No Condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!

Self condemnation keeps us from growing in our walk with the Lord God our Father in Heaven. Such self condemnation arises because though we don't want to sin, we struggle with sin. Often it is that struggle that brings about self condemnation which can feel like an unbearable weight. Why? Well, we are being rightly convicted of repeated sin in the flesh by the Holy Spirit ... that's the weight we feel and it is by the same Holy Spirit that we are unburdened and set free through confession and repentance. Yes, set free and free indeed in Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, we are but filthy rags bound by the law of sin and death.

Of course, our life cannot be one spent or filled only with confession and repentance every minute of the day as we may sin at any moment though not wanting to. What shall we say then?

In Romans 7:7-25 NIV, we read ~ Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^c For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

When the Holy Spirit rebukes us (we feel a weight on our heart); it is as when a parent scolds their  child for their own good. So when the Holy Spirit does that for our own good, we in humility and with a sincere desire to be free of that weight we turn to/come before God, declaring our sin 'that weight' and repent (cast it off by the same Holy Spirit), knowing that God's love for us and intention for us is to be free from the law of sin and death... through His Son Jesus Christ so that all Mercy and Grace are ours for all time.

A Study in the Word ~ Zephaniah 1: 7-9

The Day of the Lord ...

Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests. "Then it will come about on the day of the LORD'S sacrifice That I will punish the princes, the king's sons And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments. "And I will punish on that day all who leap on the temple threshold, Who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit..."

What are foreign garments? All such as are clothed with strange apparel—the princes or courtiers who attired themselves in costly garments, imported from abroad; partly for the sake of luxury, and partly to ingratiate themselves with foreign great nations whose costume as well as their idolatries they imitated; as in other respects, God would have them to be separate from the nations. And it can be too the "strange apparel" to garments forbidden by God, for example, men's garments worn by women, and vice versa, a heathen usage in the worship of Mars and Venus (De 22:5) ~Commentary by A. R. Faussett

"A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this" ~ De 22:5.

 Are we judging those who cross dress? Or do we do as Jesus did - enlighten? Jesus reminded us, "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone when I judge; I am with the Father, who sent Me" ~ John 8: 15-16. Or, "stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly." ~ John 7:24. Jesus (recognized in Isaiah 49) said, (John 8:16) "yet if I judge, my judgment is true". 

Though judgment was not the object of His mission, it was, as He had taught in John 3:19 the result of the manifestation of the Light. But, in the cases in which the result followed, the judgment was not according to the flesh, but was in accord with the essential truth - God is the Creator of all things, and we are created in His image - male and female. This promise is in part fulfilled in the calling of the Gentiles. Men perish in darkness. But Christ enlightens men, and so makes them holy and happy. Jesus is the Son of God and acts accordingly; hence His judgment is true because it is in accord with the essential truth of the Father who sent Him.

Many use the argument that God created them male and female as if they are both at the same time. If that were the case, he would never have made a distinction the first place. Some argue still that this means God had to make two distinctions in one being - male and female so that they have two different attributes but are essentially the same thing in one. Well, again that argument does not hold water because if you reason that God had to make two different attributes then they are just that - two different attributes to be recognized as such. By putting on deceiving garments, we cannot recognize those two different attributes any longer... they blur and hide the created being of man in the image of God. So, we must recognize the differences in order to understand our Creator and our purpose as His created being. 

Well, "didn't you just write in the previous post that if a man goes into a ladies room dressed as a lady we wont judge him... because we will see him as a lady?"

Yes, we will not judge him because we cannot in that moment. He is a lady and as far as we know at that moment not a man nor ever was one as far as we know. The Lord will judge his heart. But, if this man insists on publicly proclaiming himself a man dressing as a woman and has a right to do so, then he/we have a problem and right to rebuke him for his/our own good/enlightenment. And, this would apply in the same way to a woman dressing like a man who makes it a public right to be a woman dressing and acting as a man. Both fail to embrace their differences God's 'diversity' created in us ...either male or female in God's hierarchy. In fact, they reject His authority and all His creation by making an open public declaration of their will over His. 

Final comment ~ Again, if God created one being having two attributes: male and female, then why make a fuss over either? If it is to say that there are two distinctions in Man: male and female, then we must recognize these differences in ourselves and within our extended self - society; in order to understand who we are as God's creation. By cross dressing, we cover up, we hide from those differences, and we end up blurring our God given identity and His purpose for us.

Salt and Light ~ Pointing out Sin and Darkness ...

What did God Jesus Christ do for me/you? He covered my/your sin with His blood. Should I/we or would I/we want to continue in my/our sin? No! Interesting is that a lot of people today never heard of sin or think that they don't sin; including many Christians you run into. Wow! What Christ are they worshiping? In the end times, there will be false Christs ~ Mark 13:6. Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons ~1 Timothy 4:1.

Sadly, some churches are already engaging in that worship. How do you know? If your church thinks that certain behavior is OK and their response is, "who am I to judge" then they are mistaken. We, those born again in Jesus Christ, are required to show as in point out to our brothers/sisters what sin and darkness is in their life using the Word of God - Scripture! One has to know the sin condition in this fallen world in order to get out of it - this fallen world.

Our job as fellow believers in Christ is to point out sin/darkness using the Word to show people the way out - Jesus Christ! That is what is meant by sharing the Good News! How could it be good news if all we do is say, "Hey, this is a nice guy to read about and hang out with, he was nice back then and just told people around him to be nice too!" 

Hey, FYI - Jesus Christ died for our/your sin. Uh, like that is a really big deal, right? Because of that awesome sacrifice, we too can witness 'give our testimony' of this great sacrifice and miracle that was - Jesus Christ; which in fact, does require us by the power of the Holy Spirit in us to overcome the sin and darkness in our lives so that we may share in His promise of eternal life. There is no other way to the Father except by Him- Jesus Christ ~ John 14:6.

Yes, judge each other with love in the meaning discern good from evil, to point out right from wrong, not to condemn. The final judgement belongs to God. Our job is to preach the Good News with the intention to lift up our fellow believers, those called by God, from the darkness of sin and death into the everlasting light. We are to be salt and light... when encountered, both can be painful to those living in sin and in the darkness. But necessary they are in order to stand out - taste and see that the Lord is Good! Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him ~ Psalm 34:8.

We in the body of Christ are to be our brother's keeper. How do we know that? Well... If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels?  If we cannot say what is good and what is evil and seek to deliver our fellow man/woman, then what are we doing?

Do you not know that wrongdoers will NOT inherit the kingdom of God? Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God ~ 1 COR 6:1-11.

No one wants to be judged (have their sin pointed out) but if I had a brick [sin] on my head while standing in quick sand [darkness], I would sure want someone to point it out, take it off and pull me out! The Lord Jesus Christ did that for us and does that over and over for us - Hallelujah; but does that mean we are to keep the brick on our heads and stay in the quick sand? No! You are Not judging someone when you point out the brick on their head, you are pointing out their problem!

Didn't Jesus discern what was sin when he encountered sin? Yes, of course He did. He turned over the tables in the temple and when he stood for the adulterous woman, He told her - "Go and sin No More". In this very dark world, we must be salt and light. Why? Because, we must know what is wrong in our lives, we must know the difference between good and evil in order to know what is the truth. In this way, we are prepared and equipped to do His work and even more. Why? Because, our future job is to rule and reign with Christ here on the earth in the millennial and we will have to be able to judge angels!




We have to know from what we are being saved and by whom!  Answer - Sin and by Jesus Christ!

Praying in the Holy Spirit!

Jude 1: 17-23 ~ Praying in the Holy Spirit (Ghost)...

Remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

What is the experience of praying in the Holy Spirit?  Our prayers are most likely to prevail when we pray in the Holy Ghost (which means) under his guidance and influence, according to the rule of His word, with faith, fervency, and earnestness; this is praying in the Holy Ghost. 

And in that, a believing expectation of eternal life will arm us against the snares of sin: lively faith in this blessed hope will help us to mortify our lusts ~Matthew Henry Commentary on Jude 1:19.

God's Mercy and Grace! ~ 1 John 4:19

Did you know that the sayings, "what goes around comes around" or "what you do (good/bad) will come back to you in equal measure," originated in Hindu philosophy/religion. Its not Christian! Jesus Christ did not give His life for our sins because he measured out salvation for only the right people who rightly measure their behavior at all times. He came for sinners!  

Jesus never said anything like that and such eastern philosophy completely violates His sacrifice on the cross. Really, you ask. Yes, really. Christ asks us to repent... He never asks us to suffer for our sin though we may. He never asked us to suffer from our mistakes or to be made righteous by our deeds/works. It is by Grace that we are saved so that no one can boast! Yes, some immature Christians think that the commandment to love thy neighbor is equal to that kind of eastern philosophy but it is not. Nor is what we read in Matthew 7:12 ... "in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you".

Firstly, to love others as yourself means just that. To treat others as you would treat yourself means just that. It is out of love for yourself that you can love others (knowing you are loved by God). It is not because you should love but because you can out of love for God and love for yourself which exists because He loved you first.

Neither of those scriptures mean that what you do good or bad will come back to you in equal measure. For what would mercy and grace be and the love of God mean to us if you had to measure out your behavior in every moment? In saying this, knowing of God's Mercy and Grace, we do not think to run out and sin. No, we think to run/turn to God when we sin. And, in doing so, we thank God for His Mercy and Grace because it is so great and beyond any and all human measure.

 We love because he first loved us ~ 1 John 4:19

The Woman Who Fears the Lord ~ Proverbs 31:10-31

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

1 Timothy 2:1-15

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Many Christians today don't fully grasp this scripture; they ask, " how can or why should a woman submit like this?"  First, one must accept the social hierarchy put in place by God which serves a purpose in this fallen world which is to keep us from sin, though we sin. It keeps us from complete corruption and sets up the program for redemption and salvation.

A married woman submits to her husband as he comes under the authority of the Lord God. His wife comes under him and he 'her husband' stands for her. In the protection of him, her redemption is secured by him as he her husband treats her like the church.

An unmarried woman submit also. The only difference is that she is directly submitting to the Lord. She chooses not to and does not marry to satisfy her own ideas of single needs or preferences to be single and independent. By not marrying, she chooses a more direct and intimate relationship with the Lord God first and foremost.

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Be as little children ~ Yet mature Christians!

Living to Please God

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified...that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable! ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:3...and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody! ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.

 "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ~ Mark 10:15.  If we are living to please God, as read in 1 Thessalonians 4, then what about being a child? 

Aren't children dependent upon parents? Aren't children carefree, uninhibited and even naive? Yes.
And, as Christians, we can be dependent upon our Father in heaven, we can be carefree knowing that He will take care of us even in the darkest times, we can be uninhibited in our worship of the Lord and even naive in that it could bother some people.  

Mature Christians are those who feed on the meat of scripture, God's Word! They are stronger in their walk with the Lord for it. In that, they are dependent not upon themselves but on God and carefree in their trusting Him, uninhibited and naive as children who are in the world but not of it. This is how it was when you were a child... in the world but not of it.

Concerning Marriage/ Married Life ~ 1 COR 7:24-40.

In Genesis 2:15 we read that God put man in the Garden of Eden to work it, and take care of it. Then God says (v18): “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (The Hebrew word here translated as “suitable”, literally means “like opposite him” like him but opposite of him  a good description of the complementary characteristics of men and women). 

When reading Genesis, we understand that marriage was/is instituted by God so that human beings can fulfill the creation mandate. Marriage is necessary to help the human race do the jobs it is meant to do: to work, to be stewards of creation, to have children and to raise them to be productive. And so, marriage is foundational to all this human activity. This last part is very important for Christians to grasp; which is, that marriage is foundational to all human activity which is not always godly activity - Lord's affairs.

In scripture, we read - each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them into a spiritual life. What does that mean? It means that if they were married when called, they should remain married. If they were unmarried when called, they should remain unmarried.  In other words, if you feel that your first and foremost call is to serve the Lord, it is better not to marry. If you feel you can serve God (the two become one) by marrying then marry. Just remember, marriage is not self serving.

In Corinthians, we are instructed further, Paul said that it is wiser to be free from worldly concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are divided.

An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Again, to reiterate, it means that if you feel called to be devoted to the Lord, you should not marry. But, this does not mean that marriage is wrong or that it is not foundational to human activity... it still is for those who want to be and choose to be married. And, that in marriage they ' a man and woman' become one and should together be devoted to the Lord God.

Thus, according to the will of God, when it comes to married life, a man leaves his father and mother and becomes one with his wife...and each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband ~ Genesis 2:24, 1 COR 7:2. 

*Additional Source ~ http://www.christian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/biblical-basis-of-marriage.pdf

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" ~ John 14:6.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one 'individual' comes to the Father except through me ~ John 14:6.

You see, the individual person is of infinite importance. God deals with, saves and judges individuals. The masses have no real essence. Only in The Single Individual can we find the ultimate and absolute truth as Soren Kierkegaard repeatedly asserted; for Kierkegaard the "crowd is untruth". That is why Kierkegaard used the subject of politics to get his point across. It is the best illustration because in politics there is only representation of the masses.

Though that seems fair, it is not perfectly or absolutely fair because in every democratic 'win' there is loss. Not every one is going to be happy or feel justified. Therefore, there is untruth even in a democratic society. Ironically, that is as fair as we can be in this fallen world. That is why, we must remember that politics emphasizes the whole, while Christianity, as proffered by Kierkegaard, emphasizes the individual before God.

Do not expect man's justice to be done...we are to wait in joyful hope that His Kingdom come!  In that time of waiting, we will produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith ~ Galatians 5:22. Our strength to do this comes from Jesus as He said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives" ~ John 14:27.

Philippians 2: 3-18 ~ May the Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you...

Being at peace in the place where we are as Christ was we understand what it means to have the attitude of Christ... Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" ~ John 14:27.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.