The World Today. Where is this leading...

The other day my grandsons and their father went to Touch Football. While they were there a group of teenagers who were prospects for a local gang arrived and started to pray on the youngsters there for sport. They surrounded children at the park and took their bags, physically abusing them as well. One of the boys lost his hat and took a blow to the back of his head. This situation degenerated into an altercation between two gangs and then a full on brawl between adults and children armed with crow bars and other weapons. Later the police became involved.

This is symptomatic of the direction that society is taking today. You may be familiar with the scripture “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind....” from Hosea 8:7. Well what we’re doing today is precisely that thing. We sow the wind and are beginning to reap the fruit of our foolishness. The whirlwind or the tornado. We’ve all seen the damage that a tornado can do to peoples dwellings. Destruction, chaos and even death are possible when you are confronted by the whirlwind.

 

We live in a day when science has given our governments the understanding of how weather processes work so that we can literally sow the clouds with chemicals to achieve a number of outcomes. People speak of aeroplanes crisscrossing our skies with chemicals and leaving a visible trail called a chem-trail. Not everyone is sure what the outcomes of doing this are but it has been speculated that they are manipulating the weather. They might be doing this to produce clouds to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface to lower the temperature in the hope of slowing global warming. Other’s have theorised that the motives for laying chem-trails are not so pure and that they are in fact creating severe weather events to make people believe in global warming. Perhaps, so that strong new laws can be enacted that would curb many of the peoples personal freedoms. Whatever the reason they are certainly sowing the wind and we may well reap the whirlwind.

 

Secularism is no less dangerous than experimenting with our planets weather. It is now a global experiment in social engineering. It is touted as the best way to promote tolerance and understanding of our fellow men. The reality is that this experiment has been well tried in the history of man and without fail it results in strict constraints on the freedoms of the people of the society that adopts it.

 

 Gradually as rules are made to enforce protection of some groups rights while other groups have their rights ignored. An example is the right of Christians to freedom of religious expression. Increasingly Christian’s’ rights are nullified by the rights of other groups who claim that Christians are using hate speech against them. One can foresee the time, in the not to distant future, when the bible is outlawed because it is said to encourage intolerance against other secular groups.

 

Secularism is devoid of moral values and is purportedly based on atheism and evolution. The outcome of this is that there is that there are no binding rules on how dominant groups treat other groups that are in opposition them or a threat to their agenda. They can make up lies about opposition representatives, make threats against them or if they have the power they can even physically abuse them or have them imprisoned. We see this happening in China where Christians are detained, tortured and often brainwashed into giving up their faith. In East Turkestan the Uyghur race are being persecuted in the same way. The government has built large prison facilities in which they are detaining Uyghur people. They are being tortured, brainwashed and reeducated. People often disappear without trace.

 

It is possible to envisage a time when our, (Kiwi) society becomes extremely socialist or extremely fascist or even some combination of both philosophies. An era where individual rights are curbed and the people are told what they should think down to the minutest level. Socialism championing the rights of secular groups and fascism causing certain parts of society to face mistrust and prejudice. We see that happening in New Zealand with Feminism and LGBTQ groups seen as society’s darlings while Christianity and the Homeless are seen as society’s ugly ducklings. Some groups in society seemingly unimpeachable while other’s viewed with absolute suspicion and abhorrence. 

 

We are witnessing in this time evil on the ascension and the implementation of the “Do what you wilt.” commandment from Satanism. The fulfillment of Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Little do these foolish people realise that their foray into evil will only bring them the judgement of the Almighty. Isaiah 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

 

So for a time my friends our society will sink into the depths of depravity. Those who belong to Jehovah and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, will endure great persecution from the tyranny of the evil one. We are on the verge of the last days of the Age of Grace which end in a time of Great Tribulation. Many who proclaim Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God will be martyred for their faith. But in the end those who call “evil good and good evil,” will face the Judgement of the Almighty God. This will happen when the followers of the evil one assemble in the Valley of Mageddo and face the wrath of the returning Lord Jesus Christ. Then comes the Millennial Kingdom and the perfect and righteous reign of the Messiah. All praise and glory to God in the highest. Come Lord Jesus. 

 

Reference List

 

All scriptures sourced from http://www.biblegateway.com and the King James Version of the Bible.

 

Barnabas Fund. 2018. Turn the Tide: Reclaiming Freedom in New Zealand. McClean. Virginia. Issac

 

Radio New Zealand News. https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/364033/china-denies-detaining-one-million-uighurs 25.11.18

Faith without works is dead...

For many years I yearned to be useful for God. I also thought in the back of my mind that if I did some good works hopefully God would let me into heaven. In the front of my mind I knew that no works that I could do would help me to earn salvation. That Jesus of Nazareth has died for my sins on the cross and I am purchased by Christ Jesus and hidden in Christ before the Father. 

 

The enemy had planted the thought that I wasn’t worthy and therefore perhaps if I tried really hard to keep doing the right type of things that I might still earn my way into heaven. Even though I already knew that thought was foolishness. This was very depressing. I felt that I didn’t measure up and I had doubts that I could be saved or that God could really love someone like me at all. The enemy had planted that seed that he often plants in the hearts of Christians to damage our faith and to hinder our witness to those around us. 

 

As a consequence I compared myself to others around me and found myself lacking. This made going to church nearly impossible because I saw myself as being worthless and just an impediment to those around me. The result is that I stayed away rather than go to church and constantly feel inadequate. Actually I still don’t attend church for that reason. I know I should but I just devote myself to being useful to God through blogging and trying to be prayerful and obedient at home. Hopefully at some point Jesus will help me to overcome my feelings of inadequacy. Maybe some of us are supposed to be solitary individuals like some of the Old Testament prophets of God were?

 

James 2: 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. NKJV

 

Faith without works is dead. I believe this to be absolutely the case. Everyone I know who is a genuine John three sixteen Christian has over time become obsessed with the need to win people to Christ and devote every effort to become a temple of God and dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Part of being grafted into the vine is being aware that God is pruning with the intention of the believer bearing fruit. Those who bear no fruit run the risk of being cut off so you see this is a serious business. Works won’t get you into heaven. Only Christ’s redemptive work on the cross will, but if there are no works... Is your faith in Jesus of Nazareth alive?

 

John 15: 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

 

So regardless of what the devil brings against you. You need to know that Christ Jesus has won the victory for you already. You want to bear fruit. God wants you to bear fruit. So ask God to show you where you can bear fruit and look at the areas that you know you can contribute too. Think about your strengths and talk to the Lord about your gifting and what he would inspire you to do. Everyone has a different part to play.

 

I have a gift to write. My writing is connected to the work of the Spirit in my heart. He guides me to write the things that he wants me to get out there. He inspires me and I follow the themes he reveals to me. Sometimes I run out of ideas and I have to pray for the next topic to come to my mind and I always quickly move on to the next focus. If I were to do video I don’t think that I would be very successful because my mouth is connected to the flesh. My writing comes from within and isn’t connected to the flesh or the world. I feel that the Lord uses my best part when he gets me to write about something.

 

So don’t let the enemy talk you out of what ever you feel the Lord Jesus is leading you to do for Him. Just pray about it and He will show you the way he needs you to go. I remember a story about a man who felt that he couldn’t witness to anyone. He decided he needed to serve Jesus Christ as best he could. So what he did was pray for the lost and walk up to complete strangers as the Spirit led and he would ask “Where will you spend your eternity?” One day the pastor of a church asked his congregation if anyone would like to share testimony of how they got saved. Several people stood and told of how a man had come up to them and asked “How will you spend your eternity.” and described how this had led them to give their hearts to the Savior.

 

Their is simply no need to be afraid to do what you can to promote the gospel at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Remember to resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4: 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. NKJV The the apostle James also said “Faith without works is dead.” Now works may not get you into heaven but they will certainly ensure that you are not friendless when you get there. If you can’t do it for yourself then do it for the dear folk that you know that aren’t going to be in the Kingdom of God if you say nothing at all. Do it for Jesus of Nazareth and Dare to be a Daniel. 

 

Reference List

 

All scriptures reproduced from http://www.biblegateway.com and the New King James Bible. 15.11.2018

The Woman in White...

In the book of Revelation a woman is described who is clothed in the sun and the moon under her feet about to give birth. The dragon appears by her and is ready to devour her child. When the child is born he is caught up to God to his throne. The question of course is who is she? 

 

The Woman, Israel

Revelation 12: 1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Red Dragon, Satan

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

The Male Child, Christ

5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

 

She has been called Israel, The Virgin Mary, The Apostolic Church of the Age of Grace. Who she is appears to depend on which Church you belong to and their view of End Times Eschatology. Predictably the Roman Catholics believe the woman is the Virgin Mary. In the fleshly realm she is Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, who was a virgin overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. The mother of the prophesied Messiah. In the celestial realm the woman in white is symbolic of the Nation of Israel and is also the mother of the Christian Church through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Bear in mind that the Church was essentially Jewish for the first two hundred years after the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.

 

She is not the Virgin Mary of the Roman Catholic Church because that is Mithra who is the Zoroastrian angelic divinity (Yazata) of Covenant, Light, and Oath. The Statue of Liberty is actually a graven image of Mithra. At least, I understand that to be the case because the Emperor Constantine began the process of Christianising the Polytheistic religion of Pagan Rome. There is a statue in Rome that many believe is Mary but is actually an ancient statue of Mithra. There are many Catholics who are in all probability Christian and who have no knowledge that beneath the Christian subterfuge the hierarchy of the Church is secretly still quite pagan. 

 

As I mentioned before which Church you belong too has a huge impact on your view of End Times eschatology. For instance the Adventists are adamant that they have usurped Israel and are heirs to the promises made to her through Abraham. So to them the woman of Revelation twelve can only be the Christian Church. Obviously the Catholic Church has tended to favor that view as well evidenced by the rabid antisemitism that they have rained upon the Jews throughout the Church Age. Both contend that Israel can only access the promises made to Abraham through the Christian Church along side gentile believers.

 

To me it is obvious that the woman of Revelation is not the Bride of Christ because the Church did not give birth to a male child who was caught up in to heaven with God on the throne. Through Mary the mother of Jesus it can be said that Israel gave birth to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Hence, Israel is the only realistic choice for the identity of the Woman in Revelation Twelve. 

 

I hold a dispensational view of eschatology and part of that is a belief that God will honor his promises to Abraham and his descendants, both physical and spiritual. So to the nation of Israel and to those gentiles grafted into the fig tree through our faith in Jesus of Nazareth and his redemptive work on the Cross. 

 

I have been brought up with a love for Israel and a hope that as many Jews as possible can be won to Christ. So when I read of the Woman in White who is heavily pregnant and being harassed by the Dragon. I can’t help but tear up about her plight and how the Lord protected her and the child Jesus Christ. I can’t understand how anyone can read Revelation Twelve and think that the woman is anyone but the nation of Israel. I guess it’s all just about how you interpret the scriptures and the lens that determines your eschatology. 

 

Reference List

 

Scriptures http://www.biblegateway.com NASB

 

Mithra https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithra 7.11.18

A Short Note to my Adventist Friends

I know very well that you believe that the work of the Holy Spirit in the believers life is to reveal the nature of Jesus Christ in their hearts. 2 Corinthians 3: 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord NKJV

 

So just a few short questions on the Investigative Judgement. If we agree that Holy Spirit is in the hearts of all who have been baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Why does He need to stand in the inner sanctuary investigating our works to see if we will make it to heaven? Would God dwell in the heart of the un-sanctifed?

 

Are we not cleansed in the shed blood of the Lamb of God. 1 John 1: 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Therefore as we are justified by His redeeming work on the Cross are those same sins not washed away by his cleansing blood so that we are cleansed, sanctified and then hidden in Christ. Colossians 3: 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Not as a consequence of the Investigative Judgement.

 

Finally God knows us intimately through His relationship with his sons and daughters in Jesus Christ. He knows already who are His and where they all are at this very moment because He dwells in us in the person of the Holy Spirit of God. Romans 8: 16 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God...”

 

Reference List

 

All scriptures from http://www.biblegateway.com and the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Law and Grace, The Bible and The Two Testaments

Most Christians are more than a little vague on how the Law and Grace interact together. So I thought I’d pitch a few questions and try to answer them in an effort to clarify things a bit.

 

Now I have heard many Christians say that “We are no longer under the Law but are set free from the law in Grace.” So my first question is “Are we set free from the Law under grace and what exactly does that mean?”

 

To clarify this issue I am going to bring forward two scriptures about this subject.

Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers.... 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” NASB

 

Now the writer of Hebrews reproduces Jeremiah 31:31through 34 while he was discussing the New Covenant which was enacted by Jesus Christ when he shed his blood on the cross and through his death, burial and resurrection. Just as the first covenant was enacted by the priest taking blood from the animal sacrifice and sprinkling it on the alter. So the new covenant is enacted through through the death of Jesus when he gave himself as the sacrifice. 

 

Hebrews 8:33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” NASB

 

I have made bold the statement “...I will put my law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people...” If God puts the Law within me and writes it on my heart. How then am I no longer bound by the law. I would say rather that when I believe on Jesus Christ that he bore my sins on the cross and ask him to come into my heart that the Holy Spirit comes into me and puts the law in me and writes it on my heart. 

 

The writer of Hebrews (Paul?), uses Jeremiah 31 to show the priestly intercession for the sins of the people. The sins being interceded for are incurred breaking the Mosaic Law. The sins being interceded for by Jesus, as our High Priest, are our sins incurred breaking the Mosaic Law. In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus said in verse 17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” KJV  Isn’t Jesus saying that the Law of Moses stands as it is?

 

So rather than being no longer under the Law actually I can now do nothing but the Law in Jesus Christ who lives in me. When Jesus said “Go and sin no more.” as he did often. He was saying “Go and don’t break the Law.” Sin equals breaking the Law of Moses. If we are set free from the Law in Christ Jesus. It is because He now indwells us in the person of the Holy Spirit and the Law is as he said “Fulfilled.” In Christ sin can be overcome as it could never be under the Old Covenant.

 

Remember that the Law is put into us and written on our hearts. No longer will we have to teach each other about God because everyone will know Him. He will be our God and we will be His people. I Peter 2: 9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...” NASB

 

So “Are we set free from the Law under grace and what exactly does that mean?” It means we obey the law in the power of the Holy Spirit. We do it even if we don’t know what the Laws are because God has put the Law in us. But we also obey and implement the Law in a Graceful way, in love and through the fruit of the Spirit. As Paul said in Galatians chapter 5: 2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

Another question I hear often and usually at the same time as the first question is: “What is the Law anyway?. So Christians know they are set free from Law of Moses but don’t know what they are set free from?

 

The Ten Commandments written in a concise way says.

1. You shall have no other Gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourselves an idol
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not give false testimony
10. You shall not covet

Beneath the Ten Commandments set out in Exodus chapter 20 is the greater Law for the nation of Israel. This is set out in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. These were law that covered the covenant commitments of Priest and the people and the Laws for daily life and consequences thereof. 

 

When Jesus was asked in Matthew 22: 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” NASB

 

I mention this because if you read the word and discover that the penalty for adultery is stoning and you feel tempted to stone and adulterer. I hope you will respond as Jesus did and say “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” and then tell the adulterer to “Go their way and sin no more.” Remember Law in Grace and love in the power of the Holy Spirit and through the Fruit of the Spirit.

 

Now you know what the Law is. Is there one of the Ten Commandments that you would not keep? There may be one.

 

Another question then. Do we have to keep the Seventh Day Sabbath?

 

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that if the law is written on your heart and put into you. Then the fourth commandment is in you too. So the simple answer is yes you have to keep Sabbath on the last day of the week.

 

Now I know there are those that are beginning to get upset already because Jesus laid the foundations for a change of Sabbath to the day on which he was resurrected. The first day of the week. Now the Catholics are going to say we changed it to show that our church traditions are of greater import than the bible and so fourth.

 

Some are going to say that the apostle Paul said in Colossians 2: 16 “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day...” NASB And I would say I completely agree with Paul also. You see, I don’t know if you’ve noticed or even when it first happened. But someone came up with an elegant solution to this interesting dilemma. It is called the Weekend and covers both the last day of the week and the first day of the week. Surely not by chance I think. So provision is made for us to keep the Sabbath and I believe we should. Provision is also made to commemorate the first day as it is a time for Christians to meet and to celebrate Christ’s rising on the first day. 

 

Further, Paul said in Romans 14: 5 “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind...” NASB So be convinced about this matter in your own mind. Keep every day for the Lord Jesus Christ, if you will, but, I think, always remember the Sabbath for it is written in your heart.

 

Last question: I don’t have to read the Old Testament do I?

The Old Testament contains the five books of the Pentateuch. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It also includes all of the books from Judges through Malachi. There are thirty nine in total. The books of the Old Testament are about God and the people of Israel. They could be classified as the Torah, History of Israel, The Prophets and Wisdom Books.

 

So do you need to read the Old Testament? Well the Lord Jesus said these things about the Old Testament. John 10: 35 “...If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)...” Matthew 15:3 “...And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” Mark 7: 13 “...thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” My point here is that too Jesus the Old Testament is not a term he would have been familiar with but the Holy Scriptures he would have known by heart. Your Savior read the Old Testament.

 

There are numerous mentions of the Old Testament Scriptures in the Gospels and the Books of Instruction from the apostles Paul, John and Peter. It is entirely feasible that a New Testament reader would have a great deal of trouble understanding the Book of Romans or the Book of Hebrews and for that matter the Revelation of John without having a working knowledge of the books of the Old Testament.

 

Creation, The Dispensation of the Law, The Mosaic Covenant in Exodus and the New Covenant in the book Jeremiah. The history of Israel and the Life of King David. The genealogy Jesus of Nazareth, The numerous profiles of Old Testament Saints like Ruth, Ester and King David to mention but a few. These give an insight into elements of our own walk and God’s great an dependable love for his children. 

 

You could live a successful Christian life without the Old Testament. You could live a successful Christian life without the New Testament. As our Lord said when the people were calling him the Messiah and the Pharisees told Him to tell them to be quiet. Luke 19: 40 “But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”If these were silent the very stones would cry out the truth.” NASB 

 

What I’m saying is this. You could be a successful Christian without a Bible but if you talk to a believer from a country where they don’t have bibles. They will tell you how precious the Word of God is to them. So you could survive with a New Testament but how much more blessed you would be with a complete Bible. Those who truly understand the Bible can testify that it not two testaments it is only one Bible. The Word of God.

 

So to conclude. As Christians we can do nothing to fulfill the Law out of our own works. We are saved through Grace and Faith alone that Jesus of Nazareth the only begotten Son of God bore our sin upon the cross. That He died for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day

.

When we believe on Jesus Christ and ask him to come into our hearts the Law is put into us and written on our hearts. But the fulfillment of the Law has been achieved by Jesus Christ and this victory over sin is revealed in us through the Holy Spirit who indwells us. It can only happen if we surrender control of ourselves to the Holy Spirit.

 

We are not legalists. We are filled with love through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus has achieved the fulfillment of the Law for us on the cross so the Holy Spirit generates the Fruit of Spirit within us. These being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In His fulfillment of the Law we become over-comers, such that, the battle against sin is won for us in Jesus Christ the Everlasting Prince of Peace.

 

And so: Smooth sailing on the Ocean of Grace, my friends. Where the Law has been fulfilled for us in Jesus Christ. Remember, Love your brother as you love yourself. 

 

Reference List

 

All scriptures from Bible Gateway https://www.biblegateway.com/ 20.10.18

 

Old Testament https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament 20.10.18

 

How did Jesus view the Old Testament? Josh McDowell Ministry https://www.bethinking.org/bible/q-how-did-jesus-view-the-old-testament 20.10.18

A Christian

What does a Christian believe? What makes a Christian? Before other people. Before God. Which Church has Christians? Which Church doesn’t have Christians? Am I a Christian or will I stand before Jesus and He will say “Depart from me I never new you? Am I saved if I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Am I saved if I speak in tongues? Am I saved if I cross out references to the Holy Spirit from hymnals?

 

The Apostle Paul’s View

 

II Corinthians 11: 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. NASB

 

So what was the gospel that Paul preached? 

 

I Corinthians 15: 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised up on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, 6 then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, the majority of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all, as it were to one born at the wrong time, he appeared also to me.

 

The Basis of the Gospel: Jesus of Nazareth’s Crucifixion; Death; Burial and Resurrection; Appearance to many and Ascension into Heaven

 

The Crucifixion of Jesus

 

Mark 15: 21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

 

The Death of Jesus

 

Mark 15: 33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

 

The Burial of Jesus

 

Mark 15: 42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid...”

 

Jesus Has Risen

 

Mark 16: 1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

 

Luke’s Gospel - He Appears to Many

 

Luke 24: 1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

 

On the Road to Emmaus

 

Luke24: 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

 

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

 

Luke 24: 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

 

The Ascension of Jesus

 

Luke 24: 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

 

What do Christians believe?

 

A Christian believes John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

 

Christians believe what Paul said: I Corinthians 15: 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised up on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve...”

 

Christians believe: what Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians 2: 7 “...so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast...”

 

Christians do: Acts 2: 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

So...

 

What does a Christian believe? What makes a Christian? Before other people. Before God. Which Church has Christians? Which Church doesn’t have Christians? Am I a Christian or will I stand before Jesus and He will say “Depart from me I never new you? Am I saved if I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Am I saved if I speak in tongues? Am I saved if I cross out references to the Holy Spirit from hymnals?

 

Well if you read the scriptures above and understand the Jesus of Nazareth the only begotten Son of God was crucified, died and raised from the dead on the third day. If you have asked him to forgive your sins and to make his place in your heart. If you believe his blood was shed for you and through his blood your sins are washed away. If you have repented and been baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and in order to receive the Holy Spirit. Then you are saved. 

 

What’s more I believe you are saved in every category mentioned above with the possible exception of the last one. Am I saved if I cross out references to the Holy Spirit from hymnals? That one I fear blasphemes the Holy Spirit himself and is unforgivable. 

 

As to the question ‘Am I a Christian or will I stand before Jesus and He will say “Depart from me I never new you?” If you read the scriptures above and understood them well and are you know you are justified by faith in Jesus Christ not your own works. I believe that you have nothing to fear. Those in that category may have gone to church but never heard the gospel preached or thought they were saved because they belonged to the same denomination that their parents had. Maybe they believed another gospel, as the apostle Paul spoke of, where they were told they could be saved by their own works or some other way. Most probably they never really came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and therefore were never saved in the first place.

A time to decide... ?

In the Western World people are living a life in a society based on an altered perception of reality. We are arguably living on borrowed time and it could be said are we staring into the face of the greatest societal collapse since decline and fall of the Roman Empire. The bible says every thing has a season and so it is for the great Western Alliance that we are living through.

 

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 

 

Denying the Power

The secular humanist perspective has developed a rights based discourse that has replaced Christian moral values as standard for our society. The result is a lack of discipline in younger members of society and a general trend toward lawlessness. I don’t think that most people realise where this road leads too. There are a myriad of post apocalyptic movies like the Mad Max franchise and, The Book of Eli which endeavor to show what life would be like if society were to break down. Some of the historical films based at the end of the Roman period in Britain like The Eagle and The Centurion contrast the difference between the Roman civilisation and the naturalist cultures of nations like the Picts. 

 

What I’m pointing out here is that because the Holy Spirit is restraining evil and there are Christians who are impacting society as the salt of the world. Those seeking godless humanism can practice their craft in the still relatively orderly and peaceful environment in the Western World. But once the Christians our gone and God gives the humanists over to the fruits of their labors. They will be consumed by the lawlessness and brutality of Satan’s world. Where the strong rule as despots and where a life has no value. The world of druidism and the worship of naturalistic Gods. Where society is not so much secular as tribal. Where lawlessness and darkness and the fear of the shadows becomes the daily norm. The time of Jacob’s Trouble.

 

Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. KJV 2000

 

I don’t think most liberal and humanist people realise how dangerous the game is that they are playing much less what it will lead too. The Apostle Paul put it this way:

II Timothy 3: 2-5 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power... NASB

 

I want stress verse 5 here which says “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied the power." You see we live in a day where many of the rules underpinning society are still Christian based. So you can live in relative safety in many parts of the world because there is still a moral basis to life. But as this moral basis is eroded and ceases to be so that form of Godliness will disappear. As the light fades so shadow will spread over all the world and no one will be safe.

 

The reason I speak about the rules that underpin society is that God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel and Moses and God developed a very specific set of laws for the every day life of the people based on those laws. Included in these laws are the consequences for breaking them and instructions about purification. 

 

The Law

 

In Jeremiah 31: 31 God promises a new and better covenant: verse 31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah...” In this new covenant God promises to write his laws on our hearts and to put them into us Jeremiah 31: 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 

 

So when Christians say they are not governed by the Ten Commandments because they are under grace. It is somewhat ironic that they have those very commandments written on their hearts. 

 

The Ten Commandments in concise form.

 

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

Which Christian would not keep the commandments above? Because God has written the law in their hearts they live by those commandments without realising it. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill...”

 

Now you may be wondering why the digression into a discussion of the law. Well the major laws in Western society are based on the Ten Commandments. Read the laws above and you can see that they are simply common sense as a basis to life any society. So when we speak of “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied the power...” II Timothy 3: 5 We are speaking of a society that obeys most of the commandments of God but specifically ignores the first commandment “You shall have no other gods before Me.” So there is a form of Godliness and there are many laws but Satan has a plan. He is supplanting the laws of God with his own laws. These equate to the rights based manifesto of secular humanism. The ultimate goal is lawlessness where all of God laws are replaced with Satan’s laws. A society based on depravity and survival of the fittest.

 

Denying the Power in a Society of Laws - How That Looks

 

Of course it is possible for a powerful government to reign over a lawless society. Citizens can be trained to live peacefully even beside their enemies. The Roman Empire was an example of this scenario at work as was the Soviet Union. Strong and if necessary brutal government controlled society even down to individual level. Totalitarian governments function in much the same way in many of the Islamic countries where secret police spy on members of society. Arresting citizens when they deem it necessary. Even the governments of the Western World are using increasingly sophisticated methods of spying on citizens compromising their individual freedom but effectively reigning over the people.

 

The bible describes a coming upheaval in the end times. It is described as a revived Roman Empire but a brittle strong iteration of it. 1. Their will be a brutal ruler, the Antichrist. There will be incredibly sophisticated technology to spy on and control the people. But there will be wars and natural destruction from asteroids, weather events, earthquakes and eruptions that hinder this empire. Even so if the time of this period of judgement was not shortened no one would survive.

 

Matthew 24: 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs ..... 15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. NASB

 

We are heading to a New World Order that will bear closer resemblance to pagan Rome than a peaceful Christian democracy. Pagan practices will be supported by the state. It will be a brutal place and a lawless place. Anyone opposing the state will be dealt with severely by the state. Christians will be singled out for special treatment as happened in the first Roman Empire and during the inquisition under the Catholic Church. Their won’t be the relative safety of a quasi Christian society anymore. It won’t be a pleasant life in that time. More like a post apocalyptic nightmare.

 

However, we don’t have to worry because God is with us and will never allow us to be taken from him . The apostle john tells us that Jesus said in John 10: 28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

 

The writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 13:6 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” So we have no reason to fear because the Lord will never forsake or leave us. Thus it begs the question are you the reader saved? John 3:16 tells us 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life...” Do you believe on Jesus Christ? Have you asked him to forgive your sins and to make his place in your heart? Is this your time to make a decision? ... ? 

 

Reference List

 

Scriptures from https://biblehub.com/ and https://www.biblegateway.com

 

Bible Prophecy: 10 Nations of the Roman empire. The Prophecies. https://www.theprophecies.com/the-roman-empire-reuniting/ 12.10.18

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