A Proper View of Life and Death

Have you ever stopped and considered what defines your life?  By that I mean what are you known by, what is your character?  What defines our lives is what we live for.  Whether it is material possessions, money, fame, work, your family, church, pleasure, your self – the one thing that is central to your existence.  It is not what you say you live for but what your life shows that you live for.

Life is very short yet some bad decisions can make life very long.  Either way eternity is longer and what we do in this life follows us to some extent into eternity.

HOW WE  LIVE MATTERS!

When there is someone that we know who seems to die before their time, have you ever asked why God would allow that to happen to them.  Maybe the right question is “why did God let me live?”  For what purpose are you alive. 

How should we live and How should we die?

Jesus left us with a pattern to follow:

He lived a perfect life so that God could treat Him as if He had lived my sin – so that God could treat me as if I had lived His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is the pattern we are to follow – so what is that going to look like in our lives?

We often sing about magnifying Christ.  I always thought of that in the same terms as exalt.  It finally dawned on we one day that it means magnify as in a magnifying glass.   You see most people don’t see the relevance of God – in other words what does He have to do with my life?  People have obstacles that skew their view of reality- things like earning more money, playing and enjoying life, living for themselves.  Both believers and non-believers can fall into this mode.  It is our job to magnify Christ to them.  So how do we do it?  Number one we have to remove the obstacles out of our own lives so that we aren’t one to others.  We call this being a HYPOCRITE.  So that by what we say and do people can see Christ in our lives.

Paul explained this in Acts 17:24-27 that the reason God has placed each one of us where we are is so that we might find Him that we sometimes seem as very far away when the reality is He is very near.  Kind of like that right side mirror in your car.  It says things in the mirror are closer than they appear.  Our vision is distorted by SIN.  We want to be a clear magnifier of Jesus. 

Paul while writing the book of Philippians is jailed and likely to die soon, but his was his observation – that the gospel had reached the palace guard and even into the household of Caesar.  All because of the way he lived while facing death.  He puts in this way to Live is Christ to Die is Gain.  Either way he won. 

People must be able to see a difference in those of us who call ourselves by the name of Christ.  They can’t be left wandering or confused.  God put you right where he wanted – the mission field is right where you live every day.  What does this world see in your day to day life. 

This is the BOTTOM LINE of my thoughts of to how we are to live:

Love does what it does not have to do to those who don’t deserve it.  This is the pattern Christ gave us!

Your life is not to be defined by circumstances surrounding you, but rather your life is defined by how you live in the midst of your circumstance and adversity.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain….27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel

 

sherman

Why Do Bad Things Happen

It wasn’t always this way.  You know, the pain and suffering in this old world.  Each one us can recount story after story of things gone wrong in our lives through “no fault” of our own.  Why is it that bad things happen?

Well before Adam and Eve decided to disobey God all of creation was in perfect harmony.  After that things just went from bad to worse.  Man got kicked out of the garden, but didn’t learn his lesson.  Next thing we know man has gotten more and more sinful until there is only one godly family left in the world.  Perhaps you have heard of Noah.  More catastrophe came upon the earth because of the sinfulness of man.  The entire world was destroyed except those in the ark.  Look at where we have ended up since then.  Man got together and started to build a tower to heaven in Babel when he was commanded by God to go out to all the earth, what did he do but all settle down in one place.  God confused the languages and caused the people to scatter over the face of the earth.  Sometimes when people don’t obey God simply intervenes to change their minds.

So down to this day animals are fearful of men, this happened after the flood.  Men and women try to rule over one another, this happened at the fall.  Man seeks to set up a god like himself, this started in the heart of Satan.  So here we are today in a world that has been subjected to the sinful consequences of man’s rebellion against God.  Just like these horrible tornados that passed through the Tennessee Valley last week.  This world is in constant turmoil.  Pain and suffering, misery and disease plague man all because of sin.  Its not that any of you have done anything in particular that was bad that the tornados came, but rather a long-term consequence to the rebellious nature of man.

So what do we do about?  Is there anything we can do about it?  None of this took God by surprise.  So Why?  SO What?

God has given us all things in our lives to get our attention.  To help us look towards Him.  Man never has had much use for God when things are going his way.  God uses the things in life to draw us to Himself, to grow us up to be like Jesus, to help us long to be with Him in eternity.  This old world is not our final home.  We are just passing through.  You can either live for yourself and die in your sins or you can die to yourself and live to the glory of God.  There is no middle ground, and God is only going to wait so long for you to come to your right mind.

God offers you eternal life beginning today.  A life whose joy is independent of the pain and chaos in this world.  That joy is rooted in belonging to Him for eternity not in the fleeting circumstances of this short life.  God spared you this last week for a reason.  And it wasn’t so you could live for yourself.  If you don’t know Him you may not get another wakeup call.  If you do know Him where are you at in your walk?  These are matters of eternal significance don’t blow it off – you may not get another chance.

 

Romans 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

 

sherman

Supersizing or Downsizing

 

The word of God can be a times difficult to properly interpret.  We must be careful to pay close attention to the complete context and surrounding text.  Many times people will either over emphasize a particular teaching or minimize the intent of a passage.  As an example I would like to take a look at one particular passage of scripture in the New Testament, Mark 4:3-20.  This scripture has been taught from many different view points.  The first view point I would like to examine is the minimizing view.

Some preachers teach that there are three types of “saved soil” represented.  They consider that only the first type of soil “by the road” where the seed is taken away by the birds represents the unsaved.  This position sees the next two soils as backslidden Christians.  True believers that have let things get in their way of following Christ.  and they might would say the last type is the believer that is actively following God.  This is an example of minimizing the impact of the words of Christ.  If we just look at Christ’s own explanation it becomes clear that the first three soil types are all unbelievers because the only soil that produces good fruit is the final one.  Not only that but not everyone in the last category produces the same amount.  The key point is that they all produce something.  Verse 16 makes clear the connection between the first and second types of soil.  The third type is a bit more difficult in that there appears to be something going on, but nothing is being produced.  These are likely representative of the unsaved within the congregation – tares among the wheat.  They look the part, say the right things, but their heart is completely entangled in the affairs of this world they are the religious that have an appearance of godliness but there is no power in them. Next we will consider the supersizing of this teaching.

Still others will look at this with such overemphasis that they cannot leave any room for Christians that do struggle with remaining sin in their life yet have proof of God’s redemption in their heart.  There is a reason that the master commands his servants not to rip up the tares from the wheat.  They would likely pull up and destroy some who are truly God’s children in the process.  We really cannot tell which is which until they reach maturity.  The point really is that we must be aware that there are unsaved masquerading as the real deal and that we are called to examine our own faith and see if it is real.  You don’t need to be trusting in a persons affirmation that your faith is real, but knowing it because of the living relationship you have with Christ.  Another position that has been taken is that since there are only four types of soil and that only one type is truly regenerated then only 25% of all humanity will be saved.  This again is not the point of the passage to name a number, in fact it may well be much lower percentage than that – just consider the narrow and wide gate scripture.  So what is the point of this passage.

In verses 13-20 Christ Himself tells us just what this text means without any ambiguity.  The first He tells us in verse 13 is that there is something in this parable that will be critical to understanding all of the other parables.  So what is it that we must understand from this parable?  Not everyone who hears the gospel will be saved.  Not everyone who says a prayer and walks an isle posses eternal life.  We cannot always tell the difference between real and fake Christians.  Every true believer will produce good works as a result of their salvation not as a condition for receiving salvation. 

Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Every true believer will produce good works as a result of their salvation not as a condition for receiving salvation.  Hearing then receiving the word will always produce a life that desires to OBEY God.

I believe that most people have good intentions when they supersize or downsize a section of scripture.  Seeing it as either too harsh that there is no way that is what is meant or they key in on a singular doctrine and concentrate so much on that one doctrine that they almost ignore the rest.  It is never love to soften the force of scripture nor is it love to hammer home some pet doctrine.  We need to let the word of God clearly speak for itself consistently interpreting scripture with scripture.

Basic hermeneutics (that means how we interpret the Bible) is simply this read the scripture in complete context that means the entire book of the Bible where it is located and in light of what the rest of scripture declares on that subject.  If you read something and the meaning seems right and makes sense then you likely have the right sense of the passage.

The bottom line is there are some very wonderful promises  and very real consequences in scripture.  Just because we have trouble accepting or understanding something doesn’t make it wrong.  The point of growing in Christ is to become more and more like Him, not to somehow conform God into some image of Him that we have to make Christianity compatible with our own beliefs.

Read the word faithfully, pray for clarity and understanding, obey what you already understand and you will grow more and more into the image of Christ.

sherman

The Whole Counsel of GOD

 

Ezekiel 2:7 "But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. 8 "Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.

Have you ever been around a preacher or teacher that seems to hit the same topic over and over again.  I am not speaking of the gospel, but of something such as tithing, modest clothing, love, or sovereignty.  Really it could be most anything.  But they seem to go out of their way to bring up the subject not matter the section of scripture or the topic. 

Maybe it was a teacher or preacher that will tend to skip over sections of scripture that might be controversial or difficult.  Or it might be that they never go to some subjects at all due to fear of upsetting somebody. In either case we have an out of balance view of scripture.

Yet there is another group that seems to teach every doctrine down to the smallest detail, yet they lack any application of what they know.  They seem to get lost in having all the right doctrines and somehow they think that is enough (Revelation 2:4 – they have lost their love).  This application anemia is killing many reformed churches today.

We cannot pick and choose what we like and exclude what we don’t.  The church today suffers from a lack of knowledge and a lack of application.  You don’t have to go out of your way to hammer home some pet doctrine.  You shouldn’t be afraid to speak the truth in a loving manner, no matter the audience.  We should expect that people who trust in Christ for salvation should grow in Christ-likeness as well.  The same power that saves us, makes us able and yearning to obey.

It all starts at the Word of God.  In your own personal studies do you skip over something that might be convicting or key in only to those things that apply to someone else.  God wants us to grow up into a mature believer in all ways, not just in a few.  That means sometimes we are going to have to hear some difficult teachings, repent, be more diligent at following, pay attention to our own lives (others do).

So why this topic?  I was reading in Ezekiel 1-2 this morning.  I noticed particularly that God gave a message to Ezekiel.  He even told him that they wouldn’t listen to Him.  He even warned him not to be stubborn and stiff necked like them.  It made me examine myself.  How to do I approach scripture?  Do I teach the whole counsel of God – starting with myself?  You and I are accountable to God with what we teach to ourselves, family, friends, classes, churches, etc.…

Obey what you know.  Learn what scripture says and put it into practical application in your life.  Teach what you have learned to someone else and help bring them along as you follow Christ. You are teaching others something just by what you live out.  None of us were meant to do this alone.

Acts 20:26 "Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Saying All The Right Things

Ever walk into a church with all of the right doctrines, ministries, associations and trappings.  From the outside everything looks like it is right where it is supposed to be – sounds like the way a lot of people are when they go to church.  An outward conformity to a list of rules or a set of principles – but missing the heart.  It is symptomatic of our society.  We all want to be accept and to excel in the eyes of others.

This all came to mind today when I visited a church out here in California.  It was a reformed theology church.  Their focus above the entrance – the five SOLAS – Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, the Glory of God Alone.  Very true thing, very good things, this is the way they wanted to be known.  But it appeared to me in my short visit that somewhere in the process they had lost their heart.

God speaks of this in Revelation 2:1-7.  The church of Ephesus had a lot of things going for them:  good deeds, hatred of false teachers, perseverance for the things of Christ, but they lost something in the process.  It is something all of us can lose sight of, it slips away so quietly and easily while in our minds we are doing the work of Christ.

“They Lost Their First Love”

So what are we to do?  Jesus says to them remember where you came from, who you were when Christ saved you, repent and go back to the basics of loving Christ, spending time in the word getting to know Him, slowing down enough to listen to Him.  Peter sums it up this way in 2 Peter 1:1-15:  Our lives start with the foundation of faith and in all things that we do it is to look like love.  When we forget to love God with everything we have and to love others better than ourselves we have misrepresented God and the Gospel. 

So where are you at in your walk?  Does your life look like love?  Do you need to repent and go back to the basics?

Think about it.  I know I am.  Examine yourself before God does it for you. 

Does your life look like love – the love of God?

sherman

Music and the Christian

 

These are a few thoughts on Christian Music. First I think it is worth mentioning that not all Christian music is designed for cooperate worship. Some is intended for the individual consumption (maybe in the car) and some for the concert stage. The intentional design of some music may very well be for a specific target audience in a specific environment. Whether the music is for use in cooperate worship or not, these are all legitimate venues for Christian music.

(1)What about the tune? Is the tune easy to remember? Does it reflect the words of the song?

- Have you ever tried singing Oh Happy Day to the original tune from the 1700’s? It sounds extremely somber and sad. There are many excellent hymns from years past. There is nothing wrong with updating the music tune. Some people will prefer the old tunes and the old hymns – there’s nothing wrong with that.

(2) Can I understand the words?

- I cannot understand the Farsi language. Many people who have not been raised in the church and utilized the KJV bible may have some difficulties to comprehend the archaic English language. The message and the music need to be relevant to the audience, this means comprehendable.

(3) Are the lyrics doctrinally sound?

- No Hersey Allowed. That being noted, that doesn’t mean every song has to dig to the deepest depths of theological knowledge. They might even be a little light on doctrine yet heavy on basic praise. Go check out the Psalms.

(4) What about music designed to evoke emotional response and appeal to the sense?

- Ever heard Handel's Messiah, been moved by an Easter musical. What most people really object to in this category is music with a beat or plugged in. This isn’t about evoking an emotional response – its about people that don’t like that rock music. It is simply people trying to make a preference law. Any good tune is design to convey and evoke the emotion of the lyrics..

(8) What about empty repetition?

- I have no idea how "Praise God" or lyrics such as those from Revelation 5:11-14 would ever get old or be considered empty. Yet these are the types of complaints I have heard from people on modern worship music. So unless you're expecting something to happen because you keep saying it – its not a bad thing.

(9) What about musical instruments?

- I touched on this one once before. Some people think it should be acapella, others only piano and organ. This is about preference not biblical mandate. Just because you don’t find a particular instrument or style to minister to you doesn’t invalidate it. Many of these Christians in Rock and Metal music are reaching people you or I never could. Try getting to know them before you toss them aside because of their looks and music.

Finally, there is great liberty in music for the Christian. Most of us spend our time trying to invoke our own convictions as law on others. That needs to come to a halt. If you can’t defend it clearly from scripture then it is just an opinion and not binding. We need to apply the same measure to this medium as any other (i.e. TV). Is it edifying? Do you have a clear conscience before God?

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

The Purpose of Prayer 


Some people think that prayer is a personal wish maker that you turn on and off. Others see it as something reserved only for those big emergencies. Still others think that the more people praying on an issue the more likely they are to get their way with God. Even though the prayer of a single righteous man is very powerful and effective (James 5:16).On the far end are those who believe in the sovereignty of God so much that they see no need to pray, “God will do what God will do” – so they ignore the command to pray (Ephesians 6:18).

So then what is the purpose of prayer?

God wants us to pour out our hearts before his throne. He cares for our needs, struggles, pain and desires. He wants us to do the same for others and bring those to him as well. He even brings things into our lives that will drive us to our knees, drive us closer to His heart. As He answers our prayers in His timing and His way - He wants to hear our joy and praises as well.

So again why pray?

1. We need it. Quite frankly we cannot live in this world of pain and sorrow apart from a vibrant relationship to God. How can we know Him if we don’t commune with Him. It is or pathway of communication, blessing and understanding.

2. We were never meant to be self sufficient and self serving. We are to be involved in the lives of others. Helping to bear their burdens. Praying for them in their situation, for another’s salvation, for understanding, and peace.

3. We are commanded to do so for our own good. God wants us involved with what He is doing in our midst. To see faith turned into reality (John 11:40). It connects us with the lives of other believers nearby and far away. More involvement in prayer means more people are involved in praise. We get to share more in God’s work.

4. As we commune with God our thoughts become more like His. We pray in concert with His will not for our own selfish motives.

So what is the purpose of prayer? It is to conform our thoughts, concerns, and desires into becoming more and more align with those of Christ. It is so that we and others may give more praise, honor and glory to God as we see Him move in our midst. May God conform and transform us so that we may be vessels of mercy that may minister to the saints and the lost.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Do You Trust God?

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

God has this way of working in my life that leaves me uneasy many times.  He calls me to do things that I am unequipped to do, at least in my fleshlyness.  The root of the problem is a lack of faithfulness in my life in the small things.  The things that I know to do but don't.  God calls us to love others and to treat them better than ourselves, to sacrifice for His glory and the good of others when it is inconvenient.  He wants me to forgive others just as I have been forgiven.  That means restoring a relationship as if the offence had never occurred, opening myself up to be hurt again.  Jesus tells us to look at His life and go and do likewise.

This something that we cannot do without strong abiding faith in Christ.  Trusting in Him for both the power to do what He has called us to do and that He will do in us exactly what He promised to do.  He wants us to trust Him.  Faith isn't really faith until you have to stepout into it.  When you have nothing else to hold onto - to depend on.  It will either strengthen and grow or crumble because it was never real.

We have got to learn to be faithful in obeying what we already know to do.  To depend on Christ to give us the grace to do what we already know to do.  The power to obey is not resident within ourselves, but must come from the indwelling power of God's Spirit.

Simple actions of faithful obedience will cause us to find faith the kind of faith that can take us through anything that God calls us to do.  Start with the basics, major on the minors.  Spend time in pray and in His word to find out what he is calling you to be obedient in today.

Pearls and Pigs

Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.


This is one of those scriptures that bothered me.  It didn't seem to fit the context.  Everyone seemed to avoid it when they preached through this section.  Well after many years one day it just seemed to fit really nice and make sense.  If we don't break up the natural flow of the scripture, just prior to this Jesus was teaching about judging righteously.  How to be spirtitually concerned for God's glory in your life and in the life of others.  The idea of understanding our low standing before a High and Holy God.  That we ourselves are as suspectible to falling into sin as any other.

So the meaning here is really very simple.  Don't try to apply godly standards to those that are not rue disciples of Christ.  Only those that have been redeemed will receive and rightly respond to humble rebuke and restoration.  Those that are comfortable in sin - it is just who we all were at one time or another - will not only reject the rebuke but will proceed to tell you where to go, how to get there and help you along the way.

So remember.  We are to gentle rebuke, admonish and restore a brother or sister taken by sin.  We have no buisness trying to apply godly truths to the ungodly.  The only turth they can hear and respond to is their need for a Savior - Jesus Christ.  Give them the gospel not judgement.  Show them they are damned inspite of their sinful life - but because they have rejected the Son of God.

Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

Broken Pieces

To choose self over Christ was me
Till broken over my sin forever it will be
Broken, poor wretched and blind
All of my wickedness exposed in my mind
The Spirit has shone in the darkness of my heart
I flee to the Cross to the One who paid my sins part
Unable to save myself from Hell
It is only in Christ all becomes well
He has made me a son of the King
Nothing to my Salvation can I bring
I lift up praise to the Holy One
It is all that I want in life or death – His face to gaze upon
Let me live all my days for the glory of God – to please Him alone
My life is His until I reach that glorious Throne
May my life be found pleasing to You
For it is only by your power any good I can do!

sherman

A Life Set Apart by Repentance

Mark 6:14King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." 15Others said, "He is Elijah." And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago." 16But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"

A believer, a disciple, a repenter - These terms are synonymous in describing a true Christian. One who has been born again and saved through the sole work of Christ.

In Matthew chapter 4 verse 17 we find this statement:
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Consider this as the mission statement of Jesus Christ The Messiah. This was His message to a lost and dying world. This is the message that comes to the sinner. Without repentance their will be found no salvation.

The word “REPENT” is missing from the church (in general not specific) today. At a recent concert the lead singer proclaim the vastness of God’s love to the audience. But there was a word missing - repentance. I have researched this particular band and found that the idea of repentance and sin is indeed in their songs and ministry – but during this event seemed to be left out. I will not judge the messengers heart-this may have been just what one there needed to hear from God. We tend to still focus on God’s love in evangelism without addressing God’s holiness and our utter wretched sinfulness. Let us not omit the “R” word.

This is inconsistent to the message that Christ brought to this earth. It is indeed a message of hope, love and deliverance, but if one just tries to add Christ to their lives that is not biblical salvation. A verse in Colossians puts it this way:

Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

When Christ who is our life – not when Christ who is part of our lives. We cannot afford to fail to convey to someone their lostness and utter inability to save themselves. The message of repentance has been left out of the pulpit and out of evangelism – even more disparaging out of the life of professing believers. This has produced pews full of those who profess to know Christ when they live lives that are a walking contradiction to their claim.

The life of one who names the name of Christ should above all things be marked by being filled up with repentance. Those who understand their wicked core and inability to live holy apart from the work of Christ will be lives marked by repentance. They will seek to die to selfishness, the desires of God will become their own, they will learn to love Christ’s ways more than their own way. Scripture could not be clearer that the life of the believer is to be marked by obedience to a Holy Lord.

Luke 6:46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

We have entered into a state of easy-believeism. This is directly related to a low view of God’s holiness. We are to walk in a manner consistent with “Who Christ Is!”Join with Christ we are to live a life of dying to sin, a life of yearning for holiness and a life of repentance. The way in which we run hard after these things is by living a life of repentance. We turn from sin, and we do righteousness. We confess our sins, not to avoid the wrath of God – this was dealt with at the cross-, but because our loving heavenly Father hates sin. We are forgiven of all our sins, we have union with Christ, and the way in which we grow in Christ toward holiness is by living lives of humble submission to his way not our own.

So why that particular verse at the beginning? Our message is the same to all sinners – of whom we were once ourselves. The message will inevitable be rejected by some, misunderstood by others, held in high esteem by more, and embrace by a few.

Herod loved to listen to John the Baptist. He acknowledged he was from God. He was even distressed at killing him. Yet he loved his sin more. But the message haunted him. The message that brings life he hated. Yet sin became all the more strong, as he later killed James and then sought to murder Peter.

Let us not fail to preach the whole counsel of God. Forgiveness-Yes. Love-Yes. But do not omit Repentance and impending judgment. Do not have the blood of men on your hands so as to ease the message and avoid rejection.

Christ was rejected and persecuted-even unto death. If you belong to Him do not expect to be treated any differently as you hold out the words of life.

sherman

What is Complete Biblical Forgiveness?

“Forgive and forget” this is the old saying. Many times putting this into practice is much harder. It can be difficult to truly reconcile with one whom we’ve had conflict. Many of us can just have trouble letting some things. When the hurt runs deep true forgiveness can be a real challenge. To “forgive” while refusing to reconcile with the other person is no forgiveness at all. Intentional Reconciliation

15When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!" 16So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father charged before he died, saying, 17'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." 19But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? 20"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21"So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50

This familiar passage gives us a pattern of biblical forgiveness. Joseph, hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, is placed in a position great power by God’s design. Instead of planning out his revenge, Joseph forgives and embraces his brothers. No one would have blamed him for holding a grudge, but Joseph shows how God’s love reigns in his life.

Our Number One Priority

22"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Matthew 5.

Jesus makes it extremely clear that for believers, failure or refusal to reconcile is not an option – it is sin. Jesus teaches that is doesn’t even matter who is at fault in any disagreement; the believer is responsible to attempt to resolve the conflict. Christ goes on to say that a believer has no place at worship as long as he or she knows that there is an existing unresolved conflict with another. His instruction is that the worshiper must leave and pursue reconciliation with that person. Only after this is he or she to return to worship. This excludes the excuse of needing time or ignoring the other person. No this is direct interaction /communication with active forgiveness/reconciliation.

Complete Forgiveness God’s Way

12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13(bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15Let)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3

Paul explains what type of forgiveness is acceptable to God in the scripture as well as in Ephesians. When it comes to granting forgiveness, there are no exceptions. The scripture clearly teaches that believers must always be characterized by the same attitudes and characteristics that are in Christ. They must forgive those who wronged them — EXACTLY in the same manner that they had been forgiven by Christ.

In many ways, these can be hard words for us to hear. For some of us, these passages do exactly what they are intended to do — remind us of forgiveness that we have refused to grant and to remember the forgiveness we have received. We did not pursue Christ’s forgiveness – rather He pursued us! What are we to do when … we are wronged — or worse yet, someone we care about is wronged — and we get angry. We may confront the offender. We want him or her to hurt like we hurt to endure an acceptable amount of punishment. So what happens? We “hold” and often “nurse a grudge.” Every time we see, hear about or think of him or her, the anger reignites inside of us and that old wound is reopened. We are not the judge. Do not set yourself above God. He has commanded our action. He and He alone is the righter of wrongs. Allow His grace to work you through the wrong to true forgiveness. Within yourself you would be unable to do what only God can command and give us the power to obey.

If you don’t forgive then where is the “fruit of the Spirit”? — To display any other type of attitude fails to honor and glorify God. It is SIN! When we try to do it in our own flesh we will fail. The resentment we keep inside can make us physically and emotionally ill – it will affect those we love. This will only serve to separate us from fellowship with God. It impairs our ability to be led by the Holy Spirit.

God’s Word make this truth very clear- if we call ourselves followers of Christ, we have to forgive those whom we feel have done us wrong. What then if the other person refuses our attempt to make things right? That part is not up to us — we can’t force reconciliation, but be sure you have truly attempted with all of your heart and have left no doubt in the other person’s mind of your intentions.

By an act of desire to love Christ and to fulfill His commands to love one another while relying on the power of the indwelling Spirit, we must forgive as Jesus has forgiven us. This means complete forgiveness. Complete restoration of the relationship. This means a willingness to be hurt again and again. Just as Christ has done for us every time we return to Him seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. He doesn’t tell us that after we have proven ourselves and earned His trust that He will fellowship with us again. NO! It is complete forgiveness – strings attached. We are called to this level of forgiveness. This is true forgiveness - it is in an expression of grace. Only then will we understand what it means to have “peace of Christ ruling in our hearts.”

sherman

The Nature of Love

1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.8 Above all, akeep fervent in your love for one another, because blove covers a multitude of sins.9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

If you are sober (realizing the our unworthiness of the grace we have received - and the serious need of the message we bear) in spirit and having sweet communion with God, then you ought to be looking where that should lead us to - to a love fervent.

The word "fervent," ektenes, means to be stretched, to be strained.

It means intense, strenuous, reaching as far as you can reach to the limit of your capacity. Since you are a Christian and since being a Christian means you love the brethren, "fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again." This is a fundamental Christian truth. He is not speaking a fluffy kind of sentimentalism which some used to call "sloppy agape". Peter is talking about a demanding love. He's talking about an intense love. He is talking about a sacrificial love.

So just how do you accomplish this feat? You first have to get over yourself. You have to be willing to love the unlovely, the unlovable, loving your enemies, loving those who despised you, loving when it seems unreasonable, loving to the point of sacrifice - to where it costs and it hurts. This means loving the unlovable in spite of insult, in spite of injury, in spite of being rejected, in spite of being mistreated and misrepresented.

1 Corinthians 13 puts it this way: "Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never fails."

It can take anything from anyone at any time. It believes the best. It hopes for the best. It endures the worst.

Why love the brethren this way? "Because love covers a multitude of sins." Love forgives and forgives and forgives.

Proverbs 10:12. "Hatred stirs up strife but love covers all sins."

Love always hides a multitude of sins. Why did God show mercy to us? Why did God forgive our sins?

Ephesians 2:4-5 "For His great love where with He loved us."

Do you want to live right before God? To be biblically and spiritually minded. To have deep in communion with Christ. Then be so full of overflowing love that you cover sin. This is not speaking of an unrepentant person. But rather we are not to be more anxious to point out sin than we are to cover it over.

Hatred, selfishness both stir up strife. Selfishness will stir up strife. Love will cover up sin in silence.

The whole spirit of this is much bigger than just those we are like, it's embracing the fact that we are to love people outside our normal circle and to do it without grumbling, without murmuring, without begrudging. There is to be overflowing love toward those we don't know, an opening of our heart to them.

What then is the Christian's place in this world? It is to pursue holiness with God, to pursue others with the love of God so that we cover their sins, so that God using us will meet their needs whether they are a friend or stranger.

Colossians 3:14, "Above all things put on love which is the perfect bond of unity."

sherman

The Weightier Matters…

Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.


In Matthew 23:23 we find this term, “the weightier matters of the law”. What is meant by this term in the context of the passage? What does this have to do with me or you today?

Let us first look at these terms: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Justice: This term refers to dealing with people and situations in a righteous manner. This infers that we are not to take sides or be unduly influenced. We are to deal out judgment in a God fearing manner. If judgment is required one must make sure the punishment fits the crime. Judging things objectively by God’s standards not mans, not trying to life up ourselves at others expense.

Mercy: This term speaks of compassion, kindness, pity, and empathy. The application of justice must be tempered with mercy. Consider the mercy that God has shown to you as you deal with others. Intertwined in acts of mercy is the principle of godly forgiveness. Not based on a person merit but their underserved needs.

Faithfulness: This word relates to our beliefs translated into actions. This is a type of belief that effects and permeates every aspect of your life. It is belief in that what God has shown us in His word and love is far better than the temporal pleasures of this passing world. One who is faithful will act in loving justice and mercy as they serve the risen Lord.

It is of note that the first two words pertain mainly to our relationships toward other people. The last word refers to our relationship to the Holy God. These are the principle foundations of God’s Law. Loving God first and foremost, and then loving your neighbor as yourself.

The religious leaders by their omission of the “weightier matters” were blocking the way to know the Lord. They had created a god of their own making to serve their own interest. The ramifications were staggering on those who sought to know and truly understand God.

Matthew 23:13 " But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

These weightier things must be given our full attention. If God considers them of great importance should we not take note? Justice, mercy, and faith are the essential and fundamental characteristics of the servant of God. These have never changed. These principles are as true today as ever

In Luke 11:42 we find a parallel passage. It describes mercy as the love of God.

If you do not show the love of God to those people in your daily life, How can the love of God abide in your heart?

Luke 11: 42 "But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

This is a timeless theme throughout God’s word. God’s people will reflect God’s character. It is the mercy of God that saves one from His righteous judgment. It is the faithfulness of God towards us that keeps our salvation from failing.

Micah 6:7 Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

God’s mercy and faithfulness towards the repentant broken sinner is humbling. We deserve God’s righteous judgment, but yet He loved us while we were yet in sin. If you withhold mercy and justice from others, if you walk in the pride of self-righteousness, you as the Pharisees will lead people away from the kingdom of God. You will not only bring judgment and condemnation on yourself but the blood of others will be on your head as well.

Proverbs 22:2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

Be sure you do not neglect the weightier matters of God’s law. But rather let the hope and love of Christ overflow in your life into the lives of others. Give them the hope of the springs of living water.

John 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14ut whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

sherman

But God being rich in mercy… (Part 4)

Ephesians2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We find in Daniel 4:28-37 the story of Nebuchadnezzar. God judged him for his pride and refusal to acknowledge God as the source of his position and power. God placed him into a state anyone would judge as insane. He remained that way until God restored him to his right mind.
In verse 35 he says “And no one can ward off His hand”. This was the most powerful man in the world yet he was unable to control or resist God’s actions. He is sovereign.

What does this have to do with the scripture at hand? Much. This story illustrates the regeneration of Ephesians 2. This is the point. Even when we were dead we were made alive. We couldn’t change our state neither could we resist the change. In much the same manner when Nebuchadnezzar was given back his sanity there is no way he would or could have chosen to go back into his insanity.

But God being rich in mercy…this is the reason behind your salvation if you belong to Christ. Not your superior intellect, your wiser decision making, not your expansive cranial cavity. No it is all of God, nothing from within you.

This doctrine is extremely important. It will affect your view of everything in scripture and in this world. It will either be God centered or man centered. God the Father purposed your salvation from eternity past, the Son accomplished your redemption on the cross validated by His resurrection, and The Holy Spirit has applied that salvation to your soul. Christ died particularly for His elect. And if it is His work it is finished. There is no chance that you can mess it up. This is the real rest that God speaks of in Hebrews 3 and 4.

God’s sovereignty is responsible for your salvation. It is because of His great mercy and compassion exercised toward us. God deserves all of the glory honor and praise for your salvation.


Isaiah 42:8"I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.

It doesn’t end there. God brought from death into life for a purpose. We
are not saved by any good works even those God has prepared for us in
eternity past [Ephesians 2:10]. This is all the work of God.

You do not have to understand God’s sovereignty to get saved. But
afterwards looking back at the how and why it certainly puts a different
perspective on the act of salvation unto eternal life.

Now go forth and do these good works that God has prepared for you. It
is to share the love of God with others. The Holy Spirit is shed aboard
in our hearts not so that we can keep it to our selves. God always uses
means to accomplish His sovereign will. The question really is will you
obey God and live a life that brings glory and honor to His name? His
will is accomplished with or without our cooperation. Where man rules
God overrules!

sherman

But God being rich in mercy ... (Part 3)

Ephesians 2: 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Men do evil things because men by nature are evil. Even what good we do - we do for our own misguided purposes. This section of scripture carries on the thought that spiritually dead men cannot save them selves.

This is written to believers. I think this is an important thought to keep in mind. The idea no the truth of God’s sovereignty in salvation is never something taught to the lost but rather to the believer. So that when we look back on our state we can give all glory to God. Not thinking there was something good in us or better than someone else. It all depends upon God’s mercy.

We did not enter this world with a pure nature. Paul makes it clear that the redeemed once lived among the heathen of this world. We followed hard after this world. We worked hard at sinning. Feeding our passions yet unfulfilled. Sin driving us on to consume more and more of this world's pleasures.

Jeremiah 9:5 "Everyone deceives his neighbor And does not speak the truth, They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves committing iniquity.

It is our native language “sin”. This is the natural man. Paul says we are by nature (just who we are) children of wrath. This is who we are without Christ.

There is nothing in us to make us commendable to God. We cannot remove the blot of sin, nor change our rebellious nature. It is something that must be wrought by God. Man is very religious – but he is more interested in a god of his own making. One that will approve or somehow ignore his sin. We are but slaves to sin – free from righteousness. This is the freewill we exercise. A will that shakes its fist at a holy Lord.

We do not want God’s grace or mercy in our flesh. We simply want to be left alone

It takes a miracle to change the desperately wicked heart of man. It took one in my life. Where men think they rule God will overrule? This is the truth of man’s condition. Dead. Hopeless. Headed for Hell. A child of satan.

All you can do in this state is to cry out to the Lord for mercy.

What is the message your church preach? What message is it that you preach? Is it a message to try and reason people into the kingdom of God? Is it a message of just needing to change directions to get a better life? Then that is not the true gospel.

We must preach the holiness of God and the sinfulness and utter helplessness of man. If a person is saved knowing he deserves hell and can never save himself. That he must trust only in the finished work of Christ, then his confidence will rest in the work of God and nothing else.

I fear many today trust in an isle they walk, a prayer, a preacher, a song or a feeling. We can only find true salvation in Christ not in any work of our own

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

sherman

Next time I will finish this series off with verse 4.

Does God hate?

This was recently brought into question at church as to whether this is an attribute of God. It was said that this is merely an “Anthropomorphism,” that is applying human characteristics to God in order to make Him understandable. One example of this would be speaking of God holding the waters of the oceans in His hand. Since God is spirit and not contained by a physical body the term hand is being apply to convey a truth or idea.

The first argument that will normally come to mind is that “God is Love”. This truth is found in 1 John 4:8

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

There is one important fact that is usually left-out at this point. God is God and not a man. God soverignly defines what love is. It is not some kind of fuzzy squishy love. But rather it is strong, purposeful, and correcting just to name a few aspects. We must not try to make our definition attributes apply to the Holy God. God is above all things Holy. If we keep this fact in mind we can avoid these types of mistakes. God is Love. God is Wrath. God is Mercy. God is Righteous. Each one of these and many more must be understood in light of His Holiness.

Now with that ground work layed I would like to examine the scripture that was brought into question.

Romans 9:13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

It would be easy enough just to stop here and deal with this passage, but I think it may be better understood by going back to Malachi 1:1-5. This is the section from which it is lifted.

Malachi 1:2 “ I have loved you,” says the LORD. “ Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “ Yet Jacob I have loved; 3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.”

Notice the people of Isreal do not even understand how God has loved them. He starts off by explaining His utter detestable view of Edom and how He has destroyed them. It is because of Edom’s wretched sinfulness. Yet the people of Jacob are wicked, but God corrects them as a feather would a child. The rest of the book speaks of discipline, restoration and renewel. All of this because God chose to have mercy on Jacob and to not have mercy on Esau. They both deserved the same treatment. Yet God has chosen to exercise the giving of grace to some.

This is the nature of man. Spiritually dead. Destine for Wrath.
Vessels of Wrath - Romans 9:21-23; 2 Timothy 2:19-21
By nature Children of Wrtah - Epesians 2:3
The wrath of God abides on unbelievers - John 3:36

This is man at his best:

Psalm 36:1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil.

God hates evil. If we love God we will hate sin likewise, starting with our own sin.

Psalm 97:10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked

Proverbs 9:10 “ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

So, does God Hate?

Let the scriptures speak on the subject.

Psalm 11:5 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Zechariah 8:17 Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.”

Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says:“ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Revelation 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Yes, God does hate... But not as a man does. Man is corrupt in his nature where as God is perfect in His nature. God's hate has a righteous purpose, not based on emotional self-centeredness as in man so many times.

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Yes, God has hatred, anger, vengeance and wrath as well as love, mercy, and longsuffering just to touch on a few. But as everything God does, He does it righteously. He is Holy, Holy, Holy!

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

The primary teaching of this section out of Romans 9 is that God choses by His sovereign counsel apart from anything in us that could somehow merit this favor. There is nothing good in any man. We may not completely understand it but nevertheless scripture teaches it and we know it to be true. We can always trust that whatever God does it will be Wise Right and Good.

Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Sherman

But God being rich in mercy...(Part 2)

Let’s come back to this thought of all men being spiritually dead. Paul goes on here to describe unsaved men as dead men walking in this world according to the desires of the flesh under the control of satan.

This is the same evil spirit that has been and continues to control the thought and actions of men since the fall. Man as his best is dead---hating God and loving himself---none seek after God---none understand!

Romans 3:10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

We may find many people in this world that are splendid neighbors and citizens, but lost. The standard if Godliness is not other men, but GOD! Man can be very religious but apart from regeneration by the Holy Spirit they are simply trying to cover up their sinful nature with man made religious activity.

When a man is dead all he can do is lie there and continue to decay. The dead do not even want life.

John 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

The reason any of us believe and love Christ is because He gave, me a dead man, spiritual/eternal life. There is no goodness in man. No divine spark. There is nothing but evil and rebellion.

This concept effects even how we preach the Gospel. If we can sway man, reason him into the kingdom, then our message had better be exciting, attention getting, a “big” show. But if we are preaching to dead men we had better put our trust in the Work of the Holy Spirit, plainly preaching the Word of Truth. We had best trust in the Supernatural power of God not in man’s marketing methods!

The answer to sin is not to call it a “dysfunctional disorder”, “disease” or “addiction” , but to call men to repentance! All men are of one sinful race of Adam----ALL in need of a Savior. We are by nature children of wrath more on that thought another

We are by nature children of wrath more on that thought another time……………

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

But God being rich in mercy...(Part 1)

Over the next few postings I am going to examine part of Ephesians chapter 2. This section of scripture lays out a basic understanding of man's spiritual condition.

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Paul starts out this section of scripture by explaining who we were apart from the grace of God. It will become clear as we work through this scripture that all men are sinners completely separate from God, even unable to respond to Him.

The description here says apart from God we are spiritually dead. Now dead men are completely incapable of responding to an external command. They are complete incapable of initiating an internal response. There is no life. In fact the only thing a dead man can do is continue to rot more.

Left in our sinful condition, separated from Christ, we like a corpse rot more and more. Sin works its way in our flesh to destroy us more and more. Man will never improve and can less corrupt in his flesh. There is no hope for improvement of his condition only expectation of things getting worse. It is because of our own sin that we are spiritually dead.

Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

In the flesh, our depraved nature separated from God, we are totally unable to please God, respond to Him, or obey Him. This is essential to our understanding of the nature of our salvation. It is wholly of God.

The only difference between unsaved men is the extent of their rottenness. Man apart from Divine intervention will never seek after God. We exercise our freewill apart from any outside compulsion. And that freewill is to feed our lust, to rage against a Holy God, and to want nothing to do with Him as we head straight for HELL.

I will leave you with the same thought I started with. But God being rich in mercy... it is in this that true saving faith is found.

The Narrow Way

The narrow way is narrow by definition. It is define by Jesus Christ. The narrow way is only found in Him

John14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

There is but one way to God.
There are many wrong ways that seem right to man but lead to hell.
The way is much needed by sinful man.
Many think they have found the way in man made religion but are much mistaken.
Men seek after teacher to broaden the narrow way.
False teachers seek to broaden the narrow to increase followers to feed their own lusts.
Men are religious out of fear of hell or fear of man. Not out of a love for the King.
Men trust in their self righteousness resulting in pride.
The narrow way is at enmity to the lusts of the flesh, the pride of man and the love of worldliness.
Wicked men seek to impede others from following the narrow way.
To Follow God alone must be the concern and purpose of your heart.

In Matthew 4:17 we find where the narrow way begins, at repentance.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

This is the central theme for the Sermon on the Mount as well as the ministry of Christ.

Because the way is narrow, men want someone to make the way easier. The want a way that does not require profound sacrifice and devotion to someone other than themselves.

False teachers will not preach the whole counsel of God. They will seek to minimize sin. They will dilute the exclusiveness of the way of salvation.

Husbands, fathers, young men, it is imperative that you know your bible. It is essential that you think biblically. You must know why you believe what you believe. Take all of scripture that speaks on a matter. Do not disregard that which does not fit your lovely idea on the matter. Take the whole counsel of God. Let scripture interpet itself. Be ready and willing to conform to what scripture declares. Give liberty where scripture is silent or unclear. Be dogmatic where scripture is plain. Protect your family and the flock from false teachers. Spur one another along the narrow way.

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.

True salvation will always result in a transformed life. A lip confession without a heart change reality shown in the life is a false confession. Not salvation by works, but an internal change that reaults in a heart the desire to obey Christ.