"Hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, who dwell securely, who say in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me; I will not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children.'" (Isaiah 47:8)
One of the first signs of "self-sufficiency" in a person is when they make this statement about themselves: "I have to take care of myself because I have no one else to take care of me." If you are one to make this kind of statement, let me tell you that you are living with a spirit of self-sufficiency as well as a spirit of fear. How do I know that? I have had a Christian single woman tell me that because I have chosen to be a "homemaker" - staying home to care for my husband and my home instead of being a "career woman", that I really should not be staying at home but I need to be working to save all I can now for the future and for my old age. Do you know what happened when I heard that? It opened the door wide for our enemy (Satan) to flood me with the "spirit of FEAR" that was in her! For the next 2-3 months after hearing that statement, I ended up in the fiercest battle with Satan over the spirit of fear that I have ever had! As Christian women, we should not be speaking "fear" and "self-sufficiency" into someone's life like this woman did to me. Instead, we need to be encouraging women (especially single women) that God will take care of them.
The second sign of "self-sufficiency" is in the above verse where it says, "I am, and there is no one else besides me." Do you realize that by making that statement to yourself and about yourself that you are making yourself equal to God? God's holy Name for Jehovah is "I AM"! If that isn't bad enough, all through the book of Isaiah God is continuously reminding us that "there is no god besides Him"! Yet, in our self-sufficiency and pride, we are doing just that - making ourselves a god! In fact, wasn't that one of the lies of the enemy, Satan, himself in the garden of Eden? In Genesis 3:5 the serpent (Satan) said to Eve, "...you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
An interesting thing about desiring to be a god is that you also need to be "in control" - especially of your life (and maybe even the lives of those around you). So, when we begin to feel that we are not in control any longer - that's when the spirits of fear and anxiety come in and flood our minds. When you get right down to the bottom of this thing of "making ourselves gods" - it becomes the sin of idolatry. Idolatry is the breaking of the 2nd Commandment of God's Ten Commandment moral law.
So, how do you overcome this spirit of self-sufficiency and the spirit of fear? You MUST go to the Word of God, the Bible! A few verses before the above verse, in Isaiah 46:3-4, God spoke this to me: "Listen to Me, Chris! You have been upheld by Me from birth, and have been carried (by Me) in the womb..." "Even to your old age, I am He, and even to your gray hairs I will carry you! I have made you, and I will bear you; Even I will carry you, and deliver you." And then, in Isaiah 46:11 He said to me, "Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it!"
What comfort and peace that brought to my heart and soul!
In conclusion, therefore, let me share what God's opinion is of someone who is "self-sufficient": "Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me.'" In other words, a self-sufficient person, in God's eyes, has a warped mind and a warped heart! If we don't keep ourselves humble and dependent on God, this is what He says will happen:
"Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks: (Go ahead) walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled - this you shall have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment." (Isaiah 50:11)
Make a decision today to not be "self-sufficient", but to be totally dependent on God. "For in Him we live and move and have our being..." (Acts 17:28)
Showing posts with label Ten Commandments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ten Commandments. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Are God's Ten Commandments Good or Not Good?
Today, in many of our evangelical churches, God's Law (including the Ten Commandments) in the Old Testament is being proclaimed as "bad, burdensome, only being a type or shadow, having been done away with (fulfilled), no longer applicable to New Testament Christians, etc. etc." However, one of the greatest apostles of all time, the Apostle Paul, declared in Romans 7:12 - "Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good." Obviously, Paul was never taught what many of the ministers of our churches have been taught in their seminaries - that "The Age of Grace" or "The Dispensation of Grace" has made God's Law obsolete! So, who are we to believe...these ministers, who I believe are false prophets, or God's Word?
Since Romans 7:12 begins with the word, "Therefore", we need to look at the previous verses to see what made Paul come to the conclusion that God's "Law is holy and God's Commandment holy, just and good." In Verse 7, Paul states that God's Law helped him to know sin: "...For I would not have known sin except through the Law." To me, that doesn't sound like such a bad thing, is it? In Verse 10, Paul states that "And the Commandment, which was to bring LIFE, I found to bring death." What? The purpose of the Commandment was to bring LIFE? Again, what is so bad about that?
Let's continue on with some verses that follow Romans 7:12. In Verse 14, Paul declares God's Law to be "spiritual". In Verse 22, Paul states that he "delights in the Law of God"! Lastly, in Verse 25, Paul states that he "serves the Law of God". Please remember that the New Testament had not been written yet, so Paul WAS NOT referring to any "New Testament Law" - but had to be referring to God's Law, (including the Ten Commandments) in the Old Testament.
Contrary to what many of us have been taught in our churches and in our Bible colleges and seminaries, this is what God says about His Law in the Old Testament, according to Paul:
1. God's Law is Holy.
2. God's Commandment is Holy.
3. God's Commandment is Just.
4. God's Commandment is Good.
5. God's Law Reveals Sin.
6. God's Law Gives LIFE.
Oh, I know that Romans 7:10 says, "And the commandment which was to bring life, I found to bring death." However, we must look at the next verse - Verse 11: "For SIN, taking occasion by the commandment, DECEIVED me, and by IT killed me." God's Commandments are to give LIFE, not death! It is SIN that is deceiving everyone to BELIEVE that God's holy, just and good Commandments are in fact, bad!! This takes us directly back to the Garden of Eden, where Satan cast doubt on the "goodness" of God's Commandment and deceived Eve when he declared to her, "You will not surely die" (Gen. 3:3) IF she disobeyed and broke God's Commandment. However, God had told her that she would surely die. Was it God's Commandment that was going to kill her? Or, was it her disobedience to the Commandment of God (sin) that would kill her? Of course, it was her sin.
Just like our courts of law today in the U.S. - God's Law either declares us "Guilty" or God's Law can declare us "Not Guilty". It all depends IF sin has deceived us into breaking God's Law - the Ten Commandments. I John 3:4 says - "Sin is lawlessness." (NKJV) The King James Version says, "Sin is the transgression of the Law." Living without the Law of God (lawlessness) by breaking it or being disobedient to it (transgressing it) is what will sentence us to eternal death at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Speaking of the "Judgment Seat of Christ", let us not forget WHO "the Lawgiver" is. The logical response to that is "the Lawgiver is the One Who will be sitting on the Judgment Seat" - and that is Jesus Christ! James 4:12 says, "There is one Lawgiver and Judge, Who is able to save and to destroy." God's Law does not save or destroy us - it only declares us "Guilty" or "Not Guilty", and even that is good!
When you stand before Jesus Christ, the Lawgiver, on the day of Judgment - will He declare you to be "Guilty" or "Not Guilty" according to His Law - The Ten Commandments?
Since Romans 7:12 begins with the word, "Therefore", we need to look at the previous verses to see what made Paul come to the conclusion that God's "Law is holy and God's Commandment holy, just and good." In Verse 7, Paul states that God's Law helped him to know sin: "...For I would not have known sin except through the Law." To me, that doesn't sound like such a bad thing, is it? In Verse 10, Paul states that "And the Commandment, which was to bring LIFE, I found to bring death." What? The purpose of the Commandment was to bring LIFE? Again, what is so bad about that?
Let's continue on with some verses that follow Romans 7:12. In Verse 14, Paul declares God's Law to be "spiritual". In Verse 22, Paul states that he "delights in the Law of God"! Lastly, in Verse 25, Paul states that he "serves the Law of God". Please remember that the New Testament had not been written yet, so Paul WAS NOT referring to any "New Testament Law" - but had to be referring to God's Law, (including the Ten Commandments) in the Old Testament.
Contrary to what many of us have been taught in our churches and in our Bible colleges and seminaries, this is what God says about His Law in the Old Testament, according to Paul:
1. God's Law is Holy.
2. God's Commandment is Holy.
3. God's Commandment is Just.
4. God's Commandment is Good.
5. God's Law Reveals Sin.
6. God's Law Gives LIFE.
Oh, I know that Romans 7:10 says, "And the commandment which was to bring life, I found to bring death." However, we must look at the next verse - Verse 11: "For SIN, taking occasion by the commandment, DECEIVED me, and by IT killed me." God's Commandments are to give LIFE, not death! It is SIN that is deceiving everyone to BELIEVE that God's holy, just and good Commandments are in fact, bad!! This takes us directly back to the Garden of Eden, where Satan cast doubt on the "goodness" of God's Commandment and deceived Eve when he declared to her, "You will not surely die" (Gen. 3:3) IF she disobeyed and broke God's Commandment. However, God had told her that she would surely die. Was it God's Commandment that was going to kill her? Or, was it her disobedience to the Commandment of God (sin) that would kill her? Of course, it was her sin.
Just like our courts of law today in the U.S. - God's Law either declares us "Guilty" or God's Law can declare us "Not Guilty". It all depends IF sin has deceived us into breaking God's Law - the Ten Commandments. I John 3:4 says - "Sin is lawlessness." (NKJV) The King James Version says, "Sin is the transgression of the Law." Living without the Law of God (lawlessness) by breaking it or being disobedient to it (transgressing it) is what will sentence us to eternal death at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Speaking of the "Judgment Seat of Christ", let us not forget WHO "the Lawgiver" is. The logical response to that is "the Lawgiver is the One Who will be sitting on the Judgment Seat" - and that is Jesus Christ! James 4:12 says, "There is one Lawgiver and Judge, Who is able to save and to destroy." God's Law does not save or destroy us - it only declares us "Guilty" or "Not Guilty", and even that is good!
When you stand before Jesus Christ, the Lawgiver, on the day of Judgment - will He declare you to be "Guilty" or "Not Guilty" according to His Law - The Ten Commandments?
Friday, July 18, 2014
What's Different in the Ten Commandments of the Catholic Church?
Did you know that the Roman Catholic Church has a different set of the Ten Commandments than the Holy Bible has? It is true. The normal person will never find this out unless they open their Bible and place it beside the Catholic book, "A Catechism for Adults". As you read through the following list of the Ten Commandments of the Roman Catholic Church, see if you can find where the difference is:
1. I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me. (Exodus 20:2,3)
2. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
3. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath Day. (Exodus 20:8)
4. Honor thy father and thy mother. (Exodus 20:12)
5. Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13)
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
7. Thou shalt not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. (Exodus 20:17)
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods. (Exodus 20:17)
If you look closely at the first two commandments above, you will see a rather large gap between Exodus 20:2 & 3 and Exodus 20:7. When you look in the Holy Bible, you will see that the Roman Catholic Church has "conveniently" left out, Exodus 20:4 & 5 which says, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."
Why would the Catholic Church make these changes? The Catholic Church has through the centuries practiced idolatry by making "carved images" of Mary and Jesus Christ, and instructing their followers to "bow down" to them. Unfortunately, unless the person who is a practicing Catholic really studies their Bible - they will never find this "false teaching" being taught by their church.
So, when I found this out, I still had a problem because even though they removed the 2nd Commandment, they were still able to have ten Commandments. How was this possible? Again, you must look at Exodus in your Bible and then look at their list of the Ten Commandments in order to find this error. Look closely at the 9th Commandment and the 10th Commandment above. You will find that the Roman Catholic Church has taken the 10th Commandment and divided it into two parts - thus creating their own "Ten Commandments".
For those of you who don't know what the correct list of the Ten Commandments is, here they are taken directly from the Holy Bible:
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:2,3)
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, is a jealous God. (Exodus 20:4,5)
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
4. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God, in it you shall do no work. (Exodus 20:8-11)
5. Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)
6. You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)
7. You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
8. You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.
(Exodus 20:17)
One other thing to note is the 4th Commandment regarding the 7th day Sabbath Day. If you take some time to look back in history, you will find that again it was the Romans who moved the Lord's holy Sabbath Day from Saturday to Sunday.
The Roman Catholics will even take credit for this change today! In their book, "A Catechism for Adults" on page 115 under "Note #1" it states, "The Church (meaning the Roman Catholic Church) changed the Lord's Day from Saturday to Sunday because our Lord rose from the dead on Sunday and the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday." Unfortunately, they fail to see that Jesus Christ RESTED in the grave on HIS Sabbath Day! And, as soon as the Sabbath was over, HE AROSE!! As His followers, we are to also rest on HIS HOLY DAY - Saturday, the seventh day of the week. Jesus called Himself, "the Lord of the Sabbath". It belongs to Him (not the Roman Catholic Church or any other denomination), and therefore, we have no authority to move it to another day.
In closing, ALWAYS be diligent to study the accuracy of what your spiritual leaders are teaching you. As I have just shown above, it is easy for a person to be deceived and to believe false teachings unless that person stays in God's Word, the Bible, on a daily basis.
1. I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me. (Exodus 20:2,3)
2. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
3. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath Day. (Exodus 20:8)
4. Honor thy father and thy mother. (Exodus 20:12)
5. Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13)
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
7. Thou shalt not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. (Exodus 20:17)
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods. (Exodus 20:17)
If you look closely at the first two commandments above, you will see a rather large gap between Exodus 20:2 & 3 and Exodus 20:7. When you look in the Holy Bible, you will see that the Roman Catholic Church has "conveniently" left out, Exodus 20:4 & 5 which says, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."
Why would the Catholic Church make these changes? The Catholic Church has through the centuries practiced idolatry by making "carved images" of Mary and Jesus Christ, and instructing their followers to "bow down" to them. Unfortunately, unless the person who is a practicing Catholic really studies their Bible - they will never find this "false teaching" being taught by their church.
So, when I found this out, I still had a problem because even though they removed the 2nd Commandment, they were still able to have ten Commandments. How was this possible? Again, you must look at Exodus in your Bible and then look at their list of the Ten Commandments in order to find this error. Look closely at the 9th Commandment and the 10th Commandment above. You will find that the Roman Catholic Church has taken the 10th Commandment and divided it into two parts - thus creating their own "Ten Commandments".
For those of you who don't know what the correct list of the Ten Commandments is, here they are taken directly from the Holy Bible:
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:2,3)
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, is a jealous God. (Exodus 20:4,5)
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
4. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God, in it you shall do no work. (Exodus 20:8-11)
5. Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)
6. You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)
7. You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
8. You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.
(Exodus 20:17)
One other thing to note is the 4th Commandment regarding the 7th day Sabbath Day. If you take some time to look back in history, you will find that again it was the Romans who moved the Lord's holy Sabbath Day from Saturday to Sunday.
The Roman Catholics will even take credit for this change today! In their book, "A Catechism for Adults" on page 115 under "Note #1" it states, "The Church (meaning the Roman Catholic Church) changed the Lord's Day from Saturday to Sunday because our Lord rose from the dead on Sunday and the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday." Unfortunately, they fail to see that Jesus Christ RESTED in the grave on HIS Sabbath Day! And, as soon as the Sabbath was over, HE AROSE!! As His followers, we are to also rest on HIS HOLY DAY - Saturday, the seventh day of the week. Jesus called Himself, "the Lord of the Sabbath". It belongs to Him (not the Roman Catholic Church or any other denomination), and therefore, we have no authority to move it to another day.
In closing, ALWAYS be diligent to study the accuracy of what your spiritual leaders are teaching you. As I have just shown above, it is easy for a person to be deceived and to believe false teachings unless that person stays in God's Word, the Bible, on a daily basis.
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)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)