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What Is Your Spiritual Gift – What Is in Your Hands (Edited)

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Moses & Rod

Text: Exodus 4:1-5
(Edited)

“And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

Serving the Lord
We must start by understanding that there are 3 aspects to serving the Lord.

  1. Purpose
  2. Ability
  3. Means

It is the purpose that most people have difficulty understanding, or finding in their life regarding their gift within their ministry to Jesus Christ.

Many times the answer can be found in their motivation of what God puts in our hearts for them to want to do, though in the case of Moses, God had to confront him and demand for him to do what God wanted.  This is probably because he had learned humility through the 40 years of raising sheep in the desert.

It is God that will direct you to your purpose.

Your ability is that which enables you to do the thing God has called you to do – your purpose, which is always the work of the Holy spirit.

Your means is the tools that God enables you to use to complete that purpose.

Example:

Moses purpose was given by God to guide the Israelites to the promised land.

His ability was God giving him the words to say to Pharaoh, it is the Spirit leading him and guiding him to say and do those things that God would desire.

The first means for Moses was the rod, there were other tools as well.  God used a Rod to turn into a snake to display God’s power and therefore God’s authorization of what Moses purpose was (As was the temporary leprosy that God used for Moses alone, whereas the rod God used throughout Moses ministry).

It was the miracles that God used as a means to display His power and authority as the stamp of approval upon Moses, throughout his ministry.

Many times when people asked me how to find out their purpose for serving God in their life, I find myself asking what is in their hands – what is the means that they possess.

It is many times (Not always) by starting backwards and looking at the means that God has given you that you will ascertain the purpose He has for you in your life, though this is not necessarily the same as the means to perform his purpose.  But God will always be the One that provides the ability within you – it is the Holy Spirit inside of you that enables you to do what God has purposed for you to do.

Spiritual Gifts
Many Believers become obsessed, and even anxious and fearful trying to find out what their spiritual gift is.

We must remember that the gifts of God as recorded in 1st Corinthians 12, and Romans 12, as they are referring too, are to be used for the work of the ministry, not personal edification as many unfortunately attempt to ascertain.

While true, God used the miracle of the rod and the leprosy to show Moses that God was with him, and would give him the ability to say and do those things that God desired.  It is a common misunderstanding to believe that the gifts are meant mainly for us.

There is no greater joy than coming to understand and fulfilling your purpose that God has for you within your life, and within this there is fulfillment.

But we need to take our eyes off of our self and fulfilling our own sense of worth in this issue.

God, using you to minister to other people is a natural fruition of serving Him.

Nor are Spiritual gifts meant to make us better people, more spiritual, or even feel a sense of purpose; they are to function within the Church of God, rather universal church as a whole, the local church that we attend, or as individuals as a part of the body of Christ – yet the purpose is to serve God as a part of his body.

We are His hands that do the work, His feet that take us where we need to go, His Spirit which enables us to do that which He is given us to do.

It was God’s statement to Moses, “what is in your hands,” that we must remember concerning our purpose, it is the means many times that will define our purpose.

There are books at nausea that will supposedly tell us how to find our spiritual gifts.

You don’t need a book and questionnaire to figure this out, you need the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will make this known to you at the proper time; just keep in prayer, gently seeking, but patient.

So, look at what God has presented before you – the opportunity / means that He is given you to serve Him, the means to serve Him will many times indicate the purpose.

And if you don’t know what your spiritual gift is stop worrying, it is God’s responsibility to show you your purpose, and perhaps understanding the means is a way of doing this.

Moses did not understand his purpose until God pointed out the means that he gave him to do it.

Moses could’ve had the purpose, and even the ability, yet it was the means that gave him direction and validity of God’s purpose in his life.

Natural Gifts
Many people have natural gifts, such as singing or playing instruments, and while this may be God’s purpose for their life in glorifying Him; this does not necessitate what God’s designed purpose is in their life, at that time.

I know of many talented people with natural gifts, that thank the Lord for those gifts (Which they should glorify Him, and utilize those abilities) yet they end up getting off track thinking this is their main purpose.  They become proud and forfeit the opportunity of fulfilling their purpose because of their natural gifts.

God can give a person a natural gift of singing, yet this does not necessitate there purpose in serving Him.

It is God that decides your purpose, not necessarily your natural ability.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives you the ability, and God will provide a means to fulfill that purpose.

So a word of advice is to stop worrying about your Spiritual Gift, as if it is your responsibility to be busy for the Lord.

Be faithful to the Lord in what He has given you to do, what He has perhaps put in your hands, and be content with that.

Because in due time, if there is a greater purpose in serving in the body of Christ, He will make it known to you.

A New Thing
It is amazing that within Christian circles every few years there is a new thing that becomes a preoccupation with authors and teachers and self-proclaimed leaders.

For years it was grace, Ministerial Gifts, Sspiritual Baptism, and many others.

Yet these things took precedence over the Will of God in many people’s lives as they become preoccupied with these new things, rather than obsessed with serving God, based upon God’s leading in their life.

So stop worrying, keep praying, keep your eyes open, and commit yourself to serving Him each and every day of your life with whatever means He gives you wherein the Holy Spirit has enabled (the ability) you to do those things that fulfill His will.

Just something to think about.  Brent

“The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’
is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.”


Filed under: Articles and Posts, Short & Sweet Articles Tagged: Exodus 4, ministry, miracles, Moses rod, service, serving God, Spiritual gifts, talents, the body of Christ

The Prophecy of the Exact Day when the Messiah would Arrive the First Time ~ A Short Synopsis

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triumphant-entry-39581-wallpaper

Introduction
One of the most unusual verses found in the New Testament is Luke 19:42-44, where Jesus holds the people accountable for not recognizing the day that the Messiah would come to Israel.  

In the King James version of this passage, what is not seen in the English is the imperative that is in the Greek grammar, meaning a command to do something, which in this case Israel did not do as a nation, yet also by the individual.

They Were Not Looking for Him
Luke 19:42-44, states  with Jesus speaking:

If thou hadst known, even thou [Meaning the individual himself, it is “The personal pronoun of the second person singular”], at least in this thy day, [Meaning the individual himself, it is in the “Genitive case of G4771 [the previous word for “thou”]; of thee, thy: – X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.] the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy [Meaning the individual himself, it is in the “Genitive case of G4771 [the previous word for “thou”]; of thee, thy: – X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.] visitation

When Jesus states, as recorded in the Greek, “if thou hadst known, even thou” carries the idea that they refused to know.  Notice the personal admonition when Jesus says “even thou” referring to the individuals, not just Israel as a nation.  Therefore, the following statement, “but now they are hid from thine eyes,” is the conclusion or the punishment for refusing to see in the first place.  

It follows the same line as we see with Pharaoh hardening his own heart against God, then God on top of that hardening of his heart, hardens it even further (Because of pharaohs pride and refusal to acknowledge God, as validated by the miracles, God harden his heart beyond any logical sense in that the following miracles would not even move him.  He refused to move and God allowed him to become solidified in that refusal to the extent it became ridiculous considering Pharaoh was given all the miracles that a normal man would’ve responded too, even to the point where he would lose his own son according to his own refusal to believe, and bend to God’s will).

It is this last statement, which again describes their refusal and therefore condemnation when Jesus states “because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation,” which in the Greek is better translated into the English; ‘because you refuse to acknowledge the time of your visitation.’  This is one of those few times when the New Living Translation more appropriately presents the Greek grammar of this passage when it states starting in verse 41:

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.  “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.  Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.  They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.

It is now understanding that Christ was holding them accountable for refusing to either look for the time of His visitation by studying the word of God to understand his timing, or their laziness of attitude towards the arrival of the Messiah.

There Were those that looked For the Messiah
Malachi 3:16 states:

“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. “

Simeon and Anna
Luke 2:25-38 states:

“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Was there a word of Prophecy That Gave a Clue
Now this begs the question, if Jesus held the people accountable for knowing the time of their visitation of the Messiah, was there a prophecy in God’s word, the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus expected them to be aware of.

We are aware that Simeon and Anna were blessed by the Holy Spirit to understand that Jesus was the one that was prophesied, and Simeon was given a word from the Lord that he would not die before having seen the anointed of the Lord, the Messiah; what we don’t know is if they understood a prophecy which also led them to understand that it was time to look for their Redeemer, with the Holy Spirit identifying the individual who was Jesus this understanding.  In the text and even in the Greek grammar itself it infers in that they were devout, meaning that they deeply studied God’s word in prayer.

The point still arises that Jesus held the people accountable for knowing the time of the arrival of the Messiah, rather the specific day or the time in general so that when they saw Jesus fulfilling the miracles He did, as well as the other prophecies He fulfilled according to the Scripture.  Either way Christ expected them to expect His coming and therefore accept Him – to recognize Him – which they did not.

There is a Prophecy which gave the exact day that Jesus would Announce Himself As the Messiah

One of the prophecies that the prophet Daniel recorded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is found in the ninth chapter of Daniel, in the book named after him.

This prophecy gives a starting date, a benchmark known by secular and religious figures wherein at this beginning point; according to a certain number of days the Messiah would present Himself.

How Long Is a Week?
One of the first things we need to realize is that in the Hebrew the number seven in reference to time did not always mean what we think it does.  They had weeks of days, which totaled seven days. They had weeks of weeks, which totaled 49 days (Wherein the Jubilee year was 49+ the next year of freedom, which was 50); they had weeks of months, which was seven months; and they had weeks of years, which totaled seven years.

The following chart is a brief synopsis which explains the formula wherein Daniel’s prophecy declared that Jesus would present Himself on the day that we refer to as a Triumphant Entry, the only time that Jesus received worship as the Messiah, in fact He orchestrated it, to have a colt ready for the occasion.

He came in the very gate that was the gate according to the Psalms that the Messiah would enter, on the very road that the Messiah was to ride on, while the people were singing the very song  which was a song of the arrival of the Messiah; wherein the Pharisees told Jesus to have the people stop because they were committing blasphemy (Calling Him God), wherein Jesus responded that if the people did not sing the prophesied Psalm to the Messiah, the rocks would sing out; indicating that this was to be His public dedication, even though four days later they cried crucify Him.

The people were laying down palm branches as they did for Kings, and their own outer coats as would fulfill a prophecy of the Messiah.

Have you ever noticed how often Jesus would sneak away from the crowds when they tried to make Him king. How when He did certain miracles, such as the first one in Cana He advised His mother that “His time had not come.” It makes no sense that He would be referring to His death, but it makes total sense in understanding that He would not declare Himself the Messiah by publicly doing this miracle, a miracle which was prophesied to be done by the Messiah himself.

This brief summary is but the starting point for this study.

The following link will take you to a more exhaustive examination, though limited as it is.  LINK (Presenting the work of Sir Robert Anderson, 1899)

Daniel 9:25

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

Click to Enlarge

Brent


Filed under: Articles and Posts, Brent's - Biblical Eschatology, Brent's - Biblical Prophecy - Fulfilled, Most Vital Articles Tagged: 10th Nisan, 32 AD, Daniel 9:25, Daniels 70 Weeks, Luke 3:1, Messiah, Messiah revealed, Passover, Prophecy, Triumphal Entry

Who & What to Trust Encyclopedia (2015)

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! – Who & What to Trust Encyclopedia (2015)

The above link is to a downloadable copy of a word document which is a 88 page concise research dictionary and encyclopedia regarding Bible translations, Bible history, and Textual Criticism in the first half.  The second half concerns Christian leaders, past and current (Including Liberation Theology, and Black Liberation Theology; which our president was a member of for over 20 years, along with insights concerning those spiritual leaders associated with the White House); Along with many Denominations and religious movements, past and current, and their leaders.

This article is also located in the top header of the homepage entitled “Downloadable Articles.”


Filed under: Notable Works and Notable Original Works Tagged: Bible Encyclopedia, Bible history, Bible information, Bible translation, religious leaders, religious movements, Textual Criticism, The Bible, the president's religion, translation history

The Holy Bible – The Word of God

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This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and that happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy.
It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.
It is the travelers map, the Pilgrims staff, the pilots compass, the soldier sword and the Christians character.
Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.
It is given to you in life and it will be opened in the judgment and will be remembered forever.
It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Author unknown)


Filed under: ALL CATEGORIES

Eternal Security Series – Part 1 – Galatians 5 –“those that do such things…”

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Introduction

Series Introduction
The subject which is referred to as “Eternal Security” has brought major division within Christianity as a whole, whereas some denominations support this doctrine and others deny it.

It is a religious doctrine (Meaning: “A teaching of the church”) that many point to and state it was not taught by the church fathers, which is not necessarily true due to the fact because there’s only  a dozen or so quotations of these early church teachers found over hundreds of years, and many of these teachers should not be quoted as authoritative due to their unbelief concerning the deity of Jesus Christ, the atonement, and many other major doctrines of the church which they disavow, Origen Adamantius of Alexandria Egypt (The main hub of Gnosticism during the first few centuries after the resurrection) being a prime example.  Though there has been a marked increase in this teaching over the last century within Protestant churches.

Having been raised in a denomination which was opposed to this doctrine, teaching it was a heresy (until I was 16), then accepting the Lord a few years later and going into full-time ministry five years after this in a denomination which taught the same, and continuing to believe this was a heresy for another decade, it was very difficult for me to consider that this doctrine could ever be true, though now for the last 20 years, I praise God for the correction of the Holy Spirit concerning this most precious assurance which I now believe and teach.    

Introduction
The term: “Eternal Security” is a term NOT found in the (The Greek Textus Receptus NT or the Hebrew OT Masoretic Text) Bible, though the teaching is, with examples such as John 10:28-30, wherein Jesus speaking states:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

(Do you notice here that there is not one hand holding the believer, but two hands cuffed around him, this should make us feel secure, as it is Jesus and God the Father that keeps us, and not we keeping ourselves, but I digress)

eternal life

Eternal Life
This passage presents two doctrines, that of “Eternal Life,” and the Equality of Jesus with Father God, wherein “Jesus presents His deity (Which the Pharisees understood as in the next verse they pick up stones to stone Him.  How individuals make statements that Jesus never presented Himself as deity is ridiculous considering the massive volume of passages to the contrary, this being one.  Also, notice that every time the Pharisees or people pick up stones to stone Jesus, it is because He is claiming to be God; which is what that Torah demands for this type of blasphemy by mortal men).  

It is this former doctrine that we shall deal with, whereas if anyone has a problem with the latter doctrine, all believers would agree that they need to be saved.  

The following series contains over a dozen moderate articles (not exhausted as I sometimes do, anywhere from 40 to 80 pages), considering this doctrine that Jesus refers to as “eternal life“, though for the sake of clarity concerning its established name, and so that individuals will understand the subject matter, I will continue to refer to this doctrine as “Eternal Security(“eternal life“).

Jesus reference to this doctrine as eternal life will be considered at greater length in a future article, but the first thing before going any further in a discussion concerning eternal security which is the concept that Jesus presented which is concrete and solidified according to the Greek grammar.

The first problem that opponents to eternal life have is Jesus Himself regarding this statement, which is repeated in the Gospels. If an individual actually accepts Jesus Christ and becomes a born again child of God, AND they can lose that salvation, then Jesus comment was false, because in the Greek the grammar is insistent, which is also obvious as well in the English translation – Jesus states in the imperative that Jesus came to bring eternal life, meaning life that never stops, not temporary life – but eternal life.

The parsing of the Greek grammar for John: 28 is:

And IG2504 giveG1325 [G5719] unto themG846 eternalG166 lifeG2222; andG2532 they shallG622 neverG3364 G1519 G165 perishG622 [G5643], neitherG2532 G3756 shallG726 anyG5100 man pluckG726 [G5692] themG846 out ofG1537 myG3450 handG5495.

The word give is didōmi (G1325), which in this particular passage is presented in the following grammar:

Tense-Present          –    is a continuous action which never stops/

Voice-Active           –    the subject causes the action (the object receives the action)

Mood -Participle     –    the Greek participle corresponds to the English particle, reflecting “- ing” or “- ed” being the suffixed.

Which means that according to the present tense it is a continuous action that never stops, it is not a singular action wherein Jesus is only on one occasion extending eternal life.  The eternal life that he gives is continuous and never stops.  According to the active voice, Jesus is the subject that gives the action, and we are the object that receives the action. The the participle mood indicates this is a fact and unmovable as it is a never stopping action that even is referred to in some instances as a past action, because past actions can never be stopped; yet is always seen as an ongoing never-ending action

Eternal Death
I shouldn’t need to point out that we all are as human beings eternal souls, meaning we live forever, though in different forms. And that those that are destined to hell by their refusal to accept the atonement of Jesus Christ for their sins will be a live in hell in a different form for all of eternity, this is not the eternal life that Jesus is speaking about.

He is speaking about eternal life with Him and the Father, not eternal damnation.

So now let us go on to deal with a prominent issue that opponents utilize stating that their qualifications to salvation beyond faith, such as maintaining a sanctified life as they assert concerning the below passage as found in Galatians 5:19-21

Galatians

Introduction
On three occasions Paul cites sins of the flesh and concludes with the statement that those that “do such things” shall not inherit the kingdom of God, which we would agree is synonymous with salvation.

This is one of those occasions where understanding the Greek words that were originally penned, and then later translated into the English words, is a necessity in order to fully understand what the apostle was stating – it is the grammar that brings clarity.

Galatians 5:19-21 states: (in the 1769 King James Version):

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.”

The parsing of the Greek grammar for Galatians 5:19-21 is:

“NowG1161 the worksG2041 of the fleshG4561 areG2076 [G5748] manifestG5318, whichG3748 areG2076 [G5748] these ; AdulteryG3430, fornicationG4202, uncleannessG167, lasciviousnessG766, IdolatryG1495, witchcraftG5331, hatredG2189, varianceG2054, emulationsG2205, wrathG2372, strifeG2052, seditionsG1370, heresiesG139, EnvyingsG5355, murdersG5408, drunkennessG3178, revellingsG2970, andG2532 suchG5125 likeG3664: of the whichG3739 I tellG4302 youG5213 beforeG4302 [G5719], asG2531 I haveG4277 alsoG2532 told you in time pastG4277 [G5627], thatG3754 they which doG4238 [G5723] such thingsG5108 shallG2816 notG3756 inheritG2816 [G5692] the kingdomG932 of GodG2316.”

Strong’s Dictionary – the root of the word:

do (G4238) pras’-so

A primary verb; to “practise”, that is, perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act); by implication to execute, accomplish, etc.; specifically to collect (dues), fare (personally): – commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.

Part of the problem that we have as 21st-century Americans whose primary language is English is that we do not have an inspired word of God, given to us in our own language.

God chose to utilize koine Greek as the vehicle to communicate to man the New Testament, and it is this specific detailed exact language that is our reference point in handling the inspired, inerrant word of God, not the English.

(Please see Endnote #1 concerning the differences between the Hebrew, the Greek and the English languages, otherwise the following will seem foreign to you.)

The Koine Greek Language

Strong’s-Concordance_James-Strong

Many individuals mistakenly utilize Strong’s Dictionary (Mainly found in the back of the exhaustive concordance, or in a standalone volume) to look up specific words from a specific passage. The reason I state this is a mistake is that strong’s dictionary is a “root” dictionary, meaning it gives a generic understanding of the word which is many times is diverse according to the specific passage and the specific grammar utilized especially concerning the verbs, in this case the word translated into the English “do’, which is the Greek Romanized word pras-so.

Again, Strong’s Dictionary only gives a generic understanding of a word referred to as the “root,” and is not useful for word studies or specific Greek grammar studies which necessitates understanding what the exact grammar that is used in any specific text (please see LINK for documentation of this regarding Strong’s Dictionary).  It should be understood that James Strong received his letters after his name as honorary degrees, there is no indication he received any degree higher than a Masters in theology, and never had special studies in Greek, nor understood or taught Greek.  He was a professor which dealt with theology proper, not linguistics or Far East languages.

This explains why the above example of this Greek word, translated into the English word “do,” taken from Strong’s (root) Dictionary gives different types of examples within its explanation which are diverse from each other (Mainly: “perform repeatedly or habitually, or by implication execute, accomplish, etc.; specifically to collect (dues), fare (personally): – commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.;).  Yet, understanding of this Greek word pras-so as: “Repeatedly or habitually” still fall short of the specific use of the word’s true meaning.  There is more to the word than this explanation that Strong’s presents.

Vines

It is by using a Greek Grammar Dictionary, such as “Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words(Or the Hebrew concerning the Old Testament) that list individual meanings concerning specific passages.

Spiros Zodhiates

Or Even better, “The Complete Greek Word Study” by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. (A true doctor in the Classical and Koine Greek language, and a proven scholar whose native language is modern Greek as well), which address the grammar of the verbs; the tense, the voice, and the mood; wherein we can ascertain the exact meaning of any Greek verb, (As well as the noun and other aspects of the grammar) in this case which is listed below

Greek grammar for “pras-so” according to this specific passage (G5723):

Tense-Present          –    is a continuous action which never stops/

Voice-Active           –    the subject causes the action (the object receives the action)

Mood -Participle     –    the Greek participle corresponds to the English particle, reflecting “- ing” or “- ed” being the suffixed.

Therefore we understand that when Paul is saying not only those that habitually do these sins shall not inherit the kingdom of God, but those that never stop doing the sins.

Those that state that eternal life (eternal security) is wrong cannot use this Scripture as a basis or the other which use the same grammatical construct.

It is because opponents state that those who habitually do these sins cannot be saved, is an incorrect statement.

The truth according to this passage is those that live in this sin and never ever stop it, cannot be saved.

Matthew

Matthew 13
You see the issue is time, if a person lives like a sinner after stating that they accepted Jesus, and never shows the fruit this indicates they never were saved in the first place, as Jesus alluded to in Matthew 13:3-9 and explained in 19-23, which states:

“And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. “ (Matthew 13:3-9)

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”   (Matthew 13:19-23)

parablesower_s

You see the only individual that is saved in this parable is he that heareth the word, understandeth it, “which also bear fruit”.

Those that received the seed, wherein he heareth the word, receives it with joy, yet does not produce fruit are not saved.

One of the keys to this passage has to do with the word “understand.”

Strong’s Dictionary – the root of the word:

understand(G4920) suniēmi soon-ee’-ay-mee

From G4862 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send); to put together, that is, (mentally) to comprehend; by implication to act piously: – consider, understand, be wise.

The Greek grammar for “suniemi” according to this specific passage (G5723):

(what a coincidence is the same grammatical parsing as the word “do”, and “give” above.)

Tense-Present          –    is a continuous action which never stops/

Voice-Active           –    the subject causes the action (the object receives the action)

Mood -Participle     –    the Greek participle corresponds to the English particle, reflecting “- ing” or “- ed” being the suffixed.

therefore

Therefore
Therefore, meaning that true believers understand to the extent that they never lose this understanding, and it changes their worldview and their thinking, this is synonymous with faith, repentance, and salvation; which are always ongoing and never stop according to the grammar, which will be seen in the life of the believer, even if they go through stages of being backslidden, if they yet repent – which true believers will, then the process of salvation never stops, and last throughout eternity because Jesus came to bring us “eternal life.”

What this passage is not saying, is that those that were not saved, that did not produce a plant had no understanding; because if this is what was meant Matthew would have used a different word and it would have different Greek grammar parsing.

It is saying that they understood the gospel, but they did not maintain their response to the gospel throughout their life.

There was an intellectual understanding, yet there was not a permanence in the acceptance.

There are many atheists and agnostics which can explain, in great detail; the atonement and the gospel of Jesus Christ, they intellectually understand it, yet they are not saved because they refused to believe it, wherein that belief would grow into a conviction, which produces actions, which are known as faith.

It is this understanding that is synonymous with belief wherein a cognitive response to that gospel first occurs.

To repeat, if belief never moves into conviction and produces actions, is not saved this belief will not save that person.

There is a vast difference between belief, and faith.

Belief will not save you as James attest to (James 2:19), concerning the Devils (actual demons), yet faith, which is best defined as:

Faith - the ABC's of faith

The ABCs of faith

Actions based on belief, sustained by confidence (conviction).

Concerning the difference between the Greek words “believe and faith,” please see the following LINK.  Half way down the article, see the heading the “ABC’s of Faith.”

Therefore, it is not enough to understand the gospel, it is the Holy Spirit opening our eyes and heart wherein the seed of the word of God can grow into a plant.

You see many people focus on the seed concerning this parable.

The object of this parable is the plant, not the seed; it is those that grow into being believers producing fruit that is the focus, NOT those that temporarily understand and receive with joy the seed, but don’t produce a plant.

Concerning spiritual growth, Christ is occupied with fruit production, though seed distribution is necessary in this process, this parable cannot be used to state that believers can lose their salvation – it does not say that plants go back to becoming seeds.  Once the seed of the word of God germinates in the heart of a person and produces a plant, this is salvation; where according to God’s word there will be fruit, some small some great.

But attempting to say because you do not Currently see fruit, that the plant is dead, is nowhere to be found in this parable – It takes time for plants to produce fruit, it took 25 years for Abraham, who are we to demand that individuals do it in less.

The issue is that there is no place in this parable concerning the plant going in reverse, dying, or even not producing fruit.

Once it becomes a plant.  A plant is a plant is a plant.  A sheep is a sheep, goats are goats, wheat are wheat, tare are tares; in all of Jesus’ parables and illustrations, none of these change from one to the other…

Brent

Endnote

1.  The Hebrew and Koine Greek Languages

Introduction
Both the Hebrew and the Greek languages have their own particular differences which are utilized by God, and which presents God’s message to man in a diversity of style and effectiveness that complement each other.

The Hebrew (Old Testament) language displays vividness, conciseness, simplicity and denseness, and is very poetic and therefore necessitates many more English words in its translation is due to its vaBible_Scroll_2_gueness; therefore it has the ability to utilize puns, and many other rhetorical devices; which add color and nuances to the language beautifully, and therefore takes more English words to translate.

Whereas in comparison, the Koiné Greek language (New Testament) is beautiful, rich, and harmonious, a very specific language, technical, efficient and effective; an excellent tool for vigorous thought and religious devotion.

These are characteristics which make Greek an excellent language for debate, philosophy, logic, and science, due to its strength and vigor; a language of argument with a vocabulary and style that penetrate and clarify phenomena rather than simply describe verbiage.

Greek takes many more English words to translate a single Greek word into English because of its specificity and exactness, yet for a different reason the Hebrew also needs  many more English words to translate a single Hebrew because it is vague.

Greek is perhaps the most precise form of expression found in any language, far beyond the English, Latin, or Oriental languages.Bible_Book_2_

This is one of the closest to perfect languages in man’s existence, making it more than appropriate as God’s tool of communication to man.

What we find in these 2 languages, is that the Hebrew language, which God used as mankind was coming of age, growing from a single man (Abraham), to a family (the 12 Tribes), to a nation (Israel); is vague, limited in its revelation in the same way that God limited his exposure to the human race in the time of the Old Testament by utilizing a single man, his family, and a nation that would carry his word to the rest of the world.

During this time it is as if God is seen as if from behind the veil.

Yet, when we see the Greek language, with its specificity and preciseness, a language that reveals in great precision in a way that would be synonymous with God’s revelation of Himself in the person of Jesus.

This is why many people think that there one God of the Old Testament that is a judge, mean and condemning; and another God of the New Testament, patient, loving, and sacrificial.

There is only one God, He simply chooses different ways to reveal Himself, He has chosen a progression in revealing Himself (The good side of this is that as God has patiently and slowly revealed Himself, He has been patient with man as well, even winking at his transgressions [“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” ~ Acts 17:30] – giving man a temporary acceptance through faith in God, as seen in the yearly sacrifice, prior to Jesus, but once Jesus has come; God specifically demands faith be placed in Him.)  

In the Old Testament they knew the Messiah was coming, but didn’t know who he was.

In the New Testament God specifically revealed who the Messiah is, and that salvation can be found in no other  (See Gal. 3:22-26).

Concerning the precision and methodical nature of Koiné (Greek: “common”*Greek, it should be understood that Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures, were translated into the “common” Greek  three centuries before the time of Christ, known as the Septuagint translation and was what Christ and the disciples used as their Scripture in their day (except for within the Temple and the synagogues, where the Hebrew translations of the Torah were utilized).

(*The common dialect, as opposed to Attic dialect.  Koiné Greek is an ancestor of modern Greek, having come from the Classical Greek and mixed with local variances.  And is the first supra-regional dialect in Greece, becoming the lingua franca for the Eastern Mediterranean and ancient Near East throughout the Roman period due to the prior conquest of Alexander the Great – 336 BC to 323 BC, and therefore became the common language of the known world ~ 300 BC to AD 300.  Septuagint meaning: “seventy,” – the abbreviation LXX is found in your Bible margins when referring to it, and comes from the Roman alphabet symbolizing “70” – because seventy [72?] translators were used in its translation.  It took fifteen years to finish the Septuagint, from 285 to 270 B.C., and was commissioned and paid for by the Greek King of Ptolemaic Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphus [285-245 B.C.], his father was Ptolemy I.  Ptolemy I, was one of the four Greek generals of Alexander the Great, who after his death, slit up the kingdom of Alexander the Great; the Greek king of Macedon who became a world dictator. Ptolemy I and his son ruled the area of Egypt.)

This is why many times there is an inconsistency between our New Testament quotations of Old Testament passages, and the Old Testament passages themselves.

The reason that the two Testaments are not exactly the same is that our Protestant Old Testament is based upon the Hebrew Masoretic Text (The Hebrew Old Testament that was not codified until the 8th century A.D.), and Jesus and the disciples were quoting from the Greek Septuagint translation of the (Hebrew) Old Testament Scriptures, which explains the differences seen between the two (many Christian translators believe that the 8th century Hebrew Jewish translators used variant Hebrew words in the Masoretic translation to attempt to distance their translation from the Christian Bible which at the time used the Septuagint Old Testament; they believed Christianity was an evil cult), translations.

The supernatural outcome of having a (SeptuagintGreek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament is the ability to specifically understand the Hebrew words used in the Old Testament, as they could be laid next to the (specific) Greek, which would set up a parallel of translation effect.

So as to define the Hebrew according to the Greek; by thus setting aside the vagueness that was originally introduced, as well as gaining the ability to cross-reference each with each other, and have both of the Testaments comparable at the same time.

And in the process, acquiring greater insight into both translations; as seen in the New Testament quotes of the Old Testament which are made more precise and clear, and the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the New Testament with greater understanding.

It’s like God presented Himself in the Old Testament while still behind a veil to the Jews (“the Hebrews”), more mysterious and at arm’s length.

Yet, in the New Testament, Jesus revealed God in a more personal, detailed and intimate manner, in Himself (which is where we get the idea of: “having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour”).

We also have God presenting His written word in the specificity of the Greek language in the New Testament, and eventually (c. 280 BC) presenting a more precisely regarding the Old Testament as seen in the Septuagint.

Jesus Christ is the revelation of God the Father that was never seen before in such specificity (1 Timothy 3:16).

In the Old Testament we see the actions of God; in the New Testament we see this personality in the person of Jesus Christ.

Both of these languages are dead languages, meaning that they are permanently set – they do not change (which is important to us, in that consistency and uniformity are assured), and are therefore excellent tools for translation purposes with set meanings; even though our English is a living language, which is fluid – always changing; and therefore mandates a greater deliberation in translation.

Conclusion
How amazing is our God that He would specifically utilize two languages which are almost opposite of each other in order to fulfill His Will.

The one language He uses as He begins His journey with man from behind a veil, vague as He slowly, mercifully, but surely introduces Himself to mankind, utilizing a temporary year-by-year Levitical system to teach man that he is a sinner, awaiting the permanent substitute as seen in the person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel; the Savior of the world..

Jesus who was declared in a specific thorough language which gives great detail concerning the person of Christ who reflects the Father, wherein salvation is made specific concerning God’s demand that man placed his faith in God, wherein man accesses the grace of God for forgiveness through the atoning work of the cross.

Salvation comes only one way, God’s way.

Yet how miraculous it is to see how God even uses the languages He has chosen to symbolically display what He has literally written in His Word – our God is beyond awesome, there are no words to describe Him – all we could do is praise and glorify Him for His mercy and grace.  Aman


Filed under: Eternal Security vs. Eternal Life Series Tagged: Eternal Security, Galatians 5:19-21, Galatians 5:21, Greek, Hebrew, losing your salvation, Matthew 13:19-23, Matthew 13:3-9, Salvation, those that do such things

Eternal Security Series – Part 2 – Salvation, Repentance, Confession, and Sin Defined

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Introduction

Series Introduction
The following article is Part 2 of a series concerning what many refer to as “Eternal Security.”  

The term “Eternal Security” is not found in the Bible.  It is a man-made term to describe the teaching that “Once a Christian is saved, they are always saved” – which by its very definition is Eternal Life.  

eternal life

Eternal Life
Eternal life is life that never ends.  Therefore those that believe that a person can be saved and afterwards can lose their salvation are opposed to Jesus’ teaching of Eternal Life,  Wherein they present that salvation can be temporary, that it can be lost after having been gained
(This then begs the question, “how many times can a person be saved?”  Is it as Jesus said to Peter concerning forgiving his brother, more than 490 times?  Can you see the possible absurdity of this idea?)

Either the Bible is true and salvation is Eternal Life, wherein both the Greek grammar and the English cannot be disputed when it defines eternal life means never-ending – therefore not temporary, as the opponents would state; or the Bible is a lie?

Salvation by Cross

Salvation
Therefore, when it comes to the subject of Eternal Security (ES), as stated in Part 1 of this series, I believe the true issue is actually Eternal Life.

To reiterate, Jesus defined salvation as is recorded in John 10:28-30, as Him bringing eternal life (See Endnote 1 which list the New Testament passages demanding that salvation is defined as eternal life) to those that are His own, those that were saved.

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.  

false doctrine

Some Believer”s Definition of Salvation
Those that oppose Eternal Security
(Hence referred to as those that believe in “Conditional Salvation,” CS), many times state that the New Testament defines what salvation is as being:

1) Saved from sin (Especially as seen in the book of Romans), or

2) The necessity of repenting from one sin (which is true, but misunderstood; which I will deal with a little later)

where will you spend eternity

Saved from Sin
While being 
saved from sin is a consequence of salvation
it is not salvation – salvation  is eternal life and being freed of sin’s power should not to be confused with the gracious gift of spending forever with God, which is salvation.

While it is a great joy NOT to have sin control our members, according to 1 John 1:8-10, which states”

“(8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

All men, including believers will sin throughout their life, Is not simply speaking of occasional sin, but sin which is normal part of life (though in the life of the believer, it should never be in total control, but it will occur daily):

We will sin throughout our earthly existence as noted in verse 8 of 1st John chapter 1,  Wherein the Greek words translated into the English “we have” are in the perfect tense – meaning an action that will never ever end, Conveying the idea of permanence until death, and that it continues as a daily aspect of humanity and normal part of fallen man, saved or not.

blood of Jesus takes away sins

The Cross
The first issue that we must deal with concerning this passage is verse 9 of 1st John chapter 1, which talks about the confession of sins and Christ “cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”  We must first understand that our salvation was paid for not because of confession, but by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.  

the-atonement-560x374

Atonement
The atonement (Greek: katallagḗ, it is a reconciliation Between God and man because of a ransom being paid, Jesus paid the ransom price for mankind) of Jesus Christ, is based upon his blood; not mere words are thoughts of confession.  

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”  (Romans 5:11 KJV)

judge-gavel2

For God to be Righteous, Punishment was Necessary for a Violation of the Law
Therefore, the mere confession of sin is not enough to pay the ransom.  It is blood for blood, and mere words or even the contrition of the heart is not enough to pay for the sins of man, this is how evil sin is, and the intention of sinning does not nullify or weaken the evil of sin.  Every sin committed is a choice each time it is committed, and therefore by its nature is habitual if you have ever done that sin before.

Ransom

A Ransom Had to Be Paid
God did not simply forgive our sins is if they didn’t occur in the first place, this would not be just or righteous.  The problem that God faced was the fact that a righteous judge or righteous God cannot forgive a violation of the law, or they would not be just.  He could not be righteous and merciful at the same time, because they are antithetical one to the other.  Since man was unable of saving himself and still is, and only a pure sinless sacrifice could become a substitute to pay the ransom of man’s sin in order that God may be merciful to man; the price of sin still had to be paid in the form of a ransom which is what Jesus did.  He took our sins upon Himself and became sin, doing the opposite of what Adam did wherein he introduced sin into man’s DNA.   

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”  (1 Timothy 2:6 KJV)

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”   (1 Corinthians 15:22  KJV)

Bulls-and-Goats

The Blood of Bulls
This is why blood is so often spoken about in the Old Testament concerning the sacrificial system, which was only temporary in nature, And was never meant to claims man of his sins as stated in Hebrews 10:4, which states:

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Object_Lesson

The Old Testament was Meant to Be an Object Lesson to Prepare Us for the New One
This is why we see the many New Testament references to Christ’s blood redeeming mankind.  The feast of Israel and the Tabernacle itself was meant to be an object lesson to teach man not only about God’s justice and law, but of his plan for mankind as seen in the redemption given to us through Jesus Christ.  We learn from these Old Testament symbols, as those who had read of them before Christ would recognize and understand what true atonement, redemption, and ransom were met to be fulfilled in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.  

shadow-on-sidewalk

Shadows of Things to Come
We are told that these things were shadows of things to come.  When a man has the sun at his back, and walks towards you; you see the shadow before being in the presence of the man.  The shadow is not an exact representation of that which follows.  But it does make that which follows recognizable when it appears.   All of the books of the Old Testament were meant to prepare mankind for the Messiah, to make him recognizable in the person of Jesus Christ.- this is prophetic concerning the Messiah and his mission.  Hebrews 8:1-5 (KJV), states:

(1) “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (2) A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (3) For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. (4) For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: (5) Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”    

Old Testament Examples
In the Old Testament on the Day of Atonement, the priest would enter the Tabernacle compound and the first thing he would approach after entering the entrance way, was the Brazen Altar where sacrifice for sins were made for the people.  

Did you ever noticed that in Paul’s ending citations how we would often say “grace and peace under you.”  

The reason that he said it always in this specific order, was that you will never have peace with God, until first you experience the grace of God, because He has forgiven your sins (Your sins been having paid by someone else – the Christ).  

The same as the idea here, the Tabernacle was a place of meeting between man and God, where man was to understand the grace of God, which first demanded God’s grace, not that sins were simply forgiven and forgotten; but that punishment, the sacrifice for sins was paid.  

tabernacle-1(Click to Enlarge)

The Tabernacle
Prior to Jesus Christ dying on the cross, God instituted the Seventh Feast of Israel, which revolved around the Tabernacle as a meeting place of God.  But because of man’s sin he could NOT meet with God, as God cannot be in the presence of sin, He cannot even look upon evil.

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”  (Habakkuk 1:13 KJV) 

So when the priest, on the Day of Atonement would enter the meeting place of God, the Tabernacle compound, which included the outer area surrounded by the outer walls, the first thing that the human priest had to do was deal with his sins or else he could not meet with God in the Holy of Holies.  

brazenaltar

Brazen Altar
Therefore the Brazen Altar was the first thing that was a necessity to address before going any further.  

This is where sins were paid for, it was an example of Christ dying on the cross shedding his blood for us.  As I said, salvation is not God simply waving His hand and forgetting sin, this is not biblical forgiveness.  

goats

God’s Justice & The Scapegoat
God’s justice demands that punishment must be rendered for violations of the law.  In one of the ceremonies within the Seven Feast of the tabernacle, a priest would pick out to goats, one would be sacrificed in the other one would be let go into the wilderness, which is called the scapegoat.  This symbolism was to teach the people that the punishment for sin must be paid, and that one goat would pay the penalty for another goat which would be set free.  What a beautiful illustration of Christ paying the redemption for mankind.,  

And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. (9) And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. (10) But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD[For which the other goat, “the lot for the Lord”] to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.  (Leviticus 16:8-10 KJV)

Payment Mandatory
This is the only way man can be saved, Jesus voluntarily traded places with us taking the sins of the world as He died on the cross, being treated as we deserve to be treated, so that we could be treated as sons of God as he alone deserve to be treated.  

Therefore, as it would be 1000 years before Jesus would die for the sins of the world God used the Seven Feast and the Tabernacle as an object lesson as it says in the book of Hebrews, a shadow of that which was to come.  

And the Brazen Altar was an illustration of Jesus dying for the sins of the world, where sin was dealt with before anything else can be addressed.  

After the priest sacrificed meat and blood for the sins of the people, which included himself, as he walked towards the Tabernacle, he would next approach the Brazen Laver, in which he had to wash his feet and his hands before entering the tabernacle, but why, if his sins had already been addressed at the Brazen Altar?

“Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all [Referring to Judas],  (John 13:9-10 KJV)

Jesus is telling them that because of their faith they were saved, but they still send daily and needed to be aware of this and to confess it, as seen next. 

laver-brass-brazen

Brazen Laver
The Brazen Laver was made out of brass from the looking glasses of the Egyptians that were given to the Israelites when they were leaving for the Promised Land.  They did not have mirrors as we commonly have today to gain a reflection of themselves, they would beat brass, and hone it till it was very smooth, and would portray the reflection of an individual.  

hands working

Hands Symbolize What Men Do
The Brazen Laver was made from this material so that as the priest, as they would bend over the Brazen Laver and wash their hands, they would be forced to look at themselves, symbolizing the self-reflection of understanding that their hands, which were still dirty.  

The principle behind this was that even though their sins had been paid for at the Brazen Altar, their daily walk, even the short distance from the Brazen Altar to the Brazen Laver, their feet would become dusty and dirty.  

feet-walking

Feet Symbolize Man’s Walk through Life
The idea here is that the feet symbolized a man’s walk through his life, and his hands symbolized what he did based upon his choices. 

The fact that the priest feet and hands had to be washed illustrated that even though sin was paid for, there is still the concept that daily we sin as human beings, and that we first must acknowledge those by looking at our behavior, the same as a priest were forced to look at themselves in the reflection of the Brazen Laver, then wash their hands in the water of the word of God (?), while acknowledging that they are still sinners.  

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”  (John 15:3 KJV)

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26 KJV)

The believer is to humbly reflect upon all of his sins, especially the little ones, confess them unto the Lord, commit yourself to God’s word and its correction, knowing that 2000 years ago Christ died on the cross for all of your sins – period!  

This is what John is referring to in 1st John 1:9.

Christian walk

Daily Walk
In our daily walk through life, the choices we make in the things that we handle and do are marked by the sin of the fallen nature.  We are NOT to merely take sin for granted, we are to be self inspecting, cognizant of our sin, and that in so doing we are to confess our sins before Him as an aspect of repentance, and as John says He will respond by forgiving those daily sins, Wherein we maintain fellowship with Him.

Repentance 

Repentance
You see repentance means to change one’s mind, to go 180° from walking our own way in life, to completely turn around in following Jesus Christ.  A mere mental assent is NOT what repentance is, it is the starting place.  It is not the same as regret or remorse.  

Repentance is what a believer does when they accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they change the way they think and stop going their own way, which is based only their sinful lust.  

When they change their mind to follow Christ, this mental thought is combined with conviction which produces faith in God and His word and bears fruit, wherein the whole walk of the man changes, that his beliefs change and they change his behaviors, those things he does with his hands.  

Confession
1st John 1:9, as well as Romans 10:9-10, are a couple of only a few examples the equates confession with salvation.  Because forgiveness of sin as in salvation, is only achieved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  

Romans 10:9-10
Romans 10:9-10, which states:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 

Confession, by itself is not enough to save a man, they must have faith in their heart, meaning their inner man.  And the idea here is not that the physical act of confession save you, in some kind of mystical way, such as the “Name it and claim it” false prophets give mystical power to spoken words.

Roman soldier and Jesus 2

Openly Admitting Christ As Your Savior – to the World
The idea here is that if a person has truly repented and change their mind and are following Christ, they will tell other people and claim Jesus as their Savior openly – proving that they really do believe and have changed their ways.  

1

Two Types of Confession

The word confession used in the New Testament has two implications.  It concerns confession of sins, as well as confession that Jesus Christ is our Savior as an evangelism.

Concerning the latter, if someone is ashamed of Christ, they display they truly don’t have faith in Him, and as they have denied Him, He will deny them.  

Concerning the former, if salvation came by confession, and this type of mystical verbiage were true, then we would have to tell every person we ever meet that we are Christian, which is ridiculous.  

The Correct Understanding
As Believers are dealing with people in the world, they should act in such a way that people see their hope based on faith, and ask why as Peter says.  We should, as the opportunity of being instant in season or out, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching others the word of God; this is what confession can achieve in the Christian’s life

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”  (1 Peter 3:15 KJV)

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”  (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV)

The Sin of Taking Sin for Granted
What we are to learn From 1st John 1:8-10 is to NOT take our sin for granted, that we are to confess those sins and it can think upon the repentance that we have made, that when we send and momentarily turned to do our own thing, that we would realize this and self-reflection, and again repent mentally, turn around, stopping that sin that we were currently doing, verbally confess it; knowing that God would always forgive that sin.  

This then begs the question of those that believe that we must always confess sins in order to receive forgiveness, and therefore salvation; “what happens to an individual when they die and they have sinned moments before and don’t have a chance to confess, is the blood of Jesus made of non-effect for that believer’s life? – NO.”  

Unknown or Unintended Sins?
And what about the sins I am unaware of, or are unintended, such as when David asked for forgiveness of the sins he wasn’t aware of, David said:

“Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. ”  (Psalms 19:12-14 KJV)

The “secret faults” spoken about in Psalms 19:12 is not talking about unintentional sin, as the Hebrew word (sawthar) here for “faults,” actually means hidden sins, sins that are concealed and not seen by everyone.

In fact, both these verses are talking about the same thing, it is not talking about two separate types of sins, the “them” is not found in the text, it is added by the translators to make the English sound correct.  

When David speaks about being “innocent from the great transgression,” it means the great rebellion, and is speaking salvation, wherein the Hebrew word “rebellion” is always spoken about as being done by those who are against God, not believers

And yes David was a believer, he was saved by faith as states in Hebrews 11:32-33, states:

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,”

And Hebrews 11:39, which states:

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise”

Forgotten Sin
What if I forget to pray that prayer about unaware of sins, does that stop me from entering heaven.  

We must understand that John in this passage is not speaking about salvation, he’s speaking about our daily walk and fellowship with Jesus Christ, this is what David is also speaking about, sin which will interfere with Our relationship with God, as well as the problems that are created on earth.

When we sin, this creates a temporary barrier in our fellowship with God.  Not a permanent barrier, but we still need to address the sin and again turned God’s way.  

Sin Diminishes the Life of the Believer
Now for you that thought that I rationalize sin, I hope you understand I definitely do not.  

But see the issue that were dealing with concerning eternal security is not the idea that we can lose our salvation based upon sin, but that Christ took our place and paid for that sin.  

Later we will discuss Paul’s passage in Romans 7 which deals with the fact that we sin daily and it is the power of sin over our lives which we are to find comfort in understanding in how to stop sins control, when he states that we are a wretched man because of being pulled between our two natures.  Our human sin nature versus are adopted spiritual nature.    

Sin under Control
Many of the proponents of conditional grace claim they have sin under control by attempting to separate intentional sin (David referred to this as “presumptuous sin,” which I think is very fitting because this addresses the fact that we know very well that when we sin, we are taking for granted God’s grace, and that we are showing little respect for everything Christ went through to pay for those sins – These are rebellious sins, but then all sin that a person knowingly commits, rather big or small, is a rebellious sin) from unintentional sin, as if unintentional sin is less severe.

archery 2_ (2)   

The Greek Word for Sin
The definition of the Greek word for “sin” used throughout the New Testament is: 
hamarthia [G266], which means“to miss the mark.”
It is an archery term, wherein the very size of the arrow itself, is the size of the bull’s-eye in the center of the target; and anything outside of a complete perfect bull’s-eye is sin, wherein variance of score has nothing to do with the thought.  

Either you have it, or you don’t, there is no little sin or big sin.  

This is where we get the concept for the teaching within the church, that all sin is the same with God.  

Sin Is Technically,  Anything That Goes against God’s Will
You see sin is more than a set of rules, a set of laws.  Sin is having contempt for the God of this universe ,and His perfect will.  

It’s not that we are sinners, under control of our body, and that we have the ability to sin less.  It is the fact that as sinners we always sin, and there is no little or big sin; anything that we do which goes against God’s will, even those things taught with in our denominations or things within God’s word, this is sin.  

I know this sounds heretical but hear me out 

This is why Jesus often said “you have heard it said” referring to the verbal law that the Jews followed which the religious leaders interpreted concerning the 613 regulations and laws of Leviticus.  Jesus was reinterpreting those.  

Return Not Evil to Evil Doers
And what about the 10 Commandments.  We are told not to murder, yet Jesus tells a believer to not seek justice but to turn the other cheek and forgiveness.  We must understand that many times God has set up certain things, for certain times, for certain people, that are different for other times, and other people: such as the difference between the Old Testament requirements to follow the law, and the New Covenant of Grace given by the blood of Jesus Christ.  

We don’t simply do good because it’s the opposite of sin, we are to do whatever God says even if it looks like sin.  

abraham-isaac

Abraham
Otherwise explain God’s commandment to Abraham to murder his son.  Now yes God stopped in but the point was Abraham had so much faith in God that he was even willing to do what God had told him was wrong to do in the first place, commit murder. 

The Israelites
The law does not tell us what sin is, it reflects the righteous nature of God, but God cannot be tied up or restrained by his own law.  How else do we explain God’s command to the Israelites to kill, that is to murder every man woman and child in the promised land.

Man’s Attempt at Manipulation
Man always tries to create systems that he can figure out ways to get around, but we have to follow a sovereign being, a Divine God that is not as rigid, That we can make him do what we want according to twisting the law against him, like the “Name it and claim it” heretics attempt to do.

Firstborn

The Firstborn
God set up the law of Primogeniture (prototokos) is a term meaning that the firstborn son shall have the inheritance of the family, because the first-born son belongs to God.

Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.”  (Exodus 13:2 KJV)

Yet over a dozen times God sidesteps this, and has the second born receive the blessing, either directly or indirectly.

What we must understand is that God is so far above us in His understanding and wisdom, and is perfect and pure in all His ways, that if He says kill every man woman and child, this is righteous.

A Simple Way of Looking at It
My simple mind looks at it this way.

For 400 years Satan had designed for the inhabitants of the Promised Land to prosper and prepare the God’s people, to where there were even giants in the land in order to stop God’s people from fulfilling God’s promises for them to return to the land he gave Abraham.

They all would attempt to kill God’s Promised People, which God would not allow my killing them before they had the chance.

This would be like my neighbor telling me he was coming to my house to kill my son, and the next day I saw him go to my front door with a shotgun.  If I am in the front yard, and cannot get between him and my son, who is on the inside, I would put a bullet in his head to stop him.

This is not murder, this is self-defense of my son.

While this simple analogy makes me feel better about trying to understand God’s Commands concerning the Promised Land and His people, He is so much higher and greater than man, that the only conclusion is – anything that is God’s will is perfect pure and righteous, and anything that gets in its way, that does the opposite is sin.

All Sin Is Intentional

All Sin Is Intentional
All sin is evil, and (almost – as in 99%) every sin is intentional.  It is a choice, otherwise it is referred to as a trespass; which is a totally different subject, wherein Trespass Sins are usually never known to the individual because it was accidental and unknown, unless someone brings it to their attention.  

John’s statement concerning sin concerns the constant state within humanity, indicating it is a daily occurrence because it a part our fallen nature, a condition which will be changed when we receive a resurrection body, a body not born of the sinful flesh, but of the Spirit.  

Romans 7:14-25
This is seen in Romans (Paul’s gospel, as some referred to it), chapter 7:14-25, which states:

“(14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Body of Death
You notice the conclusion of this dreadful text, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”  Notice what it doesn’t say?  It doesn’t say who shall deliver me from this sinful state, but who shall deliver me from “the body of this death.”  You see everything that Paul said from verse 14 is present tense, it is a continuous action, it is never in the past tense.  

If we could master sin, the grammar would’ve used a different tense wherein the present tense indicates that this is something we will deal with all of our life.  This tension between the desire to do only God’s will, that which is spiritual, the law Is at war with our carnal nature, this sinful body which will continually sin.

Paul promises no deliverance from sin, the deliverance is from death.  

This is because salvation is life, and damnation is death.  

The reference to the body of this death, does not isolate itself to meaning the sin of this body.  The Greek grammar only allows this to be translated the body that brings death, hence the opposite of salvation which concerns life.

Sin Is Our Nature ~ But Sin Is Always a Choice
For those that would accuse me of rationalizing or teaching that sin is okay, it is ridiculous that I need to make the following statement, but I better.  

For the believer; while sin is something that we will do on a daily basis, each sin that we give ourselves over too, is a choice.  We may NOT have to pay the punishment for those sins, but many times we will pay the consequences for them on this side of deaths door – sin always creates damage and interferes with our fellowship with God and others.  

This is the problem with those that attempt to say that we are delivered from sin in this life, it’s because it is sin is a choice.  We choose how many sins we may or may not do, even how big the sins are within our own life – meaning certain sins are singular, though they are habitual.  

You cannot say that today I lied, and I will choose NOT to do it again tomorrow, because you may lie tomorrow, because of your fallen nature.  Remember that even concerning good things, we cannot take God for granted and presuppose we will do.

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”  (James 4:13-15 KJV)

Because tomorrow when if I lie, I’m habitually lying, even if tomorrow is a week away.  Our first lie occurs only once.    

Habitual Sin – Leads to Backsliding
The point is all sin is habitual, meaning it is repetitive and has been done before.  

But not all sin is a lifestyle.  

The sin of a lie is very different than the sin of living in fortification with a woman, that by its very nature is a daily choice to violate God’s commandment concerning sexual purity.  

The alcoholic Christian, who starts drinking again after salvation, enters a lifestyle of violating God’s commands not to be filled with spirits, meaning alcohol; but being filled with the Spirit of God.  Yet each drink is an individual choice, but there is a difference with these sins that are made up of a lifestyle.  

If A person knows that smoking is destroying this temple that God has given them, which they are to nourish, each puff is a choice.  

Yet the point is, a believer may not practice lying, and only lie every once in a while, but this sin is just as intentional as the choice to take a drink of alcohol, or a puff of a cigarette – every sin is an individual choice, it is the lifestyle of living in that sin that breaks down our spiritual life, takes us away from our fellowship with others and the Lord, and is commonly referred to as backsliding.

backslider

The Prodigal Son
While the prodigal son was backslidden, habitually living in a lifestyle opposed to God’s will, he was still a son of his father, just acting and living apart from his father.  Father-Prodigal-Son-Parable
When he regained his Spiritual sense that sinful lifestyle was robbing him of the blessings of being a son of his father, he reasoned within himself how miserable he was in that state, and how much more comfortable he would be again living with his father, even if only a servant; we see that he stops backsliding, and returns to that which He always was in his essence, it is true nature; a son of his father.

Certificate of Adoption Photo  

Adoption
The same as we are adopted sons into God’s family.  And within the Hebrew, Greek, and Roman societies when a child was adopted it was a complete action that could never be reversed under any situation.  Once the adoption took place, the child had all the Guarantees and promises that were given to a child born within that family.

And when the Prodigal father says to the older brother to rejoice because your brother who was dead, is now ones live, was not literal because the son was always alive, just living somewhere different, in a different lifestyle.  

“… Is Dead”
It was an expression in Hebrew, not meaning that the son was physically dead, as by extension in an analogy indicating that the son was unsaved – anymore than the son was truly dead, and came back to life – it should be obvious that this was a metaphor, and not literal.

It was in an expression which was commonly used metaphorically to indicate that someone has come back to sanity and reason, that they had come back into the life of the father, where life away from the father, isolated away from the family was metaphorically death.

Salvation
It is in understanding that the very definition of salvation is spending eternity with God.  

Eternal life is what we are saved for, we are saved by the blood of Jesus,  

We are not saved by anything we do, as far as behaviors.  

We are saved by God’s unmerited favor, His grace; but we must exercise faith to receive that grace.  

We are NOT saved by repentance, were NOT saved by confession, were NOT saved by a lack of sin, were NOT saved by sinning less; we ARE saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and our faith in the potency of that blood.  

If you dare think that you must do anything to add to the blood of Jesus Christ, you display that you do not believe in its full power to save you – if you think that it is your sinning less that has anything to do with your salvation, then you truly are not saved.  

Paid in full

“It Is Finished”  ~ “Paid in Full”
One of the seven things that Christ said from the cross was translated in the King James Bible “it is finished.”  In Greek it is: tetélestai  – Which is literally translated “paid in full,” as found in John 19:30 which states:

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Tetélestai  is in the:

Perfect Tense: Completed in the Past (Results in the Present)
The perfect tense in Greek describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated, while having ramifications in the present. Jesus’ last cry from the cross, tetélestai (“It is finished!”) is a good example of the perfect tense used in this sense, namely “It [the atonement] had been accomplished, completely, once and for all time.”

Indicative Mood: Mood of Certainty (A Reality)
The indicative mood is a simple statement of fact. If an action really occurs or has occurred or will occur, it will be rendered in the indicative mood.

Number: Singular [applies to a specific person]
Meaning that salvation applies to the person that meets the conditions of being a believer, having exercised faith.

While true, the Greek word tetélestai encapsulates the idea of “completion,” yet a fuller understanding of this word according to recent archaeological digs displays the full nuance that can be gleaned by a closer examination of this Greek word as follows.

The word tetelestai is unfamiliar to us, but it was used by various people in everyday life in those days.  A servant would use this word when reporting to his or her master, “I have completed the work assigned to me(See John 17:4). When a priest examined an animal sacrifice and found it faultless, he would this word.

the Lamb of God

Jesus, of course, is the perfect Lamb of God, without spot (Internal lack of pureness within its makeup and gene) or blemish (Exterior deformity).

Perhaps the most meaningful meaning of tetelestia was that used by the merchants, which meant: “The debt is paid in full!”

When Jesus gave Himself on the cross, Jesus fully met the righteous demands of a holy law; He paid our debt in full.

None of the Old Testament sacrifices could take away sins; their blood only covered sin. But the Lamb of God shed His blood, and that blood can take away the sins of the world (John 1:29; Heb. 9:24-28).

Perhaps one of the best examples in gaining greater understanding of a tetelestia can be seen as it has been found written corner to corner (catty-corner) on trust deeds concerning property ownership in the area of Judea when mortgages (leases) were paid off.  We must understand that according to Gods direction land was never to be sold, it was to stay within the possession of the tribe that it was dedicated, but it could be leased, returning to the original owner during the year of Jubilee.

The word tetélestai was also found written on certain Roman documents concerning the confinement of prisoners in the area of Judea at the time of Christ, when they had completed their sentence; therefore at a later time if he was accused of being an escaped criminal he could prove he had “paid is debt to society” in full (when a prisoner was given a certain amount of time, whenever a year was completed it was noted in the document, therefore when five years was sentenced and then served, there were five separate entries, one for each year validating that he not only paid the price, but that he paid it in full, year by year).

The Romans were very strict in their accountability and their bookkeeping, and if a Roman soldier lost a prisoner that he was guarding, he would have to pay off the remainder of the sentence, so the guards were ambitious to always have an accurate total of the time the prisoner had paid in case there was an escape. This is the reason why the head jailer was going to commit suicide when God had opened up the gate doors, and shackles of the prisoners, when Paul and Silas were there.

The head jailer was aware that with all those prisoners escaping he would spend the rest of this life paying off their sentences.

Long time

Bill of Ordinances
Whereas, the Hebrews never had a form of incarceration, the Romans used it throughout the known world. When a defendant was found guilty of a crime, he was given a “Bill of Ordinances,” which contained not only the charges, but the amount of time that he would serve as punishment.

The Greek expression, cheirographon dogma, which is translated “handwriting of ordinances,” as noted by Paul in Colossians 2:14, is actually a technical term referring to this “bill of ordinances,” from which we have our American euphemism, “debt to society,” that we get from this expression.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross”  (Colossians 2:14 KJV)

In archaeological digs, it was noted that whenever a prisoner had paid his debt to society, Tetélestai would be written corner to corner, the same as on paid mortgages.

jesus-on-the-cross (1)

Jesus Pay It All
The relevance of the full meaning of this word is immense to the Christian.

It could be said that Jesus completed His mission (of bringing peace or love to the earth), it could be said that Jesus completed His teachings (of wisdom), it could be said that Jesus was referring to finishing His life or even the vinegar.

Yet, these superficial general explanations do not fit the grammar of this word, in context. Jesus did come and teach – Christ’s specific mission was to die for the sins of the world, and it was His death for the sins of mankind wherein He had “paid in full.”

What this passage means is that Christians cannot add anything to their salvation, not one dime; because Jesus paid every cent.

Pharisees Temple

Last Thought
It was not the righteous man standing in the Temple with his hands stretched up to God that was right that day before God, it was the sinner, on his knees beating his chest, aware of his sinful state, that displayed that he was truly saved on that very same day.

Brent

Endnote
1. Eternal Life Passages – Where Salvation is Identified as Receiving Eternal Life

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16 KJV)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46 KJV)

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17 KJV)

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:30 KJV)

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 10:25 KJV)

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 18:18 KJV)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15 KJV)

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (John 4:36 KJV)

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39 KJV)

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54 KJV)

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68 KJV)

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28 KJV)

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (John 12:25 KJV)

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (John 17:2 KJV)

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3 KJV)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48 KJV)

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7 KJV)

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21 KJV)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV)

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:19 KJV)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2 KJV)

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7 KJV)

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (1 John 1:2 KJV)

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (1 John 2:25 KJV)

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15 KJV)

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11 KJV)

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13 KJV)

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20 KJV)

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21 KJV)

Do you notice how many times in the sentences eternal life is the last word, conveying the idea that eternal life is the conclusion and cannot be changed, a point not missed by many translators.  Also notice that is always used with the same term “eternal life.”  And notice that a word search for everlasting indicates that there are only two choices, everlasting fire or hell, or everlasting life with God in heaven, and the sentence structure and grammar pronounces that a person is in either one state or the other (though there are times where it talks about an individual becoming a believer has now entered into our salvation – yet the point is no one ever leaves everlasting life to go to everlasting damnation.

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (Matthew 18:8 KJV)

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:29 KJV)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46 KJV)

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Luke 18:30 KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

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. (John 3:36 KJV)

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. (John 4:14 KJV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24 KJV)

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27 KJV)

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40 KJV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47 KJV)

And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:50 KJV)

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. (Acts 13:46 KJV)

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22 KJV)

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8 KJV)

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16 KJV)


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Dying to Self Series ~ Pragmatic Steps – Part 1 – The Problem

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Dying to Self - 6 (2)

Introduction (Updated)
I feel led to take a short break from the “Eternal Security Series,” and go down a different road for a few articles, with a series called “Dying to Self Series.”

I have always felt that teaching must be based upon God’s Word and not experience, and that being submissive to the Holy Spirit and His leading is paramount.

And while I continue to believe this and practice it now, I believe the Holy Spirit is wanting me to convey something that I’ve been going through personally as of late, something very important that is taught in God’s word. 

Confession
Up front I need to make it very clear that I am a wretched sinner.

I confess that I have wasted many years in my almost six decades pursuing worldly and selfish goals, and done many things to dishonor my Lord and Savior. My life has not been the example, only Jesus is.

Sin - 2

Sin
In fact, in spite of what many Christians present, we are all wretched sinners. John, in writing the first book of John chapter 1, verses 8 through 10 states:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

The first verb in this passage is seen in the Greek word (echo) translated into the English words “we have,” and is in the perfect tense, which means it is a current action that will never ever change.

It is obvious that John is referring to the fallen nature, and not the change that takes place with the resurrection body which is created in the spirit.

In verse 10, the Greek word (hamartano) is translated into the English word “sinned.” Though in the English it sounds like it is past tense, it is also in the present tense, meaning it is a current action that never ever changes. (Both of these Greek words are in the active voice, meaning the subject – you and I – do the actions. The listeners or readers of this text, to whom it is addressed do the actions, including the writer himself, John)

Pharisees Temple

Christian Self-Defense
There is no getting around the fact that even after we become born-again children of God, we still actively sin due to our sin nature.

Sin is Sin
And worse yet, is that many believers attempt to rationalize their sins by separating sin into two categories, based upon the old testament sacrificial system (see Endnote #1), of intentional and unintentional sins.  David said as recorded in 
Psalms 19:12-13

“Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. (13) Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

The “secret faults” spoken about in Psalms 19:12 is not talking about unintentional sin, as the Hebrew word (sawthar) here for “faults,” actually means hidden sins, sins that are concealed and not seen by everyone.  

In fact, both these verses are talking about the same thing, it is not talking about two separate types of sins, the “them” is not found in the text, it is added by the translators to make the English sound correct.  

When David speaks about being “innocent from the great transgression,” it means the great rebellion, and is speaking salvation, wherein the Hebrew word “rebellion” is always spoken about as being done by those who are against God, not believers

And yes David was a believer, he was saved by faith as states in Hebrews 11:32-33, states:

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,”

And Hebrews 11:39, which states:

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise”

unintentional (2)

Unintentional Sins
There is no passage which speaks about unintentional sins, especially if one is attempting to use this to separate themselves from carnal believers.

And for those that would say there are no such thing as carnal believers, why does Paul call them this term and indicates that they are saved based upon the Greek grammar? Now, back to my point.

It is the Greek word for “sin” that makes this point very clear.

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“Missing the Mark”
The Greek word “hamartano”, literally means to miss the mark.

It was originally used in the field of archery, where you would have a giant target with the bull’s-eye in the middle. The bull’s eye was the same size as the arrow, and to “miss the mark” was anything outside of a perfect bull’s-eye.

It did not matter if you were an inch off or even if you miss the target altogether. The point of this word is that all sin is missing the mark.

All sin the same

All Sin is the Same
In fact the biblical teaching that all sin is the same comes from the definition of this word.

And too many believers who suggest that there are little sins and big sins, do violence to the understanding of this word.

In fact, when you look up the verbs used concerning the believers’ sins, you’ll find that they are best interpreted as a daily habitual behavior.

God’s Justice
This is not to be mistaken concerning the justice of God in choosing to punish certain sins more severely than others. This deals with the idea that there is no such thing as a small sin.

archery 3

Sin is Anything Opposed to God’s Will
This also encapsulates the idea that we can define sin as anything that is not in alignment with God’s word and will.

Killing is God’s Will?
Meaning, when the Israelites refused to kill every man woman and child as they came into the Promised Land, they were sinning against God.

The point is we must all start from the place of understanding we are wretched sinners.

Deliverance
Yet at the same time, the reason for this short series is to give us pragmatic tools to stop those sins in our life that make us impotent in our ability to glorify God because of allowing sins to overrule us.

Sin not master

Sin Is Not Our Master
This also means that we have control over our choices, which is unlike the unbeliever who has no choice but to sin. We have the choice to avoid sin.

This is what Paul addresses in the book of Romans.

Romans 6:12-18 KJV, states:

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (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. (14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (15) What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (16) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (17) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (18) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Paul is not saying that you will stop sinning altogether, he is pointing out the fact that sin does not have to be the master of a Christian.

We make daily choices to sin.

And the reason I hit upon sin so hard is that so many Christians justify their sins by saying they are small, never understanding the gravity of this type of heretical statement.

What we must do is be honest about our sins.

And yes, every day you will sin in one way or another.

But this is not to say that sin must be your master and control everything you do.

This is why this series is about pragmatic tools, individual choices that you can make in your life to set sin aside and therefore die to self in the process.

Self only wants to sin, yet the spirit gives us the choice.

Sin - Missing the markPersonally
I am sick and tired of my small choices (and big ones as well) to commit what some would refer to as small sins.

I wish and desire to serve God more each day, setting aside those sins that so easily beset us, as spoken about in Hebrews 12:1, which states:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (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.

After the author speaks about not performing these sins that are so easily committed by us as habitual, we are instructed to follow the example of our Lord and Savior, which has seen in the book of Philippians as referring to gaining “The Mind of Christ,” which we will deal with in another part of this short series.

Dying To Self - 4

Dying to Self
This subject matter is one which is not very popular in most churches these days.

Dying to self, as unpopular as it is, is the forgotten framework that Christianity must hang itself upon, if we are to follow our Lord and Savior.

Starting in part two, we will present pragmatic tools, individual choices and behaviors to achieve the goal of dying to self and therefore serving Christ in a more mature and sacrificial manner.

I have a problem

The Problem
Having explained the problem that we are dealing with, let us go on to the first issue which we must deal with before attempting to pragmatically address dying to self.

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Always – The First Step
Anything that the believer attempts to do must be fulfilling God’s will, which is being Spirit led.

And the first thing must be to seek the power and leading of the Holy Spirit in anything we endeavor to do, no matter how good it looks – we always need Him.

One of the Scriptures I believe concerning this, which has been misused far too often is Philippians 4:13.

philippians_4-13

I Can Do All Things through Christ
I believe to gain the correct context on this we need to start it verse 11, which states:

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Many times when I hear people quote this Scripture it is usually something that profits them and sounds grandiose.

It may concern something sensational or miraculous, yet if we follow the context of Paul lays out we will come to a different conclusion.

You see he starts out prior to verse 11 commending the Thessalonians for having sent him financial help.

God is in total control (2)

God Is in Control of Everything
But then in verse 11 he lets them know that God is the one in control, because God is the one that meets all his needs, and his motivation for seeking their help is not self-centered, but is actually something that will aid them in learning to be generous and grow in faith, and it is God that will reward them for their generosity.

In the “me-centered” society in which we now live, which affects the church as well, this should not be considered an irrelevant subject.

Suffering

The Right Mindset concerning Suffering
Yet Paul goes on to state that he will do just fine whether he has his needs met or not, because both states — that of need and the state of needs met — will both glorify God.

How uncommon this is, because we see Christians attempt to define glorifying God by humanistic terms such as success, and reaching goals; whereas Paul defines success as glorifying God even if goals are met, even if we go without food or having our needs met.

This reflects the maturity of understanding dying to self, wherein it’s not about us getting what we want, or feel we need, but the Christian walk is about glorifying God, which is especially seen when our needs are NOT met.

How many of Christ’s followers (such as Peter and the disciples), would interpret the death of their leader as failure? Yet through the losing of His life, He brought about success God’s way by glorifying God, and allowing God to maintain His justice in forgiving man because His own perfect Son died in our place.

Win by losing (2)

In the World, You Learn to Win by Losing
You do not learn mature lessons in life by winning, you learn by losing.

It is the disappointment and sense of loss that drives us to strive to win the next time.

jesus & Cross

With God, You Win in Losing
However, as a believer; we must understand that God is in perfect control of this world and our lives, and even the things where we never win according to the definition of success by the world, are things that can bring great victory by learning to trust God through the tribulation.

Therefore this first fundamental understanding is that we do not define fulfilling God’s will based upon human definitions of success and completion.

This first lesson is to seek the Holy Spirit and His power, but trust God for the results and the definition of success.

The greatest success that Jesus had, wherein He glorified His Father, was in losing his life.

In a few days, I will release ongoing parts of this which will cover gaining the “Mind of Christ,” sacrificially loving others first, and other pragmatic tools that we can use in order to gain the ability to die to self a little each day, understanding that each choice that we make to die to self glorifies our Father.

being filled with the spirit

This is Our Goal
It is common to hear preachers address goals without addressing how to get there.  There must be objectives to be reached in each goal that are definable and achievable.  This series will deal with the tools to reach certain objectives in order to reach the final goal of learning how to die to self

Next week we will start addressing tools to achieve certain objectives, which are the means to reach our goal.  

Brent

Endnote
1. Numbers 15:24

Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.

Notice that even a sin in ignorance demanded sacrifice and punishment as demanded within the sin offering.


Filed under: Dying to Self Series Tagged: all things through Christ, being led of the spirit, Dying To Self, God's will, Hebrews 12:1, Missing the mark, Philippians 4:13, self-centeredness, Sin, sin is not our master

A Word From Brent and a Short Article by Warren Wiersbe on the “Whole Armor of God”

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From Brent,
I wanted to take this opportunity to communicate to the email subscribers and any frequent visitors.

WordPress-Sites

Blog-site Practices
It has always been my intention to create or republish an article every week.  

I believe consistency is very important, though with my outside responsibilities and ministries, far too often I cannot keep up with this commitment due to my schedule.

The articles that I republish are ones that I feel are important and need to be found on Google which mandates republishing them in order for them to gain exposure.

There have been too many times that due to my anxiousness to meet my own weekly goal, I have put out material that has not been edited correctly, or enough.

I feel that God is correcting me to the place of getting it right, rather than doing it fast, this is an ongoing issue that will now affect my publication of articles.

My intent is to create more articles rather than republish, and as such I am not going to allow the time constraints that I place upon myself to get in the way of doing these articles correctly.

I need to spend more time on the articles I present, and I am starting to produce short videos in the very near future.

I am hoping that I will be able to produce new articles every few weeks or so, anyone that has seen my somewhat exhaustive style, understands that I go through a lot of material, covering many different issues besides the main topic.

learning

Teaching Style
Many people have referred to my teaching style as that of following a main trail to a destination, wherein I also go down many rabbit trails in the process.

Rabbit Trail 1

I have derived this type of teaching style in order that I can teach on a main subject, yet convey much more material on many diverse issues as well.

Some professionals call it a Gestalt teaching style (presenting a massive mosaic of a single picture, that is made up of many small individual pieces of information).

Some people are overwhelmed, or don’t like it, but it does serve a purpose.

madness 2

Method to the Madness
I do this in an attempt to follow my favorite teacher Paul, who in his writing uses run-on sentences and therefore presents massive paragraphs with many commas, going down many different roads and whose public teaching style was rather long-winded and exhaustive, who might teach for 12 hours such as is noted in Acts 20:7-11, where he started at dust, went 12 hours and continued through dawn, though this was no doubt a special occasion.  
Paul was leaving on the next day, however, the church fathers tell us that it was common for Paul to preach for many hours.

In our current culture and society, where even the church won’t spend a full hour preaching the gospel each Sunday morning, wherein many in the church don’t know the word of God, or understand the depths of meaning found in the Scripture, I feel that presenting large amounts of information as I do is profitable for those that would take the time to read many of my articles.  

I admit that if you do not have tenacity, I may not be the author to read.  Not to mention the fact I am not a good writer to begin with (see how I ended this sentence regarding the use of prepositions, which should have been “Not to mention the fact I am not a talented writer.”).

This writing style is my way of attempting to communicate vast amounts of information under the leading of the Holy Spirit to those that would commit themselves to spend the time, and go down the many rabbit trails I travel.  

I also attempt to use a lot of pictures to convey understanding on different levels (Outcome based teaching methods have shown that the use of symbols, stories, and pictures; charts and graphs, along with video are remembered by the audience much longer, and concepts are gained much easier – No doubt this is the reason that Jesus constantly utilized stories to his hearers to expand their understanding, and aid in remembering the principles He taught).

commitment

Commitment
This is how I learned in great depth, spending many more hours than my peers, learning Greek, and allowing the Holy Spirit to take me beyond denominational, and man attributed doctrines – so this is how I teach.

There is an expression I love,

“God is not as concerned with my ability, as much as my availability.”  

I would urge those who wish to dig deeper in God’s word to become tenacious, willing to spend the time and energy to understand what it says, and not simply regurgitate Bible school, denominational or theological doctrine; which is more and more teaching the precepts of man, as compared to the word of God.   

Find Godly scholars of the Word, not neglecting those who have written hundreds of years ago, and teachers, men of God that practice dying-to-self; who dig deep into the word of God, displaying persistence and tenacity, and refusing to compromise with the sin nature or the world.

Video Production 1

Video Production
I am finally at the place where I will start producing video segments, having the studio, equipment, and computers set-up and ready to start filming

These video segments will normally only be 10 to 15 minutes long, with the occasional long-winded presentation which cannot be covered in a few minutes without doing damage to the subject matter.

It is unfortunate that reading is becoming a lost art, where the Internet and YouTube, as well as other forms of media presentations, centered on video have become the normal acceptable form of presentation.

This is the reason for attempting to use video, and use shorter segments in order to communicate God’s word to a wider audience.

Crazy Schedule busy -calendar

Current Schedule
I am currently working on part 2 of the “Dying-to-self series,” “Putting Off the Old Man.”  Part 3 and 4 are almost completed as well, needing a few more days for editing.

armor-of-god-1

Today’s Article
It has been two weeks since I have published part 1 of the “Dying-to-self Series,” and I have wanted to present the writings Warren Wiersbe, I am presenting the following article written by 
Warren concerning the whole “Armor of God,” which I thought would add to our current theme of dying-to-self.  

Please keep myself and this ministry in your prayers, that we will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in presenting teaching concerning the most important book ever to have been written, regarding the most important subject ever to be written – God; and His Son, Jesus the Christ, who gave Himself as a living Sacrifice for us.  

It is for His glory that we who call upon His name, and are God’s children do exist.  

Your brother in Christ, Brent L Bolin

Armour of God

Warren Wiersbe’s Short Exegesis of the “Whole Armor of God”

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”

Since we are fighting against enemies in the spirit world, we need special equipment both for offense and defense. God has provided the “whole armor” for us, and we dare not omit any part. Satan looks for that unguarded area where he can get a beachhead (Eph. 4:27). Paul commanded his readers to put on the armor, take the weapons, and withstand Satan, all of which we do by faith. Knowing that Christ has already conquered Satan, and that the spiritual armor and weapons are available, by faith we accept what God gives us and go out to meet the foe. The day is evil, and the enemy is evil, but “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)

The girdle of truth (Eph. 6:14).

Satan is a liar (John 8:44), but the believer whose life is controlled by truth will defeat him. The girdle holds the other parts of the armor together, and truth is the integrating force in the life of the victorious Christian. A man of integrity, with a clear conscience, can face the enemy without fear. The girdle also held the sword. Unless we practice the truth, we cannot use the Word of truth. Once a lie gets into the life of a believer, everything begins to fall apart. For over a year, King David lied about his sin with Bathsheba, and nothing went right. Psa. 32:1-11 and Psa. 51:1-19 tell of the price he paid.

The breastplace of righteousness (Psa. 51:14.)

This piece of armor, made of metal plates or chains, covered the body from the neck to the waist, both front and back. It symbolizes the believer’s righteousness in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21) as well as his righteous life in Christ (Eph. 4:24). Satan is the accuser, but he cannot accuse the believer who is living a godly life in the power of the Spirit. The life we live either fortifies us against Satan’s attacks or makes it easier for him to defeat us (2 Cor. 6:1-10). When Satan accuses the Christian, it is the righteousness of Christ that assures the believer of his salvation. But our positional righteousness in Christ, without practical righteousness in the daily life, only gives Satan opportunity to attack us.

The shoes of the Gospel (Eph. 6:15).

The Roman soldier wore sandals with hobnails in the soles to give him better footing for the battle. If we are going to “stand” and “withstand,” then we need the shoes of the Gospel. Because we have the peace with God (Rom. 5:1) that comes from the Gospel, we need not fear the attack of Satan or men. We must be at peace with God and with each other if we are to defeat the devil (Jam. 4:1-7). But the shoes have another meaning. We must be prepared each day to share the Gospel of peace with a lost world. The most victorious Christian is a witnessing Christian. If we wear the shoes of the Gospel, then we have the “beautiful feet” mentioned in Isa. 52:7 and Rom. 10:15. Satan has declared war, but you and I are ambassadors of peace (2 Cor. 5:18-21); and, as such, we take the Gospel of peace wherever we go.

The shield of faith (Eph. 6:16).

The shield was large, usually about four feet by two feet, made of wood, and covered with tough leather. As the soldier held it before him, it protected him from spears, arrows, and “fiery darts.” The edges of these shields were so constructed that an entire line of soldiers could interlock shields and march into the enemy like a solid wall. This suggests that we Christians are not in the battle alone. The “faith” mentioned here is not saving faith, but rather living faith, a trust in the promises and the power of God. Faith is a defensive weapon which protects us from Satan’s fiery darts. In Paul’s day, arrows, dipped in some inflammable substance and ignited, were shot at the enemy. Satan shoots “fiery darts” at our hearts and minds: lies, blasphemous thoughts, hateful thoughts about others, doubts, and burning desires for sin. If we do not by faith quench these darts, they will light a fire within and we will disobey God. We never know when Satan will shoot a dart at us, so we must always walk by faith and use the shield of faith.

The helmet of salvation (Eph. 6:17).

Satan wants to attack the mind, the way he defeated Eve (Gen. 3:1-24; 2 Cor. 11:1-3). The helmet refers to the mind controlled by God. It is too bad that many Christians have the idea that the intellect is not important, when in reality it plays a vital role in Christian growth, service, and victory. When God controls the mind, Satan cannot lead the believer astray. The Christian who studies his Bible and learns the meaning of Bible doctrines is not going to be led astray too easily. We need to be “taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus” (Eph. 4:21). We are to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Wherever Paul ministered, he taught the new converts the truths of the Word of God, and this helmet protected them from Satan’s lies.

One Sunday afternoon, I visited a man who had been a deacon in a local church, but was at that time involved in a false cult. We sat at the table with open Bibles, and I tried to show him the truth of God’s Word, but it seemed his mind was blinded by lies. “How did you happen to turn away from a Bible-preaching church and get involved in this belief?” I asked, and his reply stunned me.

“Preacher, I blame the church. I didn’t know anything about the Bible, and they didn’t teach me much more. I wanted to study the Bible, but nobody told me how. Then they made me a deacon, and I wasn’t ready for it. It was too much for me. I heard this man preaching the Bible over the radio and it sounded as if he knew something. I started reading his magazine and studying his books, and now I’m convinced he’s right.”

What a tragedy that when his local church took him in, they failed to fit him with the helmet of salvation. Had they practiced the truth found in 2 Tim. 2:2, this man might not have been a casualty in the battle.

The sword of the Spirit (2 Tim. 2:17).

This sword is the offensive weapon God provides us. The Roman soldier wore on his girdle a short sword which was used for close-in fighting. Heb. 4:12 compares the Word of God to a sword, because it is sharp and is able to pierce the inner man just as a material sword pierces the body. You and I were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37; Acts 5:33) when the Word convicted us of our sins. Peter tried to use a sword to defend Jesus in the Garden (Luke 22:47-51); but he learned at Pentecost that the “sword of the Spirit” does a much better job. Moses also tried to conquer with a physical sword (Exo. 2:11-15), only to discover that God’s Word alone was more than enough to defeat Egypt.

A material sword pierces the body, but the Word of God pierces the heart. The more you use a physical sword, the duller it becomes; but using God’s Word only makes it sharper in our lives. A physical sword requires the hand of a soldier, but the sword of the Spirit has its own power, for it is “living and powerful” (Heb. 4:12). The Spirit wrote the Word, and the Spirit wields the Word as we take it by faith and use it. A physical sword wounds to hurt and kill, while the sword of the Spirit wounds to heal and give life. But when we use the sword against Satan, we are out to deal him a blow that will cripple him and keep him from hindering God’s work.
Taken From:

WIERSBE’S EXPOSITORY OUTLINES, By Warren W. Wiersbe


Filed under: ALL CATEGORIES Tagged: breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:13-18, girdle of truth, God's armor, helmet of salvation, shield of faith, shoes of the gospel, sword of the Spirit, The whole armor of God, Warren Wiersbe

For Believers That Can’t Feel Forgiven, Perhaps Dealing with Depression or Other Issues.

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The following is a response that I made to an individual believer who cannot maintain the concept that God truly loves her.

She feels that she has committed a sin which God cannot forget or forgive as many of us have.

She, as many of us may be dealing with other cognitive or emotional issues such as depression, perhaps even bipolar disorder.

This is relevant in understanding the exact nature of what she must deal with on the physical and emotional level.

The spiritual level is what I address concerning her acceptance of God accepting her as a child of his based NOT upon her own behaviors, but upon faith and trust in God concerning the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross, who died for believers sins, becoming our sin offering (leaving us to be the “scapegoat”, having our sins placed upon Jesus as our sacrificial sin offering. Leviticus 16:5-27).

Being treated as we deserve to be treated on the cross, where God could not be joined to him because Jesus not only wore the sins of the world and paid the price, but as it says in Corinthians, he became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) ~ “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.).

Yes this amazing Grace is that Jesus was treated as we deserve to be treated on the cross, so that we believers can be treated as Jesus should be treated in God’s presence.

I felt that this issue may be one that others are grappling with as well.

It also displays what I referred to in the previous article I published concerning teaching styles, wherein I present one main theme, while also making many departures in teaching on a number of different related subjects, so that the individual receives as much information from God’s word as possible, according to the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

This response to this individual was one of many others, therefore if I make a statement without presenting scriptural evidence it is because I’ve already done so in a previous response to her.

If you would like the Scripture, or other reference, please email me and I will provide for you.

There is no sin that we can do TODAY which is not forgivable.

Regarding the “Unforgivable Sin,” please the following LINK.  

Brent

 Roman soldier and Jesus 2

 Jane Doe,

You don’t need to answer this for me, but these are just concerns that I have when I see how you can go from one extreme belief one day to the opposite belief the next.

If you have what is called intruding thoughts, which we all have, but some of us have it at extreme level to where thoughts come into our head, and we try not to think about them, but they seem to overwhelmed us.

If any of these are the case, the main thing is for you to understand how your mind works, and that there are things that you can do to help.

But that is for someone else to help you address.

As a person that deals with depression myself, the one thing I have to remind myself on the down days, is that I really don’t believe what I’m thinking, the negative side which is not what is really part of my worldview.

And that this condition is temporary.

It’s hard to tell someone that what you’re feeling is NOT really true, and that it’s temporary; so just hold on and try to get through it for the day.

But, in certain cases that is the reality that certain people have to endure.

WHAT WILL HELP YOU GROW SPIRITUALLY

The thing I would suggest that would help in your situation, spiritually speaking is for you to read anything I’ve written on “faith,” and “Eternal Security.”

You see the devil and his minions love to take Christians that cognitive or emotional issues and are therefore insecure in their faith, or have felt that they have done something unforgivable such as yourself, and make them question their own salvation.

Remember, what he wants to do concerning believers is to keep them bogged down, not doing God’s will or growing spiritually.

He can’t kill them, so he tries to stop them from producing fruit, which he can’t do because right now in this situation I’m showing you how to stop him and to start producing fruit.

I have no doubt that rather you know what or not you have produced fruit already, but there is a big difference between the state you’re in now in the state that you will become when you become spiritually strong and understand the things that the spirit will use in your life to guide other people that are going through the same thing you are going through right now.

I predict you may be a teacher, teaching other women the deeper things of God’s word, but again this choice is up to you, if you are willing to do what I suggest below.

It was not until I settle this issue in my own life, that of becoming secure in my faith that things changed.

Before, then I always tried to act good enough, or be good enough, because I felt unworthy and was afraid I was going to hell.

I believe that what you need to do is become utterly and completely convinced that you are saved.

FAITH

Romans 10: 17 says:

“so then, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

The expression “so then” means that what is said afterwards is in conclusion to what was said before.

The book of Romans has been said to be Paul’s gospel, gospel meaning “good news” as in the other four Gospels.

He systematically goes through the fallen state of man, sin, the law, faith and salvation including all its subgroups such as propitiation and the atonement.

Then he seems to conclude with the above statement.

You see faith is meant to come to us not just reading the word of God, because there are two different Greek words used for “hearing” above (this is why it is so important to dig deep and understand what the Greek New Testament says not the English translation which many times translates two different words into the same English word, wherein a deep understanding is not gained – this is what I do in my teaching articles, explain what the Greek means which is underneath the English translation, and therefore brings much more clarity and understanding as God intended.  For those that don’t want to spend the time and are content to read the English translation only, not seeking to learn from teachers that dig deep such as myself, they will miss the joy of really understanding in its completeness what God’s word has to say.  Yes the superficial will lead someone to Jesus Christ, but the superficial will never lead to the kind of mature Christian walk that is possible if people refuse to commit their time).

The first word for hearing means receiving, as in listening, and the second word for hearing means comprehending as an understanding.

So in the literal Greek what Paul would be saying is:

faith comes by listening to the things written in God’s word, and that by listening you come to understand what it says.”

So the thing that I would say, which maybe the only way to keep from waffling back-and-forth in the misery that you feel, is to immerse yourself in understanding what God has to say about salvation.

You see if you read the articles on “faith,” and “Eternal Security,” I’ve written, starting with the one entitled “Eternal Security – It’s about God” and then read the rest of them, understanding that you’re going to go over the same material a few times.

Remember Peter saying that, I’ve been going over the same stuff, but it is good for you that I do so, Paul did the same thing; both of them taught that repetition is necessary for gaining understanding as seen in the following verses:

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.” (Philippians 3:1)

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” (Titus 3:8)

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.  Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;” (2 Peter 1:12-13)

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour” (2 Peter 3:1-2)

The first, second or third time you hear something or read it, it may not ring a bell or you may not understand everything that it is saying.

But by showing how much importance you put to reading the passage, shows the Holy Spirit your tenacity, God does not consider your ability very important, but He does consider your availability very important, and that means time.

TIME

Time is the most important thing we have because it is not renewable.

Therefore if you only spend a short amount of time reading God’s word because you want to do the bare minimum, don’t expect much reward in coming to understand more than the superficial.

But if you “…hunger and thirst after righteousness…,” and therefore absorb the word of God, reading not only God’s word but what others who have been inspired by God to say about it, which I would present or my writings as well, you are displaying tenacity in the Holy Spirit, who always rewards us more greater based upon our commitment to God and His will.

[Matthew 5:6 KJV, says: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”  The righteousness that Jesus speaks about here is not self-righteousness, which he always condemns.  But is the righteousness that is achievable in God which is only found in accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior – it is Christ righteousness that we are to seek.  He is the only one that is righteous, we will never be righteous.  And seeking to be righteous in ourselves is blasphemy.  Now this is not the same as seeking to not sin in more righteous behavior, we are not to let sin be our master’s into rule us, and in a general manner we are to act in a more righteous manner, but this is a verb, these are the actions which should be based upon the Holy Spirit in us giving us the ability to behave better, the noun form of righteousness is something that we cannot achieve, only Jesus could.  So do not be fooled, we are to seek to be good into not to sin, but it is the righteousness of Christ that we must seek which means that we must dig deep into God’s word to understand everything that means.  We have to learn about the atonement of his sacrificial death on the cross, to understand exactly what this means and how heavy of a price he paid for us.  This seeking and hungry after the righteousness of God in understanding and allowing it to become part of our thinking process is much more than simply reading a book, or attempting to be a good person.]

The servants that doesn’t do much, or really care that much about growing in the Lord, will fulfill that desire.

TRAGEDY IN OUR LIVES

This is why God uses tragedy to drive us to him, NOT because he’s mean, but because he loves us and understands that if everything is going great, we don’t feel we really need him and were not driven to his word.

That’s why that which you are going through right now, may be a precious gift in disguise.

Even though it seems to drive you nuts, if it drives you to God’s word in desperation, and you benefit from coming closer to being with the Lord by being closer in understanding what is word means, then you have benefited.

HOW SELF-DISCIPLINE IS GAINED
It’s like a spanking that a child receives for bad behavior, it hurts at the time, but it teaches a child self-discipline.

You see if others cannot discipline use for wrong, then we cannot discipline ourselves.

We learn to discipline ourselves because we have allowed another person to discipline us wherein we have submitted to them our will in trusting them, that the discipline they gave came from a will to do is only good.

Therefore by learning to submit to their will, we learn to be able to submit to our own will and this is where we gain self-discipline, because self has been made to submit to self.

It is normally this lack of self-discipline that puts more people in prison than anything else, besides being drunk are loaded at the time.

And when people are drunk are loaded their self-discipline is minimal.

GOD’S CORRECTION

Therefore God corrects the son that he loves, to teach him discipline so that he will apply tenacity to doing God’s will.

Hebrews 12:6-9 KJV, says:

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (7)  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  (9)  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”

And you cannot do God’s will unless you know what it is, and you understand it fully.

Hence you need to dig deep into God’s word.

Do you know that in the language that God gave to his chosen people, Hebrew; there is no word for the English word “coincidence.”?

The reason why is that God did not want his people to believe in the concept of coincidence or accident, that anything can happen for no reason whatsoever, that chaos is in control.

He wanted them to understand that he is the God, and everything in their life, even those things that are bad that he allows to happen, are because he allows them.

It is understandable that people would say, “Wow, God seems to be mean for allowing bad things to happen to his children.”

But you must understand that is an immature outlook, understandable but lacks maturity.

It is more important that God’s children understand that he is in complete control of their life, and therefore if something bad happens he means it to be good in their life.

I love what Joseph said to his brothers after Jacob had died and they were fearful Joseph would kill them in revenge for what they did decades earlier.

He said:

you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” (Literal Hebrew, Genesis 50:20)

You see God in his foreknowledge knew that a great famine was coming and used Joseph to maneuver the family down to Egypt to fulfill his will that he would bring them back into the promised land for hundred years later.

The time was needed for certain things to progress.

[See Genesis 15:1-21 [KJV], which says: “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.  (2)  And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?  (3)  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.  (4)  And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.  (5)  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.  (6)  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.  (7)  And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.  (8)  And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?  (9)  And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.  (10)  And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.  (11)  And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.  (12)  And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.  (13)  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;  (14)  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.  (15)  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.  (16)  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.  Genesis 15:17-21 KJV  And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.  (18)  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:  (19)  The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,  (20)  And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,  (21)  And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.“]

You see many times we think since God knows the future, so why doesn’t he change it before it happens, this would be reactive, and stop man’s ability to exercise free will and respond in a reactive manner, rather than an active manner.

Meaning that he knows what the future but still allows it to occur, and he prepares in advance for that situation, wherein his actions can counterbalance the situation when it occurs.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTIONS AND REACTIONS

Action shows power, reaction shows weakness, so God will not allow himself to constantly being reactive to the plans of the devil and as many as, or the plans of man.

He simply prepares to address them in an action wherein he maintains the integrity of his deity.

Concerning the Israelites leaving Egypt for the promised land, it was important that God bring them back into the land and show them miracles to create a foundation of faith, that even though that generation died because they didn’t trust God despite his miracles, their children and everyone who would read what was chronicled in the Old Testament concerning their exploits into the promised land would gain faith by God taking care of them.

Even when he had to punish and kill certain ones that opposed him.

GOD HAS COMPLETE CONTROL, HE DOES NOT WASTE ANYTHING THAT OCCURS IN OUR LIVES

You see God is in such control of your life that he won’t waste anything, even the negative things that happen to you he will utilize.

There is no such thing as coincidence in your life, God is in total control.

This is one of the things that you need to learn as you come to understand God’s word more deeply.

Knowing or memorizing Scripture sounds like that is the end of the process, it’s not, it’s the beginning of the process.

I know of many people that can quote Scripture, the problem is to they do not fully understand what it means.

This is why we must constantly study and dig deeper and deeper, not simply memorizing the Bible (which is good), but gaining a deeper understanding of what it means, is the goal.

It is coming to understand what it means in its very depths that is the goal, wherein applying what we’ve learned is the final goal of achievement.

Example: anyone that would read a generic sentence that I would put in Facebook is not learning anything about who I really am.

Something that is superficially said does not display personality or individuality.

It is whenever I feel comfortable with you and allow you to see the inner person and I talk about those things that the public doesn’t hear, because I trust you and you have committed yourself to be worthy of that trust because of the tenacity and faithfulness you’ve displayed, it is then that I will share the deeper things about who I am, what I have went through, and what I think.

Do you think it is any different with God.

RESPONSIBILITY TO USE WHAT WE LEARN

James 1:22 (KJV) says:

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

And also Luke 12:48:

…To those that are given much, much is expected…”

We used to think that those that get a lot of money must give a lot of money away is what this passage means, it does not specifically mean this, though the principle is valid.

What it primarily means is that if God gives you great understanding of what his word means because you have committed to digging deep, then he expects you to utilize that which the Holy Spirit has given to you.

And with humans, you cannot teach what you do not know, and it is axiomatic that when something has cost you something because of a commitment of time and energy, by necessity is more important to you, and therefore you are more prone to utilize it, and fulfill the responsibility of passing it on to others.

We don’t appreciate things is much that are given to us, as things that we earn or pay for, this is part of the human condition.

If you spend large amounts of time digging deep, not just reading for the sake of reading, but reading for the sake of learning something deep, then you will appreciate the time that you’ve spent because it cost you the most valuable thing you have in this life, time.

I’m saying all this to convince you of the worthiness of you spending time reading the articles that I have written on “faith,” and “Eternal Security.”

REALLY UNDERSTANDING FAITH

You need to look on the right-hand side of my blog site, were it list articles, and first start off I guess by reading and studying anything that to do with faith.

Because there is a big difference between belief, which according to the dictionary in the English is a mental process only, and faith, which is different because it entails an action connected with that belief.

Remember James saying that the Devils believe, but they’re not saved. (James 2:19)

You need to understand the difference between believing and exercising faith.

It is complicated, the two words are not synonyms even though people try to say they are, they are not synonyms in the original Greek, one will send yourself to hell if you only believe, but if you exercise and live in faith you will end up in heaven.

People think they understand biblical faith and they do not and because of that they do not grow in faith.

If you take faith for granted, which is presumptuous; which is what happens when you think you don’t need to read any more about it or study it, how can you grow in understanding it and more importantly how can you grow in doing it if you do not understand it?

So I would ask you to start with reading everything I’ve written on faith (meaning anything that has faith in the title, even though there are many others that may not have the word faith that also teach about them, such as looking for the word “shoes” in the title, I know it sounds weird, but there is a connection between shoes in faith. 

You see people take the subject for granted and don’t read these articles because they think they know it all about the subjects, therefore as a wise teacher I create curiosity in the titles so that people will start to read and therefore learn something that they didn’t know before, or that they misunderstood before), which is a lot.

Then start reading everything I’ve written which has eternal security in the title.

SO HERE IS YOUR ASSIGNMENT IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE IT.

I will be here for you, but I’m not going to keep on saying the same things over and over again, because it becomes a waste of yours and my time, if you are not listening to what I am saying.

But more importantly it is bad for you because it doesn’t get you anywhere and it makes you come to the conclusion that there is no way of getting out of what you’re dealing with.  To falsely come to the conclusion that God cannot meet your needs to deal with your problem.

It’s like giving a patient medicine that they refused to take, they think they’re becoming better, yet they are getting worse and make the process cyclical, a self-fulfilling prophecy because they refuse to do what the doctor has told them to do.

So I will be here for you, but at this point you need to start to exercising faith by doing what I’m saying and reading what the word of God really has to say about faith, for you will not grow, and you will stay at the place you are now, miserable one day unto find the next.

THE TRAINING WHEELS

So now the training are on, are you can a paddle and learn to ride the bike, or you can throw it down in disgust and refuse to do what God is sent me here to tell you to do.

Remember what I said.

There are no such things as coincidence.

You coming to me was not a coincidence, it was God sending you a lifeline.

Now you need to do the things that I say to do, such as read and study the things that I have spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours presenting to fulfill God’s will in my life, wherein people such as yourself can benefit and grow and produce fruit based upon a fuller understanding of “faith,” and “Eternal Security.”

So right now you need to pedal, and I mean pedal like your life depends upon, because perhaps – and I say perhaps, it does.

Your brother in Christ, Brent

Just to let you know, I am publishing this as an article without using your name in case others can benefit from it.


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Honoring Wise Older Christians Who Have Gone to be with Their Lord – Old Growth Trees

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Redwood Coffin

Recently a friend and I were sitting together at a mutual friend’s funeral, and I told my friend a story about Old Growth Trees.

When I moved to Oregon in 2000, I didn’t understand why so many people were so upset about the cutting down of “Old Growth Trees” up there.

Redwood Trees - 1

These giant trees were often hundreds of years old, and their trunks were as big across as an entire room in your house.  It took multiple men on each side of a huge crosscut saw days to cut them down.

The quality and quantity of lumber that they produced was beyond compare, and although thoughtful lumberjacks had been re-seeding and re-planting those forests since the turn of the century, the replacement trees inevitably by comparison were smaller, weaker, and of inferior quality to what once had been.

Back in Oregon, schoolchildren go on field trips just to see the stumps of Old Growth Trees.

They look at the rings in the wood and try to count back to see how big the tree was when the Declaration of Independence was signed, etc.

Their teacher then gestures way up over her head as she tries to help the kids imagine the massive grandeur of the tree.  Honestly, the real thing was way beyond their imagination.

The tragedy of these losses became very personal and very real to me when I moved back to Texas and realized that most of my really good friends were 70 and 80 year old people.

When you have older friends, you go to a lot of funerals because sooner than later, they get to graduate to heaven and leave us behind.

Redwood - 2

To me, losing these people was like losing Old Growth Trees.  But there is a big difference.  I have been incredibly blessed to have personally KNOWN these great, majestic Old Growth people!  I don’t have to imagine how wonderful they were, because I personally enjoyed the thick, relaxing shade of their love, was awed at the expansive reach of their service throughout our community, and saw how many others were supported by their massive branches.

I knew the amazing depth of their character and the incredible quality of their souls.  I knew this not because they ever posted something flattering about themselves on social media sites but because I got to spend quality time with them for which I will ever be grateful.

I was blessed to have the opportunity to observe them finding joy and humor in everyday situations as well as build houses alongside them.

To watch them deal with both good and bad times with faith, grace and humility, as well as to ask for their wise advice, and have their Christian witness point me to Jesus Christ and his Holy Word.

Oh, sure, some might have had some rough surfaces, scars and gnarled roots, but I loved them just as they were.

It is so evident to me that the basic purpose of these magnificent creations was to bring honor and glory to The Creator, rather than to themselves.

Great humility and simple gratitude for just being able to be used by God for His glory seemed to always be a central theme in the lives of my Old Growth friends.

Jesus and old man

I know where they now are, they are with their Master.

I can’t reverse time and have all of my Old Growth loved ones return to this forest on earth, and I wouldn’t even if I could.  There is nothing greater that I could hope for them than to be reunited in Heaven with their beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I CAN, however, be forever grateful for the privilege of knowing these magnificent people, and frequently express my appreciation to those who are still here.

I also can take stock of the quality of MY life, and to consider if I am being the best steward possible that I can be of my time here on earth.

I am a terrible sinner saved only by Jesus’ sacrificial death in my place, and I continue to make a lot of mistakes.

I am not yet the person I had hoped to be by this time in my life, but am instead incredibly thankful that God isn’t finished with me yet.

Redwood trunk_and_sapling

If it’s His will, there are still new seasons for growth ahead.  I look forward to them!

(Desires to be anonymous)


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“The Whole Armor of God” ~ A Short Synopsis

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armor-of-god-1

Introduction
For the mature Christian, we understand that we are NOT simply to do the right thing according to God’s word, but to do it the right way, and at the right time – God’s time.

The hardest thing for a trained veteran soldier to do is to stand waiting for the order to go into battle. It is unfortunate when the new recruit prematurely goes into battle before the captain has worked out all the preparation, which also includes their training, to fight in heavy combat.

Soldier 5

Stand
It is in understanding this that we take great heed to what Paul says in Ephesians 6:13 (KJV):

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.”

What we must understand is that according to this passage, we are to put on the whole armor of God in order to “withstand(Greek: anthistemi, G436), which means to: resist, oppose, or the literal: “to stand”; “in the evil day.”

We must understand that Christ is the One Who has already fought the battle and won (He is the only one that could save us), it is our responsibility to hold our ground and to do what work He brings to us to do, but we can do nothing to achieve our own righteousness, our own salvation; this war has been won by our Savior and Captain Jesus Christ when He died on the cross 2000 years ago for our sins.

But what we should note is that once we are prepared, having taken on the “whole armor of God” (not our armor, but His); we are to “stand.”

What an act of humility for a veteran soldier, to follow orders and stand rather than to jump into the heat of battle.

Yet, this is our primary battle plan wherein Christ will let us know what we are to do, but it is our responsibility to be prepared and ready to do in a minute’s notice what He will order by simply standing until that point.

Soldier 2

The Whole Armor of God

Ephesians 6:13-18 (KJV) States:

“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”.

Soldiers 8

Soldiers Become Soldiers by Studying
It is common for many believers to think that they automatically have this armament on because they are believers.  While certain armament are presented when we are saved, others must be gained through study, training, and discipline.

Soldier 6

Soldiers Become Soldiers by Training
The presumption that you don’t need to do any more concerning these armaments, that you possess them without any discipline or training, will lead you into spiritual and emotional defeat in small battles.

The war has been won, but while we are walking this earth we still have battles dealing with spiritual powers and entities of our opponent who seeks to blaspheme Christ by displaying our bad behavior and make us of no strength through ignorance, laziness, a lack of preparation, and compromise.

These are armaments that involve taking actions that the believer must do if he is to equip himself.

Practice makes perfect

Practice does not make Perfect – Only Perfect Practice Makes Perfect
We have a responsibility to dig deep into God’s word, and understand in detail those things that in the past we may have dismissed as too complicated.

By way of example, not knowing or understanding the atonement means you cannot explain adequately to someone regarding what salvation really is.

Merely, handing somebody a tract and asking him to accept Jesus is not properly making ourselves ready by digging into God’s word in understanding what is the “preparation of the gospel of peace.

shield-of-faith

FAITH, AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY WE ALL NEED TO DIG HARD AND DEEP INTO GOD’S WORD
Simply because a believer has the shield of faith (See Footnote #2), does not mean they know how to utilize the shield.

How many presumptuous Christians stand in front of their shield, presenting their own self-righteousness as if they have the power to resist the evil one, misunderstanding that they must stand behind that shield, but they also must know what that shield is, in order to use it correctly, so as to NOT simply stand behind it, but to use it defensively and offensively.  

There is a very involved training regiment on how you hold the shield with one arm and wield the sword with another, how that you can sweep to the left and pivot and then sweep to the right while protecting yourself while moving around your opponent to attack him on his unprotected backside.  

There are certain moves you must know to engage in when a chariot is heading for you, whose axles protrude out from the wheel and are sharpened, so that by driving within a few feet of you they cut off your leg and take you out of the battle.  We simply don’t have the time to address the myriad of ways that there are to train simply with your shield.  It is the novelist that thinks he knows it all whose shield will not serve the purpose that is meant to serve, who will be taken out of that battle prematurely, not affecting the victory for his king that he was meant to achieve.

Almost all Christians that I know cannot explain what Biblical faith truly is, not in a way that they could explain to a person that wasn’t raised in church, or that does not understand Christian concepts, models, symbols, figures of speech, nomenclature, expressions or terms; Wherein most believer themselves do not comprehend the meaning of these things mysterious issues that God presents with in His word.

Superficially, they can say faith is trust, but they can’t explain why God mandates it, what it truly is, break it down into any components to make it easier to understand, explain how it works, or why it works as a principal of the human condition in which every person on earth must utilize it as the foundation of every relationship they were ever have – that humans cannot exist without faith, rather there a believer or not.

And when it comes to giving examples displaying faith, normally the only ones they can give are where petitions our met by God (Or where they give a technical definition as in Hebrews 11:1, instead of a down to earth description of its components, which displays its function of how and why faith works.), where God will save someone in some way; yet they cannot explain it from the standpoint of somebody losing everything in life, even in the most superficial of situations, such as discussing Job.  

They have to hyper-spiritualize it, or nullify the true essence of the message.  

Never even realizing that the greatest statement made by a human man was stated by Job, when he stated, “Though He shall slay me, yet will I keep my trust in Him...”   

They can’t give any examples of the kind of situations nor what is the relationship that their biblical faith has to their own day-to-day walk in their service to their king.  Therefore, they cannot describe in commonsense terms how losing creates a winner, and how that giving away creates gain,

Moses & Rod

Or how God can use the back-side of the desert and murder by an Egyptian prince, to become a great spiritual leader that saves his people because of his faith and submission to God.

Josheph-reveals-himself-to-his-brothers

Or how a juvenile falsely imprisoned for 13 years, can forgive his brothers and see that God utilized the situation to make him the Prime Minister of Egypt in order to save his family during an upcoming famine.  Who said the most gracious words regarding the sin of his brothers when he stated “you meant it for evil but God meant it for good.

Or that even denying the Lord creates a humble heart for someone who is to lead the church of Jesus Christ.  

Or that God can and will use EVERYTHING in a believer’s life, even their sin, to cause them to come to closer to Him and become stronger, if they will allow it.

Pharisees Temple

I cannot tell you of how many hundreds of super spiritual individuals I’ve known that drop the name of Jesus every chance they get to impress others, always saying praise the Lord our God bless you (Forgetting Abraham’s word that only the greater blesses the lesser, as if they get out blessings from God in a sanctimonious manner.  I’ve learned to pray for God’s blessing on people but I don’t need to tell them about it in a bragging manner) but that when things turn wrong, they can’t understand why this evil is happening to them, displaying a complete lack of Biblical faith.  

Shame

I watch ministers all around me falling due to either lustful temptation, self-righteousness which leads to spiritual decline where they use every psychological ploy as an excuse to rationalize their sin, yet all displaying a lack of real understanding when it comes to what Biblical faith truly means.  

I’m aware that these words are very harsh, and it is why so many will read articles about subjects on my blog site that they are curious about or having a problem with, but yet pass by the articles regarding “faith” or “salvation,” thinking they already know the subject matter yet displaying their immaturity when devastation comes, and it will come. 

Yet, I correspond with dozens of these individuals via email when tragedy comes into their life and they can’t understand why God has abandoned them, or so they say.  

Attempting to again lay down the elementary doctrines of the Bible which becomes hard work, attempting to understand in greater depth what God wishes us to know in order to make disciples of all men.  How easy it seems to hand out tracks and to make converts, yet we were not told to make converts of all men, we were told to make students of all men, necessitating digging deep into God’s word.  

Not simply spending a few minutes of our extra time introducing into the kingdom, but being willing to sacrificially put them first, spending time with them taking them by the hand and going deep into God’s word to teach them as disciples, as our Savior has commanded us to do.

God has put me in an environment where I watch people die, believers and unbelievers alike.  Weeping with those that weep, and attempting to convey the love of God when people have lost their loved ones, grandparents, soulmates for five or six decades, and babies.

So please excuse my harshness when it comes to those of us within the body of Christ that have it so good, and have become so lazy and self-serving.  It is by the grace of God that we all live another day.

soap

Getting on the Soapbox
Please allow me to fall off my soapbox as these words have been true in my own life as well, I acknowledge I am a terrible sinner saved only by the grace of God, indebted did Jesus more than I could ever say.  

Solider 12

The Soldiers Education
Most Christians are not prepared concerning the armament which is to be their protection so that we can stand, as well as their protection when they are ordered to go into battle.

If any of these articles of spiritual warfare are damaged, it is between the battles that we are to use God’s Word to repair them.

If there is an issue within our theology that troubles us, we need to get into God’s Word and figure it out – fix it before the battle starts up again, and also humble ourselves by seeking the wise counsel of wise Bible teachers’ insights.

soldier 14

Defining the Armament
Within the context of this Scripture, the following definition of the armaments and their symbols are as follows:

1. Truth = The Inerrancy, Trustworthiness and completeness of God’s Word.

2. Righteousness = The breastplate of righteousness, that protects our vital organs is Christ’s righteousness, not our own. We must understand that it is the Divinity of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, and Him dying for our sins that is the only righteous aspect of our lives. To think that the marginalizing of our own righteousness leads to sinfulness displays a carnal perspective.

3. The Gospel = Understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the atonement & propitiation.

4. Faith = Thoroughly research Biblical faith, it is not primarily about petitioning God, it is the foundation of your relationship with Him, trusting He is in complete control of your life no matter what it looks like the current time.

5. Salvation = Study & thoroughly understand Biblical salvation, it is vain without understanding. Understanding you’re saved for eternity, not temporarily. It is this understanding that purifies our motives, and increases our faith; without such we become either self-righteous, or stagnant.

6. Word Of God = Studying & understanding God’s Word mandates intensity and devotion. Having God’s word regurgitated for 40 minutes every Sunday morning is not enough. You won’t know God and what He wants unless you study His book in detail.

7. Prayer = prayer is not mainly about asking for things, it’s about getting our heads right in gratitude and acceptance. Prayer only necessitates time, which is based upon commitment and discipline. It also clarifies the authority of God in His ability and desire to not only meet our needs, but to aid us in growing in our discipleship based upon faith in Him.

Understanding God’s Word is a lifelong pursuit, and without such, a soldier has no ability to protect himself or to gain ground in the enemy’s territory.

It is in understanding such doctrines as: God Proper, the Trinity, Salvation, Eternal Security, Christ’ Righteousness, Christ’s Incarnation, the true definition of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life, biblical faith based upon a relationship with God, wherein we trust Him no matter how bad the events of our lives become, along with a myriad of other doctrines (#2), that the child of God becomes a soldier of the Lord

Brent
(I am still working on the “Dying-to-self Series” and “The Eternal Security Series”

Footnote

1.  The Power of Faith when Believers Ban Together

Solider 9

This is called the turtle.  It is one of the many advances that the Roman military had achieved in utilizing their armament by constantly preparing and training.  This particular routine was used when their opposing forces were approaching on chariots, wherein the turtle would protect them from the horseman, as well as the arrows coming overhead.  

This reminds me of what it’s like to be with a group of believers when they are committed in faith to fulfilling God’s will in their community.      

2.  Systematic Theology

Theology Proper – The study of the character of God
Bibliology – The study of the bible
Christology – The study of Christ
Pneumatology – The study of the Holy Spirit
Soteriology – The study of salvation
Anthropology – The study of the nature of humanity
Hamartiology – The study of sin
Angelology – The study of angels
Ecclesiology – The study of the church
Eschatology – The study of the end times
Misthology –
The study of rewards
Israelolgy – That study of Israel


Filed under: Brent's - Biblical Doctrine, Brent's - Biblical Tools of Interpretation, Dying to Self Series

Dying To Self Series – Part 2 – Wisdom – The Solution – From God’s Word

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Wisdom 3

General Introduction
The reason I started this series is because of how the Holy Spirit has been working in my life in a special way. 

Personal Motivation
I have experienced a renewed commitment and zeal of the Spirit concerning my service to our Lord and Savior; in holiness producing love – “love the Christian way.”

holiness

Holiness & Sin
It has been precipitated by a desire to become more holy (“Separated unto God”) in my walk with Christ, by addressing sin in my life, especially what is referred to as those “small sins,” which some have even referred to “unintentional sins.”

Unintentional Sin
There is no biblical reference to sins that man would try to escape judgment from, or rationalize in any manner by terming them “unintentional sins.” Some refer to these “so-called” unintentional sins as being based upon David referring to them in Psalm 19:12 as “secret faults,” which is completely incorrect – attempting to define the Hebrew words translated into the English “secret sins” as unintentional sins is in direct opposition to what the Hebrew words mean (Please see Footnote #1).

And the fact that the Levitical system presented sacrifices for sins of neglect or is translated into “unintentional” sins as stated in Numbers 15:22, what you must notice is that there were still the necessity of a sacrifice for the sins, those who would claim to have done them could not escape the penalty for those sins any different than those sins that were presumptuous.  

The law4

The Law
The law was not meant to teach us that man could accidentally sin, as Paul has stated the law was to teach us, that it was to be “our schoolmaster,” (Galatians 3:24-25) that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  It is translated in the newer translations as “unintentional” sins, this is never found in the Septuagint Greek translation of the Bible (Please see Footnote #2), nor the Hebrew used in the King James translation as well (This is one of the many reasons that I use the Textus Receptus Greek New Testament, as well as the majority text and other Byzantine Codices and the Greek Septuagint Old Testament; as opposed to the Alexandrian Codices, and 9th century Hebrew Old Testament manuscripts.).  The word used is “erred,” which comes from the Hebrew word: shawgaw, which comes from the primitive root; “to stray,” “to mistakenly,” “to transgress,” or to “go astray,” or to “to wander off.

It is the text used in the Septuagint that we need to be mindful of, because this is what Jesus quoted from regarding what we refer to as the Old Testament Scripture, Jesus validated the Septuagint translation by using it.  Many of the newer translations, which Jesus did not authenticate by using them, use different words which lead to the idea of individual sinning unknowingly, and therefore being innocent from those sins.  

This is never taught in the Bible.  All sin mandated punishment, therefore the perpetrator is never innocent.  Even negligence, by its very definition insist that the individual did not prepare properly for a situation that developed into a tragedy, and was held responsible for the consequences of that situation.

excuses

Excuses
Calling a sin unintentional is simply an excuse, And those that live by excuses never grow to maturity in Christ, nor successful in life.

Every sin that man commits is without excuse, and demands justice and punishment, where even the smallest sin condemns an individual to hell.  

There are no free passes when it comes to the Holiness of God, and anything that “misses the mark” of God’s purity, is sin, and must be atoned for, or paid for.  

For the believer there is atonement, for the unbeliever there is punishment.

Man cannot play the victim, he is the victimizer. 

archery 2_ (2)

Sin
We must understand that all sin is sin, if you remember the Greek definition of the word “sin(Greek: hamartano) used through almost all of the New Testament, means: “missing the mark,” and in no way, shape, or form, allows for the concept of smaller or greater errors, missteps, mistakes; or any other term that we might try make sin sound smaller.

If we attempt to negate our responsibility for our sin, we are simply attempting to place a fig leaf to cover the violation, and Hell will be our destiny for it.

(If you are now joining this article in “Part 2” of this series, you need to access “Part 1” first, which deals with “Part 1 – Knowledge – The Problem – Self and Sin.”)

We can never come to a place of dying-to-self if we do not deal with sin first. This will be reflected when we speak about our attitude in following Christ a little further down this article.

Outline of this Series
This series on dying-to-self has three parts:

Part 1 – Knowledge – The Problem – Self and Sin
This examination concerns the knowledge necessary to regard the problem of self and sin.

Part 2 – Wisdom – The Solution – From God’s Word
God’s word displays the wisdom that is necessary in order to gain the proper perspective, wherein we gain the correct attitude in learning how to die-to-self.

Part 3 – The Understanding and Application – Enabling Dying-To-Self – Loving Others First
Understanding, which is perception, Biblical perception: gives the opportunity for the correction application of how to specifically practice dying-to-self by humbling ourselves and loving others, which is simply placing others sacrificially before ourselves; it is these instruments to kill self which is the goal of wisdom, which is the mind of Christ.

Wisdom is God's word

Foundation ~ God’s Word
As always, our foundation and only guide concerning this quest is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the Holy Bible (This is not to imply that we do not seek the wise insight of scholars that the Holy Spirit has blessed with insights, we do. But it is only their insights into GOD’S WORD and language and grammar that is relevant), as delivered in the Hebrew language concerning what we call the Old Testament, and the Greek language in regard to the New Testament. The Greek translation that I utilize is the Textus Receptus, please see Footnote #3, concerning the issue of biblical manuscripts.

Whole councel of God

God’s Whole Word
No Scripture stands alone and must be interpreted based upon the full context of God’s word (As well as the immediate context, but we are to never stop with the immediate context without considering the whole counsel of God – Isaiah 28:10, 13; Acts 20:27), 66 books which make up one volume, with only one Author, but 40 scribes.

key

Our Key Text
Luke 9:23-25 states:

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (24) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (25) For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Crosses

Whose Cross?
Notice in the second part of the first verse, what it does not say. It does not say to pick up Jesus’ cross — no one could do that. As the holy sinless Son of God, who is the only one that could be our substitution, taking our sins having none himself; it is pride, and the height of arrogance and heresy to believe that we could pick up His cross and what He was to do for humanity, that no one else could.

It does not say to pick up Jesus’ cross, it says for the follower to pick up “his” cross, and to deny “himself.”

The use of the Greek word translated into the English “himself” is a reflective pronoun, further illustrating that the cross spoken of is the individual’s cross, belonging to he who is listening to what Jesus is saying, or reading this passage in reference to anyone that wishes to follow Jesus.

2 is 1

One, Not Two
Yes, according to the Greek grammar of Luke 9:23, it is speaking about one behavior, not two when you read the statements “let him deny himself” and “take up his cross daily” are speaking about the same thing, not separate behaviors.

“…let him deny himself, and (Greek: kia) take up his [Greek: tov] cross daily…”

In Koiné Greek, when two nouns are connected with the conjunctive, “and” (Greek: kia [G2532]), and have the same case (Accusative); and ONLY one has the definite article, (Greek: tov [G3588]), while the other noun does not have the definite article; the two nouns are speaking about the same thing in essence, they are referring to the same person or thing; not separate entities.

The definite article can normally be found in one of three different spellings in the Greek; ho, hay, to (Greek: G3588), though there are other definite articles which apply as well. In most cases the definite article is translated into the English words: “the,” “this,” “these,” “that,” “his,” “he,” “her,” “she,” “some,” “it;” as well as other pronouns.

Puzzled

What Does Jesus Mean?
What does a cross symbolize? It is a device, an instrument that kills – thus when Jesus uses the word “cross,” He is referring to instruments that are to kill the flesh; they are things that we can use to put our self-centered, self-dependent, and self-ruling life to death – they are pragmatic tools.

We must understand that there are specific things that Christ is speaking about that we are to use in our seemingly impossible effort to die-to-self. This is just not metaphorical mumbo-jumbo, the grammar demands that it is speaking about things which are specific, but what could that be?

This is the reason for this series, because we learn that these are not requests. This instruction of Christ is in the Greek imperative, It’s not an option, it’s a command.

The verse may also mean that we may suffer physically in order to follow Christ. Other passages talk about the fact that believers will suffer persecution as pilgrims on this earth, and may suffer physically, which is more common than not.

Therefore, what this verse is saying is that denying yourself is the same as picking up your cross, the two are the same in essence.  

And according to the book of Luke how often do we do this, daily; which in the Greek actually means currently all day long.

die to self

Very simply, Christ is defining how we pick up our cross, how we crucify the flesh, how we die to self; which is done by denying ourselves.

Therefore, we must conclude that this is a command from Jesus. The structure is plural and it is referring to tools, things that we can use in order to achieve dying-to-self by using instruments to put the flesh to death (Because it is in the plural, there is more than one tool to accomplish this purpose, I know of at least two pragmatic tools that He is referring to, but that is for later), to crucify self, so let us continue to lay the foundation by which these tools can be used correctly.

Follow Jesus

Conditions of Following Christ – Our Attitude

We must understand that accepting Jesus Christ means to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. This places us as His servants, and demands certain conditions which are self-evident. First among these is that we present ourselves to Him as living sacrifices. He is King and we are His slaves, not just servants.

Bondsalve

Bondslaves
How easy it is to say we are his servants, but by doing so we often lack the true understanding of our relationship to God.

We turn to Paul in order to gain this perspective.

Paul, Peter, James, and Jude (Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:1; Philemon 1:16; James 1:1;2 Peter 2:19; Jude 1:1), referred to themselves, as translated into the English, as “a servant of Jesus Christ,” yet it is the original Greek text that we need to consider to understand what they are saying.

The Greek word translated into the English word “servant” is doulos and literally means a “bondslave.”

A bondslave is an Old Testament term that goes back to the time of the before the Exodus when a slave would work off the time he owed his master, because of prior loans or other forms of being indentured (a 17th-century word concerning those that would pay for their passage to the New World by doing work; though the term also represents any form of slavery where someone sells themselves for a committed amount of time). Once the debt was paid and the slave was free, they could choose to maintain their position in the household. This was common when they had married another household slave in order to keep their family together.

Earring 4

The Ear Ring
To be a bondslave was a term of honor for a slave that was no longer indebted but served his master because of his free will. There was a ceremony where they would take a nail, actually an awl and pierce the servant’s earlobe as they leaned against the threshold of the house. A ring would then be inserted through the hole in the bondslave’s ear, representing how they were bonded to the house, in an act of free will rather than a slave that still owed a debt to the household.

A function carries over this idea in the current prison system. Long time, responsible prisoners earn the privilege of becoming Trustees, who enjoy greater liberty and are trusted to do jobs normally done by the guards. Though they are not free, they work with the guards to maintain management of the other inmates.

The voluntary position of Bondslave (doulos), was called that because they were bonded to the house by a piece of the flesh of their ear being embedded into the threshold of their master’s door.

Bondslaves were always recognized because of this earring, and treated with much honor, due to the integrity that they displayed. A master with many Bondslaves showed himself as an honorable man wherein his slaves desired to work for him even after they did not need to do so.

This was also the manner of when a slave married another slave; they could stay on in the household to work off the debt of their wives as well as the children that were born to them.

feet and sandals 3

Jesus Became a doulos for Us
Jesus is referred to as a Bondslave in Philippians 2:7. We recognize that God created this role as an object lesson so that we would understand what Christ did for us, and which in return we are to do for God.

The Scripture refers to the born-again believer as a doulos as seen in: Romans 6:16, 19; 1 Corinthians 7:21, 22; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Galatians 4:1, 7; Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:24; 1 Peter 2:16; Revelation 1:1; 2:20; 7:3; 10:7; 11:18; 15:3; 19:2, 5; 22:3:6.

mindset 1

Mindset
Following Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior as a Bondslave is another way of saying that we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to do God’s will, which is the attitude we are to maintain, daily (Also remembering: Proverbs 23:7 [KJV], which states: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”).

Many people conflate (Conflation occurs when the identities of two or more individuals, concepts, or places, sharing some characteristics of one another, seem to be a single identity.), being a bondslave (doulos), with our key text of denying ourselves and picking up our cross daily and following Christ, yet there is a distinction.

Attitude1

An Attitude
Being a bondslave of Jesus Christ is an attitude that we are to maintain, realizing that He is our Master and that we are to sacrificially serve Him.

According to Paul, the attitude that we are to have as followers of Jesus Christ is seen in Romans 12:1-2 which states:

“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.” (KJV)

Individuals Who May Say They Are Saved, but Are Not
If this does not become an attitude of the believer, then that individual needs to consider the legitimacy of their relationship with Christ.

Escalator stairway to success. Blue sky. 3d render

In dealing with the subject of what is referred to as “Eternal Security” (A term I detest because it is not in God’s word, and as Jesus refers to salvation as “Eternal Life,” I believe this should be what we should be referring to when we are talking about salvation); it is these individuals who manifest what is referred to as “cheap grace” (Another term I detest because it is an undignified reference concerning God’s marvelous grace, and is not in God’s word), wherein individuals appear to be born again believers, yet when they eventually fall away, and never come back; they reveal that they were not true followers of Jesus Christ.

They displayed that they have never studied God’s word because they do not follow it, they pay lip service only; they may even be like the Pharisees that present holiness on the outside, yet their inside motivations display the total lack of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Father-Prodigal-Son-Parable

They are not prodigal sons. The prodigal son returned, giving us an example that Christians can backslide – TEMPORARILY.

These individuals who do not display an attitude of servitude to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may fool others, and may even fool themselves. But they create misunderstanding concerning what Jesus refers to when He speaks of salvation, which He calls “Eternal Life(Please see Footnote #5).

living-sacrifices

Living Sacrifices
This is an attitude, commonly referred to as the “Mind of Christ,” (Philippians 2:2-10) which displays humility to God and men, as well as complete allegiance and submission to God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, seeking the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, and it is
those pragmatic acts that we’ll address in “Part 3” of this series (In a few weeks): ways of daily denying ourselves by picking up our cross by doing individual acts.  

Yet a few more issues must be laid out before then. We need to continue on dealing with our attitude, which is displayed in our lifestyle.

Colo. 3-9-10

Put Off the Old Man, Put on the New Man
It is our attitude, which is displayed to the world as our lifestyle that we need to now address. One of the best examples is found in Ephesians 4:21-32 (KJV), which states:

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. (26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (27) Neither give place to the devil. (28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (30) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Conversation

In verse 22 of the above Ephesians passage, the word “conversation” is used, which has a different meaning than it did at the original writing of the King James Bible which is based upon the Textus Receptus (Please see Footnote #3).

The English word conversation, which currently is understood to be an auditory function in which people speak words to one another, is not what the Greek word that it is translated from actually means.

This is because at the time of the writing of the King James this Greek word anastrophe meant something different altogether, it meant behavior in the plural sense or a person’s lifestyle. And as stated before, the lifestyle should display our attitude.

Thought-of-the-day-sow-a-thought-reep-a-deed

Lifestyle
Therefore the apostle is stating that we are to put off the form of habitual behavior or lifestyle of the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust. Not that we are to change our vocabulary.

Put Off
The point that Paul is making is that we are to stop living in sin because it is no longer our master, even in spite of the fact that we are sinners and will sin. The Greek word translated into the English “put off” is apotithemi.

The parsing of this verb is:

Tense-Second Aorist – “As if theAction Occurred in the Past (“Once & for all”) to connote certainty

What this means is that in the aorist tense it is not concerned with time and is not addressing the chronological occurrence. It is a way of speaking about something as if it is a fact which occurred in the past, though it can be present or even future tense in the English.

The idea is that since the past cannot be changed, the verb that is in aorist tense is equally unchangeable. This is an unusual concept to our Western way of thinking, but the main point is it has to do with proving the fact that something that was done “once and for all,” and has no ability to be undone, is a complete and utter certainty.

Voice-MiddleSubject & Object Receives the Action

The middle voice indicates that both the subject and the object receive the action, meaning that we; who are defined in the previous verses as believers, receive the action or the ability to do the action. We cannot do this by ourselves, but are instead empowered to do so.

Holy Spirit

The Power of the Holy Spirit
The point that is made is that born again believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to achieve the ability to control their lifestyle to the extent that they do not have to live in sin as a lifestyle, and this is made possible by having the Mind of Christ – the correct attitude.

We must always keep in mind that we are sinners, and will sin daily.

HOWEVER, this is not to say that sin is our master.

deliverance

Final Deliverance of Sin
This is the paradox of living as a soul committed to God within a sinful body within this current physical existence, which we refer to as this life. We are to take comfort that the salvation that Christ brought to those who are the children of God, who are saved by grace through faith, is eternal life. It cannot be compared or contrasted to our current existence. It is our great hope upon His returning for us in the clouds.

Therefore
We are not to allow the sins that crop up in our lives turn us from that which God has called us to do: to die-to-self by denying ourselves and therefore enabling us to put off the old man, and not let the sin nature (or the old man as it is referred to) control our lifestyle and the behavior it produces.

1 - Steps

When dealing with sin there are three simple but difficult steps that we should take.

take-ownership

Step 1. Take ownership of our sins, confess them, repent (Forsake them) of them.

Ownership – John states as recorded 1 John 1:8 (KJV):

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

The grammar concerning the verb translated into the English “we have(Greek: echo), is in the present tense, meaning it is a current action that never ends, which demands that what the apostle was saying is that we will sin is long as we are in this physical existence. Therefore we must take ownership of when we sin, with no excuses and no rationalizing; simply admitting that we have sinned against God. Psalms 32:5 (KJV) says:

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

Confession – Solomon stated as recorded in Proverbs 28:13 (KJV):

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

And John states as recorded in 1 John 1:19 (KJV):

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Repent – Paul, in explaining his ministry for Jesus to King Agrippa stated in Acts 26:19-20 (KJV):

“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 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.”

Paul was using the word repentance in a way that the word fully means in the Greek, which is somewhat different than the English.

Repentance in the English can be a verbal behavior, and may be nothing more beyond that and a conviction of guilt.

In the Greek, the word repentance means to change one’s mind so thoroughly as it changes their behaviors, it is not simple verbiage, it is not guilt our sorrow, it’s a change in one’s lifestyle which displays a change in one’s attitude.

Yet be on this original repentance that one does to become saved, the grammar concerning the Greek word “repent(Greek: metanoeo), is that it is in the present tense, meaning it is a continuous action that once it takes place never ends.

The point that this word makes according to the grammar is that repentance is not a singular event that occurs in salvation, it is a lifestyle of constantly changing our mind and coming back to Christ. It points to the fact that we don’t become saved them become perfect, but as sin exist in our mortal body, wherein we choose to go our own way, rather you call it backsliding if it is habitual, or a singular sin, you must change your mind from that sin and come back to the correct attitude a desire to do God’s will rather than your own.

How slipshod it is to think that we repent once and therefore maintain God’s desired attitude, wherein we habitually follow Christ and do not deviate from the course.

We constantly deviate from the course, which is what sin is, therefore repeatedly throughout our life we will habitually sin and therefore as a grammar demands we will habitually have to repent, changing our mind that our sin was okay, seeing it as Christ did as being filthy, demanding his death upon the cross as a propitiation, a atonement, wherein Christ took our place and paid the penalty not just for past sins, but current sins, and future sins.

This is why in the Gospels in almost every occasion that the word repent is used, it is in the present tense, necessitating that it is a lifelong re-occurrence in the life of the believer. And were other tense are used, they do not represent singular occurrences, but different tense or used which never validate the point that repentance is a lifelong attitude of the born-again believer in Jesus Christ.

Repentance by its very nature demands a forsaking of sin, not simply a guilt shame or confession that.

Forsaking sin – Hebrews 12:1b (KJV), says:

“… let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

Flea

Step 2.   Flee when we are tempted to sin. Refuse to entertain thoughts of sin.

This advice is from Paul the head elder and founder of most of the Gentile churches to a minister (as a bishop), who was over all the churches in the city and area of Ephesus. This was from one mature, seasoned pro in the ministry to another.

Paul stated to Timothy, as recorded in 1 Timothy 6:11 (KJV):

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

Paul later said to Timothy, as recorded in 2 Timothy 2:22 (KJV):

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

What we must remember is that these admonitions are directly made to Timothy, who was not a young man at this time, but a Bishop over many churches. Yet Paul still warns him to flee temptations and to follow after righteousness, goodness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Apparently falling back into the trap of youthful desires was still a distinct possibility to be warned against.

Greek Grammar

The Greek Grammar
The Greek grammar found in the word “flee” is that it is in the present tense, meaning it is current and will never ever end. It is also in the active voice, meaning that the subject or the person that this is addressed to, or hears it, is the one that is supposed to flee.

The point is this passage from Paul to Timothy must be understood that it is not just to the young or immature in the faith. The word “youthful,” does not have to do with the present condition of the subject or hearer of this advice, it has to do with the fact that every temptation known to man occurs from his youth on up, it just presents itself in different forms, or in greater lasciviousness.

On a personal note, I have found that if I allow myself to think about a sin, even if I dwell on what is so wrong about it, I end up entertaining the thought of it wherein as James says, this enticement leads to sin as recorded in James 1:14-16 (KJV):

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (16) Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

Flee – Do Not Entertain Sin in Your Thoughts
If we know something is a sin, why do we need to think about it in any way shape or form? No conversation should take place in our head about it, as soon as we spot a change in what we’re thinking about, or change what we’re looking at toward something that entices us, or change anything that causes us to entertain thoughts about sin, otherwise; we will normally find ourselves being drawn away from dwelling on Christ because of these enticements.

The most important aspect of dealing with sin in our lives
Very appropriate vernacular is used regarding fleeing by stating that we should not entertain sinful thoughts. Unfortunately that’s what sin usually does: it entertains us.

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) says:

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

This is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 (KJV):

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

Flee – The Antidote – Stop considering or dwelling upon sin

2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) says:

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

Philippians 4:8 KJV

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

When Paul says “finally,” he is letting us know the conclusion of what was said before, and in the case of Philippians Chapter 4 as well as the previous three chapters this is his conclusion concerning all of which concerns the growth of the gospel, which is seen in the growth of the individual believer. For a believer to grow in faith, we must lay down these little sins that beset us. And this all starts and ends with the mind.

Philippians 4:8 can be summarized by saying “Stop thinking about sin, and start dwelling upon the Word of God, because it is the Word of God that is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report; if it contains virtue, and praise regarding God; this is what we are to think upon.”

It is the only way for the child of God to obtain peace, as Warren Wiersbe states concerning this passage.

Warren Wiersbe’s commentary regarding Philippians 4:8:

Right thinking (Php. 4:8)
Peace involves the mind (see Isa. 26:3 and Rom_8:6). Thoughts are powerful; “as he thinketh, so he is” (Pro. 23:7). Wrong thoughts will lead to unrest and discouragement, but spiritual thinking will lead to peace. Paul tells us in this verse what to think about; if you compare these virtues to Psa. 19:7-9, you will see that the Word of God meets all of these requirements. Meditation on the Word of God will always bring peace (Psa. 119:165).

Conclusion
Whereas, Step 1 is mandatory in order to approach Step 2, fulfilling Step 2 and dealing with our thought life brings peace to the life of the believer, and maturity in our walk following our Savior.

press-on

Step 3. Press On – This is what we do when we fail to appropriately deal with sin: we go back to Step 1. Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV):

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Brent

Footnotes
1. Psalms 19:12-13

“Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. (13) Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” (KJV)

The “secret faults” spoken about in Psalms 19:12 is not talking about unintentional sin, as the Hebrew word sawthar here for “faults,” actually means “hidden” sins that are concealed from others, not displayed.  (Regarding Old Testament manuscripts, please see Footnote #2) 

It is a sin that the perpetrator is fully aware of but hides from the outside world, it is not a sin done accidentally, as if the person could do it unintentionally.

In fact, both these verses are talking about the same thing, it is not talking about two separate types of sins, the “them” is not found in the text, it is added by the translators to make the English sound correct.

These two verses are not separate passages. We must understand that splitting the Holy Word into numbered chapters only happened 800 years ago and then dividing those up into numbered verses only happened 500 years ago.

These divisions are not a part of the inspiration of Scripture or else God would have included them. These additions were simply added to help the reader. They are not part of the holy writ.

A secret fault or hidden sin that someone hides from others is a presumptuous sin.

All sins are presumptuous unless they are done due to the person not knowing it is a sin, or unaware that they committed it indirectly. And if they are unaware that they committed this sin how could they pray about that which they are unaware of.

Typically, these are internal sins such as self-centeredness, pride, jealousy, envy, strife, a bitter spirit, contention, superiority, self-righteousness, righteous-in-self, and worst of all: spiritual pride (See Footnote #6).

2.  Regarding the Greek Septuagint Old Testament Scriptures

Once upon a time there was a tribe living in the Middle East that had a collection of sacred texts written in Hebrew, Chaldean and Aramaic. It is the nature of sacred tests to be venerated and transmitted from generation to generation unaltered.

As time passed members of this tribe emigrated to areas where Hebrew and Aramaic and Chaldean were not spoken. A large community settled and prospered in the city of Alexandria in Egypt. Greek replaced their tribal language. They needed an accurate translation of their venerated documents into Greek.

Around 250 B.C. [272 – 278 B.C.; by Brent] seventy rabbis translated the sacred texts into Greek. This translation was not a bootleg edition. The project was approved by the High Priest and the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. The Septuagint, the translation of the seventy, was an official document.

A Hebrew Bible exists today. It is used by Jews everywhere. It is called the Masoretic text. It was compiled around 700 A.D. It is almost one thousand years newer than the Septuagint. The rabbis who compiled the Masoretic text were not accountable to the High Priest in Jerusalem. There no longer was a High Priest. The rabbis who compiled the Masoretic text were not accountable to the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. There no longer was a Sanhedrin.

The Septuagint predates the first appearance of the Masoretic text by almost ten centuries. The Septuagint is based upon Hebrew texts at least twelve centuries older than the texts upon which the Masoretic version is based. Yet, modern Christian translations of the Old Testament rely on the Masoretic Text, not the Septuagint.

Where is the problem?

Most of the quotations from the Old Testament in the New Testament used the Septuagint as their primary source. The integrity and truthfulness of the Septuagint is completely dependent on the Septuagint being a truthful translation. Discredit the Septuagint and there is no New Testament.

There was no controversy about the integrity of the Septuagint from 250 B.C. until 135 A. D.

What had happened to provoke dissatisfaction with the Septuagint among the Jews?

Annas and Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin had rejected the messianic claims of Jesus. The New Testament documents had been written and were circulating by A.D. 70. The Jews knew that the credibility of the Christian Gospels depended on the credibility of the Septuagint.  Something had to be done.

Around 95 A.D. Rabbi Akiva, who later proclaimed Bar Kochba as the messiah, hired a man named Aquila to translate a Hebrew to Greek version of the Old Testament that would undermine the messianic claims of Jesus found in the Septuagint. Some scholars believe that the Masoretic text was based in part on this tendentious translation by Aquila.

How is the Masoretic text different from the Septuagint?

Psalm 22:16 the word “pierced” has been replaced by “lion”.

Psalm 145: 13 omitted entirely.

Isaiah 53:11 the word “light” is omitted.

On 134 occasions the Tetragrammaton, the name of God, has been replaced by “Adonai”.

Psalm 151 was omitted entirely. (It is now omitted by almost all Christian Bibles!).

Exodus 1: The number 75 replaced by 70.

Genesis 10:24 some generations removed.

Deuteronomy 32:8 “Angels Of Elohim” replaced with “children of Israel.”.

Jeremiah 10 verses 6 and 7 have been added in the Masoretic.

Psalm 96:10 “Say among the nations, YHWH reigns from the wood” omitted.

Isaiah 19:18 “city of righteousness” changed to the “city of the sun” or in some versions “the city of destruction.”

The Masoretic scribes purposely and willfully rearranged the original chapter order in the prophetic Book of Daniel, so that the chapters make no sense chronologically.

Isaiah 61:1 “recovery of sight to the blind.” omitted.

In Psalm 40:6 “a body you have prepared for me” was replaced by “you opened my ears.”

Deuteronomy 32:43 ‘Let all the messengers of Elohim worship him.’” omitted.

Genesis 4:8: “Let us go into the field” is omitted.

Deuteronomy 32:43. Moses’ song is shortened.

Isaiah 53 contains 10 spelling differences, 4 stylistic changes and 3 missing letters for light in verse 11, for a total of 17 differences.

Isaiah 7:14. “Virgin” replaced by “young woman.”

(When Aquila made his Greek translation of the Old Testament at the behest of Rabbi Akiva, he changed the Septuagint’s “virgin” into “young woman”. The Masoretic compilers may have followed his lead.) [This was done because Rabbi Akiva did not believe in the inspiration and in inerrancy of the Scripture, and could not conceive of a virgin giving birth, therefore thinking the Scripture was wrong had it changed.  by Brent]

The Masoretic text differs from the Septuagint in hundreds of places.

How do we know which text is accurate?

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered just after World War II.

According to carbon dating, textual analysis, and handwriting analysis the documents were written at various times between the middle of the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD.  There are fragments from all of the books of the Hebrew Bible fragments except the Book of Esther and the Book of Nehemiah.

In addition an independent Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible exists, the Peshitta.

Control of the Dead Sea Scrolls was a military objective of Israelis. It was achieved by their victory in the Six Days War.

The publication of the scrolls slowed to a trickle.

After 1971, the international team even refused to allow the publication of photographs of the material. They excluded scholars who wanted to make independent evaluations.

The embargo was not broken until 1991.

An addition to the Dead Sea Scrolls, scholars can use the Peshitta to decide between the Masoretic text and the Septuagint.

The given examples above of some of the places the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Peshitta, and the Septuagint agree.

The Masoretic Text is part of a tradition that began with Rabbi Akiva. Rabbis rewrote the Jewish Bible to destroy the credibility of the New Testament.

The Hebrew versions of the Old Testament have been used to proclaim scores of “messiahs.”

The Septuagint was only used once.

By Robert E. Reis

[This also explains why when using the Protestant translations of the Bible, often you will read a Old Testament quote as found in the New Testament, wherein the quotes are not exactly the same, sometimes quite different.  The reason why is that at the time of the New Testament the Septuagint was what they were quoting from, and are modern English translations of the Old Testament utilize the Masoretic text, therefore the quotations are not exactly the same.  Yet the main point of utilizing the Septuagint, is that Jesus, except man in the Temple or synagogue, quoted from the Septuagint, therefore validating it as the accepted text of our Lord.  We do not have a copy of the Hebrew text that he read in the synagogue concerning Isaiah 61:1 and 2b, and other passages.  This is why it is prudent for the diligent Bible student who desires to do word studies in the Hebrew utilizes same text that Jesus validated and used Himself, the Greek Septuagint.  By Brent.]

3.  Greek Translation ~ Textus Receptus

Time does not permit for a proper examination of Textual Criticism concerning which Greek New Testament is best. Many have spent dozens or even a few hundred hours studying Textual Criticism in Bible College or Schools of Theology.

I have spent thousands of hours (I an not a King James only extremist, because I trust in the Majority Text also; the common denominator is that they were NOT based upon any of the Alexandrian Codices, but upon the Byzantine Codices only) and have come to the conclusion that the Byzantine Codices (Collected by Lucian of Antioch, Presbyter of Antioch and founder of the School of Antioch, who in the third century, compiled what became the Greek New Testament utilized for over 1000 years which eventually became the basis in the 15th century Textus Receptus, used in the translation of the King James Bible, completed in 1611), used in the Textus Receptus is the best Greek New Testament to utilize.

Greek Text & Grammar ~ Not Greek Root Dictionary
Many individuals, unfortunately many ministers as well misunderstand the purpose of Strong’s Dictionary, which is associated with “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.”

James Strong along with 100 other associates produced a concordance in order to locate Scriptures based upon a single word that is remembered. The Hebrew and Greek dictionaries placed in the back, which concerning the Greek have subsequently have become a freestanding Greek dictionary, which is simply a root dictionary, meaning it defines generic roots of words, not the specific words used in any individual text.

Expository Greek Dictionary
This is why many Christians use “Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words,” which will list specific words according to their passage in defining these words, yet it still does not break down the grammar by way of explanation, wherein greater nuances are achieved. Though it does many times directly indicate what the grammar means.

Word Study Dictionary
I prefer word study dictionaries, regarding the Greek I use more than any other “The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament” by Spiros Zodhiates, which I use alongside of Greek grammar guides in breaking down the exact meaning of words, as compared to the generic root word meanings.

One of the other reasons that I use Spiros Zodhiates material more than any other is I have found his work to display immense integrity, also understanding that he is Orthodox in all of his biblical stances concerning biblical doctrine, and he singularly utilizes the Textus Receptus.

During my decades of research on Biblical translation, I have noted that almost all research sources, including James Strong material utilize Alexandrian Codices.

James Strong was a devout adherent of work of Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort, who challenged and changed the accepted rules interpretation, impugned the Textus Receptus, and caused all of Christendom to utilize the contaminated Alexandrian manuscripts (This is a immense and complicated subject, my article on this is over 80 pages long, please email if you wish more information on Textual Criticism).

This is why I do not utilize Strong’s concordance because it is merely a root dictionary, which does not give specific meanings on specific words and specific passages (When utilizing Strong’s dictionary, which is never meant for a word study or to handle the Greek or its grammar specifically, it is normal that one word translated into the English will represent two or more words that originated in the Greek, which have differences in meaning, some only nuances, others quite substantial based upon the grammar).

I must point this out because many times in defining the Greek grammar of a specific word, individuals will use a root dictionary which will not give them the nuances which the Greek grammar does, and therefore will doubt the credibility of what I have presented.

I welcome individuals investigating what I present, this is what I desire for individuals to do, to quit having others fish for them, and simply eat off someone else’s plate, wherein they become subject to that person’s interpretation or presuppositions. I have wasted too many years doing this myself. I present what the Greek grammar states, this is not subject to interpretation, and follows what I believe should be the mandate of every teacher of God’s word, it is the only way to be true to Peter’s admonition when he as recorded in 2 Peter 1:20-21, which states:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (KJV)

A good example of how Scripture becomes distorted when the grammar is not correctly applied, is this very Scripture. When the grammar is broken down what this Scripture is stating is that there is a singular meaning and therefore interpretation to any passage in God’s word, and that an individual’s interpretation, they are private interpretation is not allowed.

If you were brought up in the same denominational circles as I was, this passage was abused and taught completely in reverse, when someone didn’t like your interpretation of the Scripture, they would use this to say that there is not a private interpretation; as if there was not a singular interpretation of any passage, that anyone could have their own individual interpretation (Please see Footnote #4 in considering what Warren Wiersbe has presented on the subject.).

4. Warren Wiersbe ~ 2 Peter 1:20

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (KJV)

“In 2 Peter 1:20, Peter was not prohibiting the private study of the Bible. Some religious groups have taught that only the “spiritual leaders” may interpret Scripture, and they have used this verse as their defense. But Peter was not writing primarily about the interpretation of Scripture, but the origin of Scripture: it came by the Holy Spirit through holy men of God. And since it came by the Spirit, it must be taught by the Spirit.

The word translated “private” simply means “one’s own” or “its own.” The suggestion is, since all Scripture is inspired by the Spirit it must all “hang together” and no one Scripture should be divorced from the others. You can use the Bible to prove almost anything if you isolate verses from their proper context, which is exactly the approach the false teachers use.

Peter stated that the witness of the Apostles confirmed the witness of the prophetic Word; there is one message with no contradiction. Therefore, the only way these false teachers can “prove” their heretical doctrines is by misusing the Word of God. Isolated texts, apart from contexts, become pretexts.

The Word of God was written to common people, not to theological professors. The writers assumed that common people could read it, understand it, and apply it, led by the same Holy Spirit who inspired it. The humble individual believer can learn about God as he reads and meditates on the Word of God; he does not need the “experts” to show him truth.

However, this does not deny the ministry of teachers in the church (Eph. 4:11), special people who have a gift for explaining and applying the Scriptures. Nor does it deny the “collective wisdom” of the church as, over the ages, these doctrines have been defined and refined. Teachers and creeds have their place, but they must not usurp the authority of the Word over the conscience of the individual believer.”

5. Jesus’ Definition of Salvation ~ Eternal life

Salvation is always defined as receiving eternal life according to Jesus. A consequence of receiving eternal life is that sin will no longer be your master, though you will sin is long as you are in your earthly body (1 John 1:8-10).

All sins are intentional, unintentional sins would be sins that you’re unaware that you do so you don’t even know if you do them. The “secret faults” David speaks about are intentional sins that are secret from the world, they are hidden sins that nobody sees but he that commits them. This is what the Hebrew means, and cannot be disputed.

Salvation is not freedom from sin, though the believer has been free from the price of sin, and when he receives his resurrection body sin will no longer be a part of his life, believers do not pay the punishment of their sin, though most of the time they pay the consequences for those sins.

Jesus always defines salvation as receiving eternal life!

Jesus is recorded in John 10:28-30, as stating:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

Eternal life Passages – Where Salvation is Identified as Receiving Eternal life

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16 KJV)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46 KJV)

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17 KJV)

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:30 KJV)

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 10:25 KJV)

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 18:18 KJV)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15 KJV)

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (John 4:36 KJV)

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39 KJV)

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54 KJV)

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68 KJV)

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28 KJV)

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (John 12:25 KJV)

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (John 17:2 KJV)

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3 KJV)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48 KJV)

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7 KJV)

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21 KJV)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV)

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:19 KJV)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2 KJV)

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7 KJV)

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (1 John 1:2 KJV)

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (1 John 2:25 KJV)

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15 KJV)

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11 KJV)

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13 KJV)

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20 KJV)

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21 KJV)

Do you notice how many times in the sentences eternal life is the last word, conveying the idea that eternal life is the conclusion and cannot be changed, a point not missed by many translators. Also notice that is always used with the same term “eternal life.” And notice that a word search for everlasting indicates that there are only two choices, everlasting fire or hell, or everlasting life with God in heaven, and the sentence structure and grammar pronounces that a person is in either one state or the other.  Though there are times where it talks about an individual becoming a believer has now entered into salvation – yet the point is no one ever leaves everlasting life to go to everlasting damnation.

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (Matthew 18:8 KJV)

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:29 KJV)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46 KJV)

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Luke 18:30 KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

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. (John 3:36 KJV)

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. (John 4:14 KJV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24 KJV)

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27 KJV)

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40 KJV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47 KJV)

And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:50 KJV)

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. (Acts 13:46 KJV)

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22 KJV)

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8 KJV)

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16 KJV

6.  Spiritual Pride

Spiritual pride is no doubt perhaps the worst form of pride there is.  The end condition of spiritual pride is seen in the class of people referred to as Pharisees in Jesus’ day. Those He had nothing good to say about, who He spoke about as appearing good on the outside, yet on the inside were dead man’s bones, venomous snakes, and other repulsive metaphors.

The main aspect of the mind of Christ is humility, the polar opposite of pride, and no doubt the worst displays of pride is spiritual pride, because it is completely descriptive.  At least the pride of someone like Donald Trump is acknowledged, but how evil is it when someone ACTS humble out the outside, yet inside is full of nothing but pride, especially if they are ACTING spiritual, such as in spiritual pride.   

Wherein unlike Christ, we must gain a proper mindset concerning our own sinfulness, limitations, and for those in public ministry; especially spiritual pride in order to submit not only to Christ’s will our lives, but the fact that He sometimes allows great travesties which are not meant to have dominion over us, but meant to bring us to the end of ourselves.

If you know someone entangled by spiritual pride, which is normally evidenced in either self-righteous at the most extreme, or righteous-in-self at the least, which is very easy to fall into; show them love and humility as an example of what Christ would have us focus on, so that they may come to the place of understanding their sinful character in order to become a profitable vessel in Christ hands.  Otherwise, left to their own selves, they will be very surprised at the Bema seat of Christ, if they even make it there.


Filed under: Articles and Posts, Brent's - Biblical Doctrine, Brent's - Biblical Perspective, Dying to Self Series, Most Vital Articles Tagged: Bondslave, deny yourself, Dying To Self, HOLINESS, Luke 9:23, pick up your cross daily, Septuagint, Sin, Textus Receptus, unintentional sin

Paul Harvey, 1965: ‘If I Were the Devil’ (Warning for a Nation)

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This speech was broadcast by legendary ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey on  April 3, 1965:

Paul-Harvey

If I were the Devil . . .

I mean, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I would of course, want to engulf the whole earth in darkness.

I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, so I should set about however necessary to take over the United States.

I would begin with a campaign of whispers.

With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.”  

To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.”

I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around.

I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”. 

In the ears of the young marrieds, I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you.

I would caution them not to be extreme in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct. And the old, I would teach to pray.

I would teach them to say after me: “Our Father, which art in Washington” . . .

If I were the devil, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull an uninteresting.

I’d threaten T.V. with dirtier movies and vice versa.

And then, if I were the devil, I’d get organized.

I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing and less work, because idle hands usually work for me.

I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could.

I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction.

And I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions . . . let those run wild.

I would designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts in the land and I would get preachers to say “she’s right.”

With flattery and promises of power, I could get the courts to rule what I construe as against God and in favor of pornography, and thus, I would evict God from the courthouse, and then from the school house, and then from the houses of Congress and then, in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and I would deify science because that way men would become smart enough to create super weapons but not wise enough to control them.

If I were Satan, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the symbol of Christmas, a bottle.

If I were the devil, I would take from those who have and I would give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

And then, my police state would force everybody back to work.

Then, I could separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines, and objectors in slave camps.

In other words, if I were Satan, I’d just keep on doing what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey, Good Day.

From Brent:
“How prophetic that 51 years ago, as the Supreme Court was taking God out of our schools, and had rationalized the slaughter of babies in the womb, that this dear Saint of God would describe our current day in such a exact way, wherein only a few more evil deeds need to yet be fulfilled . . . and no doubt they will.

What is so amazing is how much more evil has abounded in the last seven years, wherein:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!’  (Isaiah 5:20 – KJV)

Some believers, with good intentions have suggested that our current president may be the Antichrist, which Scripture does not currently support (But who knows, perhaps in future the UN, who is always looking for a good man…)

Yet, I have thought a bumper sticker which be so very correct, that I would caution believers not to create, which would state:

If you love Obama, you’re going to think the Antichrist is fantastic.'”  

Yet dear saints, we should not end on such a negative note.

We must keep in mind that our Lord Jesus and the Father are in the Father’s throne and have complete control of this sinful world, wherein God’s Word has prophesied everything that is happening and will yet happen, wherein we know the end of the book is fulfilled in our destiny wherein God will annihilate evil and establish holiness throughout eternity.  

Why such evil – Love

I have been asked why would a good God allow such an evil world, the answer is very simple.

For love.  

Because for God to wipe out all the evil would necessitate Him destroying His own children who are sinful as well as those who are at the beck and call of the evil one himself.  

There was a man whose children were grown up, and his wife had died, who had a drug abusing brother, who was a terrible father and a criminal, who had died leaving a 12-year-old boy behind who was a thief and a drug abuser.  

The man in his love allowed the boy to live with him and suffered through the boys sinful behavior while living in his house.  The man attempted to train the boy, — who would receive his punishment when wrong — but kept on sinning, stealing, lying and getting into trouble. 

Those in this church were appalled and ask why this man would allow this evil little boy to live in this house.  

His answer was love as Jesus had shown sinners in this world.  

Years later, it was the love this boy experienced from his Uncle, and through this the witnessed love of Christ that led the boy to become saved and a great evangelist to great sinners, as he was; leading multitudes to the Lord.

Who understood more than almost anyone else, the love, mercy, and grace of God as seen in his Uncle who chose him, while suffering with the boys sin in his household.  

Brent


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The Reason for the Season – JESUS

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Introduction
Due to the corruption of the fallen nature of man, he is a sinner at birth, and no matter what will continue to be a sinner until the day he dies.

Broken man

This is the first fact that we must deal with before going any further in regards to our fellowship with God the Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

Sin
First let us consider 1 John 1:8, which states:

If we say that we have [words: G2192, Grammar: G5719 ] no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

The verb: “we have” (echo) is in the:
Present Tense, meaning it is: Continuous Action – Never stops
Active Voice, meaning it is: Subject Causes the Action (Object Receives Action)  ~ we choose to do it
Indicative Mood, meaning it is: Mood of Certainty – A Reality ~ it is an undeniable fact
First Person, meaning it is: Applies to the Speaker (“I” – “We”) ~ this is to you and I
Plural Number, meaning it is: Applies to All ~ it applies to everyone

The verb used before sin in this verse is in the present tense meaning it is an action that never stops.  The active voice means that the subject, the person is the one that is doing the sinning.  The indicative mood means that this is an absolute fact.  The first person means that John is applying this to himself.  And the plural number means it applies to everyone as well.   This is simply saying that every human being rather believer or not will sin all of their life until death.  This does not mean that sin will reign in the life of the believer as it does in the unbeliever.

Sin - Missing the mark

Next let us consider 1 John 1:10, which states:

“If we say that we have not sinned [Word:G264, grammar: G5758], we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

The verb: “Sinned” (hamartano): [literally means: “to miss the mark”]
Perfect Tense, meaning it is: Completed in the Past, Results in the Present
Active Voice, meaning it is: Subject Causes the Action (Object Receives Action) ~ we choose to do it
Indicative Mood, meaning it is: Mood of Certainty – A Reality ~ it is an undeniable fact
First Person, meaning it is: Applies to the Speaker (“I” – “We”) ~ this is to you and I
Plural Number, meaning it is: Applies to All ~ it applies to everyone

– 1 John 1:8 refers to the state of sin within the human. A state that will never ever end during the current dwelling within this human body.

– 1 John 1:10 refers to the individual acts of sin. And though in the English it appears to be past tense, and is not, it is in the perfect tense which declares that the individual acts of sin are so established as to be referred to as having passed, where in the past can never be changed; so is it with sin even in the present in that the action of individual sins is so prominent as it cannot be changed as well. The results of sin are ever-present.

The point of these 2 passages is to nail down the fact that all of mankind sins in their life, even the believer.

broken-relationship

Problem One – Broken Fellowship
So what does sin have to do with the subject matter of fellowship between man and God? While there is the obvious conclusion that for the believer sin becomes a barrier in our relationship with God as seen in 1 John 1:6-7, which states:

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

paradox 3

Problem 2 – Warped Perspective
One of the multitude of problems that sin introduces within humanity is a warped perspective regarding every part of a person’s life.

One of these areas in regards to our own skewed perspective has to do with our own self-centeredness.

Self-Centered
You see every sin that we ever contemplate or do is done to appease our self-worth as seen in our selfishness. We first see this played out when a person is born, children have no ability to perceive anything be on themselves and how they relate to their environment. It is completely natural that when a baby is hungry, Uncomfortable because it is soiled itself, physically discontented due to heat or cold, or lonely are anxious; they cry. They never think about how it affects others, that is not part of their psyche at the time, their awareness of the world around them is merely an extension of themselves. As children grow up we teach them to think in care about others, something that is completely unnatural.

And as we grow up we see reflected in the world around us a culture that is self-centered as the trade in every aspect of our lives.

For the Believer As Well
And it is this form of self-centeredness that plagues believer and skews the way that we look at things.

Self-Esteem

It affects the type of church services that we officiate, the lyrics of the songs that we sing, the emphasis the preacher places on text; because of our fallen nature we are all affected by the “I” syndrome. This is why it is so common for new believers to think that the Bible is about man and salvation.

In fact if you ask most believers the reason for man’s existence and they will naturally state is for fellowship with God that man was made.

The Reason for Man’s Creation
And while true, fellowship is one of the motivations of our existence, the highest motivation for God creating man was to glorify God, not man. This is readily seen in Isaiah 43:7, which states:

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

This verse, among many others points out that true Christians, those that are born again children of God are created to glorify God (See Endnote #1).

God created His creation for Himself – it is God that is the center of our universe, not man. And it is God himself that chose that His Son, The Messiah of Israel, Jesus the Christ would be preeminent in all of creation as seen in the following Scriptures:

jesus - King Jesus

Hence, the Reason for the Season of CHRISTmas
(“mas” means celebration)

The Volume of the Book
One of the passages that points out the preeminence of Christ, yet even more so when you understand what the Greek that lies beneath the surface says, is Hebrews 10:7 which states:

“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

First, we need to realize that the writer here is quoting Psalm 40:7, as well as stating it’s current application even as it related to the sacrificial system; thus indicating that this Scripture has fulfillment in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, as the passage has meaning concerning both the Old and New Covenants (Hebrews 8:13), indicating that Jesus is preeminent in both the Old and New Testament.

Psalm 40: 7 has always been understood to be a messianic Psalm referring to the Messiah.  Whereas the writer of the book of Hebrews indicates how Jesus was the fulfillment of the Hebrew Messiah.

In the English this text seems somewhat straightforward, though many misunderstand the use of the word “volume” thinking it means the amount of space concerning what is written; yet this is not what it means, it has greater significance than even this misunderstanding.

The word that is translated into the English word “volume” in the Greek is kephalis, which holds great significance in understanding this passage.

scrollBiblical Scrolls
At the time it was written, the Hebrew Holy Scriptures were long manuscripts which we commonly refer to as scrolls which were rolled up due to their massive length (Codices, synonymous with our ideas of a book with individual pages that were held together by a binder, were not yet prevalent).

In order to handle the scroll without damaging it, and to aid in reading the scroll, the Hebrews used two kephalis, which were wooden rods that would be placed at the end of each side of the scroll, in order to facilitate the reading of the scroll by simply unrolling the kephalis on the left, and rolling up the kephalis on the right (Remember, Hebrew was read from the right to left). – see below.

The kephalis was what held the Scripture together and made it functional – readable, while at the same time protecting the scroll itself.

It would be somewhat synonymous with our current understanding of what bindings on books are meant to do.

Jesus Holds Together the Word of God, He is the Basis of Everything in It
The point that this Scripture is making is that Jesus holds together God’s Word and presents it in such a way that it is readable, understandable, and protected – Jesus in essence is the foundation and the mortar that holds the pages of God’s word together concerning its subject matter – which is Jesus Himself.

Jesus in the BiblePreeminence of Christ
For the Christian, the first and primary rule of Biblical interpretation (hermeneutics) centers on the relationship of the Bible to Jesus Christ, in which Jesus must be placed in the center of every text (Eph. 1:21-22), hence referred to as the preeminence (meaning: “above and beyond everything else in importance” – pre [“before”], eminent [“importance”]) of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:10), in both the Old and New Testaments, as Creator (Col. 1:16) and Lord (Php. 2:10); that is far and above fulfilling the Will of the Father in gaining a greater understanding of what God would communicate to us in His Word (John 8:28).

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever (Romans 11:36)

As Jesus said of Himself in John 5:39,

“you search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they that speak of me.

Hebrews 10:7, which quotes Psalms 40:7, which is a Messianic passage, states:

“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me.”

It is these, among many other Scriptures that instruct us that the Scripture centers on the person of Jesus Christ, as the only begotten Son of the Father (2 Peter 1:17). It is in understanding His preeminence (Rom. 11:36) in fulfilling the Will of the Father, that allows the salvation of all of mankind (Heb. 2:10), yet concerning salvation man is not the focus of attention, God is (1 Peter 4:11); and it is Jesus Christ in which God reveals Himself to man (John 14:9), and Christ Jesus by whom God the Father is glorified (Col. 3:17).

Specifically concerning Christ preeminence, Colossians 1:16, states:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him

Concerning Christ and the law, Matthew 5:18, states:

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Concerning Jesus’ place in the Old Testament Scriptures, in Luke 24:27, Jesus states concerning Himself:

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Again, Luke 24:44-47, speaks of Christ’s fulfillment in prophecy when it states:

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem

John 1:1, states:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1:14, states:

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

John 1:29, states:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 1:45, which states:

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

John 5:46-47, states:

For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words

John 12:16, states:

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.”

John 14:6, states:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 15:25, states:

But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, `They hated Me without a cause.”

John 17:6-7, states:

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (7) Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.”

Acts 1:16, states:

Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.”

Acts 2:16-36, states:

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (18) And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (19) And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: (20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (21) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (22) Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (24) Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (25) For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: (26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: (27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (28) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (29) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (32) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (33) Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (34) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (35) Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Acts 3:18, states:

But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”

Acts 8:35, states:

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture [which was Isa_53:7], and preached unto him Jesus.”

Acts 10:43, states:

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

Acts 13:27-37, states:

For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. And we declare to you glad tidings that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: `You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: `I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ Therefore He also says in another Psalm: `You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.”

Acts 26:22-23, states:

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”

Acts 28:23, states:

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening

Romans 1:1-3, states:

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. “

Hebrews 1:1-3, states:

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Hebrews 4:13, states:

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do

Jesus is not only the reason for the season, which is named after Him; He is the reason for life itself.  

Endnote:
1. The word “glorify” as found in the Bible

~ Psalms 22:23 – “Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.”

~ Psalms 50:15 – “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

~ Psalms 86:9 – “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.”

~ Psalms 86:12 – “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.”

~ Isaiah 24:15 – “Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.”

~ Isaiah 25:3 – “Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.”

~ Isaiah 60:7 – “All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.”

~ Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

~ Luke 2:20 – “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

~ Luke 5:25 – “And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.”

~ Luke 18:43 – “And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

~ John 12:28 – “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

~ John 13:32 – “If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.”

~ John 16:14 – “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

~ John 17:1 – “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee”

~ John 17:5 – “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

~ John 21:19 – “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

~ Romans 15:6 – “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ Romans 15:9 – “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.”

~ 1 Corinthians 6:20 – “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

~ 2 Corinthians 9:13 – “Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men”

~ 1 Peter 2:12 – “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

~ 1 Peter 4:16 – “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

~ Revelation 15:4 – “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”

The word glorified as found in the Bible

~ Leviticus 10:3 – “Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.”

~ Isaiah 26:15 – “Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.”

~ Isaiah 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”

~ Isaiah 49:3 – “And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

~ Isaiah 55:5 – “Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.”

~ Isaiah 60:9 – “Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.”

~ Isaiah 60:21 – “Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.”

~ Isaiah 61:3 – “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

~ Isaiah 66:5 – “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.”

~ Ezekiel 28:22 – “And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.”

~ Ezekiel 39:13 – “Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.”

~ Daniel 5:23 – “But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified”

~ Haggai 1:8 – “Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.”

~ Matthew 9:8 – “But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.”

~ Matthew 15:31 – “Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.”

~ Mark 2:12 – “And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”

~ Luke 4:15 – “And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.”

~ Luke 5:26 – “And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.”

~ Luke 7:16 – “And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.”

~ Luke 13:13 – “And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.”

~ Luke 17:15 – “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God”

~ Luke 23:47 – “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.”

~ John 7:39 – “(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

~ John 11:4 – “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

~ John 12:16 – “These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.”

~ John 12:23 – “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.”

~ John 12:28 – “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

~ John 13:31 – “Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.”

~ John 13:32 – “If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.”

~ John 14:13 – “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

~ John 15:8 – “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

~ John 17:4 – “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

~ John 17:10 – “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.”

~ Acts 3:13 – “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.”

~ Acts 4:21 – “So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.”

~ 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.”

~ Acts 13:48 – “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”

~ Acts 21:20 – “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law”

~ Romans 1:21 – “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

~ Romans 8:17 – “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

~ Romans 8:30 – “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

~ 2 Thessalonians 1:10 – “When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

~ 2 Thessalonians 1:12 – “That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ 2 Thessalonians 3:1 – “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you”

~ Hebrews 5:5 – “So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.”

~ 1 Peter 4:11 – “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

~ 1 Peter 4:14 – “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”

~ Revelation 18:7 – “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.”


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THE DATE JESUS WAS BORN

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Introduction 
When was Jesus born?  This is not an attack on Christmas, it is a correction of the traditions of men, yet it is the savior of this universe that is important, not when men choose to celebrate his birth, please see my conclusion in order to gain a greater understanding of what I mean.

The Key
The key is Luke 3:1, which can help determine when Christ was crucified.  If we know when Jesus was crucified, and we understand that He was 33 and half years old when this occurred, we can determine when He was born by counting backwards 33 1/2 years.

This is the basis for Sir Robert Anderson’s book “The Coming Prince,” published in the 1890s.

Luke 3:1, which dates the start of Jesus ministry, when he was 30 years old (Luke 3:23, “about” – He was 30 1/2) at Passover, in April;   

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene.

Luke 3:22, is where Jesus enters the scene, at the same time. 

…Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased…

To summarize Sir Robert Anderson’s work; according to Luke 3:1, Jesus started his Ministry during (in) the 15th year of Tiberius. Tiberias was appointed during the year 14 AD (Augustus died August 19, 14 AD), therefore Jesus started his public Ministry in the year 29 AD.

We know that according to scripture Jesus was crucified on the fourth Passover after starting his public Ministry by utilizing the four Gospels, 3 are which are synoptic (Matthew, Mark, Luke) and can be aligned chronologically.

Therefore, Jesus was crucified on Passover, the 14th of Nisan (Hebrew calendar) in the year 32, which would’ve been April 10 in the year 32 AD on the Gregorian calendar. Jesus being 33 1/2 years old on this date, counting backwards would mean that He was born 1 BC in the autumn, around the first of the Hebrew month,Tishri,” at the last of the month September on the Gregorian calendar, right around the “Feast of Trumpets.”

Conclusion
So what does this mean?  As for me, I choose to celebrate the birth of my Savior on December 25 as a point of remembrance, understanding that we do not have the exact date of His birth because the first century church was consumed with the resurrection of Jesus, wherein he died for the sins of the world as opposed to His birth. 

The point I’m making is that it is not the innocent child born in the manger that we should be is consumed with, as much as the savior who died for the sins of the world. 

I celebrate and glorify God for the day that our Savior entered this sinful existence to live for 33 years on this hostile plane, in order that He would die for me, for my sins, and all of those that would choose to put their faith in Him. 

This knowledge doesn’t change my attitude of joy and gratitude for His birth, it simply gives more credence to my choice of when to worship the birth of the King of this universe. 

What’s most important is not when I celebrate, but who I celebrate. 

(Shorted form the article: “The Date Jesus was Born.” This full version is: LINK)

bb

The following was written by Koinonia House

Introduction
Each year at Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. After the New Year, we struggle to remember to add a year as we date our checks, which should remind us that the entire Western World reckons its calendar from the birth of the One who changed the world more than any other before or since.

Yet, it is disturbing to discover that much of what we have been taught about the Christmas season seems to be more tradition than truth.

Most serious Bible students realize that Jesus was probably not born on December 25th. The shepherds had their flocks in open fields, which implies a date prior to October. Furthermore, no competent Roman administrator would require registration involving travel during the season when Judea was generally impassable.

If Jesus wasn’t born on December 25, just when was he born? Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly identify the birthday of our Lord, many scholars have developed diverse opinions as to the likely birthday of Jesus.

The early Christian church did not celebrate Jesus’ birth, and therefore the exact date was not preserved in festivals. The first recorded mention of December 25th is in the Calendar of Philocalus (AD 354), which assumed Jesus’ birth to be Friday, December 25th, AD 1.

This was subsequent to Constantine’s Edict of Toleration in AD 313, which officially ended the government-sanctioned persecution of the Christians.

The date of December 25th, which was officially proclaimed by the church fathers in AD 440, was actually a vestige of the Roman holiday of Saturnalia, observed near the winter solstice, which itself was among the many pagan traditions inherited from the earlier Babylonian priesthood.

The year of Jesus’ birth is broadly accepted as 4 BC, primarily from erroneous conclusions derived from Josephus’ recording of an eclipse, assumed to be on March 13, 4 BC, “shortly before Herod died.”

There are a number of problems with this in addition to the fact that it was more likely the eclipse occurred on December 29, 1 B.C. Considerable time elapsed between Jesus’ birth and Herod’s death since the family fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s edict and they didn’t return until after Herod’s death. Furthermore, Herod died on January 14, 1 BC.

Tertullian (born about 160 AD) stated that Augustus began to rule 41 years before the birth of Jesus and died 15 years after that event. Augustus died on August 19, 14 AD, placing Jesus’ birth at 2 BC.

Tertullian also notes that Jesus was born 28 years after the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC, which is consistent with a date of 2 BC.  Irenaeus, born about a century after Jesus, also notes that the Lord was born in the 41st year of the reign of Augustus. Since Augustus began his reign in the autumn of 43 BC, this also appears to substantiate the birth in 2 BC.

Eusebius (264-340 AD), the “Father of Church History,” ascribes it to the 42nd year of the reign of Augustus and the 28th from the subjection of Egypt on the death of Anthony and Cleopatra. The 42nd year of Augustus ran from the autumn of 2 BC to the autumn of 1 BC.

The subjugation of Egypt into the Roman Empire occurred in the autumn of 30 BC. The 28th year extended from the autumn of 3 BC to the autumn of 2 BC. The only date that would meet both of these constraints would be the autumn of 2 BC.

Another approach in determining the date of Jesus’ birth is from information about John the Baptist. Elisabeth, John’s mother, was a cousin of Mary and the wife of a priest named Zacharias who was of the “course” of Abijah (Priests were divided into 24 courses and each course officiated in the Temple for one week, from Sabbath to Sabbath).

When the Temple was destroyed by Titus on August 5, 70 AD, the first course of priests had just taken office. Since the course of Abijah was the eighth course, we can track backwards and determine that Zacharias would have ended his duties on July 13, 3 BC.

If the birth of John took place 280 days later, it would have been on April 19-20, 2 BC (precisely on Passover of that year).

John began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. The minimum age for the ministry was 30. As Augustus died on August 19, 14 AD, that was the accession year for Tiberius.

If John was born on April 19-20, 2 BC, his 30th birthday would have been April 19-20, 29 AD, or the 15th year of Tiberius. This seems to confirm the 2 BC date and, since John was five months older, this also confirms the autumn birth date for Jesus.

Elisabeth hid herself for five months and then the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary both Elisabeth’s condition and that Mary also would bear a son who would be called Jesus. Mary went “with haste” to visit Elisabeth, who was then in the first week of her sixth month, or the fourth week of December, 3 BC.

If Jesus was born 280 days later it would place the date of his birth on September 29, 2 BC. If Jesus was born on September 29, 2 BC, it is interesting to note that it was also the First of Tishri, the day of the Feast of Trumpets.

Written by: KOINONIA HOUSE, Founder: Chuck Missler, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83816, USA, 2008, eNews, electronic media.

Brent

Something to think about.


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The Rapture and the Second Coming, 2 Events or 1 ~ Compare & Contrast

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Introduction (2016 Edit)
Regarding the Second Coming, the inconsistencies concerning a single event are staggering, therefore, by necessity there must be two separate events, with the only answer being the Rapture as one, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as the other.

One of the arguments of the opponents to the idea of the Rapture is that Jesus Christ comes to earth twice, not 3 times.

However, this ignores the fact that according to the Rapture point of view, Christ only comes to earth twice, once for His First Coming, in which He died for the sins of mankind, and the Second Coming to take possession of that which he died for the first time He came to earth as Jesus Christ. 

Not 3 Visits, Only 2

Yet, between these two events, Jesus comes NOT to the earth, but “in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air,” in order that the Lord may receive those that are His own, the church as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which states:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

There is no mention here of Jesus coming to the earth.  Only of those that are still alive being caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and be with Him forever more (which is to say that they will be with him wherever he is at)This says nothing about Jesus coming to the earth. 

Jesus was ordained to come to the earth two times, referred to as the First and Second Coming.

The Rapture is where Christ comes in the clouds and does not touch the earth (1 Thess. 4:17), in His Second coming is where His feet touches upon the mount of all the Valley splits (Zec. 14:1-4).

In fact, it will be seven years after this that He returns to fulfill His role as the Captain of the Lord’s host  (Translated in the English: “Captain” is a Hebrew term unlike our American understanding. The Hebrew word here, sar means the highest leader. Which is the same term Jesus used when He met with Joshua and demanded worship [Joshua 5:14-15], and again using the same phrase from the burning bush with Moses concerning how the ground being holy because of His presence as God [Exodus 3:5].  No angel of the Lord accepts worship – except for one – and he sacrificed his place with God and became the prince of the power of the air until the day he shall be destroyed – his name was changed to Satan) to destroy the enemies of Israel, saving them; and starting His millennial reign on earth from Jerusalem.

Israel’s Blindness brings Salvation to the Gentiles

It is in considering the whole plan of God that salvation came from the Jew (John 4:22), yet the Jews refused their Messiah, and according to Romans 11:25 were temporarily placed in the penalty box, while God (who in His foreknowledge, God knew Israel would reject Christ) took the gospel to the whole world – the Gentiles, which is known as the church.

Romans 11:25 says:

“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.”

The Greek word used here “fulness,” is a mathematical term meaning that when the last one, in this case when the last Gentile arrives, (The church is Gentile, a mix of Jew and everyone else) then the blindness of Israel will depart. 

What this is saying is that when the last Gentile which makes up the church is saved,  then the church is complete; then the church will be rapture; and the eyes of Israel will be opened; with the fourth chapter of Revelation recording the events after this. 

This explains why from the fourth chapter of Revelation on the idioms are Jewish, the terminology and the typology is Jewish as well. 

It has been wisely said that in order to understand the book of Revelation you must know all of the Old Testament, because there are 800 allusions (allusions are indirect references, such as partial word combinations of a Scriptural passage which are known to the hearers.  An example would be if I were speaking to a Christian and said: “In the beginning God,” or “we are saved by grace,” they would know I was referring to Genesis 1:1 and Ephesians 2:8) to Old Testament passages found within the hundreds of verses of the book of Revelation.          

As recorded in the book of Daniel, the church (which is a mystery that Paul speaks about in Eph. 3:2-10; 5;32; Col. 1:18-26), is a parentheses in time of God’s dealings with Israel, and when Israel’s blindness stops (Romans 11:25), with them regaining their sight concerning Jesus as their Savior and God, the clock starts up again.  

Regarding Israel Seeking Jesus’ Return, Let’s consider the following Scriptures

Zechariah 12:8-10 says:

“In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

Isaiah 52:6 says:

“Therefore my people shall know my name: [it is Jesus!] therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.”

Hosea 6:1 says:

“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.”

Matthew 23:37-39, which states:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” 

(Who do you think is “that cometh in the name of the Lord” is – it is Jesus)  

And Hosea 5:15, which says:

“I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” 

The Book of Daniel

Romans 11:25 is the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy concerning the 70 weeks of time dealing with Israel, wherein there is a week (7 years) pause (A parenthesis) between the 69th and 70th week which has lasted now 2000 years between the time of Jesus presenting Himself as the Messiah (the triumphal entry), and our current time. 

This parenthesis has no prophecies concerning its length, yet we know that when the blindness of Israel stops, it is referred to as the “fullness of the Gentiles” as seen in Romans 11:25, which states:

“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.”

The fulness of the Gentiles is is not to be confused with the “time of the Gentiles,” which will last until the gentiles no longer control Jerusalem as found in Luke 21:24.  

Some may say that the  “time of the Gentiles,” is complete because of the 7 day war of 1967, when Israel again regained control of Jerusalem. 

But the question becomes where is the temple then?  It does not exist because the Islamist control the temple mount where the mosque, the doom of the rock is located.  Also Israel does not have full control of Israel – the Palestinians have the Gaza Strip and West bank either. 

The  “time of the Gentiles,” is the time is from when Nebuchadnezzar’s occupation began until the Second coming when Jesus conquers the Gentiles, and Jerusalem is fully controlled by Israel – The Gentiles are not in control!      

The “fullness of the gentiles” is when the clock of God’s timepiece concerning Israel starts up again, the 70th week starting at this point, also referred as the Great Tribulation. 

This 70th week, this 70th seven-year period which is commonly referred to as the tribulation which Jesus referred to in Matthew chapter 24: is a reference to Daniel’s prophecy is recorded in Daniel 9:24-27.

We must always remember that the church was a mystery hidden from the Old Testament believers according to Ephesians 1:9-13, and Ephesians 3:1-6.

The following would be examples of inconsistencies if there is no Rapture and only the Second Coming of Christ, and therefore by compare and contrast, there must be another event – the only choice is the Rapture of the church.

Rapture                                               Second Coming
Translation of believers                    No translation

Translated saints go to heaven       Translated Saints return to
.                                                                  earth

Earth is not judged                             Earth judged

Eminent – any moment                    Follows defined predicted signs

Sign-less                                               Signs

Not in the Old Testament                 Predicted in the Old Testament

Affects believers only                         Affects all men

Before the day of wrath                     Concludes the day of wrath

No reference to Satan                        Satan bound

Jesus comes for his own                   Jesus comes with his own

Jesus comes in the air                       Jesus comes to earth
(Clouds)                                                 (Mount of Olives)

Jesus comes to claim his bride        Jesus comes with his bride

Only His own see him*                     Every eye shall see him

Great tribulation begins                   Millennium begins

Church believers only                       Old Testament saved raised later

The following Scriptures display the differences between the Rapture & the Second Coming:

Rapture                                                       The Second Coming
John 14:1-3                                                 Daniel 2:44-45
Romans 8:19                                               Daniel 7:9-14
1 Cor. 1:7-8                                                  Daniel 12:1-3
1 Cor. 15:1-53                                              Zech. 14:1-15
1 Cor. 16:22                                                 Matt 13:41
Phil. 3:20-21                                               Matt 24:15-31
Col. 3:4                                                         Matt 26:64
1 Thess. 1:10                                                Mark 13:14-27
1 Thess. 2:19                                                Mark 14:62
1 Thess. 4:13-18                                          Luke 21:25-28
1 Thess. 5:9                                                  Acts 1:9-11
1 Thess. 5:23                                                Acts 3:19-21
2 Thess. 2:1, (3?)                                         1 Thess. 3:13
1 Tim 6:14                                                     2 Thess. 1:6-10
2 Tim 4:1                                                       2 Thess. 2:8
Titus 2:13                                                      2 Peter 3:1-14
Heb. 9:28                                                      Jude 14-15
James 5:7-9                                                  Rev 1:7
1 Peter 1:7, 13                                               Rev 19:11-20:6
1 John 2:28-3:2                                           Rev 22:7, 12, 20
Jude 21
Rev2:25
Rev 3:10

*After Jesus’ resurrection He is only seen by loving eyes, and touched by the loving hands. 

The next time that Jesus is seen by un-saved men, He is a man of war, the Captain of the Lord’s host: bringing judgment upon the earth against those that seek to destroy Israel.

Eschatological Timeline

1.   The Rapture (1 Thess. 4:17)

2.   The Judgment (“Bema”) Seat of Christ”
(Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10)

3.   The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7)

4.   The Second Coming of Christ (Luke 17:30)

5.   The start of the Millennial reign of Christ’s (Rev. 20:4 & 6)

6.   The Judgment of the Nations – Sheep & Goats (Matt. 25:31-46)

7.   Satan Bound for 1000 Years (Rev. 20:3)

8.   The Final Judgment – White Throne (Rev. 20:11)

9.   The New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2)

Thanks to:
E.M. Bullinger (The originator of much of the above), Missler, Stedman, & Pink.

Brent


Filed under: Articles and Posts, Brent's - Biblical Eschatology, Most Vital Articles Tagged: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, compare, Compare and Contrast, contest, Eschatological Timeline, Israel Seeking Jesus, Romans 11:25, Second Coming, The Rapture

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Notable Original Work)

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blaspheme_HS1

Introduction
Of all the questions that I have been asked over almost 40 years, the most frequent and passionate inquiry has always been about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

The greatest fear has been by those that were panicked that they had accidentally committed this unforgivable sin.

In the following you will see that it cannot accidentally be done.

And more to the point, since it is a sin that is done it in complete cognizance, it is done by an individual that has made up their mind in such a way, that they are not concerned that they violated this particular offense.

Many times I’ve told people, if you’re concerned that you’ve done it; this provides evidence that you have not. This is a sin that is done in complete awareness of what they are doing, as seen in the actions of the Pharisees which provided the only example that God provides in His Word.

What people forget is that Paul committed blasphemy against God, but he says he was forgiven because he did it in ignorance as recorded in 1 Timothy 1:12-14, which states:

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul-in-a-Roman-prison

Not that Paul accidentally did it without meaning to; he meant to accuse the Christians of heresy, for following a false God.

He not only did this, but he was the one that persecuted the Christians by death for their belief. So it is not that he accidentally blasphemed the Holy Spirit when he accused Jesus of functioning as an emissary of the devil, and killed his followers.

Paul did it unknowingly because he was not aware that he was accusing the true God of the universe, Jesus who functioned in the power of the Holy Spirit.

pharasee-blaspheming-holy-sTo commit blasphemy of the spirit you must knowingly accuse someone who you completely comprehend is functioning for the Holy Spirit, of doing evil and doing it in the power of the devil; such as the Pharisees.

And you have to do it for your own personal gain, as they did.

The pharisees called Jesus master, and stated that he had to be a man of God because of his teaching (“And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly” ~ Luke 20:21), and when one of His miracles went against one of their rules, they accused Him of doing it in the name of Beelzebub, when they knew it was a lie. They slandered the Holy Spirit on purpose because it affected their position in the community.

Matthew 12:30-35, says:

“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.  Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”

Starting with Matthew 12:10, we see that the Pharisee’s plan to entrap Jesus.  Jesus “went into their (notice the emphasis that the Holy Spirit places on identifying the synagogue as “their synagogue,” as opposed to “God’s synagogue,” or even simply “the synagogue” ~ Matt. 12:9) synagogue” on the Sabbath, and having a man with a withered hand presented to Him (“…behold…” & “…And they asked him…” – the Greek grammar is more precise how the Pharisee set the situation up), the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was legal to heal on the Sabbath. 

Jesus answered them, and then healed the man, and later a man possessed by a demon was brought to Jesus who was blind and dumb.  Jesus also healed him and in response to this situation, as seen in verse 23, the people said, “is this the ‘Son of David’?”, which is a Messianic title. 

When the Pharisees heard the people asking if Jesus was the Messiah, they retorted that Jesus cast out a devil by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of the devils.

Sins Against the Holy Ghost 01

Jesus, Not the Pacifist Wimp Many Claim
Jesus responded to their accusations, as well as their thoughts, stating that a house divided falls, and then used an illustration that it is God who is more powerful than Satan, and therefore has empowered Jesus to do this miracle. 

Next we have verse 30, where Jesus says that He that is not for me, is against me (notice that there are only two positions, and no mention of going back and forth between them – consider this in reviewing the bold paragraph below regarding verses 34 and 35).  And it is in response to the accusation that He is empowered by the devil, that Jesus goes on to respond to them in verse 31.  And Jesus states:

“All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.” 

Jesus states that everything is forgivable except for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which is exactly what these Pharisees had just done. 

Blasphemy = Slander
First, we must define what blasphemy is, according to Elwell’s Evangelical Dictionary of Theology:

Topics: Blasphemy
Text:  In general the word means simply slander or insult and includes any action (e.g., a gesture) as well as any word that devalues another person or being, living or dead.  This general secular idea was made more specific in religious contexts, where blasphemy means to insult, mock, or doubt the power of God.1

There must be a deliberate and calculated determination to slander, it cannot be accidental, but must be a premeditated insult of the Holy Spirit.

the unpardonable sin

The Unforgivable Sin
Also in defining what blasphemy is, according to he renowned Biblical scholar Dr. William Smith as presented in his Smith’s Bible Dictionary , States:

“The Unforgivable Sin”
The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:28, consisted in attributing to the power of Satan, those unquestionable miracles which Jesus performed by “the finger of God,” and the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is plainly such a state of wilful, determined opposition to God and the Holy Spirit, that no efforts will avail to lead to repentance. Among the Jews, it was a sin against God, answering to treason, in our times.

Therefore, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to speak evil of, or slander the Holy Spirit with the deliberate intent of doing so, this cannot be accidentally committed; it must be a conscious and calculated determination to slander with full intent God, wherein repentance is not even a consideration to the perpetrator. 

Blasphemy without Intent
An example of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit WITHOUT intent can be seen in the actions of Paul who unintentionally did so according to 1 Timothy 1:12-13, which states:

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit cannot be a mere slip of the tongue, but must be a deliberate and thought-out accusation against the Holy Spirit (this answers the question of those that fear that they can accidentally commit this most grievous sin of all sins), by knowingly attributing to the power of the Holy Spirit as having come from Satan, not God; knowing that this is a lie.

Seven-fold Holy-Spirit

Power Exhibited
One other point that must be understood is that the blasphemy must be against the Holy Spirit, as opposed to God the Father, or Jesus Christ the Son; apparently both of these forms of slander are forgivable; but why.

The answer is that the Holy Spirit is the power of God that functions upon the earth; He isn’t some kind of superstitious or mystical function, the Holy Spirit is God’s power exhibit here – in the scene world. 

When God moves supernaturally upon the face of the earth, He does so through the orchestration of the Holy Spirit. 

Even when Christ was incarnate on the Earth, He did not function within His own power as deity, He did so when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon Him from upon high. 

This is why He did no miracles until after He was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  This is why He said He could do nothing in Himself, and that He truly became a man (Phil. 2:7-8), concerning his attributes, yet he always maintained is deity in his essence (the incarnation is a mystery, yet we know that Jesus was fully God, and fully man.  He displayed the human attributes of limitation, voluntarily while maintaining the essence of deity, which can never be stripped from Him.  Please see our essay concerning the “Attributes & Essence of God” in order to grasp this more fully LINK).  

Therefore, to slander the Holy Spirit is to slander the display of God’s power – When the Holy Spirit moves it is a visual exhibit of God, and to slander Him is to slander God fully knowing you are slandering the true God of the universe, the real God, without acceptation. 

You’re NOT slandering some idea of god, some religious system, some MAYBE something – you are knowingly slandering the real deal because you see the miracle, the wonders, the power, and known the source is real – is God.

Personal_Note_Hp3

Personal Note:  As stated above I have been approached by many people on this subject, those that had been fearful that they had accidentally blasphemed the Holy Spirit, which according to the above example cannot be accidentally done. 

We must take the Scripture at face value without presumptions, and if the only example we have of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is when the Pharisees attributed a miracle of God done through Jesus, and state that He’s doing it in the power of the devil, knowing it is a lie (Remember Paul, he accused Believers of working for Satan, of doing what they did in Satan’s power; He did not know it was God that was behind their actions – he did it in ignorance), we cannot extend it beyond that,(NOTE THE EMPHASIS!!!!!!!!)

I hold a singular view (That I did not learn from another, but have found one credible scholar who holds the same view concerning this understanding of “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit,” Dr. Ron Rhodes, whose comments I will present below) concerning blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, it is:

I believe that the only way to commit blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (which only has one example in Scripture); is to knowingly and falsely accuse Jesus Christ, during His “First Coming” of committing a miracle in the power of Satan, and do it for personal gain (the Pharisees did this because of the jeopardy of losing their position and holding with the people – they did it for personal gain, not because they actually believed that Jesus was of Satan, otherwise it would not have been slander – it would’ve been an accusation, and could have been said in ignorance – which is what Paul did prior to his conversion, and was forgiven. We must not forget Paul’s example –  you have to know that you are slandering the work of the Holy Spirit, if you truly do believe that a miracle could be an act of Satan, you have not slandered the Holy Spirit – Paul truly did believe that the Christians were following a false god, which would a demon or Satan himself), rather than the power of God in the Holy Spirit; when it is Biblically obvious according to the prophecies concerning Jesus being the Messiah, as well as clearly opposed to the Biblical teaching that God is more powerful than Satan. 

I view this Scripture the same as Hebrews 6:4-6 (Please see “Limited Partnership” at: LINK), in that it could only be fulfilled during a certain time in history, and under certain conditions; which are now past and not possible.  Otherwise, if to truly commit blasphemy against the Holy Spirit means that you knowingly understand that an individual is doing a miracle in the power of the Holy Spirit, and then knowingly accuse them of what you know is a lie

How would you know this unless the individual is fully accredited of God as being a person that only acts for God, and never for the flesh or the devil?  

The only one qualified person to fit this description is Jesus Christ Himself.  If a faith healer claims to be a representative of God, and does healings, how do I know that he is really working for God, in the power of the Holy Spirit, I do not. 

And, it is in knowing that what you are saying is actually a lie that makes it blasphemy, you must slander the Holy Spirit, which means that you must positively know that the human doing the miracle in the name of the Holy Spirit, is truly His representative. 

I would never give any human being this type of credit.  I believe in healings, I’ve been healed, and I’ve seen healings.  But no man receives carte blanche acceptance that what he is doing at any individual time, is an authorization that he is the Holy Spirit’s representative (how do you think that the False Prophet will present himself if not as a messenger of God – his deception is not in the miracles, but in him who he really is, and who is his master).  

How many times have we seen in the Old Testament God’s representatives acting in ungodly manners and doing things wrong?  How can you trust that every act that a person that presents himself as a prophet is done so according to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

If a miracle happens; praise God, but don’t praise the man, or even  assume he is beyond question.  If the miracle goes against Scripture, then it is subject to question.  

But the point is, there’s only one human being that has ever lived on this earth who we know 100 percent of the time functions only as God’s representative, and that when He does a miracle, it can only be attributed to the Holy Spirit – it is Jesus. 

It is this individual – Jesus, that if we chose to knowingly accused of functioning in the power of Satan, while understanding that He is functioning in the power of the Holy Spirit, it is this type of slander that is specific to the sin of blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, and doing so for personal profit as the Pharisees did.      

No Other Example in Scripture
I see no place in Scripture that further addresses “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” by name, and to expand it beyond the scriptural reference made by Jesus, so as to extend a definition beyond Jesus’ words would be presumptuous upon the Scripture. – it would be reading into the text.  And the language does not appear to extend it beyond its local application. 

There are passages which SEEM to alluded to this sin.

Allowing God’s Word to Interpret itself Based upon Repetition and Clarity
However, if God has chosen not to specifically instruct us concerning this sin, we should not play with such a dangerous subject – to do so is reading into the Scriptures, and placing yourself in a position of grandiosity; where it is only God who condemns.

One Example Regarding An Ambiguous Text 
1 John 5:16 is not a reference to blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, in that it is not named, nor referred too.  We also note in the next verse (17), that John seems to note that the sin as being nonspecific. 

We know there are sins unto death, such as disrespecting the manner that you take the Lord’s supper as seen in 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, as well as Ananias and Sapphira deception as seen in Acts 5:1-11. 

Yet, neither one of these sins that lead to death are as serious as the sin that leads to eternal damnation and is unforgivable, such as blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.  

The Necessity of Biblical Interpretation
God does nothing unfair, if there is a sin that you and I can commit that is not forgivable, would our loving Father not be sure to warn us in such a way that we would not accidentally commit it? 

To read 1 John 5:16, 1 Corinthians 11:29-39, and Acts 5:1-11; and conclude that these are references to blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, is to extend into these passages beyond the plain meaning found in the text themselves, as well as the intended meaning by the writers, and is therefore incorrect and unbiblical.  Again, this is reading into the text.  

The doctrinal discipline of biblical interpretation is referred to as Hermeneutics, and addresses the different tools that are used in interpreting God’s word, many times referred to as laws or principles.  

These laws are meant to guide the Bible student in understanding God’s word based upon established principles found in God’s word, whereas many individuals in their pride and arrogance refuse to seek the wise counsel of godly scholars in understanding and handling God’s word, have come up with many heretical teachings.  

This subject is one of the victims of such sloppy handling of God’s word.  Two such tools that will help in our current endeavor are listed next. 

The Law of Frequency”4
There is a principle within the Bible of repetition (some have called it the “Principle of Repetition”), wherein God repeats Himself to assure that He’s not misunderstood. 

The Torah is riddled with examples of this, to the place of exhaustion.  This principle can be found all through the Scripture (the apostle specifically taught about the principle of repetition – Philippians 3:1; Titus 3:8, 2 Peter 1:12-13, 2 Peter 3:1-2), especially in the Psalms and Proverbs.

If God states something only once, there is a specific reason for it, which is manifested when the passage is understood. 

However, when it comes to danger and warnings, God is always repetitive, as any good parent would be, so since the issue of the so-called “unforgivable sin,” or better stated “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” would be one of these dangerous examples, and God has not produced more Scripture to warn us, it makes no sense that it is something that is so easily done unknowingly.

The Law of Perspicuity5
Also what is referred to as the clarity found within God’s word needs to be taken into consideration as well.  The issue of perspicuity addresses the fact that when God utilizes a majority of Scripture which is clear, plain and understandable; and there are a few Scriptures which are more mysterious and less clear, we are to stay with the majority of text which is plain and understandable, rather than allowing a few passages which are confusing and harder to understand lead us in interpreting the text or subject matter.  

Usually this is because of translation problems, a lack of awareness concerning cultural issues, or the fact that God doesn’t want us to understand this until an appointed time, such as the 70 weeks of Daniel wherein God sealed up that passage in till the last hundred years or so.  

Concerning The view that I postulated concerning the inability of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit to be committed in our current day – when Jesus is not incarnate walking the earth – reviewed by Dr. Ron Rhodes, who states:

“The backdrop of this passage [Matthew 12:30-35] is that the Jews who had just witnessed a mighty miracle of Christ should have recognized that Jesus performed this miracle in the power of the Holy Spirit.  After all, the Hebrew Scriptures, with which the Jews were all familiar, prophesied that when the Messiah came He would perform many mighty miracles in the power of the spirit (See Isaiah 35:5-6)

Instead, these Jewish leaders claim that Christ did this and other miracles in the power of the devil, the unholy spirit.  This was a sin against the Holy Spirit.  This shows that these Jewish leaders had hardened themselves against the things of God.” (Formatting added)  

Dr. Rhodes Continues on to say: “I believe that Matthew 12 describes a unique situation among the Jews, and that the actual committing of this sin requires the presence of the Messiah on the earth doing his messianic miracles.  In view of this, I don’t think this sin can be duplicated today exactly as described in Matthew 12

I think it’s also important to realize that a human being can repent of his or her personal sins (whatever they are) and turn to God as long is there is breath still left in his or her lungs.  Until the moment of death, every human being has the opportunity to turn to God to receive the free gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8,9).2

One Other Thought
What is also in view here is that if someone denies that Jesus did His miracles according to the power of God in the Holy Spirit, then they equate Him with sin, as well for lying, which also calls into question the Deity of Jesus Christ. , which is also a sin unto death, that unless they repent they shall be damned to hell as well. 

Therefore, they cannot place faith in Christ as the Son of the living God, as their propitiation for sin – and be saved – this is an unforgivable sin. 

This would also mandate a predetermined mindset, which could not be an accidental sin of omission or commission.  And this would circumvent any opportunity for repentance having thought through the position and concluded that Jesus was not the Messiah.

Jesus Himself spoke about the necessity for changing one’s mind, which is repentance3 (A changing of mindset and life pursuits from carnality to God’s Will), and any refusal to accept God’s only propitiation for sin necessitated damnation, and therefore was unforgivable.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary states:

Topics: Blasphemy
Text:  In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Ps. 74: 18; Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Rev. 13:1, 6; 16:9, 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45; 18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matt. 26:65; comp. Matt. 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (Luke 22:65; John 10:36).

Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel, and hence is an unpardonable sin, simply because as long as a sinner remains in unbelief he voluntarily excludes himself from pardon.

Others regard the expression as designating the sin of attributing to the power of Satan those miracles which Christ performed, or generally those works which are the result of the Spirit’s agency.

Conclusion
To reiterate – you cannot commit Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit by accident, without intent, it is God you are slandering and you know it because the Holy Spirit is the proof of God right in front of you as seen in a miracle – a miracle which you knowingly lie and slander about equating it with the devil for your own personal gain, the same as the Pharisees did.

You are calling what you know is divine, evil. That is why it is unforgivable, because you know 100% what you are doing, no mistake; you are telling God, He is evil and you want nothing to do with Him.

The only person that can do this, is one who is completely antagonistic to God.

When a person does this, he is not going to change his mind – it is done!

Brent

Endnotes
1
. ELWELL’S EVANGELICAL DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGY
, Walter A. Elwell, Baker Book House Company, 1984, Software Edition.
2. THE COMPLETE  BOOK OF BIBLE ANSWERS, ANSWERING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, Ron Rhodes, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene Oregon 1997, page 81.
3Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.
4. The Law of Frequency

Commonly referred to as the “Repeatable’s of God;” is a principle of emphasis, where the emphasize is placed due to the importance of something, where noting the frequency for which God treats any subject further displays the importance He wishes to convey concerning that particular subject (And volume counts; such as: Psalms 119, which is the longest chapter [volume wise] in the longest book [volume wise] of the Bible, and which deals primarily with the “Word of God;” this displays God’s concern in regard to the importance of God’s Word ~ If you can’t trust what He says, how can you trust what He will do).

Notice when all four gospels present the same event (It is common to have a passage in only one book, yet take note when it is seen in all four Gospels!); this emphasis is there for a reason – it must be very important.

As a wise parent, God uses clarity and emphasis, by way of repetition; concerning that which is a priority, as compared to that which is not (Phil. 3:1; Tit. 3:8; 2 Pet. 1:12-13; 3:1-2).

5.  The Law of Perspicuity

Perspicuity, means to make clear and self-evident, simple and observable.  This principle is that we are to allow the clear things of the Scripture to dictate the less clear things.  Many of the problems which stem out of misinterpretation, as well as unbiblical doctrines; can be seen in the practice of utilizing an unclear text, which appears to contradict the majority of text on the subject – which are clear.

To reiterate, the issue of perspicuity is a rule of Biblical interpretation that we follow the greater volume of unambiguous Scripture, rather a few arbitrary conflicting passages, is not just wise; it is Biblical (Deut. 30:11-14; Psa. 19:7-9; 119:105, 130; 2 Cor. 1:13-14; Phil. 3:15-16; 2 Tim. 3:14-17; 1 Pet. 1:3-4; 1:16-21).  

We should remember that many of the problems due to a passage being vague or ambiguous is because of either translation problems into the English, wherein the Greek does not hold any arbitrary meaning (this is not to say there is not room for debate; however liberal scholars always find ways to twist the Greek as well as English teachers that do the same), or the lack of understanding concerning cultural issues that were current at the time the Scripture was written, and we are currently unaware of today.

The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’
is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’


Filed under: Brent's - Biblical Doctrine, Brent's - Biblical Error, Most Vital Articles, Notable Works and Notable Original Works Tagged: 1 Timothy 1:12-14, Blasphemy, Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, Blasphemy of the Spirit, Mark 3:28, Matthew 12: 30-35, Matthew 12:10, Slander, Unforgivable Sin

What does God’s Word Really say…“work out your own salvation,”“grace did more abound,” and Insights into Greek Grammar Resources, as well as Lessons from Kenneth Wuest

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Roman soldier and Jesus 2

Introduction

The aim for any diligent student of God’s Word should be to handle the original languages of both Testaments along with the grammar.  The Old Testament Hebrew is vague, which many times makes this point moot, but the Greek is a very precise and detailed language with many nuances found within the grammar, especially the verb, though the noun can be just as revealing, simply little harder to learn.  

Nuance and Clarity
Let me clarify what I mean by nuance regarding handling the Greek grammar.  An
example of what I mean by nuance is that reading the English translation of the Greek New Testament is like a black-and-white photo, and in some cases a very poor black-and-white photo with excess noise (a term in photography meaning excess grain, which takes from the clarity) and scratches.  

To add nuance would be like adding clarity to the photo by greater focus (smaller grain), and color which would bring much greater understanding of the nuances of all the shades between black and white, this is what understanding the Greek and it’s grammar means.  Yet in many cases the black and white appears to be the opposite of what the real color picture is, below is an example. 

It is by starting to parse the verbs that the student (remember Christ’s words in Matthew 28:19-20 to “make disciples of all the nations,” not converts; all believers are students and followers of Christ, which mandates studying His manifesto, “The Word of God itself”) may grasp a handle on the original Koiné Greek New Testament language as compared to the inconsistent and sloppy English translation which creates many problems today.  

One of the examples of understanding how important comprehending the true meaning behind the English by examining the Greek behind any Scripture can be seen in Philippians 2:12, regarding the phrase, “work out  your salvation.

Example
Philippians 2:12 (KJV), states:

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Over the decades I have heard many pastors and teachers misinterpret this verse implying self righteousness is a part of the Christian walk, that the believer helps in some way their own salvation, which is completely opposed to the teaching of salvation by grace through faith, as witnessed through the book of Romans, which should drive the believer to his knees in humility; not believing that they have to add to their righteousness in gaining salvation, which is heretical concerning the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross, he paid the price in full (“it is finished” – better translated “paid in full”, as stated by Jesus in John 19:30).

But if one is ignorant or uninformed about the Greek meaning of the words that God did inspire, resting solely in the English translations based upon man’s interpretation of what would be the best English words, many times used many centuries before, understanding that English is a living language and that words change their meeting; it is no wonder that the reader would misinterpret this verse.

This verse is not saying to work for your salvation, work out to receive your salvation, to earn your salvation, or even complete your salvation; though it may sound like it in the English translation.  

You see the Greek word that is translated into the English “work out,” is: katergazomai.

And katergazomai in the Strong’s root dictionary, understanding that a root dictionary only gives the base words, but not the nuances of what that specific word means, (which is why in the preface of Strong’s Greek dictionary it states it is not appropriate to use it for “word studies” or to understand the exact grammar of each specific verse that uses these words, wherein Strong’s dictionary only provides a generic interpretation), which would be analogous to a base word with no prefixes or suffixes, meaning that Strong says concerning the root of this word, it generically means: to work fully, to accomplish, by “implication” to finish, or fashion, to cause, to do, to perform, to work (out).

However, as stated this is the generic understanding of the word, and not what the word means in this particular passage where the specificity of the Greek grammar indicates something different.

The Specific Grammar Of This Verse
The grammar of this use of the word katergazomai, within this passage is:  

Tense-Present
Voice-Middle or Passive Deponent
Mood -Imperative

The Tense
The present tense means that this is a current action that never, ever ends.  Excuse the over emphasis but the present tense never stops while you’re in this body on the earth, therefore this working out is not done to achieve your salvation and occurs once, know this is something that occurs in the life of the believer through out their life without ever stopping

The Mood
The imperative mood indicates this is a command which must be done, there are no options here.  The believer is to do this working out all of their life and never stop it, and they have no choice if they are going to follow the admonition of the Holy Spirit as scribed by Paul.

The Voice
The voice within the grammar tells us who does the action, the subject or the object; and in this case the subject being us that hear it the human and the other being God.  This tells us if we are to do this action on our own and therefore save ourselves, or if we receive the action because the Holy Spirit is the one that saves us with us not contributing whatsoever.

Defining the Voice
To further define the different roles of the voice according to the King James translation which includes the grammar , “King James version – TVM” (tense, voice, and mood):

Active Voice
Subject Causes the Action (Object Receives Action)
“The active voice represents the subject as the doer or performer of the action. e.g., in the sentence, “The boy hit the ball, ” the boy performs the action.”

Passive Voice
Subject Receives the Action (Object Causes Action)
“The passive voice represents the subject as being the recipient of the action. E.g., in the sentence, “The boy was hit by the ball, ” the boy receives the action.”

Permissive Middle
The subject allows something to be done for or to himself or herself. This usage, though rare, involves some exegetically important texts. Luke 2:4-5 Joseph went up from Galilee … (5) to be enrolled with Mary. Acts 22:16 Rise, have yourself baptized and allow your sins to be washed away. 

Deponent Middle
A deponent middle verb is one that has no active form for a particular principal part in Hellenistic Greek, and one whose force in that principal part is evidently active. See Wallace for his list of true deponents. (http://www.bcbsr.com/greek/gvoice.html)

If the idea was that the person that this is addressed is meant to do all the action, it would’ve been in the active voice, which it is not.  This in itself implies that this is not a behavior by the individual solely.  The fact that many times this is interpreted as active, is not the same in this passage.  

“In linguistics, a deponent verb is a verb that is active in meaning but takes its form from a different voice, most commonly the middle or passive. A deponent verb has no active forms. (See Endnote #5)

Section Conclusion
Unfortunately, for many decades and centuries sincere pastors unaware of the grammar of the Greek language have mistaught this passage, presenting it as validation that the believer must work for their salvation.

Yet what we need to understand is that what this Scripture really means is that we are to examine our salvation to the extent that we comprehend the complete mercy and grace of God, that is the foundation of that salvation, wherein it should take us to a place of trembling and fear in consideration of rejecting this salvation; with the end result of gaining gratitude, which is a key component of faith.

If you do not have gratitude, you are not exercising faith.

Because gratitude is the only proper response to genuine Biblical faith, which is the foundation and basis of the Christian walk.

For the complete exegesis of this passage, with further evidence concerning the claims made here please see the article entitled: “Work Out Your Own Salvation ~ Philippians 2:12-13” – LINK

Credible Greek Grammar Resource
No doubt my favorite Greek scholar is Kenneth Wuest.

I have learned more about original Greek New Testament words and meanings, as well as grammatical rules from Wuest than any other linguistic scholar.

The blessing of his type of teaching is that he speaks to the common man, not the Greek language student; therefore he is easy to understand, and explains some of the grammar, well enough that you can go on from there and research further in understanding the nuances of Koiné Greek New Testament words.

The first two volumes of his word studies are topical, he explains many of the nuances of the grammar of individual words in there passages which helps the emerging student to start a foundation to understand how to parse the Greek words correctly, verbs and nouns.  

Then he does whole New Testament book examinations, verse by verse; and finally a literal Greek translation of the New Testament.  

Though by no means is this meant to be a trainer in the Greek language, it is a very good introduction and will explain many of the nuances that the English does not provide.  

Having utilized Wuest for over 30 years, I have researched and validated his claims repeatedly wherein he has gained great credibility with myself and many scholars for more than over the last half-century.  

This is the place for the non-Greek student to start to dig deeper into God’s word.  

The following article was written by an unnamed writer concerning Wuest’s addressing Romans 5:20, concerning grace.

Regarding the first part of this passage, which appears to be quite complicated, and is greatly misunderstood by many, I have listed as footnote #1 for the complete context concerning this passage as written by Kenneth Wuest.  BB

The Article

Romans 5:20, states:

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (KJV)  

“In Romans 5:20 the Word tells us, ‘But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.’  … The word ‘abounded’ in relation to sin means ‘to exist in abundance.’ But the second word ‘abound’—in relation to grace means ‘to exist in abundance’ and carries with it the added idea of abundance that is more than enough. The thing exists in superfluity….”  Kenneth S. Wuest

In addition to that, Paul prefixes a preposition to the world which means ‘to be over and above.’ Thus the translation reads, ‘Where sin existed in abundance, grace was in superabundance, and then some more added on top of that.’”

Kenneth Samuel Wuest (1893-1962) was a noted New Testament Greek scholar of the mid-Twentieth century. He was a professor of New Testament Greek at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and published over a dozen books on the New Testament. Wuest is often cited as a great Greek language scholar and influential Evangelical.

Application

To illustrate the import of this word usage Wuest explains:

“God created the sun to give light and heat to the earth upon which we live. But only a very small fraction of that light and heat ever reaches our globe. The rest is lost in space. We need never be concerned that the light and heat of the sun will fail us. God has made an oversize reservoir to serve us.”

“There is enough grace in God’s heart of love to save and keep saved for time and eternity, every sinner that ever has or ever will live, and then enough leftover to save a million more universes full of sinners, were there such, and then some more. There is enough grace available to give every saint constant victory over sin, and then some more. There is enough grace to meet and cope with all the sorrows, heartaches, difficulties, temptations, testings, and trials of human existence, and more added to that.”

“God’s salvation is an oversize salvation. It is shock proof, strain proof, unbreakable, all sufficient. It is equal to every emergency, for it flows from the heart of an infinite God freely bestowed and righteously given through the all-sufficient sacrifice of our Lord on the Cross. Salvation is all of grace. Trust God’s grace. It is superabounding grace.”  Kenneth S. Wuest

Resources

https://www.illustrationexchange.com

WORD STUDIES IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT, Kenneth S. Wuest, Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1990, Electronic Media.  (See footnote #2 for further examples of sources and resources for biblical word studies or commentaries.)

Kenneth Wuest JPEG jpg

What I find very sad is that his four volume set, which is fantastic, does not sell as it did a few decades ago, and therefore is priced very cheap.

I have multiple sets, and a few years ago only paid $40 for the four volumes.  Now their listing for $80 on CBD, but if you check Amazon and others regarding used in good shape you can probably find them for half this price.

Christian Book Distributors : http://www.christianbook.com/word-studies-greek-new-testament-volumes/kenneth-wuest/9780802822802/pd/2280?event=ESRCP

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802822800?keywords=WORD%20STUDIES%20IN%20THE%20GREEK%20NEW%20TESTAMENT&qid=1452716902&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

The Complete Series

This is the most valuable resource I have, with Spiros Zodhiates “The Complete Word Study Dictionary” series being the second.”

Spiros ZodhiatesThe Complete NT Dictionary (2048x2048)The Complete word study

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Complete OT Dictionary (Very Big)

 

Article Conclusion
For many years I allowed others to fish for me, until I found the right teachers that taught me how to fish for myself.  And when I say that we should fish for ourselves it means that we are to find those scholars that we trust, who use original Greek New Testament manuscripts that we trust.  And simply because everyone says a scholar is great, it is foolish to take this at face value as credibility for that individual.

Look for negative reviews on that person you are investigating as a credible scholar online.

Find out which New Testament Greek translation is behind the English translation of the Bible that they utilize, is it dependable, do they know the problems with that text and can therefore clarify any translational errors.  

Divine inspiration and inerrancy only concern the original transmission of God’s word in the original language, not in the translation that men make where man-made errors occur, not the heretical teaching that the English translation of the Greek New Testament is inspired, by distorting Scriptures in Psalms regarding the preservation of God’s word.  To show how ridiculous this argument is, would be to insinuate that the Bible used by the Mormons are Jehovah witness must be inspired as well, or else God has failed in preserving those translations.  

It implies that man cannot distort God’s word, which he has done.  Concerning the preservation of God’s word we have that in our copies of the original Greek and Hebrew text, but the translation from those languages to English are done by men according to their own interpretation and can be very corrupted, again remembering that the English language changes the meanings of many words even over short periods of time therefore displaying an inconsistency that preservation could not contain.  Many of the King James only individuals become heretical when they discount the Greek text for which this English translation was produced.  

Therefore, we must learn to fish for ourselves if we wish to live a healthy spiritual life.  We must be willing to spend the time and effort to examine these issues concerning which Bible is more faithful to the original based upon the source Greek new Testaments that utilize in its production.  We understand the problems in addressing the King James because we’ve had centuries to deal with a few of the translation problems, yet the newer English translations we have not had the time and effort to expose the many errors that they inject into the Scripture simply by changing words from Greek to English, utilizing man’s interpretation.

It is our pleasure to stand on the shoulders of many great giants, man that God has used who had been open to investigating source documents, and not simply attend a Bible school class in regurgitate what the professors state concerning higher criticism, that the newer translations are older and therefore better translations than the Textus Receptus.

Many of their arguments at face value appear suspect.  They say things like the textus Receptus is a new translation that came about in the 15th century.  While true it was a collection a Byzantine text that were accumulated together, the lie is that it has its roots in the first and second century.  Do they think that somebody made up a new testament in the 15th century from scratch, as if it was created then.

The manuscripts utilized are Byzantine, and go back to original copies of original inspired text.

This is one area that over decades of research have taught me to trust the textus Receptus because I know of the textual errors, and teach around them, exposing the truth in God’s word in spite of the devil’s attempt to again accuse God’s word.

“Hath God said?”

It is in questioning the validity of the word of God, and introducing contaminated translations which foster many misunderstandings concerning the basic biblical theology that the devil now reeks spiritual habit across America with the dumbing down of American and therefore the dumbing down of Christians.

Think about it, Christians today can’t sit for more than an being taught God’s word, and cannot understand any deep truths because of their ignorance, which is the fault of the pulpits.  

And what are those institutions that teach those that occupy the pulpits, they have become as corrupted as the third century translators in Alexandria Egypt which produced the Alexandrian Codices which now are called eclectic in the basis for almost all new translations.

God is so ingenious it he can even speak through translations which have corruptions, understanding that the corruptions are few or else they would be blatant.

But how much more dumbing down concerning orthodoxy shall we become before we lose sight of true spiritual maturity as taught in the depths of God’s word.

It all comes down to motivation and commitment based upon tenacity, how invested are you willing to be concerning God’s word and his desires for you and your life.

“The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’
is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.”

Brent

Footnote

1.  Wuest’s statement concerning the challenging words: “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound”

“(Romans 5:20) There is no article before “law.” Law as a method of divine dealing entered. “Entered” is pareisēlthen. Elthon means “to come,” Eis “into,” and para, “alongside,” thus, “entered alongside.”

Vincent says, “Now that the parallel between Adam and Christ is closed, the question arises as to the position and office of the law. How did it stand related to Adam and Christ? Paul replies that it came in alongside of the sin.

‘It was taken up into the divine plan or arrangement, and made an occasion for the abounding of grace in the opening of the new way of justification and life’ (Dwight).” Denney explains, ”

‘The comparison between Adam and Christ is closed. But in the middle between the two stood the law’ (Meyer). Paul must refer to it in such a way as to indicate the place it holds in the order of Providence, and especially to show that it does not frustrate, but further, the end contemplated in the work of Christ . . .

Sin entered into the world; the Law entered into the situation thus created as an accessory or subordinate thing; it has not the decisive significance in history which the objective power of sin has.” “Offense” is paraptōma (transgression).

“Abound” is pleonazō, “to increase, be augmented.” Denney says, “The offense is multiplied because the law, encountering the flesh, evokes its natural antagonism to God, and so stimulates it into disobedience . . . As the offense multiplied, the need of redemption, and the sense of that need were intensified.”

Vincent explains, “Not primarily of the greater consciousness and acknowledgment, but of the increase of actual transgression. The other thought, however, may be included.” “Did much more abound” is huperperisseuō. The simple verb means “to be over and above a certain number or measure,” thus, “to super-abound.” The prefixed preposition means “above.” Thus, Paul says, “Where sin increased (pleonazō), grace superabounded, and then some on top of that.  

Denney says that the word for sin, hamartia seems used here, not paraptōma, because more proper to express the sum total of evil, made up of repeated acts of disobedience to the law.  Translation: Moreover, law entered in alongside, in order that the transgression might be augmented. But where the sin was augmented, the grace superabounded with more added to that.”  

Taken from: “Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament – Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament – Volume 1.”

2. Other Sources and Resources

A Comment about Which Greek New Testament to Use, and the Difference. 
Having been a student of Biblical Criticism beginning in 1976, I have spent hundreds, if not a few thousand hours regarding the science and application of biblical translation.

Having begun as a proponent of Higher Criticism, I now stand in opposition to it.

I am not a “King James Only” individual by any means , but I value the Textus Receptus, in spite of all the negative and inflammatory accusations against it.

The history of the Textus Receptus prior to the 1400’s, is more tenuous in some regards than the Alexandrian codices, and the tools of Higher Criticism, primarily demand that the earliest codices must be the correct manuscripts.  Yet this is only true if those manuscripts were correct in the first place.

The use of the documents which form of the Textus Receptus, goes back to the second and third century, though this is opposed by all those which oppose this particular text to begin with.  

And the writers that they utilize our superfluous in many areas.

Not to mention the proponents of Higher Criticism use a form of textual criticism principles established by Hort and Westcott, which attempted to treat sacred text as man-made books, denying the infallibility and inspiration of the Scripture, along with the fact that many of these individuals deny the deity of Jesus Christ, and the atoning work of the cross, according to their own writings, based not only upon their own inference, and suggestion, but also many times blatant statements; though rarely upfront, understanding it would discredit them with believing Christians.

It is these sets of new principles used in biblical translation which are corrupt, yet exist to this day and are utilized throughout almost every university, who now also utilize modern psychology, though they give it different terms.

Almost all of the proponents of the Alexandrian codices that I have researched are also by extension antagonist of the Textus Receptus, with these individuals held in great esteem Greek language proponents of Higher Criticism, such as: B. M. Metzger, K. Aland, T. Böhm, T. E. Pollard, F. M. Cross, S. Talmon, and R. Williams; but to name a few.  

See footnote #3 for a more thorough listing of  translators and scholars which are proponents of the Alexandrian codices, and almost always antagonist of the Textus Receptus. 

Yet it is amazing how the enemy of our souls has contaminated so many good people, and born-again Christians into believing the lie of questioning God’s word.  

Because if you cannot believe God’s word, ultimately how can you believe the God of that word.  

From the garden of Eden, Satan has always said: “..hath God said?”

And by the way, for those teachers that have seen the blessing of the Holy Spirit in their teaching. and therefore think that they could not be wrong in this issue, we must always remember that Jesus and Paul both adamantly warned believers about being deceived.  

Jesus would not have done so if this was not a real and present possibility; one only needs to examine the church of Corinth to understand how easily deception becomes a part of the church, and perhaps also those institutions that we utilize to teach theology.

As such there are far too many aberrant and false word translations within these newer codices, many times referred to as eclectic text, wherein those errors found in the translation process of the Textus Receptus, as well as the Majority Codices and other Byzantine manuscripts and codices are understood and handled much easier.

I Say All of This to Say… 
…that, what many Bible students take for granted is the credibility of any source information recommended to them by professors or other scholars without investigation into the background of the source biblical codices and manuscripts used in those research tools.

Every research tool resource utilizes a particular Greek New Testament in that work, and since I’ve spent many tedious hours studying this subject from both sides, I have come to the opinion that those that utilize the Alexandrian codices many times introduce error into their translation or research work, taking for granted the Greek words used in those translations are always correct and without controversy.

There are thousands of inconsistencies within these Alexandrian codices which differ not only from each other; but also many times exclusively differ with the Textus Receptus.

How often do we think or even question which Bible translation of the New Testament was used in any particular commentary or dictionary or other biblical research resource?

Therefore, having intricately and tediously researched many of the source Greek New Testament utilized in many biblical resources, I have attached notes concerning certain biblical resources that I am aware of and their source New Testaments, whether they are the Alexandrian codices or the Textus Receptus (As well as Majority Text and Byzantine codices, I don’t deal with other Semitic languages).  

Understanding my Color Code
Those biographies completely in blue fonts I rate at the highest level.

I use blue (*) asterisks to indicate those books that I feel are a very good resources, the more asterisks, the higher value I place upon the book.

This does not mean those books without any asterisks are not good resources, or even great books; I may have not done any research on that particular volume.

I had notes concerning those volumes wherein I know the source Greek New Testament utilized, the Textus Receptus or  Alexandrian codices.

The following link below is a partial presentation of over 80 pages of a downloadable document which deals with the history of Bible translation concerning the legions of Bible translations that have been produced over the last 2000 years, with a defense of the Textus Receptus, as well as opposition to the Alexandrian codices.

Who and What to Trust ~ Encyclopedia (2015)” = LINK

 

RESOURCE LISTING

A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE, Norman L. Geisler & William E. Nix, Moody press, Chicago IL, USA, 1968, Page 00 ****

 

A SHORT LIFE OF CHRIST, Everett F. Harrison, William. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1980, Page 00.

 

ALL THE DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE, Herbert Lockyer, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1964-1975.  *****

 

ADAM CLARKE’S COMMENTARY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT, Parsons Technology, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 1999, Electronic Media.

 

ALBERT BARNES’ NOTES ON THE BIBLE, Albert Barnes, (1798-1870), e-Sword.net.

BELIEVERS BIBLE COMMENTARY, William McDonald, Thomas Nelson publishers, Nashville TN, 1995.

 

BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY, NEW TESTAMENT, Lawrence O. Richards, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA, 1994, Page 00.

BIBLICAL NUMEROLOGY, A BASIC STUDY OF THE USE OF NUMBERS IN THE BIBLE, John J. Davis, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1968.  [I oppose much of this book]

 

BROWN-DRIVER-BRIGGS’ HEBREW DEFINITIONS, Parsons Technology Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 1999, Electronic Media.  ****

COMBAT FAITH – UNSHAKABLE FAITH FOR EVERYDAY, Hal Lindsey, Western Front, Ltd., Publishing Company, Palos Verdes, CA, USA, 1999.

 

DAKE’S ANNOTATED REFERENCE BIBLE, Finis Jennings Dake, Dake Bible Sales, Inc., Lawrenceville, GA 30246, USA, 1963-1991, Page 00Uses only the Textus Receptus

DICTIONARY OF PREMILLENNIAL THEOLOGY, Larry V. Crutchfield, Mal Couch General Editor, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 1996, page 00.  *****

 

E-SWORD, VERSION 8.0.6, Rick Myers; www.e-sword.net  ****

 

EASTON’S BIBLE DICTIONARY AND BOOK SYNOPSIS, M.G. Easton, Ellis Enterprises Inc.  Oklahoma City, OK 73120, USA, 1988-1999, Electronic Media.

 

ELWELL’S EVANGELICAL DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGY, Walter A. Elwell, Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA, 1984, Electronic Media.

 

EVANGELICAL COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE, Walter A. Elwell, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI 49516, USA, 1994.  [I adamantly disagrees with their use of the NIV].  ***

FIGURES OF SPEECH USED IN THE BIBLE, E. W. Bullinger, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA, 1898, / Reprint in 1999.  ****  Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

JAMIESON, FAUSSET AND BROWN; COMMENTARY ON THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, & David Brown, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, MA 01961, 1948.      Uses Alexandrian Codex

 

JOHN GILL’S EXPOSITION OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE, E-Sword, Rick Myers; http://www.e-sword.net

HARRIS’S THEOLOGICAL WORDBOOK OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, Laid R Harris, Moody Press, Chicago, IL 60610, USA, 1980, Electronic Media.  **

HEBREW GREEK KEY STUDY BIBLE, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1990, Page 00****  Uses only the Textus Receptus

HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, Philip Schaff, Parsons Technology, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 1999, Electronic Media.

HOLMAN BIBLE DICTIONARY, General Editor: Trent C. Butler, PH. D., Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN 37234, USA, 1991-1998, Electronic Media.  *****

 

HOW TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE, USEFUL HERMENEUTICAL PRINCIPLES, Stephen R. Woods, The Great Unpublished.Com., 2003.

 

INTERPRETING THE SYMBOLS AND TYPES, Kevin J. Conner, BT Published, Portland OR, 97220, USA, 1992.

 

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA, James Orr, Parsons Technology Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 1999, Electronic Media.

INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL COUNSELING: A Basic Guide To The principles and practice of counseling, John F. MacArthur, Jr., Wayne A. Mack, and the Master’s College Faculty, W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN 37214, USA, 1994, Page 00.     Uses Alexandrian Codex      

JEWISH CULTURE AND CUSTOMS, A SAMPLER OF JEWISH LIFE, Steve Herzig, the friends of Israel Gospel ministry, Inc., Bellmawr, NJ, 08099, USA, 1997.

KOINONIA HOUSE, Founder: Dr. Chuck Missler, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816, USA, 2008, Electronic Media, found @ khouse.org.

 

MICROSOFT ENCARTA ENCYCLOPEDIA 2000, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA  98052, USA, 1993-1999, Electronic Media.

 

NELSONS ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE FACTS, J. I. Packer, Merrill C. Tenney, William White, Jr.; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville – Atlanta – London – Vancouver, 1995, Page 00.   Uses Alexandrian Codex

 

NEW COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE (Based on the classic commentary of Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown), General Editor: J. D. Douglas, New Testament Editor: Philip W. Comfort, 2008, Electronic Media.

 

NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS, Benjamin Chapman, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USA, 1977.  ****

 

NEW TESTAMENT GREEK SYNTAX, Wesley J. Perschbacher, Moody Press, Chicago, IL 60610, USA, 1995.   Uses Alexandrian Codex

 

NTGREEK.ORG ~ “RESOURCES FOR LEARNING NEW TESTAMENT GREEK,” Corey Keating, http://www.ntgreek.org

 

NUMBER IN THE SCRIPTURE, IT’S SUPERNATURAL DESIGN AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE, E.W. Bullinger, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA, 1890 / Reprint in 1967.   ***** Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

ROBINSON’S MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS CODES, Maurice A. Robinson, for use with the Greek New Testaments containing parsing or declension codes.  E-Sword, Ver. 8.0.6, Rick Myers; http://www.e-sword.net ******* Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

ROBERTSON’S WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, Vol. IV, A. T. Robertson, Boardman Press Inc., Nashville, TN 37234, USA, 1960, Page 00. Uses Alexandrian Codex

 

STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE, TOGETHER WITH DICTIONARIES OF HEBREW AND GREEK WORDS, James Strong, Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA, 1981-1998, Electronic Media.

 

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY, Charles Hodge, (3 vols), Hendrickson Publishers Inc., Peabody, MA 01961, USA (reprinted by William. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 2003, Page 00.    Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

THAYER’S GREEK DEFINITIONS, Joseph Henry. Thayer, Parsons Technology Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 2008, Electronic Media.  Uses Alexandrian Codex

THE COMING PRINCE, Sir Robert Anderson, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA, 1894, / Reprint in 1957, Page 00.

 

THE HEBREW – GREEK KEY STUDY BIBLE, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1984, Page 00******   Uses the Textus Receptus (Available in New American Standard & using the Strong’s Identifying Numbers)

THE COMPLETE WORD STUDY NEW TESTAMENT WITH GREEK PARALLEL, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1990, Page 00****** Uses the Textus Receptus (Using the Strong’s Identifying Numbers)

THE COMPLETE WORD STUDY DICTIONARY – NEW TESTAMENT, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1992, Page 00****** Uses the Textus Receptus  (Using the Strong’s Identifying Numbers)

 

THE COMPLETE WORD STUDY DICTIONARY – OLD TESTAMENT, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1994, Page 00****** Used the Textus Receptus  (Using the Strong’s Identifying Numbers)

THE INTERLINEAR HEBREW/GREEK ENGLISH BIBLE, (4 vols), Jay Green, Associated Publishers and Authors, Lafayette, IN, USA, 1979.   Uses only the Textus Receptus  ******

THE IVP BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY, NEW TESTAMENT, Craig S. Keener, inner varsity press, Downers Grove Illinois 60515, USA, 1993.  **

 

THE KJV PARALLEL BIBLE COMMENTARY, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN 37234, USA 1994, Page 00.  ***  Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS THE MESSIAH, Alfred Edersheim, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1993, Pages 00.  ****

 

THE NEW BIBLE SURVEY, J. Lawrence Eason, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1966, Page 00 ***

 

THE SEPTUAGINT VERSION: GREEK AND ENGLISH, Sir Lancelot C.L. Brenton, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 1970, electronic edition.

 

THE TABERNACLE, M. R. DeHaan, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1955.

 

THE TABERNACLE, ITS PRIEST AND ITS SERVICES, William Brown, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, MA 01961, USA, 1997.  ****

THE TABERNACLE PRIESTHOOD IN OFFERINGS, I. M. Haldeman, Fleming H. Revell Co., Westwood, NJ, USA, 1925.

 

THE TEXT USED IS FROM THE: “H KAINH ΔΙΑΘΚΗ” (Greek New Testament) translation by the Trinitarian Bible Society, and is a Byzantine text in accordance with the Textus Receptus.  ******

 

THE VICTOR BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY, NEW TESTAMENT, Lawrence O. Richards, Victor books, 1825 College Ave., Wheaton Illinois 60187, USA, 1994.  [Though this author disagrees with their use of the NIV, TLB, PH].  ***

 

THE WITNESS OF THE STARS, E. W. Bullinger, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA, 1893, / Reprint in 1967.  ****   Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

THEOPEDIA, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY, Internet resource research search engine, www.theopedia.com.

TYPES IN HEBREW, Sir Robert Anderson, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501, USA, 1978. ******

UNDERSTAND THE TIMES, Founder: Roger Oakland, PO Box 27239, Santa Ana, CA 92799, USA, 2008, Electronic Media.

UNGER’S BIBLE DICTIONARY, Merrill F. Unger, Moody Press, Chicago, IL 60610, 1979.

VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, W.E. Vine, Ellis Enterprises Inc., Oklahoma City, OK 73120, USA, 1988, Electronic Media.  ***  Many Time uses Alexandrian Codex, but also the Textus Receptus, and most importantly advises which text is used

WHY CHRISTIANS CAN’T TRUST PSYCHOLOGY, Ed Bulkley, PH. D., Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR 97402, 1993, Page 00.

WIERSBE BIBLE COMMENTARY: NEW TESTAMENT, Warren W. Wiersbe, Rick Myers; www.e-sword.net

 

WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA, @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

 

WILLMINGTON’S GUIDE OF THE BIBLE, Dr. H. L. Willmington, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60187, USA, 2008, Electronic media.

WORD STUDIES IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT, Volume 2, Dr. Kenneth S. Wuest, Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1990, “Hebrews in the Greek New Testament,” Electronic Media.  ******** 

 –

COMMENTARIES: ****


CRITICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL COMMENTARY
, (6 vols) Robert Jamieson, A.R. Faussett, David Brown, William B. Eerdmans Publishing company, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA. Uses Alexandrian Codex

 

ALBERT BARNES’ NOTES ON THE BIBLE, Albert Barnes, Blackie and Sons Publications, London, 1851. (Reprinted by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA.   ****

 

THE PULPIT COMMENTARY (26 Vol), H.D.M. Spence & Joseph S. Exell, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA, 1950.  ****

ROBERTSON’S WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, Vol. IV, A. T. Robertson, Boardman Press Inc., Nashville, TN 37234, USA, 1960, Page 00.

 

ADAM CLARKE’S COMMENTARY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT, Parsons Technology, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 1999, Electronic Media.  ***

 

COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT, C. F. Keil, & F. Delitzsch, (trans. from the German, 10 vols), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 1978.   Uses Alexandrian Codex

 

CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL COMMENTARY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT, (11 vols), Heinrich A.W.  Meyer, T & T Clark, London, 1883.

THE KJV PARALLEL BIBLE COMMENTARY, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN 37234, USA 1994, Page 00.  ***  Uses only the Textus Receptus

THE VICTOR BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY, NEW TESTAMENT, Lawrence O. Richards, Victor books, 1825 College Ave., Wheaton Illinois 60187, USA, 1994.  [Though this author disagrees with their use of the NIV, TLB, PH].  ***

EVANGELICAL COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE, Walter A. Elwell, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI 49516, USA, 1994.  [I adamantly disagrees with their use of the NIV].  ***

BELIEVERS BIBLE COMMENTARY, William McDonald, Thomas Nelson publishers, Nashville TN, 1995.  ***

THE IVP BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY, NEW TESTAMENT, Craig S. Keener, inner varsity press, Downers Grove Illinois 60515, USA, 1993.  ***

NEW COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE (Based on the classic commentary of Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown), General Editor: J. D. Douglas, New Testament Editor: Philip W. Comfort, 2008, Electronic Media.  Uses Alexandrian Codex

 –

BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY, NEW TESTAMENT, Lawrence O. Richards, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA, 1994, Page 00.   ***

WILLMINGTON’S GUIDE OF THE BIBLE, Dr. H. L. Willmington, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60187, USA, 2008, Electronic media.

 –

ENCYCLOPEDIAS: ****

 –

NELSONS ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE FACTS, J. I. Packer, Merrill C. Tenney, William White, Jr.; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville – Atlanta – London – Vancouver, 1995, Page 00.  Uses Alexandrian Codex

 

THE ZONDERVAN PICTORIAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1975.  ****

 

THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA (5 vols), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI, 1979.  ****

 

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EVANGELISM, Randall Balmer, Baylor University Press, Waco, TX  76704, USA, 2004.  ***

 

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA, James Orr, Parsons Technology Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 1999, Electronic Media.

 DICTIONARIES: ****

 

HOLMAN BIBLE DICTIONARY, General Editor: Trent C. Butler, PH. D., Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN 37234, USA, 1991-1998, Electronic Media.  *****

THE INTERPRETER’S DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE (5 vols), Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, 1980.  ****

THE ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY (3 vols), Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England, 1980.  ****

 

ELWELL’S EVANGELICAL DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGY, Walter A. Elwell, Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA, 1984, Electronic Media.  ***

EASTON’S BIBLE DICTIONARY AND BOOK SYNOPSIS, M.G. Easton, Ellis Enterprises Inc.  Oklahoma City, OK 73120, USA, 1988-1999, Electronic Media.  **

UNGER’S BIBLE DICTIONARY, Merrill F. Unger, Moody Press, Chicago, IL 60610, 1979.  **

 

WORD STUDIES: ******

WORD STUDIES IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT, (3 Vol.) Dr. Kenneth S. Wuest, Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1990. ******

THAYER’S GREEK DEFINITIONS, Parsons Technology Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 2008, Electronic Media.  Uses Alexandrian Codex

 –

JAMIESON, FAUSSET, BROWN, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, & David Brown, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, MA 01961, 1948.  Uses Alexandrian Codex

 –

BROWN-DRIVER-BRIGGS’ HEBREW DEFINITIONS, Parsons Technology Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 1999, Electronic Media.  ****

HARRIS’S THEOLOGICAL WORDBOOK OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, Laid R Harris, Moody Press, Chicago, IL 60610, USA, 1980, Electronic Media.  ***

VINCENT’S WORD STUDIES,  Marvin R. Vincent, Covenant Parsonage, New York, USA, 1886, E-Sword, Rick Myers; http://www.e-sword.net


VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, W.E. Vine, Ellis Enterprises Inc., Oklahoma City, OK 73120, USA, 1988, Electronic Media.  *** SOMETIMES – Uses Alexandrian Codex, but declares which text is used

THE HEBREW – GREEK KEY STUDY BIBLE, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1984, Page 00*****   Used the Textus Receptus (Available in New American Standard & using the Strong’s Identifying Numbers)

THE COMPLETE WORD STUDY NEW TESTAMENT WITH GREEK PARALLEL, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1990, Page 00***** Used the Textus Receptus (Using the Strong’s Identifying Numbers)

THE COMPLETE WORD STUDY DICTIONARY – NEW TESTAMENT, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1992, Page 00***** Used the Textus Receptus  (Using the Strong’s Identifying Numbers)

THE COMPLETE WORD STUDY DICTIONARY – OLD TESTAMENT, Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1994, Page 00***** Used the Textus Receptus  (Using the Strong’s Identifying Numbers) 

BIBLES / INTERLINEAR / LEXICONS / GRAMMATICAL CODE ~ FOR STUDYING ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: *****!

THE INTERLINEAR HEBREW/GREEK ENGLISH BIBLE, (KJV) Jay Green, Associated Publishers and Authors, Lafayette, IN, USA, 1979.  *****  Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

THE SEPTUAGINT VERSION: GREEK AND ENGLISH, Sir Lancelot C.L. Brenton, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 1970, electronic edition.  *****

 

ROBINSON’S MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS CODES, for use with the Greek New Testaments containing parsing or declension codes.  E-Sword, Ver. 8.0.6, Rick Myers; http://www.e-sword.net.  ****** Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

NTGREEK.ORG ~ “RESOURCES FOR LEARNING NEW TESTAMENT GREEK,” Corey Keating, http://www.ntgreek.org ******

 

HEBREW AND ENGLISH LEXICON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, (Numerically coded to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance), Francis Brown, S. R. Driver, & Charles A. Briggs, Associated Publishers and Authors, Lafayette, IN 47901, USA, 1981.  ****

 

NEW TESTAMENT GREEK SYNTAX, Wesley J. Perschbacher, Moody Press, Chicago, IL 60610, USA, 1995. Uses Alexandrian Codex 

 

THE ENGLISHMAN’S GREEK CONCORDANCE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, G. V. Wigram, (Numerically coded to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance), Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1979.  ****

THE ENGLISHMAN’S HEBREW AND CHALDEE CONCORDANCE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, G. V. Wigram, (Numerically coded to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance), Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1980.  ****

 

STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE TOGETHER WITH DICTIONARIES OF HEBREW AND GREEK WORDS, James Strong, Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA, 1981-1998, Electronic Media.  **** For the Concordance use Only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HEBREW GREEK KEY STUDY BIBLE, (KJV) Spiros Zodhiates, PH T., AMG Publications, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA, 1990, Page 00***  Uses only the Textus Receptus

GESENIUS’ HEBREW AND CHALDEE LEXICON TO THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES, S. P. Tregelles, (Numerically Coded to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance), Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1979.

DAKE’S ANNOTATED REFERENCE BIBLE, Finis Jennings Dake, Dake Bible Sales, Inc., Lawrenceville, GA 30246, USA, 1963-1991, Page 00Uses only the Textus Receptus

HERMENEUTICS / EXEGESIS / TEXTUAL CRITICISM: *****

– 

INERRANCY, Norman L. Geisler, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1980. ****

– 

NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS, Benjamin Chapman, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USA, 1977.  ****

 

HOW TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE, USEFUL HERMENEUTICAL PRINCIPLES, Stephen R. Woods, The Great Unpublished.Com., 2003.  **

THEOLOGY:****

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY, Lewis Sperry Shafer, (8 vols), Dallas Seminary Press, Dallas, TX, 1947.  ****

EVANGELICAL DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGY (2nd Ed.), Walter A. Elwell, Baker Academic, Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49516, USA, 2001.   ****

DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY, C. Brown, (vol 3), Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 1978.  ***  Uses Alexandrian Codex ?

ISRAELOLOGY: THE MISSING LINK IN SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY, Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Ariel Ministries Press, Tustin, CA, 1989.  ****

 

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY, Charles Hodge, (3 vols), Hendrickson Publishers Inc., Peabody, MA 01961, USA (reprinted by William. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 2003, Page 00.  ****   Uses only the Textus Receptus

THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, G.J. Botterweck, & H. Ringgren, (4 vols), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI, 1980.  ****

THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, G. Kittel & G. Friedrich, (10 vols), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI, 1976.  Uses Alexandrian Codex

PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY, Floyd H. Barackman, Fleming H. Revell Co., Old Tappan, NJ 07675, USA, 1984.  ***

 

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Moody Press, Chicago IL 60610, USA, 1959.   ***

DOCTRINE: ****

ALL THE DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE, Herbert Lockyer, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1964-1975.  *****

DICTIONARY OF PREMILLENNIAL THEOLOGY, Larry V. Crutchfield, Mal Couch General Editor, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 1996, page 00*****

DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH, Clarence Larkin, Larkin Estate, Glendale, PA, USA, 1918.

COMBAT FAITH – UNSHAKABLE FAITH FOR EVERYDAY, Hal Lindsey, Western Front, Ltd., Publishing Company, Palos Verdes, CA, USA, 1999.

CULTURAL INSIGHTS: ****

 –

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS THE MESSIAH, Alfred Edersheim, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1993, Pages 00.  *****

HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, Philip Schaff, Parsons Technology, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA, 1999, Electronic Media.  ****

A SHORT LIFE OF CHRIST, Everett F. Harrison, William. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1980, Page 00.  ***

JEWISH CULTURE AND CUSTOMS, A SAMPLER OF JEWISH LIFE, Steve Herzig, the friends of Israel Gospel ministry, Inc., Bellmawr, NJ, 08099, USA, 1997.  ***

BIBLE SURVEYS: ****

A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE, Norman L. Geisler & William E. Nix, Moody press, Chicago IL, USA, 1968, Page 00****

 

THE NEW BIBLE SURVEY, J. Lawrence Eason, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1966, Page 00***

FAITH BUILDERS:*****

THE COMING PRINCE, Sir Robert Anderson, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA, 1894, / Reprint in 1957, Page 00.******

 

TYPOLOGY / FIGURES OF SPEECH / BIBLICAL SYMBOLS: ****

FIGURES OF SPEECH USED IN THE BIBLE, E. W. Bullinger, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA, 1898, / Reprint in 1999.  *****   Uses only the Textus Receptus

THE WITNESS OF THE STARS, E. W. Bullinger, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA, 1893, / Reprint in 1967.  ****   Uses only the Textus Receptus

NUMBER IN THE SCRIPTURE, IT’S SUPERNATURAL DESIGN AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE, E.W . Bullinger, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA, 1890 / Reprint in 1967.  ****    Uses only the Textus Receptus

 

THE TABERNACLE, M. R. DeHaan, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1955.  Uses Alexandrian Codex ?

 

THE TABERNACLE, ITS PRIEST AND ITS SERVICES, William Brown, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, MA 01961, USA, 1997.  ****

THE TABERNACLE PRIESTHOOD IN OFFERINGS, I. M. Haldeman, Fleming H. Revell Co., Westwood, NJ, USA, 1925.  ****

 

THE TEMPLE, ITS MINISTRY AND SERVICES, Alfred Edersheim, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, 1958.  ****

TYPES IN HEBREW, Sir Robert Anderson, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501, USA, 1978.   ****

INTERPRETING THE SYMBOLS AND TYPES, Kevin J. Conner, BT Published, Portland OR, 97220, USA, 1992.  ***

 

BIBLICAL NUMEROLOGY, A BASIC STUDY OF THE USE OF NUMBERS IN THE BIBLE, John J. Davis, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI 49502, USA, 1968.  [I oppose much of this book] *

INTERNET ENCYCLOPEDIAS: **

– 

WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA, @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page ~ Use discretion.

– 

THEOPEDIA, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY, Internet resource research search engine, www.theopedia.com.  Use discretion.

MICROSOFT ENCARTA ENCYCLOPEDIA 2000, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA  98052, USA, 1993-1999, Electronic Media.  Use great discretion!

 

BIBLICAL COUNSELING: *****

 

WHY CHRISTIANS CAN’T TRUST PSYCHOLOGY, Ed Bulkley, PH. D., Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR 97402, 1993, Page 00*****

 –

INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL COUNSELING: A Basic Guide To The principles and practice of counseling, John F. MacArthur, Jr., Wayne A. Mack, and the Master’s College Faculty, W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN 37214, USA, 1994, Page 00.  *****   Uses Alexandrian Codex ?

Books by Martin Bogan – All Good ****

Books by Jay Adams – All Great  *****

 –

INTERNET WEBSITES: ***

KOINONIA HOUSE, Founder: Dr. Chuck Missler, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816, USA, 2008, Electronic Media, found @ khouse.org.  ****

UNDERSTAND THE TIMES, Founder: Roger Oakland, PO Box 27239, Santa Ana, CA 92799, USA, 2008, Electronic Media.****

FREE COMPUTER BIBLES: ******

 

E-SWORD, VERSION 8.0.6, Rick Myers; http://www.e-sword.net ****

Using this program can change your life especially by using the study notes adjacent to the Scripture for reference and Bible note taking.  I learned 30 years ago to take notes in your Bible, if you don’t do this (unless you have a photographic memory – even then it’s presumptuous not take notes), you will never grasp God’s Word as the Holy Spirit desires you to do so.  ~ “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”  (Colossians 3:23)

3.  Those that are Proponents, Translators, and Advocates of the Alexandrian Codices:

  • M. Metzger
  • Aland
  • Böhm
  • Abbot, Ezra
  • Aland, Barbara
  • Aland, Kurt             (“The Text of the New Testament”…)
  • Aldus, Manutius
  • Alford, Henry (“The Greek Testament” – 1852)
  • Allen, Wikren
  • Arndt, William F.
  • Aubrey, Mike
  • Baarda, Tj
  • Barrett, C. K.
  • Bartoletti, Vittorio
  • Bauer, Walter
  • Beasley-Murray, George R.
  • Bengel, Johannes Albert (1730) produced texts deviated from TR, utilizing Alexandrian
  • Bell, Harold
  • Bilabel, Frederick
  • Birdsall, J. N.
  • Black, Matthew
  • Bover, J.M.
  • Brannan, Rick ~ “Rico” (Information Architect ~ Logos Bible Software) blogger and speaker
  • Bratcher, Robert
  • Briggs, Charles (1866 – Studied higher criticism in Germany, great proponent of Higher Criticism)
  • Brown, David (Higher Critic, author of “Jamison, Fossett, and Brown Commentary on OT & NT)
  • Buttrick, G.A.
  • Caird, G. B.
  • Campenhausen, Hans Von
  • Carson, D. B.
  • Charalambakis, Hagedon
  • Clark, Adam (believer of higher criticism, thought the Textus Receptus to be corrupted and Arthur of “Adam Clarke’s commentary on the Bible”)
  • Clark, Albert
  • Coburn, Camden
  • Comfort, Philip W. (“Early Manuscripts and Modern Translations of the New Testament”…)
  • Cowell, Ernest (“Hort Redivivus: a plea and a program”)
  • Danker, Frederick W.
  • Daris, Sergio
  • Decker, Rodney J.
  • Deissman, Adolf (father of papyri insight)
  • Douglas, J. D
  • Eichhorn, (1787- originator of German Higher Criticism, author of Einleitung”)
  • Ellison, H. L. (“New International Dictionary Of The Christian Church”)
  • Elliott, Keith
  • Epp, Eldon (“A Continuing Interlude in New Testament Textual Criticism,” “The Significance for Determining the Nature of the New Testament text in the Second Century: a Dynamic View of Textural Transmission”)
  • Fausset, A. R. (Higher Critic, author of “Jamison, Fossett, and Brown Commentary on the Old and New Testaments”)
  • Fee, Gordon (“The Myth of the Early Textual Recension in Alexandria” in: New Dimensions in New Testament Study)
  • Erickson, Richard J.
  • Evangelical Textual Criticism Blog
  • Finegan, Jack
  • Friberg, Timothy & Barbara (Analytical Greek New Testament) Greek NT (3rd) Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece)
  • Gallazzi, Claudio
  • Geddes, Alexander (1737-1802, further developed Higher Criticism)
  • Gerstiner, Hans
  • Gingrich, F. Wilbur
  • Grant, F. C.
  • Gregory, Caspar
  • Greenlee, J. Harold (“The Text of the New Testament”)
  • Grenfell, B. P.,
  • Harrison, Evertt F. (“The Expositors Bible Commentary”)
  • Hatch, W. H. P.
  • Hawthorne, Gerald F. (“World Biblical Commentary”)
  • Hodge, A. A.
  • Horsley, G. H. R.
  • Hort, Fenton (1881) (The New Testament in the Original Greek)
  • Hunt, A. S.
  • Hudson, Gary
  • Ingrams, Kingston
  • Jamieson, Robert (Higher Critic, author of “Jamison, Fossett, and Brown Commentary on OT & NT)
  • Karavidopoulos, Johannes
  • Kasser, Rudolph
  • Keep, David
  • Kelly, J. N. D.
  • Kent, Homer                   (“The Expositors Bible Commentary”)
  • Kenyon, Frederic G. (“handbook to the textual criticism of the New Testament”…)
  • Kilpatrick, G. D.
  • Kohlenberger, John R.
  • Kraeling, Carl H.
  • Kramer, Romer
  • Kudo, Sakea
  • Kutilek, Douglas (found throughout the Internet, presents a good sincere case, yet corrupted)
  • Lachman, Karl (1831, 1850?) produced the first text derived from Alexandrian manuscripts
  • Lenaerts, Jean
  • Lewis, Jack P. (The English Bible, From KJV To NIV: A History And Evolution”)
  • Liddell, Henry George
  • Lindsey, F. Duane
  • Lobel, Edgar
  • Lock, John (believe that the Textus Receptus was corrupt and believed in higher criticism, did not believe in the Trinity and would not be considered a true Christian believer)
  • Lockman, Franklin Dewey (main editor of NASV)
  • Louw, Johannes P.
  • Marshall, Alferd
  • Martin, Ralph P. (“The World Biblical Commentary”)
  • Martin, Victor
  • Martini, Carlo M.
  • Merell, J.
  • Merk, Augustine
  • Metzger, Bruce M. (“The Text of the Greek New Testament” – 1968)
  • Michael D. Marlowe,
  • Moises, Silva
  • Morford, William (“One New Man” Bible, uses UBS4)
  • Morris, Leon (“Expositors Bible Commentary”)
  • Morton, A. Q.
  • Moulton & Milligan (The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament) Papyri lexicon
  • Naldini, M.
  • Nestlé, Eberhard (1898) (“Novum Testamentum Graece”)
  • Nestlé, Erwin – son of Eberhard (1927 took over his father’s work, joined by Kirk Aland in 1950)
  • Newman, Berkeley
  • Newton, Sir Isaac (He did not believe in the Trinity in that Jesus was equal with God, and that the Textus Receptus was corrupt – he was given to Higher Criticism and believed that 1 John 5:7 and 1 Timothy 3:16 were later added to the text – he did not believe in the faith that could not be understood – I do not consider him a true Christian)
  • Nida, Eugene A.
  • Osburn, Carroll D.
  • Parker, D.C.
  • Pfeiffer, Charles F. H.
  • Pickering, S. R.
  • Pintaudi, Rosario
  • Piselli, E.
  • Porter, Calvin
  • Preuschen,
  • Reichmann, Victor
  • Robertson, Archibald Thomas (thought the Textus receptors was corrupt and believed in higher criticism, and is author of “Word Pictures in the New Testament”)
  • Roberts, Colin H. (“Greek Papyri”)
  • Roca-Puig, P.
  • Rosch, Friedrich
  • Sanders, Henry A.
  • Scanlin, Harold P.
  • Schnackenburg, Rudolph
  • Schofield, Ellwood
  • Schwartz, J.
  • Scott, Robert
  • Skeat, Theodore
  • Smith, W. Robertson
  • Stegmuller, Otto
  • Tasker, R. V. G.
  • Testuz, Michael
  • Thrall, Margaret E.
  • Tiltin, H.
  • Tischendorf, Constantin von (1869-72) (Discovered: Codex Sinaiticus)
  • Tregelles, Samuel (1857-72) (produced Greek text using Alexandrian, came out in six parts)
  • Turner, Eric G. (“Studies of The Papyri”)
  • Twilley, L. D.
  • Vielli, G.
  • Von Soden
  • Weiss, Bernhard (1894-1900)
  • Wessely, Karl
  • Westcott, Brooke F. (“introduction to the New Testament in the original Greek”)
  • White, James
  • Wikgren, Allen
  • Williams, James
  • Zuntz, Gunther

If there are any mistakes in that I have listed the wrong individuals I am always anxious to be corrected.   But normally speaking these are the individuals that I avoid

4.  Wikipedia Regarding Greek Deponent Verb and Middle Voice

“I used this explanation because it was the simplest to understand for the layman, without getting into more complicated issues”, Brent ~ LINK

 

Brent


Filed under: ALL CATEGORIES, Articles and Posts, Brent's - Biblical Doctrine, Most Vital Articles Tagged: Faith, God's grace, God's provision, God's supply, grace, grace abound, grace did more abound, Kenneth Wuest, More abound, Romans 5:20

Believers do not pay the penalty for their sins, but they may pay the consequences.

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consequences (Copy)

Introduction (Revised 02/06/2016)
All born-again believers are aware that Jesus paid for every one of the sins we have ever committed or will commit, without exception.

Yet what we do not feel as comfortable in considering is that many times there are dire consequences that we pay for those sins that we perform in the flesh.

We all remember the story of Peter denying Christ three times before the cock crowed, which is recorded in all four of the Gospels (In God’s word, the more that God repeats something, the more emphasis He places on it for our consideration), as seen in Matthew 26:31-34, which states:

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And thus it was fulfilled…

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”  ~ Matthew 26:69-75

Peter Denies Jesus

During the days that Christ walked on earth after His resurrection, we notice a profound change in Peter.

The once outgoing braggart, who claimed to be the most devoted of the disciples is seen as quiet and reserved, almost hanging around the outside of the group – humiliated and sorely vexed because of his denial of his Lord.

We must view the following event recorded in the 21st chapter of John, in light of Peter’s denial of Christ, when he even cursed three times claiming to have nothing to do with the Nazarene.


Bible_Scroll_1_

The Biblical Languages
We must always remember that God orchestrated the very languages that God would use to produce the Word of God given to men, referred to as the Bible.

The Hebrew is vague, subject to ponds and great for poetry (With sound alike words), and music due to being ambiguous, when translated from Hebrew into English it takes more English words to render a thought-for-thought translation than the English grammar is comfortable in rendering.

Bible 5

The Greek is the opposite in its exactness.

It is great for law, philosophy, debate and the sciences wherein special activity and detail are a necessity.

And for these reasons when translating the Greek New Testament into the English it to takes many more words in the English in order to gain the full meaning of what the Greek is attempting to say (for more on the subject please see the following LINK) .

It is necessary to understand this when handling this passage in John that the English does not do it justice, and actually hides the true intent of the Greek language found in this passage.

It is in understanding that within this passage, even though there is only one word rendered for love, in the Greek there are two completely different words that are utilized.

John 21:15-17 states:

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [agapao = “highest regard”] thou me more than these? 

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo = “affection”] thee.  He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [agapao = “highest regard”] thou me? 

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo = “affection”] thee.  He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [phileo = “affection”] thou me? 

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest [phileo = “affection”] thou me?  And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love [phileo = “affection”] thee.

Feed my Sheep

You see we must understand that Peter’s betrayal of our Lord, though forgiven concerning the penalty of sin, Peter paid the consequences in understanding his own sense of morality, his fear as opposed to what he thought to be his courage, his hypocrisy as opposed to what he thought to be his integrity, his humiliation as opposed to how he presented his strength.

There is no doubt because he denied his Lord 3 times, Jesus humbled him by asking him 3 times if he loved him, understanding that the Greek word for love agapao, meant “sacrificially putting someone first” in “the highest regard,” wherein Peter’s humble reply was that he phileo the Lord, indicating an “affection” that was much less in its strength.

Yet the third time that the Lord asked Peter if he loved him, he did NOT use the agapao – the type of love that meant “sacrificially putting someone first” in “the highest regard, he use the same type of love that Peter had used, phileo, a lesser type of love; showing Peter that he did not love the Lord as much as he had boasted about before the crucifixion.

Consequences
The passage says Peter was grieved when the Lord use this lesser form of the word love, and the only thing he could say was, “you know all things and you know that my love is not that strong.”

The word for grieved here is a very strong emotion as seen in the grammar where it is in the aorist tense, the passive voice, and the indicative mood (a mood of certainty, a reality).

Aorist tense, refers to “an action, as IF it occurred in the Past (“Once & for all”)to connote certainty.

The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on a particular action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time. There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, though it is generally rendered to as a simple past tense in most translations.

In this instance when referring to the grieving which Peter went through it emphasizes the immensity of the feeling, it was not a superficial experience, it was a factual feeling which could not be escaped on the reality of it certainty – this grieving was devastating to him.

Passive voice, presents that “the subject receives the action (“The Object Causes Action”),  to connote who does the action.

The passive voice represents the subject as being the recipient of the action.

In this instance communicating that Peter had this feeling of grieving because of what the Lord said, as oppose to him and initiating the feeling himself.  This displays that the activating event, the Lord’s words, were devastating and uncomfortable to the extent that he did not entertain these thoughts prior to the Lord speaking them.

This is not to say that he did not feel grieved to a certain extent prior to this interaction, he did because he went out crying bitterly (Greek: klaiō, and pikrōs; “wept bitterlyin the Greek this actually means to “wail out loud violently”), but that the true devastation was realized when he was forced to face the reality of what he had done by Jesus, and that now he understood his own weakness and humiliation to the extent that the grieving was monumental

It is not that his prior pain, when he wept bitterly, and in the following days as he acted reclusive because of his own internal pain were less than this grieving, the point is that this grieving was the crescendo of all that had preceded.  

He was at a place of intellectually understanding everything that occurred relating to his own feelings of guilt and shame, this was Peter’s changing point.  


Many Pentecostal preachers attempt to say that it was Pentecost that changed Peter, and there is NO doubt that Peter received great power (Acts 1:8; 3:12; 4:7,33; 6:8), and boldness (Acts 4:13,29,31) from the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel.

 But the change in mindset where this once proud fisherman became humble to the extent that it was the power of the Holy Spirit that he needed boldness occurred here, at the hands of our Lord and Savior.  

Jesus is where we make are change, where we go from Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul; Jesus is PREEMINENT IN ALL THINGS, He is the one and only Son of God who died for the sins of the world.  The Holy Spirit is among, and part of the Trinity that is divine, but it is the encounter with Jesus that changes lives from death to life –(Please Footnote #1).

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36 ~ KJV)    

God Uses Even Our Failures for His Glory
What we should focus on is that as Jesus was asking these three humbling questions to Peter, and indeed Peter was paying the consequences of his tragic sin; that in spite of this grieving that he felt, God use this process to humble him and his mindset with the intention of using him to lead the church in Jerusalem.  God is always bringing about his will even through the tragedies of man’s sin.

It was through this grieving process, that Peter was now ready to take the position as leader of the flock, a position he could only be prepared by being humbled and having paid the consequences of the pride that he had once displayed, but now was grieved concerning.

Long Suit 2

A wise man once said that “you will only fall, when you are wearing your long suit.”

The long suit was a colloquialism meaning when you are all dressed up in your three-piece suit and you had your outer code on, wherein the best that you have ready to go out for the night, which was used as an example of man at his best, the top of his game, having just one the war, having just sealed the deal, having been a victor; this was when man’s pride was at its zenith which made him impervious to his weakness and therefore vulnerable to the fall that his ego would lead him too.

Peter 3

If we remember the story as recorded in Mark eight where Jesus asked the disciples, “who do men say that I am,” and Peter came up with the epic conclusion given by the Holy Spirit to him that Jesus was the Christ.  Peter did better than the rest and was shining as a star at this point.  The next thing we know Jesus is foretelling of his suffering and what does proud Peter do, but rebukes him; with the Lord saying get behind me Satan.

This is a lesson we must all learn, one minute the spirit can be leading us and we have great insights and be on top of the world, yet because of pride a few minutes later we have allowed evil to enter our hearts and necessitate God rebuking us.

Peter

It was this bold Peter who stepped out on the boat amongst the waves, who immediately realized the danger, but in wisdom reached for Christ who saved him.

Throughout the Gospels, time after time we see Peter as in preeminent example of human boldness and pride, necessitating humility; yet in the final defeat he experiences, coming to the end of himself in grieving, he is humble and ready to lead the church, waiting for the power and boldness of the Holy Spirit to lead him and holy boldness, not human pride.

Proud Man

Let me speak personally now.  It is when I am so full of myself, that I am ready to fall.

man humble

However, it is yet when I am humbled, understanding my filthiness and wretchedness; it is then that the Lord is ready to use me.

Footnote
1.  Ephesians 1:1-23 (KJV)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: (2) Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (8) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (15) Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, (16) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; (17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

Brent


Filed under: Short & Sweet Articles Tagged: Biblical Languages, consequences, Humility, lovest thou me, Pay for sin, Penalty for sin, Peter, Pride, Proud, we will pay for our sins

Faith made Simple ~ Biblical Faith ~ Faith Defined

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Biblical Faith (02/12/2016)
One of the major areas wherein this ministry spends an excess amount of time concerns the subject of Biblical faith, which has more to do with establishing a relationship of trust in God, then understood by many as simply a tool of petition (And there is always a place for petition).

Jesus-on-the-cross (2)

This explains why it is impossible to please God without faith, as stated in 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.”

Not only because we come to God based on faith that He exist, but that those that seek Him, He rewards in a relationship where He takes care of us.  God desires those that exercise faith as a free will action in placing their trust in God, which grants us access to God’s grace to become His children through faith, which is the greatest reward man could ever receive.

There is no other value or personal character trait which pleases God, but faith; at least not in this special way according to God’s Word.

Wisdom is God's word

The place we gain Biblical faith is God’s Word, as stated in Romans 10:17,

 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1 Peter 1:23 says

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

Biblical faith is created and grown wherein as a person reads the Bible, and the Holy Spirit opens their spiritual eyes to perceive that which is laid out, it is a logical reasonable process of coming to the conclusion that this book could not have been written by mortal man (2 Timothy 3:16), because:

1) There are prophecies given in Old Testament, that are fulfilled in the New Testament.
2) There are prophecies given within the Bible as a whole, which are fulfilled since it’s closing.
3) There are scientific and natural insights presented in the Bible, which were once considered completely false; which in time, science has caught up with the Bible proving that it was correct in the first place, and that it is beyond human insight.
4) There is deep wisdom that is written between its pages, which are far beyond the capacity of a human being to create.
5) There are internal evidences found in the Bible, which when crossed-referenced within itself present in such a way that it is obvious that 40 different men could not have utilized the exact same type of “Figures of Speech.

Including: typology, such as seen in metaphorsimilesmodels; along with prophetic symbols as seen in even the use of numbers, colors, events, material and substancesdatesmathematicsnamesroles, and even people’s personality and lives; all done to portray a shadow (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5; 10:1) of things to come rather in heaven, or in the particular case of Jesus, the fulfillment of the Messiah; as witnessed in His First and Second coming – as well as Last Days events – all done in such a way that the only explanation is that God orchestrated the creation of this Book, and it is thus worthy of our complete trust, all pointing to Jesus the Christ as the Creator and Saviour of the world, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the center of God the Father’s kingdom, preeminent in ALL things, GOD.

Indeed it is God who inspired and orchestrated this book, not written by man, but written through men, by a God that is outside of our time domain, who can see the ending from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10); who is all-powerful, and in total control of His creation (Isaiah 45:5-7), and therefore worthy of our complete trust and faith in what He has said, and what He will do (Isaiah 46; Jeremiah 29:11).

Unfortunately, many Christians have been taught to focus on faith as a tool to acquire the things sought, rather than understanding that faith is a relationship with God, to trust whatever He has allowed or guided to be in our lives, and that God is trustworthy and in total control of all of our lives, no matter what it appears to be from the human vantage point.

Of all the qualities that our current generation LACKS, perspective (Discernment) and fidelity (Latin for “Faith,” as in: trusting God no matter what, and being trustworthy) are perhaps the greatest, hence the reason that this subject needs to be studied in great depth regaining a biblical understanding of faith, which many in this generation have seemed to have lost.  

job

Job said in presenting his case: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (See Footnote #1).  

Jesus prays in the garden Matthew 26:39-40

And as the greatest example of faith said the night before He would be executed, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42 ~ KJV)

Faith Defined
Trusting commitment of one person to another, particularly of a person to God. Faith is the central concept of Christianity. One may be called a Christian only if one has faith.

Our English word ‘faith’ comes from the Latin fides, as developed through the Old French words fei and feid. In Middle English (1150-1475) faith’ was replaced by a word that eventually evolved into ‘belief.’

Faith came to mean ‘loyalty to a person to whom one is bound by promise or duty.’

Faith was fidelity. ‘Belief’ came to be distinguished from faith as an intellectual process having to do with the acceptance of a proposition.

The verb form of ‘faith’ [“Faithè,” “faitheth,”] dropped out of English usage toward the end of the sixteenth century. (Holman Bible Dictionary)

Brent

Footnote
1.  Warren Wiersbe states concerning Job:

In order to do justice to Warren’s remarks concerning Job 13:15, I presented his complete discourse concerning this section of his review of the book of Job.  What I desire to present is what is seen in subsection D with this same maroon font concerning the passage in question.

I. Job’s Accusers
Job’s three friends came to comfort him, but they ended up criticizing him! Each of them used the same argument in one way or another: (1) God blesses the righteous and afflicts the wicked; (2) God has afflicted Job; (3) therefore, Job must be wicked. Of course, their thinking seemed logical, but it was not spiritual. Mortal human beings are far too ignorant to understand fully the ways of God. For us to fit God into our own little “theological boxes” is to limit Him and make Him less than God. We must keep in mind that these friends did not have the full revelation that we have in the NT, showing more fully that suffering is not always caused by sin, and that, through our faith in Christ, we can turn suffering into glory. It is a dangerous thing for believers to “explain the ways of God” to other believers if they do not understand God’s Word and God’s ways.

In his first speech, Eliphaz argues that Job is a sinner (Job_4:7-11). He bases his thinking on a special vision he once experienced (Job_4:12-21), so we might say that Eliphaz argues from personal experience — the hard “facts of life.” Bildad picks up the argument in Job_8:1-7 and very bluntly states that God does not do things unjustly. In Job_8:8-10, Bildad argues from tradition, and then quotes a series of “old sayings” to support his argument. Zophar rebukes Job in Job_11:1-20 and tells him he needs to repent and get right with God! All three “friends” make the same mistakes: (1) they fail to enter into Job’s sorrows and sympathize with him; (2) they have a rigid concept of God and His works, one that is not fully true; and (3) they are too dogmatic and proud to listen to Job and honestly examine their own beliefs.

The problem of human suffering is too deep and complex for the simple answers the three friends gave. Jesus never sinned, yet He suffered more than any person! Neither Job nor his friends knew about the conference in heaven, that God was using Job as “Exhibit A” before Satan and the angels to prove that people will trust God even when they do not understand what God is doing. The friends called Job a “hypocrite” (Job_8:13; Job_15:34; Job_20:5; Job_34:30); God called him “a perfect and an upright man” (Job_1:8; Job_2:3). Job would not bargain with God just to regain his material prosperity, for his greatest asset was his personal integrity.

In Job_2:3 God makes it clear that He had no cause for afflicting Job, that Job was not a hypocrite or a sinner. This is why God rejected the speech of Elihu (Job_38:1-2) and the speeches of the three men (Job_42:7).

While the three friends argued that Job’s suffering was a punishment for sin, Elihu had a different idea (chaps. 32-37): God sends suffering to chasten us and teach us (Job_33:9-20; Job_35:10-16). Elihu shows a higher view of God, and in his speeches he beautifully points out the power and wisdom of God; read Job_37:1-24 especially. But he fails to help Job, and God Himself rebukes Elihu for his “dark counsel” (Job_38:1-2).

II. Job’s Arguments
After each man spoke, Job replied, except in the case of Elihu, where God Himself stepped in to answer. Job’s argument went something like this: (1) I believe God is just and powerful as you do; (2) But I am not a hypocrite — I know of no sin between me and God; (3) I would argue my case with God but I cannot find Him; (4) Nevertheless, I will trust Him, for He will vindicate me either in this life or in the life to come. It took a great deal of faith for Job to argue this way in the light of his circumstances. No wonder Jas_5:11 points to the endurance of Job.

The three friends argued that God always afflicts the wicked, but Job pointed out to them that the wicked seem to be prospering! In Job_18:1-21 Bildad pictures the awful doom of the wicked like a light going out (Job_18:5-6), a bird being trapped (Job_18:7-10), a criminal being chased (Job_18:11-13), a tent torn down (Job_18:14-15), and a tree dried up (Job_18:16-17). Then in Job_20:1-29, Zophar argues that the seeming prosperity of the wicked is only brief. Job rejects their arguments in Job_21:1-34 and points out the obvious health and wealth of the wicked. In Job_24:1-25 Job asks, “Why doesn’t God intervene and do something about sin?” He lists the sins of the wicked, and in Job_31:1-40, he recounts his own godly life. The three friends are silenced because they know Job’s arguments are right. Elihu’s wordy speech adds little to the solution of the problem.

III. Job’s Appeals
The most important verses in this section are those that state Job’s heart appeals to God and to his friends.

A. He appeals for sympathy
His friends did not show love and understanding; to them Job was a theological problem, not a suffering saint (see Joh_9:1-3). In Job_6:1-30 Job states he has lost his taste for life (Job_6:6-7) and wants to die (Job_6:8-13). He compares his friends to a brook that dries up just when thirsty travelers need water (Job_6:14-20). Job_7:1-21 gives us several pictures of life with its trials and its brevity: a warfare (Job_7:1, where “appointed time” means “warfare”); a slavery (Job_7:1-5); a swift weaver’s shuttle (Job_7:6); the wind (Job_7:7-8); a cloud (Job_7:9-10; and see Jas_4:13-17). In Job_9:25 he compares life to a swift messenger (“post,” see Est_8:9-14), and in Job_9:26 to a swift ship.

B. He appeals for a chance to confront God
In Job_9:1-35 Job complains that he has no way to present his case before God, because he cannot find Him. Note in Job_9:33 his appeal for a “daysman” or umpire to stand between him and God. “How should a man be just with God?” (Job_9:2) means, “How can a man ever plead his case with God?” Thank God for the Mediator, Jesus Christ, who represents us before God! See 1Ti_2:5; 1Jn_2:1-2; and Zec_3:1-10. See Job_16:19-22; Job_23:3.

C. He appeals to his basic integrity
In each of his speeches, Job denies that he is secretly a sinner. He knows his own heart and he confesses that his friends have cruelly misjudged him. At the end of the book, when God reveals Himself to Job, the man does bow in dust and ashes and confess his worthlessness (Job_40:3-5; Job_42:1-6); but this was not a confession of sins. Rather, it was a humbling of himself before God as he realized his own ignorance and worthlessness in the presence of the Almighty. God never does accuse Job of sin. He accuses him of not realizing the greatness of God and of trying to fit God into the confines of a little argument, but He does not judge him for the sins that his friends accused him of committing. See Job_31:1-40 for Job’s defense of his godly life.

D. He appeals to his faith in God
This is what created the problem: Job trusted God, yet God seemed to have abandoned Job. Had Job once denied God or cursed God, the problem would have been solved, for the friends would have known that God was punishing Job for his unbelief. But Job had faith. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!” (Job_13:15) “I know that I shall be justified [vindicated, proved true]” (Job_13:18). So great was Job’s faith that he states that God will vindicate him in the resurrection in the next life, if not in this life (Job_19:25-29; Job_14:1-14). Job knew that God would work out some purpose, but he thought God should tell him what He was doing (see Job_23:1-17). Of course, if Job had known about the conference in heaven between God and Satan, there would have been no need for faith.

E. He appeals to die
From his first complaint in Job_3:1-26 to the end of the argument, Job asks to die. Read Job_6:8-12 and Job_7:15-21. Do not be too critical of Job for wishing to die. He was suffering great physical affliction; friends and neighbors were abusing him (Job_30:1-31); and it seemed that God had abandoned him. Moses, Elijah, and Jonah fell into the same error.

The ways of God are above and beyond the mind of mortal men and women. Even Bildad admitted, “Lo, these are parts of His way,” literally, “these are but the outskirts of His ways, the hem of His garment.” God is greater than man’s theology. When we cannot understand, we can worship and trust Him.


Filed under: Brent's - Biblical Doctrine, Brent's - Biblical Perspective, Brent's - Biblical Tools of Interpretation, Brent's - Biblical Word Quest, Brent's - Biblical Word Studies, Notable Works and Notable Original Works, Reasons for Faith Tagged: Biblical Faith, Faith, Faith Comes from the Bible, Faith Defined, grow faith, Hebrews 11:6, how to get faith, Romans 10:17
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