People waste time and money on things that will perish, things that will
burn up on the last day: all social media, all sports, Hollywood
gossip, world news, political talk including economic strategies, as
well as jobs, clothes, shoes, pursues, hair styles, jewelry, furniture,
cars, awards, achievements, and investments... "These will all perish
with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings" ~ COL
2:22.
So... "Do
not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to
eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the
Father, God, has set His seal." ~ John 6:27.
Yes, one can make the argument that as long as you do not obsess about worldly things, you can indulge in worldly things. Really? One does not have to have an 'obsession'. It is enough to find oneself regularly (not wanting to miss out on) reading
and watching the latest political and economic agendas and or thinking
about the next big sale at Macy's with its line of new pursues, or predicting how
their favorite team is going to do this season, or what their favorite restaurant/health food store is offering, what exotic vacation to take
and or what new cars are coming off the lot, what stocks/bonds to invest in, which school to send their children too and even what church to attend rather than thinking about
their eternal salvation then they 'people' do spend too much time and in vain
with the things of this world. Things that will perish.
"Why
do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does
not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight
yourself in abundance ~ Isaiah 55:2. There is no doubt such abundance is in/of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Light, Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness ~ Part II
Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness ~ 1 John 1:5-10
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all
sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us ~1 John 1:5-10
From this prayer, we understand 3 key truths. First, a foundational truth: "God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all" ~ 1 John 1:5. Second, an applied truth: We must walk in the light (vv.6-7). Our lives are the evidence of our faith. If we claim to have a relationship with God but do not choose holiness and truth, we prove ourselves liars.
Being God's children means we need and want to be where He is and where fellow believers are. If we claim to have a relationship with God, it will also be seen in our unity and fellowship with one another. Third, the truth of grace: Confession is an essential spiritual discipline (vv.8-10) On our earthly pilgrimages, we are unable to walk in the light perfectly. We still sin, and if we think otherwise we are self-deceived.
Thankfully, when we confess, He forgives, always! He is faithful and never gives up on us. He is just as Christ already paid the price. When we stray, He restores us and brings us back into the light (v.9).
* A Moody Commentary taken from ~ Today in the Word, August 2017, pg. 28.
Light, Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness ~ Part I
Jesus Christ ~ The Light of the World!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life ~ John 3:16. Some people think that we are loved by God because of His Son, that would mean that God did not love us prior to Jesus. But, when you read John 3:16, you discover otherwise. He loved us even before and because of that sent His Son to Redeem us from the darkness of this fallen world.
One question we might have is should we let those in appear to be in darkness, continue in darkness because Jesus has already redeemed them? The answer should be that if they know why God sent His Son, then they will no longer be in darkness. Should we be then be concerned when we see a person in Christ backsliding? Can someone in Christ backslide?
Paul described 'backsliding' in Romans 7:15-19, "For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do"; and, we read about backsliding in Galatians. "For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to one another, so that you do not do what you want" ~ Galatians 5:17.
From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness ~ 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
"They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud."~ 2 Peter2:22. Is that judgement? Not at all...isn't it better that those in Christ intervene with forgiveness and instruction those that backslide so that they leave their sin once and for all, leading them from darkness. In other words, we should point to scripture so that we/they realize what is wrong in our lives. Scripture corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
In 2 Peter 2:22, we understand that the dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire; which expresses the filthy nature of sin, signified by vomit, mire, and dirt, than which nothing is more abominable and defiling; and also the just characters of these apostates, who are filly compared to dogs and swine and likewise their irreclaimable and irrecoverable state and condition, it being impossible they should be otherwise, unless their natures were changed and altered ~ Gill's Exposition.
As clouds hinder the light of the sun, so do these darken counsel by words wherein there is no truth. Seeing that these such people increase darkness in this world, it is very just that the mist of darkness should be their portion in the next. When men are entangled, they are easily overcome; therefore Christians should keep close to the word of God, and watch against all who seek to bewilder them.
A state of apostasy is worse than a state of ignorance. To bring an evil report upon the good way of God, and a false charge against the way of truth, must expose to the heaviest condemnation. How dreadful is the state here described! Yet though such a case is deplorable, it is not utterly hopeless; the leper may be made clean, and even the dead may be raised. Is thy backsliding a grief to thee? Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved ~ Matthew Henry Commentary.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life ~ John 3:16. Some people think that we are loved by God because of His Son, that would mean that God did not love us prior to Jesus. But, when you read John 3:16, you discover otherwise. He loved us even before and because of that sent His Son to Redeem us from the darkness of this fallen world.
Paul described 'backsliding' in Romans 7:15-19, "For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do"; and, we read about backsliding in Galatians. "For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to one another, so that you do not do what you want" ~ Galatians 5:17.
From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness ~ 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
"They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud."~ 2 Peter2:22. Is that judgement? Not at all...isn't it better that those in Christ intervene with forgiveness and instruction those that backslide so that they leave their sin once and for all, leading them from darkness. In other words, we should point to scripture so that we/they realize what is wrong in our lives. Scripture corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
In 2 Peter 2:22, we understand that the dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire; which expresses the filthy nature of sin, signified by vomit, mire, and dirt, than which nothing is more abominable and defiling; and also the just characters of these apostates, who are filly compared to dogs and swine and likewise their irreclaimable and irrecoverable state and condition, it being impossible they should be otherwise, unless their natures were changed and altered ~ Gill's Exposition.
As clouds hinder the light of the sun, so do these darken counsel by words wherein there is no truth. Seeing that these such people increase darkness in this world, it is very just that the mist of darkness should be their portion in the next. When men are entangled, they are easily overcome; therefore Christians should keep close to the word of God, and watch against all who seek to bewilder them.
A state of apostasy is worse than a state of ignorance. To bring an evil report upon the good way of God, and a false charge against the way of truth, must expose to the heaviest condemnation. How dreadful is the state here described! Yet though such a case is deplorable, it is not utterly hopeless; the leper may be made clean, and even the dead may be raised. Is thy backsliding a grief to thee? Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved ~ Matthew Henry Commentary.
Friday, November 17, 2017
Be Steadfast and You Will Grow in Endurance!
Dear Brothers and Sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an
opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested,
your endurance has a chance to grow. So, let it grow, for when your
endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing
nothing. And, do not waver, Be sure that your faith is in God alone. You
cannot be divided between God and the world for you will be unstable in
everything you do ~ James 1: 2-8.
If you follow the way of the world with its: technology, social media, labels, brands, distinguished groups, glamour and glitter, you will descend deeper and deeper into a very dark abyss. Sadly, as you struggle to find a way out, there will be those who appear to have Christian voices saying, "You must do this/that or you won't be saved." No, there is no work that you can do to be saved.
All you need to do is believe in the one who sent Him; and, be at peace in that knowledge found in the Word of God. In His Word, you will find the truth which is that God so loved the world He gave His only Son Jesus Christ who died for your sins, there is no condemnation in Him. In this radical freedom, you will be at peace and free indeed in the One who came to give you life eternal - Jesus Christ.
If you follow the way of the world with its: technology, social media, labels, brands, distinguished groups, glamour and glitter, you will descend deeper and deeper into a very dark abyss. Sadly, as you struggle to find a way out, there will be those who appear to have Christian voices saying, "You must do this/that or you won't be saved." No, there is no work that you can do to be saved.
All you need to do is believe in the one who sent Him; and, be at peace in that knowledge found in the Word of God. In His Word, you will find the truth which is that God so loved the world He gave His only Son Jesus Christ who died for your sins, there is no condemnation in Him. In this radical freedom, you will be at peace and free indeed in the One who came to give you life eternal - Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
God's Love and His Dicipline for us in Love!
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose
heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He
loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as his son.” ~ Hebrews
12:5-6.
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness ~ Hebrews 12:7-10.
In Hebrews God's Love is clear in His role as Father. His discipline is love in that we are His children and in His discipline we re given strength to overcome this world, this flesh, and thus we are to endure hardship as His discipline in order to live a different way and not to live in the flesh as we think and want to be loved in it as it is - fallen. "God made this way and He loves me this way" i.e. Today, however, too many Christians think like this... and sadly they are deceiving themselves. In His love, His discipline, we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” ~ Hebrews 12:28-29.
In hearing this, many cry out - "What about God's love for us... doesn't He love the sinner?" Yes, He does without a doubt but the sinner must realize his/her fallen condition and see that in him/herself as we are yet still in sin but rejoice because of God's Love and His Mercy and Grace toward the sinner. In this way, we are no longer seen in our sin - though it is still there on the 'surface'. For some, this is not easy to comprehend. We want to think that God loves us as we are for the sinners we are in this fallen world its ok to be sinners and in that kind of love our sin just goes away. If that were true, why did God send His only Son to redeem us from sin so that when God looks at us, He does not see our sin but His Son Jesus Christ?
God does not want us to be sinners nor to see our sin or us in our sin. He wants to see us redeemed. When He looks upon us He wants to see us redeemed 'resurrected from sin and death; and does when we receive Christ His Son; and we in humility of such Great Love, His Love, His Great Almighty Love, Mercy and Grace we are made new and thus able to pursue a holiness we could not have pursued before.
There is no condemnation put upon us accepting His Love, and in that love His discipline for us in our fallen condition. God's love is boundless, because we are His creation even though in a fallen condition. Because of His boundless love (it has to be) we are unbound in Jesus Christ to live as a new creation in Christ in this fallen state. In accepting such love for our sin, our fallen condition, we are by obedience through discipline bound to Jesus Christ - God sent His only Son because God so loved the world - His creation and God wants to save the world.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will ~ Ephesians 1:3-5.
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness ~ Hebrews 12:7-10.
In Hebrews God's Love is clear in His role as Father. His discipline is love in that we are His children and in His discipline we re given strength to overcome this world, this flesh, and thus we are to endure hardship as His discipline in order to live a different way and not to live in the flesh as we think and want to be loved in it as it is - fallen. "God made this way and He loves me this way" i.e. Today, however, too many Christians think like this... and sadly they are deceiving themselves. In His love, His discipline, we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” ~ Hebrews 12:28-29.
In hearing this, many cry out - "What about God's love for us... doesn't He love the sinner?" Yes, He does without a doubt but the sinner must realize his/her fallen condition and see that in him/herself as we are yet still in sin but rejoice because of God's Love and His Mercy and Grace toward the sinner. In this way, we are no longer seen in our sin - though it is still there on the 'surface'. For some, this is not easy to comprehend. We want to think that God loves us as we are for the sinners we are in this fallen world its ok to be sinners and in that kind of love our sin just goes away. If that were true, why did God send His only Son to redeem us from sin so that when God looks at us, He does not see our sin but His Son Jesus Christ?
God does not want us to be sinners nor to see our sin or us in our sin. He wants to see us redeemed. When He looks upon us He wants to see us redeemed 'resurrected from sin and death; and does when we receive Christ His Son; and we in humility of such Great Love, His Love, His Great Almighty Love, Mercy and Grace we are made new and thus able to pursue a holiness we could not have pursued before.
There is no condemnation put upon us accepting His Love, and in that love His discipline for us in our fallen condition. God's love is boundless, because we are His creation even though in a fallen condition. Because of His boundless love (it has to be) we are unbound in Jesus Christ to live as a new creation in Christ in this fallen state. In accepting such love for our sin, our fallen condition, we are by obedience through discipline bound to Jesus Christ - God sent His only Son because God so loved the world - His creation and God wants to save the world.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will ~ Ephesians 1:3-5.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
The Sovereignty of God ~ His Will Be Done on earth as it is in heaven...
When
we pray the Lord's Prayer, we pray confidently that His Will Be Done
and His Kingdom Come on earth as it is in heaven! Accepting God's
sovereignty is critical in praying confidently! Today, we tend to think
that we should identify with a right worldly
kingdom. Ironically, those who say that really don't want a right
kingdom which is God's Kingdom with His rules. Rather, by identifying
with a right worldly kingdom they want an individualism to apply to them
in a worldly kingdom that they say God has willed. They do not want to
accept God sovereignty and that His Word is Sovereign and they
definitely don't imagine having to stand individually before the
Creator.
No, they tend to stand on the premise that every individual is God's unique little individual to be worshiped just for being an individual with special beliefs and looks/behavior/preferences/tendencies and that His Will for them is to be a special individual based on their individuality. And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons ~ Acts 10:34. He made no distinction between them and us, because of their faith-cleansed hearts ~ Acts: 15: 9.
Yes, every member of the Body of Christ is necessarily an individual but that does not mean God's Will is different for each one. His Will applies to every member in the same way. How? God's Will is sovereign in the same way for everyone! How do we know that? We read it in His Word. The body is a unit, though it is comprised of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So,it is with Christ ~ 1 COR12:11. And, we observe its rejection in the idea of free will theism which thinks it can deal with sin and suffering individually based on the individual will God has for every individual.
In saying the Lord's prayer, we accept God's sovereignty, His Will for all of us and we know that in His Sovereignty, God takes sole total responsibility for His Will. He has ordained that all things exist, including sin and evil so that He may show His Sovereignty. When we pray His Will be Done, His Kingdom Come, we pray confidently because in the Lord's prayer is our hope, future and purpose here and now. We pray in confidence that God has already announced His Victory as He is in control of all things. So, we don't have to wonder or hunt for His Will for us. And, certainly, we don't have to wait for the last chapter in order to know that He through His Will (not ours) will accomplish all that He set out to do. How do we know this? Though we are different parts of the same body, we are collective in His Will and His Will Be Done. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body and each member belongs to one another ~ Romans 12:5.
Again, the individual is recognized in the body as a necessary part of its being. But, that does not mean that the leg's function is more important than the hand or should be treated 'individually' as we think of 'individual' treatment. Why would there be a need to have individual recognition if the goal is His Will? So...Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. And, as each individual part does its work, the body grows and builds up itself up in love. So, I tell you this, and testify to it in the Lord: You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking... Ephesians 4:15-17.
God's Will is revealed in His Prayer - the Lord's Prayer. We pray with confidence for what is true in God's heaven to be manifest on earth. In respect of the individual parts members of one body, we can ask - where is the one place that This is clearly demonstrated here and now... where is the visible evidence of the rule and reign of God right now? It is in the Christian Family!
We should see a little embassy of the Kingdom of Christ, a husband wife and children in the right ordering. They are showing how the Kingdom is to work. We declare against the powers and principalities of this fallen world when saying the Lord's prayer, that we are overcomers, we are obedient to His Will and we demonstrate His Will and His presence right here and now in our family, in us! ~ A Summary of Albert Mohler's sermon on the Lord's Prayer.
No, they tend to stand on the premise that every individual is God's unique little individual to be worshiped just for being an individual with special beliefs and looks/behavior/preferences/tendencies and that His Will for them is to be a special individual based on their individuality. And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons ~ Acts 10:34. He made no distinction between them and us, because of their faith-cleansed hearts ~ Acts: 15: 9.
Yes, every member of the Body of Christ is necessarily an individual but that does not mean God's Will is different for each one. His Will applies to every member in the same way. How? God's Will is sovereign in the same way for everyone! How do we know that? We read it in His Word. The body is a unit, though it is comprised of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So,it is with Christ ~ 1 COR12:11. And, we observe its rejection in the idea of free will theism which thinks it can deal with sin and suffering individually based on the individual will God has for every individual.
In saying the Lord's prayer, we accept God's sovereignty, His Will for all of us and we know that in His Sovereignty, God takes sole total responsibility for His Will. He has ordained that all things exist, including sin and evil so that He may show His Sovereignty. When we pray His Will be Done, His Kingdom Come, we pray confidently because in the Lord's prayer is our hope, future and purpose here and now. We pray in confidence that God has already announced His Victory as He is in control of all things. So, we don't have to wonder or hunt for His Will for us. And, certainly, we don't have to wait for the last chapter in order to know that He through His Will (not ours) will accomplish all that He set out to do. How do we know this? Though we are different parts of the same body, we are collective in His Will and His Will Be Done. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body and each member belongs to one another ~ Romans 12:5.
Again, the individual is recognized in the body as a necessary part of its being. But, that does not mean that the leg's function is more important than the hand or should be treated 'individually' as we think of 'individual' treatment. Why would there be a need to have individual recognition if the goal is His Will? So...Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. And, as each individual part does its work, the body grows and builds up itself up in love. So, I tell you this, and testify to it in the Lord: You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking... Ephesians 4:15-17.
God's Will is revealed in His Prayer - the Lord's Prayer. We pray with confidence for what is true in God's heaven to be manifest on earth. In respect of the individual parts members of one body, we can ask - where is the one place that This is clearly demonstrated here and now... where is the visible evidence of the rule and reign of God right now? It is in the Christian Family!
We should see a little embassy of the Kingdom of Christ, a husband wife and children in the right ordering. They are showing how the Kingdom is to work. We declare against the powers and principalities of this fallen world when saying the Lord's prayer, that we are overcomers, we are obedient to His Will and we demonstrate His Will and His presence right here and now in our family, in us! ~ A Summary of Albert Mohler's sermon on the Lord's Prayer.
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
When Bad Things Happen ... Pray His Kingdom Come!
Why do bad things happen? They happen because this is a fallen 'corrupt'
world; we do not belong to this corrupt version; we are in the world
but not of it ~ John 1:10, John 15:19,James 4:4. That is why, on our
own, we cannot escape it just yet. There has to be reached a saturation
level before the reboot. What we know is that Christ came to be our
overcomer here and now, He is the patch! He entered in to give us hope
that through Him/His sacrifice we will return to our original unfallen state.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost their true 'real' covering; they attempted to 'recover' themselves. But God made them a 'covering' enabling them/us to function in this fallen (corrupt version) world. But, this skin covering as we see is more akin to the beasts of this fallen world than to God.
"For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world" ~ 1 John 2:16.
It was through sin we became a kind of lesser being. Isn't it obvious that these beastly skins are the reason that fallen humans behave like beasts. We think and act in beastly ways. The lie that we evolved from beasts only reinforces this idea and we see today that this notion leads to all sorts of impurity, sexual and otherwise. When Christ returns and restores us to our original design, exactly like Him, we will see how beastly this skin 'covering' really was. And, in His Kingdom, we will be like Him! For now our means to cope with bad things is to pray His Kingdom Come!
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts/sins, as we also have forgiven our debtors/sins. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:9-13.
This is the most powerful prayer we can pray ~ given us by Jesus Christ. Why? Because, in the last days, there will be those who think that His Kingdom is coming by mans' hand. It is not. Yes, some think that by increments God's Kingdom is coming here on earth in the form of progress and technology. As if it is slowing uploading. The problem with that is this - Our God is Almighty and Powerful and why would He slowing upload His Kingdom here? This is a fallen world and it will come to pass. How do we know? Look at what Augustine said about the City of God vs the city of man. The City of God is coming and the city of man is going 'passing away'.
Yet, in our sin, we mistake going for coming. What confirms this mistake? The second command that Jesus gave us (First being love the Lord thy God) love your neighbor as yourself. In the city of man the self is served. The city of man is build upon the foundation of self love and because of that premise men fear their fellow man and they necessarily reduce freedoms as they feel threatened by other men's sense of freedom since every man becomes the center of the universe - self loving and preserving. Jesus asks us to love our neighbor as our self and in this we know that God's Kingdom is yet Coming because in His Kingdom the self as we know it here and now does not and cannot exist.
Take a look at Hebrews 8: 7-13. In a commentary by Matthew Henry we learn from this Scripture that God once wrote his laws TO his people, now he will write his laws in them; he will give them understanding to know and to believe his laws; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them, courage to profess them, and power to put them in practice. This is the foundation of the covenant; and when this is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and with comfort. A plentiful outpouring of the Spirit of God will make the ministration of the gospel so effectual, that there shall be a mighty increase and spreading of Christian knowledge in persons of all sorts.
Oh that this promise might be fulfilled in our days, that the hand of God may be with his ministers so that great numbers may believe, and be turned to the Lord! The pardon of sin will always be found to accompany the true knowledge of God. Notice the freeness of this pardon; its fulness; its fixedness. This pardoning mercy is connected with all other spiritual mercies: unpardoned sin hinders mercy, and pulls down judgments; but the pardon of sin prevents judgment, and opens a wide door to all spiritual blessings. Let us search whether we are taught by the Holy Spirit to know Christ, so as uprightly to love, fear, trust, and obey him. All worldly vanities, outward privileges, or mere notions of religion, will soon vanish away, and leave those who trust in them miserable forever. Now, some reading the above commentary in context of God's Kingdom Come, will yet conclude that it illustrates the slow upload of God's Kingdom. But it cannot.
The key is in the last sentence. All worldly vanities, outward privileges, or mere notions of religion, will soon vanish away, and leave those who trust in them miserable forever. Again, some will still argue that the slow upload is not contrary to arriving at a new reality. But it is. How? It is because there are those left behind. If it were a slow uploading, everyone would be changed but not everyone will be. This is a glimpse of the rapture. God's Kingdom will Come and all of what we know now will be gone suggesting a clean cut, not a slow transition wherein old information could still creep in.What is clear is that a brand new reality will exist; so we pray His Kingdom Come!
When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost their true 'real' covering; they attempted to 'recover' themselves. But God made them a 'covering' enabling them/us to function in this fallen (corrupt version) world. But, this skin covering as we see is more akin to the beasts of this fallen world than to God.
"For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world" ~ 1 John 2:16.
It was through sin we became a kind of lesser being. Isn't it obvious that these beastly skins are the reason that fallen humans behave like beasts. We think and act in beastly ways. The lie that we evolved from beasts only reinforces this idea and we see today that this notion leads to all sorts of impurity, sexual and otherwise. When Christ returns and restores us to our original design, exactly like Him, we will see how beastly this skin 'covering' really was. And, in His Kingdom, we will be like Him! For now our means to cope with bad things is to pray His Kingdom Come!
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts/sins, as we also have forgiven our debtors/sins. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:9-13.
This is the most powerful prayer we can pray ~ given us by Jesus Christ. Why? Because, in the last days, there will be those who think that His Kingdom is coming by mans' hand. It is not. Yes, some think that by increments God's Kingdom is coming here on earth in the form of progress and technology. As if it is slowing uploading. The problem with that is this - Our God is Almighty and Powerful and why would He slowing upload His Kingdom here? This is a fallen world and it will come to pass. How do we know? Look at what Augustine said about the City of God vs the city of man. The City of God is coming and the city of man is going 'passing away'.
Yet, in our sin, we mistake going for coming. What confirms this mistake? The second command that Jesus gave us (First being love the Lord thy God) love your neighbor as yourself. In the city of man the self is served. The city of man is build upon the foundation of self love and because of that premise men fear their fellow man and they necessarily reduce freedoms as they feel threatened by other men's sense of freedom since every man becomes the center of the universe - self loving and preserving. Jesus asks us to love our neighbor as our self and in this we know that God's Kingdom is yet Coming because in His Kingdom the self as we know it here and now does not and cannot exist.
Take a look at Hebrews 8: 7-13. In a commentary by Matthew Henry we learn from this Scripture that God once wrote his laws TO his people, now he will write his laws in them; he will give them understanding to know and to believe his laws; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them, courage to profess them, and power to put them in practice. This is the foundation of the covenant; and when this is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and with comfort. A plentiful outpouring of the Spirit of God will make the ministration of the gospel so effectual, that there shall be a mighty increase and spreading of Christian knowledge in persons of all sorts.
Oh that this promise might be fulfilled in our days, that the hand of God may be with his ministers so that great numbers may believe, and be turned to the Lord! The pardon of sin will always be found to accompany the true knowledge of God. Notice the freeness of this pardon; its fulness; its fixedness. This pardoning mercy is connected with all other spiritual mercies: unpardoned sin hinders mercy, and pulls down judgments; but the pardon of sin prevents judgment, and opens a wide door to all spiritual blessings. Let us search whether we are taught by the Holy Spirit to know Christ, so as uprightly to love, fear, trust, and obey him. All worldly vanities, outward privileges, or mere notions of religion, will soon vanish away, and leave those who trust in them miserable forever. Now, some reading the above commentary in context of God's Kingdom Come, will yet conclude that it illustrates the slow upload of God's Kingdom. But it cannot.
The key is in the last sentence. All worldly vanities, outward privileges, or mere notions of religion, will soon vanish away, and leave those who trust in them miserable forever. Again, some will still argue that the slow upload is not contrary to arriving at a new reality. But it is. How? It is because there are those left behind. If it were a slow uploading, everyone would be changed but not everyone will be. This is a glimpse of the rapture. God's Kingdom will Come and all of what we know now will be gone suggesting a clean cut, not a slow transition wherein old information could still creep in.What is clear is that a brand new reality will exist; so we pray His Kingdom Come!
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