HARD SAYING #11. For God has concluded them all in unbelief...(Rom.11:32)
Just as it is the "natural" tendency for a pig to wallow in the mud, or a dog to lap up its own vomit - or a weight to sink in quicksand, etc....Likewise, the "natural" tendency for sinful man is to continually..."Sin". ALL SIN stems from Unbelief in, thus rebellion against, God! Therefore, "GOD GAVE ALL MEN OVER" to doing their "natural" tendencies!!!
He did not interfere or intervene. He just let us go on our merry way sinning our way to hell. WHY??? So that when the time came to save us He might have "mercy" on us!!! To show us HOW GREAT is His mercy! We who deserve only death and damnation for our sin and wilfull disobedience, He has shown us unmerited grace and mercy, by intervening on our behalf in the face of Jesus Christ...while we were still God's "enemies"!
We found mercy, certainly through nothing we did to deserve such profound mercy and grace but through Himself - through the giving of Himself - He showed it, did it, and gave it, freely and full of love, that we may all "Believe", and thus believing we may now all come and bow before Him with much thanksgiving and gratefulness, and deep praise of His glorious goodness and rich mercy, freely coming under submission to Him as our Lord and Savior...forever and ever!
************************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #12. Made sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ, ONCE for all...(Heb.10:10)
This is an "Especially Hard Saying to believe for Roman Catholics", as well as OTHER religious systems that are based on a "self-works" salvation over a "God's-will" one.
They belong to a religion that cannot come to believe that Christ DID IT ALL ONCE and FOR ALL, and He left absolutely nothing for them to do except, "Believe on Him through faith in His "Finished" work!
"BUT", they say - there must be something that WE can do? (There has to be? is how an "unbeliever" thinks!) - There has to be some form of outward religion having baby baptisms, having confessions to a priest, having self-works as penance and sacramental participation at its core? - There just has to be some way to help Jesus out in paying for our sins? - Or some "hour" each week that we can take time out from to go and make penance, go to mass, stand, kneel, sit, stand, kneel, stand, sit, money, rise, sit, kneel, stand, and repeat repetitious prayers that God hates (Matt.6:7) and prayers worshipping an unbiblical "Mary", and to eat the sacred wafer? ISN'T THERE??? ISN'T THERE??? they say.
Surely God will SEE all the "GOOD" that we do and open up to us, won't He?
The RC church has set up an Enticing System for the blind consisting of nothing more than man-ordained "Sacramental Works" that stand opposed to God and His will for all men! Each and every one of these "Sacraments" are designed to REPLACE Christ and His word and HIDE His body so they wouldn't find Him and be made sanctified to the Truth - to God alone... rather than as a willing slave to some false religious system that will save no one!!!
He gave His life on the cross - He gave it ONCE - and He gave it for everyone! It Is Finished! and on the third day He rose from the dead! The work of God in saving us is over! But to appropriate that work we must come and receive it, and receive it by "Faith alone", apart from ANYTHING - ANYTHING we can do or choose to compare.
"Further continuation and contamination" in the RC sacramental works (after one hears the Truth) only PROOVES that such a person is not interested in needing to lay hold of Christ by "faith alone": which includes with it a total rest from ALL religious self-saving type works and an utter trust in and reliance upon Christ... "ALONE", rather than remaining on "Boasting" before God how "they" also helped to save themselves, by going to church, by being good, by "fill in the blank".
The rejection of Christ and His "ONCE for all" Finished work, (thus they do not Know the real Him or the real Gospel!) is WHY many join such a "conveniently established man-made system" to believe. Believing that by obeying "IT" they can "escape their sins" and go to heaven someday (after they help pay off their own suffering debt for their own sins in Purgatory) as the RC church BLASHPEMOUSLY teaches to its members.
************************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #13. You mean that "I" am going to have to die all because of "another mans" sin?...(Rom.5:12)
Welcome to the new world! :)
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The main penalty that we are paying for today is seperation from God = spiritual death. Because of Adam, and because of our own sin we have become separated from God. That is what sin does.
Therefore we, like Adam before us, all die because we ALL have sinned and we ALL fall short of the glory of God on our own! (Rom.3:23) We (the whole human race) were all "IN" Adam when he sinned! To prove that we are (even today) "OF" Adam, the simple fact is that we are all "Born sinners". We all sin!Hard , hey?
OK, so "I" admit that "I" am a sinner. Adam sinned, Adam died! I sin, I'm dead and I'll die! Now what?
The only way out of Eternal Death and Damnation....
The last step is for you to be found "IN" Christ! To be found "IN" Christ is to DIE, to be taken "OUT OF" Adam, placed "IN" Christ, and given Eternal Life. All made possible by being removed from Adam and receiving "Christ In You" and Him being your new inheritance and birthright, through a new and spiritual birth! Jesus Christ , Coming down to us from God as God in the flesh, and paying the necessary price for sin, for us, for our sins - paying the price of "DEATH" for them all, paid for in full once and for all on the cross!
That's why and what only He could do and came - to do The Impossible!
The kind of "Faith" that looks back upon, hears, sees and understands that such an Awesome Love of God involved in His work upon the cross was done just for "Them Personally", is the kind of faith that causes one to give up, give in, bow low in acknowledgement and repent, and KNOW His Love for themselves and become (through the knowledge of the Holy in His Love)... "BORN AGAIN"!
He who has the Son has Life! "Being Born Again". It's what Life and Love IN Christ is all about!!! and His name is... "Wonderful": it is "Jesus!"
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Tim 1:15
************************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #14. Without holiness no one is going to see the Lord!...(Heb 12:14)
"And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." Gen 22:12
Q - What was Abraham told by God to do?
Q - How did God 'test' Abraham's 'faith'?
Q- What did Abraham prove to God that he had in him by doing this act of his?
Q - Why would Abraham have went through with it?
Look at what having the "Fear of God" accomplished…
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." James 2:18
Abraham 'Prooved' that he had faith by his work!
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
This is the kind of 'living faith' that James is talking about...
Compare Abraham's faith in the fear of God with what we see passing as faith out there today?
The Only Way we can make it through this world and all it's traps, heresies, false teachings,etc., is to maintain a "healthy fear of God". In this way we are bound and determined to hear ONLY God's voice and Do and Keep ONLY what He alone clearly says (as proven by the Scriptures), and not some "man's interpretation" of them!
It is the "fear of God" in the heart of man based upon our foundations of Love, Faith and Hope in Jesus Christ, that will cause us to be "Doers" as well as hearers of the word!
As James says, it is not enough to "say" we have faith! Such a faith is dead, being alone, and will save no one! We have to prove that we have it by our works, obedient works.
Jesus says: "If you Love Me - PROOVE IT - Keep My words!"
Father Abraham loved God above all, and God called him His "Friend"! It was for ALL of Abraham's sons, ALL having the same faith as their father that will share in the love of God… for these are "His friends"…
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 15:13-14
Only "His friends" are going to be found "Worthy" of His Kingdom, those who do what ever it is He commands. (and the "first" commandment is to LOVE the Lord thy God with all your heart, all your strength, all your mind and all your soul.)
I know the Lord well enough to know that "He means business in what He says", and "if" any of us are into "false teachings" of the kind that denies Jesus His rightful place (past, present, and/or future) and is out to rob us of our crown, it is because of these 2 reasons…
#1. Because we have "Little or NO Fear of God" in us!"
#2. Because we do not Keep and Obey the Truth of God's word...
"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." I Jn 2:5
************************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #15. A Christian is incapable of sinning!...(1 John 3:6-9)
There's been some controversy over "sinless perfection" as of late.
Here are the pros and the cons...
The advocates FOR Sinless Perfection stand on this...
I Jn 3:6-9
When we compare the above to what 1 John 1:8-10 is saying (below) we have what obviously seems to be two very contradictory scriptures , yet BOTH are presented by the SAME Spirit, and yet only ONE Meaning is true!
In 1 John 3:6 we have, "whoever abideth in Him does not sin".
Because whoever abides in Him does not sin - is not sinning - is not in the process of sinning - because he is not "practicing sin". THAT is exactly what it means to "ABIDE IN CHRIST!"
(It is IMPOSSIBLE to wilfully "Practice sin" for anyone who is abiding in Christ!!! IMPOSSIBLE!!! Likewise, outside of Christ it is Impossible NOT to practice sin!)
The same holds true for 1 John 3:9.
It is Impossible "IF" His seed remains in them (and, obviously, that can only mean that they are remaining in Him), then they truly are the children of God, and as such NO LONGER PRACTICE SIN!
And "IF" they have been born again thus are truly His and truly set apart unto Him, then they CANNOT revert back to what they once were without "TOTALLY UNDOING" what God already did: John 10:27-28!!! AND, according to Christ, THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!...
I Jn 1:8-10
While on the one hand a born again Christian does not "Practice" nor "Wilfully choses" to sin any longer, on the other hand if we say we have no sin (i.e. "are sinless") then we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us!
Why else does anyone think it is necessary for us to have an advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1) if we are (according to many "sinless Perfectionists") "Beyond Sinning"???
The Blood Jesus shed wasn't shed just for our Past sins up to the time we met Him, but for all of our present and future ones as well. "We're Covered"! (Rom.4:7-
So...
Only they (the kind that fits 1 John 3) are doing so "Unknowingly - Unwittingly" (not being familiar enough with the scriptures)... not realizing that some of what they are doing (religiously speaking) is actually "sinful"!
That's where our brothers and sisters come in, to present every man who professes Christ "spotless" - not only from the flesh and its lusts but from "the rudiments of the world" as well" (Col.2:8, 20).
The greater the knowledge of sin and righteousness one has been made aware of, the greater the responsibility and expectations on their part not only to keep themselves pure and from sin (if their sin is done unknowingly, yet if it is grievious enough to God) but to keep others from sinning as well, through educating them in the proper use of the word of God. The same goes for the practice of righteousness!
So... We dare not sin anymore...
A - Because we are His! Thus we Know Him, Love Him, Hear Him, Obey Him and Follow Him!
B - Because we have received from on high the power of a new, holy and Spirit filled life, to walk in... and...
C - Because we cannot CONTINUE ON IN OUR SINS, not if we have A and B and the fear of God in us.
That doesn't mean we're incapable of sinning, but simply that we no longer chose to "Practice it".
This is where, "Go and sin no more", comes into effect.
************************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #16. Unless your faith can remove mountains you remain in unbelief...(Matt.17:20)
Matt 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
It seems that every day we learn deeper lessons and meanings of the Truth through our anointing with the Spirit.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
It has been coming to my attention more and more that there are always a few Christians here and elsewhere that I and others converse with who don't seem to be talking with or from or of the same kind of faith that Hebrews 11 speaks of.
They always "seem sure" of their teaching (in any particular area) but they argue - I mean they argue even when a Clear word of God is presented to them which goes to prove their teaching is false. They never seem to stop arguing against several clear words of truth or accept His words as His final say.
I've heard a few even say they are so "shaken" in their beliefs that they don't know what to believe anymore.
One of the reasons they are so shaken in their "faith" is because their doctrinal belief (in that certain area) was NOT of the Hebrews 11:1 kind of solid faith that one receives through ones Hearing/Understanding the word in the first place!
The teaching/word they have received is from "another spirit" altogether. There is No Support in the word for such a spirit! It is through the hearing and obeying "flesh and blood men" - these could even be men who may or may not be teaching the truth - and hearing and trusting in "their own interpretations" of what God says instead.
Instead of simply hearing/knowing God's voice and what He is simply and clearly saying for themselves; which is verified by the rest of Scripture, they are chosing to make an idol out of their interpretation. In so doing they are defending and worshipping it, thus they end up rejecting and discarding not only what all the Scriptures say against their interpretation otherwise, but the very Scriptures themselves!
So rather than having the word of God be the "Judge over them" and RULE their thinking, they in turn sit in "judgement over the word of God" and bring it under "their own wisdom" in order to make it bow and submit to their own theologies, beliefs and doctrines. It is all still... "Unbelief". No different than what any CULT does!
In so doing they try and strain out all the little gnats out their own doctrinally made soup, in trying to perfect it by having ready and pat answers for anyone who may legitimately question their theology, all the while swallowing the camel of unbelief and total disregards for God's Clear word.
Until they bring all of themselves with their intellect to the foot of the cross and under "His" submission, then they are no better than the false teachers and prophets that the Scriptures warn us all about in these "last" days.
But those who are not afraid to bring their works and doctrines before the Light for examination, may at that time find that some heart-held (false) belief = unbelief they held on to in that particular area of the faith is starting to "crumble and stinketh" causing "confusion in them" as well.
Those who seek the Truth only (even at the cost of losing all their theological doctrines), desire to know and to have only the kind of SOLID faith Jesus talks about and found described in Hebrews 11.
"True Faith" (the kind that can remove mountains) is of such a quality that it has substance and evidence attached with it and to it that it becomes one rock-solid "Absolute Assurance", the kind that does not doubt and can move mountains.
This "Faith" is of such a caliber that the one who has it can, "Sink their eye-teeth into the very Fiber, Substance and Solid Evidence" that makes it absolute,convincing and sure, making the one having it absolute and sure themselves in their Standing solidly upon it.
The "spirit of error" is good at deception ever trying to imitate the Spirit of Truth, coming as an angel of light! The way to tell difference between the two is by the word of God. The one stands on it while the other opposes it!
So... Anything NOT given/revealed to us by God, is of "sin" and not of "the faith"!
True Faith (containing substance and evidence) comes by hearing "God" (not men), and hearing/understanding comes only by "the word of God" (and not by hearing flesh and blood's interpretation of it).
So if "God" didn't say it, then we can all rest assured that it is NOT of the faith, and in fact needs to be revealed for the error it is (2 Cor.10:4-6), seeing as how it claims to be a "Doctrine of the church" given to us to believe by "God"!
So this is the kind of Living Faith that will and does remove mountains and curse anything else that might prevent us from hearing the word of God and obeying Him!
************************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #17. When the PERFECT comes!...(1 Cor.13:9ff)
There is a "duel meaning" to the coming of "the Perfect". One is a "physical" meaning, which occurs at Jesus' second coming when He will visibly appear in the flesh at the last day -- and the other "Perfect" refers to a present, "spiritual" meaning, which happens at the time of the coming of, and our receiving of, the Spirit of Truth.
In this study we will be dealing only with His post-tribulational second coming, which will be visible to all. The Coming of *The Perfect*!
When the PERFECT comes.... "THEN".... 1 Corinthians 13:
What is... "THE PERFECT"???
What does Paul mean when he says, "WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT COMES, THEN that which is imperfect (IN PART) will be done away with"???
Simply put this is all referring to the coming of the Lord and our "waking up" dressed with immortality. It has absolutely nothing at all to do with the church's receiving the full cannon of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, as so many today falsely teach.
NOTE: "WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT COMES -THEN- "THAT" WHICH IS IN PART (i.e. "IMPERFECT") WILL BE DONE AWAY WITH".
and when does this occur???...
1 Corinthians 15: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The "Perfect" comes AT THE LAST TRUMP - the same day Jesus comes/appears...
"THEN" knowledge will be done away with along with prophecy! Once the epitome of our perfection is standing before us in all of His glorious splendor, then all of that which was known and prophesied IN PART by us as a church will be done away with! Because "THEN" the whole earth will be FILLED with the knowledge of the Lord!
Not only that but UNTIL "THEN" (until Christ's return) Faith, Hope and Love will continue on in this time of God's Grace.... "these three"... and the gift of prophecy (even though it is being done in part) will still be sought after... UNTIL THEN - UNTIL THE PERFECT COMES.
In verse 11 Paul gives us an example of the differences in growing up between becoming a man verses a child. His explanation shows that the child is imperfect because he only knows in part, and thus prophesies what he knows (according to the Scriptures) in part as well. whereas the man is perfect = matured because he knows in full.
According to Paul, compared to our life In the kingdom of God on earth with Christ these "Gifts" are likened to childrens "TOYS" - "PLAYTHINGS" in comparison to having Christ Himself present as the New Man and us present with Him before God as New Men in Christ!
So when the perfect comes it will be the same day that the child will become a man and put away his childish things - things like partial knowledge and partial prophecy and baby talk and immature understanding - because "THEN" (at His coming) he will see and know God even as he is known and seen by God!!!
At that time the partial veil will be lifted replaced by sight! The partial veil being our "Faith", described by Paul, is compared to seeing the Lord through a glass, darkly = "IN PART"!!! Compared to the Christian the nation of Israel has no faith whatsoever, therefore their "veil" is FULL and still over their eyes.
Only at the Lord's coming will both veils (ours/the darkened glass of our faith and theirs/total darkness) be lifted, and THEN we shall both see the Lord coming in the clouds with great power and glory!
So, just as the Jews today have a shroud over their head IN FULL until He comes, so too do Christians have a shroud over theirs but only IN PART or Partial thanks to Christian Faith, Hope and Love!
1 Cor. 13:12 paraphrased - Now we know IN PART, "THEN" (= at His Appearing) we shall know in FULL what today we only know in part. Not only Him but our salvation as well.
When the Perfect comes... whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (1 Cor.13:8). They will all cease, and fail, and pass away, ALL PERECTLY replaced by the coming of Perfection: "Christ, His Kingdom and us sharing His glory in it!
He is wonderful, yes??? BUT has the human eye ever seen Him IN FULL?? The closest any "human eye" got to seeing Him IN FULL was at the Mount of Transfiguration.
Our having full knowledge of Him and the of the Kingdom of God describes the time of THE WEDDING FEAST in the Single Day (One Parousia) of the Lord, when we will eat our fill with and of Him!!
UNTIL THE LORD appears/comes and we are resurrected...
For Now we have faith (1 Cor.13:16), and it is through this Godly faith that we came to know that we will never die, and yet how this will all work out in the end/appear we do not yet know)...
- In Conclusion - NOW THROUGH FAITH WE KNOW IN PART - BUT OUR KNOWLEDGE IS NOT THIS WORLDS "INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE" ACQUIRED BY OUR TAXING OUR MINDS/BRAINS TO FIND IT -
TO EVERY BONA FIDE CHRISTIAN, THIS IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IS ONLY KNOWN IN PART AT THIS TIME.
THE GREATER IS ONES FAITH THE GREATER IS ONES DIGGING INTO THE WORD - THEIR VISION/KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY! YET ALL FAITH/VISION IS AT BEST LIKE THE DARKENED REFLECTION SEEN IN A MIRROR THAT IS HELD AT ARMS LENGTH.
"ON THE DAY HE APPEARS IS THE DAY THAT WE WILL BE LIKE HIM"! THEN WE WILL KNOW IN FULL EVEN AS WE ARE KNOWN, BECAUSE THEN WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS, WITHOUT CLOUD COVER.
After all - who still hopes for what they already see, have and are to become at Christ's appearing??? 1 COR. 2:9
This "Blessed HOPE" that every Christian holds dear will become perfected and materialize in the day of Christ's coming... In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump !!!
For further study on this teaching go to: What is meant by... "The Perfect".
************************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #18. I came not to bring Peace but Division among family members!...(Luke 12:51-53)
Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from now on there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Luke 12:51-53 (also see Matthew 10:34-36)
Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. Micah 7:5-6
For neither did his brothers believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. John 7:5-7
The Lord is Good! What He says He means. When He says; in Luke 12:51-53, that He came not to bring peace among family members but division instead, then that's a promise. He is true to His word. Although it is true that the main objective of His coming was to save sinners, He knew that His coming would also be the cause of division and strife between Himself and any family members who didn't want Him as their King!
Christianity is not some "passive, silent state", as some would have others believe. Bottom line? "Being Christians, we preach as well as act out the Truth, and many family members and friends don't like to hear or see what He has to say about anything that might affect them personally!" To many, Jesus Christ is only a swear word, or some luck or jewelry charm, or equal to some guru or swami, but let no one dare get TOO close to him (i.e. or take what He says too seriously). Heaven forbid!!!
The Division and the Sword He speaks of in Luke 12 and Matthew 10 is all brought about because of "His" word, not yours, not mine, not theirs, but "His"! It's not so much what "I" say and do, but what "Christ" has already said and did that causes families to become divided between those who seek to obey Him and those who do not. Jesus knew; Him being the Word of God, that a word like His would cause family members to be at odds with each other, causing division and separation from one another.
Jesus promises eternal life to all who love Him: to all who keep His word, yes, but He also promises persecution to all those who stand firmly upon His word as well (Matthew 5:11-12). This "persecution" by family members is very real and its roots go very deep, and is caused by the "division" that exists between those born after the spirit thus love the truth and those born after the flesh who hate the truth, and all because of the word of God. The division is between those who love the Truth and want to see it being done on earth (as it is done in heaven) and those who don't!
Let's use a very recent and personal example of "Division":
Deep down the rest of your unsaved family members think that you don't love him and won't forgive him for being the homosexual that he is because you have given him this ultimatum: "What you are doing is an absolute disgrace against both me and God. Therefore, repent of your sin and I will receive you - OR - if you chose to continue doing what you're doing then I will have nothing to do with you!"
Not only does your family know where you stand and why, but they've made it painfully clear that they don't care by continuing to invite your son to many of their family functions and sit with Him (and his lover) as well.
This "action" of theirs speaks louder than words, not only by giving their approval to what he is doing on the one hand, but it also clearly shows their disdain for what God says on the other. Of course it becomes "the parents" who look like the bad guys in all of this because evidently the parents don't love and forgive him like they all do. ("and the parents dare claim to be... 'Christians'???".)
Family members have even gone so far as to tell the parents that he's really not an evil or vicious person (and nobody said he was!), and that after all he is "family". Now (as their darkened reasoning goes), if we "sinners" can forgive him and what he does and treat him like one of the family, then why can't a 'Christian', his very own parents???
(This is what the Christian is faced with -- trying to get those who [by doing what they do] really believe that they are doing God's will by loving each other and tolerating one anothers sins... getting them to agree with the word of God and see the error of their ways. By doing what they are doing they are setting themselves up as their own gods by ignoring and rejecting all that God says about homosexuality and sins, thus they are ignoring and rejecting God Himself.)
After all of that, let's say that your own married daughter and her husband (after knowing where you stand, and after hearing the word of God most of her life) decides to send their young teenage son to travel far away and live alone with your homosexual son and his lover for seven or eight days. Although they tried to keep this evil deed of theirs hidden from you, their sin found them out anyhow.
In the past (in respect for their marriage) you have put your foot down maybe twice over the 17 or more years since your daughters marriage, and since you've been born again -- but when you found out what they had secretly done with your grandson, this greatly upset you, and in putting your foot down again, you tell them that you disapprove and are totally opposed to what they have done.
In turn your own daughter and her husband cut themselves off; kids and all, from you. Why? One reason they say: Because of your continual stand on what God says (not just about homosexuals but about everything God says), and their strong opposition to it! They're sick and tired of hearing it (maybe 3 times in the course of the past dozen years)! Pure and simple!
They don't like it, to say the least! They don't like you telling them what to do when it comes to them too and the difference between right and wrong. They tell you flat out that they will raise their kids the way "they" want, without interference from you, God, or anyone else.
Now if you hated them or your grandson and couldn't care less about their eternal welfare, then you wouldn't say anything at all, and just let all of them go on their merry way to (you know where).
No son or daughter in their "right mind" could ever bring such disgrace and dishonor to their parents as they have done. Add to this the dishonor of their going to other family members and lying about us simply because of a question she asked them afterwards: "Concerning your son, would you rather have the homosexual raise him or us!?" Their answer: "The Homosexual of course", followed by several 4 letter words of a very personal nature.
Realize that this happened because of one, and only one reason, "JESUS' WORDS" concerning Division, seen in all of those who are persecuted for righteousness sake and because they are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Almighty.
This kind of persecution is the very "DIVISION" that Jesus promised would come to those who have the mind of Christ and stand firmly, without wavering on His word! It is the dividing line between that which is Christian and that which is of the world. We cannot and will not cross over to their line (i.e. "to their way of thinking") nor can they cross over to ours. Thus "DIVISION"!
Brothers and sisters in Christ, very little needs to be said and done by any of us to cause a rift or division between us and an unsaved loved one. Remember, this is "God's" doing, not yours or mine! It is done by Him to show who's who! Just let your light shine -- it will either draw those who love it to you, or cause those who hate it to flee. The truth is that the Division between the Christian and non-Christian was always there anyway, but it was our simple but firm stand on God's word that brought it all to light.
Dear brethren, all you or I need do is stand on the truth of God's word without compromise or bending! Those who love the truth (all of your "saved" brethren in Christ) are standing with you. When you stand firm on the word of God your unsaved family will note your stand and they will do one of two things...
There isn't any THIRD Choice! There isn't any Christian being at peace with this world, nor this world (and those of it) being at peace with the Christian. World and world? Yes! Christian and Christian? Yes! Christian and world? NO!
.... I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12
There is only The Truth and The Lie, Good and Evil, Light and Darkness, and all of this happening today, right now, with your family members moving one way or the other today BECAUSE of hearing God's Word from you... and BECAUSE of your unwavering stand upon those words of His... and all BECAUSE you really do Know the Truth, and Know beyond doubt that you love Him, and know that when the Truth came to you (and you received it) it set you free!
This "DIVISION" Christ (The Living Word of God!) has brought with Him goes far beyond ones earthly, family ties to God's own family ties:
Jesus says: "He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
And again: "But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?
Once more: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.
Therefore this "Division" comes to light when "they" (not you) remove themselves farther and farther away from you and your light, because you Love the Truth and they don't - because you take a stand on a firm foundation and they refuse - because you are a true Christian and they aren't.
As the Spirit through Paul says -- Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
The Light and the darkness cannot mix! Either one hates the light and flees from it altogether, or loves the light and comes to it wherever it is seen and heard shining forth. This "Light" is the living WORD of God! In Him there is All Light. Outside of Him there is all darkness. Just as there is peace with God in the Light, there is all unrest without Him... and all because of Who He is: The Living WORD of God!
Light and darkness cannot mix to form some kind of watered down, compromising "twilight effect". There is either all light or all darkness. It is this very "Division" between the two that has divided Christ and that Christ Himself has divided because of who He is and what He says. No man can serve two masters! (Matthew 6:24). It is impossible!
What you and I have become since our becoming born again, brethren, is seen in our unwavering stand on the truth along with the authority of speaking God's word (speaking forth the truth we have been made to know and have been given in Christ). With Christ you are either for Him or against Him. There is no mix - thus we see the clear Division between the two. This "Division" Jesus speaks of clearly separates two types of people: "Those who Love the Truth and Do it, from those who don't"!
Can you imagine what it makes unsaved family members feel like when they see you standing for the truth? Not only speaking the truth but standing on what you believe and speaking it forth with power and authority? Speaking it as if you know what you're talking about? (And you do!) Speaking it in such a way that they can't bear to hear or even see you; a representative of God's word, anymore? And (of course) there is definitely something wrong with you for doing so. "You're not as we are", they say! (Amen, brother!)
Can you remember what it was like when YOU, brethren, came to the Lord? Do you remember what it was like when perhaps some (saved) family member came to you and laid out the Gospel? Do you remember how wierd you thought they were? Remember how you tried to scoff at their words but couldn't? Do you remember how their words were filled with light, and afterwards experiencing Him in His Grace, His love, His purity, His power and His holiness? Who can forget???
Let us never forget that we too once lived in and loved the Darkness ("but for the Grace of God there go I")... and let us never forget who we now are and what we stand for, in Christ! To Him be all the glory! He alone is worthy! Amen.
In Conclusion - - -
The primary thing here is to receive Christ and His words as is! We are not to go around "bashing" everyone we see, but if it is your own family members; especially those who are still living under your roof, then you have every right to teach them the truth and expect them to adhear to it. It's after they've grown and leave home where one can sit back and observe where they chose to go. It's their decision. You've done your job. Their blood is no longer on your hands!
************************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #19. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force....(Matthew 11:12)
- Related Scriptures - Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it .
Matthew 6:33 But seek you first the kingdom of God , and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Micah 2:13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it : and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Christ never condoned "Violence". The Greek word for violence is - "Biazo", and the word for violent is - "Biastes". Therefore let us look into the meanings of these Greek words more fully...
971. biazo
979. bios
973. biastes from 971; a forcer, i.e. (figuratively) energetic:--violent.
By examining the meaning of these words carefully we are made to understand that the Greek words for 'violent' and 'violence' in this instance points to someone who lays hold of the Gospel with their whole being in a no nonsense sort of way, fully intending to hear, receive and do what God says.
It refers to someone who is said to be "taking the kingdom by force" or "forcing their way into the kingdom by grabbing hold of it". It can also refer to someone who; when they hear the Good News of the Message of the Kingdom, they sieze hold of it and press their way in by means of it. In either case the meaning's the same.
This Gospel of the Kingdom becomes a whole new way of life for them. It is real and alive, because "HE" is real and alive now! In fact it is Life to them - it's the way the truly born-again Christian lives: It's either all Christ or all nothing with nothing in between! This means that there are no doctrines, no duties, no religions, no having to joining anything. There is Only Christ and His word living in the heart and written in the pages of Scripture. The truly born again only responds to Him and to His teaching as the Spirit of God leads! Besides personally knowing and having Christ as Lord and Savior, there's nothing else that matters! "Nothing!"
To me (who now knows the Lord) the meaning is clear: "It stands for anyone who; when they hear the Gospel, doesn't take it for granted or take it lightly or take it as being somewhat nonsense, as does the rest of the world, but is someone who is hearing the truth of it for the first time, and taking it or pressing into it or seizing it by force, in making it apply to them according to the Spirit and not the flesh. Once the Truth becomes known and the day star arises in ones heart (2 Peter 1:19), all of the past phoniness in trying to save oneself and all of the half-hearted attempts at self-preservation (i.e. all unbelief) is repented of and is over forever. Salvation is found in no other!
They do what is required to take the kingdom violenty or by force! They come to Him - not to some object - but to Him they come in recognition and in reverance with all their heart. They have come to wholeheartedly believe that God has raised His only begotten Son, Jesus, from the dead, and made Him both Lord and Christ over them! There; in this state with their whole heart, is how they seek Him. When they find Him they grab ahold of Him with both hands with the intent of never letting Him go! They heard and they believed the Gospel - the word of God - wholeheartedly and receive it. Note how all three - the mind, the heart and the will all come into play. In other words they kneel before Him soul, spirit and body... 'Not my will but Thy will be done!'
Picture if you will someone who is freely offered eternal life that rests in God's hand, and that this life is given by God only to those who will come, thank Him, and take it from Him! Because there is always an act of the will involved, the man must go and literally take it out of His hand!!! This is where the taking the Kingdom by "Force" comes in. And the Only Way to do it is through the cross! Once on the other side one becomes a New Creation In Christ!
Now no one, absolutely no one will receive eternal life without going through the cross! That "cross" spells DEATH to our old man. There is a "violent struggle" within us: "Do we go through the cross and end up selling all we own or don't we"? The solution is simple: "Is He (Jesus) worth all we possess, all we hold dear, all we are, or isn't He"? Yes but, He only is to those who saw Him - to those who haven't seen Him there is no beauty in Him above ordinary. It will be only those who've had a glimpse of Jesus in His true beauty and therefore know beyond doubt that they have found the perfect pearl of great price and will gladly and eagerly sell all they own to possess that One and Only Treasure. (He Must be #1 in our lives, or He will be nothing!)
This is what is meant by laying hold of the Gospel. Such a person doesn't play around with it as so many others do today. They are serious when they hear such Good News and thus they are forceful; that is, they will do whatever is necessary to have it (see Matthew 13:44-46). If taking the kingdom by force means that they do so in such a way as they intend to forever take it and abide in doing the will of God, then yes, so be it.
This is the life to them, this is the new life in them and at work, this is the way they live ever since they heard and believed the Gospel and became converted. Now they know the power of faith! For faith came when they heard - and when they heard they didn't turn away but repented and believed - and when they believed they went that extra step, they laid hold of it and reached out with both (empty) hands and forcefully received it!
The kingdom of heaven suffering violence by violent men who are taking it, simply means that the kingdom of heaven is here and now, and there are those through faith in the Gospel who are laying hold of it and pressing into it in the here and now and thereby can be said to be taking the kingdom "violently" or by "force".
From the time of John the Baptist until now (i.e. until Christ returns again) the kingdom of heaven is preached and men are taking hold of it and entering in by way of this Gospel of the Kingdom. The kingdom of heaven suffering violence is another way of saying that those who are entering in taking it by force or by pressing in can expect to suffer violence because of it at the hands of the Herod's, the Pharisees and the Unbelievers of this world, until Christ returns.
So the right meaning of this verse would be -"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been breaking forth and those who intend on breaking forth with it will be found earnestly pursuing [seeking] to enter into it" (Mt. 11:12) .
1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
********************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings HARD SAYING #20. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him...(Matthew 11:27)
What is Jesus really saying here? Did it apply to His day only? Or is it still in effect today? What Jesus said is clear: saying that the only way both God the Father and God the Son could be known is by means of divine revelation (by God the Holy Spirit).
Many today think they can decide to become a Christian any time they want believing that by doing certain things (i.e. communion, water baptism, making an altar call, etc.) any time they wish. Today most seminarians would disagree that the only way to heaven is by having a divine revelation of the living God, and therefore would have a major hangup with what Jesus just said. They would ignore it, or put a spin on it to change the meaning, as does every false teacher today. But The Word speaking the word means exactly what He says.
The fact is: Human intellect and intelligence cannot of themselves guarantee the knowledge of God (Matthew 16:17). This truth (that God exists and can be known personally) comes by revelation from God only!!! For most of todays theologians, Jesus' statement is indeed hard if not downright impossible to believe and take at face value.
Other related revelation texts: Matthew 16:16-17 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
********************************************************* Back to Hard Sayings
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Written by Jay Yeager Wednesday, 11 February 2009 21:21 A Christian
(By Jay Yeager)
What does it mean to be a Christian?
It means loving God above all others (Mark 12:40). It means seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). It means setting your affection on those things which are above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). It means submitting yourself to God (James 4:7). It means to preparing yourself to serve (Ephesians 6:14-18). It means to love:Your enemies (Matthew 5:44). Your neighbor (Matthew 19:19). Your mate (Ephesians 5:25; Titus 2:4). The brotherhood (I Peter 2:17). The truth (I John 3:18). It means to hate every false way (Psalms 119:104). It means being a soldier (II Timothy 2:3) set for the defense of the gospel (Philippians 1:17) against:The devil (Ephesians 6:11). Perverters of the gospel (Galatians 1:8-9). False teachers (II Peter 2:1-3). Those who cause division (Romans 6:17). Even if it means standing all alone (I Kings 18:18-22), even if it cost you your life (Acts 21:13). It means to be willing to forgive those that trespass against you (Matthew 6:14-15), no matter how often that occurs, if repented of (Luke 17:3-4). It means having the privilege of partaking of the Lord’s Supper, showing forth his death to a lost and dying world (I Corinthians 11:23-29). It means cheerfully giving according to prosperity (II Corinthians 9:6-9; I Corinthians 16:1-2). It means giving to brothers and sisters who have need (James 2:15-16). It means clothing yourself with humility (I Peter 5:6). It means looking beyond the outward appearance (II Corinthians 10:7; James 2:3-4). It means using the talents God has given you to further the kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30), without looking down upon those with lesser ability (I Corinthians 12:14-26). It means loving the worship of God (Psalms 122:1), and never deliberately forsaking it (Hebrews 10:25). It means refusing to engage in any act of worship that God has not authorized (John 4:23-24). It means a willingness to be hated by the world (John 17:14), and perhaps even your own family (Luke 12:51-53). It means trusting in Christ for the strength to endure it (Philippians 4:13). It means having the hope of eternal life in heaven (Titus 1:2). It means praying to God always (I Thessalonians 5:17), with the assurance that God hears our prayers (I Peter 3:12). It means being a child of God (Galatians 3:26). It means rejoicing always as a result of the privilege (Philippians 4:4). It means when we have done all those things which are commanded us, “…We are unprofitable servants: We have done that which was our duty to do”
What does it mean to be a Christian? It means everything!!!
SAYINGS ...
