Tuesday, December 28, 2010
John 6:66 They walked with Him no more
This is interesting verse which is in context with verse 60 of John chapter six, Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" plus Luke 9:62 as Jesus said "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." So what is being said here is that it is possible to fall away from the Truth, which points out that your salvation is conditional if you came through the narrow gate. Matt 7:13-14. In 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul reminds us that Demas had forsaken the faith, having loved this present world. Scripture gives other illustrations; such as shipwreck in 1 Timothy 1:18-20; in particularity verse 19 "having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that he may learn not to blaspheme." Some would ask I do not understand they were never believers in the first place, no I don't think so, because Paul gives us a illustration with the word "shipwreck" with this these two men were believers "on the ship" but they fell away in their steadfastness and shipwreck their souls. Today pastors are telling their flocks that your faith can not be lost (unconditional salvation) another way of saying this would be "once saved always saved" this is a lie from the devil and your pastors are teaching this junk. Most of you have not come through the narrow gate because your lives demonstrate that you are double-minded by your worldly ways and your appetite for the things in this world that do not last. We are reminded in Matt 7:17-20 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree can not bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Another words, if you are producing good and bad fruit then you are not a good tree, and God will judge those who have not bear good fruit, and throw them in the fire(Hell). This is not my opinion but is God's word please wake up there still is time.
The Ninevites Repentance
Why did God sent Jonah to preach to them, another words they were aliens (to the covenant) of God. They were not the chosen people of God.The Jews were the chosen people of God in the Old Testament and until the death of Christ. The Ninevites knew nothing about who God was and they knew nothing about His commandments. Yet God had Jonah preached the baptism of repentance to them, warning them that He would destroy them. And guess what they fear God and His wrath, and came to a humble repentant heart to get right with God. Why did God pursue them? Obviously God had compassion upon these people even though they were Assyrian, they took His threat of being able to destroy Nineveh seriously, and repented. Notice what is repentance in Jonah chapter 3:5-9, they believed God, what does this mean they took it to heart and saw themselves as sinners before a Holy God. This is a splendid story of repentance; because they knew they were sinners and they came to the light(God) you must allow yourself to be expose for what you are, you see most people prefer to stay in darkness and not be expose to the light. With this attitude you will never see the kingdom because you must swallow your pride. Another step is that they fear God and believe every word Jonah spoke, this cause them to take stock of themselves(Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:5) Another verse of warning is from Philippians 2:12-13, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure". With fear in their hearts they proclaim a fast and put on sackcloth, again these are deeds to demonstrate their attitudes toward God, and this took place with the greatest to the least in statue in the city. In verse six, we see that the king not only was in sackcloth but he sat in ashes, what does this mean? It was a symbol of anguish and grief which again represented their hearts. The king made a degree to all in the kingdom stating, "Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?" My question to you have you repented in this fashion? If not, you are not a child of God. With the statement "let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands" means only one thing that you are capable of stopping sin in your life if you are willing to do so, no one speaks of this in the false church because they give you excuses for you to continue in your sins and to say some prayer that means nothing except that you are not genuine. That is the reason why no one in our society who calls themselves Christians lived like one, they are hypocrites. Another note of interest is that the preaching of Jonah is a strong statement that they knew that Jonah's God was serious and they wasted no time in demonstrating that they understood what he meant by their deeds. Remember this we are capable of obeying God, we must stop all known sin that is revealed in our conscience through the Holy Spirit before repentance is granted. This is require before you can be a child of the King, He knows your heart if you are seeking Him, and He will reveal Himself to you but only for those who have the right motivation in their hearts.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Narrow Way
I can remember that I thought I was a Christian, in fact I said the prayer as a little boy in Sunday school wanting Jesus in my heart, wanting him to be my Savior but there was no genuine repentance it was only a emotional exercise because of the emotional outcry of the music and the teacher. We can all be fool note I tried to do what was right but I fail because I had not come to God on His terms. I was in sin and had done people wrong and was living like this until the age of 49 when I realize I was not on the narrow way but was on wide road to hell. In Matthew 7:13-14 it is clear what it says if you want to know the truth; "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Most people in the church have never read these verses much less know what they mean, this should scare you because your pastor or teachers do not teach the parables because they consider them to be juvenile or simple. Remember the disciples did not know what Christ was speaking of in these chapters, in fact He had to explain these things to them.
The question you must ask yourself are you on the narrow way? Are you dieing to yourself every day? Are your hands on the plow? Another words you can not be double minded you can not love Christ and the world at the same time or you are self-deceived. And you are on the wrong road, note must Americans claim to be born again but their lives say the opposite and those who are of the world see the phoniness of today Christianity. Be aware that once you die you can not come back and rectify the situation, you will be judge by God, to those who do not do the will of God. Pursue the Truth before it is too late.
The question you must ask yourself are you on the narrow way? Are you dieing to yourself every day? Are your hands on the plow? Another words you can not be double minded you can not love Christ and the world at the same time or you are self-deceived. And you are on the wrong road, note must Americans claim to be born again but their lives say the opposite and those who are of the world see the phoniness of today Christianity. Be aware that once you die you can not come back and rectify the situation, you will be judge by God, to those who do not do the will of God. Pursue the Truth before it is too late.
Quotes from Early Church fathers Justin Martyr c 160AD
"In the beginning, He made the human race with the power of thought and of choosing the truth and doing right, so that all men are without excuse before God."
"Neither do we maintain that it is by fate that men do what they do, or suffer what they suffer. Rather, we maintain that each man acts rightly or sins by his free choice.... Since God in the beginning made the race of angels and men with free will, they will justly suffer in eternal fire the punishment of whatever sins they have committed."
"It was God's desire for both angels and men, who were endowed with free will... that if they chose the things acceptable to Him, He would keep them free from death and from punishment. However, if they did evil, He would punish each as He sees fit."
" I have proved in what has been said that those who were foreknown to be unrighteous, whether men or angels, are not made wicked by God's fault. Rather each man is what he will appear to be through his own fault."
Note as we look at Justin Martyr quotes they speak of free will that man has the ability to do right or wrong it is his decision and man will be responsible for his decision. It is not God fault that you choose to do evil as some would have us to think that God is the author of sin. We can see the example in Genesis, that God gave Adam and Eve the ability to discern what is right and wrong and to make a choice, that is why God had the tree of good and evil as a test to see if they were willing to make a choice (free will) to obey or disobey this was the only way that God could prove to Himself that it was fair and that the loyalty was to Him or to themselves. We also should recognize that this was the teaching of the Apostles and the Early church leaders until Augustine arrive and destroy the Truth of the Gospel. Augustine claim to have come out of a Gnostic sect but he brought the teachings of this group into the Church, which destroy the repentance message because we were born sinners and we no longer had a free will to choose but this was excuse for them to continue in sin.
"Neither do we maintain that it is by fate that men do what they do, or suffer what they suffer. Rather, we maintain that each man acts rightly or sins by his free choice.... Since God in the beginning made the race of angels and men with free will, they will justly suffer in eternal fire the punishment of whatever sins they have committed."
"It was God's desire for both angels and men, who were endowed with free will... that if they chose the things acceptable to Him, He would keep them free from death and from punishment. However, if they did evil, He would punish each as He sees fit."
" I have proved in what has been said that those who were foreknown to be unrighteous, whether men or angels, are not made wicked by God's fault. Rather each man is what he will appear to be through his own fault."
Note as we look at Justin Martyr quotes they speak of free will that man has the ability to do right or wrong it is his decision and man will be responsible for his decision. It is not God fault that you choose to do evil as some would have us to think that God is the author of sin. We can see the example in Genesis, that God gave Adam and Eve the ability to discern what is right and wrong and to make a choice, that is why God had the tree of good and evil as a test to see if they were willing to make a choice (free will) to obey or disobey this was the only way that God could prove to Himself that it was fair and that the loyalty was to Him or to themselves. We also should recognize that this was the teaching of the Apostles and the Early church leaders until Augustine arrive and destroy the Truth of the Gospel. Augustine claim to have come out of a Gnostic sect but he brought the teachings of this group into the Church, which destroy the repentance message because we were born sinners and we no longer had a free will to choose but this was excuse for them to continue in sin.
"Sin No More"
As we examine the Word of God, there was something that leap out at me when I was reading scripture when I began to see the Truth of the Bible unlike what I was told in a church. You see the Church does not preach the Truth because they are blind and teach false doctrines that allows themselves to continue to live in sin. Let us look at John 5:1-15 as Jesus heals the man at the pool of Bethesda; why does Christ heal this man on the Sabbath because the religious leaders were obeying their rituals but had nothing to do with obeying God. Another words their rituals became a stumbling block for them to understand the Kingdom. Another factor that stands out is Verse 14, note these words are of Christ "See, you have been made well. Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you." Interesting from the mouth of Christ he is saying to this gentlemen that you are capable (man) to no longer sin. That not even discuss in church, why are you able to stop sinning? Because you have free will you are not born a sinner, which is taught by the Catholics, and the Protestants guess where they get this doctrine from it is not in the Bible, but was taught by Augustine who was a gnostic and he brought there teaching into the Catholic Church. This occur in the 4th century and the Church at first refuse this teaching but later they compromise and allow it in their midst. Many protestants don't know that Augustine is consider the Father of their Church which is where many doctrines come from plus Lutherans revere him too. Unfortunately, few in these denominations have any idea that he has brought in false doctrines.
But there is another example in John 8:1-11, as we see that the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery in the act and they wanted to stone her as they were conversing with Christ. They were trying to test Him and see what He would do, So He made the comment "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." At this point He wrote something in the ground and they were convicted in their conscience left one by one until there was no one there except the woman. In verse 10, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" Then in verse 11, "Neither do I condemn you; and sin no more." So the concept of Christ's teachings was that man has free will and he is not born a sinner (original sin) at the age of accountability (that is when a child is able to understand what is right and wrong) then he chooses to do good or bad. Note in scripture there are verses that give support that children are born innocent and that our souls come from God: Psalms 139:13-14, Isaiah 49:5, Ecc 7:29, Jeremiah 1:5, Ezekiel 28:15, Deut. 1:39, 2 Chr. 25:4. Note another false doctrine was introduced by Augustine it was called Infant Baptism because if children are born in sin by (necessary you must produce another lie to cover the first lie) which is transfer from your parents (sin is matter or flesh) according to Augustine which is a gnostic teaching then you must be baptize as a baby or you will go to hell if the child dies as a infant. That is why the Catholics, Lutherans, and others practice infant baptism. Another words, Augustine believed that sin came from the flesh or matter, but scripture disagrees with this assumption, that sin comes from our hearts because it is part of our motives. This is the reason we have the teachings of Christ in Matthew 5 with two example: In verse 22 Christ speaks of murder but this occurs within your heart with anger toward your brother without a cause. Another example in verse 28, he speaks of a man who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in hie heart. You see God looks upon your heart and your motives which reveals sin and that is why God will judge mankind. Again let us remember that men have created these doctrines because his desire is to be in darkness and gives excuses that he is not able to be obedient.
But there is another example in John 8:1-11, as we see that the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery in the act and they wanted to stone her as they were conversing with Christ. They were trying to test Him and see what He would do, So He made the comment "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." At this point He wrote something in the ground and they were convicted in their conscience left one by one until there was no one there except the woman. In verse 10, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" Then in verse 11, "Neither do I condemn you; and sin no more." So the concept of Christ's teachings was that man has free will and he is not born a sinner (original sin) at the age of accountability (that is when a child is able to understand what is right and wrong) then he chooses to do good or bad. Note in scripture there are verses that give support that children are born innocent and that our souls come from God: Psalms 139:13-14, Isaiah 49:5, Ecc 7:29, Jeremiah 1:5, Ezekiel 28:15, Deut. 1:39, 2 Chr. 25:4. Note another false doctrine was introduced by Augustine it was called Infant Baptism because if children are born in sin by (necessary you must produce another lie to cover the first lie) which is transfer from your parents (sin is matter or flesh) according to Augustine which is a gnostic teaching then you must be baptize as a baby or you will go to hell if the child dies as a infant. That is why the Catholics, Lutherans, and others practice infant baptism. Another words, Augustine believed that sin came from the flesh or matter, but scripture disagrees with this assumption, that sin comes from our hearts because it is part of our motives. This is the reason we have the teachings of Christ in Matthew 5 with two example: In verse 22 Christ speaks of murder but this occurs within your heart with anger toward your brother without a cause. Another example in verse 28, he speaks of a man who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in hie heart. You see God looks upon your heart and your motives which reveals sin and that is why God will judge mankind. Again let us remember that men have created these doctrines because his desire is to be in darkness and gives excuses that he is not able to be obedient.
Friday, December 10, 2010
I John 3:7-9
Important verses as John reveals that if we are in the light as we manifest righteousness if not then we are of the devil this is black and white.
"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He (Christ) is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he can not sin, because he has been born of God". There is no middle ground with God either you are His child or you are the child of the devil. As John is speaking to True Saints he warns them that they can be deceive by teachers who come from within the body and this is where false teaching has come from as we example church history. John calls these false teachers antichrists as he speaks of this Ch 2 verse 18-19. What are antichrists? They are false teachers such as Augustine who introduce doctrines in the Church which were not taught by Christ or his disciples or the early church. One was "Original sin" which states that your flesh is what makes you sin, instead of your motives within your heart that you choose to sin. Man was given the opportunity to choose right or wrong this is free will, what better way in the garden of Eden for God to allow Adam to make a choice and also for God to see if man was willing to be obedient or not. This is why we are given temptations in our life to see if we truly love God or ourselves. We can not be double minded or our hearts divided in choosing evil over good because this demonstrates where we are spiritually and God does see our motives. We can not fool God but we can fool ourselves thinking that we are righteous when we are not. In scripture, we are warn "to examine ourselves and see if we are in the Faith" or "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" these passages are written to professed Christians. Salvation is conditional as Christ speaks of it in John Ch 15 that you must abide in the vine. There is no such thing as "Once Saved always saved" which is a modern doctrine that has nothing to do with you putting your hands to the plow or dying to yourself each day. We are commanded to exhibit these things in our walk. In Psalms 33:13-15 "The Lord looks from heaven; he sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works." Another words God is judging you to see if your deeds are good or bad which reflect our faith. Faith is Deeds it is not Faith Alone which is spoken of by James 2:17-19 "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works," and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe- and tremble!" Another words what is being preach in all churches today is a dead faith that will lead you to Hell. Be aware today that many do not seek the Truth only realize in the End God will judge.
"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He (Christ) is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he can not sin, because he has been born of God". There is no middle ground with God either you are His child or you are the child of the devil. As John is speaking to True Saints he warns them that they can be deceive by teachers who come from within the body and this is where false teaching has come from as we example church history. John calls these false teachers antichrists as he speaks of this Ch 2 verse 18-19. What are antichrists? They are false teachers such as Augustine who introduce doctrines in the Church which were not taught by Christ or his disciples or the early church. One was "Original sin" which states that your flesh is what makes you sin, instead of your motives within your heart that you choose to sin. Man was given the opportunity to choose right or wrong this is free will, what better way in the garden of Eden for God to allow Adam to make a choice and also for God to see if man was willing to be obedient or not. This is why we are given temptations in our life to see if we truly love God or ourselves. We can not be double minded or our hearts divided in choosing evil over good because this demonstrates where we are spiritually and God does see our motives. We can not fool God but we can fool ourselves thinking that we are righteous when we are not. In scripture, we are warn "to examine ourselves and see if we are in the Faith" or "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" these passages are written to professed Christians. Salvation is conditional as Christ speaks of it in John Ch 15 that you must abide in the vine. There is no such thing as "Once Saved always saved" which is a modern doctrine that has nothing to do with you putting your hands to the plow or dying to yourself each day. We are commanded to exhibit these things in our walk. In Psalms 33:13-15 "The Lord looks from heaven; he sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works." Another words God is judging you to see if your deeds are good or bad which reflect our faith. Faith is Deeds it is not Faith Alone which is spoken of by James 2:17-19 "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works," and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe- and tremble!" Another words what is being preach in all churches today is a dead faith that will lead you to Hell. Be aware today that many do not seek the Truth only realize in the End God will judge.
The punishment of Adam: there is no information about men being born sinful after the fall of Adam.
Punishments that are listed in Genesis speak nothing of "Original Sin" this would seem to be the logical place where God would choose to warn man if this was so. We do see punishments that were given to Adam that is it would be a hard task to grow crops and Eve was punish by pain in childbirth and that both were thrown out of the garden of Eden. And we notice that the Bible points out that men were capable of living a holy life in Genesis 5:23 we see that Enoch live to be 365 years and he walked with God and he was not for God took him. In Genesis Chapter 6:8 we read that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, what does this mean that He found grace, Noah found favor with God's acceptance, Noah was blameless he was righteous in God's sight. Noah chose to do good while others around him chose to do evil he had free will and was obedient to God.The problem is that the church did not teach these things until a man named Augustine brought this teachings into the Church, which are false. Are you aware that Augustine was a Manichean and study the philosophy of Plato before he his so called conversion. What is Manichean-ism? It is the belief that your flesh is evil and your spirit is good, but your flesh is matter it does not choose to do good or evil it is your heart or will that makes choices. For example; when a person chooses to kill someone with a gun it is not the gun's fault for the person who was killed, but it is the one who chooses to pull the trigger that is at fault and will be charged for murder. Another words what Augustine introduce in the Church was Gnostic beliefs, and ever since, man has blame God as the creator of sin plus man does not want to take the responsibility that it is he who chooses to do wrong. He wants pastors to tell him that is okay for him to be double minded in 2 Timothy 4:3 " For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." This is true of all churches today no matter if you are Reformed or Arminian in the Protestant faith they are not teaching truth but fables. If you desire the Truth with a pure heart God would reveal truth to you but if you desire is to feel comfortable then you will be judge.
Musings:
Today Gospel Message is Gnostic because we claim that our flesh makes us sin, in reality it is our hearts that reveal our choice to do sin.
In Deuteronomy 1:39 It speaks that children are born innocent because they have no knowledge of good and evil which means they do not know the difference between the two or able to obey. What this verse is talking about is the sin of the Jews as they fail to take the promised land and so God judge them because they fail to be obedient and take it. So they will be judge in the wilderness and die for their unbelief and those who are the children will have the opportunity to possess it. Note today those who claim to be Christians give excuses that they can not obey God. This is a lie. If God create you He knows that you are capable of obeying. This is the opposite of what the Church teaches today that you are born in sin.
Many people do not take seriously the word of God as express in 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away and the lust of it: but he who does the will of God abides forever. Another words the one who is double minded is not abiding in the Vine, and is fooled and he will reap the consequences of his decision. It speaks also of the one who chooses wisely because he is abiding in the vine lives forever. God demands all, he warns us to count the cost.
In John: Christ makes a statement "sin no more" twice once in John5:14 and John 8:11 what does He mean by this it has to mean that we are able to stop sinning if we are willing to do so. Today most pastors tell you that there is another meaning what he is saying or it is not important. If Christ spoke these thing it is Important!!
Another warning from scriptures is about the hearers and the doers, there are those who hear scripture and do nothing while the doers are those who hear God's word and does it. This is wisdom to those who are doers of the word. The hearers do not understand that they will be judge by God for what they heard and didn't do. God is warning you are you listening?
In Deuteronomy 1:39 It speaks that children are born innocent because they have no knowledge of good and evil which means they do not know the difference between the two or able to obey. What this verse is talking about is the sin of the Jews as they fail to take the promised land and so God judge them because they fail to be obedient and take it. So they will be judge in the wilderness and die for their unbelief and those who are the children will have the opportunity to possess it. Note today those who claim to be Christians give excuses that they can not obey God. This is a lie. If God create you He knows that you are capable of obeying. This is the opposite of what the Church teaches today that you are born in sin.
Many people do not take seriously the word of God as express in 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away and the lust of it: but he who does the will of God abides forever. Another words the one who is double minded is not abiding in the Vine, and is fooled and he will reap the consequences of his decision. It speaks also of the one who chooses wisely because he is abiding in the vine lives forever. God demands all, he warns us to count the cost.
In John: Christ makes a statement "sin no more" twice once in John5:14 and John 8:11 what does He mean by this it has to mean that we are able to stop sinning if we are willing to do so. Today most pastors tell you that there is another meaning what he is saying or it is not important. If Christ spoke these thing it is Important!!
Another warning from scriptures is about the hearers and the doers, there are those who hear scripture and do nothing while the doers are those who hear God's word and does it. This is wisdom to those who are doers of the word. The hearers do not understand that they will be judge by God for what they heard and didn't do. God is warning you are you listening?
Romans 12:1-2
In Romans 12:1-2; "I urge you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
So what is Paul talking about here? When he says to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice. Clearly as one who has come through the baptism of repentance we are to die to ourselves each day that means we do not pursue our gain but long for his Word as a young baby longs for its mother milk. It means as I once enjoy the things of the world such as college football and spending time with watching it I no longer do, because it does not please the Lord but I no longer enjoy it, and with me dieing to self it is a form of sacrifice to God and it is worship to put these things off. It also reveals my heart that I am in love with God not the things of the world. But these things must occur everyday not just once in awhile. In the Word of God, there are other sayings such as "fight the good fight" or "Count the cost" or "Put your hand to the plow" these means that we are in spiritual warfare and we must die to ourselves each day. Paul warns that we are not to be conformed to this world, what does this means that we are true saints we would not enjoy these things and make them a habit in our lives. Because our hearts are not in love with these things (the world) what it has to offer you but you are in love with His Word and look forward to reading it and practicing what it says. Unfortunately, the Church (all churches) is not in love with God's Word because they live like the world and are selfish and have don't have True peace with God. They think they do but they are the hypocrites that Christ speaks of in Matthew and warns about in Revelation.
So what is Paul talking about here? When he says to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice. Clearly as one who has come through the baptism of repentance we are to die to ourselves each day that means we do not pursue our gain but long for his Word as a young baby longs for its mother milk. It means as I once enjoy the things of the world such as college football and spending time with watching it I no longer do, because it does not please the Lord but I no longer enjoy it, and with me dieing to self it is a form of sacrifice to God and it is worship to put these things off. It also reveals my heart that I am in love with God not the things of the world. But these things must occur everyday not just once in awhile. In the Word of God, there are other sayings such as "fight the good fight" or "Count the cost" or "Put your hand to the plow" these means that we are in spiritual warfare and we must die to ourselves each day. Paul warns that we are not to be conformed to this world, what does this means that we are true saints we would not enjoy these things and make them a habit in our lives. Because our hearts are not in love with these things (the world) what it has to offer you but you are in love with His Word and look forward to reading it and practicing what it says. Unfortunately, the Church (all churches) is not in love with God's Word because they live like the world and are selfish and have don't have True peace with God. They think they do but they are the hypocrites that Christ speaks of in Matthew and warns about in Revelation.
Presuppositions
When I was in Seminary they use a fancy word known as hermeneutics which means an interpretation of scripture. Unfortunately, which interpretation is true because men have bias, that is the reason we have groups in the Protestant faith that says one thing and the other says the opposite. My point is that both protestant groups the Armenians and the Calvinist are both wrong because they view scripture based upon men as theologians to interpret scriptures. This is what I mean by presupposition, it is the idea of having a preconceived idea what you think scripture is saying before you read it, you must be non bias in this approach. The proper way to look at scripture is not to put on some particular glasses and say what you think it says, but to read it with no bias intentions. It says what it says, test scripture with scripture and if it not congruent than it is not true. Also I discovered in seminary that men put their doctrines first and then go about proving those so called doctrines in the Bible. But this is wrong because you are only validating your own preconceive ideas or doctrines that you think are correct. Others take scripture out of context this is when one verse gives support for their argument but the context of the rest of scripture says the opposite we must judge scripture with scripture. If you seek the Truth with all your heart and have the right motives then you will find the Truth if not God is not mock.
Not Willing to come to God for Salvation
As we examine scripture we must realize that scriptures supports those who took responsibility for there salvation that is they did not believed those so called pastors but they study the word of God to find Truth. In Matthew Chapter 22:1-14 there is an parable which speaks of a wedding feast, the parable is talking about God and His son and those who were invited to come to the wedding feast. This King's son is going to be marry and He asked his servants (prophets) to invite the guest to come but there response was they were not willing. This is an illustration of the desire of the Father who wanted the guest to come (that is to partake of Heaven) but they were not willing. This is the main reason why many so called Christians will not be in Heaven they did not count the cost, they were not willing to die to sin. Note this was a parable by Christ which means we must pay attention to it because Christ is explaining something important pertaining to salvation, was that those who could do what was right, chose because they were not willing to do righteousness but continue in their sin.
Let us examine another example in scripture in Matthew 23:37 Most read it have and no concept what it is talking about maybe you have read through it saying there is nothing here. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! I (Christ) wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were Not Willing!" Again Christ explains Himself to say in human history you Jerusalem was the one I longed for but you killed the prophets from the Old Testament to the New, they preached the Truth and you were not willing to hear the Truth and Do It but you decided to be hearers only and lose the opportunity for Salvation. It is not because you are born in sin that you do not obey, it is because you are not willing to forsake sin and turn and do the right thing (change your mind and do the fruits of repentance and stop sinning) not some silly prayer and confessing your sins and now that you believe in Christ. Unless there is a baptism of repentance which is dying to yourself you are not born again. Most of you have done this silly prayer but there was no stopping of sin in your life, In fact you continue to sin and think nothing of it. Romans 6:6 states: "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." Did you hear that if you are in sin you are not a Christian. I know this was true of myself when I thought I could participate in worldly activities and continue to think I was a Christian.
The final example comes from John 5:38-40; "But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." He is speaking of the Jews that they were not willing to abide in His word. But this is also speaking of today church because they only clean the outside of the cup not the inside, you are being fooled please read the scriptures and examine them. Christ is our example, and Christ righteousness is not imputed to us we are the ones who must be righteous. What the word Christian means is that we are examples of Christ and that is not occurring today anywhere.
Let us examine another example in scripture in Matthew 23:37 Most read it have and no concept what it is talking about maybe you have read through it saying there is nothing here. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! I (Christ) wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were Not Willing!" Again Christ explains Himself to say in human history you Jerusalem was the one I longed for but you killed the prophets from the Old Testament to the New, they preached the Truth and you were not willing to hear the Truth and Do It but you decided to be hearers only and lose the opportunity for Salvation. It is not because you are born in sin that you do not obey, it is because you are not willing to forsake sin and turn and do the right thing (change your mind and do the fruits of repentance and stop sinning) not some silly prayer and confessing your sins and now that you believe in Christ. Unless there is a baptism of repentance which is dying to yourself you are not born again. Most of you have done this silly prayer but there was no stopping of sin in your life, In fact you continue to sin and think nothing of it. Romans 6:6 states: "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." Did you hear that if you are in sin you are not a Christian. I know this was true of myself when I thought I could participate in worldly activities and continue to think I was a Christian.
The final example comes from John 5:38-40; "But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." He is speaking of the Jews that they were not willing to abide in His word. But this is also speaking of today church because they only clean the outside of the cup not the inside, you are being fooled please read the scriptures and examine them. Christ is our example, and Christ righteousness is not imputed to us we are the ones who must be righteous. What the word Christian means is that we are examples of Christ and that is not occurring today anywhere.
II Corinthians 7: 9-11 The process of Repentance.
What is the process of repentance? Is it a prayer I say with a pastor after we have sang "Just as I am" and want to be a believer not exactly in fact it is false. Let us look at scriptures with Paul speaking to the Corinthians on the issue of repentance. " I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance, for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
Note there seems to be steps in the act of repentance, first it does take time to go through repentance another word there are no quick prayers for repentance. This repentance leads to salvation not what your pastor says is going to make a difference in coming to repentance. So there are steps or demonstrations of what is going on with your heart. First he speaks of earnestness which means that you are sincere and intense. Next it leave to vindication to clear from blame or suspicion another words make sure if you have wrong someone to get it right. The next step will deal with indignation to rid of some statement that may have cause hurt feelings with someone. Then there is fear of God which is the one who will judge you in the end knowing that you may not live later if you do not make these things right. Longing is a earnest desire. What zeal? Eager interest fervor ardent and last is the avenging of wrong, to realize that I have done something and must make it right. Note I have never understood much less read this before, because I had misunderstood what repentance is, let me explain if I use your lawnmower and mess it up and brought it back to you without telling you that I had destroy it by cutting stumps with it instead of grass and say I am sorry. This is not repentance!!! Note this seems to be our attitude toward God with the issue of sin and repentance to say we are sorry but this is not true repentance. Note my neighbor would have nothing to do with me and in fact he would not want to be my friend because I had wronged him. The only way I can rectified the situation is by repairing or buying him a new lawnmower and demonstrating that I was truly sorry for what I did. This realization of what I had done wrong to my neighbor and doing what is right allows us to be neighbors again. This is the way that we must look at the situation with God and to have a right relationship with Him. Here are other examples in scripture dealing with the subject of repentance one being Jonah Chapter 3 The story of repentance of the city of Nineveh and what happen, another is The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 who was a tax collector and how he rectify his relationship with Christ.
Note there seems to be steps in the act of repentance, first it does take time to go through repentance another word there are no quick prayers for repentance. This repentance leads to salvation not what your pastor says is going to make a difference in coming to repentance. So there are steps or demonstrations of what is going on with your heart. First he speaks of earnestness which means that you are sincere and intense. Next it leave to vindication to clear from blame or suspicion another words make sure if you have wrong someone to get it right. The next step will deal with indignation to rid of some statement that may have cause hurt feelings with someone. Then there is fear of God which is the one who will judge you in the end knowing that you may not live later if you do not make these things right. Longing is a earnest desire. What zeal? Eager interest fervor ardent and last is the avenging of wrong, to realize that I have done something and must make it right. Note I have never understood much less read this before, because I had misunderstood what repentance is, let me explain if I use your lawnmower and mess it up and brought it back to you without telling you that I had destroy it by cutting stumps with it instead of grass and say I am sorry. This is not repentance!!! Note this seems to be our attitude toward God with the issue of sin and repentance to say we are sorry but this is not true repentance. Note my neighbor would have nothing to do with me and in fact he would not want to be my friend because I had wronged him. The only way I can rectified the situation is by repairing or buying him a new lawnmower and demonstrating that I was truly sorry for what I did. This realization of what I had done wrong to my neighbor and doing what is right allows us to be neighbors again. This is the way that we must look at the situation with God and to have a right relationship with Him. Here are other examples in scripture dealing with the subject of repentance one being Jonah Chapter 3 The story of repentance of the city of Nineveh and what happen, another is The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 who was a tax collector and how he rectify his relationship with Christ.
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