Monday, February 15, 2016

What God sees

“Even though unsaved man chooses to do right – God does not see man as right unless the rebellious nature is broken and righteousness from Christ comes into the human soul.”

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Those who are "perfect"...from the Greek text

The word perfect is to be examined closely in this text. Applicable today.

Corinthians 2:6,7...Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory

Strong's Concordance

teleios: having reached its end, i.e. complete, by ext. perfect Original Word: τέλειος, α, ον Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: teleios Phonetic Spelling: (tel'-i-os) Short Definition: perfect, full-grown Definition: perfect, (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age, (c) specially of the completeness of Christian character.

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5046 téleios (an adjective, derived from 5056 /télos, "consummated goal") – mature (consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e. developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey). See 5056 (telos).

Sin doesn't live here anymore

The hearts of angels cry, “Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty”. The hearts of believers in Christ can cry, “Sin doesn’t live here anymore”. Why? God remembers a believer’s past sins no more. All the sins from the past life are thrown away as far as the east is from the west. Salvation and Redemption of the human soul is the picture here. Forgiveness granted from the shed blood of a Savior is found, touched, and experienced by the believing heart. A new creation in Christ is made by God! With an attitude and character that can proclaim with gladness, “Sin doesn’t live here anymore”.

The precious blood of Christ was shed so fallen man could be delivered from all his past sins. The precious blood of Christ is what makes the heart of a believer in Christ clean and holy in the present life. Sin stains from the past are washed away. Clean enough that a believer in Christ can gladly say, “Sin doesn’t live here anymore”. Holy enough that a believer in Christ knows that Salvation of the human soul is God breathed, God made, and God created in the believing heart. God made the new creation in Christ so the believer could “quit” his meanness and wrongdoing. This believing heart and character (that experiences the power of God) can boldly say, “Sin doesn’t live here anymore”.

This type of confession is made from the Holy Spirit’s witness placed in the heart of a believer in Christ. This type of profession is made because the unholy heart of a sinful man is made holy by the power of God’s Grace. The believer in Christ is no longer a sinful man but holy in the eyes of God. The holy confession and holy profession of a believer in Christ are experienced and lived outwardly in this present life. The believer in Christ is led by the Holy Spirit of God, not the unholy sinful nature. Sensuality and dirty living are no longer in control since Christ came in! The lusts of the flesh are not longer in control since Christ came in. The lusts of the eyes are no longer in control since Christ came in. The pride of life no longer rules the believing heart since Christ came in. God takes over His children who are born of the Spirit of God. It’s called Redemption! It’s called Salvation of the human soul! Simple as that!

Jesus Christ came into the believing heart to take away the sins of fallen man and He does just that. Jesus takes away the past sins of the unbeliever so much that holiness of heart and character are produced in the present life of a believer. So much that a believer can thankfully shout, “Sin doesn’t live here anymore”. The precious blood of Christ was shed at Calvary to cleanse and wash away fallen man’s personal sin stains. Every sin from the past life where sin and disobedience ruled that unbelieving heart. The precious blood of Christ restores the believing heart to a holy state of being in this present life. Glory! So great is Salvation and Redemption of the human soul through the person of Christ. Salvation, not to be taken lightly! Redemption, not to be used as an excuse to sin! Salvation and Redemption not to be considered as covering for future sins! Christianity is a present tense walk with God in the Spirit and in holiness of conduct because sin doesn’t live there anymore.

Remember the words of some unknown holiness preacher in Williamsburg, Ohio. Who gladly and joyfully proclaims this message around the globe for Jesus, “By the shed blood of Jesus Christ my personal Lord and Savior, sin doesn’t live here anymore”.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The Lord adds...

When the Gospel is preached...things happen!

Acts 2 - Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls...obviously the Spirit puts men into Christ...three thousand in one day. What an operation! ...and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

What happens when you die?

At the time of death – the human physical body goes to the grave, burial vault, cremation, etc.

At the time of death the soul/spirit instantaneously goes to the eternal abode of the dead. The abode of the dead is Biblical place known as Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise found in the words of the Holy Scripture. To be more precise – Sheol is an eternal place in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament records. Hades is an eternal place in the Greek text found in the (4) Gospels and New Testament records.

The eternal abode of the dead is the unseen world for the righteous and the unrighteous souls – which God determines upon the soul of every man – in this life before death to the physical body.  The Holy Scriptures of the Bible term this unseen world as Heaven or Hell. Both places eternally exist for the righteous Judgment of the souls of men. Righteous Judgment is made by God Almighty as a determination for man’s belief or unbelief of God, the creator of all things – in this present life.

Hebrews 9:27…And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The prophetic picture of a resurrected Christ (taken from the book of Psalms)

Psalm 16:9-11...Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

This prophecy about the promised Messiah and His resurrection from the grave. It was  foretold and written by David in the book of Psalms. God made this prophetic statement through David and described how the physical body of Christ "would not" see corruption as David's physical body would in death to the physical. In this prophecy the miracle of a Savior was foretold.  At the time of death David's body was placed in the sepulchre (the grave) and still remains there. At the time of death Christ's body was placed in a tomb...but was miraculously "changed" or "glorified" in the miracle of a resurrection. Christ's body did not see corruption (after death) nor does Christ's body remain in a tomb at present.

Psalm 16:10...For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

David's prophetic utterance in Psalms 16:10 about, "Leaving the soul in Hell"...is a Biblical description of the "unseen world" or the "spiritual abode of the dead". Souls of just and unjust men will go to the unseen world (the abode of the dead) when their physical body is laid in the grave. In the Old Testament records the unseen world and abode of the dead was known as Abraham's Bosom. Abraham's bosom was defined by Christ in Luke 16 - as place of comfort; and a place of torment. Lazurus and the rich man both went to Abraham's Bosom and could see each other but could not cross the great gulf between both places. Paradise (which is Heaven) and Hades (which is Hell) are both places inside of Abraham's Bosom.

"Psalm 16:10... concerning the resurrection of Christ was preached by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2, and also by the Apostle Paul in Acts 13. Both Apostles pointed the fact that Christ "rose" from the grave in a bodily resurrection. The body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was resurrected and did not experience decay or corruption like David's body experienced."

The miracle of the death, burial, and resurrection of the the Holy One (Christ) fulfilled David's prophecy of Psalm 16:9-11.

Psalm 16:9-11...Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Here are three other prophecies about the resurrection of Israel's promised Messiah. All prophecies of a resurrected Lord were foretold and recorded  by King David in the book of Psalms.

Psalm 2:7...I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psalm 110:1...The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Psalm 132: 11...The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.