Tag Archives: Romans 12:1-3

Hush Money Or True Hope??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 03

01 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Approved Unto God, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, Free Indeed?, God's Faithfulness, Gospel, HOPE, I Can Do All Things?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, If not now? When?, JESUS, Light In The Dark, Overcoming By His Blood, Salt & Light, SIN, Speaking The Truth In Love, Stand Fast, That They May Know, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Witness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 03  Hush Money Or True Hope???

 

We talked last week about ‘DIY’ and I’d like to take off on that idea and look from another side of the issue.  We are living in a culture that is so full of an “it’s all about me” ideology, and even when we speak truth, we are seen as ‘haters’! I hope that we can let scripture reveal true hope, not placating people with ‘hush’ money, so to speak, by our silence, rather than helping them see Jesus as we speak and share truth!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”   John 14:6

Jesus IS truth, and without Him, we have no hope, no truth, no opportunity to reach a lost and dying world.  Yet when we follow HIM, we can see great things accomplished in His kingdom (even though the world may disregard what we call great ‘in Him’!)

“I can do all

things through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

In the way of the world, unless we have ‘riches’ we don’t have anything to offer; but God does things in ways that are so far beyond the ‘worldly’ way, that we can truly come to have hope and confidence in our Lord and HIS ways—and we aren’t to be ‘quiet’ about it, Jesus said the rocks would ‘cry out’ if men didn’t!

“And when the builders laid the foundation

of the temple of the LORD,

they set the priests in their apparel

with trumpets,

and the Levites the sons of Asaph

with cymbals,

to praise the LORD,

after the ordinance of David

king of Israel.

11 And they sang together by course

in praising

and giving thanks

unto the LORD;

because he is good,

for his mercy endureth for ever

toward Israel.

And all the people shouted with a great shout,

when they praised the LORD,

because the foundation

of the house of the LORD

was laid.”  Ezra 3:10-11

When we see God at work, we can truly learn to trust His hand as well as His heart toward us.  Here we have the children of Israel returning to Jerusalem and they are rejoicing that the temple is rebuilt.  And if you read the entire account, you see that some of the elders of the people wept for the remembrance of the original Temple of Solomon, yet God has restored them by His ‘outstretched arm’, and shown Himself faithful to a people (who much like us) had not been faithful to HIM!  They had suffered the judgment of God, and had truly reaped the ‘whirlwind’, yet God wasn’t finished with them!  His faithfulness is so much more than we can even fathom!  God had spoken truth through His prophets, yet they had listened to the false prophets, and ‘hushed’ up the men of God by ignoring them, persecuting them, and even putting many of them to death.  How sad that we are living in a very similar day.  Will we sell out to the purveyors of “hush money” or will we stand and speak God’s truth?

“And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth

shall make you free.”  John 8:32

Notice that He will “make you free” not ‘set’ you free—when Jesus saves us, He delivers us—especially from ourselves; and we are to give ourselves to Him, His way and His truth—all the way!

“And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony;

and they loved not their lives

unto the death.”  Revelation 12:11

Jesus doesn’t simply issue a “get out of hell free” card; rather He saves and transforms lives to “be conformed” to HIS image.

“And we know

that all things work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”   Romans 8:28-29

Jesus is ever at work conforming us into HIS image; but we have a part in that work as well, we are to yield to His Holy Spirit’s work in our heart and life, remembering that it’s ALL about Jesus. It’s not about ‘pride’ but humbly learning from HIM, following HIM, and touching the world as HE gives us opportunity.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God

hath dealt to every man

the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

We can trust to HIS care, remembering what Jesus said!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”   John 15:5

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, as we feast on His Word.

“Shew me thy ways,

O LORD;

teach me thy paths.

5 Lead me in thy truth,

 and teach me:

for thou art the God of my salvation;

on thee do I wait

all the day.”   Psalm 25::4-5

“For the word of the LORD is right;

and all his works are done

in truth.

5 He loveth righteousness

and judgment:

the earth is full

of the goodness of the LORD.”   Psalm 33:4-5

And to bring all of our thoughts together today, I’d like us to consider an encounter that Peter and John had, taking heart from these who had little in the world’s eyes, but who had JESUS, and they knew HE IS TRUTH—and they took no “hush” money!

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb

was carried,

whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple

which is called Beautiful,

to ask alms of them that entered

into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John

about to go into the temple

asked an alms.

4 And Peter,

fastening his eyes upon him with John, said,

Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them,

expecting to receive something

of them.

6 Then Peter said,

Silver and gold have I none;

but such as I have

give I thee:

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand,

and lifted him up:

and immediately his feet and ankle bones

received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood,

and walked,

and entered with them into the temple,

walking,

and leaping,

and praising God.”  Acts 3:1-8

Peter and John gave of what they had (who they possessed, and who possessed them), and yet they were tempted to cave!  And for time and space we’ll just jump to the response from the rulers.  (You can read chapters 3 and 4 for the whole picture!). They proclaimed Jesus at each turn, and when threatened they stood firm—and weren’t “hushed” up by threats; they were trusting to HIS care!  Remember not everyone is happy with God’s working in the lives of men, women, boys and girls!

“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

2 Being grieved that they taught the people,

and preached through Jesus

the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them,

and put them in hold unto the next day:

for it was now eventide…

….16 Saying, What shall we do to these men?

for that indeed a notable miracle

hath been done

by them

is manifest to all them

that dwell in Jerusalem;

and we cannot deny it.

17 But that it spread no further among the people,

let us straitly threaten them,

that they speak henceforth to no man

in this name.

18 And they called them,

and commanded them

not to speak at all nor teach

in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them,

Whether it be right in the sight of God

to hearken unto you

more than unto God,

judge ye.

20 For we cannot but speak the things

which we have seen

and heard.

21 So when they had further threatened them,

they let them go,

finding nothing how they might punish them,

because of the people:

for all men glorified God

for that which was done.”   Portions of Acts 4:1-21

So my challenge for us today is a call to be faithful to our Lord; to grow in His Word, to be bold—but not arrogant, to be confident—but not prideful, to be ready to follow HIM in all—no matter where HE leads us, or what the cost may be.  We won’t let the enemy ‘hush’ us up, but we will “stand fast in the evil day”!  We never know how God will use our willingness to obey!

“But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:”  Ephesians 4:15.

Amen and Amen!

Putting Asunder??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 10

21 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Cross, Putting Asunder, Trusting Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.10 Putting Asunder???

 

How sad for me on this precious and glorious Resurrection Sunday, to think of how far afield we have come from God’s plan and design for mankind.  The God who created us, made us “male” and “female”—created marriage, and provided for the restoration of our relationship with HIM, which we lost due to sin. Let us consider how far afield we have come.  What have you and I “put asunder”?

“And he answered and said unto them,

Have ye not read,

that he which made them

at the beginning

made them

male

and female,

5 And said, For this cause

shall a man leave father

and mother,

and shall cleave to his wife:

and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain,

but one flesh.

What therefore

God hath joined together,

let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him,

Why did Moses then command

to give a writing of divorcement,

and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them,

Moses

because of the hardness

of your hearts

suffered you to put away

your wives:

but from the beginning

it was not so.” Matthew 19:4-8

Jesus responded to those who questioned Him and who wanted to trap Him with God’s truth; He reminded them of God’s original plan for man—for marriage.  Jesus made it clear that not only did God create marriage, He created it for a lifetime!  He also tells us that what “God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”!  Yet we live in a world, especially our American culture, that has not only disregarded God’s plan, but we are totally putting it “asunder”!

Asunder:  into separate parts; in or into pieces; 2: apart or widely separated…

We have allowed ourselves to be led astray—not because we didn’t know truth, but because we are rejecting God’s truth on almost every hand.  We have denied, watered down and diluted the very Word of God at every turn.  God’s plan began in Eden, and it hasn’t changed!

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep

to fall upon Adam,

and he slept:

and he took one of his ribs,

and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib,

which the LORD God had taken from man,

made he a woman,

and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said,

This is now bone of my bones,

and flesh of my flesh:

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore

shall a man leave his father

and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife:

and they shall be one flesh.

25 And they were both naked,

the man

and his wife,

and were not ashamed.”  Genesis 2:21-25

God would make the two—male and female—one.  There is to be a “leaving” and a “cleaving”—leaving the ties of our parents’ home, and being totally devoted to our spouse; to be not only ‘one’ in a physical sense, but a oneness of body, mind and spirit.  Soul mates in the sense that when we both keep our eyes on Jesus—there will be a drawing closer and closer to God and drawing closer and more intimate with each other.  It is a picture that God painted in the beginning to show us the beauty and wonder of His love for us—a picture of the ONE who had already created the plan to perfectly restore our relationship to Him, after it would be marred by sin! And that plan was JESUS!  The very One whose resurrection we celebrate today.

Paul gave a most interesting picture of this in his letter to the Ephesians, a passage whose beauty we often miss because we place our focus on the instructions to husbands and wives—and miss the wondrous picture of our Risen Lord and HIS church!

“Husbands, love your wives,

even as Christ also loved the church,

and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify

and cleanse it

with the washing of water

by the word,

27 That he might present it

to himself a glorious church,

not having spot,

or wrinkle,

or any such thing;

but that it should be holy

and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives

as their own bodies.

He that loveth his wife

loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated

his own flesh;

but nourisheth

and cherisheth it,

even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body,

of his flesh,

and of his bones.

31 For this cause

shall a man leave his father and mother,

and shall be joined unto his wife,

and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery:

but I speak concerning Christ

and the church.

33 Nevertheless

let every one of you in particular

so love his wife

even as himself;

and the wife

see that she reverence

her husband.”   Ephesians 5:25-33

How sad that we have cast aside the plan of God for our own lusts, desires and happiness (so-called).  I, like many others, was misled and fell for the lies of the enemy and abandoned God’s plan for my own!  That is one of the reasons for my sadness, another is that it I am so inadequate to warn others of the pitfalls of sin, and the lies of the enemy (and he is a liar, on every hand).  God is much more concerned with our love for Him, and our willingness to surrender to His work of holiness within us by the power of the CROSS!  And there is no comparison with the joy that God can give to the heart that will pursue Him rather than the “lusts of the flesh”!  How grateful I am that God reached down, called my ‘sin’ ‘sin’, and heard the prayer of my heart when I confessed my ‘sin’ and asked Jesus to forgive me and save me—and HE did!  Not that I was perfect after that, but things were different, for I now had the Spirit of the ‘Risen Lord” dwelling within me!  Praise HIS name!

Paul warns us, as he warned the Romans of the dangerous downward spiral of sin.  God’s way is diametrically opposite to the cry of the world, which calls us to go our own way, rather than God’s; but it is a plague that all are afflicted with.

 

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over

to a reprobate mind,

to do those things

which are not convenient;

29 Being filled

with all unrighteousness,

fornication,

wickedness,

covetousness,

maliciousness;

full of envy,

murder,

debate,

deceit,

malignity;

whisperers,

30 Backbiters,

haters of God,

despiteful,

proud,

boasters,

inventors of evil things,

disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers,

without natural affection,

implacable,

unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure

in them that do them.” Romans 1:28-32.

(And I encourage you to read all of Romans 1 for the whole picture of the degradation and contagion of sin!)

God, through Isaiah, painted the picture of the ONE who would come and deliver us from our sin—the only ONE who could and would—HE did!

“He is despised and rejectedof men;

a man of sorrows,

and acquainted with grief:

and we hid as it were our faces

from him;

he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne

our griefs,

and carried

our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him

stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded

for our transgressions,

he was bruised

for our iniquities:

the chastisement

of our peace

was upon him;

and with his stripes

we are healed.

6 All we like sheep

have gone astray;

we have turned every one

to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him

the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:3-6

Jesus—The Lamb of God—came to be the sacrifice for our sin!  His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice paid the price for my redemption and yours!  I, who was so fallen and full of sin, found His redemption totally abundant and adequate to cleanse my soul of sin.  And HE will do the same for YOU if you will but hear His voice, repent, and open the door of your heart to receive His saving grace!  He came to save us from sin—and He is still saving souls and changing lives today—this very day that we celebrate His victory over sin, death and hell.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”   John 1:29

It is why HE came—to live a sinless life, and to pay a sin debt that HE didn’t owe, because we owed a sin debt that we could never pay apart from hell!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”   Matthew 1:21

HE has given HIS own life for us!  And when we receive HIS salvation, we are made new!

“Therefore being justified

by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom

we have now received

the atonement.”   Romans 5:1-11

While we were “yet sinners, Christ died for us”; the sinless, Son of God, gave HIS life for my sin!  My sin and yours—I failed—I came short—I rebelled—I sought self, lust, and satisfaction, without regard for the cost to my own soul or the lives of others. Yet, God had already provided for my salvation, forgiveness and redemption.  He has made me whole by the blood of JESUS’ cross, and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.  Therefore, as HE gave me new life, HE will give you life too! If you know Jesus already, press on in the ‘newness’ of life “in him”, He is totally sufficient for all your need!  And if you don’t know Jesus, you can call upon Him today!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us

to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-21

We can be ‘new’!  And when He makes us ‘new’, we are truly new in our hearts, and free from the power of sin, by the blood of The Lamb, who “cleanseth us from all sin”!

“If the Son therefore shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.”  John 8:36

Free to love Him, to serve Him, to follow Him by taking up our cross and pursuing Jesus in all our ways.  Paul puts it so beautifully, what better way to praise HIM and close our post for today—challenging each of us to give it all to Jesus—by His grace and power!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your

reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself

more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

May you be blessed on this Resurrection Sunday!

Amen and Amen!

 

Where Are Your Idols??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 02

24 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Idolatry

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.02  Where Are Your Idols???

 

Ezekiel was a Levitical priest taken into Babylonian captivity during the second siege of Jerusalem; there he was called to prophecy to the people during their captivity.  You might say that while Jeremiah was called the ‘weeping prophet’, Ezekiel was the ‘graphic prophet’—for God called him to act-out various ‘skits’ before the people showing what was yet to come in Jerusalem/Judah!  And while there was very little good news, God did give us a mighty picture of what He thinks about our sin—whether it’s open or hidden.

“And he put forth the form of an hand,

and took me by a lock of mine head;

and the spirit lifted me up

between the earth and the heaven,

and brought me in the visions of God

to Jerusalem...”  Ezekiel 8:3a

Ezekiel was taken in this vision to Jerusalem, but what God showed him was heartbreaking; and I think if we will receive the message ourselves, our hearts may be broken too!  Maybe we can start to see things the way that God sees them, and that’s what we need to do all the time.

“He said furthermore unto me, Son of man,

seest thou what they do?

even the great abominations

that the house of Israel

committeth here,

that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations.

7 And he brought me to the door of the court;

and when I looked,

behold a hole in the wall.

8 Then said he unto me,

Son of man,

dig now in the wall:

and when I had digged in the wall,

behold a door.

9 And he said unto me,

Go in,

and behold the wicked abominations

that they do here.

10 So I went in and saw;

and behold every form of creeping things,

and abominable beasts,

and all the idols of the house of Israel,

pourtrayed upon the wall round about.

11 And there stood before them

seventy men of the ancients

of the house of Israel,

and in the midst of them stood

Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan,

with every man his censer in his hand;

and a thick cloud of incense went up.

12 Then said he unto me,

Son of man, hast thou seen

what the ancients of the house of Israel

do in the dark,

every man in the chambers of his imagery?

for they say,

The LORD seeth us not;

the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

13 He said also unto me,

Turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations

that they do.

14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate

of the LORD’S housewhich was toward the north; and, behold,

there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

15 Then said he unto me,

Hast thou seen this, O son of man?

turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations

than these.

16 And he brought me into the inner court

of the LORD’S house,

and, behold,

at the door of the temple of the LORD,

between the porch and the altar,

were about five and twenty men,

with their backs toward the temple

of the LORD,

and their faces toward the east;

and they worshipped the sun

toward the east.

17 Then he said unto me,

Hast thou seen this, O son of man?

Is it a light thing to the house of Judah

that they commit the abominations

which they commit here?

for they have filled the land

with violence,

and have returned

to provoke me to anger:

and, lo,

they put the branch

to their nose.”    Ezekiel 8:6-17

I know this is a lengthy passage, but it’s important that we see that just claiming to be God’s own, isn’t what it’s all about!  The nation of Israel had disregarded the worship of God and gone their own way! But even more heart-breaking is the fact that they didn’t walk away, but they brought all their idols, and abominations, and wickedness into God’s house!  The place that was to represent to them, the very presence of God, they had disregarded so much that they brought all of their ‘ways’ into His house and abandoned HIM!

Much like the church of today, which has chosen so often, to replace God’s way with the world’s way! We are no longer contented to seek God’s way, to spread the undiluted Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ The Lord; but have invited the world to come in with their glitz and glamour, so to speak, to replace the truth of God.  We no longer cling to The Word of God, we trust to popular psychology, men’s ideas, plans and programs instead of the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel was shown a religious people—even the leaders of the nation and the temple—yet they had brought idolatry, false worship, and abominations into the sanctuary of God! How it breaks my heart that we have so abandoned the piety that used to represent the church.  I’m not talking about arrogance or hypocrisy, but a genuine regard for the purity and humility that God’s Word calls us to.  As well as the desire to cling to and preserve biblical standards, and the exclusivity of the Gospel!

“I said therefore unto you,

that ye shall die

in your sins:

for if ye believe not

that I am he,

ye shall die

in your sins.”   John 8:24

We are all born in sin, but we have the opportunity to choose life in Jesus.  As Jesus told the religious people of His day, and us today—if we don’t believe that HE IS the God-Man-Savior, we will die in our sin—HE is the only cure for the penalty of sin.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Even the Apostle Paul calls us to singularity of purpose—to preach Christ alone for the salvation of men, women, boys and girls!

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined

not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Jesus is not only our only hope—He is the One who saves and transforms lives to the glory of God, and for our good. He came to save us from sin—not leave us in it!

“ And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name

Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”  Matthew 1:21-23

Jesus came to be “God with us”, to pay for our sin! Sin is the issue, no matter how our culture renames it, colors it, or tries to make it look acceptable—Sin Is Sin!  It is, it has been, and it will always be the issue!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;”   Romans 3:23

Yet, because God loves us, we don’t have to die for our own sin!

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

I hate to be so repetitive, but with so many voices around us denying the truth of the Gospel, I must proclaim HIS truth, no matter how old the message seems!  Jesus makes it perfectly clear in His conversation with Nicodemus.

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:16-19

We can never be good enough to gain God’s favor, or work our way into heaven, but when Jesus saves us, He makes us new creatures IN Himself, because HIS blood cleanses us from sin, and makes us new!

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship

one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us

from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess

our sins,

he is faithful

and just to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:5-9

John wrote that if we continually walk in darkness, we ought to check out what we think saved us. He says that we are deceived if “the truth is not in us”, for Jesus IS the truth, and if His truth isn’t in us (in the person of the Holy Spirit), HE isn’t in us—and if HE isn’t in us, then we can’t walk in the light!

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not

the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”   Romans 8:8-9

 It is the Holy Spirit of God who imparts the new life to us and comes to dwell within those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith, by the blood of Jesus.  It is Jesus’ blood and His righteousness that helps us be what HE saves us to be.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us

to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

 unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation…….

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-19 & 21

Jesus took our place when He died on Calvary, and God imparts His righteousness to us when we receive HIM, because HE took our sin upon Himself on that cross!  Praise God for His amazing grace, love and mercy.

But back to Ezekiel and his people; are we lying to ourselves and others just like Israel did? Have we brought our idols into HIS church?  Have we, are we now, trying to conform the church to the world?  Or are we willing to stand fast and hold the church to God’s biblical standard?  Would we rather accept whatever makes people feel good about themselves; or are we willing to speak the truth in love, trusting to God to bring them to the cross for whatever need they may have?  Have we died to self, that we might live to Christ Jesus our Lord with our whole being?

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it

upon your lusts.  

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not

that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend

of the world

is the enemy of God.”   James 4:1-4

James was writing to those in the church—he called those who were being friends of the world—adulterers and adulteresses!  Who is your friend?  Jesus or the world?  Only you can choose.  And no matter who you may fool in this life, you can never fool God.  Are you measuring life by God’s standard or the world’s?  What are your idols?  Or will you join me in asking God to help us to be a “living sacrifice” to our God—on HIS terms?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

Are you leading others to be conformed to Jesus?  Or is the world conforming you to the image of itself?  May God open our eyes to see truth—His truth.

“Search me,

O God,

and know

my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be

any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

Amen and Amen!!!