Enemies, revenge, vengeance-15

How are we to live among enemies of Jehovah? As we have been studying so far, this is not a simple question to answer. The very use of the word enemy seems to cover a wide range of actions, attitudes, and circumstances. Also, Jehovah has given us much in His Scriptures to help us both understand this as well as live accordingly.

Romans 12:9  Let love be without hypocrisy.

Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 

12:10  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;

give preference to one another in honor; 

12:11  not lagging behind in diligence,

fervent in spirit,

serving the Lord; 

2:12  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation,

devoted to prayer, 

12:13  contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 

The Bible is full of verses on how we should live. There is no one all inclusive list. But, we can learn from each of them and should mediate on all of them. Certainly humbleness permeates this and other such lists. Treating others, especially others of faith, is another important character trait of what it means to be a ‘Christian’.

Rom 12:14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

Our response is exactly opposite of the what the world teaches us. We can’t have anyone taking advantage of us or bullying us! We must respond in kind or in a manner that stops those from ever doing that to us again.

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 

Empathy and true sympathy are lacking in today’s me culture. We don’t always care as we should about the problems of others, even others we know. We need to treat them in the same manner we would like them to treat us when or if the circumstances were reversed. This is not welfare, but charity. There is a difference.

12:17  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 2:18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 

Revenge, paying back, retribution, et all are what the movies all promote and example. We take justice into our own hands or minds. Satan would have us react just like him, but Jesus wants us to react just like HIM. Practice living in peace does not mean accepting lies and not standing on the truth.

Rom 12:19  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. 

This admonish of Jehovah is repeated throughout Scripture. We should never take revenge or vengeance into our own hands.This doesn’t include self defense. This is when we make ourselves judge and jury.

Rom 12:20  "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." 

Clearly this type of enemy isn’t trying to kill us or our family. He is our mission field and may be an unsaved neighbor who ridicules our life style and faith. There will come a time when he needs a meal or help with something you can do. Helping him when he has never done anything to help you, may convict him and make him reconsider his own life in a new way.

Rom 12:21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Responding with evil only makes evil more prevalent. We don’t fight the schemes of Satan with his own schemes and evil desires. Our King will help us, but we must submit to His plans, His will, and His commandments.

More next Saturday.

Remember, we were all once enemies of Jehovah-Consequences of sin-14

How are we to judge others? How are we to treat enemies? Who are our enemies? Throughout Jeremiah and Psalms, we find many verses calling out to Jehovah to pour His wrath out on their enemies. Yet, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for them. What are we to do?

Matthew 5:38  "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 5:39  "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 

5:40  "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 

5:41  "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 

5:42  "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. 

This is from His Sermon on the Mount teaching, which is the one of the most significant of all of His teachings and the longest. Here we read that we are to be forgiving, kind, and generous to wicked, evil people. This is doing good to those who may have done evil to you. At the least, they have never done anything good to you.

5:43  "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 

5:44  "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 5:45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

We are to love our enemies? Does this apply to those Jeremiah and David wanted Jehovah to destroy? Certainly we all know that everyone is made in the image of Jehovah. But, most are not living in a manner that brings glory to Him nor represents this image to the world. Doesn’t Jehovah hate those who disobey Him, worship idols instead of Him, teach lies about Him, and trample on His Son and the Cross He died upon for our sins?

Hebrews 10:26  For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 0:27  but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 

10:28  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 

0:29  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 

10:30  For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 

10:31  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

This seems to be in sharp contrast to the message in the Sermon on the Mount! A severer judgment should strike fear into the hearts of all who are guilty of this crime against the Son of Jehovah. Can Jehovah hate those we are to love?

5:46  "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 5:47  "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 5:48  "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

Clearly this is not a very simple black and white teaching. Also, there must be a range of actions and people that are in this vast scale of enemies. From the least to the worse needs to be understood. David couldn’t love the idolatrous nations around him that were actively seeking to kill him and destroy the nation. Jeremiah’s enemies sought to kill him as well. Yet, we are told to love our enemies!

This will be a study over a few weeks, as we search the Scriptures to know how we are to live and who are our enemies. Remember, we were all once enemies of Jehovah!

Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

5:9  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 5:10  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

To be continued next Saturday.

Judging others by warning others-Consequences of Sin-13

Jeremiah was born to speak truth to a nation of those who refused to listen. Who wants to hear about anyone calling them a ‘sinner’? Would that not be judging someone? Doesn’t the Bible tell us we cannot and should not judge anyone? Jeremiah is speaking exactly what Jehovah has told him to speak, yet the people think they are all his words. Their words are better than his, as they are ‘loving’! Is it truly loving to ignore the eternal state of those deceived? So calling attention to sin is necessary and required.

Can we judge others? How are to we judge? Who are we to judge? When are we to judge? We will begin with Paul. Remember, the church at Corinth was plagued with problems and required a lot of attention and concern from Paul.

1 Corinthians 5:1  It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. 5:2  You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. 

Many churches today will not say one word about the public lifestyle of any of their attenders. They don’t want to ‘judge’ anyone, which means they tacitly agree with everyone. Paul confronts them with this man within their midst who is basically having an affair with his father’s current wife. Note this is not his mother, who may have died or been given a writ of divorce.

5:3  For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5:5  I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

Paul said he has already judged him and found him guilty of sin. The ‘church’ cannot condone public sin within the body. One bad apple with slowly spoil and corrupt the entire bushel. This is the same with tolerating open sin.

5:6  Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 5:7  Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 5:8  Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

Leaven is a symbolic reminder of sin. Just as a little leaven will completely infect and permeate an entire loaf of bread; sin will infect an entire assembly of ‘believers’.

5:9  I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; :10  I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 5:11  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 

Now we learn about who Paul is talking about and clearing up confusion and false arguments. We live in a fallen world, which or whom are our mission field. But, within the body, we can’t let sin reign at all. Paul is clearly calling out a so-called brother; someone who deceived them by claiming to be someone who he was clearly not. Churches today are literally full of such so-called brothers. Our only contact with these would be to bring them back to the LORD or more likely share the true gospel with them. Warning them would also be required. How do they get in?

Jude 1:4  For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Creeping in suggests someone who doesn’t want to create a lot of attention, at least not right away. They gain confidence and then slowly gain support for their false teachings and sinful lifestyles.

5:12  For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 5:13  But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

Paul makes it very clear. We must judge and admonish all within the body. But, we must witness to all outside the body. It is often very difficult to do either. Sin can be hidden within the body until it slowly becomes the ‘norm’. How did all the sexual perversions gain such support within the ‘churches’ today? It came one inch at a time, as false teachings and biblically illiterate ‘members’ of the body were drawn into acceptance and even public support.

Jehovah will not be mocked nor will He forgive such behavior. Repentance requires an about face, a complete public reversal. If that is not forth coming, remove the sinner from the assembly.

More next Saturday.

Jehovah's Holy Wrath Against Sinners-Consequences of Sin-12

Jehovah’s wrath is seldom mentioned, taught, or the subject of a sermon. Why? It is uncomfortable to hear that a GOD of ‘love’ would do such a thing. People and pastors don’t want to hear this, don’t believe it, and don’t think they have done anything to deserve it. While this may sound good to the masses, what does Jehovah say about it? Jeremiah 23 is a very complete summary of the cause of His wrath, the outpouring of His wrath, and the leaders’ disdain for both the truth and Jehovah.

Jeremiah 23:1  "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" declares the LORD. 23:2  Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds," declares the LORD. 

The shepherds are the first to be mentioned. Who are they? According to what has been told to them in earlier they are the kings, princes, prophets, and priests. All the men who are commanded to lead the people in righteousness and obedience to Jehovah, have instead led them into idolatry! Woe to them! Their deeds are evil! Should Jehovah ignore such evil?

23:3  "Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. 23:4  "I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD. 23:5  "Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. 

Jehovah often speaks in a tense that sounds like it has already occurred but remains in the future. To Him, who knows the past, present, and future completely, as He is beyond time, He will make sure all will come about according to His will, His plan.

23:6  "In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, 'The LORD our righteousness.' 23:7  "Therefore behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when they will no longer say, 'As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt,' 23:8  but, 'As the LORD lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I had driven them.' Then they will live on their own soil." 

Even as He brings judgment upon them, He reminds them that there will come a time of redemption and restoration. However, repentance and obedience will be both required and evidenced.

23:9  As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me, All my bones tremble; I have become like a drunken man, Even like a man overcome with wine, Because of the LORD And because of His holy words. 23:10  For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course also is evil And their might is not right. 

Here we hear the words of Jeremiah, who is troubled on two fronts. The first is the sins of the people and prophets. The second is the horror of Jehovah’s punishment and wrath.

23:11  "For both prophet and priest are polluted; Even in My house I have found their wickedness," declares the LORD. 

Even in His Temple in His city, He has seen gross wickedness.

23:12  "Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment," declares the LORD. 23:13  "Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.  23:14  "Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah. 

This is a horrifying situation. Baal worship, falsehood, lies, deception, adultery (idolatry) and a land full of evildoers. Doesn’t this sound like today in the world we live in? He closes with a comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah!

23:15  "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets, 'Behold, I am going to feed them wormwood And make them drink poisonous water, For from the prophets of Jerusalem Pollution has gone forth into all the land.'" 23:16  Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the LORD. 23:17  "They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The LORD has said, "You will have peace"'; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, 'Calamity will not come upon you.' 

Just like today in ‘churches’ throughout the U.S. , false preachers and teachers calm us with words of love, hope, and peace. Yet, evil is everywhere! Lawlessness, blasphemy, adultery, idolatry, and wickedness is everywhere. The government, the educational system, and the entertainment industry all make sins into virtues.

23:18  "But who has stood in the council of the LORD, That he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and listened? 23:19  "Behold, the storm of the LORD has gone forth in wrath, Even a whirling tempest; It will swirl down on the head of the wicked. 23:20  "The anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; In the last days you will clearly understand it. 23:21  "I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied. 23:22  "But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds. 

Jehovah didn’t send these false prophets/preachers. They don’t speak for Him. These aren’t His words, they are their words. They make it up as they go, but always including a verse or two to make it sound good to you.

Jer 23:23  "Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "And not a God far off? 23:24  "Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. 

What do you know about the nature, character, traits, and power of Jehovah?

23:25  "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, 'I had a dream, I had a dream!' 23:26  "How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, 23:27  who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal? 23:28  "The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?" declares the LORD. 23:29  "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock? 

People have totally forgotten Jehovah. They have visions that they consider truthful. They worship Baal and call him god. They are deceived even as they deceive others.

23:30  "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who steal My words from each other. 

23:31  "Behold, I am against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who use their tongues and declare, 'The Lord declares.' 

23:32  "Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams," declares the LORD, "and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit," declares the LORD. 

Jehovah reminds us three times that He is against these false teachers. That should strike fear into their hearts, but they ignore Him. They even declare, thus says the LORD. How can you tell who is false and who is true?

23:33  "Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you saying, 'What is the oracle of the LORD?' then you shall say to them, 'What oracle?' The LORD declares, 'I will abandon you.' 23:34  "Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, 'The oracle of the LORD,' I will bring punishment upon that man and his household. 

Jer 23:35  "Thus will each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, 'What has the LORD answered?' or, 'What has the LORD spoken?' 23:36  "For you will no longer remember the oracle of the LORD, because every man's own word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God. 

Jer 23:37  "Thus you will say to that prophet, 'What has the LORD answered you?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?' 

Every man’s own word will be considered to be the oracle of Jehovah. As many say today, I will worship GOD my way, you can worship Him your way. This is religion at its worse.

Jer 23:38  "For if you say, 'The oracle of the LORD!' surely thus says the LORD, 'Because you said this word, "The oracle of the LORD!" I have also sent to you, saying, "You shall not say, 'The oracle of the LORD!'"' 23:39  "Therefore behold, I will surely forget you and cast you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers. 23:40  "I will put an everlasting reproach on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten." 

An everlasting reproach and humiliation is not heaven, but hell. It is an eternal condition that is far worse than anyone can imagine and that any false teacher will every teach. We avoid all the hard passages in favor of those that speak of the love of GOD, the mercy of GOD, the loving kindness of GOD. We neglect to mention or even contemplate that these are only available to those who humbly obey, surrender and repent.

More next Saturday.

Jehovah's Holy Wrath Against Sinners-Consequences of Sin-11

Does GOD really hate sinners? Can a loving GOD punish sinners? How does He view sin? He has told us that He considers sin as detestable and abominable! How did He pour out His holy, divine punishment upon an unrepentant Israel and Judah?

Jeremiah 16:1  The word of the LORD also came to me saying, 6:2  "You shall not take a wife for yourself nor have sons or daughters in this place." 

Jeremiah had been a prophet to many kings in Judah, all the way back to Josiah. He is not a young man anymore. But, here we read that Jehovah is forbidding him to marry and have children. Why?

6:3  For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and daughters born in this place, and concerning their mothers who bear them, and their fathers who beget them in this land:16:4  "They will die of deadly diseases, they will not be lamented or buried; they will be as dung on the surface of the ground and come to an end by sword and famine, and their carcasses will become food for the birds of the sky and for the beasts of the earth." 

This is a horrifying revelation from GOD. Children’s dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem, they will not be mourned or buried. Parents either no longer care, have the strength to do the right thing, or are dead themselves!

Jehovah is using the Babylonians to execute His divine wrath upon an ungodly, idolatrous, unrepentant nation. He used the the Assyrians to express His wrath against the 10 northern tribes some 100+ years earlier, when He divorced them. However, Judah did not learn anything from this and so are now experiencing His wrath personally.

6:5  For thus says the LORD, "Do not enter a house of mourning, or go to lament or to console them; for I have withdrawn My peace from this people," declares the LORD, "My lovingkindness and compassion. 6:6  "Both great men and small will die in this land; they will not be buried, they will not be lamented, nor will anyone gash himself or shave his head for them. 16:7  "Men will not break bread in mourning for them, to comfort anyone for the dead, nor give them a cup of consolation to drink for anyone's father or mother. 6:8  "Moreover you shall not go into a house of feasting to sit with them to eat and drink." 

This seems almost heartless and cruel to not offer any sympathy or comfort to these grieving people and parents. Why? It could be that offering condolences or sympathy to the ungodly would seem to be confirming their lifestyles and choices. Instead to calling out their sin, we may be allowing them to remain in their sin. Regardless, GOD told him to avoid them.

6:9  For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I am going to eliminate from this place, before your eyes and in your time, the voice of rejoicing and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride. 

It seems to be getting worse. Jeremiah will personally witness GOD’s judgment upon Judah. There will only be death, sorrow, mourning, pain, and suffering. All according to the will, plan, and purpose of Jehovah. Also, all could have been avoided if only they had repented and obeyed.

6:10  "Now when you tell this people all these words, they will say to you, 'For what reason has the LORD declared all this great calamity against us? And what is our iniquity, or what is our sin which we have committed against the LORD our God?'16:11  "Then you are to say to them, 'It is because your forefathers have forsaken Me,' declares the LORD, 'and have followed other gods and served them and bowed down to them; but Me they have forsaken and have not kept My law. 

It has been about 800 years since Moses warned the people to obey Jehovah or face all of these consequences. Jehovah has been patient, merciful, and loving, but their time is up. There is no more time to hold off His judgment upon them. It would all be too little and too late.

16:12  'You too have done evil, even more than your forefathers; for behold, you are each one walking according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart, without listening to Me. 6:13  'So I will hurl you out of this land into the land which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers; and there you will serve other gods day and night, for I will grant you no favor.' 

No more mercy, no more time, no more second chances, no more blessings only curses, and only judgment, condemnation, and wrath. His offer has expired. Their eternal and present fates are now unchangeable. Their physical loss, as great as it was, cannot compare to their eternal destination and despair.

Do you know anyone who may be still ignoring His calling and warnings? Do they know what could lie ahead for them? Do they not take Jehovah seriously as His word?

More next Saturday.

Causes, cost, and consequences of sin-10

We will now continue where we left off two weeks ago. Who is responsible for leading both Israel and Judah into gross idolatry? What has Jehovah provided us to warn us not to repeat the sins of our fathers?

Jeremiah 2:26  "As the thief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets, 

Jeremiah 4:9  "It shall come about in that day," declares the LORD, "that the heart of the king and the heart of the princes will fail; and the priests will be appalled and the prophets will be astounded." 

Jeremiah 8:1  "At that time," declares the LORD, "they will bring out the bones of the kings of Judah and the bones of its princes, and the bones of the priests and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem from their graves. 8:2  "They will spread them out to the sun, the moon and to all the host of heaven, which they have loved and which they have served, and which they have gone after and which they have sought, and which they have worshiped. They will not be gathered or buried; they will be as dung on the face of the ground.  8:3  "And death will be chosen rather than life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family, that remains in all the places to which I have driven them," declares the LORD of hosts. 

Jeremiah 23:1  "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" declares the LORD. 23:2  Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds," declares the LORD. 

Clearly, Jehovah is first laying total blame on the leaders of these two nations. Both of them have had access to the Temple, the Scriptures, and the history of Jehovah’s blessings upon them. But does this imply that the generations of people who followed them into this idolatry are just innocent victims? Jehovah says no! He tells them not to listen to these false leaders/shepherds.

Jeremiah 27:12  I spoke words like all these to Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, "Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live! 27:13  "Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, famine and pestilence, as the LORD has spoken to that nation which will not serve the king of Babylon?

27:14  "So do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, 'You will not serve the king of Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you; 27:15  for I have not sent them," declares the LORD, "but they prophesy falsely in My name, in order that I may drive you out and that you may perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you."

People do not want to consider the wrath of Jehovah being poured out to them. They can’t even imagine that He would be displeased with them or would actually hold them accountable for their sins.

27:16  Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, 'Behold, the vessels of the LORD'S house will now shortly be brought again from Babylon'; for they are prophesying a lie to you. 27:17  "Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live! Why should this city become a ruin? 27:18  "But if they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now entreat the LORD of hosts that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon. 

The false preachers, teachers, prophets, and priests of today use the same lies as in the days of Jeremiah. No one believes that Jehovah would send His holy wrath upon the United States.

But, we see death, destruction, persecution, and disasters all around the world today. History is full of the same disasters. Plagues and diseases, famines and droughts, swords and conquerors, wars and rumors of wars continue to appear throughout history.

Yet, these false teachers today still proclaim peace, blessings, and prosperity. Nothing has changed. People will follow the leaders that promise the most and ignore Jehovah’s warnings and condemnations. Peter reminds us again in the New Testament.

2 Peter 3:1  This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 3:2  that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 3:3  Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 3:4  and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 

The mockers have been deceiving masses since before the time of Jeremiah. How much worse is it today?

3:5  For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 3:6  through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 3:7  But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 

False teachers are ungodly, even if they proclaim they are not.

3:8  But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 3:9  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  3:10  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 

The end is nearer than you may think. Satan has already deceived the entire world, which is the first mile marker in the timetable of the end times.

3:11  Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 3:12  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 3:13  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Exactly, how should we act, believe, proclaim in these last days? Ignoring Jehovah’s repeated warnings is an act of eternal foolishness.

More next Saturday.

Causes, cost, and consequences of sin-9

Who is at fault? Who do people blame for their sin if they even recognize sin in their lives? What most really struggle with is Jehovah punishing or condemning anyone who disobeys His holy commandments. We must remember that the very first person we sin against is Jehovah Himself. He has provided us with many examples of His outpouring of His holy wrath against those who sin against Him.

Jerwmiah 7:30  "For the sons of Judah have done that which is evil in My sight," declares the LORD, "they have set their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 

Here we again find this uncomfortable displeasure of Jehovah as He calls these idolatrous images as detestable.Yet we find them in His Holy Temple! How did they get there? Who brought them in? Who authorized this abominable act of defiance to Jehovah?

7:31  "They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come into My mind. 

Clearly, in this example, Judah adopted the idolatrous beliefs and rituals of the godless nations around them. Instead of being a light on a hill to them, they let Satan into their midst and into His House. They slowly and deliberately creep in and begin to change things very gradually, as they gain the confidence of the weak sheep.

Jude 1:4  For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

7:32  "Therefore, behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when it will no longer be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of the Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place. 

7:33  "The dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky and for the beasts of the earth; and no one will frighten them away.

7:34  "Then I will make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land will become a ruin.

This is a very disturbing picture of the final days of Judah and Jerusalem before they are carried away into captivity in Babylon. Worse yet, only a remnant will be carried away, as most will die in the city. Jehovah doesn’t condemn the innocent, but who led these people to their deaths, their eternal deaths?Jehovah sent Jeremiah to them to warn them.

Jeremiah 1:4  Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 1:5  "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." 

Jeremiah was chosen by Jehovah as the last prophet to warn Judah. It had been nearly 800 years since Moses warned the nation that if they did not obey Jehovah, they would endure a host of curses. (DT 28). His patience is amazing but it has come to an end.

1:6  Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth." 

1:7  But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 1:8  "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. 

1:9  Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 1:10  "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant." 

This is a very specific and unique appointing and calling. He put His words into his mouth. He appointed him over nations and kingdoms. He will be his deliverer. And Jeremiah must declare all the He says to him.

1:11  The word of the LORD came to me saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree." 

1:12  Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it." Jer 1:13  The word of the LORD came to me a second time saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north." 

1:14  Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.1:15  "For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north," declares the LORD; "and they will come and they will set each one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about and against all the cities of Judah. This nation from the north was mentioned by Moses.

At that time, Babylon did not exist. Egypt was the ruling kingdom. Yet, He told Moses that He would bring this nation from the north to judge Israel.

1:16  "I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 

1:17  "Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them. 

1:18  "Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land. 

1:19  "They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD.

No one would listen to him, just as they did not listen to the prophets before him. He will be alone and all the leaders will be against him for calling out their sin, telling them to surrender to Babylon, and that if not, they will all die.

The ‘church’ today is on the same path of unrighteousness. They and the government and media just want the ‘truth’ tellers to be silenced. They will not listen. They don’t tolerate being told they are wrong, sinful, and subject to Jehovah’s wrath and condemnation.

There will be no update next week. I will be back to continue on December 31st.

Causes, cost, and consequences of sin-8

We now will look at other passages which Jehovah has provided that reveal His displeasure and condemnation for sins.

Deuteronomy 18:9  "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 

This exact warning is to not let the things of this world or the people of this world lead you into doing what they do, desiring what they desire, or worshiping as they worship.

The world that we live in today is under the influence and power of Satan. Of course, he is still under the sovereign control of our Father in Heaven. While this seems too difficult to fully understand, we must take Jehovah at His word.

18:10  "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 18:11  or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.

Have you ever experienced or participated in any one of these detestable activities? Some are encouraged and practiced in congregations today. All who claim to be the ‘church’ of Jesus Christ are not true but false ‘churches’. Adding to this is the rapid growth of Satanic churches and temples. This is also a rather new and disturbing trend in idolatry.

There was once a time in the U.S., when a Satanic church would have been condemned by most. That time is gone as Satan has patiently and slowly eroded morality and godliness right in front of our eyes. You can read today about the Satan Club that was trying to start in a elementary school.

18:12  "For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you. 

Driving people out in this time period could mean one of two things. People are driven out or cut off which could lead to death. Also, if you are driven out of the assembly, you are on your own in a dangerous land. No family or friends to save you, aid you, or offer comfort to you.

18:13  "You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. 

Jehovah has no room for part-time ‘Christians’. His requirements/commandments are demanded or commanded to be followed.

18:14  "For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so. 

Jehovah is preparing the nation of Israel to be His instrument for destroying, eradicating, and killing all of the peoples of these evil nations. These nations can also track their lineage to Noah, but they departed from Jehovah a long time ago.

The reverential awe and respect for Jehovah is foreign to most members of ‘churches’ today. The fear of the LORD is not taught, but His unconditional love and acceptance of all is taught. Jehovah will not save those who reject Him and disobey His commandments.

This is a hard truth to hear, but it is the truth by which we need to live by. The Bible is full of Jehovah’s warnings, judgments, and condemnations. But, few are mentioned in ‘churches’ today. His wrath is just as holy as His righteousness.

Notice who Jehovah lays blame on first. It is the leaders of Israel, who enticed the whole nation to follow them into condemnation.

Ezekiel 22:25  "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her. 

22:26  "Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 

22:27  "Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain. 22:28  "Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken.

22:29  "The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.

22:30  "I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

22:31  "Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads," declares the Lord GOD. 

More next Saturday.

Causes, cost, and consequences of sin-7

We will continue our study in seeing sin as our Holy GOD sees sin. Of course, our view is limited to our sinful, finite perspectives. But, Jehovah has provided a number of passages so we can begin to see sin in a different light.

Jehovah often uses terms of what we would perceive as sexual intimacy between a husband and a wife to describe His relationship to us. This is not to be taken in the same manner, but it shows a level of oneness, uniqueness, and closeness that in a small manner describes the relationship Jehovah desires to have with us, demands to have with us, and deserves to have with us.

This unique oneness is perfectly seen in the oneness of the Trinity. In describing this relationship, He condemns those who forsake Him as harlots, adulterers, and prostitutes. Let us study what Jehovah abhors among us in these terms. While this is a long list of sexual sins, it is representative and not a complete list.

Some think if it is not listed in the Bible, it must be approved by Jehovah, not important to Jehovah, or ignored by Jehovah. He is not to be mocked.

Leviticus 20:10  'If there is a man who commits adultery with another man's wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. 

20:11  'If there is a man who lies with his father's wife, he has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death, their blood guiltiness is upon them. 

20:12  'If there is a man who lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed incest, their blood guiltiness is upon them. 

20:13  'If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them. 

20:14  'If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst. Lev 20:15  'If there is a man who lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; you shall also kill the animal. 

20:16  'If there is a woman who approaches any animal to mate with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them. 

20:17  'If there is a man who takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he bears his guilt. 

20:18  'If there is a man who lies with a menstruous woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her flow, and she has exposed the flow of her blood; thus both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

20:19  'You shall also not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for such a one has made naked his blood relative; they will bear their guilt. 

20:20  'If there is a man who lies with his uncle's wife he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness; they will bear their sin. They will die childless. 

20:21  'If there is a man who takes his brother's wife, it is abhorrent; he has uncovered his brother's nakedness. They will be childless. 

There are a few terms that may seem odd to us today. Uncovering nakedness is a Hebrew phrase that refers to having ungodly sex with someone who is not your wife. Clearly, while Jehovah created sex for the intimacy and enjoyment of married couples, it is exclusively reserved to them alone.

Procreation is the primary goal of this sexual union, but Jehovah also created it to be enjoyed as well. As with most everything we do, there is a right way and a lot of wrong ways. This degrading of Jehovah’s plan for sex is also to reveal the decline and degradation of a society, culture, and nation.

Romans 1:21  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 1:22  Professing to be wise, they became fools, 1:23  and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 

The first step away from Jehovah is not honoring or thanking Him. Once you forget to thank Jehovah, you begin your downward decline into depravity.

1:24  Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 1:25  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 

Yes, people still worship idols today. It is not just Hindu shrines or temples that are guilty, but every person who has not unconditionally surrendered to Jesus as their High Priest, King, and Savior.

1:26  For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 1:27  and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 

Jehovah lets go of them into a free fall into this sexual depravity. Once involved in this it is hard, but not too hard for Jehovah, to remove oneself from this abominable trap of Satan.

1:28  And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 1:29  being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 1:30  slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 1:31  without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 

A depraved mind can no longer think realistically or rationally, and certainly not godly or righteously. How else can you understand the depths of this seen today?

Today they are protecting and promoting these sins, that 30-40 years ago weren’t even mentioned in public. Most would have condemned them then, but today even the government is promoting them. No amount of ‘professional’ opinions can turn sin into a virtue.

1:32  and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. 

The wages of sin is death. They all know it, but ignore the warnings and blaspheme the GOD who warns them. Wide roads need to avoided as they all lead to death, eternal separation from Jehovah.

More next Saturday.

Causes, cost, and consequences of sin-6

Sin is often a forgotten topic in today’s churches. We will now look at some of the words Jehovah uses to show His complete denouncement of sin. What does sin look like to a Holy GOD? The first word is detestable which is a thing done to bring disgust and loathsome to Jehovah. What is the penalty for such an act?

Deuteronomy 17:1  "You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep which has a blemish or any defect, for that is a detestable thing to the LORD your God. 

First, worship is a holy act of reverence and honor to Jehovah. What offering you bring must not be contaminated by the world or not worthy of bringing before His throne.

17:2  "If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the LORD your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, by transgressing His covenant, 17:3  and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, which I have not commanded, 

Jehovah is the only true and living GOD. He demands, commands, and deserves all the honor and glory and worship we can offer. He will not share any of this with anyone or anything else. However, Satan has created every other type of worship and idol known to man. The world is deceived into denying worship to Jehovah and instead worshiping other gods, idols, people, etc.

17:4  and if it is told you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly. Behold, if it is true and the thing certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, 17:5  then you shall bring out that man or that woman who has done this evil deed to your gates, that is, the man or the woman, and you shall stone them to death. 

17:6  "On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. 

Jehovah insists on punishing sinners. Here we see that if two or three witnesses confirm this gross violation of Jehovah’s Law, they are to be stoned. Stoning is a very public, community or assembly undertaking. Everyone gathers, not just to watch, but to also throw the stones. Why?

17:7  "The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 

Sin within each of us is like a cancer. It starts small and often goes unnoticed or unrealized. But, it will grow within us and, unless we confess and repent, it will kill us. Within the body of believers, it acts in the same manner. Sinners entice and encourage others to join them in their sin. We are enticed by our flesh, our friends, and sadly to say our leaders. Here is a short passage from Jeremiah that addresses this very important truth.

Jeremiah 23:11  "For both prophet and priest are polluted; Even in My house I have found their wickedness," declares the LORD. 

23:12  "Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment," declares the LORD. 

23:13  "Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.

23:14  "Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah. 

23:15  "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets, 'Behold, I am going to feed them wormwood And make them drink poisonous water, For from the prophets of Jerusalem Pollution has gone forth into all the land.'" 

23:16  Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the LORD. 

Prophets, priests, kings and princes all led people astray, just as they do today. False teachers, bishops, priests, rabbis and pastors join in this detestable act even today.

Jehovah’s warnings are for us today, Do not listen to them! They may say ‘thus says the LORD, but it is not.

More next Saturday.

Causes, cost, and consequences of sin-5

I must apologize as I had to go on an extended trip and just got back on Thursday evening. I am ready to return to our in depth study of sin in the eyes of an holy GOD. We must look into the Law of Jehovah in order to get a clear understanding of our problem in resisting sin.

Romans 7:4  Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 

7:5  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 

7:6  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. 

This is a very confusing and often misinterpreted portion of Holy Scripture. Paul is often misquoted as saying that the Law is no longer valid or important. This is not what Paul is stating. We must carefully look at what Paul is saying in context to get the correct teaching. As we continue in this study, this will become increasingly clearer.

The Law and the curse of the Law are two separate things. We have been released from the Law, which means we are no longer condemned for our imperfect obedience to the Law. Grace is the only way we obtain forgiveness and the only way we receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Not by works.

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2:9  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 

Obedience to the Law can’t save us. Only Jesus Christ perfectly obeyed the Law. However, obedience to the Law confirms our salvation and love for Jesus.

7:7  What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." 

7:8  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 

The Law reveals just how sinful we really are in the eyes of Jehovah. If there were no Law, there would be no condemnation or sin. As mentioned in earlier blogs, Jehovah had instructed Adam and others on the absolute necessity of obedience. Just as He did with Cain, He also condemned the entire world in the flood. There had to be the Law revealed to them in some manner for Jehovah to condemn the entire world.

7:9  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 7:10  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 7:11  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 

What Paul is saying is that once he understood all of the Law it revealed previously unknown desires to sin. It unleashed sinful desires he had not been even aware of within his own body. But, Paul is not blaming the Law; Paul is simply recognizing the ways the sin nature deceives and denies.

7:12  So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 

Here is one of many statements by Paul refuting any one who teaches that the Law in obsolete or evil. The Law is good, holy, and righteous. We need to obey the Law to show our love to Jehovah. The Law leads us to repentance and ultimately to salvation thru grace.

More next Saturday.

Causes, cost, and consequences of sin-4

Sin is an affront to Jehovah. He does not take any sin lightly nor does He look the other way at sin by the redeemed. Since sin is rarely taught in ‘churches’ today, we must go solely to His Word to gain a true biblical understanding of sin and how Jehovah views sin. Our own ideas and beliefs are of little value if not firmly supported in Scripture.

Romans 6:15  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 

There are many false preachers and teachers that actually teach that the more we sin, the more Jehovah is glorified in His provision of grace thru His Son. How can people believe these lies? Grace doesn’t give us freedom to sin, but removes the curse from sin, that is, eternal death. It is purely by the death and resurrection of Jesus that we have been freed from this curse of death, as no one can attain righteousness through his works.

6:16  Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 

Clearly, since Jesus purchased us from the slave block of sin, we now belong to Him as His slaves to His righteousness. He is our divine, eternal Master.

6:17  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 6:18  and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 

You must pass from one to another. You can’t be slaves to both simultaneously.

If you still have strong desires to sin, which you then act upon, you may not be saved. At a minimum, you are turning your back on your salvation.

6:19  I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 

This is a conscious act, a deliberate act, and permanent act. We will at times fall back into sin, but we must quickly confess and turn away. If not, what are telling Jehovah and ourselves?

6:20  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 6:21  Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 

Other than some sensual, emotional, and shallow feelings of prideful accomplishments, what did you derive as eternal benefits of what at one time consumed your every hour?

6:22  But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

We no longer are powerless to resist sin. We have the very Spirit of Jehovah within us. We are the very Temple of Jehovah within us. We have the very words of Jehovah within us.

We can resist sin.

He will help us resist sin.

We must resist sin.

More next Saturday.

All of this and more is covered in my book “The Identity Theft of Christ” available at Amazon. The Table of Contents reveals what is supported by Scripture in Context.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Identity Theft………………………………………….4

Chapter 2 In the Beginning GOD Created…………….………………………………………29

Chapter 3 I AM………………………………………………………………………………………….54

Chapter 4 Thus says the LORD…………………………………………………………………...83

Chapter 5 Do not be Deceived……………………………………………………………………..99

Chapter 6 But the Jews……………………………………………………………………………..110

Chapter 7 Many False Prophets………………………………………………………….……...127

Chapter 8 Above Reproach………………………………………………………………….…….190

Chapter 9 Will not Endure Sound Doctrine…………………………………………….…..207

Chapter 10 Seeks After a Sign…………………………………………………………………….219

Chapter 11 Made Them Male and Female…………………………………………………...239

Chapter 12 No Other Gods…………………………………………………………………….…..267

Chapter 13 Who are My Mother and Brothers?.………………………………………..…307

Chapter 14 Even if an Angel……………………………………………………………………....341

Chapter 15 Being Filled………………………………………………………………………….….372

Chapter 16 The Church…………………………………………………………………………..…403

Chapter 17 Role of the Church……………………………………………………………….…..435

Chapter 18 Remember the Poor……………………………………………………….…….…..461

Chapter 19 All Have Sinned……………………………………………………………….………492

Chapter 20 Wages of Sin…………………………………………………………………….……..520

Chapter 21 But Seek First His Kingdom………………………………………………………543

Chapter 22 My Judgments are True……………………………………………………………560

Chapter 23 But Who Do You say I AM? ....…………………………………………………..478

Chapter 24 Do You Believe?.……………………………………………………………….……..496

Chapter 25 The Gospel of Jesus Christ.………………………………………………………..517

Chapter 26 What Shall I Do to Inherit Eternal Life....……………………….…………..539

Chapter 27 Be Holy…………………………………………………………………………….……..567

Chapter 28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts..………………………………………….……597

List of Citations………………………………………………………………………………613

Notes……………………………………………………………………………………………..615

Causes, cost, and consequences of sin.

The world, even the world of religion, doesn’t like the talk about sin, meditate on sin, or be accused of sinning. It is sad to see so many ‘churches’ even celebrating sin and instead of condemning sin, actually have made it into a virtue.

Loving your ‘brother’ does not include allowing him to die in his sins. Let us continue by studying what Jehovah says about sin.

First, we are all sinners and we continue to sin, even after surrendering to Jesus as our only High Priest, King, and Redeemer. As the whole world is constantly sinning, what separates us from them?

1 John 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 

The world, including all the false religions and false ‘churches’ are blurring the lines of what is sin. Redefining sin in our own terms does not rid us of sin, it only deadens us to our sin.

1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

This is one of the dividing points between true believers and the world of unbelievers. We must confess our sins, not just at the time of salvation, but continually as we still sin. We sin, not because we deny the problem, but because we still struggle with the flesh.

1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. 

Satan is a liar from the beginning. His slaves practice lying all the time. The whole world is full of lies at every level. The present lies as truth and most of the world just accepts it. If the word of Jehovah is not in us, what is in us? What terms doe Jehovah use for sin? Detestable is one of the more common terms He uses.

Deuteronomy 20:17  "But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you,20:18  so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the LORD your God. 

Jehovah not only uses this very graphic term for the sin of the ungodly nations, He instructed and commanded them to destroy these people groups. Their sin left alone would only serve to tempt the Israelites to do the same. Jeremiah was alone to bring Jehovah’s condemnation of Judah before they were carried away to captivity in Babylon.

Jeremiah 32:31  "Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face, 32:32  because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 

What were they thinking? Provoking Jehovah to anger and wrath is the extreme act of foolishness. How could the nation of Judah, after watching Jehovah condemn the 10 northern tribes and letting Assyria carry them off never to return, do the exact same thing?

32:33  "They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction. Jehovah’s patience is remarkable, we would not have been as patient.

What happens to anyone who refuses to listen to, learn from, or receive instruction? They flounder and fail. They become in a godly sense worthless. They can only continue in their self-afflicted ignorance and sin.

32:34  "But they put their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 

What!!! They brought these detestable idols and rituals into Jehovah’s Temple, in Jerusalem! How did they get this far from Jehovah? Where were the priests who were supposed to instruct them in the Law?

32:35  "They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. This is the sad conclusion of letting sin into our lives.

What sin satisfied us yesterday, will not satisfy us tomorrow. Sin like cancer only grows stronger until it has overtaken us and kill us. Unfortunately, sin and cancer often go undetected in their earlier stages. Such is the sad situation in the U.S. and the world today.

Have you confessed your sins today?

What have you been practicing?

Continued next Saturday.

What is Sin? Is the Law still valid today?

Unfortunately there are many false or deceived teachers, preachers, and ‘prophets’ today who loudly proclaim that Jesus abolished the Law? Is that true? Is it important?

What does Jehovah have to say about this? As we continue our study of the causes, costs, and consequences of sin, we must face these questions head on or directly.

Even John MacArthur was in error on the Law and sin in a recent sermon. Let us see what or who is right.

First, what is sin?

1 John 3:4  Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 

This could not be more clear, but what does it say? Sin is lawlessness or without the Law. By ignoring, disobeying, or misinterpreting the value and meaning of the Law we fall into the trap of redefining sin. Disobedience to the Law is Jehovah’s means of condemning sinners. Without the Law there would be no sin.

This was the sticking point for John MacArthur, when he said that there was no Law before Mount Sinai in Exodus 20. If that was true, how could Jehovah condemn to death the entire world, less 8 people, to die in a worldwide flood?

Since disobedience is the key to Jehovah’s righteous judgment and condemnation, the Law had to be known in some form and to some degree! The story of Cain and Abel should help inform us on this very unfortunately controversial matter.

Genesis 4:1  Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." 4:2  Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 

4:3  So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 

4:4  Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 4:5  but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 

4:6  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 

4:7  "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." 

4:8  Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Now as we carefully read this very familiar passage, let us look at it in regards to sin or lawlessness.

First, who instructed them to offer sacrifices? Second, why did Cain’s sacrifice not satisfy Jehovah? Third, Jehovah uses a warning of sin i.e. lawlessness crouching at the door!

What should we conclude? Even though we have no written evidence of Jehovah instructing Adam, Eve, Cain or Abel in the Law we do have evidence that they acted in accordance to what could only have been told them by Jehovah.

Acceptable vs. unacceptable sacrifices.

Cain’s displeasure in having his sacrifice being refused or considered unworthy. We could also say that while Abel followed the Law of Jehovah as he knew it, Cain made up his version i.e. he invented religion instead of trying to deepen his personal relationship with Jehovah. The world continues to do this today with all the ‘religions’ that are man’s way of creating Jehovah in their own image.

We have Jehovah’s warning about the sin being dangerously close to Cain. Finally, we have the end result of sin when it is not addressed according to Jehovah’s righteous commands.

Cain killed his brother! His anger at Jehovah was directed to his brother. Jehovah then punished Cain.

Gen 4:10  He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. 

Genesis 4:11  "Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 4:12  "When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth." 

The one remaining question would be why did Jehovah not kill Cain? We have no written biblical answer to that question. But we do have some other references to inform us.

1 John 3:11  For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 3:12  not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. 

Hebrews 11:4  By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 

What can we now say about sin and Cain? Cain was the evil one! What is evil? How could his deeds be considered evil if there was no understanding of the Law of Jehovah and therefore no definition of what is evil? Clearly Cain knew better because Jehovah had made it known to Adam and Cain.

3:5  You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 3:6  No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 

3:7  Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;3:8  the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 

3:9  No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

3:10  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 

Here we have a final understanding of the dangers and nature of sin. Sin is unrighteousness. Not loving your brother, both natural and spiritual, is sin and unrighteousness. Cain did not love Abel, as he murdered him.

If all of us don’t constantly strive to practice righteousness, by default we are practicing unrighteousness.

This once again brings to mind a much used phrase, “Practice makes perfect”. But, that is not really true. Only perfect practice makes perfect results, i.e. skills, lifestyle choices, and righteousness!

What are you practicing today?

What are you getting better at by your practice?

To be continued next Saturday.

Sorry for the delay, a problem came up.

I could not post this past Saturday but will be back this coming Saturday.

The causes, costs, and consequences of sin!

Sin is not a very common word found in “churches” today. No one really wants the conviction of their sin, but often call for the punishment of those who “sin” against them. Let us start at the beginning to add to our understanding and help us see more clearly how Jehovah sees our sin and His warnings, which often go unheeded.

Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"

As a reminder to all of us, we cannot blame Satan for our own actions and sins. We have free choice, an amazing mind, Bibles everywhere, “churches” in every city in the U.S., and creation, which should leave us amazed and speechless. Needless to say, Satan often starts by questioning our knowledge of Jehovah’s Word.

3:2  The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3:3  but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'" 

Did Jehovah actually say all of this? Where did she come up with not touching this fruit? She had most likely heard this from Adam, but in whatever time has elapsed, either Adam, Eve, or both of them added touching.

Gen 2:16  The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; Gen 2:17  but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." 

3:4  The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! 

We now go from Satan questioning our understanding of what Jehovah said, to now stating that what we had heard was wrong or worse, that Jehovah lied to us.

3:5  "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 

Jehovah never mentioned how to understand what evil meant other than it was opposite of good. Satan presents this as something worthy of pursuing. Jehovah knows both so why shouldn’t Adam and Even know? What is Jehovah withholding from them (and us).

3:6  When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 

While we know that the temptation in of itself is not sin, but by dwelling on it for even a few seconds more can lead to sin.

James 1:13  Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

1:14  But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 

1:15  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 

How long of a look at a beautiful women will it take for many men to go from tempted to sin? How long of a look would it take for women to do the same to a handsome man? What about your friends new car of house? Coveting, lusting, letting anger fester, etc. all our ways temptation leads to sin.

3:7  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 

Eyes open to entice you to sin is not a good thing.

R Zaccharias — 'Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

More next Saturday.

The Lost Tribes of Israel-26

We are now coming to the close of this particular study. We have studied the appropriate passages in both the New Testament and Old or First Testament. I believe we have one more passage that confirms what we have already studied in great detail. We will start with Jehovah’s initial command or charge to the nation of Israel in Exodus

Exodus 19:5  'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 

As with all of Jehovah’s commands and promises of blessings, we begin with the one unchangeable, undeniable requirement for obedience. The blessings are conditional to the obedience.

19:6  and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." 

Did the nation of Israel, which includes the house of Judah and house of Israel, ever become this kingdom of priests and a holy nation?

The sad answer is that it did not because they did not obey. But now in the New Testament something has changed. This is not an ethnic change but an inward spiritual change.

1 Peter 2:9  But you are A CHOSEN RACE,

Peter is writing to a ‘church’ or better said, an assembly, that they are all chosen. No one comes on their own desires or works.

A royal PRIESTHOOD,

This is a very important change in that we are all now part of a royal priesthood. We are not priests in an earthly temple as we are the temple of Jehovah. We are royal because we serve our great High Priest and King.

A HOLY NATION,

Totally separate, totally different, and ultimately pure and undefiled by the world.

A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION,

We have been bought with an infinite cost, the sacrifice of our Redeemer on a cross who has been raised to the right hand of the Father. He is now sitting not standing and there is no more sacrifices needed or required.

so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

What is Jehovah’s purpose for choosing us? We are to proclaim what is now evident within us. We are to share our knowledge of Him and praise of Him. Lightness only comes from Jehovah, without Him there is only darkness, the realm of Satan.

2:10  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE,

This tells all of us, who are not considered ethnic connected, that this historical separation is now over. Only by Jehovah’s grace is this possible.

but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;

Only Jehovah can identify, declare, and confirm this new reality. In fact, only true believers in the Messiah are in truly the people of Jehovah. Ethnicity, as we have learned, does not allow us to enter into this new reality.

you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY,

We were all alienated from Jehovah. From the beginning of His redemption from Egypt, only one nation did He choose. But, now salvation has come to all who accept His gift of mercy.

but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Grace is unmerited mercy. We cannot earn it. We certainly don’t deserve it. Yet, He offers it to all who come to His Son. All of these marvelous truths are now ours.

The original priesthood had to be from the tribe of Levi and from the sons of Aaron. Jesus changed all of that. What Israel could not do has now been done to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We are the Temple of Jehovah’s Spirit. The Holy of Holies is internal not external. All true believers have received all mentioned above.

There is no distinction and no hierarchy. We are all equal in worth at the throne of Jehovah.

Come back next Saturday as we begin a new study on the causes, costs, and consequences of sin.

The Lost Tribes of Israel-25

We are coming to a close in the Biblical truth about the true Israel and the true Jew. As we have learned, the true believer in Jesus Christ as their High Priest, King, and Redeemer is the true spiritual Israel. As previously mentioned, there is just one ‘church’, one body of Christ, and one Israel. We will now look at more references as to the one body of Christ and what that means to all of us.

Romans 12:3  For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 

Once again we are reminded of being both united in faith and humbled by our faith. There is no hierarchy of faith. All are equal before the LORD. All that we have is a gift from GOD, none of our talents or gifts can we claim as our own. They are GOD given for His glory not ours. Now we know that we have to exercises our gifts for GOD to receive the glory, so we are not to be idle but must be active in using our gifts.

12:4  For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 12:5  so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 

Again we are reminded of the one body, even as we are each unique members. A body that doesn’t have use of all of its functions of its members would be considered handicapped.

12:6  Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 12:7  if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 12:8  or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 

Everyone is given one or more gifts from GOD, but no one gets to choose their gifts nor does anyone get all the gifts. As all are needed, it is imperative that everyone needs to use their gifts accordingly.

Ephesians 4:1  Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 4:2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 4:3  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Paul begins this teaching with the somber reminders that we need to walk i.e. live in a humble manner to the very unique and specific calling from GOD. Here we read the emphasis on unity. Satan hates unity of the body so has many schemes to divide us in a myriad of ways. Our sinful flesh often agrees with his schemes and to the world we look like we cannot agree. You may have heard critics of the ‘church’ say that we all have the same Bible but all interpret to our own desires and purposes.

4:4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 4:5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Once again we are reminded of the oneness of our calling. There are not two or three bodies, even though it may look like it to the world. We all need to rethink why there is so much division in the true body of Christ.

How does GOD view this disunity?

4:7  But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Paul closes with this amazing reminder.

All we have has been specifically given to us by Jesus Christ. It is all a gift. A gift we neither deserve or can earn. All we can do is humbly, thankfully, and reverently just need to accept.

We may be on our last study next Saturday on the true Israel.

The Lost Tribes of Israel-24

I am sorry to be so late with this posting, my wife’s mother had to go to the ER with internal bleeding yesterday and the day just got away from me. We have now studied all of the most noted verses on Israel, Judah, and what it truly means to be a Jew. All point to two realities as we study further.

First, the ethnic line is in apostasy and will remain so until the Millennial Kingdom. The nation of Israel as we know it today is an idolatrous, ungodly, unrighteous nation that still denies their Messiah.

Second, the more important spiritual Israel is made up true believers in Jesus Christ as their King and High Priest. To further emphasize that point, we will now go to the lesser referenced verses and teachings.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27  For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. 

Baptism into just one body, not one for Israel and another for Judah and another for Christians. Jews and Greeks (all others) are united into the very body of Christ, the Church here on earth.

If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 

And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 

If they were all one member, where would the body be? Not everyone has the same gifts but we are all members. As with our own body, each member is vitally important in order for us to function fully.

But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 

This dispels the false notion that we don’t need one another. The ‘Church’ rarely teaches this even as it calls all to unity, usually unity in the local church.

On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,  whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.

But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 

Only true Christians can actually feel or experience this connection with other true believers. It is the working of the Holy Spirit within us. It is not of our own desire or work.

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. 

We are one body, one true church, yet we are also individuals. Yet, we need the rest of the body as much as the body needs us to fulfill its divine calling.

No racial division, no age division, no ethnicity division, no division due to prior lives, financial standings, or educational degrees. There are no Republicans or Democrats in Heaven.

More next Saturday.

The Lost Tribes of Israel-23

Last week, we left off as Jehovah instructed Moses to get the people ready to hear Him give His commandments to them. His initial instructions were very insightful, as He demanded complete adherence in preparation to His coming and His message. Nothing has changed in regard to His requirements as we must also come to Him on His terms alone. So while many will think I don’t need to read or hear these commandments, as I have heard them all before. Let us hear them with open eyes, ears and minds.

Exodus 20:1  Then God spoke all these words, saying, 20:2  "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 

20:3  "You shall have no other gods before Me.20:4  "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 

20:5  "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

20:6  but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 

20:7  "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. 

These first three must remain first or obeying the rest is futile and useless. There is only one true and living God. He begins by reminding them that just 90 days earlier, He brought them out of Egypt. While He used Moses and Aaron, it was Jehovah that performed all the miracles/plagues before them and destroyed the entire Egyptian army right before their eyes.

20:8  "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 20:9  "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 20:10  but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 20:11  "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. 

Most fail to understand the importance of the fourth commandment. It is the longest commandment. It is a reminder of what Jehovah did during the seven days of creation. It is not, as some teach, only for the ‘Jews’.

You may want to do some research as to the meaning and history of what we have come to know as the seven days of the week. Jehovah numbered 6 days and gave a name, the Sabbath, to the 7th day. Satan renamed all seven after the very gods he created to take worship away from Jehovah.

20:12  "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 

20:13  "You shall not murder. 

20:14  "You shall not commit adultery. 

20:15  "You shall not steal. 

20:16  "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 

20:17  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." 

There are come interesting points to make here include that the last ones are directed toward our relationship to fellow men and women, while first four are specific to our relationship to Jehovah.

Coveting is the last commandment and the only one that does not fall under the death penalty. Why? I believe that is true because as we let coveting fester in our hearts, minds, and bodies, we eventually will soon violate the other commandments, whereby we will fall under the death penalty.

20:18  All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. 

20:19  Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die." 

20:20  Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin." 

20:21  So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where GOD was. 

Not only did the arrival of GOD strike fear into the hearts of the people, but His voice struck them with terror. Just hearing the voice of GOD made them fear for their lives.

20:22  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. 

20:23  'You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. 

20:24  'You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 

20:25  'If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it. 20:26  'And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it.' 

What can we learn from this reminder by GOD?

These commandments were emphasized because in just 40 days, they would violate every one of them.

All of this was already known by GOD, but not by Moses, Aaron, or the people.

Promises of blessings, covenants from GOD, and protection by GOD are all dependent of obedience to GOD.

As we have studied so far, the true sons of GOD are those who worship Him in Spirit and truth, which demands obedience to all matters to Him.

More next Saturday.