3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’ Ezekiel 20:3 (LSB) 

The Visible Church has become largely corrupt and apostate. Some are going the direction of Joel Osteen’s Word of Faith gospel that tells us that God wants to bless us, but cannot because we are not asking Him for it or we are not doing something right. Then there are those denominations that are affirming same-sex marriage, which is expressly condemned in God’s Word. There are apostasy examples all across the board and there is not room enough or time enough to address them all here. However, these things all have one thing in common. These are people seeking to be seen as “Christian,” but on their own terms rather than what the Word of God clearly teaches us. 

Apostate Israel and Judah in the Old Testament are prime examples of this. God had clearly given them the right way to worship Him and the things that were an abomination to Him. This is all contained in the Law. Ezekiel was a captive in Babylon prior to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. He was a priest. In Ezekiel 20 we are given a very long oracle from God spoken to the prophet to be given to the elders who came to him to hear God’s Word and to inquire or pray to Him. However, God gives them the exact reason why they are under His judgment and why He will not be inquired of by them. In other words, He was not going to listen to their prayers.

In Ezekiel 20 God gives us the truth of Israel’s apostasy starting in the Exodus all through the hundreds of years up to the destruction of both nations, Judah and Israel, as His judgment against them. What was their crime?

18 “I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers and do not keep their judgments and do not defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am Yahweh your God; walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them. 20 Keep My sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God.’ 21 But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to do My judgments, which, if a man does them, he will live by them; they profaned My sabbaths. So I said I would pour out My wrath on them, to spend My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I turned back My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands 24 because they had not done My judgments, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were going after the idols of their fathers. 25 And I also gave them statutes that were not good and judgments by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am Yahweh.”’
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting unfaithfully against Me. 28 Indeed, I brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, and they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they gave the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you are going?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’ 30 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Will you defile yourselves in the way of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? 31 And when you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you. 32 And what comes upon your spirit will not happen, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the families of the lands, to minister to wood and stone.’ Ezekiel 20:18-32 (LSB) 

Carefully read this summary of the Jew’s rebellion. They sacrificed their first born on the high places. They worshipped idols. They tried to incorporate these things as one part of their religion that also included coming to the Tabernacle and later the Temple to worship God. They insisted on worshipping God on their own terms. Even these exiles in Babylon were still guilty of these things and God told Ezekiel to tell them that He was not going to tell them anything or listen to their prayers. All they would get from Him was the truth about their rebellion and the result, judgment.

What has this got to do with the state of the Visible Church in our time? My goodness, I look at the ecumenical moves going on right now blending elements of Christianity with Eastern mysticism. I read of agreements between so-called Evangelicals and Roman Catholics to fellowship and worship together. I read of what we used to call “victimless crimes” now being sanctioned by the clergy of these apostate churches claiming that Christ’s sacrifice for our sin covers it all and so we are forgiven, therefore, we can live any way we please. Does that sound familiar? The Israelites assumed that since they were the children of Abraham and in a covenant relationship with God that they could do whatever they pleased and hey, their neighbor was a pagan and to be in unity with him they joined their families together by marriage and shared each other’s religion.

This is compromise and it is the action that we see that has its roots in rebellion and unbelief. Unbelief is the best man can do without the quickening (regenerating) power of God entering in. There is a story I heard a few years ago of a man who with his drunken friends were making fun of George Whitefield. Whitefield was an open-air preacher of the Gospel in the 18^th Century in England and the Colonies now called the United States. Those making fun of him were having a great time in their pub. One fellow stood up, raised his arm over his head, and began to preach the gospel just like Whitefield. When he came to that part about no natural man being able to repent and come to God and that Jesus died to save a people for Himself, he began to weep. Why? He heard the truth of the Gospel and through that, the Holy Spirit regenerated Him, converting Him from spiritual death to spiritual life. He believed, repented, and was saved.

Unbelief is the natural state of men no matter how religious they are. Just because some call themselves a Christian or a Christ follower does mean that they are. Here is a New Testament example.

1 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this was so that the works of God might be manifested in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, made clay of the saliva, and rubbed the clay on his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” 9 Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” 10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and rubbed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so when I went away and washed, I received sight.” 12 And they said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know.”13 They *brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. John 9:1-14 (LSB) 

Jesus heals a man born blind and it was the Sabbath. Now who would be upset with the healing of man born blind? Only those in spiritual blindness of unbelief that was centered in their own dead religiosity would have a problem with that. Carefully read the following passage looking closely at the questions the Pharisees asked and what they stated.

15 So the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 So then some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 Therefore, they *said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”
18 Then, the Jews did not believe it of him that he was blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 19 and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” 20 So his parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 23 For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 Therefore, a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to listen again? Do you want to become His disciples too?” 28 And they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from, and He opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. 32 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered and said to him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out. John 9:15-34 (LSB) 

These men did not care to know the truth. They were not seeking the truth unless it lined up with their own religiosity. The issue for them was that Jesus did not follow the man-made rules they had added to the Law given to them by Moses. They were in unbelief and proved it by their not listening to the truth given to them by the formerly blind man. He told them exactly what happened and how it happened and they absolutely refused to believe it. Their hearts were hard and they thought that their law keeping was what God was after while our Lord was all about believing the Gospel and serving God from a heart that was full of the knowledge of Him and that had been made alive by His grace. These Pharisees’ hearts were as hard as could be just like the hearts of the Jews who came to visit Ezekiel. Notice that the man born blind has a regenerated heart that knows the truth and loves God. He was cast out of the synagogue because these evil men could not refute the fact that he was healed through a miracle by God which proved who Jesus really was.

35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and after finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” John 9:35-39 (LSB) 

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Who is it that can inquire of God? It is only those who know Him and worship Him in spirit and in truth. He has opened their eyes and now they know and love Him. Notice that Jesus came into the world as judge. There is a division made by Him here. Those who see are His Church and those who refuse to see are made even more blind. Those in His Church can inquire of God at any time and do so, but those who have been made blind because of their unbelief think they know God and serve Him in their religiosity, but they are these same people in Matthew 7:15-23 who think they are in with the Lord, when they most definitely are not. These claim to the Christians on their own terms and are made even more blind by their rebellion to believe the lie. On the other hand, our Lord is still building His Church and the gates of Hell will never prevail against it. These evil people may even persecute or kill us, but that only makes the Church stronger.

λεγει ο μαρτυρων ταυτα ναι ερχομαι ταχυ αμηνιε ιησου (Revelation 22:20 NA28 Greek Text)

20 He which testifieth these things, saith, Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

Soli Deo Gloria!

by Mike Ratliff

1 Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, διʼ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα 2 ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν, ὃς ἀντὶ τῆς προκειμένης αὐτῷ χαρᾶς ὑπέμεινεν σταυρὸν αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας ἐν δεξιᾷ τε τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ θεοῦ κεκάθικεν. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NA28)

1 So therefore, we also having such surrounding us a cloud of witnesses, having laid aside every weight and easily ensnaring sin, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus the founder and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, despised the shame and  endured the cross, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (translated from the NA28 Greek Text to English) 

The U.S. agencies responsible for detecting counterfeit currency do not train their agents by having them study fake money. No, they train them by having them study genuine currency. They become intimately familiar with the genuine article so that when they encounter the counterfeit they have no trouble “judging” that it is not genuine. Over the last several posts we have been looking at what makes up genuine “orthodox Christian faith.” The purpose of this is to expose the hearts of the readers to these truths knowing that the Holy Spirit will work through the expounding of the Word of God to confirm these things there.

Doing this this way also does one other thing that is vital to the spiritual health of the genuine Christian. As Christians see what a miracle their salvation really is and how they are totally dependent upon God in order for them to walk in repentance, their love for Him grows. This is part of that work the Holy Spirit does in the hearts of God’s people. Their love for Him grows deeper and deeper as they mature and learn to deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Jesus every day. While that sounds like “no fun” to the majority, it is what God uses in the genuine Christian’s walk, their race of faith, to cleanse them, shape them, and sanctify them.

Carefully read Hebrews 12:1-2 which I translated (above). Notice that it begins with the words ” So therefore. Whenever we encounter the word “therefore” in scripture we should stop and look for the context of the passage we are studying. “Therefore” is a transition word that is used by the author to make a conclusion. So, we must look back from where we are to see what the writer is referring to. The writer of Hebrews is telling the reader that since what he had written earlier is true then what they are reading now must be obeyed. What is the context the writer is referring to here? The context of this “therefore” is Hebrews 10:19 through Hebrews 11:40. If you go back and read that you will see that Hebrews 10:19 begins with its own “therefore.” This section of Hebrews begins with an exhortation for the reader to hold fast to their confession of faith (vv19-25.) Then in vv26-39 we read that “the Just live by faith.” Chapter 11 defines faith and gives examples of genuine faith by in the Old Testament saints and how their faith enabled them to overcome.  Then we come to the “therefore” in 12:1.

The faith that saves is a gift from God. It is supernatural. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Those who came before us whom God used in mighty ways for the Kingdom of God also endured much, but they overcame, so now those of us who have this faith are being called to walk the same way they did, by faith.

In Hebrews 12:1 we see the command to “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.” In the Greek, the words “let us” is not there. The command to “lay aside” is the participle ἀποθέμενοι (apothemenoi).The tense is aorist and it is in middle voice. What this is saying is that the reader is called to “put away or cast off” every weight, and sin which clings so closely. The tense, mood, and voice here tells us that, since there is a main verb later in this command, that this action comes prior to that of the main verb. Before we look at that we need to see what it is that we are to “put away or cast off.” What is the “every weight, and sin which clings so closely?” The Greek word for “every” means just that. This is describing totality. So, this command deals with all not just some of the weight, and sin which clings so closely, but all of it.

The word “weight” is describing something that hinders. Therefore, we are being commanded to put away or cast off every thing that hinders us in something. This is not sin itself because that is the next thing we are told to put away or cast off. The Greek word for “sin” here is “αμαρτιαν” or (hamartian). It means, “to miss the true goal and scope of life. It describes our offense in relation to God with emphasis on the resulting guilt.” The description of this “sin” here is “which clings to closely.” The King James renders this as, “which doth so easily beset.” This is one Greek word, “ευπεριστατον” or (euperistaton).  It is a very interesting word that describes a competitor, such as a runner in a race, who thwarts or opposes another runner in every direction in such a way so as to trip up the other or cause him or her to leave the course and be disqualified.

What do we have so far? The writer of Hebrews says, “In light of the great examples of faith in those who have come before us and since we also have this faith then we are exhorted to run the race of faith the same way they did. This way begins by “casting off or laying aside” every hinderance and sin that continually works against us in this race.” Remember that the participle that is translated as “cast off or lay aside” is describing action that precedes the main verb  in the phrase. Now let us look at the second part of this phrase, which is “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The verb “run” in the Greek means to run or walk quickly. This verb is in present tense, subjunctive mood, active voice. This tense refers to continuous or repeated action, regardless of when the action took place. The subjunctive mood suggests that the action is subject to some condition. We saw earlier that the participle to “lay aside or cast off” action must come before the main verb in the phrase. That means that no one can run this race unless they first “lay aside or cast off” what hinders and the “sin” that so easily tries to disqualify them from running.

Before we look at how we are to actually run this race we must take a sober look at what we have learned so far. Who is able to run the race? Only those who have successfully “cast off or laid aside” what hinders and the sins that attempts to disqualify. Is this a description of our salvation? When God regenerates a new believer they are washed clean.

4 But when the kindness and affection of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 (LSB) 

We also know that we cannot save ourselves. We don’t just cast off spiritual death. Only God can do this. However, the way the writer of Hebrews wrote this in Greek it sure seems to suggest that. What we must do is take a step back and analyze what we are reading here. This is a letter to Jews. Some are believers and others are not. When we preach the gospel we don’t lay the burden of understanding doctrine on the lost. No, we preach for them to repent and believe don’t we? That is what we are seeing in the first part of v1. This is a call to believe by first laying aside something that hindered them from believing. In other words, they were struggling with their Jewish religion being a “hinderance” to their belief. They were obviously being “drawn” by the Holy Spirit, but they had not yet taken that step of belief. The “preacher” was telling them to understand that God’s true believers have always walked by faith, not by religiosity.

What about the sin that always attempts to disqualify? This is the sin of unbelief that was reflected in depending upon temple sacrifices instead of Jesus Christ as our perfect sacrifice. Of course this is also referring the the “sin” of all unbelievers. In other words, what we are studying here is the requirements to enter the race, which is repentance and belief. Who can repent and believe? Only those drawn by God and given the gift of faith can believe, but we never witness that way. No, what do we do? Don’t we exhort people to believe and repent of their sins? That is what this exhortation is.

Now, how do we run this race once we are eligible to run? We are to run with “patience” or “endurance.” This Greek word is “υπομονης” (hypomonēs). This word is a combination of two other words, “hupó,” which means “under,” and “ménõ,” which means “to abide.” Where else have we seen the word “ménõ?”

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-grower. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He cleans it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:1-8 (LSB) 

That’s right, it is the word “abide” in this passage. We looked at this in my post, “Stand Firm.” In it we saw that our Lord was commanding all believers to “remain and dwell” in Him with “endurance.” As we have seen throughout the Bible, we are commanded to do many things that we cannot do without the Holy Spirit working in us so that we “are able” to walk by faith and obey. Our perseverance is the result of God working in us and is confirmed in our obedience when we endure and remain in Christ. However, we are commanded in Hebrews 12:1 to run the race with patience and endurance in relation to our circumstances with a supernatural resolve to never surrender to them or succumb under trial.  This race is “set before us.” Who sets it before us? Who is the vinedresser? It is God the Father who prunes us so that we will be fruitful in the Kingdom. The circumstances and trials in our race may be quite unpleasant. We hurt and are always being hounded by discouragement. God’s plan for each of us is to be transformed into slaves who bring Him glory in all we do. That requires a total makeover my brethren and that can hurt. What is our part in this? How do we abide with cheerful endurance?

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (LSB) 

The words “fixing our eyes on” here is a participle that is present tense and active voice. This means that our looking unto Jesus while we run this race that is set before us to sanctify us is done in continuous and repeated action. Since this is a present participle it also means that the action of looking unto Jesus is done at the same time that we run this race. This is critical my brethren because I don’t think that many who appear to be running this race are looking unto Jesus at all. This looking unto Him means that we run this race with Jesus Christ as the object of faith and salvation like this:

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own which is from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God upon faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, Philippians 3:7-10 (LSB) 

This is how we run the race with our eyes fixed onto Jesus. He is the founder and perfecter of our faith. This means that our faith was a gift of God through Jesus Christ who died in our place on the cross. He endured the cross, despising the shame. It also means that He is working in us to bring us to completion. He is at the right had of the Father right now interceding for us as our advocate.

My brethren, no one is in this race who has not believed the Gospel and received salvation by Grace through faith. Those in this race are exhorted to run it in total dependance on Jesus Christ in total submission to Him as His “doulos,” His slaves who count all that they have here on earth as loss in order to know Him and be like Him in His death. Are you running the race with cheerful endurance by fixing your eyes on our Lord alone, or are you running it in self-reliance, self-dependance, and self-righteousness? If it is the latter then I pray for your repentance and the submission of your will to Him. This requires us becoming living sacrifices. (Romans 12:1) I pray that all reading this will examine themselves, repent of what the Holy Spirit reveals, then run the race set before them with their eyes firmly fixed on the author and finisher of their faith.

Soli Deo Gloria!

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (LSB) 

Western Christians, especially American Christians, are, for the most part, double minded. Materialism, humanism, and liberalism have so contaminated them that they believe that they will never be persecuted for their faith. It is as if the idea that persecution for being a Christian is unthinkable. In many parts of the World persecution is actually becoming worse. It is estimated that over 16,000 Christians are martyred each year. However, in this country Christians are more concerned about Football or Television shows or money or possessions than contending for the faith.

Persecution has not become violent here in this country yet, however, it is only a matter of time before that will not be so. As I pondered this today I began to wonder about how those nominal Christians, professing Christians who are simply religious, would react if they were threatened with physical abuse or death if they did not recant. Historically, the Church of Jesus Christ is at its healthiest when it is persecuted. Why is this so? There will be no nominal professors if professing Christ can result in a death sentence or a loss of status or rights. No, only genuine regenerate believers will follow Christ even unto death.

What about sharing the Gospel? We are called to share our faith to contend for the faith and preach Jesus to all who will hear. What about when facing open hostility towards the Gospel?

I remember being trained in Evangelism Explosion back in the late 1980’s. After I got my certificate, I was asked to be a trainer. One visit from that time sticks out in my mind whenever I think about dealing with those who hate the Gospel. I took my two trainees to visit a man who lived in an apartment across town from our church. After knocking on the door we were invited in after we told the fellow in that apartment we were from our church and why we had come. I shared the Gospel with him after he told us that he had no idea about his spiritual condition in response to the first diagnostic question.

I prayed with him at the end and we visited awhile. He asked for a Bible and a way to study it. I promised to bring those to him in a day or two. We returned a couple of days later to give him the Bible and a bible reading plan. However, he did not answer the door this time, his wife did. She had not been there when we came before. I identified myself and showed her what I had for her husband. Her countenance became very hostile. She called us some names I will not repeat here. She threatened us and told us to leave and never come back. She would not let us visit her husband. He was sitting in the living room. I could see him in there with his head hung down staring at the floor. We left. I have never felt so hollow, empty, and sad in my life.

What should our reaction be when we meet this sort of hostility towards the Gospel. It doesn’t have to be threats. I get more than my fair share of people wanting to use human reasoning or logic in an attempt to discredit the genuine Gospel. How should we respond? I contend that we never stop being obedient in sharing our faith and telling the truth. Why?

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (NASB) 

We should look at sharing our faith as an obligation. Look at what we have! We have eternal life and none of us deserve it. Shouldn’t we be about sharing the good news that sinful people can be saved from the penalty for their sins?

14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 In this way, for my part, I am eager to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH.” Romans 1:14-17 (LSB) 

Paul’s example is that no matter what hostility or mocking he encountered while sharing the Gospel, it did not deter him from being obedient. Why? To him, and it should be for us, the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Therefore, our role is to be the peacemakers who bring people to the Lord to be reconciled unto Him. It should be far more important to endure the abuse in order to share the Gospel than it is to be silent for the sake of “peace.”

Could it be painful to do this? Absolutely! Could it be dangerous? In some parts of the World, yes! Could it cost friendships and relationships? Possibly! However, we must count the cost. What is more important, obedience or a false peace? We are to live by faith. What does that mean? It means we walk by faith not by sight. We obey even in the face of persecution. We are heavenly minded instead of temporally minded.

What is to be then? This false peace between genuine faith and the world and its ways can’t last forever. Eventually, the world will turn on us. Are you ready? Now is the time to learn to walk this way. When the persecution starts it will be for real. We must be prepared. That means that we must become Spirit-filled. (Ephesians 5) We have been looking at the truth that genuine believers must walk in the fear of the Lord. If we do that, we will not be afraid of anything or anyone else. However, if we walk in the fear of man, we will be temporally minded and useless in the battle. Come; let us get serious about this walk. Time is short.

Soli Deo Gloria!

8 Now to sum up, all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
11 HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;
HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12 FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.” 1 Peter 3:8-12 (LSB) 

This era of the Church is one of extreme deception due to compromise with the standards and focus of the world. Separation between the Church and the world is not being kept. Instead, the holy barrier between the two has been breached as false prophets have welcomed in not only the world and its ways into their churches, but have also embraced the mysticism of the Eastern religions. Syncretism is the new byword of the Emergent Village and the New Evangelism. On the other hand, God is good. He keeps His promises. The Lord told Peter that He is the one building His Church and no evil will ever be able to destroy it. (Matthew 16:18) If this is true, and it is because our Lord spoke it, then how do we reconcile the rapid apostasy of so much of the visible Church with what He said? God always keeps a remnant during times of rampant apostasy. These Christians are the small group whom God has reserved who have not bowed the knee to Baal. These are also the ones in whom God is developing Christlikeness and through the fires of persecution by those in the visible Church who have succumbed to the heresies and ungodliness going on in it, He is teaching them how to stand firm and never compromise with evil. In this they learn the difference between debate and dialogue and know that the former actually clarifies the truth and why they hold to it while the latter is only a conversation which has the intent of compromising the truth.

Part of this strong stand against evil by the remnant is to remain humble as Peter stated in the passage I placed at the top of this post. As we minster and walk through each day, we will be tested. We will be put in positions in which our faith will be tested. In this, we are being trained to respond to these things the way Jesus would. He was firm. He never compromised. He was very abrupt and rigid with apostates, but with sinners who came to Him in repentance, He was gentle yet firm. We are to to turn away from evil and do good as we seek peace and pursue it. However, our enemy will make sure that the pressure to compromise will come to bear in our lives. We must be salt and light in this world, but not be part of it.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out to be trampled under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:11-16 (LSB) 

11 μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθʼ ὑμῶν [ψευδόμενοι] ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ. 12 χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν. 13 Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς· ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας μωρανθῇ, ἐν τίνι ἁλισθήσεται; εἰς οὐδὲν ἰσχύει ἔτι εἰ μὴ βληθὲν ἔξω καταπατεῖσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων. 14 Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου. οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειμένη· 15 οὐδὲ καίουσιν λύχνον καὶ τιθέασιν αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν, καὶ λάμπει πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ. 16 οὕτως λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα καὶ δοξάσωσιν τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. (Matthew 5:11-16 NA28)

To be salt of the earth is to be that irritant that enters a wound and causes that burning sensation that no one likes. We are to walk in holiness and separation from the world never compromising. Because of this the world will lash out at Christians who walk through their lives this way. Notice that to be salt of the earth does not mean losing those qualities that bring that irritating burning to the spiritual wounds of the lost. In fact, when Christians compromise with the world they lose their saltiness and become worthless in the Kingdom. We are also to be light (φῶς) of the world (κόσμου). The word φῶς is the root of our English word “phosphorus” for instance. It is referring to a light that is not kindled by men nor can it be put out by men, such as moonlight or sunlight. The quality of being the light of the world is to be understood as reflecting the light of God’s truth into the darkness and deception and apostasy that is running rampant in the world and the compromised Church. These who reflect Christ’s light into this present darkness walk before all, doing good works of faith giving all the glory to God. These good works are good in God’s eyes. They are works of obedience within the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The word for world, κόσμου, refers in this context to the morality structure within the world system. It is the fallen world in rebellion against God.

The Christian is to be in the world walking through it as salt and light in complete obedience and surrender to the Lordship of Christ (Matthew 16:24-26). They are also to be well equipped soldiers in Christ’s army. This means that they must know the truth and how to debate those who hate God’s truth. These debates must never be allowed to devolve into dialogue though. This is when the Christian is willing to allow apostates and heretics to say things unchallenged that are nothing but the product of the doctrines of demons. No, we must not even be involved in these things. Instead, we tell the truth. We stand firm and when people refuse to listen, we end it. When we are told we are closed minded and intolerant because of this, we must not allow this to weaken our resolve to be obedient in our firm stance. Brian McLaren once stated that the Christians who refuse to dialogue with other religions and those with other “opinions” actually make up only a small percentage of the Church. What we must never forget is that we are not to return evil with evil. When we are accused and reviled because of our uncompromising stance, we are instructed by our Lord to rejoice (χαιρετε) and be glad (αγαλλιασθε). To χαιρετε is to be full of cheer while to be αγαλλιασθε is to jump for joy to be exceedingly glad and full of rejoicing. I personally find this difficult. As long as we are too self-focused and have our eyes on the effect of our ministries on ourselves we will have a problem obeying our Lord this way. However, when our focus is correctly on God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness then we will view the temporal and its tests and trials with same joy our Lord had in the midst of His debates with the Sadducees and Pharisees.

Should we dialogue with apostates and those seeking to destroy our faith? No, we can debate them, being salt and light, but never dialogue with them for all this does is introduce doubt and weaken our resolve to stand firm. In these dialogues we can often end up with some great bitterness and a reluctance to reenter the battle. However, when we debate correctly, we can stand in our assigned place on the battle line, bearing our godly armor and ready to give as good as we take from the foes of God’s truth. We must resolve to remain separate from the world and its ways.

Cities well fortified have broad walls, and so had Jerusalem in her glory. The New Jerusalem must, in like manner, be surrounded and preserved by a broad wall of nonconformity to the world, and separation from its customs and spirit. The tendency of these days break down the holy barrier, and make the distinction between the church and the world merely nominal. Professors are no longer strict and Puritanical, questionable literature is read on all hands, frivolous pastimes are currently indulged, and a general laxity threatens to deprive the Lord’s peculiar people of those sacred singularities which separate them from sinners. It will be an ill day for the church and the world when the proposed amalgamation shall be complete, and the sons of God and the daughters of men shall be as one: then shall another deluge of wrath be ushered in. Beloved reader, be it your aim in heart, in word, in dress, in action to maintain the broad wall, remembering that the friendship of this world is enmity against God.

The broad wall afforded a pleasant place of resort for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, from which they could command prospects of the surrounding country. This reminds us of the Lord’s exceeding broad commandments, in which we walk at liberty in communion with Jesus, overlooking the scenes of earth, and looking out towards the glories of heaven. Separated from the world, and denying ourselves all ungodliness and fleshly lusts, we are nevertheless not in prison, nor restricted within narrow bounds; nay, we walk at liberty, because we keep His precepts. Come, reader, this evening walk with God in His statutes. As friend met friend upon the city wall, so meet thou thy God in the way of holy prayer and meditation. The bulwarks of salvation thou hast a right to traverse, for thou art a freeman of the royal burgh, a citizen of the metropolis of the universe.- C.H. Spurgeon from Spurgeon’s Evening by Evening – emphasis mine.

My brethren, the health of the Church looks to our eyes as bordering on death, however, let us never forget that God is Sovereign and totally in control of all things. Our Lord is still building His Church and we make a huge mistake to think of this in simplistic terms such as in numbers. Nay! Our Lord is still building His Church, but this building is one of greater depth and centered on a very firm foundation. The dead religiosity of the majority of the visible Church is not “The Church!” No, the real Church is still with us and those of us in it must continue to be salt and light in the world as we take up our crosses and follow our Lord each and every day.

Soli Deo Gloria!

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13-14 (LSB) 

Central to Covenant Theology is understanding that the Old Covenant represented the former age. The Ceremonial Law given to the Israelites by Moses consisted of earthy copies of the “heavenly things,” which made up the Old Covenant (Hebrews 9:23). These were “shadows of the good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). Our Lord spoke often of the age we are in now as “this age,” with an age still to come. The New Covenant is God’s economy in this age. Instead of our faith revolving around the earthy copies of the “heavenly things,” partakers of the New Covenant participate in the reality of “heavenly things” within it. These are the “good things that have come” (Hebrews 9:11).  However, those in the New Covenant still look forward to “the age to come” (Hebrews 6:5), which will be their “Sabbath rest” (Hebrews 4:1,9). With this in mind, shouldn’t Christians remain focused on God’s Promises of this “Sabbath rest,” which is to come instead of falling for the deception of the emergents like  the late Brian McLaren who taught that God’s will is for us to be focused on the here and now within a Social Gospel?

1 Now even the first covenant had requirements of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared: the first part, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread, which is called the holy place. 3 And behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Hebrews 9:1-5 (LSB) 

The Greek word used here translated “covenant” is διαθήκη ‘diathēkē‘. This word literally means, “disposition, testament or covenant.” The Old and New Covenants were instituted by God to man. The Old Covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. The elements of this worship consisted of the earthly copies of the “heavenly things” The Temple and the Tabernacle, which preceded it, contained a holy place in which only the priests of God could minister. Separate from it was the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies, which contained the golden altar of incense and the Ark of the Covenant. Only the High Priest once a  year on the Day of Atonement could enter this place to burn incense and make a blood sacrifice for the people. Never forget my brethren, this was not the reality of which the New Covenant now consists. Instead, these were merely shadows and copies of heavenly realities. God is Holy and fallen man cannot even approach Him without first making a blood sacrifice.

6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the first part of the tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the holy places has not yet been manifested while that first part of the tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, requirements for the body imposed until a time of reformation. Hebrews 9:6-10 (LSB) 

Do you see that all of this is no longer necessary because the Old Covenant was made null and void by the institution of the New Covenant cut by God at the Cross? The elements of the Old Covenant were symbolic for the present age. Within the Old Covenant, the sacrifices, gifts, washings, dietary compliance were incapable of perfecting the conscience of the worshipper. Instead, these things were imposed on the people until the time of reformation. This “time of reformation was inaugurated by Christ. This present age is described as a time of impure consciences and of separation from access to God. However, through Christ’s work, this present age is passing away. The new time of reformation, which has already been inaugurated, will later be consummated when Christ appears at the “end of the age.” Now do you see why our focus should be on the “age to come” my brethren? What we have in Christ in this age is far superior to what those in the Old Covenant, the former age, had. However, the fulfillment and completion of this reformation awaits the “age to come.”

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy places once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:11-14 (LSB) 

How can a Christian read this passage and not praise God? Christ shed His blood at the Cross. Through this, He symbolically entered once for all into the holy places securing an eternal redemption for His people. Christ was our sacrifice, the Lamb of God, who by His shed blood, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without blemish to God in order to purify the conscience of His people from dead works to serve the living God.

The Greek word used here for conscience is συνείδησις ‘suneidēsis‘. This word denotes an abiding consciousness whose nature is to bear witness to the subject regarding one’s own conduct in a moral sense. It is self-consciousness, particularly, a knowing with oneself, consciousness; and hence conscience, that faculty of the soul which distinguishes between right and wrong, and prompts to choose the former and avoid the latter. A purified conscience is vital for the spiritual heath of the Christian. It his through this that we are prompted to serve and worship God according to His will not ours. Those who go off on tangents to seek self-fulfillment outside of God’s will do so by damaging their consciences. Hence, when they are confronted about it and rebuked, they respond according the flesh because they have a defiled conscience. It is through proper worship and service to God according to His will, in repentance and faith that we preserve a healthy and purified conscience.

15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the trespasses that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU.” 21 And in the same way, both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:15-22 (LSB)

Those who claim that Christ’s sacrifice of Himself at the Cross was simply a tragedy that accomplished nothing must not have read this passage. Or, perhaps they don’t understand it because they are not of Christ… In any case, it was the shedding of Christ’s blood that inaugurated the New Covenant and purchased the forgiveness of sins for His people. This is why Paul continually preached Christ and Him crucified. This is the gospel.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter holy places made with hands, mere copies of the true ones, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy places year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:23-28 (LSB)

Here we see that Christ’s perfect sacrifice at the Cross is entirely sufficient to save His people. He put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. That is, the sin of those for whom He died. This life is short my brethren. When it is over what is next? It is judgment, but for those in Christ, their judgment as already taken place at the Cross. Therefore, those truly in Christ eagerly await His return. When He returns, judgment comes with Him, but not for those partakers of the New Covenant. No, this judgment will be for those outside of it whose sins have not be put away.

Many claim to be children of God who do not know the Savior. They proclaim that they are Christians, but their lives reveal a pattern of living with a defiled conscience. They indulge the flesh (σάρξ) while offering things at the altar that are only works of it. This message should prompt us to do two things my brethren. We must prayerfully examine ourselves, confess our sins, and walk in repentance and faith before the face of God, our Coram Deo. The second thing is that we should joyfully proclaim the gospel to those lost souls all around us.

Soli Deo Gloria!

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from men; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God? John 5:39-44 (LSB) 

The sin of unbelief is amazing to behold. Those in its clutches deliberately refuse to believe the truth preferring instead to pursue untruths that are popular with men. What motivates so-called Christian leaders to do this? They do this because they love the esteem or praise of men more than the esteem or praise of God. This is no different than believers remaining silent because they fear that taking a stand as a Christian would lower their esteem in the eyes of their peers. However, when these preachers or pastors or writers who profess to be Christians teach or preach a form of the gospel that has all of the offense of sin, hell, and the sacrifice on the cross of our beloved Savior removed or glossed over then they are just as guilty as those Jewish leaders who were secret followers of Christ out of fear of being excommunicated.

37 But though He had done so many signs before them, they still were not believing in Him, 38 so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, LEST THEY SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND RETURN AND I HEAL THEM.” 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke about Him. 42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory of men rather than the glory of God. John 12:37-43 (LSB) 

These who believed in Jesus, but remained incognito from a motivation of fear were not genuine believers because they did not publicly confess Christ as Lord. They did this because they loved the esteem that they received as being scribes and Pharisees more than they loved the esteem of God for being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:31-33 (LSB) 

Preaching and holding to a form of the gospel that has been over-contextualized to the point that the power of the cross of Christ has been nullified (1 Corinthians 1:17-25) is a form of unbelief. Those who do this do not believe that the work of God in the hearts of men is sufficient to bring people to Christ through the preaching of the whole Gospel. Instead, they attempt to help things along by adding the wisdom of men while removing all of the offense. In other words, their “gospel” offends no one and makes them popular with unbelievers. The genuine Gospel is not popular with the world. In fact, unbelievers hate it because it condemns all who refuse to believe and repent. It is exclusive. It makes it clear that there is only one way to justification before God and that is through the Son, belief, and obedience to His Gospel. Never forget my brethren, not all who profess Christ are genuine Christians.

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, when they saw His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He had no need that anyone bear witness concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. John 2:23-25 (LSB) 

These would be the same ones our Lord mentioned in the Parable of the Soils who believed with Joy when they heard the Gospel, but who fell away as soon as pressure was put on them to stand or conform to the world.

1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 And others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and were yielding a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:1-9 (LSB) 

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23 (LSB) 

We also see these people in John 6.

53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 The Spirit is the One who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
66 As a result of this many of His disciples went away and were not walking with Him anymore. John 6:53-66 (LSB) 

In this passage we actually witness our Lord deliberately driving away many of His followers through hard preaching designed to show the reality of the cost of discipleship and the unbridgeable chasm between God and those in unbelief. Those who love the esteem of men more than the esteem of God are in unbelief. Many of them have created a form of godliness, but it is of the flesh and cannot justify anyone before God.

Soli Deo Gloria!

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father’s Name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not: for ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,
28 And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of mine hand.
29 My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and none is able to take them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one. John 10:25-30 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

God is Sovereign. That sovereignty is not partial. It is not subject to any conditions or forces outside of God. He has never nor will He ever relinquish any portion of His sovereignty. What He sets out to do, He does. What Men believe or refuse to believe about these truths changes nothing. Just because professing Christians cling to the fallacy that they are saved because they exercised their free will does not in any way diminish the truth from God’s Word that tells us the very opposite.

Man is fallen. All born of Adam are children of God’s wrath. No one seeks after God because none are righteous (Romans 3:10-18). God’s people are part of our Lord’s flock. Those of His flock believe God, seek God, and know the Lord’s voice. The Lord gives them eternal life. Notice that the veracity of their eternal life is not subject to them or their behavior. No, the Son holds them and no one can snatch them out of His hand.

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am that bread of life: he that cometh to me, shall not hunger, and he that believeth in me, shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you, that ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I cast not away.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but his will which hath sent me.
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every man which seeth the Son, and believeth in him, should have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:35-40 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

Who believes and who does not believe? Those who come to Jesus are the same ones who believe. Those who believe are the same ones who are given to the Son by the Father. All given to the Son come to Him and are given eternal life. However, many do not believe even though they are given the truth. The Father does not give those to the Son. If we go back a few verses in John 6 we see that He is speaking to people who seek Jesus from a motivation of ‘getting’ or ‘receiving’ food or provision from our Lord as He had fed them (5000) with five barley loaves and two fish. The next day they sought Him again seeking more. However, His response to them is that those who ‘find Him’ seek Him for Himself not to receive anything temporal. He actually rebukes these people and, as we shall see, tells them the qualifications for being part of His Kingdom, which they reject proving that they are not among those given to the Son by the Father.

41 The Jews then murmured at him because he said, I am that bread, which is come down from heaven.
42 And they said, Is not this Jesus that son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how then saith he, I came down from heaven?
43 Jesus then answered, and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the ,Prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me:
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
47 Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth in me, hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat Manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is that bread, which cometh down from heaven, that he which eateth of it, should not die.
51 I am that living bread, which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:41-51 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

As you can see in this passage, these people are in unbelief. Their unbelief remains while those who do come to Him in belief are those drawn to Christ by the Father. The Greek word used here that is translated “draw” is ἑλκύω, ἕλκω or helkuō, helkō. This word gives us the picture of a fisherman dragging a net to shore in order to capture the fish caught in it. In this context, it refers to God the Father actually accomplishing His will in the hearts of those “drawn” to the Son by changing them from the inside out. As we saw earlier, no one seeks after God or the Son unless it is to ‘get.’ On the other hand, those drawn by the Father come in belief with faith that saves. Notice that the drawing includes being taught by God by hearing and learning about Jesus from the Father. This is part of their regeneration. Those who are drawn by the Father to the Son eat the bread of life, who is the Son, and will live forever. 

52 Then the Jews strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As that living Father hath sent me, so live I by the Father, and he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers have eaten Manna, and are dead. He that eateth of this bread, shall live forever. John 6:52-58 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

Who eats the flesh and drinks the blood of the Son? Only those given to the Son by the Father do this. The Father draws them to Him as they are taught about the Son. They come to the Son and are given eternal life. What was the response of those seeking to come Him in unbelief?

59 These things spake he in the Synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 Many therefore of his disciples (when they heard this) said, This is an hard saying: who can hear it?
61 But Jesus knowing in himself, that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What then if ye should see that Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, are spirit and life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not: for Jesus knew from the beginning, which they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of my Father. John 6:59-65 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

Those who seek the Son in unbelief do so via the flesh. Only those given life by the Spirit come to son in belief and are given eternal life. Notice that even when the Gospel is given directly to those who are not given to the Son by the Father, they do not believe. No one can come to the Son unless the Father grants it to him or her. There is a form of Christianity that ignores these truths and teaches that people are saved by exercising their free will and are rewarded salvation for doing so. I do not see that taught anywhere in scripture and, in fact, what we see in God’s Word lines up perfectly with our Lord’s words in this passage. This does not change how we preach the Gospel though. We still offer the Gospel freely to all because this is the means that God has chosen to save His people. They hear the Gospel as God is drawing them to the Son. Those believe, repent, and are justified by the Father.

17 For CHRIST sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, not with ,wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For that preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness: but unto us, which are saved, it is the ,power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will cast away the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness?
21 For seeing the world by wisdom knew not God in the wisdom of GOD, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe:
22 ,Seeing also that the Jews require a sign, and the Grecians seek after wisdom.
23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews, even a stumbling block, and unto the Grecians, foolishness:
24 But unto them which are called, both of the Jews and Grecians, we preach Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

Notice that the message of the Gospel is not palatable to those not called or drawn by God to the Son. It is foolishness to them. However, to those granted it, it is the means of their justification as they respond in belief and repentance.

Soli Deo Gloria!

24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isaiah 66:24 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

The reason I am posting this tonight is that I watched a video today about the author of the novel “The Shack” who has written a sequel titled “Return to the Shack.” I won’t go into all of the heretical things about “The Shack” here, but I will say that it is one of the most heretical books supposedly about Christianity that there is. It is based entirely in Christian Universalism and Anti-Trinitarianism. The main theme of “The Shack” is that God’s love over rules any concept of there being the eternal judgment of Hell that is clearly taught in Scripture. As I watched that video today it was as if I was taken back to Rob Bell’s book “Love Wins.”  Do you remember that?

Those who espouse Christian Universalism as the true model of God’s Redemption plan for man, must ignore most of Sacred Scripture as well as misinterpret their so-called “proof texts” in order to make their suppositions. The Bible makes it very clear that those Universalist teachings are heretical.

Carefully read the passage I placed at the top of this post, Isaiah 66:24. What does it tell us? Who is it whose worm does not die nor is their fire quenched? It is those who have rebelled against God. This would be all those who have not believed the Gospel and repented. They have remained in their sins because they have clung to their sins and rejected God as their Sovereign Lord. Our Lord Jesus quoted this passage in Mark 9.

42 ,And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones, that believe in me, it were better for him rather, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the sea.
43 Wherefore if thine hand cause thee to offend, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched,
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire never goeth out.
45 Likewise, if thy foot cause thee to offend, cut it off: it is better for thee to go halt into life, than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched,
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire never goeth out.
47 And if thine eye cause thee to offend, pluck it out: it is better for thee to go into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire,
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire never goeth out.
49 For every man shall be salted with fire: and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt be unsavory, wherewith shall it be seasoned? have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. Mark 9:42-50 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

The Greek word used here translated as “hell” is γέεννα (geenna). This word describes the Valley of Hinnom. It was the place of the city dump for Jerusalem and spiritually represented the place or state of the lost and condemned. The reason γέεννα was used to describe “hell” is that as the city garbage dump there were fires constantly burning there. This gave the hearer or reader a graphic image of the nature of eternal torment. The punishment of hell lasts for eternity and it is clearly taught throughout both the Old Testament and New Testament.

 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and perpetual contempt. Daniel 12:2 (1599 Geneva Bible)

41 Then shall he say to them on the left hand, Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

4 So that we ourselves rejoice of you in the Churches of God, because of your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye suffer.
5 ,Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for the which ye also suffer.
6 For it is a righteous thing with God, to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you,
7 And to you which are troubled, rest with us, ,when the Lord Jesus shall show himself from heaven with his mighty Angels,
8 In flaming fire, rendering vengeance unto them, that do not know God, and which obey not unto the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
9 Which shall be punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power,
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be made marvelous in all them that believe (because our testimony toward you was believed) in that day. 2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

9 ¶ And the third Angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or on his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, yea, of the pure wine, which is poured into the cup of his wrath, and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels, and before the Lamb.
11 And the smoke of their torment shall ascend evermore: and they shall have no rest day nor night, which worship the beast and his name. Revelation 14:9-11 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

These 4 passages are just a sampling. Our Lord spoke more of hell than He did of Heaven. Hell is always spoken of as being eternal. There is no end to it. Those in it are there forever. That is terrifying my brethren. No one would want anyone else to go there. No, we must pray for all those we know who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior to hear the Gospel, repent, and believe thereby receiving eternal life and justification by our Lord God. This is the only way of escape from God’s Wrath. Look again at Isaiah 66:24. This is a terrifying picture of unending judgment. My brethren, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is good news to those who obey it, but it is very bad news to those who remain in rebellion. Many believe that God’s judgment is yet future and the Day of the Lord is for the time at the end. The Day of the Lord began when John the Baptist proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand and it became manifest in the world as our Lord Jesus won the victory at the Cross. Each believer is part of our Lord’s Kingdom. When a person rejects the Gospel, they are incurring judgment upon themselves. On the other hand, when a believer is saved they receive righteous judgment in their justification as the Father declares them righteous.

11 And I saw a great white throne, and one that sat on it, from whose face fled away both the earth and heaven, and their place was no more found.
12 And I saw the dead, both great and small stand before God: and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged of those things, which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up her dead, which were in her, and death and hell delivered up the dead, which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death, and hell were cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

The first death is the passing from physical life unto physical death. However, there is a second death. The second death is the lake of fire. Who is thrown into it? All those whose name was not found written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire. Those whose names are in the book of life cannot be hurt by the second death.

8 ¶ And unto the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians write, These things saith he that is first and last, which was dead and is alive.
9 I know thy works and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them, which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things, which thou shalt suffer: behold, it shall come to pass, that the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee the crown of life.
11 Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2:8-11 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

Who is not hurt by the second death? We know that those whose names are found in the book of life will not be thrown into the lake of fire. Now we see another attribute of those whose names are in the book of life. What is it? They overcome. This is the Greek word νικάω (nikaō). It literally means, “to get the victory.” Some Bible versions translate this as “conquer.” It carries with it the idea of subduing an enemy or opponent. I used to run in Nike shoes. The company got that name from this Greek word because it means “victory.” In the context of Revelation 2:8-11 it describes Christians persevering or remaining faithful to the end, even if they are killed or persecuted for their faith. This is what marks a genuine Christian. Those who remain faithful even unto death are those who conquer or overcome and they will not be hurt by the second death because their names are written in the book of life. They are not written in the book because they overcome, but overcome because they are regenerate Christians who have the Holy Spirit and God preserves them to the end.

My brethren, our Lord also said that the way unto eternal life is narrow and hard to find. In fact, few actually find it.

13 Enter in at the strait gate: for it is the wide gate, and broad way that leadeth to destruction: and many there be which go in thereat.
14 Because the gate is strait, and the way narrow that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (1599 Geneva Bible) 

How popular with men are the teachings of those who espouse Christian Universalism? You know this is perceived as good news because then it does not matter how one lives or what one believes because all will end up in the same place in eternity. However, our Lord says that the wide and easy way leads to destruction (the lake of fire, the second death) while the narrow gate, which is hard, leads to life (eternity with the Savior in the New Heaven and New Earth), but few will find it.

My brethren, do not listen to those who preach this “other gospel” that is nothing more than the manifestation of the doctrines of demons, which says that all it takes to have eternal life with Jesus is to simply be human. No, this is a lie from our enemy and it is also why Christians must learn the truth. They must get into the Bible and get God’s truth into them so that these lies can be seen for what they are and dealt with Biblically.

Soli Deo Gloria!

9 Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἄδικοι θεοῦ βασιλείαν οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν; μὴ πλανᾶσθε· οὔτε πόρνοι οὔτε εἰδωλολάτραι οὔτε μοιχοὶ οὔτε μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται 10 οὔτε κλέπται οὔτε πλεονέκται, οὐ μέθυσοι, οὐ λοίδοροι, οὐχ ἅρπαγες βασιλείαν θεοῦ κληρονομήσουσιν. 11 καὶ ταῦτά τινες ἦτε· ἀλλʼ ἀπελούσασθε, ἀλλʼ ἡγιάσθητε, ἀλλʼ ἐδικαιώθητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ πνεύματι τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NA28)

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous ones will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Be not deceived;  neither fornicators nor idolators nor adulterers nor effeminate nor homosexuals 10 nor thieves nor greedy ones nor drunkards nor revilers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ n the Spirit of of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Translated from the NA28 Greek text)

We heard a very good sermon this last Sunday at church. The Gospel was presented fully and that meant we heard Law and Gospel and that meant that there was no soft-sell on how one comes to Christ. We heard a great deal about repentance being a necessary part of the Christian walk. Even through the evangelist never came to the passage above, it kept running through my head the entire time. after our Small Group prayer time Sunday evening I knew I had to post this.
Several years ago I heard a presentation from a friend about a “sermon” made by Matthew Vines who is a homosexual activist who actually preached a sermon based on 1 Corinthians 6-9-11, however, what he said was that the Greek had been mistranslated in v11 and it should actually say, “And such ARE some of you.” not long after this I had a homosexual person contact me and he tried to convince me that Matthew Vines was right. I told him that I could read and translate Greek and I knew that our translations such as the KJV, the NASB, NIV, etc. were correct and Vines was a deceiver.

Our Small group focused on our own Testimonies. Mine was one in which I went forward during a “Revival” when I was 9 years old not really understanding anything. No one counseled me. No one prayed with me. I just ended up being baptized the following Sunday. I just got wet. I was not a Christian. In other words. the description in v11 above did not occur for me then. However, in January 1986, The Holy Spirit met up with me one Sunday Morning in Church and I suddenly KNEW I was lost and it was time to believe and repent turning to the Lord Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I did that and nothing has been the same since, therefore, that statement, “And such were some of you” did in fact describe me, because now I had been washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit of our God. How about you?

18 You shall not take vengeance, and you shall not keep your anger against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh. Leviticus 19:18 (LSB) 

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And Yahweh will repay you. Proverbs 25:21-22 (LSB) 

If you have ever listened to or read any defense made by those who claim to be Christians, but also “Gay” then you know that they are very loose with how they handle doctrine and very vital words within those doctrines. One of those key words is “love.” The Biblical definition of love from a Christian perspective is one of self-denial under the sanctifying hand of God. However, for those who are attempting to invade Christianity with their “Gay Agenda,” they redefine “love” from a self-focused, narcissistic bent that is all about seeking self-fulfillment above all no matter who else has to pay the cost. On the other hand, the genuine believer, is regenerate, saved by grace through faith according to the mercy of God, and is on the path or way of learning to deny self even to the point of loving their enemies as Christ commanded.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 (LSB) 

In our Lord’s statement in v43, the first half is found in Leviticus 19:18, which I placed at the top of this post. However, the second part, “and you shall hate your enemy” was found in how the scribes and Pharisees explained and applied the Old Testament command. Our Lord’s application, however, was exactly the opposite. What was the result? The truly Biblical standard is much higher. The standard of love that is required of God’s people, that includes all of us in Christ, is a love for one’s neighbor that should extend even to those who are enemies (v44). That’s a tough one. I have neighbors that I would really like it if they would move somewhere else. How about you? However, as you see from Proverbs 25:21,22 (above) this was not a new teaching by our Lord at all. Even in the Old Testament we see that God’s people were taught to do good to their enemies.

In v44-45 we are taught to love our enemies and pray for them even if they are persecuting us. Why? This is Christlike behavior plus God is extending his common grace as blessings to all indiscriminately. This is not the same thing as the everlasting love God has for the elect (Jeremiah 31:3), but it is a sincere good will and we should treat everyone the way our Lord would.

In vv47-48 we have our Lord setting the bar impossibly high. Is this then an imperative that we are commanded to attempt even though our Lord knew it was impossible? The only one capable of this is our Lord himself. He kept the Law perfectly, which is Christ’s active obedience. This is part of what is imputed to Christians when they are justified. J. Gresham Machen said in a telegram to John Murray shortly before his death, “I’m so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it.”  You can read about that and the doctrine of double imputation here.

You see, Christ fulfilled the law so the elect, who are incapable of doing so, do not have to. The atonement at the cross of Christ purchased a people unto eternal life. These elect before the foundation of the world are effectually called by God in his timing. They believe the gospel and are then saved by grace through faith. This belief is that turning to Christ as Lord and Savior and is done according to God’s grace through faith as a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8,9).

At each believer’s justification, Christ’s perfect righteousness and his active obedience are both imputed to them just as their unrighteousness was imputed to him on the cross. This is why believers, even though we are all mired in huge fiery trials of sanctification are seen by God the Father as perfect as our “heavenly Father is perfect.” We are seen by him as possessing the same perfect righteousness and perfect obedience to the law as Jesus Christ himself.

All in Christ have righteous standing before God because of the doctrine of imputation.  We did not earn it. We do nothing to keep it. It is ours by the grace of God. What is our part? Our part is obedience and spiritual growth through the grace of God to do the good works God has ordained for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). This includes denying of self, loving our neighbors even if they are unlovely, et cetera. Notice, that most of these things will begin with self-denial and is love in action.

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up; 5 it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails, but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now abide faith, hope, love—these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 (LSB) 

If you are in Christ then you have both the active and passive obedience of Christ imputed to you.  You are in right standing before the Father. Your part is to grow in Christ, to mature in Him, and obey Him in all things. If we do this then what will we look like? Won’t it look a lot like the positive things Christ talked about in Matthew 5,6, & 7, and what Paul talked about in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 13 (above)?

We don’t receive the imputation of Christ’s righteousness then just kick back.  No, we draw near unto God and He draws near unto us and we become more and more like the Son as we obey Him as we walk in The Way for the rest of our days.

Soli Deo Gloria!