“Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”  (Romans 4:25 – 5:1)

“…and whom He called, them He also justified…”  (Romans 8:30 B.)

“…but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”                                                                                                                                           (1 Corinthians 6:11 B.)

“Much more then, being now justified by His [B]lood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”  (Romans 5:9)

 

As we have been working our way though the doctrines of grace, we have come to the doctrine of Justification. It was this doctrine, under God’s raising up of Luther, that the reformation would begin and the Catholic church would manifest her wickedness in plain view of the world.  To be sure, the Catholic church did not do this with God’s blessing or inspiration, therefore it cannot be said that they did this in His Holy Name or by His sovereign authority.  The wickedness of the Catholic church must be laid and left at their door, not Gods.

Before the doctrine of Justification was made prominent and clear again, as it was in Paul’s day, this great doctrine had been forgotten or rather hushed by the greed of the Catholic church. In it’s place was put the Catholic doctrine of works and indulgences. The doctrine of indulgences falsely stated that you could pay or buy your way out of purgatory or it could buy an escape from purgatory for one who is already dead. The priests would play upon the heart string and guilt of the living.  They would ask, “Don’t you care for mother or father or grandma or grandpa?”  Kind of like some missionaries do today. These poorest of the poor, being put on the spot, would give whatever they had to “free their loved ones from suffering.” The truth was the Catholic church wanted money to build bigger and more ornate churches and to fill their banks for a possible future war. This is kind of like building funds.

This doctrine of works and indulgences or even purgatory is taught nowhere in Scripture…no where.  But the Biblically ignorant “believers,” like many of todays believers simply believe what they are told to believe.  My reader, if you are not able to declare why you believe what you believe you are as ignorant and open to any silly thing a false preacher or a “church” may come up with. Many persons today, in the  year 2017 A.D., are putting their hands on their televisions, hoping to be healed or made millionares.  Many persons, today are sending their hard earned or S.S. money to agents of (s)atan, expecting a towel to be sent back and to be healed thereby. There are persons that are sending money to a wolf in sheep’s clothing to purchase a bottle of water that will bless them.

Many of these persons are not stupid. All of these persons are simply Biblically illiterate and maybe a little commom sense wanting. Who should be blamed for this spiritual crime? The Con-man/women…Paula White, or the persons sending the money?…………Think it through……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………if you said the preacher, you are wrong. If you said the persons being bilked you are, again, wrong.  They both should be found guilty.  The con man/woman is guilty for knowing the Scriptures and abusing them anyway. They are those who use God’s Name in vain…..They are the wolves in sheeps clothing….they are the “many that will come in [Christ’s] Name” that He warned us of. These are they that are anti Christs that Christ and John warned us of…..they are they that “would make merchandise of you” that Peter wrote of. These are the ones that almost every prophet, apostle, and Christ, Himself, told us to, “Take heed and be not deceived,” by.

What about the “poor” persons who have fallen “victim” to these serpents?  First off, they are not to be looked upon as poor, for the riches of God’s wisdom has been available to them since the age of understanding.  To look upon them as victims, makes you a victim of your own over-zealous  self righteousness. These are the people that raised their hands or said a prayer a half a century ago, a decade ago, a few years ago and never picked up the Word of God to see what He has to say TO THEM, PERSONALLY. These are the people, who know absolutely nothing of God…..they sit around and say, “I just Love Jesus.” even though they could not pick Him out in a spiritual line-up of any religious leaders quotes. I do not put anyone on level with Him, I simply write that to make a point.  If they were given a quote and asked, “Who said that,  The Christ, the (b)udda, Confucious, or Ronald McDonald,” they would not be able to answer. These are the persons who think Romans is an O.T. book. Do I feel sorry for them?  Eh, as sorry as God is when a fallen angel says to Him, “yeah, but Lucifer said, it was on your orders.”  They are all guilty of not knowing, “Whom they have believed.”

So, back to the doctrine of Justification. In our last article we wrote on the doctrine of Substitution, which leads us into Justification.  In one of our titles we wrote, that you will be able to understand this doctrine because we will make it damn(ing ) clear. You see, to whom much is given, much shall be expected. And as I make this doctrine clear, you are receiving much, therefore much will be expected of you when you stand before God.

The doctrine of Justification is simply this. You are grievously guilty for all that you have said, thought, or done over the course of your entire life. Because of this God…A Holy, Holy, Holy God is incensed with you, God is seethingly angry with you, God’s anger boils and boils and bubbles each and every second with you and it boils and bubbles more and more with each passing second. God’s wrath is ever growing and He must at some point release His seething anger, His boiling and bubbling, incensed anger and wrath must be satisfied.  And you may or may not even know what is happening or that this God is focused upon you or that this God even exists.  My reader, You know now.  What you do not know and can never know is, when, where, or how your life will be extinguished and you will stand before this God. To be very clear, as Jonathan Edwards said, you, reader, are hanging on a spider’s line. You are hanging over Hell, who reaches for you at every second, this Hell desires you, it has no love for you and their is no party goining on. Let me tell you, reader, Who is holding your spider’s line……It is the very God, Who is seethingly incensed with you now more than He was just ten seconds ago and it continues to grow great and greater and Hell reached higher and higher…..what will you do reader?

While there is still time to hope, allow me to very quickly and very simply tell you of your only Hope.  Christ Jesus has already paid the debt for all that will cry to Him and submit their very lives to Him….who will seek His forgiveness and thank Him for being their very Substitute……what will you do, reader, as the spider’s line begins to smoke and Christ’s loving Hand is reached out for you…..will you fall into Hell where you will weep and grind your teeth in pain and anger forever and ever or will you reach out and receive Christ’s Hand of Substitutuion?

If you have reached for Christ’s Hand of Substitution let me tell you what else you receive.  Not only has He saved you from justice and your debt, by taking your place, taking your stead upon your Cross, He now extends to you, the life of Righteousness that He has won for you. You see, not only were your past sins forgiven, but all you future sins have been forgiven. You are free to live a life, free of fear. You may now live a life of goodness and righteousness…all you debts to sin and God have been paid in full by Christ.

To make it more clear imagine you owe a million dollars. You know you will never be able to pay it. But then you receive in the mail a letter of receipt. This letter states that your debt has been paid. Not only has your debt been paid in full, but the Man that paid your debt also sends you a chech for (100,000,000.00) one hundred million dollars.  The only thing that the Debt Payers asks is, “Use this money for good.”

That is the doctrine of Justification.  Because of Christ’s sinless life and perfect obedience to the Father, only He could die in the stead of the sinful. It is only by the Blood of The Innocent and Righteous that the sins of the guilty could be paid for. The Innocent for the guilty; the Righteous for the unrighteous; Christ in the place of X. The doctrine continues to teach that not only are the sin debts paid for and the penalty of one’s sins is remembered no more, but life eternal, freedom and liberty to live a life free of sin’s power and pleasure are overwhelmed as well.  Not only do the justified experience God’s mercy but he receives God’s grace, love, and His Heart and Ear inclined to your needs and desires.  The justified receives all that belongs to Christ as he is now joint-heirs with his Elder Brother Immanuel, his Substitute. He is as Just As his Elder Brother. He is also just in the Eyes of the Father, Who Alone can be his Justifier.

WoW!!! How Great Is our God!!!?

“If you therefore me as a partner, receive him as myself. If he has wronged you, or owes  you anything, put that on my account; I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it.”  (Philemon 1:17-19 a.)

“…I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”                                                                                                                                            (Galatians 5:20 b.)

 

Years go I heard an analogy. I cannot claims its veracity nor do I need to.  An analogy is used to clarify a truth or a point, its veracity need not be truthful or exact, it needs only make the point clearer to the hearer. The analogy goes like this:  during the U.S. Cival War a warrant was put out for the arrest of a man that was fighting in the war. It was a bench warrant and stated that this man was wanted for execution. This man was away and did not know about this bench warrant or was never told about it. [I don’t know why or how he did not know…was warrant lost? was it hidden by his superiors? I know not.”]

In any event, he did not know about this warrant.  As time went by a man turned himself in and Identified himself as the wanted man. He was taken an hanged.  As more time went by, the real man heard about this warrant and that another man turned himself in. The real man ran to turn himself in so that the substitute would be released. He was taken to the authorities, but was told he was too late. They could not hang him as another was hanged in his place.  The guilty soldier was claimed justified, for as far, as the law was concerned, the guilty was already hanged for his crime.

The Biblical doctrine of substitution is something like the analogy. There are many other analogies that describe this great doctrine.

Years ago in a WWE pay per view. One of the big matches or big draws was Vince McMahon vs. Donald J. Trump. It was called, “The Battle of the Billionaires.”  Obviously neither of these men would actually fight, though McMahon has fought many times and was and is very capable, anyway these men woud not fight for themselves.  Each man would select a wrestler that would fight in their stead. As a stipulation, the winning billionare would have the right, under contract rules, to shave the head of the losing billionaire. THe winner of the match was Billionare Trump.  Is there any wonder why I voted for this man?  Donald J. Trump or rather now, President Donald J. Trump shaved the hair off of Fellow billionare VIncent Kennedy McMahon’s head on live television!!!  This, too, as silly as it may be to some is an ananlogy of substitution.  In the “winner’s column” President Trump is the winner of the match, though he, in actuality, did not participate in the fight, itself.

My good friend, or rather one of my very best friends, is on a trip around the world. Very often she will send pictures of herself and her very best friend and husband of (50) years, Fifty Years!!! These pictures will show the happy couple at various places from around the world.  By viewing these picture one could imagine themselves there and experiencing these adventures vicariously through Mary Lou and her husband. This is another way of understanding substition.  When Mary Lou gets home her friends will be able to sit down with her and hear about her memories and they will get to live them through their imagination.

Therefore, through another person, Trump defeated McMahon and through Mary Lou, many will be able to experience a trip around the earth. Also by these substitutions one may be inspired to experience these events for themselves. For example, I have heard that Captain Jean Luc Picard or Patrick Stewart had recently made the stupid remark that he wished he could be American so he could challenge President Trump to a fist fight. I don’t know why he would have to be American, however, I am an American, for which I thank God for very, very, very often and I doubt I will ever stop thanking God for very, very, very often…in fact, would you excuse me while I stop typing and thank Him right now…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..okay, I am done for now. Back to my point, I am an American. I weigh (160-178lbs) one hunded and sixty pounds to one hundred and seventy-eight pounds. I am a God-called preacher from a very young age…one could argue. (9) nine years old.  I have also been trained for (5-ish) five-ish years in jiu jitsu. I have kept up my training via autodidact training for the last (15) fifteen years, so one could argur I have (20) twenty years of traning ,whereas others would say I have only  (5) five years of training. We would be happy to be tested by either school of thought to find out………any way I speak as a human fool….the truth is, like King David, God has “[teaching] my fingers to fight and my hands to war” in all areas of human and spiritual warfare…no offense intended to our U.S. Armed forces. May Godspeed be with them and carry them though all lines of life’s battles. I will now stop writing and bow my spirit as I pray for them all….those who are still fighting, for those who are home and those that will be called in the future………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………okay, Back to my point, I would be happy to accept Mr. Patrick Stewarts challenge to Pres. Trump.  I will be (DV) Trump’s substitute. And after I/he win(s) (DV) MR. Trump’s record will be (2) two wins and (0) Zero losses. I would (DV) even wear a mask so that the victory goes to Trump alone.  Am I serious? Of course not, or am i?

After Mary Lou arrives home safe and sound (our prayers are always her companions) she will give words to pictures of her adventures. and all will live these adventures through her photos and words.  Is this not what reading does for us? Reading allows us to visit so, so very, very many worlds? I’ve heard it said, when one reads a book one visits a world and when one destroys a book or many books one destorys one or many worlds. After hearing her stories and then deciding to experience her adventures (DV) one might say, ” I am going to ‘Mary Lou’ this Summer, instead of saying, “I’m going on vacation this Summer.”

By these analogies, whether they are exacting parallels or not they explain the great Biblical doctrine of Substitution. Now (DV), let me teach you this doctrine. For some this will explain clearly, I trust, what Christ has done for you. For others this may explain what or Who 0r how their lost and condemned souls could be saved.

The Doctrine of Substitution Explained:                                                                                                     The doctrine of Substitution teaches us how a Jewish Man, born of a Jewish virgin, some (2000) two-thousand years ago, can save a person today or more specifically how it has saved you or how it can save you today. To warn you, though, this will be very clear. This will be so clear that a young child would understand it and once you understand it you are responsible or rather you will be, knowingly, responsible. I say knowingly because you are already responsible in the eyes of the seethingly incensed God that is focusing His boiling and bubbling and very overwhelming anger on you…Personally ….on you, if you have not submitted your life to His rule and reign of Righteousness.

The Doctrine of Substitution: Allow me to demonstrate how simple it is to understand this doctrine. There are (2) two brothers. There is a younger brother and an older brother. The younger brother is a bit on the weakling side and a bit of a trouble maker. The older or Elder brother is strong and good. One day the weaker, younger brother throws a ball through the family’s picture window.   [Side Note; you have already predicted the end haven’t you?  Then you see how simple the doctrine of substituition is, therefore you are already responsible before God.] Make no mistake, the younger brother did it on purpose.

The Father comes home and asks the obvious question, “Who broke the window?”  Before the younger brother had the chance to accept the blame (and who even knows if he would have) the elder innocent brother said, “I did it, father, I did it.” The father asked the elder brother. “was it on purpose or was it an accident? the elder brother said, “it…it …was on purpose, I wanted to see what would happen.”

The father told the elder brother to go into the office and the boy obeyed.  The elder brother was disciplined for what he had not done. The elder took the younger’s place for the younger was without strength to bear the discipline as well as the innocent elder brother could.

Why did the elder brother answer the father so quickly?  The elder decided to take the disipline before  the younger even threw the ball through the window.  The elder brother knew that this would probably happen because he knew his younger brother so well.

It’s kind of like when a child takes a drink into the living room. The Dad sees it and let’s it go even though he already knows the child will probably spill it.  Sure enough the drink is spilled and Mom is not happy with the child, Mom say’s “I’ve told you not to bring drinks into the living room, haven’t I” and before the child could say yes or nod her head, Dad say’s “it’s my fault, I told her she could bring it in, let me clean it up.” The Mom is not happy with the Dad now but all is well between mother and daughter. The daughter understands what has just happened. She sees her Dad in a new light and she never brings a drink into the living room again.

Back to the (2) two brothers: The elder took the discipline for the younger. Before the elder left the Dad’s office the Dad asks him, “Son, did you really break the window, and please be honest, son”. The boy begins to cry and said, “No, but he’s doesn’t have the strengh yet to take the punishment and I love him, so I took the punishment. The Father said, “Immanuel, My Son, I knew that, I knew that, before I disciplined you, I knew what you were doing and we both knew that Elect had to learn that someone must pay for the sin. The Father continued, “I love you so much, Immanuel, for what you have done and Elect, Your younger brother, will come to understand this too, and he will love you for it.

The doctrine of substitution: The Lord Jesus Christ, the Sinless Son of God, took the sinners place on the sinner’s cross. The Elder Brother, God’s Son, took the place of the younger sinful brother upon the cross, If you believe or will ever believe, The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Sinless Son, Your Innocent Elder Brother, Immanuel has taken your place upon your Cross and has endured the punishment for your sin, for your crime, for your iniquities, for your transgressions, for your trespasses, for your mistakes that you have made and have caused. By the Substitution of the Innocent Immanuel; the wicked sinner (You) has been declared innocent.  By the Innocent Immanuel, the Elect, me, you, us, have been justified and declared free of all charges because of our Innocent Immanuel, Who was the Substitute in our stead.

This concludes the (3rd) third part in our “Doctrines of Grace” series. So far we have written an introduction and we have written upon Election and Sanctification.  In this article we have written on Substitution and introduced the subject or Justification. (DV), we shall write upon the doctrine of Justification soon.  Godspeed, Fellow Pilgrims.

 

 

 

Often times, when we give a special type of knowledge to another we call it a gift. I learned this from Saint Paul. There is knowledge and then there is knowledge that has the great potential to change another’s life. This gift knowledge is also the kind of knowledge that can be applied immediatley. Today’s article has the potential to be that kind of knowledge. For this article to be that kind of knowledge you must partake of the knowledge and apply it. Another characteristic of the gift knowledge is a shortened article, so that you may focus upon this one point. We will comment upon this poit very little.

 

WHAT THE LORD JESUS WAS TO HIS DISCIPLES (2000) TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO; THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO US TODAY.

 

It sounds simple but it is life changing if applied. I know that there will be few to apply it, however, and it is to their very great loss.

What was Christ to those (11) eleven men. He was their Friend, Confidante, trusted Ally,  Teacher, Guide, Protector, Deliverer. He ate with them daily, He was their Small Talk and the Communicator of great Truths, These men would all sleep in close quarters with Him and woke up to Him, too. He was the Miracle Worker, He is their Lord and Master. He is their Only Saviour. He was their Everything. He is their All in All and their Altogether Lovely One.

After many disciples departed and left Christ, He turned and asked those remaining, and Peter said, “to whom could we go?”

My readers, the Holy Spirit, the Same Spirit that dwelt in Christ, now dwells in you, if you belong to Christ. Everything that the Lord Jesus was and still is to those men; the Holy Spirit of Christ is to you…right now in the most literal of ways. The only difference is the Body of Christ is in Heaven. If you apply this truth your life will change….I know whereof I speak.

Read this over and over again, not because I wrote it but, because God will back it up by His Presence in and upon your lives.

A Friend sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs)

 

Much has been written on friendship. Much more will be written (DV) on friendship. There have been novels, poems, non-fiction works, essays, and articles written on friendship.Today (DV) we will add to that number.

There seems to be (2) two extremes in friendship. The first extreme is a person speaking to or seeing (1) one or more persons each and every day if not many times a day. The other extreme is speaking to or seeing another person or others very little, yet the friendship is true. By calling these (2) two types extremes, it should go without saying that there are different types of friendships in the middle, such as the frienemy. The (2nd) second extreme is the type that can be picked up as no time has passed, though much time has passed.

I am reminded of John Calvin. Calvin has just returned from exile. He had been gone a number of years. He approached the pulpit and began his exposition at the same place as where he left off years ago…this is a good picture of the (2nd) second extreme.

My type of friendship is the (2nd) second extreme. I am not the sit on the phone, let’s hang out type. This does not mean that I love my friend(s) less than the (1st) first extreme. I could not be this kind of friend and fulfil my calling to God. However, (DV), I will make myself available to any and all others if needed and I think I have proven this. I am a friend at a distance. I thinks, as a preacher, the best friends one can have is other preachers.

I remember a time when I was a teenager; I was approached by a guy, that I had a very nasty bareknuckle contest with ,years prior. He had gotten himself in to trouble again. He had no one to help him. This does not necessarily speak to his character but to the character of those he chose as “friends.” The help he need was of the physical kind. Without a (2nd) second thought I agreed. I helped him out. There have been other times where I stayed in the hospital over night with someone I had not seen or spoken with for along time. There was a time I spent a thanksgiving with a friend in a psych unit on thansgiving with a person that hurt me over and over again. I do not tell you these things to gloat, Godforbid. I relate these things to you to describe friendship.

I have heard friendship defined as “one running in when everyone else is running out.” I describe it as something that never dies, and Scripture defines it as “someone who sticks closer than a brother.” Scripture also defines friendship as, “The Lord Jesus Christ.”

Frienship or rather persons can grow. For the first (42) forty-two years of my life I was what could be described as reserved, quiet, restrained. I was not shy as We were able to stand in front of hundreds of persons and speak of Christ. I had no trouble speaking to hundreds, but i had trouble speaking to (1) one. I was not one to spark up a conversation or even to carry on much of a conversation. Small talk was anathema to me. The ringing phone was anathema.

Behold, in my (43) forty-third year everything changed. There was a sacred moment between my God and me. I was never (DV) to be the same again. There was given to me a boldness and a liberty that I have never before known. I am still a friend at a distance but now we are able to approach others, whether they are known to us or not, and speak to them freely and to counsel them according to their needs. We are able to reprove those that speak of Hell as a party. We are able to encourage believers we have never met and provide a sinner with the prophet’s “Woe unto you.”

We have raised our children to know the difference between friends and acquantances. It is important to get these definitions right. We have already given some definitions to friendship. (DV), we will give a few more. A friend knows things that could destroy you. However, if this person is a friend, there is no concern at all. An acquantance is someone you know at work or someone you know through others, An acquantance might become a true friend someday, but it will take time. The majority of your “FRIENDS” on Face Book are most likely aqcquantances and one should be careful what one shares with these “FRIENDS” if you are wise enough to value your future.

If one were to study this subject in the life of the Lord Jesus one will get a good understanding of friendship.If my memory is accurate, our Lord had  (18) eighteen  – (21) twenty-one friends.These would include the (11) eleven disciples, Zacheas, Lazarus, Mary and Martha, Magdalene, Joseph or Arimetha, Nicodemus, Paul of Tarsus, and Possibly the owner of the colt and the owner of the upper room. Some might think that those that were healed by the great Physician would be considered His friends. However, many of them were told to keep their silence concerning their time with Christ, their healing, as well as His identity but very few obeyed and kept quiet. Remember a friend can be trusted with that which might destroy another. This is why I count the upper floor owner a possibility as a friend. If s/he knew what was going on and who was in the upper room both before the resurrection and after, the secret was kept.

If interested, you could study the friendship of David and Jonathan, Saul’s son; You could also look at Elijah and Elisha; Paul and John Mark and Paul and Demus. in other writings you can look at Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in “The Three Garridebs.”  Batman and Jim Gordon, Samuel Johnson and Boswell.

Another definition for a close friendship is: If the friend were members of the opposite sex, they could be husband and wife. The same is true of a husband and wife. Humanly speaking, my wife is my very best friend. She knows everything about me and I know all about her. She is my rock, and my guide in this life. Without her I would be completely lost in this life. She is the proving evidence that God has favour upon me.

 

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so so great a cloud of witnesses,let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the [A]uthor and [F]inisher of our faith; [W]ho for the joy that was set before [H]im endured the [C]ross, despising the shame, and is set down at the [R]ight [H]and of the [T]hrone of God….  (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

“Our Father Who art in ]H]eaven….(Psalm 23)

“Behold, the Judge Standeth before the door.” (James 5:9 b.)

 

I would like to thank God for the last several days. I was afforded the opportunity to spend much time with my Mom and my Dad.  It has been said, no one can, ever really, go back to the home of their youth. In this instance, that philosophy is, rather very, WRONG, WRONG, and WRONG.

Our Lord gifted me with a very precious and particular gift; I was able to go home. I spent much time watching movies with my Dad and conversing over them about the past, about God and our Lord Jesus. We spoke about the future (DV), we spent, as they say, quality time together.  I was affored the opportunity to go shopping with my Mom. We made smart purchases with her (30%) thirty percent off coupon. The items we purchased were also on sale, therefore, we made out with wise purchases.

I was home again; my Mom cooked food that I remember as a kid, it was counrty style sustenance. We, too, had good conversations about the past, present , and future. Methinks we learned more about each other and understand each other better. It was a singular time with my Mom and my Dad, that I shall never (DV) forget. I thank God for that great gift……and the train ride from Naperville to Iowa was something out of an Agatha Christie novel.   We may write about that another time.

When we arrived home we were so happy to see my wife, and kids, who, I love very dearly. That evening my Wife and I went to see a (1) one man play called, “An Evening With C.S. Lewis. My wife enjoyed it very, very much and we met some nice people.

Now, with all of that in my head I, of course, thought of my Heavenly Father and Elder Brother, and my always present Companion-Guide/Teacher. This led my mind toward God as my [H]eavenly Father and then, of course, God as Judge.

If you are an astute reader, you may have noticed that I call God, MY Heavenly Father, but I did not call God MY Judge. This is very important for we, Christ-ians to understand. If you want to capitalize on the relationship you are in with God, you must think about it correctly; look at it properly and clearly; understand it, rightly.

What is the difference between God our Father and God the Judge? Also what part does sin play???????????????????????????????????????

Let us look at God the Judge. God the Judge is seething with anger over rebellious sin. God the Judge is incensed, as J. Edwards put it, and he is seethingly angry and incensed at all sinners; It is very much a Personal issue with Him; it is very much a rebellion against His Goodness and Kindness in His Holy Eyes, that will not look upon sin. When the day of [coming soon] Judgement arrives His seething, incensed Omnipotent, Omniscience, and Omnipresent Anger will be seen and felt. All sinners that are not in Christ will be judged for every word they spoke, every deed they have committed,  for every evil thought they have entertained, and every sin they have engaged in, with the bodies God gave to them. God gave them bodies to use for righteous purposes and to Glorify Him; Instead they have used it for all manner of evil. Behold, The Judge standeth before the door……Your door……..KNock KNock!

However, for those who are in Christ, there is no Judgement Day for sin. When we appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ it will be for our works, whether they were good or bad. That may sound frightening, but God the Judge will not be Present. God our Father will be present. Think of it this way: When you were a teenager you would break rules, like coming home late. Your Mom or Dad would give you the “Look” or you would be in for a lecture the next morning, This is our Judgement day.

Then our very loved and much better Brother, Jesus; [Who is The Christ], will have a sit down talk with you.

 

Readers,

I do not know how Judgement Day will be managed, will there be lines? Will there be angels that usher us ?  I know not at all. But, What I do know is rebellious God-hating sinners will depart from the Presence of God, their Judge and they shall make their way to Hell. I also know that God our Heavenly Father, Jesus, our Lord and Elder Brother, and our Holy Companion will deal with us in the way our earthly mothers and fathers did; We shall be dealt with in Love.

It has been said, that a child sees God as they see their Father. If you are an angry and mean Dad, or a rule heavy Dad that is how your children will envision God and that is not right, lest ye be unsaved. If that is true, your children are right to see God as an Angry God.

If you are a Dad, that is in Christ, You have a responsibility to be the best “little (j)esus (c)hrist, you can be for your children.

If you are a Dad that is struggling to raise your children…Raise them in the nurture and admonishion of  the Lord, and by the way, there is an Instuction Book on raising a family, it’s called, The Holy Bible.    With all Reverence to God, You husbands and fathers, are the saviour to your wife and her body, and you are God to your children. It may seem to be a great and heavy weight that is put upon you, but trust me, the Cross of Calvary was a much, much heavier weight for Christ; He was carrying all of us with Him, that are in Christ.

“For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful…Let such a one think this, that, such as we are in word when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.                                                                                                                                    (2 Corinthians 10:10 a.-11)

“Go to now (Come on), you that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:…For that you ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that.  (James 4:13,15)

 

“A prophet is not without honour…”  (The Lord Jesus)

 

*********************NEWS FLASH***************NEWS FLASH**********************NEWS FLASH****************************

 

Preachers, Pastors, Missionaries, Evangelists, Prophets, etc…. Can have bad days just like everyone else. However, they are not suppose to show. Q. Why aren’t I suppose to show my “human side”? A. We are suppose to be perfect and  today’s Christ-ians are way to weak in their faith (if faith they have) to have an imperfect pastor/preacher.  ***News Flash*** We are not perfect and if you think we are suppose to be, you are foolish and have been fooled.

In this article, we will (DV) write upon the preacher’s pet peeves and irritations, or to be specific, this particular preachers pet peeves. But first, lets address the quoted verse in our opening texts.

Paul was a man of small stature (we are told) and he had the appearance of a mercilessly beaten man (2 Corinthians 11:25). Those that opposed his apostleship would often make mention of Pauls appearance (You know the …Just Say’in type) and they would point out the way he would use very strong words. They would say, In his words he is a big strong man, but in his appearance he is not much. Paul would, of course, hear this as he had many that loved him in this congregation. Paul would reply and acknowledge the words of his enemies. He would threaten or rather promise to be as big and strong as he needs to be when he arrives. [Sidenote: Here is a gift to you reader, when u r faced with someone/something that frightens you or makes you nervous and this person or thing is future, ask God to send forth a dread upon your enemy]

I assume all preachers have had something like this said about them.  The charges may not be the same but they are certainly attacks upon his person and his ministry.  I have heard many speak about over weight preachers who preach on self control. It’s not long b4 someone says, “Who is he to speak on self control…the guys is like (400) four tons, Right?” [Sidenote: When a person says, “right?” after s/he has said something, s/he is asking you to join in and to confirm their opinion…do not.] There has been much said about this preachers youth (not recently, of course, but there have been and still are men and womn older that me that refuse to hear to me or to take me seriously). I always took Paul’s counsel to heart, “Let no man despise thy youth” or in other words, do not let someone view your worth based upon your age. Other things that have been brought against me is the absence of a formal education. My liberty has been frowned upon, my appearance has been the subject of discussion as well.

I know some preachers that have been scorned for their focus on liberties that push boundaries for some. I also know preachers that have been charges with legalism if they go the other way. I believe the youth of our day would say…….SMH, Shake my head. Think about the last sentence. These are the same charges brought against John Baptist and Lord Jesus…(2000) two thousand years ago. These charges were brought by the Pharisees….nothing ever really changes in human nature, does it?

This preacher has been told in the past that his shaven head and goatee could close doors to him. My wife’s nationality, (50%) fifty percent Korean could also shut doors, not to mention she wears pants.

Many if not all ministers have had some of these or similar charges brought against them. The difference among these many ministers is the way they handle the charges. Some will let it go; some will even leave that particular ministry; some will address the problems with the individual that is causing the trouble; some will live in fear for their job. This preacher would answer any and all charges, rumours, gossip, and backbiting (DV) from the pulpit in the presence of all the members and God.

We say that, to say this, There are times when a minister needs to express himself to his flock, class, small group, or reader.  This is one of those times.

The minister is to be the main example to those to whom he minsters to. Of course, we are all to be example and influences upon each other but primarily it is the minister who sets the scene.

Some ways that we have tried to influence is by action rather than by message after message. Call it the analyst in me. I wanted to see how long it would take for my influence to show. Some may disagree on this method, to those I wd say, “I have taught upon the topic, but this time I wanted to try something else and I will stand or fall by my Master.”

The topic is our quoted text from James. James is teaching us as did Solomon…as did our Lord. Solomon said, “Boast thyself not of the morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Our Lord said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow…” We would argue that when Christ said that He was greater than Solomon, He was stating to be the Inspiration of Solomon, the Wisdom of Solomon, and even to say, Solomon was speaking His Words.

The Scriptures are replete on this subject.  When one says, ” I will do this or that tomorrow…”  He is tempting God, for God has not personally promised the morrow to anyone. James likens life to a vapour…here, done, and gone.

Think back to Isaiah (14) fourteen. What (2) two words did (l)ucifer utter that demonstrated his pride and his lack of dependence upon God?…….”I Will…”

 

Another pet peeve of mine is not giving the Lord Jesus His title. If one is not convinced from Scripture, does not common courteousy suggest it?  Do good and courteous parents not teach their children to say, Sir, Mam, Mr. and Mrs.?  In the south, where we spent some of our youth, they still add Miss to a ladies first name or Mr. to a man first name.

If we address the leader of the free world as Mr. President, Sir (even if one is not of his party), and when addressing royaly, would you say, “Hey, There Liz, How’s it go’in?”  Of course not, You wd say, “Your Highness” as you bow or curtsy.

In closing this peeve, let us summarize. Scripture warrants Christ His title, Common courtesy warrants Christ His title, and logic warrants Christ His title,…if you wd give title to political figures or if you wd give title to anyone else (Mr./Mrs), How is it right to deny our Lord Jesus His title?  Why deny Him His title? When was the last time you acknowledged Him as Lord? When was the last time you acknowleded Him as Your Lord?

“The prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”                                                                                                                                                         (Mt.13:57)

 

If this is the reason for not obeying Scripture, shame on you. If you are disobeying Scripture because of who preached it….shame on you.  You are guilty of pr…pr…pri…de…pride.

You may object by saying, ” I say, God willing in my head.” The Scriptures seem to oppose this. However, if you are thinking in your head, “I have to do that tomorrow.” then you should acknowledge God’s will in your head. If you are speaking to some one out loud, you should then say, “God willing” outloud. This God willing or, (DV) when writing, is a witness and a confession to all that hear or read. By using words like, “God willing,”                     “God Allowing,” “May God bless you” or “Godspeed,” or when someone says, “Who knows?” You might answer with, “The Lord Knows.”

In speaking in this manner, you are witnessing to the reality of God and you are confessing yourself to be a believer in this Living God.  It will offend some, but it will encourage more. Are you embarrassed to say such a thing?  Remember, you, most likely, will never see them again, lest (DV). If you are embarrassed by such a thing, you must also be embarrassed by Christ. Remember the simple principle the Lord set down, If you are ashamed of Him b4 men; He, too, will be ashamed of you, b4 God and all the angels.

B4 any1 thinks it, let me answer. We wd b happy 2 say this in person, (DV).

“I will not be afraid of (10,000) ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. (Psalm 3:6)

“Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear… (Psalm 27:3)

 

There was/is a prophet named Elisha and he had a servant. One day Elisha’s servant went outside and saw an army of soldiers surrounding the home of Elisha. The soldiers were there because Elisha had greatly angered the king. The servant of Elisha was scared to say the least. Elisha, however, was content and was at perfect peace. Gehazi (Ga-hey-zeye), the servant must have been at a loss. How could Elisha be at peace with all of this going on? Why isn’t he afraid, like me? These must have been some of his thoughts.

Elisha, looking at the king’s army, smiled and prayed and asked God to open the spiritual eyes of Gehazi and God was so inclined. When Gehazi’s eyes were opened he saw a greater army of God’s host (angels) behind the king’s army. Elisha then prayed and asked God to blind the king’s army, which He did. Elisha then led them to Samaria where they were fed and were well taken care of. The soldiers were then sent on their way home.  This, however, infuriated King Benhadad and he “went up, and besieged Samaria.”

This is true of all of God’s people. In the Book of Hebrews chapter (1) one and verse (14) fourteen tells us that angels are ministering spirits for them who shall be heirs of salvation. That means that all who are saved or will be saved have angels that minister unto their safety. Be careful, however, not to dwell much upon the angels, as all glory belongs to God. The ministry of angels is only (1) one reason we should not entertain any feelings of fear.

The Sovereignty of God is another reason we should not fear. Our God is sovereign or all mighty, or all powerful, or supreme in power, or Omnipotent. Our God is also good. Since God is sovereign and good, we should not be afraid of anything. It is written, all things work together for good, to them that are called, and to those that love God.  It is also written, God is for us. It is also written that God will never leave us or forsake us.

To fear is the antithesis (opposite) of faith. To fear is to say, in effect, “I do not think God is sovereign; I do not trust Him nor do I trust His love for me.” WoW!!! When a Christ-ian shows fear God must be offended.

Now that I am thinking about it, let me re-phrase what I have said. A Christ-ian might feel fearful, but his trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty will overwhelm that fear. That is better stated.

To onlookers the Christ-ian will look fearless and for all intents and purposes s/he is. As faith in God throws fear over the top rope. It has been said that the words, “be not afraid” or words similar in meaning are written in Scripture (365) three hundred and sixty-five times. We should infer from that number that we should fear not everyday of the year.

God is greater than any problem we might have; therefore Trust God, trust His goodness and His sovereignty. Trust His promises.

“The whole world lieth in wickedness”  (St. John)

 

One of the articles we have written was titled “King for a day.” However, instead of being king for a day, I want to pretend I am a Billy Graham for a day. I want to be a Billy Graham for a day because he was and had a great outlet for the Word of God. Thinks me any preacher that believes what he preaches would want to be a Billy Graham for a day.  Notice, I do not want to be Billy Graham but a Billy Graham. There is a difference. I am content with Who God has and is making me. When I say, a Billy Graham, I mean we would like to have an outlet to preach as Graham had. Of course, God knows best and again I am content with, grateful for, and so thankful for the ministry God has bestowed upon us and entrusted to us.

If God did give me the opportunity to speak to the world, this is what I might say. I say, might say, because a preacher must always be open to the words God will give him.  This is one reason I do not over-prepare for preaching. One can over-prepare God out of the whole thing. One can organize the Holy Spirit out of the message. Spurgeon didn’t prepare until late Saturday evening. A preacher must be certain that God is given the liberty in the message. This may be a controversial statement…We would rather be underprepared than overprepared to preach a message. To be over prepared can cancel God out; to be underprepared seeks God’s Presence. It is similar to saying, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” Each preacher, I would hope, has his own way of preparing. Therefore, again, this article represents something I might say, (DV). The preacher should always be prepared; he should know the Word of God so well that he might preach anytime & anywhere.

 

An Open Letter To The World,

My friends and neighbors, The Scriptures teach us that there are (2) two kinds of persons in this world. These (2) two kinds of persons may be identified by different names, but to keep things simple, we will use the terms, Saved and Lost. Every person on this planet earth is either saved or lost.

These terms or the way we are using these terms may be new to you. Therefore, let us define our terms.

To be lost is to be spiritually blind, spiritually deaf, spiritually lame, spiritually palsied, spiritually dumb, in other words, spiritually senseless. To be lost is to be spiritually dead. The lostness of man is seen in his depravity. Depravity in the spiritual sense mean corrupt in everyway possible…corrupt in mind, in action, in body, and in soul. Some of you may take umbrage at this. You might object by saying, ” I have done many good things in my life.”

My friend, God has already judged your “good”things and He looks upon them as filthy rags, so say’s Isaiah, the prophet. In the Hebrew filthy rag equates to a menstrual clothe. Paul, the Apostle argues that if salvation could be earned, Christ died in vain or for no purpose. Some of you might even be so bold as to say, “I’m not a sinner.” Saints Paul and John would differ. Paul states in Romans, “…all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” and ” There is none righteous, no not one.” John teaches that the person who claims they are sinless, makes God out to be a liar. Do you call God a liar? Would you call God a liar? If not, you are a sinner and you are lost. You are not only condemned by God; you are self condemned.

Let us use a logical syllogism, *All mankind have sinned and have offended God.  * You, my friend are part of mankind.  * Therefore, you have sinned and you have offended God.

If you are a person that believes that God is and that the Bible is true, you have no escape from the fact of your sinnerhood. God has condemned you, the law has condemned you, the Scriptures have condemned you, logic has condemned you, and you have condemned yourself for you cannot escape what has been stated against you.

The Law of God condemns you.  In the Book of James, the Holy Spirit teaches us that if one of God’s laws are broken you are guilty of breaking them all. You are all guilty b4 God for you have worshipped other gods,  you have bowed down to other gods: money, education, materialism, sex, crime, career, family, etc. etc. etc. You have taken the Name of the LORD thy God in vain and you have done so in many ways. You have not even given God a thought on the Sabbath. By dishonouring your parents and all other authority, you have dishonoured God. You have killed, either in body or mind, you have committed adultery, either in body or mind. You have stolen from God by not giving Him any offerings. You have lied. and you have coveted, which means you are not happy or content with what God has given you and this offends God greatly. He is incensed and He is seething and He has you in mind.

It is because of your sins that God gave His only begotten Son. His Son’s Name is Jesus and He is the Christ. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The Son of God is the Sinless Son of God. Being the sinless Son of God, He could and He did take the place of sinners. To make it personal, because salvation is personal, the Lord Jesus was beaten, mocked, and crucified in your place…in your place… in your place.

As Christ was baptized in order to identify with His people, so too, must you identify with Him. You must call upon Him, and take Him as your Lord and as your Saviour. You must repent of all of your sins and that is to say, you regret all that you have done to offend God. It also means you must repent for what you are by nature.

It is simple. You, my friend…You, sinner, must call upon God and ask Him to save you from your sins, the pleasures of sin, the power of sin and the penalty of sin.

Repent or perish

“For whom God did foreknow, [H]e also did predestinate to be conformed to the [I]mage of [H]is Son, that [H]e might be the [F]irstborn among many brethren.  (Romans 8:29)

 

The order of man’s salvation, as I understand it, is this, Election/Sanctification by the Father, called by the Holy Spirit and Justified by The Lord Jesus Christ. However, one could argue that a person is chosen b4 the foundation of the world, was justified at the time of Christ’s death at Calvary, and is called in God’s due time. Another view is, it was all done in eternity past as Christ is the Lamb of God that was slain b4 the foundation of the earth and what God says  IS    even b4    it is. God created and creates something out of nothing. Nothing in this world has been created by man. Many things have been invented by man. Man takes what God has created and uses them to invent other things.

From our quoted verse above and from our last article we will (DV) write on the doctrine of Sanctification. There are a number of sides to this doctrine. We will spell them out here, the Christ-ian was sanctified by the Father to election, per Jude v.1. Once we are saved and made saints God sets us apart for His use. Sanctification has a state and stages.  *The Christ-ian is in the state of sanctification, *the Christ-ian is progressively being sanctified, and *the Christ-ian is sanctified in principle

Another word for sanctification is purified or refined and holy. The Christ-ian or the man that is in Christ, is pure of heart, is refined like gold,  and holy like Christ…yes, the man or woman that is in Christ is holy and righteous like Christ. As I said, sanctification is a state and in Christ is a state of being. Of course, in our own person, we are not pure, refined, or holy. Holy and righteous is how God sees you and me as we are in Christ. If God did not see you and me this way, we would not have the hope of Heaven. If God did not see us this way we would not be saved.

The Christ-ian is being sanctified progressively. That is to say, we are becoming more and more like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The blessed attributes of Christ are becoming our characteristics.  The way Christ thinks is becoming the way we think. The things Christ loves and hates are becoming the things we love and hate. We are in the process of becoming “little christs” as C.S. Lewis puts it. Does that offend you? it shouldn’t. What should offend is when people try to be “little holy ghosts” in your life. ” The Holy Ghost will also grow His fruit in us which, in other words, is Christ-likeness or the traits or attributes of Christ Jesus.

The Christ-ian is sanctified in principle. As stated in another article, when a person becomes a Christ-ian, behold all things are made new. The Christ-ian is a new creation or creature made by God. In this new creation there are different and new points of views. This new creature has new principles. In the past, as a lost man, he had principles that were ungodly. In the present and now that he is in Christ, his ungodly principles have been changed to godly principles. The points of view have changed. If one held to evolutionary views, pro-choice views, liberal political views, anti-Christ-ian views, they will change. This is one of the assurances of one’s salvation. Tastes in music, movies, and other entertainments may change and they may not. This is because God allows liberty in the Christ-ian life.

What a humbling thought, God handpicked me to be saved and to become like His Son.

“For whom [H]e did foreknow, [H]e also did predestinate to be conformed to the [I]mage of [H]is Son, that [H]e might be the [F]irstborn among many brethren, Moreover whom [H]e did predestinate, them [H]e also called: and whom [H]e did called, them [H]e also justified: and whom [H]e justified, them [H]e also glorified….Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.  (Romans 8:29-30, 33)

 

This passage is from the center of Paul magnum opus, The Book of Romans. There are (16) sixteen chapters in Romans and this passage is found in chapter (8) eight. This tells me that this is the heart of Paul’s masterpiece.  We notice, also that Paul mentions the main doctrines of man’s salvation twice in the passage. Predestination, the call, and justification are mentioned twice. This tells me that these are very important doctrines and should be taken very seriously. We will try to keep each doctrine to a paragraph, (DV). Now that I wrote that it sounds like I contradicted myself….These are very important…I’ll try to keep each doctrine to a paragraph.

I’m not contradicting myself. We could write pages and pages and pages upon each doctrine of grace, but we would like to simply write an introduction to these great doctrines. I’m sure, (DV) we will write upon all of these in the future and we have already written on some of them already.

The (1st) first doctrine we see is election or what Jude calls sanctification. [Sidenote: Jude in his opening says, “…sanctified by the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called…” If we take Jude’s chronology at face value, he puts the order of Salvation as 1. Sanctified or set apart by God the Father. 2. Preserved in Jesus Christ, that is to say, our Salvation is in the Person of Christ. 3. Called to Salvation by the Holy Spirit].  Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians that Those who will repent and believe are chosen by God to do so. This choice was made by God, even before the foundation of the world. He says something similar in 1 Thessalonians 2:13. Peter teaches election as well in his (1st) first epistle. Luke supports this teaching in Acts 2:47 and 13:48. Our Lord Jesus exposits this great truth in Luke (4) four, John (6 & 10) six and ten. There are more; this shall suffice.

Along with election one should speak of God’s foreknowledge. The foreknowledge of God is more than knowing something or someone beforehand. God’s foreknowledge includes prior love for someone. In the Old Testament, when sexual intimacy is alluded to, the Holy Spirit would say, “B knew his wife, C.

We will use a syllogism to clarify: *God is eternal and foreknows all things and all believers. *God is immutable, there is no shadow of turning with Him nor is there any variableness. * Therefore, as God is eternal, foreknowing, immutable, unchangeable and since there is no shadow of turning with God or any variableness, then God’s attributes must be the same. Loving is an attribute of God.

In Matthew, our Lord says to the condemned, “I never knew you.” If we follow a principle of mine which is, when something is stated negatively or positively we must look at it’s opposite in order to gain the fulness of it’s meaning. Therefore, if there are “never knowns” there must be “forever-knowns ” So,…if there were no forever-knowns, there would be no one. But there are someones, therefore, there are forever-knowns.

Luke says in the Book of Acts that God knows the end [of all things] from the beginning. This foreknowledge affords God the opportunity (humanly speaking) to guide us in His will.  Without foreknowledge God would not be omniscient and without omniscience God could not be the Sovereign God, we know Him to be.

I can see already that I have failed in my intent. We are not able to keep these doctrines in a paragraph. If we did so, we would have a very long paragraph. We will now break up the paragraph above into (2) two or (3) three paragraphs. ……./……/……/……. We broke it into (4) four paragraphs.

The Bible demonstrates time and again that God foreknows all things. God does not predict; He 4knows. To predict is to tell before hand. The predictor, however, has no power to alter. The foreknowledge of God necessitates that He is active and involved in events. God’s foreknowledge predestines what is known to Him and to Him Alone; God is Solitary in this way. Let us not fall into the trap of thinking God foreknew I would repent and believe and because of that I am elect. NO! NO! NO!…….WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!  God elected you to salvation! He did not elect you because you elected Him….that’s works. God knew you b4 you were born, God knew you b4 you were conceived…just as God knew and loved Jacob and hated Esau b4 they were born and b4 they did good or bad. Scripture says, that this was so, so that, election might stand.

The doctrines of God’s 4knowledge and election are paramount to God being God.

 

Now i’m gonna turn everything upside down (DV). We have been speaking on that which is on the inside of the Veil. We have been speaking on the works of God behind the scenes, if you will.

 

FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.                                                                                                                                                   (Romans 10:13)

 

Another syllogism: *All persons are sinners.  * You, non Christian reader, are a person. *Therefore, You are a sinner.

Sin has corrupted and has made depraved each and every part, fiber, bone, blood droplet, thought (even the good ones), inch, inside and outside. Every aspect of man has been corrupted. Mankind is depraved….This is Biblical teaching….This is what God says.

You might think that God will weigh your “good”works and your bad works at Judgement day, However, God has already judged human works and has found them wanting. God has likened the “good” works of the non-Christ-ian man to a filthy rag….a woman’s menstrual clothe. There are no good works to be weighed. You, my non-Christ-ian friend must repent and submit to the ways of God.

The ways of God were exemplified by (1) One Man, Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all and over all. Christ is also the Saviour to those who will repent and believe. The Lord Jesus loves His own and His own love Him above all others.

I leave you, Christ-ians Saints with Godspeed. I leave you, Sinner, like Jonathan Edwards’ spider………I leave thee, Sinner, hanging over Hell and all its horrors.