I received a comment this week from a reader making the following statement: "The law of God exists, but has been fulfilled." This person was referring to Matthew 5:17 which says, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law (destroy it) or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." Most Christians have been taught that this means Christ has fulfilled the Law of God. (Past tense.) However, the very next verse will set this false teaching straight and show that Christ was referring to a future time.
Matthew 5:18 says, "For assuredly I (Jesus) say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." Is heaven and earth still here? Yes, they are. So what? Well, Jesus just said that if heaven and earth are still here - then He has not fulfilled the Law of God, yet. Jesus has not yet fulfilled the Law of God and the proof of that statement is in the fact that heaven and earth are still here!
The answer to the question in the title of this post is this: Yes - Jesus came to fulfill the Law of God! He just hasn't done it yet - contrary to what most of us have been taught through our preachers, Bible colleges, or even our own families. So, when is Jesus going to "fulfill" the Law of God? When He comes back again to set up the Kingdom of God here on earth. The Kingdom of God will also have His "Kingdom Law". How do I know that? Because the above verses in Matthew are part of the Beatitudes, which Jesus gave describing His "Kingdom Law".
Throughout the book of Matthew, Jesus gives parables (stories) about "a king" and "a kingdom". In these stories, He is talking about Himself, His Kingship and His Kingdom. When we put our trust in Jesus Christ - that He is Almighty God in the flesh, Who came to earth to become the sacrifice for our sins, and that He rose again and will be coming back for us - we become His children and citizens of His Kingdom. As a citizen of the U.S., I have laws I must obey. Likewise, the above verses are part of His discourse to the crowds about His "Kingdom Law". It has not been abolished, destroyed, or even fulfilled!
The Lawgiver and His Law cannot be separated. If you throw out one, you are throwing out the other as well. Law and Grace do go together, contrary to the false teaching in many of our churches. Isaiah 42:21 says, "He (Jesus, the Messiah) will exalt the law and make it honorable." Throughout the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), you see Jesus exalting His law and making it honorable. That is what the Pharisees were constantly fighting against - and it is what the false teachers of today are fighting against as well. (Just a hint: I think I know Who wins out in the end!)
Go out today and enjoy the heaven and the earth that God has so graciously bestowed on you, and remember His promise in Matthew 5:18.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Which Day is the Sabbath?
According to the Bible, God's Word, the Sabbath Day is the 7th day of the week, which is from sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday night. Jesus, (God the Creator, Colossians 1:15, 16), made the Sabbath Day at Creation for all mankind. (The Jewish people were not in existence yet. Genesis 2:2-3). This explains why the 4th Commandment begins with the word, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." This is also why Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27-28). In that statement, Jesus is clearly referring back to Creation and re-stating that the 7th day is His day, the true Lord's Day.
Genesis 2:3 says that "God blessed the 7th day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." It was God Who "sanctified" the Sabbath Day, making it "holy and set apart". Because He rested from His work on that day, He commands that no work is to be done on it - either by us or by our causing other people to work on that day for us. (Exodus 20:8-11). Since God is our Father and we are His children, we are to follow in His footsteps.
The Sabbath is a day to be different from the other 6 days in our week. Many Christians think it doesn't matter which day of the week we worship God on. It's important that we remember that God never called the first day of the week (Sunday) "holy" or any of the other 5 days. The Sabbath Day, which is the 7th day of the week, is the only day which God called "holy" and by doing so, He consecrated it to Himself as a day for us to shut the world out so we can spend time in worship, fellowship, and relationship with Him.
Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15). Since the Sabbath Day is one of God's Ten Commandments, the first reason we are to honor the Sabbath Day is because of our love for Jesus Christ and the grace He has so richly poured out upon us for our salvation. Secondly, because of all that He's done for us, it should be our heart's desire to be obedient to His Word and to all of His commandments. As David the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:174, "Your law is my delight."
Genesis 2:3 says that "God blessed the 7th day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." It was God Who "sanctified" the Sabbath Day, making it "holy and set apart". Because He rested from His work on that day, He commands that no work is to be done on it - either by us or by our causing other people to work on that day for us. (Exodus 20:8-11). Since God is our Father and we are His children, we are to follow in His footsteps.
The Sabbath is a day to be different from the other 6 days in our week. Many Christians think it doesn't matter which day of the week we worship God on. It's important that we remember that God never called the first day of the week (Sunday) "holy" or any of the other 5 days. The Sabbath Day, which is the 7th day of the week, is the only day which God called "holy" and by doing so, He consecrated it to Himself as a day for us to shut the world out so we can spend time in worship, fellowship, and relationship with Him.
Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15). Since the Sabbath Day is one of God's Ten Commandments, the first reason we are to honor the Sabbath Day is because of our love for Jesus Christ and the grace He has so richly poured out upon us for our salvation. Secondly, because of all that He's done for us, it should be our heart's desire to be obedient to His Word and to all of His commandments. As David the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:174, "Your law is my delight."
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
When is The Sabbath Day: The Illogical Thinking of Sunday Christians
I was just thinking the other day about the illogical thinking of so many "Sunday" Christians when they don't like being told by God in Exodus 20:10 that they are not to work on the 7th day of the week (Saturday) because it is a holy day to the Lord. Basically they are saying, "WE want to be able to work 7 days a week" (or have others work to serve them), and they call that "freedom from the law".
The Sunday Christian says: "I want the freedom (from God's law) to work 7 days a week or whatever day I choose to work."
But GOD SAYS working 7 days a week is bondage (slavery). That's why He pulled the Israelites out of Egypt. (By the way, this also shows God's GRACE and LOVE to mankind within His moral law.)
GOD SAYS: We are to only work 6 days a week, then we are to rest on the 7th day (Saturday) from our work. Why? Because God rested from His work of creation on the 7th day. (See Genesis 2:2-3). According to Colossians 1:16, Jesus Christ is God the Creator, and it was He Who rested from His work. So as His children, we are to follow in His footsteps.
The Sunday Christian says: "Honoring the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday), is bondage to God's law." They don't think about the fact that this is a wonderful gift God gave us out of His love and grace. God knows that mankind cannot work 24/7!! Yet, because God tells us we can work the first 6 days of the week but then we need to take off work on the 7th day (Saturday), the Sunday Christian accuses God of putting him/her under bondage! What kind of thinking is that?
On the other hand, if they are allowed to work 7 days a week, then the Sunday Christian thinks he/she is "free" and not under "bondage"!! Again, what kind of thinking is that?
My question is: Who in their right mind actually WANTS to work 7 days a week?? Answer: No one! But like a little two-year old who is told not to do something and turns around and disobeys his parent's command because he doesn't want to be told what to do - so the Sunday Christian will choose to work on the 7th day (Saturday) JUST BECAUSE HE/SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO (by Almighty God Himself)!
True freedom comes when we choose to obey what God tells us to do in His Word. Bondage and slavery come when we choose to disobey what God tells us to do in His Word.
God says in Deuteronomy 30:15-16: "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments...." The Sunday Christian will say this is Old Testament teaching; that we are not under the Old Testament but the New Testament. Well, let's see what Jesus said in John 14:15: "If you love Me, you will keep (obey) My commandments." The commandments Jesus was referring to were the 10 Commandments, and the 4th Commandment of those 10 says, "but the 7th day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work". (Ex. 20:10)
When is the Sabbath Day? It is the seventh day of the week, Saturday. It just can't get any clearer, understandable, or more logical than that.
The Sunday Christian says: "I want the freedom (from God's law) to work 7 days a week or whatever day I choose to work."
But GOD SAYS working 7 days a week is bondage (slavery). That's why He pulled the Israelites out of Egypt. (By the way, this also shows God's GRACE and LOVE to mankind within His moral law.)
GOD SAYS: We are to only work 6 days a week, then we are to rest on the 7th day (Saturday) from our work. Why? Because God rested from His work of creation on the 7th day. (See Genesis 2:2-3). According to Colossians 1:16, Jesus Christ is God the Creator, and it was He Who rested from His work. So as His children, we are to follow in His footsteps.
The Sunday Christian says: "Honoring the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday), is bondage to God's law." They don't think about the fact that this is a wonderful gift God gave us out of His love and grace. God knows that mankind cannot work 24/7!! Yet, because God tells us we can work the first 6 days of the week but then we need to take off work on the 7th day (Saturday), the Sunday Christian accuses God of putting him/her under bondage! What kind of thinking is that?
On the other hand, if they are allowed to work 7 days a week, then the Sunday Christian thinks he/she is "free" and not under "bondage"!! Again, what kind of thinking is that?
My question is: Who in their right mind actually WANTS to work 7 days a week?? Answer: No one! But like a little two-year old who is told not to do something and turns around and disobeys his parent's command because he doesn't want to be told what to do - so the Sunday Christian will choose to work on the 7th day (Saturday) JUST BECAUSE HE/SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO (by Almighty God Himself)!
True freedom comes when we choose to obey what God tells us to do in His Word. Bondage and slavery come when we choose to disobey what God tells us to do in His Word.
God says in Deuteronomy 30:15-16: "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments...." The Sunday Christian will say this is Old Testament teaching; that we are not under the Old Testament but the New Testament. Well, let's see what Jesus said in John 14:15: "If you love Me, you will keep (obey) My commandments." The commandments Jesus was referring to were the 10 Commandments, and the 4th Commandment of those 10 says, "but the 7th day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work". (Ex. 20:10)
When is the Sabbath Day? It is the seventh day of the week, Saturday. It just can't get any clearer, understandable, or more logical than that.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Is Jesus Christ God or the Son of God?
So many are confused about Who Jesus Christ really is. Part of this confusion lies in the way He is said to be "God", and yet, referred to as "the Son of God". If He is the Son of God, then how can He still be "God"?
Almighty God, our Creator, became the Son of God when He chose to become a tiny cell Himself and implanted Himself in the womb of a virgin girl named Mary. Mary, at that time, became a surrogate mother - carrying the embryo of the Creator and King of the universe in her womb!
The Roman Catholics believe that because Mary carried the sinless "Son of God" in her womb - then that means she had to be sinless as well. That is not true as there is only one entity in this world Who is without sin, and that is God Himself - Jesus Christ. The way that Mary was able to still be a sinner but give birth to the sinless Son of God is because of the way God has designed the placenta in a pregnant woman. The placenta blocks the mother's blood from getting to the baby, and only lets the nutrients filter through to feed him/her. Many believe that God somehow had a sexual relationship with Mary to produce "God the Son". That is not true! Just as God was able to form the first Adam from the dust of the earth in Genesis 1-3, He was also able to form the "Second Adam" by wrapping flesh around Himself and implanting Himself as an embryo into Mary's womb.
Because God at this time took on flesh and blood, was born of a human, and was given a human Name, Jesus, He is therefore referred to as "The Son of God". It does not mean that God had a baby boy. It means that God Himself WAS the baby boy, named Jesus!
So, what does this mean to us today? Well, Almighty God, our Creator, made us for the express purpose of having a relationship with Him. Because He is the Creator, He laid down some rules (Commandments) for us to live by. His moral law is summed up in what we call "The Ten Commandments". God says that "we have all sinned" (Romans 3:23). Sin is lawlessness or being without law. (I John 3:4) In other words, every person ever born has broken God's law by disobeying it, rebelling against it, and thereby turning their backs on God Himself. Ask yourself, "Have I ever lied? Have I ever stolen anything - big or little? Have I ever lusted after a man or a woman? (God says you have committed adultery in your heart, if you have.)
Because we have disobeyed and rebelled against Him and His law, turning our backs against Him - He says we have brought His wrath down on ourselves. The penalty for our sin and disobedience is DEATH in the lake of fire. But, because God Almighty loves us so much - He decided to take the suffering and death meant for us, upon Himself so that we could live. If you have ever seen Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of Christ", that really shows how angry God is at our choice to rebel against Him and His goodness to us! We are all in BIG trouble with the God of the universe, because He came back to life after He was crucified - and now stands ready to be our Judge in the Day of Judgment after we die.
At that time, the Book of Life will be opened. Those who have chosen to repent of their sin (turn away from sinning and turning their backs on this world), and have given their lives back to Jesus Christ and chosen to follow Him - their names will be in the Book of Life. John 3:36 says, "He who believes in the Son (that Jesus is God in the flesh) has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son (that Jesus is God in the flesh) shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
If we don't repent of our sins and choose to give our lives to Jesus Christ, there will be a Judgment Day after we die when we will stand before God Almighty - Jesus Christ Himself. At that time, we can try to explain to Him just why we chose to continue to sin against Him - after all He did for us. If we think He is angry at us now, just wait until we see His anger on that Day of Judgment for not caring that He suffered and died for us so that we could have life, along with every good thing that we are enjoying on earth today.
If you should die in your sleep tonight, the next Person you will see when you wake up will be Jesus Christ as your Judge. Are you prepared to meet your God in person? If not, get on your knees before Him right now and ask His forgiveness for your sin and rebellion against Him. Then tell Him that you give your life to Him to follow Him as your Lord and Master from this day forward. If you do that, you can know that your name is now recorded down in the Book of Life! Then go and get yourself a copy of the Bible. Start reading the book of John, and obey what you read. I look forward to meeting you in Heaven one of these days!
There's a chorus that says:
"After all He's done for me, After all He's done for me;
"How can I do less than give Him my best, and live for Him completely;
"After all He's done for me."
Almighty God, our Creator, became the Son of God when He chose to become a tiny cell Himself and implanted Himself in the womb of a virgin girl named Mary. Mary, at that time, became a surrogate mother - carrying the embryo of the Creator and King of the universe in her womb!
The Roman Catholics believe that because Mary carried the sinless "Son of God" in her womb - then that means she had to be sinless as well. That is not true as there is only one entity in this world Who is without sin, and that is God Himself - Jesus Christ. The way that Mary was able to still be a sinner but give birth to the sinless Son of God is because of the way God has designed the placenta in a pregnant woman. The placenta blocks the mother's blood from getting to the baby, and only lets the nutrients filter through to feed him/her. Many believe that God somehow had a sexual relationship with Mary to produce "God the Son". That is not true! Just as God was able to form the first Adam from the dust of the earth in Genesis 1-3, He was also able to form the "Second Adam" by wrapping flesh around Himself and implanting Himself as an embryo into Mary's womb.
Because God at this time took on flesh and blood, was born of a human, and was given a human Name, Jesus, He is therefore referred to as "The Son of God". It does not mean that God had a baby boy. It means that God Himself WAS the baby boy, named Jesus!
So, what does this mean to us today? Well, Almighty God, our Creator, made us for the express purpose of having a relationship with Him. Because He is the Creator, He laid down some rules (Commandments) for us to live by. His moral law is summed up in what we call "The Ten Commandments". God says that "we have all sinned" (Romans 3:23). Sin is lawlessness or being without law. (I John 3:4) In other words, every person ever born has broken God's law by disobeying it, rebelling against it, and thereby turning their backs on God Himself. Ask yourself, "Have I ever lied? Have I ever stolen anything - big or little? Have I ever lusted after a man or a woman? (God says you have committed adultery in your heart, if you have.)
Because we have disobeyed and rebelled against Him and His law, turning our backs against Him - He says we have brought His wrath down on ourselves. The penalty for our sin and disobedience is DEATH in the lake of fire. But, because God Almighty loves us so much - He decided to take the suffering and death meant for us, upon Himself so that we could live. If you have ever seen Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of Christ", that really shows how angry God is at our choice to rebel against Him and His goodness to us! We are all in BIG trouble with the God of the universe, because He came back to life after He was crucified - and now stands ready to be our Judge in the Day of Judgment after we die.
At that time, the Book of Life will be opened. Those who have chosen to repent of their sin (turn away from sinning and turning their backs on this world), and have given their lives back to Jesus Christ and chosen to follow Him - their names will be in the Book of Life. John 3:36 says, "He who believes in the Son (that Jesus is God in the flesh) has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son (that Jesus is God in the flesh) shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
If we don't repent of our sins and choose to give our lives to Jesus Christ, there will be a Judgment Day after we die when we will stand before God Almighty - Jesus Christ Himself. At that time, we can try to explain to Him just why we chose to continue to sin against Him - after all He did for us. If we think He is angry at us now, just wait until we see His anger on that Day of Judgment for not caring that He suffered and died for us so that we could have life, along with every good thing that we are enjoying on earth today.
If you should die in your sleep tonight, the next Person you will see when you wake up will be Jesus Christ as your Judge. Are you prepared to meet your God in person? If not, get on your knees before Him right now and ask His forgiveness for your sin and rebellion against Him. Then tell Him that you give your life to Him to follow Him as your Lord and Master from this day forward. If you do that, you can know that your name is now recorded down in the Book of Life! Then go and get yourself a copy of the Bible. Start reading the book of John, and obey what you read. I look forward to meeting you in Heaven one of these days!
There's a chorus that says:
"After all He's done for me, After all He's done for me;
"How can I do less than give Him my best, and live for Him completely;
"After all He's done for me."
Friday, March 29, 2013
What About Good Friday? True or False Theology?
Another year has gone by, and now it is Good Friday again - the day most Christians will honor as the day that Jesus Christ was crucified. However, are you believing something that is true or something that is false? Let's take a look at what the Bible - God's Word - has to say about it.
In Matthew 12:40, Jesus said that He would be 3 days and 3 nights in the ground (grave). Simple math shows that He was cruicified on a Wednesday. The next day, Thursday, was a special Sabbath day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:5-7). It was when THAT "Sabbath was past" (Mark 16:1), that the ladies went shopping for spices - which would have been Friday. The following day would have been the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday) when they rested again, and then early the next day, Sunday morning, they went to the tomb and found Christ had already risen from the dead!
So, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights make 3 NIGHTS in the grave. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday make 3 DAYS in the grave. So to say today, Good Friday, is the day of Christ's crucifixion is not true! Many have asked me, "Why does that even matter?" Well, it should matter to us as Christians because if ANY part of this prophecy didn't come true - then Christ was not the Messiah (God in the flesh)! He staked His right to claim Messiahship on this prophecy! If we teach otherwise, then that means we are denying the Truth of God's Word and that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the True and Living God come to earth to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins!
How does taking part in false teaching such as this, bring honor and glory to our Lord? Basically, we are saying that He lied! We are also going against the 9th Commandment of God which says, "Thou shall not lie!" So let me ask you, "Are you going to choose to believe God's Truth or are you going to choose to believe a man-made lie?" Whose Truth will you choose to believe?
In Matthew 12:40, Jesus said that He would be 3 days and 3 nights in the ground (grave). Simple math shows that He was cruicified on a Wednesday. The next day, Thursday, was a special Sabbath day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:5-7). It was when THAT "Sabbath was past" (Mark 16:1), that the ladies went shopping for spices - which would have been Friday. The following day would have been the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday) when they rested again, and then early the next day, Sunday morning, they went to the tomb and found Christ had already risen from the dead!
So, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights make 3 NIGHTS in the grave. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday make 3 DAYS in the grave. So to say today, Good Friday, is the day of Christ's crucifixion is not true! Many have asked me, "Why does that even matter?" Well, it should matter to us as Christians because if ANY part of this prophecy didn't come true - then Christ was not the Messiah (God in the flesh)! He staked His right to claim Messiahship on this prophecy! If we teach otherwise, then that means we are denying the Truth of God's Word and that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the True and Living God come to earth to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins!
How does taking part in false teaching such as this, bring honor and glory to our Lord? Basically, we are saying that He lied! We are also going against the 9th Commandment of God which says, "Thou shall not lie!" So let me ask you, "Are you going to choose to believe God's Truth or are you going to choose to believe a man-made lie?" Whose Truth will you choose to believe?
Sunday, March 17, 2013
What is the Grace of God?
I've been studying the definition of grace this past week. What does it mean to be "saved by grace"? Since my blog is on the topic of "Lawless Grace", I thought maybe it was time to look at the possibility that "the grace of God" being taught in our churches is not "the grace of God" in the Bible.
The word "Grace" in Strong's Concordance means "to favor, to bend or stoop down in kindness to an inferior." The word "inferior" implies "a nobody" - someone who isn't special in any way. Isn't that a wonderful picture of God? Almighty God showed "favor or grace" to us by "stooping down in kindness" through the person of Jesus Christ to someone like me, an inferior or a nobody! I didn't have to be a hollywood movie star to receive the grace of God. I didn't have to be a famous president of a large country or company to receive the grace of God. I didn't have to be anybody special for God "to favor me" and show me His grace! These kind of "credentials" is what "works" means in Eph. 2:8 & 9. The Pharisees in the New Testament had this mindset that they were "somebody special" because they were so strict in following God's Law - therefore, deserving of God's grace and favor.
When I find a new insight, I always like to go to the Bible and check out how it "fits", because if it doesn't make sense or doesn't "fit" with what the other verses say - then I've got it wrong. So let's take a look. In Genesis 12:1 & 2, we find Abram was just an ordinary human being, a "nobody", but all of a sudden God "stoops down in kindness to an inferior" and calls him to be a "somebody" for Him. That's God's grace! God's calling came first (grace/salvation), then Abram's obedience came second (he left his country as God commanded him.).
In Exodus 3:3 & 4, we find Moses out taking care of his father-in-law's sheep. At this point in time, Moses was just a "nobody" - going about his normal business of the day. Suddenly, God calls to him from a burning bush. Almighty God is again "stooping down in kindness to an inferior" and calls him to be a "somebody" for Him. That is God's grace! Again, we see that God's calling came first (grace/salvation), then Moses' obedience came second (he became the one to deliver God's people from slavery to Egypt.).
The last one I want to look at is in Genesis 6:8: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." A couple verses later it says, God told Noah to build an ark because a flood was coming to destroy the earth of it's lawlessness (disobeying God's laws). Again, we see God calling just an average man to be obedient to Him. That is God's grace! The calling of God came first, and then man's obedience followed.
The grace of God was shown to me when Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, came down to earth and took on a human body and a human name, Jesus Christ. This awesome God "stooped down in kindness to an inferior" like me! He then suffered and died a horrible death as a sacrifice for my sin (my disobedience to His commandments) and rose again. He then called me by name to repent of my disobedience against Him and to come and follow Him through obedience for the rest of my life. This obedience includes His 10 Commandments (including keeping His Sabbath Day holy), following Him in water baptism, and then in whatever other way His Spirit may lead me. Just remember this, though: God's amazing grace and calling comes first. My obedience to His calling always comes second.
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound - that saved a wretch (inferior) like me;
I once was lost but now I'm found; was blind but now I see."
"For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14)
The word "Grace" in Strong's Concordance means "to favor, to bend or stoop down in kindness to an inferior." The word "inferior" implies "a nobody" - someone who isn't special in any way. Isn't that a wonderful picture of God? Almighty God showed "favor or grace" to us by "stooping down in kindness" through the person of Jesus Christ to someone like me, an inferior or a nobody! I didn't have to be a hollywood movie star to receive the grace of God. I didn't have to be a famous president of a large country or company to receive the grace of God. I didn't have to be anybody special for God "to favor me" and show me His grace! These kind of "credentials" is what "works" means in Eph. 2:8 & 9. The Pharisees in the New Testament had this mindset that they were "somebody special" because they were so strict in following God's Law - therefore, deserving of God's grace and favor.
When I find a new insight, I always like to go to the Bible and check out how it "fits", because if it doesn't make sense or doesn't "fit" with what the other verses say - then I've got it wrong. So let's take a look. In Genesis 12:1 & 2, we find Abram was just an ordinary human being, a "nobody", but all of a sudden God "stoops down in kindness to an inferior" and calls him to be a "somebody" for Him. That's God's grace! God's calling came first (grace/salvation), then Abram's obedience came second (he left his country as God commanded him.).
In Exodus 3:3 & 4, we find Moses out taking care of his father-in-law's sheep. At this point in time, Moses was just a "nobody" - going about his normal business of the day. Suddenly, God calls to him from a burning bush. Almighty God is again "stooping down in kindness to an inferior" and calls him to be a "somebody" for Him. That is God's grace! Again, we see that God's calling came first (grace/salvation), then Moses' obedience came second (he became the one to deliver God's people from slavery to Egypt.).
The last one I want to look at is in Genesis 6:8: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." A couple verses later it says, God told Noah to build an ark because a flood was coming to destroy the earth of it's lawlessness (disobeying God's laws). Again, we see God calling just an average man to be obedient to Him. That is God's grace! The calling of God came first, and then man's obedience followed.
The grace of God was shown to me when Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, came down to earth and took on a human body and a human name, Jesus Christ. This awesome God "stooped down in kindness to an inferior" like me! He then suffered and died a horrible death as a sacrifice for my sin (my disobedience to His commandments) and rose again. He then called me by name to repent of my disobedience against Him and to come and follow Him through obedience for the rest of my life. This obedience includes His 10 Commandments (including keeping His Sabbath Day holy), following Him in water baptism, and then in whatever other way His Spirit may lead me. Just remember this, though: God's amazing grace and calling comes first. My obedience to His calling always comes second.
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound - that saved a wretch (inferior) like me;
I once was lost but now I'm found; was blind but now I see."
"For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14)
Thursday, January 24, 2013
"As For Me and My House, Which God Will We Serve?
Almost all of us have viewed on wall plaques, on signs, and heard preachers preach on the Bible verse, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15) Most don't realize that this verse has MUCH more to it than just that phrase.
In fact, this verse really begins with, "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell."
My question is this: "Does it seem evil to you to serve the Lord?" Everytime we make a choice that goes against God's Word or one of His commandments, we are actually saying to God, "It really seems evil to me, Lord, what You are commanding me to do!" By saying that, we have just put ourselves above God Almighty! Also, at that point, we have just fallen into "Moral Relativism".
Moral Relativism is the belief system in the world today that says there are no absolutes of right or wrong - it is all relative to the situation. As Judges 21:25 says: "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
The problem is that "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) Where there is a judgment, there is a "court of law". The Law we all will be judged by are the Ten Commandments of God. Many Christians are being taught by false teachers that God's Moral Law, the Ten Commandments, has been done away with. However, most of these same Christians believe in a judgment. It is illogical thinking that you can have one without the other!
Every decision we make this day, we will be faced with 2 choices: 1) Will we serve and glorify the One True God Almighty - Jesus Christ, or 2) Will we choose to serve the gods "in whose land we dwell?" Well, what ways do we serve "the gods in this land we dwell in?"
I Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." The foods we eat (and the amount of food we eat), does that reflect us as servants of God or servants of this world system? What about the way we dress - does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" by not compromising with the styles that this world is offering to you? Does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" by choosing to not go to movies that this world is pressuring you to go see? What about video games, the internet, etc. etc.? "Does it seem evil to you to serve the Lord" when God says it is wrong?
Lastly, what about the last commandment given to us by our God, Jesus Christ, to GO and make disciples of all nations...? Does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" because He has commanded that you leave your comfort zone to pass out gospel tracts or to speak with someone about the Lord Jesus Christ?
"If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
(Joshua 24:15)
In fact, this verse really begins with, "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell."
My question is this: "Does it seem evil to you to serve the Lord?" Everytime we make a choice that goes against God's Word or one of His commandments, we are actually saying to God, "It really seems evil to me, Lord, what You are commanding me to do!" By saying that, we have just put ourselves above God Almighty! Also, at that point, we have just fallen into "Moral Relativism".
Moral Relativism is the belief system in the world today that says there are no absolutes of right or wrong - it is all relative to the situation. As Judges 21:25 says: "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
The problem is that "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) Where there is a judgment, there is a "court of law". The Law we all will be judged by are the Ten Commandments of God. Many Christians are being taught by false teachers that God's Moral Law, the Ten Commandments, has been done away with. However, most of these same Christians believe in a judgment. It is illogical thinking that you can have one without the other!
Every decision we make this day, we will be faced with 2 choices: 1) Will we serve and glorify the One True God Almighty - Jesus Christ, or 2) Will we choose to serve the gods "in whose land we dwell?" Well, what ways do we serve "the gods in this land we dwell in?"
I Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." The foods we eat (and the amount of food we eat), does that reflect us as servants of God or servants of this world system? What about the way we dress - does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" by not compromising with the styles that this world is offering to you? Does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" by choosing to not go to movies that this world is pressuring you to go see? What about video games, the internet, etc. etc.? "Does it seem evil to you to serve the Lord" when God says it is wrong?
Lastly, what about the last commandment given to us by our God, Jesus Christ, to GO and make disciples of all nations...? Does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" because He has commanded that you leave your comfort zone to pass out gospel tracts or to speak with someone about the Lord Jesus Christ?
"If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
(Joshua 24:15)
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