Clean in Our Own Eyes.

     It is easy to fall into the trap of self justification. We look at our lives and try to put a spin on all of our conduct. It is almost unbelievable what we can convince ourselves of.
     Mankind has this ability to convince himself that his conduct is not bad. He can find excuses to justify bad behavior, even to make wrong behavior right in his own eyes.
     Jeremiah said that the heart of man is deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9). We find it so easy to deceive ourselves.
     Notice what the Lord says in the next verse however. He is the one who searches the heart and tests the mind. It is He who will repay us according to our deeds (Jeremiah 17:10).
     We are told in Proverbs 16:2 that mankind looks at his ways and considers his life clean, according to his standards and beliefs. Like I stated earlier, we have this knack of explaining things away, and excusing our sin so that we feel that we are clean and acceptable to God.
     This verse goes on to tell us however, that it is God who weighs our motives! He searches our hearts and knows what is inside of us. He sees the evil intentions that we claim are not there.
     Even the Apostle Paul understood that although he was not aware of sin in his life, ultimately it was God who examined His heart and knew all about him (1 Cor 4:4).
     You may fool yourself into believing all is well with your soul, but you will never fool God! Be honest with God, and be honest with yourself!
     You must be born again!

Don't Let Anyone Deceive You.

     Many people have the mistaken idea that in spite of their behavior, they will still make it to heaven. They base this on many things. Some believe that God is so good and loving, He will overlook everything and let them in. Others believe that they will make it based on a prayer they said, or a past commitment they made. Many individuals believe that God's grace covers everything they do, so there is no real need to change. What does it matter, they think. Once saved always saved. Or they convince themselves that since it is of grace and not works  forsaking sin is of little or no importance.
     The truth is it does indeed matter. Consider the following passage of scripture.

     For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
     Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
                   Ephesians 5:5-6 NASB

     This passage should serve as a warning to us. We cannot decide to believe what we want to believe, and to live how we want to live. What we believe, and the choices we make in this life will have eternal consequences.
     Paul said "Let no one deceive you with empty words".  This should get our attention. Too many individuals think that passages of scripture like this are judgmental and unloving. The truth is that God loves us and desires to see us saved from sin, and serving Him. Our actions have consequences so He is warning us, much like we would warn our children to stay away from a hot stove, or to get back from the edge of a busy road.
     God's salvation is a salvation from sin. It is a life changing process by which we are empowered to overcome sin and temptation. Our sinful nature is changed into a nature that desires to please Christ in all we do.
     We must repent and turn from our sin if we desire to be saved! There is no such thing as being saved while we refuse to let go of what we need to be saved from! We must repent and be born again. Jesus said it is impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven without the new birth (John 3:3, 5-7).
     I warn you, do not be deceived on this! Do not listen to those who will tell you that you can remain in a sinful lifestyle and still be a saved individual, a Christian.
     You must repent, you must be born again!
    

    

    

The Spiritual Resurrection.

     Here is a link to another article by Menno Simons. This one is entitled The Spiritual Resurrection, and again deals with the new birth.                                                                                            

Click Here: The Spiritual Resurrection.

Menno Simons On the New Birth.

     Menno Simons was a sixteenth century Dutch Theologian. He lived during the days of the Protestant Reformation, and spoke out against the idolatry of Roman Catholicism, as well as the failure of the reformation to break away from such practices as infant baptism, and transubstantiation, the idea that the bread became the body of Christ during communion.
     He saw that faith to many reformers was little more than a head knowledge that did not lead to the new birth and a changed life.
     Please carefully read this link. It is a powerful message on what it truly means to be born again, how it will effect one's life and conduct.

 Click here   Menno Simons On the New Birth.

To Be Insignificant.

     On one occasion, Jesus' disciples asked Him who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1). No doubt they expected to hear Jesus praising human strength, accomplishment, or authority; all things that mankind looks at when he determines what true greatness consists of.
     Jesus set a child before them (Matthew 18:2) and said,

     "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
                                Matthew 18:3-4 NASB

     Look at the reaction of the disciples when people were bringing their babies to Jesus. The disciples rebuked them (Matthew 19:13, Mark 10:13, Luke 18:15). They had things to do that they considered more important. Jesus was too busy to bother with children. The truth was they considered these children insignificant compared to themselves.
     Take a long and honest look at the society we live in. I know that there are parents who love their children, there always have been those who cherish children, and always will be. However, look at how the world in general treats children.
     A vast number of parents are way too busy with jobs, entertainment, social media, and so on, to spend quality time with a child. How many times do you suppose a child is told to be quiet, don't bother me, I'm busy?How many children spend their days at daycare, and their nights with a babysitter because their parents are too busy unwinding from their stressful days? What about abortion? This child is not convenient so let's abort it. 
     Get the picture? Society has a way of making children insignificant, little in the eyes of adults who are too busy with "important" things.
     Jesus is making a point here. Lives filled with self importance, pride, our "rights", our agendas, will keep us out of His kingdom! The world runs around full of itself! Look at me, it's all about me, I want it my way! This is nothing but pride, and God resists such pride (James 4:6). 
     However, He gives grace to the humble. We need to become those insignificant children that the world despises. I say despise, because when we treat something as insignificant, something that does not count for much in our estimation, we despise that thing (Genesis 25:34).
     Jesus is saying that we have to lay down our rights, our plans, our ambitions, our pride. We must become insignificant in the eyes of the world, not caring what it thinks about us, or what we can gain from it. Nothing matters to us anymore but Jesus. This is the giving of ourselves to Him in brokenness and humility. We must loose our lives for His sake, and in so doing we will save them (Mark 8:35-36). 

     
                 

    

You Must Be Holy.

     Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
                            Hebrews 12:14 NASB

     We read in the Psalms that it is those who have clean hands and pure hearts who are allowed entrance into the presence of God (Psalm 24:3-4).
     Likewise, Jesus said that the pure in heart are the ones who will see God (Matthew 5:8).
     To be sanctified, or holy, is to be set apart. It is to be devoted to God. A holy person is a person who has renounced all, sin, self, this world, and has given themselves to God to be used by Him and for Him.
     Many people think of holiness in the sense of a positional thing. They look at it as God has judicially declared them holy, therefore even if they are not truly holy in a practical sense, He considers them to be so.
    However, look at what Peter says about holiness.
        
     As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy for I am holy."
                          1Peter 1:14-16 NASB

     Peter is talking about our actions, the things we do, the way we live. Holiness is a practical thing to be lived out in our daily lives. This is what Paul means when he says to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).
     When we are born again, we are now new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). As it says in Philippians 2:13, God is at work in us, to cause us to walk in His will and ways.
     Having a pure heart devoted to God will result in clean hands, in other words, right living. A good tree will produce good fruit, while a bad tree cannot (Matthew 7:17-18, 12:33-35). Holy conduct flows from a holy heart.
     This is how we come to Christ. We come in repentance and faith, forsaking all, dedicating ourselves to Him. The Bible tells us that God cleanses our hearts by faith (Acts 15:9). As we have received Christ Jesus as Lord, let us also walk in Him, by faith (Col 2:6-7) not led away from the purity of devotion to Christ (2 Cor 11:3). 
     There is that word devotion. That is the same thing as being holy, or set apart to God, sanctified. This is why without holiness no one will see God. If we are led away from our devotion to Christ, something else is now our master, ruler, lord. We have replaced Jesus Christ with something, or somebody else. We are now dedicated to sin, self, the world, following after our former lusts.
     This is why the writer of Hebrews exhorts us to seek after holiness. This is why Paul says to work out your own salvation, and Peter declares that we are to be holy in all of our conduct, just as God is holy.
     Joshua told the children of Israel to choose whom they would serve. He told them to choose one way or another between God, or their idols. As for himself, Joshua declared that he and his family would serve the Lord (Joshua 24:14-15). Now that is devotion!
     

     
      

Contending for the Faith: Repentance.

Contending for the Faith: Repentance.:      Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here He stayed and many people cam...

The Word Of God.

     The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130NASB



     The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica to encourage them in the faith. They had received the word of God in much affliction and persecution, and even though they were fairly new in the faith, they were standing strong in the things of the Lord.
     Paul thanked God that these Christians had received the word of God for what it really was, the word of God and not men
   This word is powerful, life changing, performing its work in those who believe (1 Thess 2:13). When we take God's word for what it really is, when we believe it to be God's word to us, to be followed and obeyed, our lives are transformed.
     Jesus said we would know and be set free by the truth if we would continue in His word
(John 8:31-32). To continue in the word is to heed it, to allow it to change us. Often we look at the word and try to make it fit our ideas, and our lifestyles. This is wrong! We must make our thoughts and ideas fit God's word. The word must be allowed to change us, not the other way around!
     Think of how much could be different in each and everyone of our lives if we would look at the word of God in this way! How different the world would look if people only understood this and allowed God's word to change them!
    

The Nature Of Unbelief.

     A biblical concept often misunderstood and misrepresented is that of belief and unbelief. For too many, belief involves nothing more than head knowledge, knowing the historical facts about Christ, and agreeing that they are true. Unbelief therefore is nothing more than failing to know these facts, or disagreeing with them. 
     It is true that one must know and understand the truth of Christ and the gospel in order to believe it, but to be content with a mere assent to biblical facts, and nothing more, is still unbelief. Likewise, unbelief goes much deeper than what we mentally agree to or disagree with.
     
     Consider these definitions of unbelief taken from Thayers Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.

     1) 543 Apeitheia.   Obstinancy, obstinant, opposition to the Divine will.

     2) 544 Apeitheo.  1)  Not to allow one's self to be persuaded.
                                       1a) To refuse or withhold belief.
                                       1b) To refuse belief and obedience.
                                  2) Not to comply with.

      3) 545 Apeithes.   Impersuasible, not compliant, disobedient, contumacious.

     4) 570 Apistia.  Unfaithfulness, faithless
                              Want of faith, unbelief
                               Weakness of faith

     Now consider these definitions taken from Strong's concordance
 of the New Testament. 

     1) 543 Apeitheia. Disbelief (obstinant and rebellious):- disobedience unbelief.

     2) 544  Apeitheo.  To disbelieve (willfully and perversely):- not to believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving.

     3) 545 Apeithes. Unpersuadable, that is contumacious:- disobedient.

     4) 570  Apistia. Faithlessness, that is (negatively) disbelief (want of Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness (disobedience):- unbelief.    

     While the idea of not believing something is there, notice the traits that characterize unbelief. Obstinant, rebellious, not compliant to God's will, disobedient unfaithful. An unbelieving heart is dug in and hardened against spiritual truth. It refuses to submit to God's authority. By the way, contumacious means stubbornly rebellious.
     Read these verses from Hebrews. Strong's numbers are used where the words unbelief and unbelieving are used. The first few verses are found in Chapter 3.

     Take heed brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief (570), in turning from the living God. vs 12.

     And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not (544)?  vs 18.

     So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief (570). vs 19.

     Now look at a few verses found in chapter 4.

     Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter there in, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief (543). vs 6.

     Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief (543). vs 11.

     The context of these verses concerns ancient Israel as they left Egypt and headed to the promised land. They failed to trust God time and time again, even though they saw the signs,wonders, and mighty miracles He performed on their behalf. They grumbled, complained, and rebelled against God in spite of the fact that His presence was with them in the cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night. 
     Their final failure comes as they are about to cross the Jordan to enter the promised land. They listen to the evil report of eight of the ten spies, and refuse to trust God enough to enter and take possession of the promised land.
     The verses quoted from Hebrews 3, and 4 were taken from the King James version. They consistently translated the Greek as unbelief, or believed not, in these verses. Later translators more accurately use disobedience in some of these instances, which gives a better understanding of what unbelief truly is. Consider these same verses taken from the NASB.

     Take care brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. Heb 3:12
     This is speaking of unfaithfulness. A weak, lacking faith that erodes into a turning away from God.

     And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Heb 3:18-19
     Here we see the refusal to obey, or believe (544). Vincent's word studies in the New Testament puts it this way.

     (Apeitheia) disobedience is the active manifestation of (Apistia) lack of faith.

     Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter in because of disobedience. Heb 4:6
     This is apeitheia, the word for obstinant and rebellious behavior. This was how their unbelief manifested itself.

     Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. Heb 4:11
     We are warned to avoid falling into the same attitude of rebellion and disobedience that the Israelites did in the days of Moses.

     We can draw several conclusions from these scriptures.
1) Without a proper trust in God, we will not obey Him. If we do not believe He will provide for us, give us strength, believe in His promises to us, we will not obey, just as Israel did not believe He would give them victory over the inhabitants of the promised land, and they chose not to go in.
2) Individuals chose not to believe, because to believe requires obedience, and as lost, selfish individuals we do not want to give up our sin.
3)  We can say we believe in Christ, but it is our actions that prove our belief or unbelief. It is like the man pushing a cart on a tightrope high above a gorge. He has a volunteer get in and goes back and forth several times. He asks if those witnessing this feat, believe that he could get them across safely in the cart as well. Everyone is in hearty agreement until he asks for the next volunteer to get into the cart.

     Do you believe?

Blessed Are They...

          Jesus sets the standard high for those who would enter the kingdom of heaven. Read the sermon on the mount in Mathew chapters 5-7, and see how you measure up to God's standard of righteousness.
      It is easy to see that we have nothing in and of ourselves to merit heaven. Christ is our only hope. Only through Him can we enter the narrow gate (Matthew 7:14), and walk the narrow path that leads to life everlasting. 
     It is only through Christ that we can become those who are blessed!
     

Crucified With Christ.

     I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.

                               Galatians 2:20 NASB 

     The Apostle Paul demonstrates for us the reality of the new birth, and life in Christ Jesus. 

     To be crucified with Christ is to be dead to sin (Romans 6:6-7). It means that we are dead to this world and the world is dead to us (Galatians 6:14). A crucified man was a dead man. He had no plans, no goals, no future, nothing.

     This is what this means to us. We have died to sin and self, so that Christ can live through us in resurrection power (Romans 6:4, 8-11). 

     The life we now live out is one lived by faith; a life lived not for ourselves, but For Christ. 

     The things of this world no longer matter to us, we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom (Hebrews 13:14). Our only desire is to please our master (2 Timothy 2:4). A crucified man will not entangle himself in the affairs of this life, because he cannot. He has no other agenda but to die to self, and let Christ live through him.

     We are a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old is gone! We now have a new life to live out (2 Cor 5:17). This life is actually the life of Christ lived out through us as we yield to Him.

     This is the new birth....

It Is Apointed Unto Men Once To Die.

     We are told in the Word of God that man is appointed to die and face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged according to our deeds (Romans 2:6, 2 Cor 5:10, Rev 20:12, 22:12).
     The Bible also tells us that there are none righteous, no one who does good, none who seek after God, no one who fears God (Romans 3:10-18).
     This leaves us in a hard place. How will we fare as we stand before God, as our lives flash before us. All of our secret thoughts will be out in the open. All of the acts we have committed in secret will now be exposed for all to see.
     What can we expect God to say as our lies, idolatry, murders, thefts, adulteries, covetousness are paraded before us. Those who have disobeyed their parents, those who have lusted in their hearts, who have been unjustly angry will all be held accountable to God. Every mouth will be stopped. We will be without excuse on that day (Romans 3:19).
     Jesus Christ, The divine Son of God took on flesh and came to this world to die for our sins (John 1:14, 3:14-17, Romans 5:6-8, 6:23).  We can be justified, forgiven for the sin that now condemns us.
     He died to set us free from sin. We do not have to remain in it any longer. Through Him we find freedom to walk in newness of life (Romans 8:1-4).
     We are called to forsake our sin (Matt 4:17). We are called to forsake all for Christ (Luke 15:27, 33), as we put our faith in Him (Acts 16:31).
     Our past can be erased, and our lives can be transformed as we walk by the Spirit (Romans 8:4, Gal 5:16).
     Jesus calls us to follow Him....

If Anyone Wishes To Come After Me.

     Jesus sets a high standard for those who would desire to enter the kingdom of heaven. He says that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter (Matthew 7:21-22). It will be those who DO the will of the Father in heaven who will enter. This agrees with what Paul says in Romans 2:13. It is not enough to hear the law of God, one must do it to be justified.
     It is true that salvation is not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9), and no man can be justified by the works of the law (Romans 3:20). This confuses many people.
     Look at what James says about faith. Faith without works is a dead faith (James 2:14, 17, 26). He gives us the examples of Abraham and Rahab to show that their faith led them to act and thus they were justified by their works (James 2:21-25). He is not saying that it was the actual things that they did that saved them. What he is saying is that if you truly believe in something, a cause, in this case in God and His word, it will lead you to act upon your belief. 
     If someone warned you that your house was on fire, and you said that you believed them, but did nothing about it, your belief is worthless. You would just sit there and let your house burn down around you.
     If you really believed it, you would get out, call the fire department and try to save your home.
     This is how true saving faith works. Our belief causes us to act. Faith working with works, perfects faith (James 2:22-23).
     Works done for our benefit, to get us to heaven, to earn God's favor are only selfish works. Jesus said if we want to follow Him we must deny ourselves, lose our lives, for His sake (Luke 9:23-24). 
     Works done in faith, done for Christ are the kind of works that please God. We do these things because we love Christ and want to honor Him. We are not looking for the reward. We are not motivated by fear or selfish ambition. This is the difference between the legalistic self efforts of one trying to earn salvation by works, and one whose faith is being made perfect by works done for Christ Jesus.
     The one who calls Jesus Lord but does not desire to obey Him will not enter heaven. It does not matter how many good works they profess (Matthew 7:21-23). It is the one who believes in Jesus, with a belief that acts in submission to Jesus Christ and His word, who pleases God. 
     We must hear the words of Jesus Christ, and then act upon them, or our house will fall (Matthew 7:24-27). 
     Only those born from above can follow Christ in this way!
     

Two Gates.

     Jesus said that there are two gates. A wide gate and a broad road leading to destruction, filled with multitudes of deceived people.
     There is also a small gate and narrow way that leads to life. Few find it (Matthew 7:13-14).
     Which one are you travelling on? 

Contending for the Faith: The fear of the Lord.

Contending for the Faith: The fear of the Lord.:      We are told in the scriptures, that the fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom (Prov 1:7). The concept of fear takes on several mea...

What We Have In Christ.

     Here is a list of the things that Christ accomplished for us. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it gives us a pretty good idea of what we have in Christ.
     1. He came to set us free from sin (John 8:34-36). 
     2. He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). This life is everlasting (John 3:16), but begins now as we follow Him!
     3. He came so that we might be justified and saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).
     4. Those who are in Christ are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1).
     5. Jesus defeated death (1 Cor 15:25-26, 54-57, Hebrews 2:14-15).
     6. He came to rescue us from this present evil age. We do not have to live in conformity to the sinful ways of this world (Galatians 1:4).
     7. He has cancelled the debt that the law holds against us. It has been nailed to the cross (Ephesians 2:15, Col 2:13-14). 
     8. He has disarmed rulers and authorities. He has defeated the spiritual forces of darkness (Col 2:15), and He has defeated the devil (Hebrews 2:14-15). We need not fear them, or fall into temptation.
     9. Because He bore our sins, we can die to them and live for Him (1 Peter 2:24).
     10. He has redeemed us from the curse of the law so that we could receive the promise of the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:13-14).
     11. We have been redeemed and adopted as sons of God (Gal 4:4-6).
     12. Jesus came to take away sin and destroy the devil's work. This now makes it possible for us to live in freedom from sinning (1 John 3:5-9).
     13. Whosoever believes in Him will not perish but shall have eternal life (John 3:16). 
     Like I said, this is by no means an exhaustive list of the blessings we have in Christ Jesus, however this should give us hope and encouragement to live out the new life that Christ has purchased for us by means of His death and resurrection. 
     Study God's word and stand on it by faith. Obey it, trusting God to supply you with all you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). 
     Jesus said if we continue in His word, we are truly His disciples. We will know the truth, and the truth will set us free (John 8:31-32)!