The Essentials Of Romans 8 (Part 5)

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.
Rom. 8:18-23

Well, folks...I hope you're rested up and ready to go! This section of Scripture has some tricky turns along the road to understanding, not to mention a few bumps to boot. So, let's proceed with care....

These verses have some rather interesting translations taking place that warrant a closer look at the Greek.

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

For the most part, the verse pretty much has been translated as closely to the Greek text as possible. Paul has stated that, as far as his conclusions go, the afflictions that are happening now aren't worth even being compared to the future glorification that involves all Christians. But, the verse says, "glory which shall be revealed in us." The Greek shows this as μελλουσαν δοξαν αποκαλυφθηναι εις ημας (mello(san) doxa apokalupto eis hemas), which can be literally translated as "glory which is revealed to us" or "glory which is revealed in us."

Why the big deal about this? Because, this is one area where the KJV gets it right and many modern translations don't. As we saw in the last post, we who are saved have been made heirs along side Jesus. By our adoption into God's family, we have the promise of the same glorification that Jesus receives. This fact shows that this verse is talking about the glorification being in us. The other translation makes the glory just something to be seen externally by us. This is a BIG difference!

However, the KJV makes a bit of a slip in the translation in the next few verses.

"For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."

Again, most of this verse is a very literal translation, and is quite clear as read. The error here is in the Greek word κτισεως (ktisis), which can be either creature or creation. It is very hard to figure out what creature would be awaiting the revelation of the newly adopted children of God. However, it makes much more sense to see how the creation (all of God's creation) would be waiting for us to be presented. We can see this sense displayed in the next verse.

"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected [the same] in hope,"

So, here in verse twenty, we read that (again, correcting the translation of ktisis) the creation was placed under submission to vain depravity (Greek: ματαιοτητι - mataiotes). This subjugation was not something that was wanted by creation. It was placed upon creation by God, who also has also subjected it to hope.

Why does God's creation care about being under the curse of such depravity? Why would it look forward with hope to the children of God being produced?

"Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

Once again, substitute "creation" into the position of "creature". The reason that God's creation longed for the rebirth of spiritually dead people into adopted children of God is that this process will lead to freedom from the corruption of sinful depravity and vanity for all of God's creation.

The second part of verse twenty-one has another point of interest for translation. "into the glorious liberty" is seen in Greek as εις την ελευθεριαν της δοξης. There is that word, "eis", again. So, we can read this portion as either "to the glorious liberty" or "in the glorious liberty." One way implies that somehow letting creation be delivered from bondage produces glorious liberty. The other way shows that through the glorious liberty, creation finds freedom. The second way is the only one that makes sense. The verse ends by confirming that this liberty belongs to the children of God.

Verse twenty-two confirms the things we have seen to this point. ALL of God's creation is aware of the curse that rests upon it. Both of the words describing creation's actions (συστεναζει - sustenazo, to groan together as a group and συνωδινει - sunodino, to suffer pain together as a group) show that the group of entities that comprise God's total creation suffer together at this time.

In verse twenty-three, we see that not only creation is crying out for the freedom to come, but....

"And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body."

Even we Christians, which have the Holy Spirit sealing us by His indwelling, find our spirits crying out as we await the completion of our adoption. That process, already well on it's way, will be finished when even our bodies are delivered from their current corruption by sin. This will happen when we are given our glorified bodies, where our flesh is made anew.

So, to summarize what we've covered today, allow me show a few verses that set the framework of what is going on here on earth:

"All these [are] the beginning of sorrows."
Matt. 24:8

This verse was used by Jesus when describing the events of the end times. The word "sorrows" is the Greek word ωδινων (odin), which is very often associated with the birth pangs of a woman about to give birth. When Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected, He became, if you will, the conception of a new body, the bride of Jesus ("And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." Rev. 21:9. For two-thousand years, that body, which is His church, has added new members, each with a position and role as defined by God's will ("But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." 1 Cor. 12:18.) Now, that the Age of Gentiles is at an end, creation is experiencing birth pangs. Very, very soon, the bride will be delivered to her bridegroom, to be with Him forever.

We are God's children. We are the Lamb's bride. We are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Praise Abba, Father--God Almighty!

In our next study, we'll be looking at the hope of the Christian.

Grace and Peace....

The Essentials Of Romans 8 (Part 4)

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together."
Rom. 8:15-17

In our study today, we get to look at one of the most incredible results of being saved from our sins by Jesus Christ.

We start with the reminder that, in our past lessons, we have found that the Holy Spirit of God permanently indwells each and every believer. This presence seals us until the day of our redemption. So, with that thought fresh in mind, let us tear into verse fifteen.

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

Once again, Paul is showing us that there is a division between the unsaved person and the saved person. In this case, that division can be seen as being between two types of spirit that is imparted to the person. There is the "spirit of bondage" and the "Spirit of adoption". Notice that in the first type, the word "spirit" is small case and in the second it is capitalized. This is correctly showing how the later is of God the Holy Spirit, whereas the former is the worldly, fleshly spirit.

The word in Greek that is translated into bondage is δουλειας (douleia.) This word means slavery, either by force or voluntarily. As we have seen previously, man is filled with hatred towards God prior to God making changes in the man (which lead to acceptance of the fact that he has been called to salvation.) Since unsaved man hates God, his bondage to sin can be seen as being voluntary. Without salvation, man will always choose to pursue the lusts of the flesh.

We are told that this form of bondage is not what we have received again. So, this is a form of which we all once were very familiar with. It was the bondage to fear and to death that was the result of sin. Instead, we who are saved have received a different type of spirit.

What we now have present in our lives is the Spirit which produces υιοθεσιας (huiothesia): the placement (as sons, or as children) into God's family. Not only did God make a way to save us from the death that was due us by our sins, but He went above and beyond, and brought us directly into His family! This fact alone should give strength to a Christian. If God has done all these things to redeem a person through Jesus, to Himself, how on earth could any person say that we could do something to lose our salvation? This, like many other verses in Romans, enforces "once saved-always saved."

It is because of this Spirit of adoption that we are therefore able to cry out (Greek: κραζομεν - krazo - to cry out, exclaim) to God as a child. We have such a close tie to God through Jesus, that we can approach Him not as a slave, or as a piece of property, but as our Father. In fact, Paul uses both the Chaldee/Hebrew word "Abba" and the Greek "Pater", showing how the work of Jesus upon the cross transcends both Jewish and Gentile, and creates a new family, composed of new creations.

Verse sixteen show us that we can rest assured in our calling to be a child of God. How? By the fact that the Holy Spirit within us will bear testimony to that fact. And, that testimony is presented directly to our own reborn spirit.

In verse seventeen, we are taken through a series of step to teach us just what being a child of God brings to us.

If we are, in fact, adopted as children into God's family, then we are part of the royalty that is possessed by that family. That means that we are not just children, but we are heirs to the throne of God. Now, this doesn't mean we are going to try to move up the ladder. But, it means that we become jointly entitled to the glory that belongs to Jesus Christ. This is a solemn responsibility to each Christian. And, it doesn't come cheap. There is a requirement to this claim:

"if so be that we suffer with [Him], that we may be also glorified together."

We are expected to suffer along with Jesus. But, how do we do that? Well, the Greek wording holds a key. The word that we get "suffer with Him" from is συμπασχομεν (sumpascho). This can be more fully translated as "to experience pain jointly, or of the same kind." How can we do that? Like we had seen in previous study:

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Matt. 16:24

When we deny the lustful urges to live our own life, we are denying ourselves. By doing that, we are putting our flesh to the cross. We are following Jesus by following the example He set for us. We give up this life, so that it can be used by Jesus, and thereby we gain a new spiritual life in Him. THAT is how we can "experience His pain jointly." The result of doing this is that we will be glorified along with Jesus.

Not everybody will be killed for following Jesus. Not everyone will be put to death for their witness of the Christ. But, EVERY Christian that is a Christian will put their flesh to death. It starts at the first moment of salvation, when the sinner understands their sin and what it means to them. They ask Jesus to forgive the sins. Then they repent (turn away) from those sins. That turning away is the first time the flesh is denied. And THAT is the first time that a Christian puts their flesh to death on the cross.

Every day we do this from that first time on, we share the pain jointly with Jesus.

(As a side note, please understand that when a Christian fails to put the flesh to death, this does not in any way take away from their salvation. That, as we have already seen, is an action that completely originates from God Almighty and our Lord Jesus Christ. A person has fulfilled the requirements of sharing the sufferings of Jesus when they first repent from their sins. But, we NEED to do this daily, moment-by-moment. If we don't then what we lose is not salvation, but the promised peace and life. A Christian that isn't walking with the Lord will not find the peace that comes from Him. And, as we have record of in Acts (Acts 5:1-11), if you are sinning to the point of becoming an obstacle, God may even take away your physical life.)

So, remember each day that the life you now live as a Christian is not your own. It belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, and should be lived accordingly. Your reward for doing so will be eternal!

Next time, trials and expectations.

Grace and Peace....

The Essentials Of Romans 8 (Part 3)

"And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Rom. 8:10-14

As we take a look at verse 10, it would be good to consider it as three separate parts:

"And if Christ [be] in you"
"the body [is] dead because of sin"
"but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness"

Now, let's take a look first at the second part. The body (Greek σωμα, soma, meaning the entire, whole physical body) is dead. Why? Because of sin. Or, as it says in the Greek, δι αμαρτιαν (dia hamartia, or "through offense".) A bunch of nice Greek words that show that what is translated is what was there. Sin brought death. The flesh is dead, it just hasn't figured out that it should just fall down and be done yet.

In opposition to that, we see that the third part of the verse tells us that the Spirit is life. Why? Because of righteousness. As we saw in part one of this study, Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law. This proved His righteousness. That same righteousness became His to impart into His people. When do we receive this righteousness?

"And if Christ [be] in you"

When we acknowledge Jesus is our Savior and Lord, He indwells us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus gives each of His followers access to certain characteristics just by sealing them with His Spirit. This fact comes in very handy in verse eleven:

"But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you."

This becomes a verse of promise to the believer. If the Holy Spirit is dwelling in a person, then their flesh (which was dead from sin) will be made alive (Greek: ζωοποιησει, zoopoieo, to make alive) by God through the presence of the Spirit.

At first glance, one may wonder why, if the flesh is such a source of failure in a persons life, would God want to grant it life anew? Does He want us to try to live our life in the flesh? Let's see....

Verse twelve tells us:

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh."

Here again, commas appear where the Greek really doesn't seem to call for them. Let's take out the third comma, just to get a little clearer reading along the lines that the Greek shows:

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh."

OK, that helps a bit. Since God has quickened us (who are of Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit), we are debtors to Him, to live in accordance to His will. We owe nothing to the flesh, which would have led us to death. God has a much more important goal for our newly revived flesh.

"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

Verse thirteen continues with the same line of thought as in verse twelve. Just because you have a new life in the flesh doesn't mean you can live a life in the flesh. To do so would result in death, as we saw in part two of our studies. However, we are told that if we put to death the deeds of the body, doing so by the power and ability of the Spirit, we will live. Hearing this, it is easy to understand verses such as Luke 9:23-24

"And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

We are given a new spiritual life when we are born again, saved by Jesus Christ. At that time, our flesh, which was dead, is made alive again. But, the life of our flesh is not ours to live, but to be sacrificed daily to Jesus. When we put to death the deeds of our body, we lose our life for Him. When we follow Jesus, and let the Spirit guide our actions, we surrender our life to Him, to be used as He sees fit. By doing so, we are showing evidence that with the loss of our physical life, we have gained a spiritual life.

And what is the result of doing these things. They produce a simple but awesome fruit:

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Our actions of following the Spirit for the sake of Jesus, in honor of God, is a living proof that we are members of family of God Almighty.

May we always pray to see those fruits produced in our lives!

Next time, we'll take a peek into life as a child in the family of God. Until then....

Grace and Peace....

The Essentials of Romans 8 (Part 2)

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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.
Rom. 8:5-9

As we start our study today, we see in verse five that there is a clear division to be found in all people. Every person that is alive will either be mindful of things of the flesh or of things of the Spirit. First, we ought to be clear just what it is to be "mindful" of something.

The Greek word used here is φρονουσιν (phroneo), which means to be disposed intently or to interest oneself with concern or obedience. It would imply much the same effect as following directions to get to a person's house. You apply your mind to looking for signs, making the turns in the right places--basically putting your mental focus on making it to the house.

So, we'll put the word focus into our reading here, and we see that a person will either be focused on things of the flesh or things of the Spirit. Flesh, as seen here, is using the Greek word σαρκὸς (sarx), which can mean the meat of the body, but it also is used to describe the human nature (morals or passions.) We can ascribe it to being the lusts of the physical body. Spirit is πνευμα (pneuma), which is often applied to the Holy Spirit, as it means the air, such as that Holy Breath from God. So, now that we have the players all lined up, we see that the dividing line is drawn. On one side, you have people that are focused on their own physical needs, wants and desires. On the other side are the people that are focused on the needs, wants and desires of the Holy Spirit. The selfish and selfless.

In verse six, we are given the results of being on either side of that dividing line. The Greek word for "carnally" is the same as for "flesh: in verse five. So, we know we are talking about the same thing in both verses. The first half of the verse gives a grave warning. To be focused on the physical lusts of the body is death. The Greek word for death here is θανατος (thantos), and it means exactly what it was translated to say: death! However, the second half
says that to follow the directions of the Holy Spirit is life and peace.

Something to consider here: Is this saying that we must chose the focus of our life, in order to receive one or the other of the two listed results? Or, is it saying that, based on what we are set in motion to do, we will be found to do one or the other, and will display the results accordingly?

An interesting question. Let's continue on and see if we can find an answer ahead.

Let's take a close look at verse seven:

"Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

First, we need to see what "enmity" means. It is from the Greek word εχθρα (echthra), which means hostility or hatred. So, the nugget of the first half this verse is "the physically lustful mind is hatred directed towards God." Now, we add the second part of the verse, and we see WHY it is so hostile. That selfish persona, if you will, is not "subject to the law of God." In the Greek, it reads νομω του θεου ουχ υποτασσεται (nomos ho Theos ou hupotasso), or "law of God not subjected." The verse ends with the fact that not only is the carnal mind not under the submission to God's law, but in fact it cannot be.

Wow! So, the unsaved person, with their physical lusts being the focus of their life, has a mind that is pure hatred toward God, because they ARE NOT UNDER SUBMISSION TO GOD'S LAW! This is a very important point to be clear on. This doesn't mean that they are not responsible to the law. It means that they are still in open rebellion to His law. The reason this is so important to understand is that it shows that, without an outside force making a change in a person, they are, to a person, actively rebelling against Him. Sort of hard to "choose to follow Jesus" when you are making every effort to fight against Him, doesn't it?

It also clears up our question from earlier. If we are unsaved, we are fighting against God with open hatred against Him ("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." Rom. 5:10.) If we are saved, then that salvation was effected upon us while we were yet rebels ("We love Him, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19.) Once we have been saved, we are no longer in open rebellion against Him, but we have become new creatures in Him.

So, as for the question of if this is a choice we make or the result of a choice that was made for us, it is clear that these are results of what was done to and for us. They are another type of fruit that grows out of our being indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

Verse eight puts the cherry on the top: "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Those that are on the physical side of that line have no way to do anything that would please God Almighty.

Now, many people will try to say it is possible to "backslide" right out of salvation. But, there is a reason to doubt this. As we've seen so far, the changes that bring a person under submission to God are, in fact, done by God to those that are His enemies. They are given faith to believe the Word of God (Jesus). That is a gift bestowed by the grace of God. At the moment of our spiritual rebirth, we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. As it is said in Ephesians 4:30:

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

The Holy Spirit of God is with each believer until the day of redemption, which is the day that we are either raised from the dead to be with Jesus or raptured straight from life to be by His side. There is no provision for removing that seal while we are on earth. Period.

So, with that in mind, what do we find in verse nine?

"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."

If you have been saved by Jesus, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. If you are sealed, the Spirit dwells in you. If that Spirit is in you, it will never be taken out of you. If that Spirit is in you, you are NOT focused on the flesh. If you are not focused on the flesh, then your life will produce fruits that are of life and peace.

Paul has laid out an argument in this passage that can't be denied. For a person to say that works are in any way required for salvation is to go against what Paul has said here. For a person to try to say salvation can be lost is calling Paul a liar. And, let's face it, Paul was being inspired to write this God Himself ("All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16-17.)

A final couple of points in this verse.

"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His."

First, we see that what Paul was referring to at the first of this verse as "the Spirit of God" is now referred to as "the Spirit of Christ." The two are, as far as Paul is concerned, the one and the same. This is a key to the proof of the Trinity.

God = Jesus ("I and [my] Father are one." John 10:30)
God = Holy Spirit ("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." Rom. 8:9)

Therefore: God=Jesus=Holy Spirit.

The second point is that if the Holy Spirit is not found dwelling in a person, that person is NOT part of the body (church) of Jesus. That means that this person is unsaved, of the flesh, and bound for death ("For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.)

Next time, we'll see how the death of our fleshly life ties us to eternal rewards.

Grace and Peace....

The Essentials Of Romans 8 (Part 1)

"[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Rom. 8:1-4

As we begin a look at the essential points of the eighth chapter of the book of Romans, the first thing we should take note of is the conditional statement in the first verse.

"[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

People have often been unsure if there is truth to the doctrine of "once saved-always saved." Well, here is the boldfaced truth. There is no condemnation. That pretty much sums it up. However, there is a condition to this statement. In the King James Version of the Bible, there is a comma that separates the condition from that first statement. This might make one believe that the second part is a requirement that must be met in order for the first part to apply. The second statement says:

"who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

However, in the Greek, there doesn't appear to be a separation. It appears that the second part isn't so much a requirement to be fulfilled so much as an evidence to be seen. When viewed that way, we might well find the statement to mean (as paraphrased):

"From now on, there is no condemnation for those that are joined to Jesus Christ which don't occupy themselves with the ways of the flesh but instead occupy themselves with the ways of the Holy Spirit."

Instead of saying that you must do the action of occupying yourselves with the Spirit in order to be freed from condemnation, it says because you are free from condemnation you will show this freedom by your actions of occupying yourselves with the ways of the Holy Spirit.

One way makes it a required work in order to obtain a sure salvation. The other shows that the work is done and then you bear the fruit from the work. The second way gives all the glory back to God, whereas the first tries to steal the glory back to the person doing the work.

In the second verse, we are shown that there are two basic structures in play.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

There is the law that rules by the presence of sin, and it produces death. Then, there is the law of the Spirit, which produces life eternal. That law exists only in Jesus Christ. Of the two laws, we are taught that the law of the Spirit is the more powerful, in that it can free a person from being subject to the law of sin.

This verse confirms two statements from elsewhere in the Bible upon which much of our doctrine is based. First, it confirms Romans 6:23....

"For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Here we see that sin produces death, and that eternal life (as a gift from God) is available through Jesus.

Secondly, it harmonizes perfectly with John 14:6, which states:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

This refines the fact that the gift of life is only available through Jesus.

The third verse starts to show us why we need Jesus.

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"

Let's look at the first part of that statement.

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh"

Here we see the problem. The law of sin would have been sufficient if not for the fact that it was a law that was effective through the flesh. If there had been one or more humans that could have fulfilled the requirements of the law by their own efforts, then there would have been no need for the sacrifice of Jesus. But, because our flesh is naturally yearning to follow it's own lusts, it is impossible for all humans (except Jesus Himself) to achieve that goal. So, without hope of overcoming the flesh, and with our spirit being dead (See John 3:5-7), man was by default enslaved to the law of sin.

"God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh"

As we continue on, we see where God enacts His plan to build a bridge between Himself and fallen man. God sends Jesus to earth as a man (which God attests to in Matt. 3:17). But, in the Greek an interesting word is used here. Where we see likeness, the original word is "ομοιωματι" (homoioma). This might be better understood as "resemblence to" or "similar to." Why do I mention this? Because, it reinforces that, while Jesus was in all ways human, He was also still part of the Trinity. Jesus was all man, but He never ceased to be all God's Son. This is a nice point against those that would try to say that Jesus was just a prophet or just a wise man. He was, is, and will evermore be God ("I and [my] Father are one." John 10:30)

"and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"

We are taught elsewhere in the Scriptures that without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sin. In order to be a perfect sacrifice, there were two requirements: the sacrifice would have to be human and it would have to be sinless. If animal sacrifices could have earned forgiveness of sins, there would have been no need for Jesus. If Jesus had been in any way blemished by sin, His blood would have been of zero value.

Therefore, this verse confirms that Jesus was sinless ("For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin." Heb. 4:15) and that He was a sacrifice for us ("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)

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

The law of sin could have led to righteousness, but our sinful nature (as expressed in our flesh) made it impossible. It became a law unto death. But, by the life of Jesus the law was fulfilled ("Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matt. 5:17) And by His death on the cross, He made that righteousness available to His people ("For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Rom. 10:4)

Again, Paul uses the phrase:

"who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

And again, this makes sense when we see how it is used as a description of those of us that have had the righteousness of law (as fulfilled by Jesus) imparted to us.

The last thing to notice here is that, by using this exact same phrase again, Paul has tied the knot, so to speak. There are two descriptions that are attached to the phrase "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." In verse one, it is "them which are in Christ Jesus." In verse four it is "the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us." So, we can combine the two and see "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us which are in Jesus Christ." A final, perfect statement of the position of the believer. The righteousness is in the people that are in Jesus.

Tomorrow we'll continue with our study into the 8th Chapter of The Book of Romans.

Grace and Peace....

Where Are The Men...

Prompted by opposition to the Boy Scouts' rule disqualifying homosexuals as troop leaders, Philadelphia has forced the city's local chapter to pay fair-market rent of $200,000 a year for its city-owned headquarters.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58247

Governor Schwarzenegger has signed into the law the highly controversial SB 777 (Kuehl) that will permit transgender students to enter the locker rooms and restrooms of the gender with which they identify.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1910622/posts

A controversial gay pride rally has taken place in Jerusalem despite calls from religious leaders to ban it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6135778.stm

And so on, and so on. The papers are filled with ever-increasing acts of homosexuality not just making a place for itself, but working hard at destroying any and every lifestyle against it.

We don't have to look very far to see how God feel about such.

Lot was living in the city of Sodom. Abraham was told by God that Sodom was to be destroyed "....because their sin is very grievous...." (Gen. 18:20)

God decided to rescue Lot from the imminent destruction. He sent two angels to warn Lot and his family to leave. Lot didn't want to leave that night, but asked that they wait until the morning to leave. The angels agreed, and prepared to spend the night on the street, but Lot entreated them to stay in the house.

Then came the crowd....

"But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Gen. 19:4-5

All these men came, on the prowl. They had only one thought on their minds. They wanted to have sex (voluntary or rape...either would work for them) with these out-of-towners. And they had no intention of taking "no" for an answer.

Now, it is a good idea to point out two things here. First, homosexuality is NOT acceptable in the eyes of God. Why? Because, He created sex to be a function between a man and a woman that were joined (married) for the purpose of creating new lives and for the intimate pleasure of the husband and wife. Homosexuality is 100% counter to God's plan in every aspect. Second, these men weren't just after the sex for the sex. They were after the power and control that is part of crime of rape. They wanted to use their power, hatred, lust...anything that was in them at the time...to fulfill their flesh-based lusts. This too, is against everything God has taught us.

Lot tried to talk them out of this horrible thing. He even offered up his two daughters to them. They wanted none of that.

The crowd started to press in on Lot. The angels pulled Lot back inside the house, and proceeded to blind the crowd, so they couldn't find the door.

How does this story end? Well, when Lot was safe, far from Sodom and Gomorrah....

"Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground."
Gen. 19:24-25

Don't be fooled for a single moment. God is not mocked. Any country that so willingly accepts open, unrestrained sin will receive their due.

Sadly, the wrath that the nations of the world have earned is about to be delivered.

Maranatha!

Grace and Peace....

The Curse Of Wealth

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good [is there] to the owners thereof, saving the beholding [of them] with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man [is] sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep."
Ecc. 5:10-12

We exist in a world where a central thought is held concerning wealth: The one who dies with the most toys wins. This is an attempt to find humor in the urges people have to gain wealth at all cost. In truth, this is a cold conviction against humanity with as much appeal as a rotting corpse in it's grave.

God grants us a clear vision of wealth in Ecclesiastes. In chapter five, verse ten, we are told that a person that loves wealth will never be satisfied with wealth. No matter how much cash, possessions or power is acquired, it leaves the person empty and unfulfilled. The word in Hebrew where we get "he that loves" here is אהב (ahab), which can be used to show a deep, possibly sexual love. I think a good case can be made to translate this is another way of saying "lust." Like every other lust we experience in our flesh, it is an unending hunger. When we try to sooth a fleshly lust, it doesn't calm with our efforts. Instead it inflames with each attempt to fulfill it's desires.

Using the same thought, we are also told that those who lust for abundance will always be driven with the need for more. It is an unending cycle of want for greater want, and desire with greater desire. These feelings create a prison for those who submit to them.

Both of these traits are described as vanity (or, as the word הבל׃, which is hebel, translates into transitory or unsatisfying.) They are tagged as being empty pursuits.

Verse eleven gives us the observation that the more you gather, the more you find that things will take what you have gathered. Isn't that the truth? What person that has been in the workforce hasn't at one time or another received a raise, yet found that it really didn't add to the pot? The common, everyday worker sees a pay raise generally followed by an increase in food costs, or bills, or taxes. Even the wealthy have huge taxes, and tons of requests for donations. This trent is an unavoidable truth.

The verse continues by asking us what good is it to have a pile of wealth (for those that can obtain it), except to sit around and count it. Money in the bank does very little except sit, unless it is leaking away or adding to itself. When the day is done, wealth has accomplished nothing good by just being present.

It is in verse twelve that we see a comparison that makes sense of this whole thing. For God has shown us that the person that works for what he needs is able to sleep restfully, as opposed to the rich person. The wealthy person has to be on constant vigil, protecting his wealth, watching his wealth, worrying about what will happen to his wealth.

So, what is the secret to finding the happiness and peacefulness? Is it to give up your wealth? Is it to not work, or maybe to work harder? Longer hours? No vacations? Is there even a way TO find peace?

Well, Jesus addressed that very question:

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Matt. 6:19-21

The most precious treasure in all of heaven and earth combined is the forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. In dying on the cross, He paid the price that would have meant death for us by eternal separation and suffering. Each day, He offers that treasure to people from around the world. And how do we receive our portion of this fortune that is safe, secure and eternal?

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Rom. 10:13

Call out to Jesus to forgive you of your sins, to give you rebirth spiritually, and to lead you in your life from this time forward, and you can have true wealth.

Grace and Peace....

Are You Fruity?

How can we know that we are living a life in the spirit? How can we tell that our life is pleasing to God? Is there a measure or standard by which we can see our growth in Jesus?

Yes, there is.

When we are living a life that is devoid of our own fleshly lusts, we will see results produced by the Spirit that is in us. The Holy Spirit will create overall feelings, moods, emotions that are collectively referred to as "fruits" (since these products are very similar to grapes on a vine in their number, growth and sweetness....)

In Galatians chapter 5, verses 22 and 23, we are given a checklist of what we will find being produced by the Spirit within us"

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Just to clear up any confusion about what each of these fruit are, it's time to do a favorite of mine - the list in Greek (after all, we should follow the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who, "received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.")

• love - αγαπη (agape) - a kind, affectionate love
• joy - χαρα (chara) - cheerfulness or gladness
  
• peace - ειρηνη (eirene) - quietness or restful
  
• longsuffering - μακροθυμια (makrothumia) - patience
  
• gentleness - χρηστοτης (chrestotes) - morally excellent in character
  
• goodness - αγαθωσυνη (agathosune) - virtuous
  
• faith - πιστις (pistis) - assurance/reliance (in Jesus)
  
• meekness - πραοτης (praiotes) - gentle humility
  
• temperance - εγκρατεια (egkrateia) - self-control

It is very easy to see how the fruits of the Spirit are so different than those produced by our flesh.

Where the Spirit creates a kind, affectionate love, the flesh wants adultry, fornication, homosexuality. Where the Spirit makes gentle humility, the flesh desires to hate, to murder, to create strife and to bestow wrath. Spiritual patience is the counter to envy; faith is the opposite to idolatry and to witchcraft.

There will always be, as long as we are alive and bound to our fleshly nature, a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
Gal. 5:17

But, we have the upper hand in such situations. We only need to remember....

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Phil. 4:13

That which might well be too hard for us to fight on our own can be defeated for us by Jesus Christ. After all...

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Grace and Peace....

To Each, A Cross

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Gal. 2:20

Paul was teaching us a basic truth to our profession of faith in Jesus: That we are no longer the person running the boat, so to speak.

When we follow Jesus, we are reborn spiritually. But, we still have a life to be lived that is attached to our flesh. Each day, our flesh will yearn to follow it's natural paths to the fulfillment of fleshly lusts. We are told:

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Matt. 16:24

What is so important about denying ourselves, that Jesus would make such a specific point of it to those that would follow Him?

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
Matt. 16:25

The very next verse clears that up. This isn't just a statement for those that are killed for their beliefs, as some might say. No, this is a statement to all Christians. We must some how overcome the flesh that will fight for control of ourselves, against the leadership that would come from our newborn spirit and it's desire to obey God's directions.

This is done by taking up our own cross.

If we follow the steps that Jesus took, we are reminded that:

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:"
Gal. 3:13

When we put our flesh on the cross daily, we are cursing it...putting it to death.

With the flesh so put to death, our spirit is free from the war that would normally take place between the two. As Paul remarked:

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
Gal. 5:24

Notice that he doesn't say "should have" or "might have", but he says just plain ole "have" when referring to crucifying the flesh. It was understood by Paul that repentance from sin also included a turning away from the natural desires of the flesh. The two go hand and hand.

Now, this doesn't mean that we won't commit sins of the flesh. However, it does show us that when those sins occur, they will always be traceable back to a point where the flesh should have been crucified, but wasn't. Sins of the flesh can't occur where the flesh is dead.

So, let me encourge you to start each day by prayerfully asking God to send your flesh to the cross--to lose your life (as you would desire to live it if your flesh was in charge) so that you might gain it (since, when you give up your flesh-based life to Christ, He will provide you with an all-new life in the world to come.)

"[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
Gal. 5:16

Grace and Peace....

In Whatsoever State I Am

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:11-13

So very often, we who would follow Jesus find ourselves distracted by the things of the world. It is so very easy to confuse want with need. Even worse, when we are unable to get what we want (or think we want), we sometimes wear our stoic courage as a bright, shining badge of honor. "Oooo, look at me, I'm doing without, aren't I just the lovable little Christian."

Paul, the apostle who would have easily the most bonus points for extended stays at the "Motel Prison" chain in the Roman Empire, had a few words about want, need and us.

First he says, "I'm not talking out of want." He desires that we take note, right up front, that his wants are of zero importance to what he is about to teach us.

He continues, "I have learned that, no matter what situation I'm in, to be content with it." He doesn't say to ACT content, or to SAY he's contented. He says to BE content with it.

This means some basic thoughts have to be changed in the life of a Christian. First, completely against what some would have you believe, there is NO promise of a rich, healthy life for a Christian. There is the promise that everything will be for the better of the Christian, but that doesn't mean earthly wealth, lifestyle success or temporal health. In fact, being better for a child of God could very easily mean death, as that would send you straight to the arms of Jesus. Or, it could mean the total loss of income. This might drive you into a new job, a new town, a deeper reliance on God's mercy. We just don't know. But, Paul didn't need to know the details. He knew the basics--God will do what's best for His children, so be content.

He goes on to say, "I know how to be humble and I know how to be over the top in all places and in all things. I know how to be gorged and I know how to be starved, to have abundance and to suffer need."

So, do you think Paul is trying to cover all the bases with his teachings? Sure seems so. He is emphatically pointing out that there is nowhere that is off the map when it comes to being content in the situation and circumstance that God places you in.

So, does Paul tell us of how we can be like him in being patient, content, happy with our situation. He sure does:

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." But, allow me to throw some Greek at you, which might show some depth to his words.

παντα ισχυω εν τω ενδυναμουντι με χριστω
Pas ischuo en ho endunamoo me Christos.

Pas ischuo translates roughly to "I have the force to do everything." En ho endunamoo me Christos says "enabled(empowered) by the Christ." We are enabled to be content in all these situations by the power that comes from Jesus Christ.

We are to lean upon Jesus, to draw strength and power from Him, as we endure the highs and lows of everyday life. Only through Him can we find contentment in all things.

Grace and Peace....

What Is A Christian?

I hope you will forgive me if I take a short break from the teachings of doctrine. But, sometimes a person feels moved to express the things inside, even when it might be difficult. So, I give this for your consideration.

What is a Christian?

A Christian is a man or woman, a boy or girl.
A person of any nationality, any background.
A person who stands beside their own grave from which thay've been pulled.
Alive where life was gone.
A Christian is a person that knows this new life was nothing they found.
It was nothing they earned, nothing they deserved.
A Christian knows that their existance is a living memorial to the work of Jesus.
They understand that their spirit was dead, beyond hope, beyond life and light.
They know that the only life they had was one of flesh, evil perverted, unclean.
They know what rebirth is - they've been there!
And now, a Christian becomes a baby, a child.
They have needs they never knew.
A sheep forever following the familiar voice of it's Shepherd.
They long for a place they've never been,
They crave to be with a family they've never before known.
Love pure and true becomes both a path and a promise.
Faith they've never had becomes a force stronger than bones or flesh.
They care.
And now, a Christian knows a feeling of conflict,
To stay and work, to go home and rejoyce.
Standing on the edge between rapture and tribulation.
Able to see heaven and hell,
Wanting to run into the arms of Jesus,
Wanting to work in the fields of earth.
They know they are adopted into the family of God.
Yet they would give their time, possessions, their very life for others.
Living between the ages,
A past of sin, forgotten,
A future of eternal hope.
Watching, waiting.
A person that sheds tears of joy for self and tears of sorrow for the lost...
At the same time.
A servant who will rule,
A ruler that surrenders all.
A song without end, a prayer, a sacrifice, a praise.

What is a Christian?

A Christian is an imperfect reflection of a perfect God,
looking forward to someday being a perfect reflection.

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]."
1 Peter 5:10

Grace and Peace....

Three Descriptions Of Jesus

"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 said the above when he was questioned by Thomas about they (the disciples) could know the way after Jesus leaves them. I would like to take a look at those three words that are central to the answer Jesus gave.

• the way (Greek: ὁδὸς - hodos - a journey, highway or a mode or means of progress.)
• the truth (Greek: ἀλήθεια - aletheia - heh, it means truth. Hard to call the truth anything but the truth, eh?)
• the life (Greek: ζωη - zoe - the literal or figurative life.)

This is one time where there really are no possible alternate meanings, no room for wiggle. Jesus laid it on the line for His disciples. He told them that He was the only, singular, unique path to be followed. He told them that He was the only, singular, unique truth. He told them that He was the only, the literal, the single point of life.

When anyone tries to tell you that there are other ways to get to heaven, you are now faced with one of two choices. Either Jesus was a liar, that there really might be other ways to reach God. Or, that Jesus was telling the truth. In that case, EVERYTHING that is not based on the meaning of this verse is FALSE, and is of the spirit of antichrist. This view is confirmed by John:

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
1 John 4:1-3

With this as a filter, it is easy to see just how much of what is in the world today fails that test. All non-Christian faiths and belief systems fail (such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism, Agnosticism, etc.) All "Christian" systems that rely on more than Jesus (and Him alone) fail (like Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehoviah's Witnessess, etc.) All systems that see Jesus as anything other than Son of God fail (such as Islam, Judaism, etc.) Any system that makes Jesus a liar by changing the purpose or direction of His teachings (like any Emergent Church, many pentacostal churches, "Purpose Driven" churches, etc.) or that ignores The Word in favor of it's own choices (any church that has a woman as the pastor, any church that has a homosexual as a pastor or part of the lay staff, any church that "forces" a Gift of the Spirit (like encouraging speaking in tongues but not providing a translation, spiritual laughter, slaying of the spirit, etc.)

Why did I list all this? Because, as a Christian, we need to know completely where the line is drawn. An individual may well be saved (it is not for us to judge a person's salvation in any way) and still be following the false practices shown above. But, any individual or church that espouses (or worse yet, teaches) these things must be rebuked:

"This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
Titus 1:13-16

Why do we rebuke? Because, these points are the keys to knowing Jesus for who and what He is. And only by knowing Jesus personally can we approach God the Father ("no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.") If we can deliver the Word to a person that is sinning, we have the promise in James that:

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."
James 5:19-20

As the end of this age approaches, it is up to each of us to not only plant the seeds with the unsaved, but to water the plants that are already sprouted. In both cases, having done what we can, we can stand back and praise God for giving the increase. ("I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." 1 Cor. 3:6)

Grace and Peace....

Of Adam, Eve And Jesus

I would like to invite you to step into the "way-back" machine, and take a journey to the Garden of Eden. And, while doing that, to also take a trip to the wilderness of Israel....

The time: Sometime after God had made a help meet for Adam, the woman that Adam called "Eve."

The time: Very shortly after the baptism of Jesus.

The place: In the Garden of Eden, quite likely within viewing range of the Tree of Knowledge.

The place: The wilderness of Israel, a place of broiling hot days and freezing cold nights.

The scene: Eve is alone. She is apparently used to talking to the various creatures in the garden, or she is very calm when a snake strikes up a conversation. Either way, she starts to listen as that serpent asks a question....

The scene: Jesus has been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, when He is approached by the devil....

The devil makes his opening statements

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
(Gen. 3:1)

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
(Matt. 4:3)

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
(Gen. 3:2-3)

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
(Matt. 4:4)

The devil presented a challenge to Eve and Jesus. Both were based on knowledge of the truth of the situation. God had told Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, and Jesus most certainly had the ability to turn stones into bread. Both answered using God's Word. (Eve from God's direct statement in Gen. 2:16-17, Jesus from Deut. 8:2-3.)

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
(Gen. 3:4-6)

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
(Matt. 4:5-7)

This time, the devil uses the twisting of God's Word to try and accomplish his desire - the sin of the people involved. The difference this time is that Eve gave in to the sensual aspects of the temptation. She allowed the sin to apply itself to her life in steps...as food, as something pretty, as a source of wisdom. On the other hand, Jesus, even though He had every right to do what the devil suggested, rebuked satan. He quoted from Deut. 6:16, which refers to how, after all God had done for the Israelites in the wilderness (since leaving Egypt), they dared to complain that they had been abandoned in the desert. They demanded God prove He was still there with them. In this verse, Moses warns them (and us) NOT to test him like that ever again. God Almighty (as well as His Son and His Holy Spirit) do NOT answer to man.

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
(Gen. 3:7)

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
(Matt. 4:8-10)

Adam and Eve have blown it. They got what they wanted, but not the WAY they wanted it. There eyes have been opened to the knowledge of good and evil. However, that knowledge comes from the fact that they are now sinful. In what could be argued to be the first ever attempt at works-based salvation, they made aprons out of fig leaves to cover their sinfulness. Jesus has yet again repelled the onslaught of the devil. Even though satan has offered everything the world has to give (and, thanks to Adam and Eve becoming children of sin, this is well within his rights to offer.) Still yet, Jesus uses the Word of God to answer. This time, two verses are used: Deut. 6:13 ("Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.") and Deut. 10:20 ("Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.")

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
(Gen. 3:8)

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
(Matt. 4:11)

In the end, Adam and Eve knew they had done wrong. Sin had entered and ensnared them. They tried to hide from God. They had been the door through which death had entered. From this time on, humanity would be spiritually dead at birth (conception), and with a sinful flesh (which leads to eventual physical death.) Men and women were cursed, as was the very earth itself. Even the creature that satan used to manifest himself in, the serpent, was cursed.

Compare this to Jesus, who had overcome every temptation. Jesus resisted sin, and in so doing made Himself a perfect sacrifice: a lamb without blemish.

And even still today, Jesus is saving men and women, young and old. For we are told:
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Rom. 10:13

Grace and Peace....

Pledge My Head To Heaven

Once again, I'd like to offer the lyrics of a song for you to consider. It is a song by Keith Green, a man who's life for the Lord Jesus could well be summed up by something he said once. "If you praise and worship Jesus with your mouth and your life does not praise and worship him, there's something wrong!" He lived his life for Jesus. In these end times, there can be little more said to Christians the world over.

Pledge My Head To Heaven

Well, I pledge my head to heaven for the gospel,
And I ask no man on earth to fill my needs.
Like the sparrow up above, I am enveloped in His love,
And I trust Him like those little ones, He feeds.

Well, I pledge my wife to heaven, for the gospel,
Though our love each passing day just seems to grow.
As I told her when we wed, I'd surely rather be found dead,
Than to love her more than the One who saved my soul.

I'm Your child, and I want to be in Your family forever.
I'm Your child, and I'm going to follow You,
No matter whatever the cost
I'm gonna count all things loss.

Well, I pledge my son to heaven for the gospel.
Though he's kicked and beaten, ridiculed and scorned.
I will teach him to rejoice, and lift a thankful, praising voice,
And to be like Him who bore the nails and crown of thorns.

I'm Your child, and I want to be in Your family forever.
I'm Your child, and I'm going to follow You,
No matter whatever the cost,
I'm gonna count all things loss.
Oh, no matter whatever the cost,
I'm gonna count all things loss.

Well, I've had the chance to gain the world, and live just like a king,
But, without Your love, it doesn't mean a thing.

Oh, no matter whatever the cost,
I'm gonna count all things loss,
Oh, no matter whatever the cost,
I'm gonna count all things loss.

Well, I pledge my son, I pledge my wife, I pledge my head to heaven,
I pledge my son, I pledge my wife, I pledge my head to heaven, for the gospel.

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ...."
Phil. 3:8

Grace and Peace....

The Wills And The Woulds

Congratulations! You're a Christian!

So, I'm sure the world has joined together to throw you a big, happy party to celebrate. I'm sure everyone in your family and everybody on your block have just tripped over themselves to give you encouragement and presents and best wishes.

What?!? No marching bands? No ticker tape parades?

Who woulda thunk it?

So, you're a Christian. Nobody on earth is going to give you an award for this (except maybe another Christian...and I wouldn't hold my breath on that half the time, either!) In fact, the world is generally going to hate you. Well, not so much you, but the One that you belong to...Jesus Christ.

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you."
John 15:18

Now, if you think you're hated now, just hang on to your hat!

You see, we Christians are called to be separate from the world. We are expected to behave differently. To march to a different drumbeat. For example, Paul relays to us what is expected of us by God when dealing with other people (both Christian and non-Christian):

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Eph. 4:25-32

Yeah, I know - that was a mouthful! So, let's just run through the passage one verse at a time, and get an idea of what is being said.

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another." This show us that we must make every effort to speak ONLY the truth. This is especially important when communicating with other Christians, since we are all part of the same spiritual body, the Bride of Christ, the Body that is the Church of Jesus. It is important to note that there is no such thing as an acceptable lie. No little white lies, no fudges of the truth. Be it the fable of "christmas" or the creative math on the taxes--it is all wrong if it isn't all truth.

"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" It is OK to get angry, as long as the anger doesn't lead to sin. And, even more important is to get past it as fast as possible. Don't let the new day start (in the Jewish calendar, remember the new day starts at sundown) with anger still on your mind.

"Neither give place to the devil." It is wrong to give in to anything sinful. We must fight the urges to sin. That doesn't mean we are going to win all the time, but every fall should come at the end of a long, hard struggle. And with each fall, there should be a quick standing up and dusting off. Then, back we go into the fight.

"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." All that we get out of this world should be earned through our honest efforts. Of course, we know that it is God that is providing. But, we must make an honest, heartfelt effort to labor for those things. The world says, "Take what you want, scam, cheat, steal...just do whatever it takes to get what you want!" God says, "Earn it." That doesn't mean everybody that isn't pouring molten steel, or building skyscrapers or such isn't earning their keep. It means that, no matter what you do, you make sure that you do something that gives a personal value to the results of your works. Also, the result of work for some is to have the most toys. The result of working, for a Christian, is to have the ability to give to those that are in need.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." This is a simple, but scary one. If you are going to let ANY word escape from your mouth, make sure it will be a good word, a teaching word, a word that will show the grace of Jesus to those that are listening. This takes both a watchful mind and a dose of wisdom. Words that you might say around one person might be very unhelpful around another. Think before you speak!

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Remember: the Holy Spirit indwells all those who belong to the Lord Jesus. Don't be hurting Him by your actions, thoughts or words. Before you say or do anything, consider who is watching.

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:" Time for a list:

• bitterness (Greek:pikria) acridity, like a caustic poison
• wrath (Greek:thumos) passion, fierceness
• anger (Greek:orge) punishment, or vengence
• clamour (Greek:krague) outcry, chaotic tumult
• evil speaking (blasphemia) blasphemy, villification of God
• malice (Greek:kakos) just plain ol' badness

So, all these things should be put away from you. So, that means the snotty comebacks, the hateful retorts, the wild jumping down the throat, the daydreams of revenge, the yellings, the screamings, the cursing and cussing...anything that isn't good...should be chunked.

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." OK, you talked me into it. One more list, just for the fun of it:

• kind (Greek:chrestos) easy going, gracious
• tenderhearted (Greek:eusplagchnos) compassioned, sympathetic
• forgiving (Greek:charizomai) frankly forgive, freely give

We are to be easy going, gentle, gracious, filled with compassion for others, sympathetic, with the willingness to completely forgive and freely give. As an example, we are told to look no farther than the very act of forgiving that God did for the sake of His Son (and in so doing, God gave a people to His Son, Jesus.)

What does each of these directives do? Why, they set us apart from the rest of the world. The world does not reward actions like those we are to perform. In fact, the world and it's people will make every effort to stomp on and destroy those that would dare to show how much they want to be like Jesus. Oh, yes...you be a follower of Christ, and you WILL be hated!

But, remember the words of Jesus:

"Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matt. 5:10

So, you might just get that big, happy party after all. It's just not going to be held here of earth....

Grace and Peace....

The Bird's Word

Overheard in an Orchard

Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and hurry so."

Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."

-- Elizabeth Cheney

When I happened across this poem, I had to stop and think. You know, it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to imagine what God's creation would say to us Christians. After all, God's Son came to earth in the flesh of a human. He lived as we lived, felt as we felt. He wasn't what we would generally consider "handsome." He would probably appear to have more in common with a homeless man than with most of us "Christ Followers." He wore no regal crown, he carried no great wealth. He taught us that, if we wanted to be of importance in heaven, we should strive to be servants on earth. And, He led by example in all things.

He lived a sinless life, and was put to death by the religious rulers of the day. He did all this so that, by the spilling of His perfect blood, our sins could be paid for in the sight of YHWH. He did all the work, He paid all the price. He took up His life after three days, and returned to heaven to prepare a place for each of His people. He sent the Holy Spirit to look after us, to teach us and to comfort us. He has promised us that He will be with us always, that no temptation will confront us that He won't provide us a way to overcome. And when it is all said and done, He has crowns and rewards awaiting us when we arrive in heaven, even though He has made everything good to happen for us!

And yet, we try to deny Him. How, you may ask? Well, let's look at a piece of Scripture:

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Matt. 6:25-29

Was Jesus just talking to hear His head rattle? I don't think so! So, if He had a reason to say this, would it seem likely that it was for those of us that profess to follow Him?

I'm not saying that worry is sinful. It isn't, provided it doesn't become the focus of our minds. A little worry is the natural result of a person being put into a position or situation they don't feel comfortable experiencing. It's sort of like the first time you saw the movie "Jaws", and that music went from soft and menacing to loud and frantic, and the teeth filled the screen, and you jumped. But, that fear went away as you dealt with the situation. If it didn't you probably went on to have an unrealistic fear of the ocean.

The same applies to our daily lives. Jesus has said that our needs will be looked after by God. Food, drink, clothing...everything we need to get by daily will be provided in accordance with God's perfect will.

When the unexpected happens, it's OK to feel worry--for a bit. That "bit" should be just about the length of time it takes to pray for the guidance and strength to deal with the situation. Then, we should again rest in the promise of Jesus.

When we hang on to the worry, and we make a nest for ourselves in the fear and anxiety, we are dangerously close to denying the Lordship of Jesus. We are not allowed to keep such things. Jesus knew that to do so would create a divide between the person and the Savior. He tells us more of this as we continue to read....

"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof."
Matt. 6:30-34

Jesus tells us that God our Father KNOWS we need these things of life. Everyone needs food, drink, clothing...Jew, Gentile, Christian. But, if we do just one thing, all these things will be provided.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God!

As long as we pursue Jesus, as long as we follow the direction of the Holy Spirit, as long as we aim for the kingdom of God, we shall have all our needs met. And, in those times where we don't get food, or drink, or clothing, we can rest assured that it is because God is providing something even bigger and better for us! God will never let is down--He will only raise us higher than what we were prepared for.

As a final cap to this, Jesus told us to not even worry about tomorrow. Each day's evil is more than enough to deal with without having to shovel more onto our plates. This doesn't mean not to make plans. It just means to understand that each day is a special, one-of-a-kind gift from a loving Father to a special child. Don't waste the gift by fretting over yesterday. Don't spoil the gift by ignoring it in favor of the one tomorrow (which may never come.)

Let me leave you with these words from James 4:15....

"For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."

Live each day as the Lord's will allows. Treat the day, and yourself, as the special, beloved child of God. Accept the brief bout of worry for what it is, then prayerfully hand it over to Jesus.

Overheard in an Orchard - Part 2

Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these human are no longer
Rushing 'bout, to and fro."

Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that you should know
That they HAVE a Heavenly Father
Such as cares so much it shows."

Grace and Peace....

Isaiah 53: Portrait Of The King (Part 2)

Today, we'll take a look at the Word of God as given to us through Isaiah. We will go verse-by-verse, and we'll let the Word of God amplify the Word of God....

Who has believed our message?
Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matt. 7:14

To whom has the arm of YHWH been revealed?
Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [He], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
John 8:28

For He grew up before Him as a tender plant,
[It is] like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
Mark 4:31

and as a root out of dry ground.
But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
Mark 4:32

He has no good looks or majesty.
And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [His] head.
Luke 9:58

When we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
Luke 9:22

He was despised,
Laying wait for Him, and seeking to catch something out of His mouth, that they might accuse Him.
Luke 11:54

and rejected by men;
Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? [They] all say unto him, Let Him be crucified.
Matt. 27:22

a man of suffering,
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered [Him] to be crucified.
Matt. 27:26

and acquainted with disease.
And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Mark 5:34

He was despised as one from whom men hide their face;
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Luke 22:61

and we didn’t respect Him.
And the men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote [Him].
Luke 22:62

Surely He has borne our sickness,
And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:44

and carried our suffering;
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

yet we considered Him plagued,
The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Luke 12:53

struck by God, and afflicted.
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [Him], saying, He saved others; let Him save himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God. Luke 23:35

But He was pierced for our transgressions.
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
John 19:34

He was crushed for our iniquities.
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mark 15:34

The punishment that brought our peace was on him;
And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. Mark 15:37

and by His wounds we are healed.
He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matt. 28:6

All we like sheep have gone astray.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom. 3:12

Everyone has turned to his own way;
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
Prov. 16:25

and YHWH has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb. 9:14

He was oppressed,
In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
Matt. 26:55

yet when He was afflicted He didn’t open His mouth.
But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
Mark 15:5

As a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried [Him] away, and delivered [Him] to Pilate.
Mark 15:1

and as a sheep that before its shearers is mute,
And Pilate asked Him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
Mark 15:4

so He didn’t open His mouth.
And the chief priests accused Him of many things: but He answered nothing.
Mark 15:3

He was taken away by oppression and judgment;
But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
Mark 15:11

and as for His generation,
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matt. 12:50

who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
Mark 16:1

and stricken for the disobedience of my people?
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Acts 2:36

They made His grave with the wicked,
And there were also two other, malefactors, led with Him to be put to death.
Luke 23:32

and with a rich man in His death;
And he bought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
Mark 15:46

although He had done no violence,
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Matt. 26:52

neither was any deceit in His mouth.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matt. 5:17

Yet it pleased YHWH to bruise Him.
And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou [wilt].
Matt. 26:39

He has caused Him to suffer.
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.
Matt. 26:42

When you make His soul an offering for sin,
Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto [His] brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb. 2:17

He shall see His seed.
And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Rom. 9:26

He shall prolong His days,
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, [even] in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1 John 5:20

and the pleasure of YHWH shall prosper in His hand.
But unto the Son [He saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Heb. 1:8

After the suffering of His soul,
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb. 2:9

He will see the light and be satisfied.
[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 1:9

My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of Himself;
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom. 5:1

and He will bear their iniquities.
Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts 3:26

Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great,
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Rev. 5:12

and He shall divide the spoil with the strong;
Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Rev. 20:5

because He poured out His soul to death,
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev. 5:6

and was numbered with the transgressors;
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal. 3:13

yet He bore the sin of many,
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given me, that they may be one, as We [are].
John 17:11

and made intercession for the transgressors.
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given me; for they are Thine.
John 17:9

It is my hope that at least three things have been clearly seen through our reading.

1. How the prophecy of Isaiah 53 was (and continues to be) perfectly fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the Son of God Almighty.

2. How the accuracy of this passage is not only seen in the window of time present during the life of Isaiah, nor just during the times of Jesus' ministry, but in fact covers from creation to completion.

3. How the harmony of the The Word is evident as passage after passage of Scripture confirms itself through itself, with never a discrepancy nor even a trace of the slightest error.

Grace and Peace....