Skip's Lighthouse: January 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014

BELIEVING IS SEEING

There are several passages in the Scriptures which speak of people's eyes being blinded by God (Gen. 19:11; 2 Kgs. 6:18; Isa. 44:18; etc.), and based upon Deuteronomy 28:15, 28-29, it is because they fail to live according to what they do know. They have some degree of light, but they refuse to live accordingly. Moses wrote:

"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: The LORD shall smite the with ... blindness, and astonishment of heart: and thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. "

God allowed the continual rebellion of Israel throughout the centuries, but He also allowed them to suffer the consequences of their actions. Israel was repeatedly enslaved by Gentile empires because they refused to obey God. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, made their lives miserable, and yet, they still did not repent. Finally, "...when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:4-5). It was Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ, that brought upon them the blindness spoken of by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11:25! A millennium earlier, the Psalmist had written:

"Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. Pour out Thine indignation upon them, and let Thy wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. For they persecute Him whom Thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom Thou hast wounded. Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into Thy righteousness" (Ps. 69:23-27).

I remember forty-three years ago today, how, as an atheist, I heard a television preacher present the Gospel, and falling on my knees in my living room, I repented of my sin and trusted in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My eyes had been opened because I believed God's Word. I praise God for the events that led me to sit and listen, sit and hear for the first time, God loves me! I have endeavored to live these many years loving Him back! I wish I had done a better job of it!

We all have some light from God; if we do not respond to it, He removes it!

Matthew 25:29; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; John 8:12!!!!

Thursday, January 30, 2014

WHAT'S WITH ALL THE TALK ABOUT HIS BLOOD?

Christianity is accused of being a religion fixated on blood! In fact, the "Founder" of Christianity is quoted as saying,

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? 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. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever" (Jn. 6:51-58).

It seems barbaric for someone to say those things, but only to those who do not understand what Jesus meant when He said them. Those things were said before an audience of unbelievers. Like speaking in parables, He did not intend them to understand. Later, when He taught His disciples at His last supper, He made it clear that He was not speaking literally, but that literal bread and literal wine represented His body and blood (Mt. 26:26-28). This was later confirmed by the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 11:23-31).

Here are some points worth noting:
* The punishment for sin is a death - Rom. 6:23!
* That death requires the shedding of blood - Heb. 9:22!
* To shed someone's blood is to take their life - Lev. 17:11!
* Jesus' blood is the propitiation (satisfaction) of our debt - Rom. 3:25!
* His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness - 1 Jn. 1:7!
* We are made righteous by faith in Jesus - 2 Cor. 5:21!
* We are justified before God by His blood - Rom. 5:9!
* We are redeemed from the bondage of sin by His blood - Eph. 1:7!
* We have peace with God by His blood - Col. 1:20!
* We can enter God's presence because of His blood - Heb. 10:19!
* We are forever related to the Father through His blood - Heb. 13:20!
* Even our clothing is holy because of His blood - Rev. 7:14!

Without the shedding of Christ's blood, there is no Gospel.

Without the Gospel, there is no hope!

ONE ERROR IS TOO MANY

Yesterday, I wrote my blog entitled, "Come Up Out Before I Pour Out My Wrath." And while I received many "likes," I also received some "serious unlikes!" Part of the reason for the "likes" is that the persons either didn't read what I wrote carefully enough, or perhaps they simply are not Bereans (Acts 17:11). In any case, I deleted the post. What I am going to write today will be what I intended to say yesterday, but I apparently got carried away with my enthusiasm.

There are signs that indicate the Tribulation is right around the corner. One fellow wrote, "If there are signs that the Tribulation is about to occur, then those same signs must also indicate to 'Pre-tribbers,' that the Rapture is even closer" (my paraphrase). As we see the world racing toward a one-world government, a one-world economy, a one-world religion, is it a stretch to see that we are very close to the return of Christ for His Bride (the true Church)?

Those who pointed out the flaws in my theology in yesterday's blog, missed the point I wanted to make. Yes, I know the Rapture, and for that matter, even the Church Age, are mysteries to Israel, and I know the typology of Noah and Lot are taken to represent world conditions at Christ's Second Coming (Mt. 24:1-51; Mk. 13:1-37; Lk. 17:5-36), but may I suggest an alternative interpretation? Is it possible that the pleasant conditions of eating, drinking, and marriage, better describe the condition of the world when the Rapture occurs; remember, when Jesus returns, He will be coming to end the horrors of the seven-year Tribulation! I could be wrong, and since I am so outnumbered by good, conservative Bible scholars, I most likely am. Nevertheless, it is worth considering.

Yesterday, I erred when I said "come up out of" appears twelve times in the Bible in reference to God's instructions to Moses. The actual quote is "up out of Egypt." Regardless, the point I was trying to make is that before God brings judgment upon His enemies, He removes His people. Moses came up out of the Red Sea, and THEN God destroyed the Egyptian army. Noah was lifted up in the Ark, and THEN God flooded the world. Lot went up into the mountain, and THEN God rained fire and brimstone upon the cities of the valley below. God is going to remove the Church via the Rapture, and THEN the Tribulation will begin.

If we see signs of the Tribulation, are they not also signs of the Rapture?

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

THE :) AND :( OF POLITICS

There has been much "leaked" about the President's State of the Union speech that is due to disrupt television re-runs tonight. At my age, there are no such things as re-runs; I can't remember them from the first time I saw them. Anyway, like all leaks, I suspect they are nothing more than tests to see how Americans will react. If they are positively received, then they will be his ideas, and they stay in the speech; if not, they become the ideas of the Republicans, and will be fodder for ridicule.

Politicians have become experts on making lies sound like the truth, and they even have a Ph.D. program for those politicians who want to make it to the top of the political ladder: graduates receive a diploma that reads "Doctor of Spin." By twisting the truth, misusing of statistics, and plausible deniability, unqualified and incompetent men (so far) get re-elected. The good new is, we only have about three more years...wait, somehow that does not sound like the start of a sentence that can be called "good news!" Three more years! Now that is frightening!

I feel I need to lighten up some, as I am somewhat uncomfortable with the negative tone; I usually avoid politics due to it being so depressing. So, for all you Dave Letterman fans, here is my top ten list of what you will not hear in the President's State of the Union speech:

#10 "I honestly believe Joe Biden will make a great President!"

# 9 "The Reverend Jeremiah Wright was right!"

# 8 "As a Muslim, I have great respect for Jews and Christians!"

# 7 "Golf IS hard work!"

# 6 "To my Latino friends, I know a great forger...no wait, I had him killed!"

# 5 "My critics are NOT racists!"

# 4 "Welfare is the goose that laid the golden egg for getting re-elected!"

# 3 "I made the decision to ignore requests from Benghazi!"

# 2 "Constitution? I don't need no stinkin' Constitution!"

# 1 "T R U T H!"

If there ever was a time our nation needed the Lord's mercy and grace, it is now!

Monday, January 27, 2014

TRUST, BELIEVE, TRUST

I do not recall noticing before today, that the two words, "trust" and "believe," are time related. This morning, while studying God's Word, I discovered that the word "trust" appears 107 times in the Old Testament, but only 27 times in the New Testament. The word "believe," on the other hand, appears only 17 times in the Old Testament, while it is found 126 times in the New Testament.

My interpretation of these findings is that the word "trust" is most often related to one's confidence in God's promises concerning what He will do in the future. He promised to send Israel a savior, and in Israel's way of thinking, that meant He would provide them with a mighty king, one who would conquer their enemies, and establish their nation as the seat of God's empire. Because their warrior king has yet to liberate them, they are still being asked to trust that God will send their Messiah to rule the world. He will (Rev. 20:1-7)!

As for the word "believe," it appears to me that it has more to do with what God has already done, or is doing, rather than what He will do in the future. The Gospels repeatedly call for Israel to put their faith in Jesus Christ; the writers present Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promise, using some form of the word "fulfill" 39 times in the Gospels alone, and 20 times in the rest of the New Testament. Of the 126 times the word "believe" appears in the New Testament, 46 of them are found in the Gospel of John! The only other New Testament books with the word "believe" in double figures are Matthew (11 times) and Acts (10 times).

In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the Apostle Paul summed up the revelation of Jesus, as He is presented in the Gospels: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

As born again believers, that is, all who have believed in Jesus and His love for us, we also trust our Father will do what He promised He would do for those who accept His Son; we have:

Eternal life - Jn. 3:15; 5:39; 6:54; 6:68; 10:28; 12:25; 17:2-3; and

Everlasting life - Jn. 3:16; 3:36; 4:14; 5:24; 6:27; 6:40; 6:47)!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

FIRST A LAMB, AND THEN A LION

At His First Advent, Jesus, the Son of God, was born in a lowly manger (Lk. 2:7). His parents were so poor, that they could only afford two doves for an offering at His circumcision (Lev. 12:8; Lk. 2:24). He grew up a common laborer (Mk. 6:3). After He began His ministry, He had no place to call His own (Lk. 9:58). In order to pay the Temple tax, He needed "a miracle fish with a hunger for coins" (Mt. 17:27). Women supported Him (Mk. 15:41). He was described as a sacrificial Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29). The Apostle Paul described Jesus as coming as a servant (Phil. 2:7-8)!

When Jesus returns to rule His Millennial Kingdom, He will come as a King, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)! No more mangers; no more poverty; no more being a servant; He will come as described in the following verses:

"Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light " (Mt. 16:28-17:2).

"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength" (Rev. 1:13-16).

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev. 19:11-16).

All those who rejected Jesus at His First Coming, will bow to Him at His Second Coming!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS WANT TO KNOW

People often want to know what the will of the Lord is. Summed up, it is to love Him and our neighbor. It is also helpful to know what the Lord does not want His children to do. We read in Proverbs 6:16-19 that God hates seven things, even calling them abominations to Him. But, as can be seen from the list below, there are more than seven; here are just a few:

* Homosexuality (Lev. 18:22). +
* Bestiality (Lev. 18:23).
* Blemished sacrifices (Deut. 17:1). +
* Worshipping the Sun, the Moon, or the Stars (Deut. 17:3-4). +
* Idols (Deut. 17:25). +
* Child sacrifice, Divination, Astrology, Enchanters, Witches (Deut. 18:10, 12). +
* Charmers, Wizards, Necromancers (Deut. 18:11-12). +
* Transvestitism (Deut. 22:5). +
* Money made from sexual acts (Deut. 23:17-18). +
* Remarriage to a widow or divorced woman (Deut 24:1-4). +
* Dishonest business transactions (Deut. 25:13-16). +
* All workers of iniquity (Ps. 5:4-5).
* All the wicked (Ps. 11:5).
* All who love violence (Ps. 11:5).
* An undisciplined mouth (Pro. 3:32). +
* A proud look, a lying tongue, harming the innocent (Pro. 6:16-17). +
* A wicked heart, one who rushes to do evil (Pro. 6:18). +
* A false witness, one who stirs up dissension among the brethren (Pro. 6:19). +
* A liar (Pro. 12:22). +
* The sacrifices of the wicked (Pro. 15:8). +
* The way of life of the wicked (Pro. 15:9). +
* Even the thoughts of the wicked (Pro. 15:26). +
* The prideful (Pro. 16:5). +
* Those who justify the wicked (Pro. 17:15). +
* Those who condemn the just (Pro. 17:15). +
* Insincere sacrifices (Isa. 1:13). +
* Religious feast days (Isa. 1:14).
* Stolen offerings (Isa. 61:8).
* Idolatry (Jer. 44:2-4). +
* Plotting against neighbors and false oaths (Zech. 8:17).
* Divorce (Mal. 2:13-16).
* Nicolaitans (lawlessness in the church - Rev. 2:6, 15).

Note: (+) indicates where the Scripture specifically calls a sin an abomination to the Lord.

We are not saved by works. We are saved to do good works and avoid bad ones!

Friday, January 24, 2014

IT IS NOT OUR LAND TO GIVE!

For my entire lifetime, seventy-one years, there has been a worldwide focus upon the Jewish people. First, Adolph and his army of anti-Semites tried to exterminate them. Then, perhaps out of guilt for not coming to their aid sooner, the United Nations, which came into existence at the end of World War II, agreed on providing a homeland for the Jews. Of course, the people living in Palestine resisted from day one, and the Jews and the Arabs have been at each other's throats ever since. Nevertheless, Israel declared itself an independent nation on May 14, 1948. America, in the beginning was Israel's strongest ally, but over time, we have ceased to recognize that Israel is God's land, and the Jews are God's people! Here are a few quotes to illustrate:

The American Presidents on a "Two-State Solution"

May 14, 1948 - Truman - "This Government has been informed that a Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine, and recognition has been requested by the provisional Government thereof. The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the new State of Israel."

March 16, 1977 - Carter - "There has to be a homeland provided for the Palestinian refugees who have suffered for many, many years."
Sept. 1, 1982 - Reagan - "Self-government by the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza in association with Jordan offers the best chance for a durable, just, and lasting peace."
Oct. 30, 1991 - Bush (41) - "Throughout the Middle East, we seek a stable and enduring settlement. We've not defined what this means; indeed, I make these points with no map showing where the final borders are to be drawn. Nevertheless, we believe territorial compromise is essential for peace."
Jan. 7, 2001 Clinton - "There can be no genuine resolution to the conflict without a sovereign, viable Palestinian state that accommodates Israelis' security requirements and the demographic realities."
June 24, 2002 - Bush (43) - "My vision is two states, living side by side in peace and security."
June 4, 2009 - Obama - "The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security."

What God thinks about a "Two-State Solution"

"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land" (Joel 3:1-2, adapted from the K.J.V.).

"At the time of those events, says the Lord, when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather the armies of the world into the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming My people, My special possession, for scattering My people among the nations, and for dividing up My land" (Joel 3:1-2, adapted from the N.L.B.).

God said He would bless Israel's allies, and curse her enemies.

Have you noticed how America is doing lately?

Thursday, January 23, 2014

DISPENSATIONS OF GRACE

Dispensationalists generally speak of the current dispensation as the Dispensation of Grace, and as a result, those who oppose the dispensational approach to interpreting Scripture, point out that God's grace, like His mercy, is found in every dispensation. I agree. I strongly recommend we call our present dispensation, the Dispensation of the Church, or the Church Age. Here are examples of God's grace throughout the Word of God:

Innocence - "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Creation is in
                       itself, grace - Gen. 1:26).

Conscience - "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and
                        clothed them" (God gave Adam and Eve coverings - Gen. 3:21).

Patriarchs - "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Noah - Gen. 6:8).

Promise - "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many
                   nations" (God chose Abraham - Gen. 17:4).

Law - "And Moses said unto the LORD, See, Thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and
             Thou hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Yet Thou hast said, I know
             thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in My sight" (Moses - Ex. 33:12). "And
             the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God" (Mary -
             Lk. 1:30 - "favour" is from the Greek χάρις (charis), which is translated "grace" 130 of the
             156 times it is in the N.T.).

Gospel - "For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon
                me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I
                have a reward: but if against my will, a Dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto
                me" (Paul - 1 Cor. 9:16-17).

Millennium - "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
                        election of grace" (All Israel shall be saved - Rom. 11:1-29). "That in the
                        Dispensation of the Fulness of Times He might gather together in one all things in
                        Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him" (Eph.
                        1:10).

God's mercy forgave me; God's grace will change me!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

WHEN WILL SPIRITUAL GIFTS CEASE?

ACCORDING TO 1 CORINTHIANS 13:8-10

Charity (love)

never faileth (God is Eternal - Deut. 33:27; and God is Love - 1 Jn. 4:8):

but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail (cease - what need is there for prophecy when the Bible reveals the future?);

whether there be tongues, they shall cease (tongues are a sign gift - 1 Cor. 14:22; the Jews require a sign - 1 Cor. 1:22; God has set aside the Jews until the fullness of the Gentiles has come - Rom. 11:25);

whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (obviously speaking of the "gift of knowledge" - 1 Cor. 12:8; 13:8).

For we know in part (no one person knows it all, and even collectively, we won't until we see Jesus - 1 Jn. 3:2),

and we prophesy in part (no one prophet revealed all the truth, but once the Bible was completed, the Church has all of God's revelation of the future - Rev. 22:18-19).

But when that which is perfect is come (the Bible is perfect, but it has not perfected mankind; the only way humanity will be perfect, is when believers are transformed into His very likeness - Ps. 17:15; Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:49; Phil. 1:6; 3:21; 2 Pet. 1:4; etc.),

THEN that which is in part shall be done away!"

ACCORDING TO EPHESIANS 4:11-13

"And He (Christ - Eph. 4:7)
gave (spiritual gifts to God's children - Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; 14:1-40; Eph. 4:8; Heb. 2:4; 1 Pet. 4:10-11)
some...evangelists, pastors and teachers (still active today - apostles and prophets were foundational to establish the Church governed by its completed revelation: the Word of God)
for the perfecting (the Greek καταρτισμός (katartismos) meaning furnishing or equipping)
of the saints (those who have accepted Jesus as Lord),
for the work of the ministry (spread the Gospel - Mt. 28:19); financially support pastors (1 Cor. 9:9; 1 Tim. 5:18); feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, give clothing to the naked, tend to the sick, and visit those in prison - Mt. 25:34-46), also care for widows and orphans (Jam. 1:27);
for the edifying (to build: numerically by winning the lost; and by promoting Christian growth in other believers)
of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27):
UNTIL we all come in the unity of the faith (doctrinally - Eph. 4:1-6),
and of the knowledge of the Son of God (Phil. 3:10; Col. 2:2-3),
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (a life-long process as we only reach His likeness when we finally meet Him - 1 Jn. 3:2).

Is it any wonder why born again believers are longing for Christ's return?!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

RACISM: THE ABSURD!

Yesterday, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I "wrote a letter to Martin" updating him on how disappointed he would be to see how his "dream" has failed to materialize. King said he dreamed of a day when his children would no longer be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Today, even within the Black community, there is still discrimination between one another based upon the lightness/darkness of one's skin. It is so sad, but like all sin, racism still exists!

Perhaps one of the reasons man has failed to ignore color, is his failure to believe the Bible, to take it as God's Word. Even with a child's simple understanding of Scripture, one knows that every human being came from a single human being, created by God, out of the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7). From the first man, Adam, God removed a rib and created for him, a mate, Eve (Gen. 2:20-25). This sounded ridiculous to those who reject the Bible as historically true, until man discovered a way to clone living things. And how difficult would it be for God to simply add a fourth "leg" to Adam's XY chromosomes, making Eve's genetic make-up of XX?

Adam "knew" Eve, apparently several times, and Eve bore children, lots and lots of children. By the time a man named Noah was born (the tenth generation from Adam), the world was pretty well populated. God described its population as being wicked continuously (Gen. 6:5-7). So, He destroyed the entire planet by flooding it to a level of fifteen cubits (about 23 feet) above its highest peak (Gen. 7:20). That is why one can find ocean life fossils at the tops of mountains. However, God was gracious to Noah and seven of his family; you all know the ark story, so let's just say, eight folks survived and repopulated the world as we know it today. That means every single person alive today is a descendant of Noah! Adam to Noah to you; all one family!

Luke, in the Book of Acts, agreed with this, as he wrote: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth..." (Acts 17:24-26)!

Racism and prejudices are actually sins against one's own family members!

Monday, January 20, 2014

A LETTER TO MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Dear Brother Martin,

You probably will not believe this, but today, America has a Black President! Even harder for you to believe, I am sure, is the fact that today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; you have your own national holiday! Amazing, isn't it! America has come a long way, that's for sure!

I was in Washington that day in August of '63, and swelled with pride and much joy at hearing your "I Have A Dream" speech. Kids still have to memorize it in some schools, and for many of us, it was as powerful and poignant as was President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. In a way, it is fitting that the two of you are remembered for your efforts to unite our country, and your speeches still inspire us today!

While I would like to tell you that race relations in America are good, and that race is no longer an issue, I am afraid I can't. Do you remember one of your aides named Jesse Jackson? Well, Jesse, along with a charlatan named Al Sharpton, have made a career stirring up dissension between the races.  Of course you remember the Nation of Islam, founded by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad, and led by Elijah Muhammad. Well, to be quite honest with you, within about twenty years after you were taken from us, their organization, now led by Louis Farrakhan, has become less confrontational, at least publicly. They, much like the Mormons, have promoted family values, and morality among their members.

The greatest problem for Blacks today, believe it or not, is the Democratic Party!  Black America did benefited from the work of President Kennedy, and President Johnson, with their pressure on Congress to pass Civil Rights Legislation, but believe it or not, the Democrats have practically enslaved Black America by making the vast majority of your people dependent on the government welfare system. With White Americans dominating big business over the years, and the centuries old practice of hiring predominately Black women, Black men have an extremely high unemployment rate. As a result, the Black prison population far exceeds that of Whites, percentage wise. In addition, over seventy-five percent of Black babies are born to unwed mothers! The Democrats like that, believe it or not, because people on welfare vote for those who "spoon-feed" them!

There is good news though, Brother Martin! Our Lord is due to return to take His Church home at any second! The Rapture is the next event on the prophetic calendar, and after we have joined you, the Seven year Tribulation will take place. Then, FINALLY, Jesus Christ will bring us back with Him to govern a world that will do God's will! For 1000 years, you and I will work together making your dream a reality! I cannot wait! I am looking forward to seeing you, Brother!

Until then, God help America! Your friend and brother, Paul Mutschler. I will be the vastly overweight White guy with pure white hair and a huge grin on my face!

Sunday, January 19, 2014

GOD OR COUNTRY!

Let me begin by saying that I spent twenty years serving my country in the U.S. Navy, and in spite of how Americans felt about me, and my comrades in arms at that time (1959-1978), I was a proud of this country, enough so, that I was willing to give up my life for it. One saying that was heard from members of all branches of the service was, "For God and Country." I want you to stop and think about that for a moment. Do you really think, that today, our political and military leaders would want you to say that? If so, you haven't kept up with the times!

Our President, the one who ends every speech with "God bless you, and God bless America," has forbidden military chaplains from sharing the Gospel, praying in Jesus' name, and although I have not heard this as yet, I am sure he has forbidden the chaplains from serving Communion (if he hasn't yet, it is only because he does not know for what it stands - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ)! And while I am on this venomous tirade (I identified my comments so the liberals will know I am aware of how they feel about comments such as these), I have to wonder how he feels about the $400,000.00 he legally receives, that has "In God We Trust" on it. I say "legally" because I have found that men spend nearly a billion dollars to get a job that pays so little, and yet, they all leave office as millionaires. The last honest President we have had was Harry S. Truman!

Our country has turned its back on God in so many ways. First of all, it has legalize the murders over a million children a year; it has basically done away with all sodomy laws, and has declared that homosexual marriage is equal to conventional (and Biblical!) marriage; it has supplied arms and munitions to those who hate America and it allies; it has tried to bully Israel into giving up land for peace (as though the plan to exterminate the Jews by the Arab nations will somehow change); and it has created a welfare society in which nearly one half of those who vote are dependent upon the "benevolence" of the party in office (we used to call that "buying the votes")!

This morning in Sunday school, someone asked where America fits into end-time prophecy. The answer is, America is a nation - ALL nations will come against Israel, God's chosen people (Zech. 14:2; Mt. 24:9; 25:32; Lk. 21:24; Rev. 14:8; 18:3, 23; etc.)! Because America has decided to turn from its Christian heritage, with Mr. Obama declaring we are no longer a Christian nation, it has come down to this: one must choose to serve Almighty God, or serve a nation that is godless!

I pray that all born again believers will "cut the cord," and serve the Lord!

Saturday, January 18, 2014

THE CHOSEN AND THE CALLED

As I understand the Bible, the Israelites are God's "chosen" people, while the Church, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles who have come to faith in Jesus Christ, are known as the "called" (Rom. 9:24; 1 Cor. 1:24). Simply put, after Israel's rejection of Jesus as their Messiah, one no longer is required to become a Jew in order to be a child of God, but that God is calling all who will respond by faith in the Jesus of the Gospels (Jn. 6:44; Rom. 1:16; 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). In other words, Jesus came unto His own (Jews), and the they rejected Him; as a result, God has offered salvation to all who will accept Jesus; and God enables us to become His children (Jn. 1:11-12). God adopts us (Rom. 8:15)!

Matthew 20:1-16 is one of several parables Jesus used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. In it, I understand that the "householder" is God, and throughout time (here expressed as a day), He hires laborers to work in His field (the world - Mt. 13:38). Jesus describes two kinds of people: those with whom He made a covenant, a legally binding agreement (v. 2), and those who simply trust Him to be fair and just (v. 3-7). Israel was known to be God's covenant people (Gen. 17:7; Ex. 2:24); I interpret those in verse two to be Israel. The other laborers did not require a covenant agreement, but simply responded to God's call. These had faith in His Word!

At the end of the day (representing time), God will reward those who trust Him to be fair (the Church), with the same "pay" as those who required a guarantee of payment (Israel); both will spend eternity with Him. Some folks I know do not believe Israel will be there unless they trust in Jesus, and I agree. And we read in the Book of Romans that once Israel realizes who Jesus really is, they will ALL trust Him, and ALL will be saved (Rom. 11:25-29)!

It seems to me that verse sixteen has an interesting hint to the mystery we call the Rapture (1 Thes. 4:13-17). Israel was chosen first, and for two thousand years, they believed only they were God's people. Following their rejection of Jesus, the Church came into existence (Acts 2:1-4), and for two thousand years, the Church has believed only it will go to heaven. Funny how things work out, for they are actually right! The "called" will actually go first in the Rapture, but the "chosen" will see heaven coming to them (Rev. 21:1)!

The Last shall be First, but both will be there, praise God!

Friday, January 17, 2014

WIN 'EM; WET 'EM; WISDOM 'EM!

Every once in a while, I will find a passage of Scripture that is too complicated for my small mind to comprehend. For instance, why do the following two verses in the King James Version, obviously meant to be taken together, translate two different Greek words as "teach?" It is confusing. Other Bible versions, such as the Bible United Kingdom Version, the English Standard Version, the New American Standard Version, the New International Version, etc., all translate the word in verse nineteen as "make disciples." So, I went to my handy-dandy Bible study source, the Blue Letter Bible, and found this:

The word "teach" in Matthew 28:19, is from the Greek διδάσκω (didaskō), which means "to make a disciple." Obviously, we cannot "make" someone a disciple; we can merely present him with the information necessary to persuade him. In the case of making disciples for Christ, the Bible says that we are to preach the Gospel (Mk. 16:15; Acts 16:10; Rom. 1:15; 1 Cor. 1:17; etc.). The Gospel is declared in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; it is the good news that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again, according to the Scriptures (also see Lk. 24:13-32). The Apostle Paul wrote: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).

The Blue Letter Bible had this to say about the word "teach" in Matthew 28:20: it is translated from the Greek διδάσκω (didaskō), which means "to instruct as a teacher would a student." Teachers don't force people to become their students; students, in this case, born again believers hungry for God's Word and a greater knowledge of His will for their lives, voluntarily "sit under the teaching" of those gifted to teach them (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11; etc.).

So, perhaps in the case of Matthew 28:19-20, we might consider the New American Standard Bible. It reads:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Thursday, January 16, 2014

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

According to Webster's New World Dictionary, a Christian is: 1. A masculine name; 2. The main character in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; 3. A person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ; 4. A religion based upon the teachings of Jesus; etc. I find these definitions both humorous and telling! First of all, the order seems to focus upon the definition of least importance; it is a male's name. Then, it is the name of a character in a book. Followed by someone who professes to believe in Jesus (not necessarily believes, but professes to believe)! And finally, the name of a religion. That is so sad!

And, what do these definitions tell us? First of all, they reveal that the term is self-applied; that is, all one has to do is say he believes, and poof, he is a Christian. I do not find that consistent with the Scriptures. A genuine believer in Jesus Christ must be born again (Jn. 3:3-8). A genuine believer in Jesus Christ actually believes in Him with all his heart, and he publicly confesses Jesus to be his Lord (Mt. 10:32; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Jn. 4:2-3; etc.). A genuine believer will declare his faith in Jesus, publicly, by being baptized (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 8:36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:30-33; 18:8; 22:16; etc.). And a genuine believer will strive to live according to the teachings of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Jn. 10:4; 10:27; 12:26; 21:19-22; etc.). A genuine believer is a member of God's family, not a religion (Mt. 5:9; Lk. 20:36; Jn. 1:11-12; 11:52; Rom. 8:16; Gal. 3:26; 1 Jn. 3:10; etc.)! We are His adopted children, His family, not a religion (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5; etc.)!

The word "Christian" is from the Greek Χριστιανός (Christianos), which occurs three times in the Bible (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). What can be learned from these verses is: non-Christians labeled Christ's followers as Christians (Acts 11:26). Being a Christian meant one must be converted from believing in someone or something other than Jesus (Acts 26:28). And, if you were to allow yourself to be identified as a believer and follower of Jesus, there was a good possibility that you would be persecuted (1 Pet. 4:16). That is still true in many parts of the world, and is becoming true more and more today in America! So hang on; we will soon find out who is professing to be a believer, and who actually is one!

I am not a member of a religion; I am a child of God by faith in Christ!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

THE WORD "RELIGION" IN THE BIBLE

To Christians, the best source of all information pertaining to our faith, is the Bible. In fact, all doctrines, sermons, prophecies, creeds, etc., need to be validated by comparing them to Scripture. The Apostle Paul respected those who listened to his preaching, but were wise enough to check his message out to be sure it harmonized with the Word of God (Acts 17:11)!

Today, someone shared a post on Facebook which said, "God did not create religion. God created man. Man created religion." I not only agreed with his post, I past it on by sharing it. I have written of my hatred of religion on several occasions, and his post seemed to sum it up. One need only look at the first three chapters of Bible to see that God desired fellowship with man. Even after Adam sinned, God sought him out and provided coverings for Adam and his wife (Gen. 3:21). It is very interesting to note that God did not instruct Adam on forming a religion.

It was not until the Lord chose Moses to free the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and led them in the wilderness for forty years, that God gave the Jews the Law (that which shows us how to please Him), the Feasts of the Lord (to remember all that He had done for them), and the sacrificial system to "fix" the broken relationship between sinful man and Himself. If you see that as religion, so be it, but what I see is God offering humanity an opportunity to mend the broken fellowship.

The word "religion" appears only five times in the entire Bible, and three specifically refer to Judaism, the religion which rejected God's Son (Acts 26:5; Gal. 1:13-14). Each of these verses points to the negative aspects of religion. The other two occasions where "religion" is found are in the Book of James (Jam. 1:26-27). Even here, the two are critical of those who, like the Pharisees, have an outward appearance of being spiritual, but are spiritually dead. James was saying, "If you must be flaunting your religiosity, then do it right; visit the widows and orphans, and keep yourself from sin."

Born again believers worship the Lord out of gratitude for what He has "finished!"

We share our faith in Him with the lost, out of love for them!

we minister to the needy because we have our Father's Spirit!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

GOD KEEPS EXCELLENT RECORDS

"And I saw a Great White Throne, and Him that sat on it. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire" (Rev. 20:11-12, 15).

I believe "the books" are God's record of each individual's thoughts, words, and deeds, recorded throughout his entire life. Notice they contain "works." I believe they are the record of both his good deeds, as well as his bad deeds. And, like every human being who will have ever lived upon this planet (with the exception of Jesus Christ, the Son of God - Heb. 4:15), he will stand before his Creator, and will be found guilty. His sentence will be to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, which is called the "second death" (Rom. 3:23; Rev. 20:14). THEN, the Lamb's Book of Life will be opened, and if his name is not written in it, the sentence will begin (Rev. 20:15). Those who accepted Jesus Christ during their lifetime, have their names in it (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5), but those who rejected Christ's offer of salvation through faith in Him, will have had their names removed (Ps. 69:28; Rev. 13:8; 17:8)!

There is some question as to whether the names of all who ever lived were in the Book of Life, and because they rejected Jesus, their name was blotted out; or, when a person accepts Jesus as his Lord, his name in placed into the Lamb's Book of Life. Either way, all who are counted as righteous because they have believed God's Gospel, will have their names in the book; those who rejected God's offer, will not!

And how does an imperfect sinner become righteous? Not by works, that is for sure (Rom. 4:2; Eph. 2:9). No, the righteousness (right standing with God) that we have, has been imputed (deposited into our account) by Jesus!

For He (the Father) hath made Him who knew no sin (Jesus), to be sin for us!

God did it so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him!

Praise Jesus for His willingness to trade us places! Amen! And Amen!

Monday, January 13, 2014

BAPTISM

The Church has been around for approximately 2000 years, and nearly all churches, claiming to be Christian, hold to two ordinances: Baptism, and Communion. Today, I want to focus upon the ordinance of Baptism. While we recognize there are other baptisms mentioned in the Bible (in water - Mt. 3:6; in fire, - Mt. 3:11; in the Holy Ghost - Acts 1:5; into Christ's suffering - Mt. 20:23; etc.), the Word clearly tells us that there is only one baptism that counts when it comes to being born again: being baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 4:5; etc.)!

So why all the arguing? Here are some of my observations on the ordinance of Water Baptism:

* It follows hearing the Gospel (Mt. 28:19; Rom. 1:16; 10:17; etc.).
* It follows faith (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:13, 37; 9:17-18; 18:8; 19:4-5; etc.).
* It follows confessing Christ as Lord (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Jn. 4:2; etc.).
* It follows being filled with the Spirit (Acts 2:4; 10:47; etc.).
* It follows being baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:27; etc.).

From these verses, some observations can be made. For one, the person being baptized has to be old enough to understand he or she is a sinner needing salvation. Otherwise, the Gospel would make no sense to him or her. The Gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4), after all, states that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross (we are all sinners, and the penalty due to us is death (Rom. 6:23). But God, not wanting any to perish (2 Pet. 3:9), raised Jesus from the dead. By raising Him, God was showing that Christ's sacrifice was acceptable to Him (Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10 - "propitiation" means "to satisfy a debt").

Some have pointed out that the most used verses about how one gets saved (Rom. 10:9-10) mention nothing about baptism. That is because salvation is a gift (Eph. 2:8). It is my view, however, that when the passage says, "confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus," it means we are to publicly acknowledge Him as our Lord before others. That testimony is then followed by water baptism. You have to tell someone else about your faith, because you need someone else to baptize you! We don't baptize ourselves!

My wedding ring declares I am in love with and committed to my wife.

My baptism declares I am in love with and committed to God and His Son!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

"I AM THE CHRIST"

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Mt. 24:4-5).

"And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Mk. 13:5-6).

"And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them" (Lk. 21:8).

"I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive" (Jn. 5:43).

Whenever I have heard these verses preached, and in the Bible Commentaries I have consulted, these verses are always interpreted as saying: "Do not believe any man who comes saying to you that he is Christ." And, technically, I have absolutely no reason to deny that interpretation as being correct. The Bible clearly teaches that the Antichrist will come and deceive many (1 Jn. 2:18; 2:22; 4:3; 2 Jn. 1:7). The four references to the Antichrist tell us that this individual will deny Jesus was the Christ (1 Jn. 2:22), he will deny that God has a Son (1 Jn. 2:22), and he will even deny that Jesus existed in the flesh (1 Jn. 4:3; 2 Jn. 1:7)! In other words, he will say he is the one about whom the prophecies foretold.

But, I believe there is another interpretation that, although it may not be the correct one, it will also be true. The Bible tells us that there will be "wolves in sheep's clothing" who will pretend to be Christians, but will be false teachers (Mt. 7:15; Acts 20:29; 2 Pet. 2:1; etc.). These men will preach the truth about the Lord's First Advent, and some will even include the Gospel message that says Jesus died for our sins, that He was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3-4). The problem is, they will also tell you that you must obey the Law, avoiding sin and doing good works, in order to be "saved" and to "stay saved" (Gal. 1:1-9; 2:16; 3:1-5; etc.)! The may even fool themselves, believing their own works, and their having acknowledged Jesus as their Lord, qualifies them to go to heaven (Mt. 7:21-23)! Salvation is a gift, period (Eph. 2:1-8)!

Claiming to be Jesus, or denying Him, has the very same result: the Lake of Fire!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

IT IS AN OPTICAL ILLUSION

THE FATHER: Have you ever noticed how God slowly reduced His presence on earth, in proportion to how much of His light He revealed through His Word? It was not until the writing of the Torah by Moses, that the Nation of Israel recognized the written Word as the Word of God. That means, from Creation (let's say 4000 B.C.) until Moses led his people out of Egypt (circa 1500 B.C.), God revealed His will through personal appearances (Gen. 3:8; 12:7; etc.), and through angelic beings (Gen. 16:17; Ex. 3:2; etc.). Today, biblical scholars refer to the 2500 years, give or take a day or two, as being the days of the Oral Tradition. When one thinks about it, the generations were so long back then, that Noah's generation (the tenth) was the first generation born after Adam died! And, they all lived in the same "neighborhood!" It was not until Babel that the "family" began to disperse.

THE SON: From the time of the writing of the Torah, until the time of Christ's First Advent, God spoke through His prophets (Acts. 3:18; Heb. 1:1; etc.), a donkey (Num. 22:21-33), and angelic beings (Mt. 2:19; Lk. 2:10-15; etc.). During Christ's life here on earth, God spoke through Him (Heb. 1:2; etc.). At His Ascension, He instructed His disciples to spread the Gospel (Acts. 1:8), and as a result, we have the New Testament. So, from the Ascension of Christ, until the last book of the Bible was written, was less than one hundred years. In other words, the Written Tradition was completed in approximately 1600 years.

THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Oral Tradition, coupled with the Written Tradition, took about 4100 years. Since that time, born again believers have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us (Jn. 3:3-8; 14:17; Acts 2:2; etc.). The Holy Spirit leads believers to spread the Gospel, and to build up the Church, the Body of Christ. The Apostle John wrote, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (Jn. 14:26).

So, while it would appear that God has slowly withdrawn from interacting with His children, the opposite is true: He spoke from heaven; He walked the earth; and He now lives within us! To me, that is the fulfillment of the verse:

"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (Jam. 4:8).

Friday, January 10, 2014

THE ANTICHRIST AND HIS CHURCH

Students of Bible prophecy have long debated the dispensational approach to "rightly dividing" God's Word. Some question its validity; others swear by it. Even those of us who see it as the "unsealing of Daniel's prophecies" (Dan. 12:9), still differ on the number of dispensations; some hold to four (Thieme), six (Darby), seven (Ryrie), eight (Larkin), and nine (Willmington). Ironically, all view the 1000 year reign of Christ, the Millennium, as one of them. While such a difference on the actual number of dispensations does bother me, the idea of the Millennium being considered a dispensation, sort of concerns me.

In each of the dispensations prior to the Millennium, regardless of which, God reveals His instructions, and holds His stewards responsible for the management of that which He has place in their trusted. A perfect example is found in the Lord's parable concerning stewardship (Mt. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:11-27; etc.). However, the Millennium will not involve the stewardship of His possessions, because He will be here! Nevertheless, I am most likely missing something, as the whole of the "School of Dispensationalism" cannot be wrong and I be right. At least I hope not!

Recently, in my study on the person known as the Antichrist, I discovered something strange; at least it seems so to me. The Dispensation of the Law, being temporarily placed on the "back burner," is the dispensation in which the Antichrist will "do his thing." Daniel's prophecy of Sixty-Nine Weeks ended with the Crucifixion of Jesus (Dan. 9:24-26). His Seventieth Week, the Tribulation, is yet to be fulfilled (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:3-28; Rev. 6 - 18; etc.). Because the dispensation in which we live is known as the Church Age, and it takes place between Daniel's Sixty-Ninth and Seventieth weeks, that means the dispensation we now live in, is both the Dispensation of the Law (Israel), and the Dispensation of Grace (Church). Both co-exist.

Based upon all of the signs that indicate the Rapture (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; etc.) and the start of the Tribulation are imminent (Mt. 24:3-14), the Antichrist is already here. And, just as the Antichrist will be alive during two dispensations, one church will be present during both: the Church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)! Make sure your church believes in the Trinity, and that Jesus is its focus!

"He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son" (1 Jn. 2:22).

Thursday, January 9, 2014

THE WORD: OUR PAST, OUR PRESENT, AND FUTURE

The Word of God provides born again believers with all that is necessary for us to have victory over our trials and tribulations. I like what Romans 15:4 has to say about it: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

OUR LEARNING

"But continue thou in the things which THOU HAST LEARNED...that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3:14-15).

OUR PATIENCE

"Because thou hast kept the Word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:10).

OUR COMFORT

"For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord...the Lord Himself shall descend...and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we...shall be caught up...to meet the Lord...and...ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thes. 4:15-18).

OUR HOPE

"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the Word of the Truth of the Gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in Truth" (Col. 1:5-6).

God always finishes what He starts (Rom. 8:29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Jn. 3:2)!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

JESUS IS JEHOVAH

* Zechariah 12:10 - JEHOVAH says, "they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced." This can refer to no one else except Christ (see Jn. 19:37; Rev. 1:7).

* Isaiah 44:6 - JEHOVAH declares Himself to be the First and the Last (Isaiah 44:6). Jesus Christ is said to be "the First and the Last" (Rev. 1:8, 11, 17-18; 22:12-13).

* Isaiah 6:5 - Isaiah said, "for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD (JEHOVAH) of hosts." Isaiah saw JEHOVAH! He saw Jesus, for no man ever saw the Father (Jn. 1:18; 6:46).

* Psalm 23:1 - David declared that JEHOVAH was the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd of the sheep (Jn. 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20).

* 2 Samuel 22:2, 32, 47 - JEHOVAH was Israel's Rock (Deut. 32:3, 4, 18; Ps. 18:2; 62:1-2). The Rock is Christ (1 Cor. 10:4).

* Isaiah 43:10-11 - JEHOVAH declares Himself to be the only Saviour. There is no other Saviour apart from Him! Jesus is the only Saviour (Acts 4:12).

* Isaiah 45:21-22 - JEHOVAH says, "Look unto Me and be ye saved...there is none else." In John 3:14-16 we are told to look unto the crucified One to be saved.

* Isaiah 45:21-23 - JEHOVAH says, "that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." We find this same prophecy applied to Jesus (Phil. 2:9-11).

* Zephaniah 3:15-17 - JEHOVAH Himself will reign in Jerusalem during the coming Kingdom Age. The same position of power is described as being that of the Millennial King, Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:11-16; 20:4, 6).

* Isaiah 8:13-14 - JEHOVAH will be "for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence." Peter wrote that these verses applied to Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:7-8).

* Joel 2:32 - JEHOVAH is the name upon which on must call to be saved. Salvation is for all those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:13; Acts 2:21, 36).

Since we know that Jesus created the Universe and all that is in it (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16), and because the Word says that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh (Jn. 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16), we should not find it difficult to comprehend that JESUS IS JEHOVAH!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

WHO ARE THE TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD?

A couple of days ago, I asked a question on Facebook concerning the Bible's teaching concerning the "Fatherhood" of God. Of course, born again believers know that God is the Father of Jesus (Jn. 3:16), but I had noticed that the Jews, many of whom opposed Jesus, also claimed that God was their Father (Jn. 8:41). And, in addition, I also noticed that Jesus used the word "our" when teaching His disciples how to pray (Mt. 6:9). The response was amazing!

A good friend, and fellow church member, wrote that God was the Father of all mankind. However, if that were true, then how does one explain John 1:12, which says, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." If all human beings were children of God, then the verse makes absolutely no sense.

While there are many passages in the Old Testament which declare God to be the Father of Israel (Ex. 4:22; Mal. 1:6; etc.), it is clear from His discussion with His Jewish opposition, that not all Jews were children of God; He declared, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do..." (Jn. 8:44).

The Apostle Paul's epistle to the Romans states that a person is not a child of God because he is from the lineage of Abraham (Rom. 9:7); if that were true, then all those born through the line of Ishmael would also be children of God. He continues, "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son" (Rom. 9:8-9). In other words, those who believe that God would provide a Savior through Isaac, would be God's children.

"And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him" (Gen. 17:19). Salvation, being a child of God, is based upon faith in the promise of God to produce a Savior through the lineage of Isaac, and as we all know, Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise (Mt. 1:2; Lk. 3:34)!

Believe in the Seed of Promise; become the Seed of God!

Monday, January 6, 2014

DOES THE ORDER ALWAYS MATTER?

When God instructed Moses on the construction of the High Priest's ephod, He stated that there were to be two stones, made of onyx, each engraved with the names of Jacob's sons, in order of their birth; his first six sons were to be on one of the two stones, and his last six were to be engraved on the second (Ex. 28:6-14).

In addition, he was to make the High Priest's breastplate with each of the twelve tribes being represented by a precious stone, and they were to be placed in four rows of three each (Ex. 28:15-29). The first two rows of three represented the tribes named after Jacob's first six sons, and the last two rows of three represented the tribes of Jacob's last six sons. Their order was important to God.

But their order was apparently not as important to Jacob. In Genesis 49:3-27, when Jacob prophesied over his sons, and blessed them just prior to his death, for some reason unknown to me, he did so without concern for their birth order. He blessed his first four sons in order, and his eleventh and twelfth sons were listed last, but other six were blessed in the following order: seventh (49:16-18); tenth (49:21); eighth (49:19); ninth (49:20); sixth (49:14-15); and fifth (49:13).

And, while I am "displaying my ignorance," let me also say that I am not sure if there is a significant connection between the twelve precious stones which represented the twelve Tribes of Israel on the High Priest's garments, and the nine precious stones which "the King of Tyre" (Lucifer) wore before his fall, but I find it interesting that the nine appear in both lists. It is also interesting that the order varies. Here is a chart showing the two lists:

SONS

MOTHER

REFERENCE

STONE

REFERENCES

SATAN'S

EZ. REF.

1. REUBEN

LEAH

GEN. 29:32

SARDIUS

EX. 28:17; 39:10