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Trinity of the Godhead
The number three has great significance in Scripture. It is popular now, as it has been since the beginning of the Church – to de-Deify Jesus Christ. Most scholars would trace the identifiable source to Arius, (the father of Arianism) a leader in the church at Alexandria, Egypt, 318 A.D. In terms of prophetic church ages, this corresponds with the “Church at Pergamos.” (Revelation 2: 12-17) It was the church that was “married,” or settled down, to the faith; also identified as being worldly, and imperial. [300-500 A.D.]
A brilliant and articulate speaker, Arius taught that Jesus Christ was neither God nor man, but rather, a demi-god. A created being, halfway between God and man. Many cults are based on this premise, but they never support their claims with Scripture, instead relying on “new” prophecies, visions and revelations. This question was settled not by scholars and clergy at the Council of Nicea. It was through the testimony of an African hermit that all doubts were assuaged.
After listening to Arius, who was uncommonly persuasive, the “African sprang to his feet, clad chiefly in tiger’s skin. This latter he tore from his back, disclosing great scars (the result of having been thrown into the arena among the wild beasts, and his back dreadfully disfigured by their claws), crying dramatically,
These are the brand marks of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I cannot hear this blasphemy.
Then he proceeded to give so stirring an address, setting forth so clearly the truth as to Christ’s eternal deity, that the majority of the council realized in a moment that it was indeed the voice of the Spirit of God.” (H.A. Ironsides)
A close study of Scripture will show, that God repeats ideas and principles – in various ways – to better reveal Himself to us.
The Identities of the Godhead
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 28:19)
- For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1John 5:7)
- The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. (2Cor. 13:14)
Jesus lay in the tomb for three days and three nights, in all four Gospels and prophesied in Psalms 69; 22; and Exodus 12; and 20.
Jesus raised three people from the dead: the widow’s son (Luke 7: 11-18); Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5: 22-24, 35-43); and Lazarus ( John 11: 1-44).
Jesus’ three closest apostles were Peter, James, and John.
And below, you see illustrated, all three Persons of the Godhead are manifested to eyewitnesses at the same time. . .
And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him; And lo a Voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17
We must resist the efforts of the cults, the emergent church, and New Age Religion to remove Jesus from the throne. . .
The four indicators of a cult:
- Add to God’s Word with new Scripture
- Subtract from Jesus
- Multiply the requirements for salvation
- Divide their followers loyalty
The Five Fundamentals of the Faith:
- The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible
- The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ
- The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
- Christ’s atoning vicarious death for the sins of the world
- The literal second coming of Jesus Christ
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
Infiltration vs. Separation
The Laodicean Church in the last half of the 20th century can be defined in one term – New Evangelicalism (or neo-Evangelicalism.) It began within Fundamentalism itself, in the 1940′s, and has proven to be Satan’s strongest weapon in defiling the church – bringing it from the Philadelphia Church Age, 1700-1900, when this country was founded – to a fully lukewarm, weak and ineffectual body.
The term “New Evangelical” was coined by Harold Ockenga, pastor of The Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts. In a news release, dated Dec. 8, 1957, Ockenga stated:
The New Evangelicalism has changed its strategy from one of separation to one of infiltration.
Ockenga believed that separation was outdated, and no longer useful in Christianity – despite the Biblical mandate for Christians to avoid being unequally yoked. Like a giant snowball – the movement gained momentum – and doctrine after doctrine was cast aside for what was deemed to be appropriate for the times.
Here you see Evangelical John Hagee in the center, with Mormon Glen Beck on the left, and Patriot David Barton on the right. This performance is done under the auspices of patriotism, but anyone who seriously studies the Bible knows what it is. And we can’t exactly give it a pass under the domain of political expediency, as John Hagee is neither a politician nor a news pundit.
Mixing solid Biblical belief, with cults and liberality equals one very lukewarm church. This tepid soup, has given birth to spiritual poverty, apathy, and utter blindness. The old Jesuit philosophy – “The ends justifies the means” – has brought Romanism right-smack-dab into the middle of the church in the form of “Evangelical ecumenism,” a phrase coined by Billy Graham, wherein he became the “spokesman of the convictions and ideals,” of the New Evangelist. Here is Graham in an interview with Larry King regarding the passing of Pope John Paul II:
KING: You said that he was an Evangelist.
GRAHAM: He was, indeed. He traveled throughout the world to bring his Christian message to the world. And we see tonight the outpouring from the world that he touched. And I think he touched almost everybody in the whole world.
Read cbn.com article here.
When I see Glen Beck speaking of Joseph Smith, while on stage with Evangelical Sarah Palin during a rally – I point it out to whomever I can. Would you like to know what response I receive? “That’s not so bad. They’re trying to take back this country! You’re being too judgmental!”
The hallmarks of New Evangelicalism:
- Liberals and cultists are included in prayer, crusades, committees, and given equal recognition as Christian leaders.
- Believes it is appropriate to join forces to reach souls for Christ – “The ends justifies the means.”
- Remains in liberal churches and organizations, like a mega or Purpose Driven Church, or the Masonic Lodge. Infiltration is better than separation.
- Conforms to the world’s thoughts and preferences.
- Questions the authority of Scripture and accommodates evolutionary theory by co-opting it into the Book of Genesis.
And just as Billy Graham received great “puff” press support from William Randolph Hurst in the 40′s and 50′s, so today, does Rick Warren receive the same support from Rupert Murdoch and his powerful news agencies. Living along side and cozying up to evil has served us the same as it served ancient Israel. When they did not eradicate the Canaanites remaining the land – they became just like the nations that were before them. They intermarried, joined in ventures, and worshiped their gods.
We do not need to be “like” the world to “win” the world! Our greatest and only tool is the Word of God. Period. Just as our Savior responded to the devil – every time – with the Word of God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
Touchy Subject
I am not judging whether anyone in these movements is saved or not – but I am judging whether the movements are Biblical. Recently, John MacArthur held a “Strange Fire” conference, wherein he stated that Pentecostal and Charismatics were offering “strange fire” unto the Lord with their particular kind of worship.
John MacArthur is not my idea of rock solid Bible teacher – as he apparently has taken the plunge into the New Age Bible pushers club. That being said, I do agree with his basic premise about the movements. He is facing a backlash of sorts, being called “unloving,” among other things. The Christian Post has offered up a statement of sorts, with a handy list of things “you may not know about Pentecostals/Charismatics.” I have added commentary in red. Here goes:
1. Islam is not the fastest-growing faith family in the world. Pentecostalism is. While Islam has gone from zero in 610 AD to 1.6 billion today (1,403 years), Pentecostalism went from zero to (about) a billion from 1906 to the present day (107 years). Indeed – this is true, and while many Christians that I know and love, obsess over Muslims taking over the world – the fact is- the merging of faiths, via “Charism,” will be the true One World Religion.
2. Pentecostalism is quintessentially American. It began (although there were pre-shocks for centuries) in the multi-ethnic Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, Calif. It is arguably our most influential export of any kind. Even more influential than Hollywood!
3. The churches planted by American mainline denominations (Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, UCC, etc) in the global South are overwhelmingly Pentecostal/Charismatic in their piety. For instance, a Lutheran from Ethiopia (Mekane Yesus) would certainly be considered Pentecostal if visiting here in the U.S. Ecumenism!
4. Pentecostals/Charismatics are diverse. They run the spectrum range from Oxford/Cambridge blue bloods in the Kensington neighborhood of London to snake handlers in Appalachia. The current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is a product of the largest congregation in the Church of England, Holy Trinity Brompton, which is one of the most influential charismatic congregations in the world. And not just economically diverse. If you find yourself in a multi-cultural congregation in the U.S.A. on a Sunday morning, the overwhelming probability is that you are sitting in a Pentecostal worship service. You do not need to be saved to speak in tongues. Everyone is comfortable.
5. Pentecostals are not anti-intellectual. The unofficial “Pentecostal Pope,” Jack Hayford of Los Angeles, is a Bible-scholar’s Bible scholar. Oral Roberts University, Regent Seminary (Virginia Beach) and Southeastern University (Lakeland, Florida) are some of the key centers of higher learning for the movement. The largest seminary in the Church of England (and perhaps the entire Anglican communion) is St. Mellitus Colleg/St. Paul’s Theological Center in London, spiritually godfathered by (Charismatic) Holy Trinity Brompton Church. They are now opening branches throughout the world. The “spiritual experiences” bind all these various denominations together – giving common ground, where before there was none.
6. Pentecostals were the leaders in the ordination of women. Because they are less bureaucratic and more “gifting driven,” Pentecostals were the first (not liberal Protestants) to ordain women. Aimee Semple Macpherson was one of the first American mega-church senior pastors (Angelus Temple in L.A. seated 5,000 a service in its prime). What can I say? Ordaining women is against Scripture, and on top of that – homosexual activists always piggyback on “women’s progress.”
7. Most all U.S. mainline denominations and also Roman Catholics have large Charismatic minorities. In fact, there are more Charismatic Roman Catholics than there are total members in most all other denominations. Lutherans and Episcopalians were pioneers in the Charismatic movement (Larry Christenson and Dennis Bennet). Interesting, that being saved by being Born again under the Blood of Christ is not what is being “pioneered.”
8. The Jesus Movement (“Jesus Freaks”) led by Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Calif., more or less invented CCM (Christian Contemporary Music). As Calvary Chapel was (and is) a “small c” charismatic congregation, Pentecostal piety has been carried into virtually every congregation in the country that has ever sung a praise song or had someone raise a hand in worship. As a professional musician, I could write pages and pages on the dangers of back-beats in Christian music. Contemporary Christian Music is the first foot of the devil into your church. Soon after that – the Bible used will be “updated” as well.
9. Latinos are not overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. A very large minority is Pentecostal. When Latinos leave the Roman Catholic church, which they do in large numbers, the two directions are secular or Pentecostal. There are almost certainly Pentecostal Latinos in your zip code. Yes, and what will happen to the culture in America with the unlimited immigration unfolding as I write this.
10. A word about the “Word of Faith” (also Word Faith, or just Faith) movement. This is the segment of Pentecostalism which is most prone to excesses (name it/claim it). However, this movement is also quite diverse and driven by the central concept of “faith makes a difference.” Thus, they tend to take biblical promises about prayers of faith literally. This drives a rather sophisticated systematic theology first exposited in depth by Kenneth Hagin (the elder one) and continuing to be unfolded by Joseph Prince (Singapore) and others. “Sophisticated systemic theology,” is code for obfuscation. The Word of God is simple and pure enough for a child to understand.
I have attended several charismatic prayer meetings for the purposes of research. What I heard, could not be identified as a language – angelic or otherwise. Repeating of particular non-words was disconcerting, as it bore a strong resemblance to Tantric chanting and other eastern worship methods. Very, very dangerous. http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/spiritual-discussions/31858-mechanical-chanting-amp-speaking-tongues.html
A form of demonic speaking-in-tongues is experienced by witch doctors, pagan religions and occultists…
“So writes Missionary Alex R. Hay in his excellent book, What Is Wrong in the Church? This discerning writer continues:
‘There is a Mohammedan sect that speaks in tongues. It is simply the result of an emotional state that is not normal and not difficult to induce. The fact is that “The gift of tongues,” as it is known today, is still a common characteristic of primitive religions. (We refer to speaking in an unknown or “heavenly” language unintelligible to the hearers, not the speaking of living languages that appeared at Pentecost.)
As a child of missionary parents in an Indian tribe in Paraguay, we were accustomed to hear the witch doctors chanting in an unknown spirit language at their religious ceremonies or when treating someone was ill.”
SOURCE: The TRUTH about TONGUES and the CHARISMATIC movement, by Hugh F. Pyle, Sword of the Lord Publishers, Murfreesboro, TN 37133; 1989; ISBN: 0-87398–846-9; pg. 59
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed.
The Bible Version Controversy: The Tale of Two Greeks, A Brief History of The War over God’s Eternal Written Word | Thy Word Alone is Truth: Examining All Things in the Refining Furnace of Scripture
Bible Study – Descendants of Ishmael
Genesis 25:12-18
12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
It is generally acknowledged that modern day Arabs are descended from Ishmael. This understanding comes from the Bible itself, Jewish Rabbis, and from a meager oral tradition. Mohammed claimed this descent himself, though it is truly impossible to determine his actual pedigree, due to the fact of the wandering and unsettled nature of the Ishmaelite tribes. There is no known literature to support any genealogy, outside of the Holy Bible. The Ishmaelites are mentioned on only three occasions in Scripture: Genesis 37: 25, 27, 29; 39:1, Judges 8:24, and Psalm 83:6.
Most Arabs believe that as the first born of Abraham, Ishmael was offered on the altar, not Issac, and therefore the Biblical Covenants and blessings belong to them, and not the Jews. However, many nomadic Arabs, still hold to the early pagan traditions from long ago – believing in a law of blood-revenge which requires a man to know his ancestors going back for four generations, but no father back than that. The physical attributes, language, customs and traditions (pre-Mohammed corruption) along with the infallible testimony of the Holy Bible, makes the Arab nations, largely Ishmaelite in all respects.
Psalm 83
83 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth
Bible Study – Esau Sells His Birthright
Our last devotional, covered the birth of Jacob and Esau. We can not underestimate the value of this lesson from Old Testament history. The twins “struggled together within her” (Gen. 25:22) in the same fashion that our new natures (received at the new birth) struggle with our old natures (received at the natural birth) once we are born again. Like Rebekah, we have the two personalities struggling within us. It is the struggle for mastery in the inner soul of every single, truly born again believer.
God ordained for the “younger new nature” (Jacob) to have dominion over the “older sin nature.” (Esau)
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you
Genesis 25:29-34
29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Two wrongs occur here. Firstly, Esau in lust of flesh, sells what is not his to sell. Secondly, Jacob takes advantage of his brother’s weakness, and “deals” for something that also was not his. The blessing was from God, through Abraham and Issac. Esau demonstrated that he had a very low regard for the birthright blessing. Like fleshly Issac, who loved Esau more than Jacob because “he did eat of his venison,” Esau was given to fleshly appetites and and placed ALL of his value on “savory meat.”
Like the carnal Christian, Esau chose fleeting, temporal satisfaction. Jacob highly regarded the eternal. Those believers who walk closely with the Lord, seek the long ranging spiritual promise of the birthright.
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The Abundant Life – #4 – The Spirit Filled Life
John 3:3-7
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
It is a fact, that the Holy Spirit indwells every truly born again believer. Though we may be weak, immature, and imperfect – if we have been “born again” of the Spirit – He dwells in us. 1 Cor. 6:19- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? Rom. 8:9 – But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit indwell us – but does He have us in such a way that He may fill us with the “Abundant Life?” Contrary to the teachings of prosperity preachers – the abundant life can not be found in our environments or circumstances, or in the many material things that we may possess. It is only found in the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit
EPHESIANS 5:18 IS A COMMAND! TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO BE SPIRIT-POSSESSED, SPIRIT- EMPOWERED, AND SPIRIT-CONTROLLED.
1. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we might have joy. Eph. 5:19-20 –19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
2. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for service. Acts 6:3 – Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
3. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for power to be a witness. Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
4. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for the hour of persecution. Acts 7: 54-60 –
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
5. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we may “walk in the Spirit.” Gal. 5:16-26 – 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
6. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we may be led by the Holy Spirit. Rom. 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
WE CAN ONLY BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IF WE DESIRE HIM TO FILL US. THEN WE MUST ASK HIM TO FILL US. AND FINALLY, WE MUST BELIEVE THAT HE FILLS US.
John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The Abundant Life – #3 – The Separated Life
The separated life is simultaneously positive and negative. The old adage – “be in the world, but not of the world,” was derived from the topic of this article.
Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. . .
Read that carefully! We are to be “separated unto the gospel of God”! This is POSITIVE SEPARATION.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
We must come out of ANYTHING that is contrary to the perfect will of God. This is NEGATIVE SEPARATION.
FOR THE BELIEVER – TO BE SEPARATED – MEANS TO BE SANCTIFIED (SET APART) FOR SALVATION AND SERVICE
1. The Word of God has the power to separate the believer from sin. John 17:17 – Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth. Ps. 119:11 – Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.
2. God the Father has the power to separate the believer unto the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 5:23 – And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. God the Son has the power to separate the believer unto righteousness, “not having spot, or wrinkle.” Eph. 5: 24,27 –
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;
26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,
27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
4. God the Holy Spirit has the power to separate the believer unto salvation and service. 2 Thess. 2:13 – But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
If we are not separated, we can still have a relationship with God, but we can not have fellowship with Him. This is the problem of the dominant church spirit at this time – Laodicea. The majority of churches are now so closely allied with the world, there is no fellowship with God. They may be united with Him at Calvary, but separated from Him in sin.
Isaiah 59:1-2
59 Behold, the Lord‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.
Without separation we can have:
- Influence without power
- Movement without achievement
- Trying without trusting
- Serving without success
- Spiritual battle without victory
WITHOUT SEPARATION UNTO GOD – OUR ENTIRE CHRISTIAN WALK WILL BE “WOOD, HAY, AND STUBBLE.”
THE TRULY ABUNDANT LIFE IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST – MADE REALITY BY SEPARATION UNTO HIM.
The Abundant Life – #2 – The Service Life
The only way for believers to live abundantly, is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, Who Himself became our example. He served from the beginning, all the way to Calvary; and there became the obedient servant. . .”obedient unto death.” Phil. 2
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
In the above verses from Romans, believers are urged to take the necessary steps for abundant living. Please note the highlighted words in red.
1. We are to “present.” Of our own volition, we are to surrender to the perfect will of God – even though we may not know God’s will for our lives – it is on our own part – AN ACT OF FAITH. John 7:17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.
2. We are to “present your bodies,” because God must control and use the WHOLE man. Your whole man was redeemed on the cross and sanctified! (set apart for service) 1 Thess. 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. We are to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” No where is this better demonstrated than in the life of Paul – who was a “living sacrifice.” In life he was a servant of Jesus Christ – Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. . .
In spiritual battle, he was a warrior – Eph. 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
He lived as a “prisoner of Christ,” in the will of God – Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles These words were spoken from a Roman prison – yet he never stated that he was a prisoner of Rome. To the Apostle Paul, prison was a part of the perfect will of God. Full of this conviction – he lived abundantly. Phil. 1:12 – But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. . .
In death, Paul was victorious – 2 Tim. 4:7-8
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
ONLY THOSE WHO ARE TRULY BORN AGAIN, CAN EXPERIENCE THE ABUNDANT LIFE. BY CHOOSING THE ABUNDANT LIFE – THE BELIEVER IS “TRANSFORMED,” BY THE POWER OF GOD – AND NO LONGER “CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.” NOW WE CAN BE CONFORMED TO THE “PERFECT WILL OF GOD.”
The Abundant Life – #1 – The Yielded Life
There is no secret formula or ritual to living the abundant life; it is revealed, as are all great truths – in the Person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:10
For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.
Faith that saves, identifies us with Christ in His resurrection. This IS the abundant life!
Colossians 3:1-4
3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
1. It is one thing to have eternal life by faith. It is another thing entirely to have abundant life by faith.
2. It is one thing to “be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21 – For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. It is quite another thing to realize His righteous life is in us. 1 John 3:7 – Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
3. It is one thing to live in Christ. 2 Cor. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. It is another thing for Christ to live HIS life through us. Col. 1:7 – To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. . .
Romans 6:13
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:13, shows us that every believer has a choice. We may yield unto God by faith, and enjoy abundant life, or the believer may yield unto sin and endure a defeated life. Rev. 3:1 – And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. God wants ALL believers to know the power of a yielded life – for it will lift us above circumstances that circumvent abundant living. The abundant life begins the instant we yield to Him as Lord and Master (Not Lordship salvation!!) allowing Him to live His life through us by faith.
Next up in the series – the service life!
The Abundant Life – Introduction
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The only way into eternal life is through faith in Christ as personal savior.
Once you are saved – do not stop there! Having eternal life is the most important, but there is so much more. Christ said that He came that we might have life more abundantly. ALL believers have life, but not all believers have abundant life.
In order to have abundant life, we need abundant resources. The only unlimited resource is the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
In order to possess this abundant life – we MUST abide IN HIM!
John 15:1-5
15 I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
This kind of vibrant, abundant living is not for just a select few, it is what God wants for ALL believers. It is a deep spiritual life, and without it, the Christian life is meaningless.
If you do not have abundant life within you – you will soon yield to carnality. The fleshly life around you will overcome your puny resistance, and and you will be surrounded.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
The carnal Christian life is circumstance controlled – the abundant life is Holy Spirit- controlled. The carnal Christian life leads to one defeat after another – the abundant life leads to victory in Christ.
Man seems to know everything about life except how to live it abundantly.
Please continue on with this series, and determine that from now on – not to be satisfied with anything less than God’s best – life abundantly.
Study on Faith – #5 – The Hall of Faith
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith.” This is a chapter we need to visit often, and linger at. If we desire our faith to become strong in the Lord, there is no better place than this Scripture to see what strong faith is. Here we get a view of the history of Israel and the Church, written by faith, in the blood of the saints.
Hebrews 11:32-40
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
They worshiped by faith as Abel, and walked by faith as Enoch. They worked by faith like Noah, and lived by faith as Abraham. They governed by faith as Moses, and they followed by faith as Israel. They fought by faith as Joshua, and conquered by faith as Gideon. They subdued kingdoms as David, and they stopped the mouths of lions as Daniel. They walked through fire by faith as the Three Hebrew Children, the suffered by faith as Paul.
They died by faith as stephen – the first christian martyr
Acts 7:54-60
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
By faith they were patient in suffering, courageous in battle, made strong out of weakness, and were victorious in defeat. They were more than conquerors by faith. It is only by faith in the all-powerful Christ that we can be superior to circumstances, and victorious over all the evil forces that would destroy us and our testimonies.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The faith of the saints inspires us – but we must look to Jesus as our example of faith.
This concludes our Study on Faith – next up – The Abundant Life!
Study on Faith – #4 – Three Kinds of Faith
There is one passage in the Bible that perfectly portrays the three kinds of faith. It is well known – having entire books written to explore it. We will go a little deeper, using only Scripture – and not needing a whole book to understand the deep things of God!
In John 11, we see the faith of Martha in connection with the resurrection of her brother Lazarus. It begins when Lazarus fell ill, and his sisters Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus delayed His coming until Lazarus was dead and in the grave for four days. Then He arrived and found the limited, fundamental faith of Martha His only obstacle.
1. Martha’s faith was limited.
John 11:21
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
The death of Lazarus meant the end of Martha’s faith. She believed that Jesus had the power to raise her brother up from the sick bed, but not from the dead. Her limited faith restricted the power of Christ (not that He is not all-powerful – but in that He only worked miracles where they would be received and He would be believed on)
Matthew 13:58
And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Limited faith is controlled by circumstances, and motivated by fear of failure
2. Martha’s faith was fundamental. In John 11:23, Jesus said – “Thy brother shall rise again.” These words were spoken to kindle hope in Martha, but she still prevaricated.
John 11:24-27
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. [Here she declares her fundamental faith in a Great Truth, but that is not enough!]
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [Jesus is saying that He has all power over life and death]
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. [She evades His question and states her creed. Stating one’s creed to the living, all-powerful Christ is shallow indeed – faith must go beyond creeds.]
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
It wasn’t only Martha’s faith that was limited – it was many of the Jew’s who were doubting and decrying Him for delaying His arrival.
3. At last, unlimited faith came to Martha when she agreed to have the stone moved from Lazarus’ grave. Martha first objected in unbelief.
John 11:39
Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Then Jesus challenges her to believe.
John 11:40
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Martha demonstrated her new-found, unlimited faith, by allowing the stone to be moved, and then she waited in faith – and was rewarded!
John 11:43
And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Seeing is NOT believing.
You must believe first, and then you will see.
Faith comes before sight. Don’t be satisfied with limited, fundamental faith only, when you can have unlimited faith that pleases God – because it reveals His glory!
As you can see – a 300 page book is not required! You only need The Book!
Study on Faith – #3 – Little Faith
Every believer can fall into the “little faith” category – at least at some point in their walk. The LORD so perfectly illustrated this for us, and its remedy, in Matthew 14, which relates the incident of Peter walking on water to meet the LORD. We will examine this episode, and see ourselves as Peter, and what we can do to grow our faith.
Matthew 14:28-31
28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.
29 And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
At this stage in Peter’s spiritual growth, he is a man of “little faith.” We know that after Pentecost, he became a spiritual giant. The important passage above, detailing Peter’s little faith – is something we can learn from – and it was designed for our learning. Think of the significance of Jesus coming to His disciples during a terrible storm, walking calmly on the water while they were in great distress. Peter asks if he can come to Him on the water – and the LORD said COME!
Before we begin – please reread the above scripture carefully!
- Peter did the impossible thing – he walked on water by faith.
- Next, Peter did the conceivable thing – he took his eyes off Christ – and looked at the water – he had second thoughts – and he doubted.
- Then Peter did the expected thing – he began to sink – he failed.
- Now Peter did the right thing – he prayed – “Lord, save me.” Peter reconnected to the Lord in faith.
- Then Peter did the impossible thing again – with an extra – he walked on water back to the ship – with the Lord.
The order of events is extremely important!!
The steps: Peter began in faith, and walked on water. Then he saw the storm, and had second thoughts which led to doubt. The doubt produced fear, that caused him to turn away, and brought on the failure.
In this lesson we see the success and failure of “little faith”
We need faith that is bigger than the elements that seek to destroy us. We can have this kind of faith by prayer and fasting –
Matthew 17:20-21
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
and by feeding our faith on the Word of God.
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
We can have mountain-moving faith!
Study on Faith – #2 – The Importance of Faith
Ephesians 6:16
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
The shield of faith is a very important component of the Christian’s armor. We are to put on the “whole armor of God,” (Eph. 6:10-18) because our Christian life is a life of warfare – a spiritual conflict. As Paul names the different parts of the Christian’s armor – when coming to the shield – he emphasizes its importance by saying “Above all, taking the shield of faith.”
With the shield of faith we are – “more than conquerors though Him that loved us.” Rom. 8:37
The importance of faith is seen in that:
1. We can NOT be saved without faith.
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2. We can NOT live victoriously over the world without faith.
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
3. We can NOT please God without faith.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
4. We can NOT pray without faith!
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
5. We can NOT have peace with God without faith.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
6. We can NOT have joy without faith.
1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
7. We are justified by faith and NOT by works.
Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
8. We are to live by faith.
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
9. We are made righteous by faith.
Romans 10:1-4
10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
10. Christ dwells in our hearts by faith.
Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. . .
11. The Holy Spirit is received by faith.
Galatians 3:2
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
12. Faith is important because it honors God – and God always honors faith.
Romans 14:23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Study on Faith – #1 – What is Faith?
HEBREWS 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Our faith is the title deed to eternal life. Just as a paper title gives evidence of car and real estate ownership – so our faith is evidence of our eternal estate in God.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:18
WHILE WE LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, BUT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN: FOR THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL; BUT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL.
1. Faith is taking God at His Word without question.
HEBREWS 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
2. Faith is knowing that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” Faith does not believe that all things are good – or that all things work out well. Faith believes that all things – both good and bad – work together for good to them that love God.
ROMANS 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
3. Faith is two-sided. The first side deals with our intellects, wherein we have intellectual conviction that Jesus Christ is God. The second side deals with our wills. It is a conscious choice to surrender our wills to the will of Jesus Christ as Lord and Master.
This is displayed in Thomas’ declaration – “My Lord and my God.” John 20:28
JOHN 20:28-31
28 And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord {volitional or conscious surrender} and my God. {intellectual conviction}
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name. {saving faith!}
Saving faith is an intellectual conviction that Jesus is God, and a volitional surrender to Him as Lord (Master) of our lives. By faith, the mind trusts in God; the heart responds to the love of God; the will submits to the commands of God; and the life obeys in the service of God.
4. Genuine faith is paradoxical. It surpasses all human reasoning and logic. The truly faithful believes without understanding why.
It sings in prison.
ACTS 16:25
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
It glories in tribulations.
ROMANS 5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
It chooses to suffer.
HEBREWS 11:25
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season
It accepts all things as a part of God’s will.
PHILIPPIANS 1:12
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel
WE ARE NOT BORN WITH THIS FAITH. IT COMES BY THE HEARING OF GOD’S WORD –
ROMANS 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
This is why we are commanded to preach the Gospel to every creature, that by hearing, they may believe.
ROMANS 10:13-14
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Study on Faith – Introduction
The just shall live by faith.
This declaration of the Christian’s principle of life is found in four places in Scripture.
- Habakkuk 2: 1-5
- Romans 2:17
- Galatians 3:10
- Hebrews 10:38
In the Old Testament Book of Habakkuk, we see the difference between the lives of the just and the unjust. The unjust are puffed up – and live according to their own wills and self-sufficiency. But the just on the other hand – live by faith. Their confidence is only in God, not themselves. To the just, faith is more than a world view or philosophy of life. It is the very principle of life.
HABAKKUK 2:4
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
The righteous shall live his entire life by faith.
- He is saved by faith.
Acts 16:31 – And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- He is kept by faith.
1 Peter 1:5 – Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- He lives by faith.
Gal. 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
The faith of the just shall be tried many times and in many ways – but will always be vindicated, because through Christ, faith is more than equal to any occasion.
1 Peter 1:7 – That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. . .
Faith knows how to wait on the Lord.
Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Faith is always victorious.
1 John 5:4 – For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Faith defies logic, and can move mountains.
Matt. 17: 14 – 21
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Faith never gives up.
Hebrews 11:32-39
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
WITH FAITH – WE CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY, THAT “GOD IS WORKING OUT HIS PERFECT WILL IN MY LIFE, AND I CAN WAIT – ENDURE – AND SUFFER!” FAITH DOES NOT MAKE ANYTHING EASY – BUT IT DOES MAKE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE.
Repentance – Introduction
Proverbs 28:13
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
What mankind expresses outwardly only fools other people. God desires truth in the inward parts. Baby kissing politicians are an excellent allegory of this concept. The same politician publicly kissing the cheek of a six month old infant, thinks nothing of voting for a six month pre-born infant to be killed in the womb.
Psalm 51:6
Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
God commands ALL men everywhere to repent.
Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Sinners must repent before we can become the recipients of salvation by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Once saved, we must practice repentance so that we may enjoy unbroken fellowship with God. Someone once said – “I repented before I understood the meaning of the word, but since then as a Christian I have repented many times.”
Job 42:1-6
42 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
2 I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech Thee, and I will speak: I will demand of Thee, and declare Thou unto me.
5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Repentance itself, is a gift from God!
Acts 5:31
Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 11:18
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
The goodness of God is not merited – therefore – the results of His goodness (which is repentance) is a gift.
Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
This gift of repentance is an inward change produced by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God is proclaimed.
Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The result of preaching the Word of God is “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Faith that Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried and that He rose from the dead.
Acts 20:21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
4 And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
Repentance qualifies us for salvation – but it takes faith in christ to acquire it. countless very religious people are aware of their sinfulness – but since they do not fully trust christ for their salvation – they never acquire it. true repentance is always coupled with faith. it is impossible to have saving faith and not repent! “repentance toward god and faith toward our lord Jesus Christ” are essential and inseparable in salvation.
Faith without repentance is the ultimate hypocrisy – and repentance without faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is folly and futility.
Repentance – #7 – The Evidence of Repentance
Acts 26:19-20
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
The evidence (proof) of repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ can be positively seen in truly converted individuals – and it is demonstrated vividly for us in Scripture.
REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND, HEART, AND WILL
1. Doubting Thomas repents – Thomas refused to believe that Christ had been raised from the dead until he could see with his own eyes, and touch with his own hands, the risen Savior.
John 20:24-29 – 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Thomas repented, believed, and made his great profession of faith with – “My Lord and my God.”
2. Three thousand (!) changed their minds, hearts and wills on the day of Pentecost, and immediately gave evidence of their repentance.
Acts 2:41-47 – 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Please take note that these believers did not go back to living the way they did before their conversion.
3. Saul of Tarsus experienced repentance when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He then gave evidence of repentance –
Acts 9:1-18 – And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord?
And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
4. Cornelius, his entire family and friends repented when they heard the gospel as preached by Simon Peter, and then evidence of repentance followed their conversions. Acts 10:24-48
5. The Philippian jailer and his house repented after being witnessed to by Paul and Silas – the evidence of repentance followed. Acts 16:26-34 – 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Don’t be fooled by the “God loves me no matter what I do,” preaching out there. While it is true that He loves without measure – He also demands proof of conversion. Not for Himself – He knows who is truly saved or not. The evidence of repentance is to give Him glory and honor, to exalt His Word and His name above our own, and that our lives may testify of His Grace and Mercy. Some people claiming the name of Christ, live like the very devil. Sinners should never be able to say that believers are hypocrites, and no different than the world. We should demonstrate our repentance in such a fashion that we lead some to their own repentance.
Repentance is a change of the mind, the heart, and the will.
The proof of repentance is. . .
1.turning from sin
Ezekiel 18:30
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
2. turning to God
Acts 26:20
. . . that they should repent and turn to God,
3. followed by good deeds
Acts 26:20
. . .and do works meet for repentance.
This concludes our seven part study on repentance.
The next series will be an in depth study of The New Birth.
Repentance – #4 – Does God Repent?
I could hardly wait to cover this aspect of repentance, as it also covers one of the so-called “contradictions,” in the Bible. If, after this study, any readers still insist this is a contradiction, we will assume that person is not saved, and does not want to know or understand the Word.
OK – DEEP BREATH – HERE WE GO!
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?
Genesis 6:5-7
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.
7 And the Lord said,
I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.
OK – Bible critics – Ahah! There it is, right there. A HUGE contradiction. Only – sorry – it’s not a contradiction. It is a PARADOX!
THAT’S RIGHT – IT IS NOT CONTRADICTORY – IT IS PARADOXICAL!!!!
God makes TWO covenants with mankind.
1. The first is UNCONDITIONAL.
When He makes an UNCONDITIONAL covenant – HE NEVER REPENTS! Israel haters take note – He made such a covenant with Abraham.
Gen. 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. It will stand FOREVER because – “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent.” Ps. 110:4. He made an UNCONDITIONAL covenant with Israel.
Romans 11:23-35
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?
35 Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
2. The second is CONDITIONAL.
“The Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. “
Gen. 6:3 In the days of Noah, God gave the human race 120 years to repent. Only Noah and his family repented and “found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
Gen. 6:8 Noah and his family met God on His terms and conditions – and so – were not judged with the unrepentant. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to us,“
NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” 2 PETER 3:9
It is abundantly clear, my Calvinist friends, that God wills to save all lost souls! He is “not willing that any should perish.” To be saved, one must meet His terms and conditions, which are – “repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21 IF a sinner does NOT repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, THEN God will repent, CHANGE, and judge the sinner.
In His love, He bestows Grace – BUT – if salvation by Grace is rejected – In His justice – He terminates Grace.
THIS IS THE WAY THAT GOD REPENTS
Next up – Impossible to renew unto repentance! If you find Bible doctrine fascinating and irresistible – then you are in good company.
1 Peter 1:12-13
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
Repentance – #3 – From Dead Works
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. . .
The writer of Hebrews, whom I believe to be Paul, gives us something to think about in that phrase – “repentance from dead works.” What does that mean? Well, sometimes, as in the Book of Proverbs, a concept is better understood by contrasting it – by exploring what it isn’t – before we study what it is.
There are three categories of works in the Bible. Good works, wicked works, and dead works. We will address them in that order.
1. Good works.
Mat. 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ONLY truly born-again, or saved souls can ever do good works and please God. The lost, or unsaved, no matter how many works they do, can not do good works.
Psalm 14: 1-3 – The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Believers are not to hide their good works, but let them be seen in a manner which glorifies our heavenly Father. Mary of Bethany anointed the head and feet of Jesus while he sat at the table of Simon the leper. Some disciples took exception to this, claiming it was an extravagant waste.
And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me. Mark 14:6.
as believers, we need to do all we can to the glory of god, not in order to be saved, but because we are saved.
2. Wicked works.
Col. 1:20-21 – 20 And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled. Unregenerated, natural man, can only do wicked works.
1 Cor. 2:14 – But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The unsaved, natural man, walks according to the world system, motivated by the “prince of the power of the air.” (Satan) His thoughts, speech, and behavior are filled with the lusts of the flesh. He is a child of wrath, and ALL his works are wicked because he is dead in sin.
Eph. 2:1-3 – 1 And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
we will now address dead works – from Hebrews 6:1
3. Dead works.
We should all be able to recognize them, because they get a great deal of media attention. Religious works fall well into this category. These are works performed by the religious, for the purposes of earning eternal life. Legalistic, it requires the keeping of moral and ceremonial laws of God, in an attempt to win God’s favor and be saved by the works.
Eph. 2:8-9 – 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Paul wrote – Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. 3:20.
Dead works are performed by the religious, who are – . . .ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Rom. 10:3-4
Our beloved Apostle Paul is an excellent example of repentance from dead works. He clearly states that he has “no confidence in the flesh,” then goes on to list his dead works of which he had to repent.
Philippians 3:1-9
3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
When he compared his own self righteousness which was by dead works of the law, with the Righteousness of Christ which is by faith, he counted the former Paul and his works as nothing but rubbish.
Paul knew the meaning of “repentance from dead works!!!”
Next up – Repentance and God!
Repentance – #2- Preached!
Mark 1:1-4
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Contrary to the teachings of far too many ministries – the doctrine of repentance was in fact, preached in the Old Testament before the birth of Christ; and it was preached during the life and ministry of Christ; and it was preached on the day of Pentecost; and in the Book of Acts after Pentecost! It is taught in the Epistles and in the Book of Revelation.
REPENTANCE IS A DOCTRINE TO BE PREACHED AND TAUGHT FROM EVERY PULPIT IN THE WORLD – IN EVERY AGE. REPENTANCE QUITE LITERALLY MEANS – A CHANGE OF MIND, HEART AND WILL. THE JEWS BEING BAPTIZED BY JOHN WERE CHANGING THEIR MINDS, HEARTS AND WILLS BY TURNING AWAY FROM THE LAW AND RECEIVING THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE.
1. John the Baptist preached Repentance.
(a) He preached the baptism of Repentance.
Luke 3:3 – And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
(b) He preached “Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mat.3:2 – And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
Mat. 3:3 – For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John’s preaching of repentance exalted Christ, denounced sin, warned of judgment, and – it cost him his head.
Mat. 14:6-11 –
6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
2. Jesus Christ preached repentance.
(a) He preached, ”Repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Mark 1:14-15 – 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
(b) Christ’s teaching on repentance was actually an ultimatum! REPENT OR PERISH!!!!!
Luke 13:1-5 – There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
SALVATION BY GRACE IS FOR THE REPENTANT SOUL, AND JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY IS FOR THOSE WHO RESIST
3. Peter preached repentance.
(a) At Pentecost he preached repentance.
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(b) In his second epistle he preached repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
EVERY SOUL THAT GOES TO HELL GOES AGAINST THE WILL OF GOD. . .
4. Paul preached repentance.
Acts 17:30 – And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: This message was given on Mars Hill to the “intelligentsia” of Athens. The results were three-fold: some mocked, some procrastinated, and some believed.
Acts 17:32-34
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead,
some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
And so is the Gospel of Repentance unto Salvation still received to this day (if it is actually preached) Some mock, some procrastinate, and some believe it and cling to it. These three different decisions are made by sinners, every second of every day.
Repentance – #1 – Defined
I could hardly wait to get to this segment. Oh boy – has the definition of this one word been corrupted. It has sparked huge controversy among teachers, preachers, authors, and bloggers.
My understanding of “Lordship Salvation” is that it is two pronged salvation. One must come to the Lord in faith AND make Him Lord of your life simultaneously. That can mean a lot of different things to different people. Lordship Salvation suggests that you must stop sinning while accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. That is the two-pronged part. It has taken the word “Repentance,” and completely redefined it. To fully understand the meaning of the word Repentance, we will first look at what it isn’t –
repentance is not –
1. Repentance is not sorrow. 2 Cor. 7:9,10- 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Godly sorrow is a guilty feeling that LEADS to repentance, but it is not repentance.
2. Repentance is not penance. (a) Jesus did not say – do penance and believe the Gospel. He said – Mark 1:15 – And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
(b) Peter did not say, do penance and everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. He said,
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(c) Paul did not say, God commandeth all men everywhere to do penance. He said
– Acts 17:30 – And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.
if penance is repentance, then salvation is not the gift of god, and we are not saved by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
3. Repentance is not reformation. Reformation is a change brought about by the efforts of man for self-glory.
Matt.12:43,45 – 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Reformation is the turning away from known sin, or giving up a bad habit, or trying to make restitution, trying to overhaul the old nature, turning over a new leaf. . .Judas reformed – but it did not save him – neither can it save us.
Matt. 27:3-5 – 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
what repentance is-
1. Repentance is a change. This change is always evidenced in three elements.
- The intellectual element – a change of mind.
- The emotional element – a change of heart.
- The volitional element – a change of will.
2. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a perfect illustration of repentance. He had a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of will.
Luke 15:11-32
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, [intellectual element] he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, [volitional element] and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned [emotional element] against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
repentance is change. the prodigal had a change of mind, and his change of mind effected a change of heart, and his change of heart effected a change of will. no one will ever be saved until he wills to be.
Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
repentance is a change of mind, heart, and will.
Church Praying and Fasting on Fridays for America
Bible Study – Abraham and Abimelech
Our last study finished the extraordinary story of Lot. A couple of observations need reemphasizing.
- Lot was a carnal believer, with his focus on the world, rather than the spiritual, he was saved – but only just!
- Lot was “unequally yoked.” His wife was not a believer. Her judgement demonstrated what will happen to all those who have had ample opportunity to be saved, but still choose the world.
- Lot’s life ends in disgrace. His sons, conceived through drunken incest, become the enemies of Israel, and ultimately – Christians.
- Lot – as the carnal believer – teaches us that if we, as believers, live our lives to please ourselves, and do not judge ourselves, He will judge us while we are yet living on this earth. The following verses cover the carnal believer –
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11: 31-32
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3: 15
We now enter another bizarre incidence of Sarah being kidnapped! Although Abraham was centered in Hebron, he often moved around seeking pasture for his flocks. He winds up in Gerar, a Philistine city, about 40 miles west of Hebron.
1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Abimelech means “my father is king.” It is a title, rather than a name, as Pharaoh was. “Father” of his people.
Once again, Abraham presents Sarah as his sister, another weakness of Abraham’s. The same deception he used with Pharaoh, the same equivocation. He revealed only half the truth, while some would argue that it is not an out and out lie – it is really no better. It is a spiritual relapse.
Sarah is taken, by force, again! She is 90 years old! The Babylonian Talmud and other occult books assert that she was a “seer,” and highly sought after by powerful men. That is a ridiculous notion. If Sarah could see the future – why on earth did she give her handmaid Hagar to her husband? She would have been able to see what terrible trouble that caused! It stands to reason that there was something unusual about her, perhaps her coloring, that made her so attractive. Blue eyes? Possibly.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him,
Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said,
Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? 5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
Abimelech fears for all his family, and all of his people after what had famously happened at Sodom.
GOD GIVES ABIMELECH A CHOICE.
6 And God said unto him in a dream,
Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against Me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
This is an amazing exchange between the Lord and Abimelech. The Lord knows that Abimelech had honorable intentions towards Sarah, but if he refuses to return her, he and everyone connected to him will die.
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. 10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11 And Abraham said,
Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake. 12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
Consider that Abraham is thinking of Sarah’s safety. From the time they left Ur of the Charldees, she had presented herself as his sister, (half true) per his request. A beautiful married woman, could have found herself savagely raped and a widow all at the same time. A woman without protection had very little chance. If she were believed to be a virtuous maiden, it would be less likely that either of them would be harmed in that culture.
Abraham’s perception of the general depravity of the Canaanites is what leads him to deceive Abimelech, who in turn wants to know what Abraham saw in his people that caused him to do this thing. It was also judged to be lawful at that time to marry sisters on the father’s side, but not on the mother’s. Abimelech next returns Sarah, but rebukes her, along with many gifts to Abraham.
14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. 16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
- Abimelech gives Abraham even more than Pharaoh did.
- He also beseeches Abraham to stay wherever he desires within his lands as opposed to Pharaoh who begged him to leave.
- Abimelech publicly states that Sarah is married, and that she is under the covering of her husband. We can extract from this that Sarah went about unveiled to further the deception that she was Abraham’s sister. All married women were veiled in this era.
- Sarah was redeemed from Abimelech before he touched her, thereby preventing any possible claims of anyone other than 100 year old Abraham as the father of the nation of Israel. Abimelech’s public pronouncement was the last thing required before the son of promise was conceived.
- In return for this, Abraham prayed for Abimelech.
17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. 18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife. Genesis 20 1-18
Abraham is an Old Testament type of Christ, who redeemed his bride-sister from the pagan king. Jesus is the Christ, who redeems His bride-sister-brother-mother. . .from the pagan, anti-Christ world.
46 While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him.
47 Then one said unto Him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But He answered and said unto him that told him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren?
49 And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12: 46-50
Bible Study – The Birth of Moab and Ben Ami
We left off with the Lord’s merciful deliverance of Lot, from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and other cities of the plain for their great iniquity. Even Lot’s carnal faith was enough to save him, but it could not save his wife. She did not believe. Lot has been allowed to take refuge in the “little” city of Zoar with his two young daughters. But he doesn’t stay there long –
30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
On this hillside above the town of ancient Zoar (modern Safi), Byzantine Christians built a church and monastery around the cave where Lot and his daughters found refuge after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It says in verse 30 that Lot left Zoar to take shelter in a cave for fear. It does not specify what he was afraid of -but it is very likely that the men of Zoar were as the men of Sodom.
31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:
32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
A great many lewd paintings have been made of this incident – which have no basis in fact. They often portray a drunken, lecherous Lot, groping at one or both or his daughters. The Scripture clearly states that he had no idea what occurred. What Lot is guilty of here – is the same thing he was always guilty of – lax conduct. He was a carnal believer. The entire reason Lot’s daughters were able to get him so intoxicated – was his carnality. He was always thinking of the comfort of his flesh, from the moment his Uncle Abraham offered him the choicest pasture lands for his flocks, to when he chose to return to worldly Sodom, with all the bells and whistles, after being rescued. Most Christians today, are like Lot. Think about just how terrible it is – that he was so drunk – he didn’t even know what happened!
We must also consider the possibility that Lot’s daughters believed that they were the only people who had survived, and perhaps had copious experience of their father’s excessive drinking. And blackouts? Also interesting to note – these were the mountains that the Lord had told Lot to go to at the first! More evidence of Lot’s “lingering.” How often we Christians are like Lot, and fail to be “alert,” to sin. And how often are we “blacked out” to the far reaching consequences of our sin!
36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben–ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. Genesis 19: 30-38
At the far right of the map in the white areas you will see the lands of Moab (older daughter’s son) and Ammon (younger daughter’ s son) Click to enlarge.
These son’s descendants will be future Muslims, and violent persecutors of Jews and Christians.
On the subject of Lot’s drinking, and the great immorality and pursuant centuries of genocide and war that followed through these sons of incest, there is an established connection between drinking alcohol and sin, notably sexual sin.
Historian Sir Arnold Toynbee has identified alcohol as a major force in the destruction of nineteen civilizations preceding our own. [Alcohol: The Beloved Enemy, Dr. Jack Van Impe. p. 23]
Oh! That men should put an enemy into their mouths to steal away their brains! O God, that we should with joy, pleasure, revel, and applause transform ourselves into beasts! [William Shakespeare, Othello Act 2 Scene 3]
The habit of using ardent spirits by men in public office produced more injury to the public service, and more trouble to me, than any other circumstances that has occurred in the internal concerns of the country during my administration. And were I to commence my administration again, with the knowledge which from experience I have acquired, the first question that I would ask with regard to every candidate for office would be, “Is he addicted to the use of ardent spirits?” [Thomas Jefferson, by John Kobler, Ardent Spirits, p.33]
. . . if a 150 pound man consumes two bottles of beer on an empty stomach, the level of alcohol dissolved in his blood will reach about five hundredths of one percent. At this level, the normal activity of the cortex, or the outer layer of the brain – particularly in the centers concerned with worry or anxiety – will be affected. The drinker will feel falsely “lifted up,” because the inhibitions that usually hold him steady have, in effect, been paralyzed. [Albert Maisel, Alcohol and Your Brain, Reader’s Digest]
Why would any Christian want to be intoxicated? Why would any Christian want to be uninhibited? Why would any Christian risk giving a poor testimony to a lost and dying world? If I added another 1,000 or so words to this article – I could prove that the “wine” at the Last Supper, and at the Wedding Feast at Cana was not fermented. But that is not the focus of this Bible Study, rather, it is the observation of how many Christians walk in Lot’s shoes, and what we may learn from his life, and try to take to heart the enormously far-reaching consequences of sin.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5: 19-24
Bible Study – Abraham’s Greatest Test of Faith
God never tempts anyone to sin (that is the province of Satan) but He does test the faithful. After all that has gone before – Abraham leaving Ur of the Chaldees, and journeying to the Promised Land in faith, the Covenant, and the extraordinary birth of the son of promise – Isaac – when Abraham was 100 years old.
It was now time for Abraham to be tested – the ultimate test – to prove Abraham – and to portend the future. We must always hold God first in our lives. Please consider that since the LORD is omniscient – He already knows the outcome of this test!
GENESIS 22:1-14
22 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2 And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
HERE IS THE TEST – DID ABRAHAM LOVE HIS SON MORE THAN HE LOVED GOD? ON “ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS” TELLS US THAT GOD HAD A PARTICULAR PLACE AND A PARTICULAR MOUNTAIN – MOUNT MORIAH! THE SAME PLACE WHERE SOLOMON’S TEMPLE WOULD LATER BE BUILT AND THE SAME PLACE WHERE JESUS WOULD OFFER HIMSELF AS THE LAMB OF GOD!!!!!
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said unto his young men,
Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And He said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
JEHOVAHJIREH = THE LORD WILL PROVIDE
BOTH ABRAHAM AND GOD THE FATHER OFFER SONS ON ALTARS – THIS IS KNOWN AS BIBLICAL TYPOLOGY
- Isaac carried his own wood/Jesus carried His own cross
- God provided the lamb/Lamb
- Isaac was held by ropes/Jesus was held by iron nails
- Isaac gave no resistance/ Jesus gave no resistance
- Abraham’s son was spared/ God spared not His own Son
- In the mount of the Lord/ Christ died on Mt Calvary
- Ram caught in thorns was offered/ Christ was crowned with thorns
- Isaac was heir to everything Abraham had /Jesus Christ is the heir to everything of God the Father’s – all power, all wealth, all glory, all kingdoms, the universe, all praise, all honor, all eternity, all judgment, all righteousness, all truth, all Lordship, all love, all mercy, all grace.
MORE SONGS AND WORDS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT CALVARY THAN ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH!
Please consider the Lord’s omniscience – in knowing what Abraham would do – but Abraham himself, did not know what he would do! These are the deep things of God, beloveds.
Bible Study – The Abrahamic Covenant Confirmed
In last week’s study, Abraham had passed the ultimate test – by willingly not withholding his son Issac from the Lord, he had demonstrated the greatest faith yet. When Abraham gave his son to God – he gained back his son. When we give ourselves and our possessions to God, we gain far more than we give – BUT – if we refuse to give ourselves and possessions to God – we will eventually lose everything. And everything means EVERYTHING!
Abraham passed his greatest test of faith, and because of this – God repeated to him, the Covenant promised to him, and his seed.
Genesis 22:15-19
15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said,
By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
The next verses, which cover the family tree of Abraham’s brother Nahor, are only significant, in the revealing of the source of Issac’s bride.
Genesis 22:20-24
20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;
21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
[please note that these sons are the source of the tribes named in the Book of Job]
22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
Often believers will brush over passages like this in the Old Testament, thinking they are of less significance than the dramatic events of last week’s study. Nothing could be further from the truth. In understanding the significance of God renewing the Covenant a second time – we see that He is not forgetful, and is the perfection of steadfastness, and the extreme importance of this Covenant which was sealed in blood. By the recording of even Abram’s brother’s family tree, we have the situation laid out so simply, that even a child’s persistent “why” and “where” questions can be answered.
Next week – the Gentile Bride is chosen!
The Vine Vigil 
