطان کے پردہ کے خلاف کھڑے ہوسکیں. کیونکہ ہم آسمانی مقامات پر شرارت کے روحانی میزبانوں کے خلاف ، اس عمر کے اندھیرے کے حکمرانوں کے خلاف ، جسمانی اور خون کے خلاف نہیں ، بلکہ سلطنت کے خلاف ، طاقتوں کے خلاف ، لڑائی کرتے ہیں. لہذا ، خدا کا پورا کوچ اٹھائیں ، تاکہ آپ برے دن میں برداشت کرسکیں ، اور سب کچھ کرنے کے بعد ، کھڑے ہوں۔ ” “ لہذا ، اپنی کمر کو سچائی کے ساتھ باندھ کر ، راستبازی کی چھاتی پر ڈال کر ، امن کی خوشخبری کی تیاری کے ساتھ اپنے پیروں کو ہلا کر رکھ دیا۔ سب سے بڑھ کر, ایمان کی ڈھال لینا جس کے ساتھ آپ شریر کے آتش گیر ڈارٹس کو بجھانے میں کامیاب ہوجائیں گے. اور نجات کا ہیلمیٹ ، اور روح کی تلوار لے لو ، جو خدا کا کلام ہے۔ روح میں ہر دعا اور دعا کے ساتھ ہمیشہ دعا کرنا, سنتوں کے لئے تمام ثابت قدمی اور دعا کے ساتھ اس مقصد پر نگاہ رکھنا. ( افسیوں 6: 10-18 )
پولس ہمیں یہ بتانے دیتا ہے کہ اگر ہم نے اسے جانے دیا تو شیطان کی دنیا اور لشکر ہمیں کیل لگائیں گے. اور آج میں نے کیا. لیکن گزرنے میں ، پولس ہمیں خدا کے کوچ اور خدا کی تلوار سے ملبوس لڑنے کے لئے بھی کہتا ہے. میں ڈھال کا ایک ہار پہنتا ہوں جسے میں ہمیشہ دشمن کے حملے کے مطابق رکھنا یاد رکھتا ہوں. آج میں بھول گیا تھا. اور اس نے شیطان کو گھس کر حملہ کرنے کی اجازت دی.
ہمیں یہ سمجھنے کی ضرورت ہے کہ جب پولس رومیوں 3:23 ‘ میں بیان کرتا ہے تو سب نے خدا کی شان سے گناہ کیا ہے اور اس کی کمی واقع ہوئی ہے ’ وہ بچ جانے والوں سے بات کر رہا ہے. اگرچہ بہت سے لوگوں کا خیال ہے کہ اس آیت کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ گرنے والوں کے ساتھ سخت نہ ہوں ، اور یہ ایک لحاظ سے ہوتا ہے. ہمیں یہ یاد دلانے کے لئے بھی موجود ہے کہ ہم ابھی تک کامل نہیں ہیں. کہ ہم وقتا فوقتا چھیڑ چھاڑ کریں گے. لیکن ہم یہ بھی جانتے ہیں کہ مسیح ہماری پناہ گاہ اور چٹان ہے. کہ ہم گر سکتے ہیں ، لیکن جب ہم توبہ کرتے ہیں اور اس کی رحمت اور مدد مانگتے ہیں تو وہ ہمیں گناہ کی لہروں سے نکالنے اور کھینچنے پر راضی ہے. جان ہمیں یاد دلاتا ہے ، مسیح کے پیروکار جتنا وہ ان لوگوں کو کرتا ہے جنہوں نے اس کی تلاش نہیں کی ہے ، ‘ اگر ہم اپنے گناہوں کا اعتراف کرتے ہیں تو, وہ وفادار اور صادق ہے کہ ہمارے گناہوں کو معاف کرے اور ہمیں تمام بے رحمی سے پاک کرے۔ ’ ( 1 جان 1: 9 )
کبھی عمل نہ کریں ، کیوں کہ آپ مسیح کی پیروی کرتے ہیں ، کہ آپ اتنے متقی ہیں کہ آپ گناہ نہیں کرسکتے ہیں یا نہیں کرسکتے ہیں. جب تک ہم اس مانسل شکل میں ہیں ، اور ہمارے آسمانی گھر میں نہیں ، شیطان آپ کو مار سکتا ہے اور کرے گا. بصورت دیگر ہمیں خدا کے کوچ کو رکھنے کی یاد دلانے کی ضرورت نہیں ہوگی. میرے والد کہتے تھے ، بچانے کے بعد ، ‘ لیکن خدا کے فضل کے لئے ، میں ” جاتا ہوں. یہ ایک پرانی قول ہے لیکن سچ بجتا ہے. ہم دنیا کے گنہگار سے بہتر نہیں ہیں. ہمارے قابل نہ ہونے کے باوجود ہمیں ابھی فضل اور رحمت دی گئی ہے.
لہذا ، جب ہم مسیح کے ساتھ اپنی سیر میں گر جاتے ہیں یا ناکام ہوجاتے ہیں تو ، فورا. توبہ کریں ، اس کی مغفرت اور رحمت کی تلاش کریں. پھر یہ مت بھولنا کہ ہمیں اس کی رحمت کی ضرورت ہے. میں واقعتا believe یقین کرتا ہوں ، کہ بعض اوقات ہم غیر محفوظ دنیا کو جو بہترین گواہی دے سکتے ہیں وہ رحمت ہے جو ہم خدا کی طرف سے گرتے یا ناکام ہونے کے بعد وصول کرتے ہیں. رحمت اور انسانیت کی ضرورت کو سمجھنے کے لئے زوال کو دیکھنے کی ضرورت.

Christianity, faith

Todos caemos de vez en cuando

No suelo poner testimonio personal en mis artículos. Pero hoy es un poco diferente. Es de esperar que quienes lean este artículo encuentren una de las dos cosas que le permite al Espíritu Santo trabajar en ellas.
Para los no creyentes, espero que comiencen a comprender que incluso los cristianos aún luchan contra los problemas demoníacos que surgen. No somos perfectos y no lo seremos hasta que Cristo regrese. Sí, hay hipócritas que dicen una cosa y viven otra. Pero muchos de los que parece creer son como tales, son solo seguidores de Cristo que aún fallan y caen.
Para el creyente, espero que no se desanime cuando cae o falla. Como se indicó anteriormente, todavía somos humanos y luchamos contra la carne. Algunos a través de problemas sexuales, lazos restantes con el paganismo, o en este caso a través de un momento de ira. No significa que somos fracasos en la fe. Significa que aún no hemos llegado a un hogar perfecto.
Estoy lidiando con el tema del tabaquismo y he establecido una fecha libre de nicotina ( que incluye retiros ) el último día del mes. Así que no tenía cigarrillos cuando llegué al trabajo. Trabajo en una tienda que está siendo renovada debido a un nuevo propietario. Por lo tanto, tenemos contratistas para varios proyectos en curso, y por decir lo menos, la tienda está ocupada y surgen problemas.
Soy el receptor principal y confío en el equipo informático para mi trabajo. Entré hoy y encontré todo mi sistema abajo. Todos los demás sistemas en la tienda estaban operativos. Para decirlo suavemente, me fui. Fui a preguntarle al equipo de contratación nocturna qué sucedió para poder transmitir esa información al departamento de TI. Las cosas no salieron bien. Mi ira estalló y dije algunas cosas que no debería haber dicho. Después de ese altercado, su supervisor directo decidió defender a sus trabajadores. Se calentó.
Mi ira no ha estallado de esa manera en unos años, y pensé que se había ido. Estaba equivocado. Después de unos minutos de tiempo a solas, supe que tenía que arrepentirme, buscar el perdón de Dios y disculparme. Después de la oración, volví a mi estado tranquilo normal. Menciono este problema, porque sé que no puedo ser la única persona que sigue a Cristo y aún así, de vez en cuando, encuentro que ese viejo yo regresa por un momento. No es que ocurra a menudo, pero lo hace.
Cuando llegué a casa, miré algunas cartas de las Escrituras y encontré una sobre la ira. El primer verso en la tarjeta es Proverbios 15: 1 ‘ Una respuesta suave rechaza la ira, pero una palabra dura despierta la ira. ’ La reacción del supervisor se debió a mi ira con su tripulación. Si hubiera estado tranquilo en sus pensamientos, no se habría intensificado hasta ese punto.
Efesios 4: 26-27 nos dice ‘ Enojarse y no pecar: no dejes que el sol se ponga sobre tu ira, ni le des lugar al diablo. ’ De acuerdo, una vez que se hizo la situación, recé y sentí calma. Pero en ese momento, Satanás tenía su lugar en la situación. Sabía que mi estado mental en ese momento no iba a ser como debería ( como cualquier adicto también puede dar fe ) y simplemente colgó la situación frente a mí y tomé el cebo. Tiene tendencia a hacer eso a los seguidores de Cristo. Él conoce nuestra debilidad y nuestra vida pasada. Él sabe lo que nos llegará dadas las circunstancias correctas.
Pablo nos dice: ‘ Finalmente, hermanos, sean fuertes en el Señor y en el poder de su poder. Ponte toda la armadura de Dios, para que puedas resistir las artimañas del diablo. Porque no luchamos contra la carne y la sangre, sino contra los principados, contra los poderes, contra los gobernantes de la oscuridad de esta época, contra las huestes espirituales de maldad en los lugares celestiales. Por lo tanto, tome toda la armadura de Dios, para que pueda resistir en el día malo, y habiendo hecho todo lo posible, para ponerse de pie. ” “ Por lo tanto, párate, ceñiéndote la cintura con verdad, poniéndote el peto de la justicia, calzando los pies con la preparación del evangelio de la paz; sobre todo, tomando el escudo de fe con el que podrás apagar los dardos ardientes del malvado. Y toma el casco de salvación, y la espada del Espíritu, que es la palabra de Dios; orando siempre con toda oración y súplica en el Espíritu, estar atento a este fin con toda perseverancia y súplica para los santos. ( Efesios 6: 10-18 )
Pablo nos hace saber que el mundo y las legiones de Satanás nos clavarán si lo dejamos. Y hoy lo hice. Pero en el pasaje, Pablo también nos dice que luchemos vestidos con la armadura de Dios y con la espada de Dios. Llevo un collar de escudo que siempre recordaré para vestirme para el ataque del enemigo. Hoy lo olvidé. Y permitió que Satanás se arrastrara y atacara.
Necesitamos entender que cuando Pablo declara en Romanos 3:23 ‘ Todos pecaron y no alcanzaron la gloria de Dios ’, él está hablando con los salvos. Si bien muchos piensan que este versículo significa no ser duro con los que caen, y lo hace en un sentido. También está ahí para recordarnos que aún no somos perfectos. Que fallaremos de vez en cuando. Pero también sabemos que Cristo es nuestro refugio y roca. Para que podamos caer, pero él está dispuesto a alcanzarnos y sacarnos de las olas del pecado cuando nos arrepentimos y pedir su misericordia y ayuda. Juan nos recuerda a los seguidores de Cristo tanto como a los que no lo han buscado, ‘ Si confesamos nuestros pecados, Él es fiel y justo para perdonar nuestros pecados y purificarnos de toda injusticia. ’ ( 1 Juan 1: 9 )
Nunca actúes, porque sigues a Cristo, que eres tan piadoso que no puedes o no puedes pecar. Mientras estemos en esta forma carnosa, y no en nuestra casa celestial, EL DIABLO TODAVÍA PUEDE ATACARTE Y LO HARÁ. De lo contrario, no necesitaríamos que se nos recordara ponernos la armadura de Dios. Mi padre solía decir, después de ser salvo, ‘ Pero por la gracia de Dios, ahí va I ”. Es un viejo dicho pero suena cierto. No somos mejores que el pecador del mundo. Se nos acaba de dar gracia y misericordia a pesar de que no somos dignos de ello.
Entonces, cuando caemos o fallamos en nuestro camino con Cristo, arrepiéntete inmediatamente, busca su perdón y misericordia. Entonces no olvides que necesitamos su misericordia. Realmente creo que a veces el mejor testimonio que podemos dar al mundo no salvado es la misericordia que recibimos de Dios después de caer o fallar. La necesidad de ver la caída para comprender la misericordia y la necesidad de la humanidad.

Christianity, faith

Lahat tayo ay Bumagsak Mula sa Oras Sa Oras

Hindi ako karaniwang naglalagay ng personal na patotoo sa aking mga artikulo. Ngunit ngayon ay medyo naiiba. Inaasahan na ang mga nagbasa ng artikulong ito ay makahanap ng isa sa dalawang bagay sa loob nito na nagpapahintulot sa Banal na Espiritu na magtrabaho sa kanila.
Sa hindi naniniwala, inaasahan kong simulan mong maunawaan na kahit na ang mga Kristiyano ay nakikipaglaban pa rin sa mga isyung demonyo na lumitaw. Hindi kami perpekto at hindi hanggang sa bumalik si Kristo. Oo, may mga mapagkunwari na nagsasabi ng isang bagay at nabubuhay sa isa pa. Ngunit marami sa tingin mo ay tulad ng, ay mga tagasunod lamang kay Cristo na nabigo at nahuhulog.
Sa mananampalataya, inaasahan kong hindi ka masiraan ng loob kapag nahulog ka o nabigo. Tulad ng nakasaad sa itaas, tao pa rin tayo at lumalaban sa laman. Ang ilan sa pamamagitan ng mga isyu sa sekswal, natitirang ugnayan sa paganism, o sa kasong ito sa pamamagitan ng isang sandali ng galit. Hindi ito nangangahulugang kami ay mga pagkabigo sa pananampalataya. Nangangahulugan ito na hindi pa namin ito ginawa sa isang perpektong bahay.
Nakikipag-usap ako sa isyu ng paninigarilyo at nagtakda ng isang petsa upang maging libre ang nikotina ( kasama ang pag-alis ng ) sa huling araw ng buwan. Kaya’t wala akong sigarilyo sa akin nang gumulong ako sa trabaho. Nagtatrabaho ako sa isang tindahan na na-renovate dahil sa isang bagong may-ari. Kaya mayroon kaming mga kontratista para sa iba’t ibang mga proyekto na nangyayari, at upang sabihin ang hindi bababa sa, abala ang tindahan at lumitaw ang mga isyu.
Ako ang tagatanggap ng ulo at umaasa sa kagamitan sa computer para sa aking trabaho. Naglakad ako ngayon at natagpuan ang aking buong sistema. Ang lahat ng iba pang mga sistema sa tindahan ay pagpapatakbo. Upang ilagay ito nang banayad, umalis ako. Nagpunta ako upang tanungin ang mga tauhan sa pagkontrata sa gabi kung ano ang nangyari upang maipasa ko ang impormasyong iyon sa departamento ng IT. Hindi maayos ang mga bagay. Nagalit ang aking galit at sinabi ko ang ilang mga bagay na hindi ko dapat sinabi. Matapos ang pag-alis na iyon, nagpasya ang kanilang direktang superbisor na ipagtanggol ang kanyang mga manggagawa. Nag-init ito.
Ang aking galit ay hindi lumabo nang ganoon sa loob ng ilang taon, at naisip kong wala na ito. Mali ako. Makalipas ang ilang minuto ng nag-iisa pagkatapos, alam kong kailangan kong magsisi, humingi ng kapatawaran mula sa Diyos, at humingi ng tawad. Pagkatapos ng panalangin, bumalik ako sa aking normal na kalmado sa sarili. Itinataguyod ko ang isyung ito, dahil alam kong hindi ako maaaring maging isang tao lamang na sumusunod kay Kristo at pa rin, minsan, hahanapin na ang dating sa akin ay bumalik nang ilang sandali. Hindi ito madalas na nangyayari, ngunit ginagawa nito.
Pag-uwi ko, napatingin ako sa ilang mga kard ng banal na kasulatan at natagpuan ang isa sa galit. Ang unang taludtod sa kard ay Kawikaan 15: 1 ‘ Ang isang malambot na sagot ay lumiliko sa galit, ngunit ang isang malupit na salita ay nagpukaw ng galit. ’ Ang reaksyon ng superbisor ay dahil sa aking galit sa kanyang mga tauhan. Kung ako ay mahinahon sa pag-iisip, hindi ito lalakas sa puntong iyon.
Sinasabi sa atin ng Efeso 4: 26-27 ‘ Magalit at huwag magkasala: huwag hayaang lumubog ang araw sa iyong galit, o magbigay ng lugar sa diyablo. ’ Ipinagkaloob, sa sandaling tapos na ang sitwasyon, nanalangin ako at nakaramdam ng kalmado. Ngunit sa sandaling iyon, si Satanas ay nasa kanyang lugar sa sitwasyon. Alam niya ang aking estado ng pag-iisip sa sandaling iyon ay hindi pupunta tulad ng dapat na ( dahil ang anumang adik ay maaaring patunayan din ang ) at pinatong lamang ang sitwasyon sa harap ko at kinuha ko ang pain. May posibilidad siyang gawin iyon sa mga tagasunod ni Cristo. Alam niya ang ating kahinaan at ang ating nakaraang buhay. Alam niya kung ano ang makukuha sa amin na bibigyan ng tamang mga pangyayari.
Sinasabi sa atin ni Pablo, ‘ Sa wakas, mga kapatid, maging malakas sa Panginoon at sa kapangyarihan ng Kanyang lakas. Ilagay ang buong sandata ng Diyos, upang maaari kang tumayo laban sa mga wile ng diyablo. Sapagka’t hindi tayo nakikipagbuno laban sa laman at dugo, ngunit laban sa mga pamunuan, laban sa mga kapangyarihan, laban sa mga pinuno ng kadiliman sa panahong ito, laban sa mga espiritwal na hukbo ng kasamaan sa mga makalangit na lugar. Samakatuwid, gawin ang buong sandata ng Diyos, upang ikaw ay makatiis sa masamang araw, at magawa ang lahat, upang tumayo. ” “ Kaya’t, sa gayon, ang pagbigkis ng iyong baywang ng katotohanan, na nakasuot sa dibdib ng katuwiran, na hinimas ang iyong mga paa sa paghahanda ng ebanghelyo ng kapayapaan; higit sa lahat, pagkuha ng kalasag ng pananampalataya na kung saan magagawa mong pawiin ang nagniningas na darts ng masama. At kunin ang helmet ng kaligtasan, at ang tabak ng Espiritu, na siyang salita ng Diyos; nananalangin palagi sa lahat ng panalangin at pagsusumamo sa Espiritu, pagiging maingat hanggang sa wakas na ito sa lahat ng tiyaga at pagsusumamo para sa mga banal. ( Efeso 6: 10-18 )
Ipinaalam sa atin ni Pablo na ang mundo at mga legion ni Satanas ay ipako sa atin kung papayagan natin ito. At ngayon ginawa ko. Ngunit sa daanan, sinabi rin sa atin ni Pablo na makipaglaban sa nakasuot ng sandata ng Diyos at sa tabak ng Diyos. Nakasuot ako ng kuwintas ng isang kalasag na maaari kong laging alalahanin upang umangkop sa pag-atake ng kaaway. Ngayon nakalimutan ko. At pinayagan nito si Satanas na gumapang at atake.
Kailangan nating maunawaan na kapag sinabi ni Pablo sa Roma 3:23 ‘ Lahat ay nagkasala at nahulog sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos ’ nakikipag-usap siya sa naligtas. Habang iniisip ng marami na ang talatang ito ay nangangahulugang hindi maging malupit sa mga nahuhulog, at ginagawa ito sa isang kahulugan. Nariyan din upang ipaalala sa amin na hindi pa tayo perpekto. Na tayo ay humihina mula sa oras-oras. Ngunit alam din natin, na si Cristo ang ating kanlungan at bato. Upang tayo ay mahulog, ngunit handa siyang maabot at hilahin tayo mula sa mga alon ng kasalanan kapag nagsisisi tayo at humihingi ng kanyang awa at tulong. Ipinapaalala sa atin ni Juan, ang mga tagasunod ni Cristo hangga’t ginagawa niya ang mga hindi naghahanap sa kanya, ‘ Kung aminin natin ang ating mga kasalanan, Siya ay matapat at matuwid na patawarin ang ating mga kasalanan at linisin tayo mula sa lahat ng kawalang-katarungan. ’ ( 1John 1: 9 )
Huwag kumilos, dahil sinusunod mo si Kristo, na ikaw ay napaka-relihiyoso na hindi mo o hindi maaaring magkasala. Hangga’t nasa loob tayo ng laman na porma na ito, at hindi sa ating makalangit na tahanan, ANG DEVIL AY MAAARING MAG-ISIP SA IYO AT AYAW. Kung hindi man ay hindi natin kailangang paalalahanan na ilagay sa sandata ng Diyos. Sinabi ng aking ama, pagkatapos niyang maligtas, ‘ Ngunit para sa biyaya ng Diyos, pumunta sa I ”. Ito ay isang lumang kasabihan ngunit totoo ang singsing. Kami ay hindi mas mahusay kaysa sa makasalanan sa mundo. Binigyan lang tayo ng biyaya at awa sa kabila ng hindi tayo karapat-dapat dito.
Kaya, kapag nahuhulog tayo o nabigo sa ating paglalakad kasama si Kristo, agad na magsisi, humingi ng Kanyang kapatawaran at awa. Pagkatapos ay huwag kalimutan na kailangan natin ang kanyang awa. Naniniwala talaga ako, na kung minsan ang pinakamahusay na patotoo na maibibigay natin sa hindi ligtas na mundo ay ang awa na natanggap natin mula sa Diyos pagkatapos nating mahulog o mabigo. Ang pangangailangan upang makita ang pagkahulog upang maunawaan ang awa at pangangailangan ng sangkatauhan para dito.

Christianity, faith

We All Fall From Time To Time

I don’t usually put personal testimony into my articles. But today is a bit different. It is in hope that those who read this article find one of two things in it that allows the Holy Spirit to work in them.

To the non-believer, I hope that you begin to understand that even Christians still fight the demonic issues that arise. We aren’t perfect and won’t be until Christ comes back. Yes, there are hypocrites who say one thing and live another. But many you seem to believe are as such, are just followers of Christ that still fail and fall.

To the believer, it is my hope that you be not discouraged when you fall or fail. As stated above, we are still human and fight the flesh. Some through sexual issues, remaining ties to paganism, or in this case through a moment of anger. It doesn’t mean we are failures in faith. It means we haven’t made it to a perfect home yet.

I’m dealing with the issue of smoking and have set a date to be nicotine free (including withdraws) by the last day of the month. So I didn’t have cigarettes on me when I rolled into work. I work at a store that is being renovated due to a new owner. So we have contractors for various projects going on, and to say the least, the store is busy and issues arise.

I am the head receiver and rely on computer equipment for my job. I walked in today and found my entire system down. All other systems in the store were operational. To put it mildly, I went off. I went to ask the night contracting crew what happened so that I could relay that information to the IT department. Things didn’t go well. My anger flared and I said a few things that I should not have said. After that altercation, their direct supervisor decided to defend his workers. It got heated.

My anger has not flared that way in a few years, and I thought it was gone. I was wrong. After a few minutes of alone time afterward, I knew I had to repent, seek forgiveness from God, and apologize. After prayer, I was back to my normal calm self. I bring this issue up, because I know I cannot be the only person that follows Christ and still, once in a while, find that old me come back for a moment. Not that it happens often, but it does.

When I got home, I looked through some scripture cards and found one on anger. The first verse on the card is Proverbs 15:1 ‘A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’ The reaction of the supervisor was due to my anger with his crew. Had I been calm in thought, it would not have escalated to that point.

Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us ‘Be angry and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.’ Granted, once the situation was done, I prayed and felt calm. But in that moment, Satan had his place in the situation. He knew my state of mind at that moment wasn’t going to as it should (as any addict can attest too) and just dangled the situation in front of me and I took the bait. He has a tendency to do that to followers of Christ. He knows our weakness and our past life. He knows what will get to us given the right circumstances.

Paul tells us,‘Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take up the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Paul lets us know that the world and legions of Satan will nail us if we let it. And today I did. But in the passage, Paul also tells us to fight clothed in God’s armor and with God’s sword. I wear a necklace of a shield that I may always remember to suit up for the enemy’s attack. Today I forgot. And it allowed Satan to creep in and attack.

We need to understand that when Paul states in Romans 3:23 ‘All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God’ he is talking to the saved. While many think this verse means to not be harsh with those who fall, and it does in one sense. It also is there to remind us that we are not yet perfect. That we will falter from time to time. But we also know, that Christ is our shelter and rock. That we may fall, but he is willing to reach out and pull us from the waves of sin when we repent and ask for his mercy and help. John reminds us, the followers of Christ as much as he does those who have not sought him, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.’ (1John 1:9)

Never act, because you follow Christ, that you are so pious that you do not or can not sin. As long as we are in this fleshy form, and not in our heavenly home, THE DEVIL CAN STILL ATTACK YOU AND WILL. Otherwise we would not need to be reminded to put on the armor of God. My father used to say, after he got saved, ‘But for the grace of God, there go I”. It is an old saying but rings true. We are no better than the sinner in the world. We have just been given grace and mercy despite us not being worthy of it.

So, when we fall or fail in our walk with Christ, immediately repent, seek His forgiveness and mercy. Then don’t forget that we need his mercy. I truly believe, that sometimes the best testimony we can give to the unsaved world is the mercy we receive from God after we fall or fail. The need to see the fall to understand the mercy and mankind’s need for it.

Christianity, faith

אלוהים ומצווה

נראה שיש מחלוקת בקרב חסידיו של ישו כי מאמר זה ינסה לעזור להגיע למסקנה. זה הטענה של אי-היות תחת החוק בגלל חסד ורחמים דרך דמו השופך של ישו מהצלב. אנשים שוכחים להבחין בין החוקים כפי שנכתבו בספרי משה. נתחיל שם.

יש שתי מערכות חוקים. האחד הם החוקים שכתב האל עצמו בסיני. עשרת הדיברות הללו הן החוק המוסרי. מפוצלים במצווה חמש, הם כתובים על שני לוחות אבן. אתה מוצא את אלה בשמות 20: 1-17. חוקים אלה מספרים לנו כיצד להתמודד עם מערכת היחסים שלנו עם אלוהים ( לוח 1, מצוות 1-4 ) והקשר שלנו עם אחינו ( לוח 2, מצוות 5-10 ). חוקים אלה אינם יכולים ואף לא ישתנו. חוקים אלה היו קיימים לפני שאלוהים כתב אותם אי פעם על אבן. הכתוב מספר לנו זאת בקטעים שונים ( העברים 13: 8; מלאכי 3: 6; ישעיהו 40: 8; Et al ).

יש את החוקים הלוויטיים. חוקים אלה ניתנו למשה במילה, לא באבן, לכתוב לבני ישראל. חוקים אלה כיסו סוגיות חברתיות, סוגיות משפטיות וסוגיות הקרבה המיועדות לבני ישראל. אלה נראים לאורך ספרי משה, החל מעשרת הדיברות. כאן מתרחשת הבעיה.

בואו נסתכל על מיקומם של שתי קבוצות החוק ( פיקוד ולוויטית ). שתי לוחות האבן ( שנשברו לאחר שמשה מצא את העגל המוזהב שסגד ונכתב מחדש על ידי האל ) הוכנסו לתיבת הברית ( Deut. 10: 1-20…באותה תקופה אדונאי אמר לי, ‘ גילף לעצמך שתי טבליות אבן כמו הראשונות ובוא אלי על ההר. הכינו לעצמכם ארון עץ. אני אכתוב על הטבליות את המילים שהיו בטבליות הראשונות שניפצת, ואתה צריך להכניס אותן לתיבה. ’ ). הם הוצבו שם עם צוות אהרון ומנא, על פי המכתב לעברים מאת פול ( העברים 9: 4b… בתיבה היה צנצנת מוזהבת שהחזיקה את המן, מוטו של אהרון שהתחיל, ולוחות הברית ). שלושתם מייצגים את ישוע המשיח. הדיברות הן חוקי האל מאת נותן החוק ישוע, צוות אהרון ( המייצג את ישו ככהן הגדול שלנו, ומנא ( לחם החיים ישוע ).

החוקים או החוקים הלוויטיים של משה הוצבו באופן שונה ( דברים 31: 25-26…משה ציווה על הלויים, נשאי ארון הברית של אדוני באומרו, “ קחו את מגילת התורה הזו והניחו לצד ארון הברית של אדוני אלוהיך. זה יישאר שם כעד נגדך, ). מערכת חוקים זו הייתה מחייבת כברית בין אלוהים לבני ישראל. ואילו חוק האל ( עשר הדיברות מחייבות את האנושות כולה מההתחלה ועד הסוף.

הוויכוח מגיע מרומאים 6:14 …. ”כי החטא לא יהיה אדון בך, כי אינך תחת חוק אלא תחת חסד ”. ובעוד שפסוק זה העומד לבדו עשוי להראות שהטיעון של החסד ולא החוק יהיה נכון, יש לקחת אותו בהקשר ועם שאר הפסוקים הסובבים אותו. הרעיון כולו הוא ככזה, “ לכן אל תתנו לחטא לשלוט בגופכם התמותי כך שתצייתו לרצונותיו. ואל תמשיכו להניב את חלקי גופכם לחטא ככלי רשעות; אך תוותרו לעצמכם לאלוהים כחי מהמתים, וחלקי גופך ככלי צדקות לאלוהים. כי החטא לא יהיה אדון עליכם, כי אינכם תחת החוק אלא תחת חסד. מה אז? האם נחטא כי איננו תחת החוק אלא תחת חסד? מי ייתן ולעולם לא יהיה! האם אינך יודע שלכל מה שאתה נותן לעצמך כעבדים לצייתנות, אתה עבדים למה שאתה מציית — אם לחטא שמביא למוות, או לצייתנות המביאה לצדק? אך תודה לאל שלמרות שהיית עבדי חטא, צייתת מכל הלב לצורת ההוראה שתחתיה הוצבת; ואחרי שהשתחררת מחטא, השתעבדת לצדק. אני מדבר במונחים אנושיים בגלל חולשת בשרך. שכן כשם שהספקת את חלקי גופך כעבדים לטומאה וחוסר החוק, מה שהוביל ליותר הפקרות, אז עכשיו תנידי את חלקי גופך כעבדים לצדק, וכתוצאה מכך קדושה. כי כשהיית עבדי חטא היית חופשי ביחס לצדק. אז אם כן, באיזו תוצאה הייתה לך שאתה מתבייש עכשיו? כי סוף הדברים האלה הוא המוות. אבל עכשיו, לאחר שהשתחררת מחטא והשתעבדת לאלוהים, יש לך את הפירות שלך וכתוצאה מכך קדושה. והתוצאה היא חיי נצח. לתשלום החטא הוא מוות, אך המתנה החיננית של אלוהים היא חיי נצח במשיח ישוע אדוננו. ” ( הרומאים 6: 12-23, TLV )

כל הקריאה מראה כי רק מכיוון שאחד נמצא תחת חסד, הוא אינו מאשר את סיום חוק האל ( הדיברות ). פול חזר על נקודה זו בכמה פסוקים שונים. הרומאים 3: 19-20 “ עכשיו אנו יודעים שכל מה שהתורה אומרת, היא אומרת לאלה שבתורה, כך שכל פה יכול להיות סגור וכל העולם עשוי לתת דין וחשבון לאלוהים. כי אף אדם, על בסיס קיום תורה, לא יוגדר ממש בעיניו — שכן דרך התורה מגיעה המודעות לחטא. ” והוא אומר את זה אחרת, אבל בבהירות טובה יותר ברומאים 7: 7-12 “ מה נגיד אז? האם התורה חוטאת? מי ייתן ולעולם לא יהיה! נהפוך הוא, לא הייתי יודע חטא אלא דרך התורה. כי לא הייתי יודע על חמוד אם התורה לא הייתה אומרת, “ לא תחמוד. ” אבל החטא, תוך ניצול הזדמנות, עבד בי דרך המצווה כל מיני נחשק. כי מלבד התורה, החטא מת. פעם הייתי בחיים מלבד התורה; אבל כשהמצווה הגיעה, חטא התעורר לחיים ומתתי. המצווה המיועדת לכל החיים נמצאה כגורמת למוות. חטא, ניצל הזדמנות באמצעות המצווה, הוליך אותי שולל ודרכו הרג אותי. אז התורה קדושה והמצווה קדושה וצדיקה וטובה. ”

מה שפול אומר הוא שהמצוות בתוקף גם לאחר החסד. השטן עדיין יפתה וטבעו של האדם הוא עדיין לחטוא. וברגע שמתקבלת סליחת החסד, השטן נלחם יותר כדי להחזיר אחד שאיבד לאלוהים.

אבל אל תקשיב רק לפול. ישוע עצמו אמר כי חוקי האל עדיין תקפים. “ אמן, אני אומר לך, עד שהשמיים והארץ יעברו, לא האות או הסריף הקטנים ביותר יעברו אי פעם מהתורה עד שכל הדברים יתרחשו. ” ( מתיו 5:18, TLV )

גם החזון של ג’ון בפטמוס אומר את זה. “ הנה ההתמדה של הקדושים — אלה השומרים על מצוות האל ואמונתו של ישוע. ” ( התגלות 14:12 ). בטקסט רבני עברי פירושו של קדושים ‘ קדושים ’. ה- KJV מפרש את המילה הזו כקדושים. התמדה פירושה ללכת למרחק, לראות משהו עד הסוף. כפי שאתה רואה בפסוק זה, לעבור לסוף הזמן, וקרא את שמך בספר החיים של הכבש לוקח גם את האמונה המשיח ( חסד ) וגם את המצוות ( חוקים ) של האל.

כאשר המשיח אמר שזה נעשה לפני שמת על הצלב, פירושו ששולם מחיר הפדיון עבור אלה שקיבלו אותו. השליח ג’יימס אומר לנו בג’יימס 2: 14-26 ‘ מה זה טוב, אחיי ואחיותיי, אם מישהו אומר שיש לו אמונה, אבל אין לו עבודות? האם אמונה כזו יכולה להציל אותו? אם אח או אחות עירומים וחסרי אוכל יומיומי, ואחד מכם אומר להם, “ היכנסו לשלום, התחממו ואכלו היטב,” אבל אתה לא נותן להם את מה שהגוף צריך, מה זה מועיל? כך גם האמונה, אם אין לה יצירות, מתה מעצמה. אבל מישהו יגיד, “ יש לך אמונה ויש לי עבודות. ” הראה לי את אמונך ללא יצירות ואני אראה לך אמונה על ידי העבודות שלי. אתה מאמין שאלוהים הוא אחד. אתה מצליח. השדים גם מאמינים — וצמרמורת! אבל האם אתה רוצה לדעת, האדם הריק, שהאמונה ללא העבודות מתה? האם אברהם אבינו לא התגלה כצדיק בעבודות כשהציע את יצחק את בנו על המזבח? אתה רואה שהאמונה עבדה יחד עם יצירותיו, ועל ידי העבודות אמונתו הושלמה. הכתוב התגשם שאומר, “ ואברהם האמין באלוהים, וזה נזקף לזכותו כצדק ” — והוא נקרא חברו של אלוהים. אתה רואה שאדם מוכח כצדיק על ידי יצירות ולא על ידי אמונה בלבד. וכמוהו, האם גם רהב הזונה לא הוכיחה את עצמה כצדיקה בעבודות כאשר קיבלה את פני השליחים ושלחה אותם בדרך אחרת? שכן כשם שהגוף ללא הרוח מת, כך גם האמונה ללא העבודות מתה. ’

העבודות המדוברות הן כיצד אנו מתמודדים עם עמיתנו. אמנם זה מקיף את עבודות הרחמים ( מאכילים את הרעבים, בקרו בחולים, ואח ‘) זה כולל גם את המצוות. זכרו ששש המצוות האחרונות מספרות לנו את הדרך המוסרית להתמודד עם אחינו.

החוק הלוויתי ( הקרבה, טקס וכו ‘. ) הסתיים בצלב. זו הייתה המשמעות של אמירתו של ישו על כך שהיא נעשית. הדם כיסה כעת בחסד את מה שנועדו הקרבנות, חוקים טקסיים וחוקים משפטיים …. גאולה עתידית בהקרבתו של ישו. זה מתגלה בקריעת הרעלה בין המקום הקדוש לקודש הקודשים במקדש. ‘ וישוע צעק שוב בקול רם וויתר על רוחו. והנה וילון המקדש פוצל לשניים, מלמעלה למטה. ’ ( מתיו 27: 50-51, TLV )

קריעה זו פתחה את נוכחותו של אלוהים לכולם מבלי לעבור את ההקרבה בחצר, הכומר במקום הקדוש, וכיסוי התיבה בדם החיה של ההקרבה. הדיברות ( חוק האל ) לא חוקי משה קיימים מאז לפני שניתנו הדיברות בסיני.

הנה שאלה להרהר. אם המשיח עצמו, השליחים וכותבי הברית הישנה אומרים שחוק האל, כמו אלוהים, אינו משתנה, אז מדוע הוויכוח? ומדוע מי שטוען כי הוא עוקב אחר הדיון במשיח על אילו מצוות לעקוב? אם זה לוקח גם אמונה במשיח ( חסד של גאולה דרך הדם ) וגם את הדיברות ( חוק האל ) כדי לעבור לתחיית הצדיקים, האם לא עלינו ללכת אחרי שניהם לתהילה?

Christianity, faith

ईश्वर और आज्ञा

मसीह के अनुयायियों में एक विवाद प्रतीत होता है कि यह लेख निष्कर्ष पर आने में मदद करने का प्रयास करेगा. यह क्रूस से मसीह के बहाए गए रक्त के माध्यम से अनुग्रह और दया के कारण कानून के तहत नहीं होने का तर्क है. लोग मूसा की किताबों में लिखे गए कानूनों के बीच अंतर करना भूल जाते हैं. चलो वहाँ शुरू करते हैं.

कानूनों के दो सेट हैं. एक सिनाई में स्वयं भगवान द्वारा लिखे गए कानून हैं. ये दस आज्ञाएँ नैतिक कानून हैं. कमांड पांच में विभाजित, वे दो पत्थर की गोलियों पर लिखे गए हैं. आप इन्हें एक्सोडस 20: 1-17 में पाते हैं. ये कानून हमें बताते हैं कि भगवान के साथ हमारे संबंधों से कैसे निपटें ( टैबलेट 1, कमांड 1-4 ) और हमारे साथी आदमी के साथ हमारा संबंध ( टैबलेट 2, कमांड 5-10 ). ये कानून कभी नहीं बदल सकते और न ही बदल सकते हैं. ये कानून तब लागू हुए जब भगवान ने उन्हें पत्थर पर लिखा था. पवित्रशास्त्र हमें विभिन्न मार्गों में बताता है ( हिब्रू 13: 8; मलाकी 3: 6; यशायाह 40: 8; एट अल ).

वहाँ Levitical कानून हैं. ये कानून मूसा को शब्द में दिए गए थे, पत्थर नहीं, इस्राएलियों को लिखने के लिए. इन कानूनों ने सामाजिक मुद्दों, कानूनी मुद्दों और बलिदान के मुद्दों को इजरायल के लिए कवर किया. ये मूसा की किताबों में देखे जाते हैं, जो दस आज्ञाओं के बाद शुरू होते हैं. यहाँ वह जगह है जहाँ समस्या होती है.

कानून के दो समूहों ( कमांड और लेविटिकल ) की नियुक्ति को देखें. मूसा द्वारा स्वर्ण बछड़े की पूजा की जाने और फिर से लिखे जाने के बाद दो पत्थर की गोलियाँ ( टूट गई, उन्हें वाचा के सन्दूक में रखा गया ) Deut. 10: 1-20…उस समय अडोनई ने मुझसे कहा, ‘ अपने लिए पत्थर की दो गोलियां पहले की तरह तराशें और पहाड़ पर मेरे पास आएं. अपने आप को लकड़ी का एक सन्दूक बनाओ. मैं उन गोलियों पर लिखूंगा जो पहले गोलियों पर थीं जिन्हें आपने तोड़ दिया था, और आप उन्हें सन्दूक में डाल देंगे। ’ ). पॉल ( इब्रानियों 9: 4b द्वारा इब्रियों को लिखे गए पत्र के अनुसार, उन्हें हारून और मन्ना के कर्मचारियों के साथ वहां रखा गया था… सन्दूक में एक सुनहरा जार था, जो कि हारून की छड़ी थी, जो कि नवोदित थी, और वाचा की गोलियाँ ). ये तीनों यीशु मसीह का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं. आज्ञाओं को कानून दाता यीशु से भगवान के कानून, हारून के कर्मचारी ( हमारे उच्च पुजारी के रूप में मसीह का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं, और मन्ना ( जीवन की रोटी यीशु ).

मूसा के कानून या कानून को अलग तरीके से रखा गया था ( व्यवस्थाविवरण 31: 25-26…मूसा ने लेवियों को आज्ञा दी, अदोनै की वाचा के सन्दूक के वाहक ने कहा, “ टोरा के इस स्क्रॉल को लें, और इसे अदोनै के वाचा के सन्दूक के पास रखें. यह आपके खिलाफ एक गवाह के रूप में रहेगा, ). कानूनों का यह सेट भगवान और इस्राएलियों के बीच एक वाचा के रूप में बाध्यकारी था. जबकि परमेश्वर का कानून ( दस आज्ञाएँ शुरू से अंत तक मानवता के सभी के लिए बाध्यकारी हैं.

बहस रोमियों 6:14 से आती है …. ”क्योंकि पाप तुम्हारे ऊपर नहीं होगा, क्योंकि तुम कानून के अधीन नहीं हो, लेकिन अनुग्रह के अधीन हो ”. और जबकि यह कविता अकेले खड़ी हो सकती है, यह दिखा सकती है कि अनुग्रह कानून तर्क सही नहीं होगा, इसे संदर्भ में और इसके आसपास के अन्य छंदों के साथ लेना होगा. पूरा विचार इस तरह का है, “ इसलिए अपने नश्वर शरीर में पाप का शासन न करें ताकि आप उसकी इच्छाओं का पालन करें. और अपने शरीर के अंगों को दुष्टता के उपकरण के रूप में पाप करने के लिए न रखें; लेकिन अपने आप को भगवान से उपज के रूप में उन लोगों से जीवित करें, और आपका शरीर भगवान की धार्मिकता के उपकरण के रूप में है. क्योंकि पाप तुम्हारे ऊपर नहीं होगा, क्योंकि तुम कानून के अधीन नहीं हो, बल्कि अनुग्रह के अधीन हो. फिर क्या? क्या हम पाप करेंगे क्योंकि हम कानून के अधीन नहीं हैं बल्कि अनुग्रह के अधीन हैं? यह कभी नहीं हो सकता है! क्या आप नहीं जानते कि आप जो कुछ भी आज्ञाकारिता के लिए खुद को गुलाम के रूप में उपजते हैं, आप गुलाम हैं जो आप मानते हैं — चाहे पाप मृत्यु के परिणामस्वरूप हो, या आज्ञाकारिता के परिणामस्वरूप धार्मिकता हो? लेकिन भगवान के लिए धन्यवाद कि यद्यपि आप पाप के गुलाम थे, आपने पूरे दिल से शिक्षण के रूप का पालन किया जिसके तहत आपको रखा गया था; और तुम्हारे जाने के बाद पाप से मुक्त हो गए, आप धार्मिकता के गुलाम बन गए. मैं आपके मांस की कमजोरी के कारण मानवीय शब्दों में बोलता हूं. जैसे ही आपने अपने शरीर के अंगों को अशुद्धता और अधर्म के गुलाम के रूप में उतारा, जिससे अधिक अधर्म हो गया, इसलिए अब अपने शरीर के अंगों को धार्मिकता के दास के रूप में उपजें, जिसके परिणामस्वरूप पवित्रता प्राप्त हुई. जब आप पाप के गुलाम थे, तो आप धार्मिकता के संबंध में स्वतंत्र थे. तो फिर, आपके पास क्या परिणाम था जिससे आप अब शर्मिंदा हैं? उन चीजों के अंत के लिए मृत्यु है. लेकिन अब, पाप से मुक्त हो गए हैं और भगवान के गुलाम बन गए हैं, आपके पास पवित्रता के परिणामस्वरूप आपका फल है. और परिणाम शाश्वत जीवन है। पाप के भुगतान के लिए मृत्यु है, लेकिन भगवान का अनुग्रह उपहार हमारे प्रभु मसीहा येशुआ में अनन्त जीवन है। ” ( रोमन 6: 12-23, TLV )

संपूर्ण रीडिंग से पता चलता है कि सिर्फ इसलिए कि कोई अनुग्रह के अधीन है, यह भगवान के कानून ( आज्ञाओं ) के अंत की पुष्टि नहीं करता है. पॉल ने उस बिंदु को कुछ अलग कविता में दोहराया. रोमियों 3: 19-20 “ अब हम जानते हैं कि टोरा जो भी कहता है, वह टोरा के भीतर के लोगों से कहता है, ताकि हर मुंह बंद हो सके और पूरी दुनिया भगवान के प्रति जवाबदेह बन सके. किसी भी इंसान के लिए, टोरा पालन के आधार पर, उसकी दृष्टि में सही सेट नहीं किया जाएगा — टोरा के माध्यम से पाप के बारे में जागरूकता आती है। ” और वह इसे अलग तरह से कहता है, लेकिन रोमियों 7: 7-12 “ में बेहतर स्पष्टता के साथ हम तब क्या कहेंगे? क्या टोरा पाप है? यह कभी नहीं हो सकता है! इसके विपरीत, मुझे टोरा के अलावा पाप का पता नहीं था. अगर टोरा ने यह नहीं कहा होता तो मैं लोभ के बारे में नहीं जानता होता, “ आप लोभ नहीं करेंगे. ” लेकिन पाप, एक अवसर लेते हुए, आज्ञा के माध्यम से सभी प्रकार के लोभ में काम किया. टोरा के अलावा, पाप मर चुका है. एक बार जब मैं टोरा से अलग था; लेकिन जब आज्ञा आई, तो पाप जीवन में आया और मैं मर गया. जीवन के लिए आज्ञा का अर्थ मृत्यु का कारण पाया गया. पाप ने आज्ञा के माध्यम से एक अवसर लेते हुए, मुझे धोखा दिया और इसके माध्यम से मुझे मार डाला. तो, टोरा पवित्र है, और आज्ञा पवित्र और धर्मी और अच्छी है। ”

पॉल जो कह रहा है वह यह है कि आज्ञाएँ अनुग्रह के बाद भी प्रभावी हैं. शैतान अभी भी लुभाएगा और मनुष्य का स्वभाव अभी भी पाप करना है. और एक बार अनुग्रह की क्षमा प्राप्त होने के बाद, शैतान एक और लड़ाई लड़ता है जिसे वह भगवान से हार जाता है.

लेकिन सिर्फ पॉल को मत सुनो. यीशु ने स्वयं कहा था कि परमेश्वर के नियम अभी भी मान्य हैं. “ आमीन, मैं आपको बताता हूं, जब तक कि स्वर्ग और पृथ्वी नहीं गुजरते, तब तक सबसे छोटा पत्र या सेरिफ़ कभी भी टोरा से दूर नहीं होगा जब तक कि सभी चीजें पास न हो जाएं। ” ( मैथ्यू 5:18, TLV )

पटमोस में जॉन की दृष्टि इसे भी कहती है. “ यहाँ केडोशिम — की दृढ़ता है जो लोग ईश्वर की आज्ञाओं और येशुआ के विश्वास को बनाए रखते हैं। ” ( रहस्योद्घाटन 14:12 ). हिब्रू Rabbinical पाठ में, केडोशिम का अर्थ है ‘ पवित्र लोग ’. KJV इस शब्द की व्याख्या संतों के रूप में करता है. दृढ़ता का अर्थ है दूरी तय करना, अंत तक कुछ देखना. जैसा कि आप इस कविता में देखते हैं, समय के अंत तक जाने के लिए, और आपका नाम मेमने की बुक ऑफ लाइफ में पढ़ा गया है, दोनों विश्वास मसीह ( अनुग्रह ) और आज्ञाओं ( कानून ) भगवान के दोनों लेता है.

जब मसीह ने कहा कि यह क्रूस पर मरने से पहले किया जाता है, तो इसका मतलब है कि इसे स्वीकार करने वालों के लिए मोचन की कीमत का भुगतान किया गया था. प्रेरित जेम्स हमें जेम्स 2: 14-26 ‘ में बताता है कि यह क्या अच्छा है, मेरे भाइयों और बहनों, अगर कोई कहता है कि उसे विश्वास है, लेकिन काम नहीं करता है? क्या ऐसा विश्वास उसे बचा सकता है? यदि कोई भाई या बहन नग्न है और उसके पास दैनिक भोजन की कमी है, और आप में से कोई उनसे कहता है, “ शालोम में जाओ, गर्म और अच्छी तरह से खिलाओ,” लेकिन आप उन्हें वह नहीं देते जो शरीर को चाहिए, वह क्या अच्छा है? इसलिए विश्वास भी, अगर इसमें काम नहीं है, तो यह अपने आप मर चुका है. लेकिन कोई कहेगा, “ आपको विश्वास है और मेरे पास काम है। ” मुझे बिना काम के अपना विश्वास दिखाओ और मैं तुम्हें अपने कामों से विश्वास दिखाऊंगा. आप मानते हैं कि भगवान एक है. आप अच्छा करते हैं. राक्षसों का मानना है कि — और कंपकंपी! लेकिन क्या आप जानना चाहते हैं, आप खाली व्यक्ति हैं, बिना काम के विश्वास मर चुका है? क्या अब्राहम हमारे पिता ने काम से धर्मी साबित नहीं किया जब उसने इसहाक को अपने बेटे को वेदी पर चढ़ाया? आप देखते हैं कि विश्वास ने उनके कार्यों के साथ मिलकर काम किया, और कार्यों से उनका विश्वास पूरा हुआ. पवित्रशास्त्र पूरा हुआ जो कहता है, “ और अब्राहम भगवान को मानते थे, और इसे उन्हें धार्मिकता के रूप में श्रेय दिया गया था ” — और उन्हें भगवान का दोस्त कहा जाता था. आप देखते हैं कि एक आदमी काम से धर्मी साबित होता है न कि अकेले विश्वास से. और इसी तरह, जब वह दूतों का स्वागत करती थी और उन्हें दूसरे तरीके से बाहर भेजती थी, तो वेश्या भी काम से धर्मी साबित नहीं होती थी? जैसे आत्मा के बिना शरीर मर चुका है, वैसे ही बिना काम के भी विश्वास मर चुका है। ’

जिन कार्यों के बारे में बात की जा रही है, वे हैं कि हम अपने साथी के साथ कैसे व्यवहार करते हैं. हालांकि यह दया के कार्यों को शामिल करता है ( भूखे को खिलाता है, बीमारों की यात्रा करता है, एट अल ) इसमें आज्ञाएँ भी शामिल हैं. याद रखें, कि अंतिम छह आज्ञाएँ हमें अपने साथी आदमी से निपटने का नैतिक तरीका बताती हैं.

Levitical कानून ( बलिदान, समारोह, आदि ) क्रॉस पर समाप्त हो गए थे. यह मसीह के कथन का अर्थ था कि यह किया जा रहा है. रक्त अब अनुग्रह में शामिल हो गया है जो बलिदान, औपचारिक कानून और कानूनी कानून के लिए थे …. भविष्य में मसीह के बलिदान में मोचन. यह मंदिर में पवित्र स्थान और पवित्र के पवित्र के बीच घूंघट के फाड़ में प्रकट होता है. ‘ और येशुआ ने फिर से तेज आवाज के साथ पुकारा और अपनी आत्मा को त्याग दिया. और देखो, मंदिर का पर्दा दो से ऊपर से नीचे तक विभाजित था। ’ ( मैथ्यू 27: 50-51, TLV )

इस फाड़ ने आंगन में बलिदान के माध्यम से जाने के बिना सभी के लिए भगवान की उपस्थिति को खोल दिया, पवित्र स्थान में पुजारी, और बलिदान के पशु रक्त में सन्दूक को ढंकना. आज्ञाएँ ( परमेश्वर का कानून ) मूसा के कानून सिनाई पर आज्ञाओं को दिए जाने से पहले के आसपास नहीं हैं.

यहाँ विचार करने के लिए एक प्रश्न है. यदि स्वयं मसीह, प्रेरित और पुराने नियम के लेखक कहते हैं कि परमेश्वर का कानून, ईश्वर की तरह, नहीं बदलता है, तो बहस क्यों? और जो लोग मसीह की बहस का पालन करने का दावा करते हैं, उन्हें किस आज्ञा का पालन करना है? यदि यह मसीह में विश्वास ( रक्त के माध्यम से मोचन का अनुग्रह ) और आज्ञाओं ( भगवान का कानून ) इसे धर्मी के पुनरुत्थान के माध्यम से बनाने के लिए लेता है, क्या हमें महिमा दोनों का पालन नहीं करना चाहिए?

Christianity, faith

خدا اور حکم

مسیح کے پیروکاروں میں یہ تنازعہ معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ یہ مضمون اختتام پر آنے میں مدد کی کوشش کرے گا. یہ قانون کے تحت نہ ہونے کی دلیل ہے کیونکہ مسیح کے خون کو صلیب سے بہا کر فضل اور رحمت کی وجہ سے. لوگ موسیٰ کی کتابوں میں لکھے گئے قوانین کے مابین فرق کرنا بھول جاتے ہیں. آئیے وہاں سے شروع کریں.

قوانین کے دو سیٹ ہیں. ایک وہ قانون ہیں جو خود سینا میں خدا نے لکھے تھے. یہ دس احکام اخلاقی قانون ہیں. پانچ حکم نامے پر تقسیم کریں ، وہ پتھر کی دو گولیاں پر لکھے گئے ہیں. آپ کو یہ خروج 20: 1-17 میں مل گیا ہے. یہ قوانین ہمیں بتاتے ہیں کہ خدا کے ساتھ ہمارے تعلقات سے کیسے نمٹنا ہے ( ٹیبلٹ 1 ، احکام 1-4 ) اور ہمارے ساتھی آدمی کے ساتھ ہمارے تعلقات ( ٹیبلٹ 2 ، احکام 5-10 ). یہ قوانین کبھی نہیں بدلے اور نہیں بدل سکتے ہیں. خدا نے انہیں پتھر پر لکھا تھا اس سے پہلے یہ قوانین موجود تھے. صحیفہ ہمیں مختلف حصئوں میں یہ بتاتا ہے ( ہیبروز 13: 8؛ ملاکی 3: 6؛ یسعیاہ 40: 8؛ ایٹ ال ).

قانونی قوانین موجود ہیں. یہ قوانین موسیٰ کو بنی اسرائیل کو لکھنے کے لئے الفاظ میں ، پتھر نہیں ، دیئے گئے تھے. ان قوانین میں اسرائیلیوں کے لئے معاشرتی امور ، قانونی امور اور قربانی کے امور کا احاطہ کیا گیا ہے. یہ دس احکام کے بعد شروع ہونے والے موسیٰ کی کتابوں میں دیکھے جاتے ہیں. یہاں مسئلہ ہوتا ہے.

آئیے قانون کے دو گروہوں کی جگہ ( تشکیل اور قانونی ) کو دیکھیں. دو پتھر کی گولیاں ( موسیٰ کے بعد ٹوٹا ہوا سنہری بچھڑا کی عبادت اور خدا کے ذریعہ دوبارہ لکھا گیا ) عہد نامہ ( Deut میں رکھا گیا تھا. 10: 1-20…اس وقت اڈونائی نے مجھ سے کہا ، ‘ اپنے لئے پتھر کی دو گولیاں پہلے کی طرح نقش کریں اور پہاڑ پر میرے پاس آئیں. اپنے آپ کو لکڑی کا صندوق بنائیں. میں گولیوں پر وہ الفاظ لکھوں گا جو آپ نے توڑ دیئے پہلی گولیوں پر تھے ، اور آپ انہیں صندوق میں ڈالیں گے۔ ’ ). پال ( ہیبروز 9: 4b کے عبرانیوں کو لکھے گئے خط کے مطابق ، انہیں ہارون اور مینا کے عملے کے ساتھ وہاں رکھا گیا تھا… صندوق میں ایک سنہری جار تھا جس میں مینا ، ہارون کی چھڑی تھی جو بولی تھی ، اور عہد کی گولیاں ) تھیں. یہ تینوں یسوع مسیح کی نمائندگی کرتے ہیں. احکام خدا کے قانون کی طرف سے عیسیٰ کے قوانین ہونے کی حیثیت سے ، ہارون ( کا عملہ مسیح کو ہمارے اعلی کاہن کی حیثیت سے پیش کرتا ہے ، اور مینا ( زندگی کی روٹی یسوع ).

لاویتیکل قوانین یا موسیٰ کے قوانین کو مختلف انداز میں رکھا گیا تھا ( استثنا 31: 25-26…موسیٰ نے اڈونائی کے عہد نامہ کے صندوق کے کیریئر لاویوں کو حکم دیا ، “ تورات کا یہ طومار لے لو ، اور اسے اپنے خدا کے عہد نامہ کے صندوق کے پاس رکھ دو. یہ آپ کے خلاف گواہ کی حیثیت سے موجود رہے گا ، ). قوانین کا یہ مجموعہ خدا اور اسرائیلیوں کے مابین عہد کے طور پر پابند تھا. جبکہ خدا کا قانون ( دس احکام شروع سے آخر تک تمام انسانیت پر پابند ہیں.

بحث رومیوں 6:14 سے آتی ہے …. ”کیونکہ گناہ آپ پر عبور نہیں ہوگا ، کیونکہ آپ قانون کے تحت نہیں بلکہ فضل کے تحت ” ہیں. اور جب کہ یہ آیت تنہا کھڑی ہے تو یہ ظاہر ہوسکتا ہے کہ فضل قانون کی دلیل درست نہیں ہوگا ، اس کو سیاق و سباق میں اور اس کے آس پاس کی دوسری آیات کے ساتھ لیا جانا چاہئے. سارا خیال اس طرح ہے ، “ لہذا آپ کے فانی جسم میں گناہ پر حکمرانی نہ کریں تاکہ آپ اس کی خواہشات کو مانیں. اور اپنے جسم کے اعضاء کو برائی کے اوزار کے طور پر گناہ کے ل. نہ رکھیں۔ لیکن اپنے آپ کو خدا کے سامنے مردہ لوگوں کی طرح زندہ کرو, اور آپ کے جسم خدا کے لئے راستبازی کے اوزار کے طور پر حصے ہیں. کیونکہ گناہ آپ پر عبور نہیں ہوگا ، کیونکہ آپ قانون کے تحت نہیں بلکہ فضل کے تحت ہیں. پھر کیا? کیا ہم گناہ کریں گے کیوں کہ ہم قانون کے تحت نہیں بلکہ فضل کے تحت ہیں? یہ کبھی نہیں ہوسکتا! کیا آپ نہیں جانتے کہ آپ جو بھی اطاعت کے لئے غلام بن کر اپنے آپ کو حاصل کرتے ہیں ، آپ اس کے غلام ہیں جس کی آپ اطاعت کرتے ہیں — چاہے موت کے نتیجے میں گناہ کریں ، یا راستبازی کے نتیجے میں اطاعت کریں? لیکن خدا کا شکر ہے کہ اگرچہ آپ گناہ کے غلام تھے ، آپ نے پوری دل سے اس تعلیم کی شکل کی تعمیل کی جس کے تحت آپ کو رکھا گیا تھا۔ اور آپ کے گناہ سے پاک ہونے کے بعد, آپ راستبازی کے غلام بن گئے. میں آپ کے گوشت کی کمزوری کی وجہ سے انسانی لحاظ سے بات کرتا ہوں. جس طرح آپ نے اپنے جسم کے اعضاء کو ناپاک اور لاقانونیت کے غلام کی حیثیت سے حاصل کیا ، جس سے زیادہ لاقانونیت پیدا ہوتی ہے ، لہذا اب آپ اپنے جسم کے حصے راستبازی کے غلام کی حیثیت سے حاصل کرتے ہیں ، جس کے نتیجے میں تقدس پیدا ہوتا ہے. جب آپ گناہ کے غلام تھے تو آپ راستبازی کے حوالے سے آزاد تھے. تو پھر ، آپ کو کیا نتیجہ ملا کہ اب آپ کو شرم آتی ہے? ان چیزوں کے خاتمے کے لئے موت ہے. لیکن اب ، گناہ سے پاک ہوکر اور خدا کے غلام بننے کے بعد ، آپ کا پھل ہے جس کے نتیجے میں تقدس پیدا ہوتا ہے. اور نتیجہ ابدی زندگی ہے۔ کیونکہ گناہ کی ادائیگی موت ہے ، لیکن خدا کا احسان مند تحفہ ہمارے رب مسیحا یشوع میں ابدی زندگی ہے۔ ” ( رومیوں 6: 12-23 ، TLV )

پڑھنے کا سارا حصہ یہ ظاہر کرتا ہے کہ صرف اس وجہ سے کہ کوئی فضل کے تحت ہے ، اس سے خدا کے قانون کے خاتمے کی تصدیق نہیں ہوتی ( احکام ). پولس نے کچھ مختلف آیت میں اس نکتے کا اعادہ کیا. رومیوں 3: 19-20 “ اب ہم جانتے ہیں کہ تورات جو کچھ بھی کہتا ہے ، وہ تورات کے اندر والوں سے کہتا ہے, تاکہ ہر منہ بند ہو اور پوری دنیا خدا کے سامنے جوابدہ ہو. تورات کی پابندی کی بنیاد پر ، کسی بھی انسان کو اس کی نظر میں ٹھیک نہیں رکھا جائے گا — کیونکہ تورات کے ذریعے گناہ کے بارے میں آگاہی آتی ہے۔ ” اور وہ اسے مختلف انداز میں کہتا ہے ، لیکن رومیوں 7: 7-12 “ میں بہتر وضاحت کے ساتھ ہم پھر کیا کہیں گے? کیا تورات گناہ ہے? یہ کبھی نہیں ہوسکتا! اس کے برعکس ، میں تورات کے علاوہ گناہ نہیں جانتا تھا. کیونکہ اگر تورات نے یہ نہیں کہا ہوتا تو میں لالچ کے بارے میں نہیں جانتا تھا ، “ آپ کو لالچ نہیں ملے گا. ” لیکن گناہ ، ایک موقع لیتے ہوئے ، حکم کے ذریعہ مجھ میں ہر طرح کی لالچ میں کام کرتا تھا. تورات کے علاوہ ، گناہ مر گیا ہے. ایک بار جب میں تورات کے علاوہ زندہ تھا۔ لیکن جب حکم آیا تو گناہ زندہ ہوا اور میں مر گیا. زندگی کے لئے حکم کا مقصد موت کا سبب پایا گیا تھا. گناہ ، حکم کے ذریعہ ایک موقع لیتے ہوئے ، مجھے دھوکہ دیا اور اس کے ذریعے مجھے مار ڈالا. تو پھر ، تورات مقدس ہے ، اور حکم مقدس اور صادق اور اچھا ہے۔ ”

پال جو کچھ کہہ رہا ہے وہ یہ ہے کہ احکام فضل کے بعد بھی نافذ العمل ہیں. شیطان اب بھی لالچ دے گا اور انسان کی فطرت اب بھی گناہ کرنا ہے. اور ایک بار فضل کی معافی ملنے کے بعد ، شیطان خدا سے کھو جانے والے کو واپس لینے کے لئے زیادہ لڑتا ہے.

لیکن صرف پولس کی بات نہ سنو. یسوع نے خود کہا تھا کہ خدا کے قوانین ابھی بھی درست ہیں. “ آمین ، میں آپ کو بتاتا ہوں ، جب تک کہ جنت اور زمین ختم نہ ہوجائے ، سب سے چھوٹا خط یا صراف کبھی بھی تورات سے دور نہیں ہوگا جب تک کہ تمام چیزیں نہ آئیں۔ ” ( میتھیو 5:18 ، TLV )

پیٹموس میں جان کا وژن بھی کہتا ہے. “ یہاں کیڈوشیم — کی ثابت قدمی ہے جو خدا کے احکام اور یشوا کے عقیدے کو برقرار رکھتے ہیں۔ ” ( مکاشفہ 14:12 ). عبرانی رابنیکل متن میں ، کیڈوشم کا مطلب ہے ‘ ہولی اونس ’. کے جے وی نے اس لفظ کی ترجمانی سنتوں کی حیثیت سے کی ہے. تسلسل کا مطلب ہے فاصلہ طے کرنا ، آخر تک کچھ دیکھنا. جیسا کہ آپ اس آیت میں دیکھتے ہیں ، وقت کے اختتام تک جانے کے لئے, اور آپ کا نام میمنے کی کتاب زندگی میں پڑھا ہے مسیح ( فضل ) اور احکام ( خدا کے ) دونوں عقائد لیتا ہے.

جب مسیح نے کہا کہ یہ صلیب پر مرنے سے پہلے ہی کیا جاتا ہے ، تو اس کا مطلب یہ تھا کہ چھٹکارے کی قیمت ان لوگوں کے لئے ادا کردی گئی تھی جنہوں نے اسے قبول کیا. رسول جیمز ہمیں جیمز 2: 14-26 ‘ میں بتاتا ہے ، میرے بھائی بہن ، اگر کوئی کہتا ہے کہ اسے ایمان ہے ، لیکن کیا کام نہیں ہے? کیا اس طرح کا ایمان اسے بچا سکتا ہے? اگر کوئی بھائی یا بہن ننگا ہے اور اس میں روزانہ کھانا نہیں ہے ، اور آپ میں سے ایک ان سے کہتا ہے ، “ شالوم میں جاؤ ، گرم اور اچھی طرح سے کھلایا,” لیکن آپ انہیں جسم کی ضرورت کی ضرورت نہیں دیتے ، یہ کیا اچھا ہے? لہذا یہ بھی ایمان ، اگر اس کے کام نہیں ہیں تو ، خود ہی مر گیا ہے. لیکن کوئی کہے گا ، “ آپ کو اعتماد ہے اور میرے پاس کام ہے۔ ” مجھے بغیر کام کے اپنا ایمان دکھائیں اور میں آپ کو اپنے کاموں سے ایمان دکھاؤں گا. آپ کو یقین ہے کہ خدا ایک ہے. تم ٹھیک کرو. شیطانوں نے — اور کپک پر بھی یقین کیا! لیکن کیا آپ جاننا چاہتے ہیں ، آپ خالی شخص ، کام کے بغیر ایمان مر گیا ہے? کیا ابراہیم ہمارے والد نے قربانی پر اسحاق کو پیش کرتے وقت کام سے صادق ثابت نہیں کیا تھا? آپ نے دیکھا کہ ایمان نے اپنے کاموں کے ساتھ مل کر کام کیا ، اور ان کاموں سے اس کا ایمان مکمل ہوگیا. کلام پاک پورا ہوا جس میں کہا گیا ہے ، “ اور ابراہیم خدا پر یقین رکھتے تھے ، اور اسے راستبازی ” — کے طور پر پیش کیا گیا تھا اور اسے خدا کا دوست کہا جاتا تھا. آپ دیکھتے ہیں کہ انسان صرف ایمان کے ذریعہ نہیں بلکہ کاموں سے صادق ثابت ہوتا ہے. اور اسی طرح ، کیا راہاب طوائف بھی کاموں سے صادق ثابت نہیں ہوئی جب اس نے قاصدوں کا استقبال کیا اور انہیں کسی اور طرح سے بھیجا? جس طرح روح کے بغیر جسم مر گیا ہے ، اسی طرح کام کے بغیر بھی ایمان مر گیا ہے۔ ’

جن کاموں کے بارے میں بات کی جارہی ہے وہ یہ ہیں کہ ہم اپنے ساتھی سے کس طرح نمٹتے ہیں. اگرچہ اس میں رحمت کے کاموں کو شامل کیا گیا ہے ( بھوکے کو دیکھا ، بیماروں سے ملیں ، اور ) اس میں احکام بھی شامل ہیں. یاد رکھیں ، کہ آخری چھ احکام ہمیں اپنے ساتھی آدمی سے نمٹنے کا اخلاقی طریقہ بتاتے ہیں.

لیویٹیکل قانون ( قربانی ، تقریب وغیرہ ) صلیب پر ختم ہوا. یہ مسیح کے بیان کے بارے میں ہونے کے بارے میں معنی تھا. اب خون فضل سے ڈوبا ہوا ہے کہ قربانیوں ، رسمی قوانین اور قانونی قوانین کا کیا مطلب تھا …. مسیح کی قربانی میں مستقبل کی فدیہ. یہ ہیکل میں مقدس جگہ اور ہولی آف ہولی کے درمیان پردہ پھاڑنے میں انکشاف ہوا ہے. ‘ اور یشوہا نے ایک تیز آواز سے دوبارہ چیخ کر اپنی روح ترک کردی. اور دیکھو ، ہیکل کا پردہ دو میں تقسیم ہوا ، اوپر سے نیچے تک۔ ’ ( میتھیو 27: 50-51 ، TLV )

اس آنسو نے صحن میں قربانی کے بغیر ، مقدس جگہ پر پجاری ، ہر ایک کے لئے خدا کی موجودگی کا آغاز کیا, اور قربانی کے جانوروں کے خون میں صندوق کا احاطہ. احکام ( خدا کا قانون ) سینا پر احکام دینے سے پہلے ہی موسیٰ کے قوانین کے آس پاس نہیں ہیں.

غور کرنے کے لئے ایک سوال یہ ہے. اگر مسیح خود ، رسول ، اور عہد نامہ کے مصنفین کہتے ہیں کہ خدا کا قانون ، خدا کی طرح ، تبدیل نہیں ہوتا ہے ، تو پھر بحث کیوں? اور وہ لوگ جو مسیح کی بحث پر عمل کرنے کا دعوی کرتے ہیں اس پر کس احکام پر عمل پیرا ہونا ہے? اگر یہ مسیح میں دونوں عقیدے کو لیتا ہے ( خون کے ذریعے چھٹکارے کا فضل ) اور احکام ( خدا کا قانون ) تاکہ اسے راستبازوں کے جی اٹھنے تک پہنچا دیا جاسکے, کیا ہمیں دونوں کی شان و شوکت کی پیروی نہیں کرنی چاہئے?

Christianity, faith

上帝與誡命

基督的追隨者似乎有爭議,本文將試圖幫助得出結論。這是關於因基督從十字架上流下的鮮血而因恩典和憐憫而不受法律約束的論點。人們忘記了區分摩西書中寫的法律。讓我們從那裡開始。

有兩套法律。其中之一是上帝親自在西奈半島制定的法律。這十誡是道德法則。按照誡命五分開,寫在兩個石碑上。您可以在出埃及記20:1-17中找到這些。這些法律告訴我們如何處理與上帝的關係(表1,誡命1-4 )以及我們與同胞的關係(表2,誡命5-10 )。這些法律不能也不會改變。這些法律是在上帝用石頭寫成之前製定的。聖經在各節(希伯來書13:8中告訴我們;瑪拉基書3:6;以賽亞書40:8;等)。

有利未法。這些法律是以言語而非石頭的方式賦予摩西的,以寫給以色列人。這些法律涉及社會問題,法律問題以及對以色列人的犧牲問題。從十誡開始,在摩西的書中都看到了這些。這是問題發生的地方。

讓我們看一下兩組法律(命令和利未)的位置。摩西發現上帝敬拜和重寫的金牛犢後,兩個石碑(破裂了,被放置在約櫃)申命記中。10:1-20…當時阿多奈(Adonai)對我說,‘像第一片一樣為自己雕刻兩片石頭,然後上山去。讓自己成為木方舟。我將在平板電腦上寫下您粉碎的第一批平板電腦上的文字,然後將其放入方舟中。’ )。根據保羅(希伯來書9:4b給希伯來人的信,他們與亞倫和曼納的工作人員一起被安置在那裡… 在方舟中是一個金罐,上面裝有甘露,發芽的亞倫竿和約中的片劑)。這三個代表耶穌基督。誡命是上帝從律法賜予者耶穌的法律,亞倫(的工作人員代表基督為我們的大祭司,而曼納(生命之糧耶穌)。

摩西的利未律法或律法被不同地放置(申命記31:25-26…摩西命令亞多奈約櫃的載體利未人說:“拿這卷律法書,放在你神亞多奈約櫃旁邊。它將作為您的證人,)。這套法律作為上帝與以色列人之間的盟約具有約束力。而上帝的律法(十誡從始至終對全人類具有約束力。

辯論來自羅馬書6:14 …. ”因為罪不算是掌握你的,因為你不是法律,而是恩典”。儘管這節經文單獨存在可能表明恩典而不是法律的論點是正確的,但必須在上下文中以及圍繞它的其他經文中加以考慮。整個想法都是這樣,“因此,不要讓罪惡統治您的凡人身體,以便您服從罪惡的慾望。不要繼續使自己的身體部位成為邪惡的工具。卻把自己當成死者活著的人, 和你的身體部位作為對上帝的公義的工具。因為罪不掌握你,因為你不在法律之下,而是在恩典之下。然後怎樣呢? 我們是否應因為我們不在法律之下而是在恩典之下而犯罪? 願永遠不會! 您是否不知道自己屈服於服從的奴隸,您是服從於TAG1>的奴隸,無論是犯罪導致死亡還是服從導致公義? 但是要感謝上帝,儘管你是罪的奴隸,但你全心全意地服從了被置於你之下的教導形式。在你擺脫罪惡之後, 你被奴役了。我用人的話說是因為你的肉虛弱。就像您將身體部位作為不潔和無法無天的奴隸一樣,導致更多的無法無天,因此現在將您的身體部位作為正義的奴隸,導致聖潔。因為當你是罪的奴隸時,你在公義上是自由的。那麼,您現在感到羞恥的結果是什麼? 這些事情的結局是死亡。但是現在,你擺脫了罪惡,被奴役了上帝,你的果子就產生了聖潔。結果就是永生。因為罪的報酬是死亡,但上帝的恩賜是我們主彌賽亞(Yeshua)的永生。” (羅馬書6:12-23,TLV )

整個閱讀表明,僅僅因為一個人處於恩典之下,它並不能確認上帝律法(誡命)的終結。保羅在幾句不同的經文中重申了這一點。羅馬書3:19-20 “現在我們知道,無論《摩西五經》怎麼說,它都對《摩西五經》中的那些人說, 這樣就可以閉上嘴,整個世界都可以對上帝負責。在遵守律法的基礎上,沒有人會在他眼前被設定為TAG1>,因為通過律法會意識到罪惡。— 他說的有所不同,但在羅馬書7:7-12 “中更清晰地說,那我們該怎麼說呢? 律法書是罪過嗎? 願永遠不會! 相反,除了通過律法書,我不會知道罪。因為如果律法書沒有說“,我不會垂涎三尺。”但是罪惡趁機通過誡命在我裡面做了各種令人垂涎的事情。因為除了律法書之外,罪已經死了。一旦我除了律法書還活著;但是當誡命來臨時,罪惡就復活了,我死了。發現這條命為生命的誡命導致死亡。罪惡藉著誡命抓住機會,欺騙了我,並通過它殺死了我。因此,律法是聖潔的,誡命是聖潔,公義和善良的。”

保羅說的是,即使寬限期,誡命也有效。魔鬼仍然會誘惑,人的本性仍然是犯罪。一旦得到恩典的寬恕,魔鬼就會為爭取回到他輸給上帝的人而奮鬥。

但是,不要只是聽保羅的話。耶穌本人說上帝的律法仍然有效。“阿們,我告訴你,直到天地消逝,直到萬物都過去之前,最小的字母或襯線都不會從律法中消失。” (馬太福音5:18,TLV )

約翰在拔摩島的願景也證明了這一點。“這是kedoshim —的毅力,他們遵守上帝的誡命和耶穌的信仰。” (啟示錄14:12 )。在希伯來語拉比語中,Kedoshim的意思是‘聖人’。KJV將此詞解釋為聖人。毅力意味著走遠,看到最後的東西。正如您在這節經文中所看到的,要經歷時間的盡頭, 在羔羊的生命冊中讀出你的名字既有信仰基督(恩典),又有上帝的誡命(律法)。

當基督說這件事是在他死在十字架上之前完成的,這意味著已經為接受它的人支付了贖回的代價。使徒雅各在雅各書2:14-26 ‘中告訴我們,如果有人說他有信心但沒有工作,那有什麼好處? 這樣的信仰可以拯救他嗎? 如果一個兄弟姐妹是赤裸裸的,缺乏日常食物,而你們中的一個對他們說:“進入沙洛姆,保持溫暖和飽食,”但是您不給他們身體需要的東西,那有什麼好處? 因此,如果沒有信仰,信仰本身也會死亡。但是有人會說,“你有信心,我有作品。” 給我看你的信仰而沒有工作,我會通過我的作品向你展示信仰。您相信上帝是一。你做得很好。惡魔還相信—和顫抖! 但是,您想知道,您是空虛的人,沒有行為的信念已經消亡了嗎? 當我們的父親亞伯拉罕在祭壇上獻出兒子以撒時,難道不是通過工作證明是義的嗎? 您會看到信仰與他的作品一起工作,而通過這些作品,他的信仰得以完善。聖經說:“亞伯拉罕相信上帝,這被認為是公義” —,他被稱為上帝的朋友。您會看到一個人通過工作而不是單憑信仰被證明是正義的。同樣,當妓女拉哈卜(Rahab)歡迎使者並以另一種方式將他們送出時,難道不是通過工作證明是正義的嗎? 就像沒有靈的身體已經死了一樣,沒有行為的信仰也就死了。’

所談論的作品是我們如何與同胞打交道。雖然它包含了憐憫(餵養飢餓者的作品,但拜訪了病人,等等)也包括誡命。請記住,最後六條誡命告訴我們與我們同胞打交道的道德方式。

(犧牲,儀式等利未法在十字架上結束。這就是基督關於這樣做的說法的含義。現在,鮮血籠罩著犧牲,禮儀法和法律法的含義……未來在基督的犧牲中得救。這在聖殿和聖殿之間的面紗撕裂中得以揭示。‘耶穌再次大聲喊叫,放棄了他的精神。看哪,聖殿的窗簾從上到下一分為二。’ (馬太福音27:50-51,TLV )

這種眼淚向所有人開放了上帝的同在,而沒有經過院子裡的祭司,聖所的祭司, 以及犧牲動物血液中方舟的覆蓋。自從在西奈下達誡命以來,就一直存在著《誡命》 (《上帝律法》 )而不是摩西律法。

這是一個需要思考的問題。如果基督本人,使徒和舊約的作家說上帝的律法像上帝一樣沒有改變,那為什麼要辯論呢? 為什麼那些自稱跟隨基督的人辯論要遵循的誡命? 如果通過血液(救贖基督的信仰)和上帝的誡命(上帝的法律)使它成為義人的複活, 我們不應該都遵循榮耀嗎?

Christianity, faith

الله والوصية

يبدو أن هناك جدلًا في أتباع المسيح بأن هذه المقالة ستحاول المساعدة في التوصل إلى نتيجة. إنها حجة عدم الخضوع للقانون بسبب النعمة والرحمة من خلال دم المسيح المسفوك من الصليب. ينسى الناس التمييز بين القوانين كما هو مكتوب في كتب موسى. لنبدأ هناك.

هناك مجموعتان من القوانين. أحدها القوانين التي كتبها الله نفسه في سيناء. هذه الوصايا العشر هي القانون الأخلاقي. انقسام في الوصية الخامسة ، مكتوبة على لوحين من الحجر. تجد هذه في خروج 20: 1-17. تخبرنا هذه القوانين كيف نتعامل مع علاقتنا بالله ( الجدول 1 ، الوصايا 1-4 ) وعلاقتنا مع إخواننا ( الجدول 2 ، الوصايا 5-10 ). هذه القوانين لا يمكن ولن تتغير أبدا. كانت هذه القوانين سارية قبل أن يكتبها الله على الحجر. يخبرنا الكتاب المقدس بذلك في مقاطع مختلفة ( عبرانيين 13: 8 ؛ ملاخي 3: 6 ؛ اشعياء 40: 8 ؛ وآخرون ).

هناك قوانين لاويين. أعطيت هذه القوانين لموسى بالكلام وليس الحجر للكتابة للإسرائيليين. غطت هذه القوانين القضايا الاجتماعية ، والقضايا القانونية ، وقضايا الذبيحة الموجهة للإسرائيليين. هذه تظهر في كتب موسى ، بدءاً من الوصايا العشر. هنا حيث تحدث المشكلة.

دعونا نلقي نظرة على وضع مجموعتي القانون ( القيادة واللاويين ). تم كسر اللوحين الحجريين ( بعد أن وجد موسى العجل الذهبي الذي يعبده ويعيد كتابته من قبل الله ) في تابوت العهد ( تثنية. 10: 1-20…في ذلك الوقت قال لي أدوناي ، ‘ نحت لنفسك قرصين من الحجر مثل الأول واصعد إلي على الجبل. اصنع لنفسك تابوتًا من الخشب. سأكتب على الأجهزة اللوحية الكلمات التي كانت على الأجهزة اللوحية الأولى التي حطمتها ، وعليك وضعها في الفلك. ’ ). تم وضعهم هناك مع موظفي آرون ومانا ، وفقًا للرسالة إلى العبرانيين من قبل بولس ( العبرانيين 9: 4 ب… في الفلك كان جرة ذهبية تحمل المن ، وقضيب آرون الذي برز ، وأقراص العهد ). كل هؤلاء الثلاثة يمثلون يسوع المسيح. الوصايا هي قوانين الله من القانون تعطي يسوع ، طاقم هارون ( يمثلون المسيح ككاهننا الأعلى ، ومانا ( خبز الحياة يسوع ).

تم وضع قوانين أو قوانين موسى اللاويين بشكل مختلف ( تثنية 31: 25-26…أمر موسى اللاويين ، حاملو تابوت عهد أدوناي قائلين: “ خذ هذا التمرير من التوراة ، وضعه بجانب تابوت عهد أدوناي إلهك. سيبقى هناك كشاهد ضدك ، ). كانت هذه المجموعة من القوانين ملزمة كعهد بين الله والإسرائيليين. في حين أن شريعة الله ( الوصايا العشر ملزمة للبشرية جمعاء من البداية إلى النهاية.

يأتي النقاش من رومية 6:14 …. ”لان الخطية لا تتقن عليك لانك لست تحت الناموس بل تحت النعمة ”. وبينما قد تظهر هذه الآية وحدها أن حجة النعمة وليس القانون ستكون صحيحة ، يجب أن تؤخذ في سياق ومع الآيات الأخرى المحيطة بها. الفكرة كلها على هذا النحو ، “ لذلك لا تدع الخطيئة تحكم في جسدك البشري حتى تطيع رغباته. ولا تستمر في تخلي جسدك عن الخطيئة كأدوات للشر. ولكن استسلموا لله مثل الأحياء من بين الأموات, وأجزاء جسدك كأدوات للبر لله. لان الخطية لا تتقن عليك لانك لست تحت الناموس بل تحت النعمة. ماذا بعد? هل نخطئ لأننا لسنا تحت القانون ولكن تحت النعمة? نرجو أن لا يكون! ألا تعلم أنه لكل ما تعطيه لأنفسك كعبيد للطاعة ، فأنت عبيد لما تطيعه — سواء كان ذلك للخطيئة التي تؤدي إلى الموت ، أو إلى الطاعة التي تؤدي إلى البر? ولكن الحمد لله أنه على الرغم من أنك عبيد للخطيئة ، فقد أطعت بكل إخلاص شكل التدريس الذي وضعت بموجبه ؛ وبعد أن تحررت من الخطيئة, أصبحت مستعبدا للبر. أتكلم من الناحية الإنسانية بسبب ضعف لحمك. لأنه مثلما أنتجت أجزاء جسمك كعبيد للنجاسة وغياب القانون ، مما أدى إلى المزيد من الفوضى ، لذا فأنت الآن تعطي أجزاء جسمك كعبيد للبر ، مما يؤدي إلى القداسة. لأنه عندما كنت عبيدا للخطيئة ، كنت حرا فيما يتعلق بالبر. إذن ، ما هي النتيجة التي خجلت منها الآن? في نهاية هذه الأشياء هو الموت. ولكن الآن ، بعد أن تحررت من الخطيئة وأصبحت مستعبداً لله ، لديك ثمارك التي تؤدي إلى القداسة. والنتيجة هي الحياة الأبدية ، لأن دفع الخطيئة هو الموت ، لكن هبة الله الكريمة هي الحياة الأبدية في المسيح يشوع ربنا. ” ( الرومان 6: 12-23 ، TLV )

تظهر القراءة بأكملها أنه لمجرد أن المرء تحت النعمة ، فإنه لا يؤكد نهاية شريعة الله ( الوصايا ). كرر بولس هذه النقطة في بضع آيات مختلفة. رومية 3: 19-20 “ الآن نعلم أنه مهما كانت التوراة ، تقول لأولئك داخل التوراة, حتى يغلق كل فم ويصبح العالم كله مسؤولاً أمام الله. لأنه لا يوجد إنسان ، على أساس مراعاة التوراة ، سيتم وضعه في عينيه — لأنه من خلال التوراة يأتي الوعي بالخطيئة. ” ويقولها بشكل مختلف ، ولكن بوضوح أفضل في رومية 7: 7-12 “ ماذا نقول بعد ذلك? هل التوراة خطيئة? نرجو أن لا يكون! على العكس من ذلك ، لم أكن لأعرف الخطيئة إلا من خلال التوراة. لأني لم أكن لأعرف عن الطمع إذا لم تقل التوراة ، “ لا تطمع. ” لكن الخطيئة ، اغتنام الفرصة ، عملت في داخلي من خلال الوصية جميع أنواع الطمع. لأنه بصرف النظر عن التوراة ، ماتت الخطيئة. ذات مرة كنت على قيد الحياة بعيدا عن التوراة. ولكن عندما جاءت الوصية ، جاءت الخطيئة إلى الحياة وماتت. تم العثور على الوصية المخصصة للحياة لتسبب الموت. الخطيئة ، اغتنام الفرصة من خلال الوصية ، خدعتني ومن خلالها قتلتني. إذن ، التوراة مقدسة ، والوصية مقدسة وصالحة وطيبة. ”

ما يقوله بولس هو أن الوصايا سارية حتى بعد النعمة. سيظل الشيطان يغري وطبيعة الإنسان هي أن تخطئ. وبمجرد تلقي مغفرة النعمة ، يحارب الشيطان أكثر لاستعادة واحدة فقدها لله.

لكن لا تستمع فقط إلى بولس. قال يسوع نفسه أن قوانين الله لا تزال صالحة. “ آمين ، أقول لكم ، حتى تزول السماء والأرض ، لن يمر أصغر حرف أو سيف من التوراة حتى تتحقق كل الأشياء. ” ( متى 5:18 ، TLV )

تقول رؤية جون في باتموس ذلك أيضًا. “ هنا مثابرة kedoshim — أولئك الذين يحفظون وصايا الله وإيمان يشوع. ” ( رؤيا 14:12 ). في النص الحاخامي العبري ، يعني Kedoshim ‘ Holy Ones ’. يفسر KJV هذه الكلمة على أنها قديسين. المثابرة تعني قطع المسافة ورؤية شيء حتى النهاية. كما ترى في هذه الآية ، للذهاب حتى نهاية الوقت, وقراءة اسمك في كتاب حياة الحمل يأخذ الإيمان المسيح ( نعمة ) والوصايا ( قوانين ) الله.

عندما قال المسيح أنه تم قبل أن يموت على الصليب ، يعني أن ثمن الفداء قد دفع لمن قبله. يخبرنا الرسول يعقوب في يعقوب 2: 14-26 ‘ ما هو الخير يا إخوتي وأخواتي ، إذا قال أحدهم أن لديه إيمانًا ، ولكن ليس لديه أعمال? هل يمكن لهذا الإيمان أن ينقذه? إذا كان الأخ أو الأخت عاريا ويفتقر إلى الطعام اليومي ، ويقول أحدهم لهم ، “ اذهبوا في شالوم ، حافظوا على الدفء والتغذية الجيدة,” لكنك لا تعطيهم ما يحتاجه الجسم ، ما هو الخير? كذلك الإيمان ، إذا لم يكن لديه أعمال ، مات من تلقاء نفسه. لكن شخصًا ما سيقول ، “ لديك إيمان ولدي أعمال. ” أرني إيمانك بدون أعمال وسأريك الإيمان بأعمالي. أنت تؤمن أن الله واحد. أنت بخير. الشياطين تؤمن أيضا — والارتجاف! ولكن هل تريد أن تعرف أيها الفارغ أن الإيمان بدون أعمال قد مات? ألم يثبت إبراهيم أبانا أنه صالح من خلال الأعمال عندما قدم إسحاق ابنه على المذبح? ترى أن الإيمان عمل مع أعماله ، ومن خلال الأعمال اكتمل إيمانه. تم تحقيق الكتاب الذي يقول ، “ وآمن إبراهيم بالله ، وكان له الفضل في البر ” — وكان يسمى صديق الله. ترى أن الإنسان يثبت أنه صالح بالأعمال وليس بالإيمان وحده. وبالمثل ، ألم تثبت راحاب العاهرة أيضًا أنها صالحة من خلال الأعمال عندما رحبت بالرسل وأرسلتهم بطريقة أخرى? لأنه مثلما مات الجسد بدون الروح ، هكذا مات الإيمان بدون أعمال. ’

الأعمال التي يتم الحديث عنها هي كيف نتعامل مع زميلنا. في حين أنه يشمل أعمال الرحمة ( إطعام الجياع ، قم بزيارة المرضى ، وآخرون ) كما يتضمن الوصايا. تذكر أن الوصايا الست الأخيرة تخبرنا بالطريقة الأخلاقية للتعامل مع إخواننا.

تم إنهاء التضحية والاحتفال وما إلى ذلك ( على الصليب. كان هذا هو معنى بيان المسيح حول القيام به. الدم المغطى الآن بنعمة ما كانت القرابين والقوانين الاحتفالية والقوانين القانونية تهدف إلى …. الفداء المستقبلي في ذبيحة المسيح. وقد ظهر ذلك في تمزق الحجاب بين المكان المقدس و قدس الأقداس في الهيكل. ‘ وصرخ يشوع مرة أخرى بصوت عال وتنازل عن روحه. واذا ستارة الهيكل مقسمة إلى قسمين من الأعلى الى الأسفل. ’ ( متى 27: 50-51 ، TLV )

فتح هذا التمزق حضور الله للجميع دون المرور بالتضحية في الفناء ، الكاهن في المكان المقدس, وتغطية الفلك في دم الذبيحة الحيوانية. الوصايا ( قانون الله ) لم تكن قوانين موسى موجودة منذ ما قبل إعطاء الوصايا على سيناء.

هنا سؤال للتفكير. إذا قال المسيح نفسه ، الرسل ، وكتاب العهد القديم أن شريعة الله ، مثل الله ، لا تتغير ، فلماذا النقاش? ولماذا أولئك الذين يدعون اتباع المسيح يناقشون الوصايا التي يجب اتباعها? إذا كان الأمر يتطلب الإيمان في المسيح ( نعمة الفداء من خلال الدم ) والوصايا ( قانون الله ) للوصول إلى قيامة الصالحين, ألا يجب أن نتبعهما للمجد?

Christianity, faith

Dios y mandamiento

Parece haber una controversia en los seguidores de Cristo de que este artículo intentará ayudar a llegar a una conclusión. Es el argumento de no estar bajo la ley debido a la gracia y la misericordia a través de la sangre derramada de Cristo desde la cruz. La gente olvida hacer una distinción entre las leyes escritas en los libros de Moisés. Comencemos por ahí.

Hay dos conjuntos de leyes. Una son las leyes escritas por Dios mismo en el Sinaí. Estos Diez Mandamientos son la ley moral. Divididos al mandamiento cinco, están escritos en dos tabletas de piedra. Los encuentras en Éxodo 20: 1-17. Estas leyes nos dicen cómo lidiar con nuestra relación con Dios ( Tabla 1, Mandamientos 1-4 ) y nuestra relación con nuestro prójimo ( Tabla 2, Mandamientos 5-10 ). Estas leyes no pueden y nunca cambiarán. Estas leyes estaban vigentes antes de que Dios las escribiera en piedra. Las Escrituras nos dicen esto en varios pasajes ( Hebreos 13: 8; Malaquías 3: 6; Isaías 40: 8; Et al ).

Las hay leyes levíticas. Estas leyes fueron dadas a Moisés en palabra, no en piedra, para escribir a los israelitas. Estas leyes cubrieron cuestiones sociales, cuestiones legales y cuestiones de sacrificio destinadas a los israelitas. Estos se ven en todos los libros de Moisés, comenzando después de los Diez Mandamientos. Aquí es donde ocurre el problema.

Veamos la colocación de los dos grupos de leyes ( Comando y Levítico ). Las dos tabletas de piedra ( rotas después de que Moisés encontró que el ternero dorado siendo adorado y reescrito por Dios ) fueron colocados en el Arca del Pacto ( Deut. 10: 1-20…En ese momento, Adonai me dijo: ‘ Talla por ti mismo dos tabletas de piedra como las primeras y ven a Mí en la montaña. Hazte un arca de madera. Escribiré en las tabletas las palabras que estaban en las primeras tabletas que rompiste, y debes ponerlas en el arca. ’ ). Fueron colocados allí con el personal de Aaron y Manna, según la carta a los hebreos de Pablo ( Hebreos 9: 4b… En el arca había un frasco dorado que sostenía el maná, la vara de Aarón que floreció y las tabletas del pacto ). Los tres representan a Jesucristo. Los Mandamientos son las leyes de Dios del legislador Jesús, el personal de Aarón ( que representa a Cristo como nuestro Sumo Sacerdote, y Maná ( el pan de vida Jesús ).

Las Leyes o Leyes Levíticas de Moisés se colocaron de manera diferente ( Deuteronomio 31: 25-26…Moisés ordenó a los levitas, portadores del Arca del Pacto de Adonai, que dijeran: “ Toma este pergamino de la Torá y colócalo junto al Arca del Pacto de Adonai tu Dios. Permanecerá allí como testigo en su contra, ). Este conjunto de leyes fue vinculante como un pacto entre Dios y los israelitas. Mientras que la Ley de Dios ( Diez Mandamientos son vinculantes para toda la humanidad desde el principio hasta el final.

El debate proviene de Romanos 6:14 … ”Porque el pecado no será dueño de ti, porque no estás bajo la ley sino bajo la gracia ”. Y aunque este versículo solo puede mostrar que la gracia, no el argumento de la ley, sería correcto, debe tomarse en contexto y con los otros versículos que lo rodean. Toda la idea es como tal, “ Por lo tanto, no dejes que el pecado gobierne en tu cuerpo mortal para que obedezcas sus deseos. Y no sigas cediendo las partes de tu cuerpo al pecado como herramientas de maldad; pero cúbranse a Dios como los vivos de los muertos, y tu cuerpo se separa como herramientas de justicia para Dios. Porque el pecado no será dueño de ti, porque no estás bajo la ley sino bajo la gracia. ¿Entonces que? ¿Pecaremos porque no estamos bajo la ley sino bajo la gracia? ¡Que nunca sea! ¿No saben que a lo que sea que se entreguen como esclavos de la obediencia, son esclavos de lo que obedecen — ya sea al pecado que resulta en la muerte o a la obediencia que resulta en justicia? Pero gracias a Dios porque aunque eras esclavo del pecado, obedeciste de todo corazón la forma de enseñanza bajo la cual fuiste colocado; y después de que fuiste liberado del pecado, te esclavizaste a la justicia. Hablo en términos humanos debido a la debilidad de tu carne. Así como usted cedió sus partes del cuerpo como esclavas de la impureza y la anarquía, lo que lleva a más anarquía, ahora ceda sus partes del cuerpo como esclavas de la justicia, lo que resulta en santidad. Porque cuando eras esclavo del pecado, eras libre con respecto a la justicia. Entonces, ¿qué resultado tuvo del que ahora está avergonzado? Porque el final de esas cosas es la muerte. Pero ahora, habiendo sido liberado del pecado y esclavizado a Dios, tienes tu fruto resultando en santidad. Y el resultado es la vida eterna. Porque el pago del pecado es la muerte, pero el don amable de Dios es la vida eterna en el Mesías Yeshua nuestro Señor. ” ( Romanos 6: 12-23, TLV )

Toda la lectura muestra que solo porque uno está bajo gracia, no confirma el final de la Ley de Dios ( los Mandamientos ). Pablo reiteró ese punto en algunos versos diferentes. Romanos 3: 19-20 “ Ahora sabemos que lo que diga la Torá, les dice a los que están dentro de la Torá, para que cada boca se cierre y el mundo entero se vuelva responsable ante Dios. Porque ningún humano, sobre la base de la observancia de la Torá, será puesto a su vista — porque a través de la Torá viene la conciencia del pecado. ” Y lo dice de manera diferente, pero con mayor claridad en Romanos 7: 7-12 “ ¿Qué diremos entonces? ¿Es la Torá pecado? ¡Que nunca sea! Por el contrario, no habría conocido el pecado excepto a través de la Torá. Porque no habría sabido sobre codiciar si la Torá no hubiera dicho, “ No codiciarás. ” Pero el pecado, aprovechando una oportunidad, trabajó en mí a través del mandamiento todo tipo de codicia. Porque aparte de la Torá, el pecado está muerto. Una vez estuve vivo aparte de la Torá; pero cuando llegó el mandamiento, el pecado cobró vida y yo morí. Se descubrió que el mandamiento destinado a la vida causaba la muerte. El pecado, aprovechando una oportunidad a través del mandamiento, me engañó y a través de él me mató. Entonces, la Torá es santa, y el mandamiento es santo, justo y bueno. ”

Lo que Pablo dice es que los mandamientos están vigentes incluso después de la gracia. El diablo seguirá tentando y la naturaleza del hombre es seguir pecando. Y una vez que se recibe el perdón de la gracia, el diablo lucha más para recuperar uno que perdió ante Dios.

Pero no solo escuches a Paul. Jesús mismo dijo que las Leyes de Dios siguen siendo válidas. “ Amén, te digo, hasta que el cielo y la tierra pasen, ni la letra o serif más pequeña pasará de la Torá hasta que sucedan todas las cosas. ” ( Mateo 5:18, TLV )

La visión de John en Patmos también lo dice. “ Aquí está la perseverancia de los cedoshim — aquellos que guardan los mandamientos de Dios y la fe de Yeshua. ” ( Apocalipsis 14:12 ). En hebreo texto rabínico, Kedoshim significa ‘ Holy Ones ’. El KJV interpreta esta palabra como santos. Perseverancia significa ir a la distancia, ver algo hasta el final. Como ves en este versículo, para pasar hasta el final de los tiempos, y que su nombre se lea en el Libro de la Vida del Cordero toma tanto la fe de Cristo ( gracia ) como los mandamientos ( Leyes ) de Dios.

Cuando Cristo dijo que se hizo antes de morir en la cruz, significaba que el precio de la redención había sido pagado por quienes lo aceptaron. El apóstol Santiago nos dice en Santiago 2: 14-26 ‘ ¿De qué sirve, mis hermanos y hermanas, si alguien dice que tiene fe, pero no tiene obras? ¿Puede tal fe salvarlo? Si un hermano o hermana está desnudo y carece de comida diaria, y uno de ustedes les dice: “ Entra en shalom, mantente caliente y bien alimentado,” pero no les das lo que el cuerpo necesita, ¿de qué sirve eso? Así también la fe, si no tiene obras, está muerta por sí misma. Pero alguien dirá: “ Tienes fe y yo tengo obras. ” Muéstrame tu fe sin obras y te mostraré fe por mis obras. Crees que Dios es uno. Lo haces bien. ¡Los demonios también creen — y se estremecen! ¿Pero quieres saber, persona vacía, que la fe sin obras está muerta? ¿No fue Abraham nuestro padre justo por las obras cuando ofreció a Isaac su hijo en el altar? Ves que la fe trabajó junto con sus obras, y por las obras su fe se completó. La Escritura se cumplió y dice: “ Y Abraham creyó a Dios, y se le atribuyó la justicia ” — y fue llamado amigo de Dios. Usted ve que un hombre es probado justo por las obras y no solo por la fe. Y de la misma manera, ¿no fue Rahab la prostituta también probada por las obras cuando dio la bienvenida a los mensajeros y los envió de otra manera? Así como el cuerpo sin espíritu está muerto, también la fe sin obras está muerta. ’

Los trabajos de los que se habla son cómo tratamos con nuestro prójimo. Si bien abarca las obras de misericordia ( alimentar a los hambrientos, visitar a los enfermos, et al ) también incluye los mandamientos. Recuerde, que los últimos seis mandamientos nos dicen la forma moral de tratar con nuestro prójimo.

La ley levítica ( sacrificio, ceremonia, etc. ) se terminó en la cruz. Este era el significado de la declaración de Cristo acerca de que se estaba haciendo. La sangre ahora cubría en gracia lo que los sacrificios, las leyes ceremoniales y las leyes legales estaban destinados a … la redención futura en el sacrificio de Cristo. Esto se revela en el desgarro del velo entre el Lugar Santo y el Lugar Santo de los Santos en el templo. ‘ Y Yeshua volvió a gritar en voz alta y abandonó su espíritu. Y he aquí, la cortina del Templo se dividió en dos, de arriba a abajo. ’ ( Mateo 27: 50-51, TLV )

Este desgarro abrió la presencia de Dios a todos sin pasar por el sacrificio en el patio, el sacerdote en el lugar Santo, y la cubierta del arca en la sangre animal del sacrificio. Los Mandamientos ( Ley de Dios ) no las Leyes de Moisés han existido desde antes de que se dieran los Mandamientos en el Sinaí.

Aquí hay una pregunta para reflexionar. Si Cristo mismo, los Apóstoles y los escritores del Antiguo Testamento dicen que la Ley de Dios, como Dios, no cambia, ¿por qué el debate? ¿Y por qué aquellos que afirman seguir a Cristo debaten sobre qué mandamientos seguir? Si se necesita tanto Fe en Cristo ( gracia de redención a través de la sangre ) como los Mandamientos ( Ley de Dios ) para llegar a la resurrección de los justos, ¿No deberíamos seguir a ambos a la gloria?

Christianity, faith

Grace At Utos

Tila isang kontrobersya sa mga tagasunod ni Cristo na ang artikulong ito ay tatangkang tumulong sa pagtatapos. Ito ang argumento ng hindi sa ilalim ng batas dahil sa biyaya at awa sa pamamagitan ng malaglag na dugo ni Cristo mula sa krus. Nakalimutan ng mga tao na gumawa ng pagkakaiba sa pagitan ng mga batas tulad ng nakasulat sa mga libro ni Moises. Magsimula tayo doon.

Mayroong dalawang hanay ng mga batas. Ang isa ay ang mga batas na isinulat mismo ng Diyos sa Sinai. Ang Sampung Utos na ito ay ang batas na moral. Hatiin sa utos lima, nakasulat sila sa dalawang mga tablet na bato. Natagpuan mo ang mga ito sa Exodo 20: 1-17. Sinasabi sa amin ng mga batas na ito kung paano haharapin ang aming kaugnayan sa Diyos ( Tablet 1, Mga Utos 1-4 ) at ang aming kaugnayan sa aming kapwa tao ( Tablet 2, Mga Utos 5-10 ). Ang mga batas na ito ay hindi maaaring at hindi kailanman magbabago. Ang mga batas na ito ay nasa lugar bago pa man isulat ng Diyos ang mga ito sa bato. Sinasabi sa atin ng Banal na Kasulatan ito sa iba’t ibang mga sipi ( Hebreo 13: 8; Malakias 3: 6; Isaias 40: 8; Et al ).

Nariyan ang mga batas na Levitical. Ang mga batas na ito ay ibinigay kay Moises sa salita, hindi bato, upang sumulat sa mga Israelita. Sakop ng mga batas na ito ang mga isyung panlipunan, ligal na isyu, at mga isyu sa sakripisyo na inilaan para sa mga Israelita. Ang mga ito ay nakikita sa buong mga libro ni Moises, simula sa Sampung Utos. Narito kung saan nangyayari ang problema.

Hinahayaan tingnan ang paglalagay ng dalawang pangkat ng batas ( Utos at Levitical ). Ang dalawang tapyas na bato ( ay nasira matapos na matagpuan ni Moises ang gintong guya na sinasamba at muling isinulat ng Diyos ) ay inilagay sa Arka ng Tipan ( Deut. 10: 1-20…Sa oras na iyon sinabi sa akin ni Adonai, ‘ Mag-ukit para sa iyong sarili ng dalawang tablet ng bato tulad ng mga una at lumapit sa Akin sa bundok. Gawin ang iyong sarili ng isang arka ng kahoy. Isusulat ko sa mga tablet ang mga salitang nasa unang mga tablet na iyong sinampal, at ilalagay mo ito sa arka. ’ ). Inilagay sila roon kasama ang mga tauhan nina Aaron at Manna, ayon sa liham sa mga Hebreo ni Paul ( Hebreo 9: 4b… Sa arka ay isang gintong garapon na humahawak sa mana, baras ni Aaron na namumuko, at ang mga tapyas ng tipan ). Ang lahat ng tatlo sa mga ito ay kumakatawan kay Jesucristo. Ang mga Utos na mga batas ng Diyos mula sa batas ay nagbibigay kay Jesus, ang mga tauhan ni Aaron ( na kumakatawan kay Cristo bilang ating Mataas na Saserdote, at Manna ( ang tinapay ng buhay na si Jesus ).

Ang Levitical Laws o Batas ni Moises ay inilagay nang iba ( Deuteronomio 31: 25-26…Inutusan ni Moises ang mga Levita, mga tagadala ng Arka ng Tipan ni Adonai na sinasabi, “ Kunin ang scroll na ito ng Torah, at ilagay ito sa tabi ng Arka ng Tipan ni Adonai na iyong Diyos. Mananatili ito doon bilang isang saksi laban sa iyo, ). Ang hanay ng mga batas na ito ay nagbubuklod bilang isang tipan sa pagitan ng Diyos at ng mga Israelita. Sapagkat ang Kautusan ng Diyos ( Sampung Utos ay nakasalalay sa lahat ng sangkatauhan mula sa simula hanggang sa wakas.

Ang debate ay nagmula sa Roma 6:14 …. ”Sapagka’t ang kasalanan ay hindi magiging kapangyarihan sa iyo, sapagkat ikaw ay wala sa ilalim ng batas ngunit sa ilalim ng biyaya ”. At habang ang talatang ito na nakatayo nang nag-iisa ay maaaring ipakita na ang biyaya hindi ang pagtatalo ng batas ay tama, Kailangang makuha ito sa konteksto at sa iba pang mga talata na nakapaligid dito. Ang buong ideya ay tulad ng, “ Samakatuwid huwag hayaan ang kasalanan na mamuno sa iyong mortal na katawan upang sundin mo ang mga nais nito. At huwag mong panatilihin ang iyong mga bahagi ng katawan upang magkasala bilang mga kasangkapan ng kasamaan; ngunit ibigay ang iyong sarili sa Diyos bilang mga buhay mula sa mga patay, at ang iyong katawan ay bahagi bilang mga tool ng katuwiran sa Diyos. Sapagka’t ang kasalanan ay hindi magiging kapangyarihan sa iyo, sapagkat ikaw ay wala sa ilalim ng batas kundi sa ilalim ng biyaya. Ano ngayon? Magkasala ba tayo dahil hindi tayo nasa ilalim ng batas ngunit sa ilalim ng biyaya? Nawa’y hindi kailanman! Hindi mo ba nalalaman na sa anumang ibigay mo sa iyong sarili bilang mga alipin sa pagsunod, ikaw ay alipin sa iyong sinusunod — kung ang kasalanan na nagreresulta sa kamatayan, o sa pagsunod na nagreresulta sa katuwiran? Ngunit salamat sa Diyos na kahit na ikaw ay mga alipin ng kasalanan, buong puso mong sinunod ang anyo ng turo kung saan ka inilagay; at pagkatapos mong malaya sa kasalanan, ikaw ay inalipin sa katuwiran. Nagsasalita ako sa mga termino ng tao dahil sa kahinaan ng iyong laman. Sapagka’t kung paanong ibigay mo ang iyong mga bahagi ng katawan bilang mga alipin sa karumihan at kawalan ng batas, na humahantong sa higit na pagkakasala, kaya’t ibigay mo ngayon ang iyong mga bahagi ng katawan bilang mga alipin sa katuwiran, na nagreresulta sa kabanalan. Sapagka’t noong ikaw ay mga alipin ng kasalanan, malaya kang may kinalaman sa katuwiran. Kung gayon, anong kinalabasan mo na nahihiya ka na ngayon? Para sa pagtatapos ng mga bagay na iyon ay kamatayan. Ngunit ngayon, na napalaya mula sa kasalanan at naging alipin sa Diyos, mayroon kang bunga na nagreresulta sa kabanalan. At ang kinalabasan ay buhay na walang hanggan. Sapagkat ang pagbabayad ng kasalanan ay kamatayan, ngunit ang mabait na regalo ng Diyos ay buhay na walang hanggan sa Mesiyas Yeshua na ating Panginoon. ” ( Roma 6: 12-23, TLV )

Ang buong pagbabasa ay nagpapakita na dahil lamang sa isang tao sa ilalim ng biyaya, hindi nito kinumpirma ang pagtatapos ng Batas ng Diyos ( ang Mga Utos ). Muling inulit ni Pablo ang puntong iyon sa ilang magkakaibang taludtod. Roma 3: 19-20 “ Ngayon alam natin na anuman ang sinabi ng Torah, sinasabi nito sa mga nasa loob ng Torah, upang ang bawat bibig ay maaaring ikulong at ang buong mundo ay maaaring maging mananagot sa Diyos. Para sa walang tao, batay sa pagsunod sa Torah, ay itatakda mismo sa Kanyang paningin — sapagkat sa pamamagitan ng Torah ay may kamalayan sa kasalanan. ” At naiiba ang sinasabi niya, ngunit may mas mahusay na kalinawan sa Roma 7: 7-12 “ Ano ang sasabihin natin noon? Kasalanan ba ang Torah? Nawa’y hindi kailanman! Sa kabaligtaran, hindi ko malalaman ang kasalanan maliban sa pamamagitan ng Torah. Sapagka’t hindi ko malalaman ang tungkol sa pag-iimbot kung hindi sinabi ng Torah, “ Hindi ka mag-iimbot. ” Ngunit ang kasalanan, kumuha ng isang pagkakataon, ay nagtrabaho sa akin sa pamamagitan ng utos ng lahat ng uri ng pag-iimbot. Para sa bukod sa Torah, patay na ang kasalanan. Minsan nabuhay ako bukod sa Torah; ngunit nang dumating ang utos, nabuhay ang kasalanan at namatay ako. Ang utos na inilaan para sa buhay ay natagpuan na magdulot ng kamatayan. Ang kasalanan, na kumukuha ng isang pagkakataon sa pamamagitan ng utos, niloko ako at sa pamamagitan nito ay pinatay ako. Kung gayon, ang Torah ay banal, at ang utos ay banal at matuwid at mabuti. ”

Ang sinasabi ni Pablo ay ang mga utos ay may bisa kahit na pagkatapos ng biyaya. Tutukso pa rin ang diyablo at ang kalikasan ng tao ay ang kasalanan pa rin. At sa sandaling natanggap ang kapatawaran ng biyaya, ang diyablo ay nakikipaglaban nang higit pa upang maibalik ang isang nawala sa Diyos.

Ngunit huwag lamang makinig kay Paul. Sinabi mismo ni Jesus na ang mga Batas ng Diyos ay may bisa pa rin. “ Amen, sinasabi ko sa iyo, hanggang sa mawala ang langit at lupa, hindi ang pinakamaliit na liham o serif ay mawawala sa Torah hanggang sa maganap ang lahat ng mga bagay. ” ( Mateo 5:18, TLV )

Ang pangitain ni Juan sa Patmos ay nagsabi rin. “ Narito ang tiyaga ng kedoshim — yaong mga sumusunod sa mga utos ng Diyos at ang pananampalataya ng Yeshua. ” ( Apocalipsis 14:12 ). Sa teksto ng Hebreong Rabbinical, ang Kedoshim ay nangangahulugang ‘ Holy Ones ’. Isinalin ng KJV ang salitang ito bilang mga banal. Ang tiyaga ay nangangahulugang pagpunta sa distansya, nakakakita ng isang bagay hanggang sa wakas. Tulad ng nakikita mo sa talatang ito, upang dumaan sa katapusan ng oras, at basahin ang iyong pangalan sa Aklat ng Buhay ng Kordero ay tumatagal ng pananampalataya na si Kristo ( biyaya ) at ang mga utos ( Mga Batas ) ng Diyos.

Nang sinabi ni Kristo na tapos na ito bago siya namatay sa krus, nangangahulugan na ang presyo ng pagtubos ay nabayaran para sa mga tumanggap nito. Sinasabi sa atin ni Apostol James sa Santiago 2: 14-26 ‘ Ano ang kabutihan nito, mga kapatid ko, kung may nagsasabing siya ay may pananampalataya, ngunit walang gawa? Maaari bang mailigtas siya ng gayong pananampalataya? Kung ang isang kapatid na lalaki o kapatid na babae ay hubad at kulang sa pang-araw-araw na pagkain, at ang isa sa iyo ay nagsabi sa kanila, “ Pumasok sa shalom, panatilihing mainit at maayos ang pagkain,” ngunit hindi mo sila binibigyan kung ano ang kailangan ng katawan, ano ang mabuti? Gayundin ang pananampalataya, kung wala itong mga gawa, ay patay na mismo. Ngunit sasabihin ng isang tao, “ Mayroon kang pananampalataya at mayroon akong mga gawa. ” Ipakita mo sa akin ang iyong pananampalataya nang walang mga gawa at ipapakita ko sa iyo ang pananampalataya sa pamamagitan ng aking mga gawa. Naniniwala ka na ang Diyos ay iisa. Magaling ka. Naniniwala rin ang mga demonyo — at pag-ungol! Ngunit nais mong malaman, ikaw ay walang laman, ang pananalig na walang gawa ay patay? Hindi ba si Abraham na aming ama ay napatunayan na matuwid sa pamamagitan ng mga gawa nang ihandog niya si Isaac na kanyang anak sa dambana? Nakita mo na ang pananampalataya ay nagtulungan kasama ang kanyang mga gawa, at sa pamamagitan ng mga gawa ay kumpleto ang kanyang pananampalataya. Natupad ang Banal na Kasulatan na nagsasabing, “ At naniniwala si Abraham sa Diyos, at ito ay na-kredito sa kanya bilang katuwiran ” — at tinawag siyang kaibigan ng Diyos. Nakikita mo na ang isang tao ay napatunayan na matuwid sa pamamagitan ng mga gawa at hindi sa pamamagitan lamang ng pananampalataya. At gayon din, hindi ba si Rahab na puta ay nagpatunay din na matuwid sa pamamagitan ng mga gawa nang tanggapin niya ang mga messenger at pinauwi sila sa ibang paraan? Sapagkat tulad ng katawan na walang espiritu ay patay, gayon din ang pananampalataya na walang gawa ay patay. ’

Ang mga gawa na pinag-uusapan ay kung paano namin haharapin ang ating kapwa. Habang sumasaklaw ito sa mga gawa ng awa ( nagawa ang gutom, bisitahin ang may sakit, et al ) kasama rin dito ang mga utos. Tandaan, na ang huling anim na utos ay nagsasabi sa amin ng moral na paraan upang makitungo sa ating kapwa tao.

Ang batas ng Levitical ( sakripisyo, seremonya, atbp ) ay natapos sa krus. Ito ang kahulugan ng pahayag ni Cristo tungkol sa ginagawa. Ang dugo ngayon ay sakop sa biyaya kung ano ang mga sakripisyo, mga batas sa seremonya, at mga ligal na batas na inilaan para sa …. hinaharap na pagtubos sa sakripisyo ni Kristo. Ito ay ipinahayag sa pagpunit ng belo sa pagitan ng Banal na Lugar at ng Banal ng mga Banal sa templo. ‘ At sumigaw muli si Yeshua ng malakas na tinig at isinuko ang Kanyang espiritu. At narito, ang kurtina ng Templo ay nahati sa dalawa, mula sa itaas hanggang sa ibaba. ’ ( Mateo 27: 50-51, TLV )

Ang luha na ito ay nagbukas ng pagkakaroon ng Diyos sa lahat nang hindi dumaan sa sakripisyo sa looban, ang pari sa Banal na lugar, at ang takip ng arka sa dugo ng hayop ng sakripisyo. Ang Mga Utos ( Batas ng Diyos ) hindi ang mga Batas ni Moises ay nasa paligid mula pa bago ibigay ang mga Utos sa Sinai.

Narito ang isang katanungan upang pagnilayan. Kung si Kristo mismo, ang mga Apostol, at ang mga manunulat ng Lumang Tipan ay nagsasabi na ang Kautusan ng Diyos, tulad ng Diyos, ay hindi nagbabago, kung gayon bakit ang debate? At bakit ang mga nagsasabing sumunod kay Cristo ay nagtatalo sa kung aling mga utos na dapat sundin? Kung kukuha ng parehong Pananampalataya kay Cristo ( biyaya ng pagtubos sa pamamagitan ng dugo ) at ang Mga Utos ( Batas ng Diyos ) upang maisagawa ito sa muling pagkabuhay ng mga matuwid, hindi ba dapat nating sundin ang kaluwalhatian?

Christianity, faith

But For Grace, There Go I

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited (Romans 12:16).

Today, the pastor did a switch of sermon. I don’t know if he was led by the Holy Spirit to do so or if he had seen something from one congregants that caused it. But it was a message that was needed. Not just today, not just our church. But by the body of Christ globally.

You see churches like Westboro Baptist, evangelical churches, and others today forgetting that they were sinners at one point. They seem to have forgotten that they had a calling to kneel at the altar rail and ask for forgiveness. That they are still not worthy of grace but are given that grace because of the love of God through the death and resurrection of Christ.

Somewhere along the line, they forgot about hating the sin and loving the sinner. Members of the church as a whole have gotten to a point where they condemn a person instead of simply explaining sin and redemption through the shed blood of Christ. Or like my grandmother would have said in her sweet southern/midwestern mixed Ozarks voice, you catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar.

The passage for his message was Matthew 20: 1-16. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

He reminded us that, like the ones who had worked all day, those that have been in the faith for a long time, tend to forget that the redemption of Christ’s blood covers everybody who asks. He reminded us that it has the same exact value for those that came to that altar 50 years ago as well as those that hit the altar yesterday or have yet to hit it. He could have just as easily used the verse of the Pharisee and the sinner. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

Having spoke with him after service, I told him that switching a message to one that calls the faithful to account is very seldom welcomed. The Pharisees had grown so pompous, that they ran their Messiah ragged and eventually to the Cross because of their inflated self-worth. Many Christians today have that same self inflation. But this pastor had an inspiration to remind them that their time in God’s service doesn’t equate for more love than new Christians or even those who yet have the calling to come to the Savior.

After his message, he did something I have never seen a pastor do in the 51 years I have been alive and the 40 plus years I have been going to services. He went and knelt at the altar while the final hymn was sung. I found it amazing that even a pastor realized he still isn’t perfect. Many congregants in all denominations need to see his example and remember the old adage, ‘but for the grace of God, there go I’.

I understand that this may not seem like much to most. But seeing how the pulpits have become compromised and even desecrated by soft wording and no fire by the pastors, a person doesn’t need to look hard to see why our neighborhoods, towns, nations, and world are in the position that they are in.

This pastor doesn’t preach with the flair or flame of men like Billy Sunday or Billy Graham. But he speaks with the humility and humbleness of a saint. He allows the words to be like arrows of the Holy Spirit. May this man’s ministry be blessed and a blessing, calling even the saved to repentance. Because no matter how long ago you knelt at that altar, tears of regret flowing down your cheeks, and asked for Christ to be the master of your life, we all still need repentance and the renewing of Christ’s saving grace.

The Store owner recently died from his injuries.

More stories of Pakistani Persecutions can be found at https://www.persecution.org/?s=&cat=64.

2. In what manner will Jesus return the second time?

4. Who will come with Jesus at His second coming, and why?

9. Does the Bible give specific information regarding the nearness of Christ’s second coming?

14. Of what great danger does Christ warn us?

Thought Questions

1. Isn’t the great tribulation yet to come?

2. Since the Lord is coming “as a thief in the night,” how can anyone know anything about it?

3. When will Christ set up His kingdom on the earth?

4. Why don’t we hear more preaching and teaching today regarding Christ’s second coming?

5. But wasn’t Jesus speaking of a secret rapture when He said in Luke 17:36, “One will be taken and the other left”?

Quiz Questions

2. When Jesus returns to this earth (1)

3. What will happen to the righteous at Christ’s second coming? (2)

4. On the basis of biblical signs, Christ’s coming (1)

5. The wicked who are living when Jesus returns will be (1)

6. Check the statements below that tell the truth about Christ’s second coming: (4)

7. At Christ’s second coming (1)

8. Mark all statements that are true signs of the last days of earth: (7)

9. Which signs in the heavens are signs of Christ’s return? (2)

10. How do we know that Jesus is coming back to earth very soon? (1)

11. Millions will be deceived regarding the manner and time of Christ’s return because (1)

12. I can be ready for Christ’s return if (1)

13. I am planning to be ready when Jesus returns.