Jesus the Lamb of God

Isaiah 9:6-7, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end... upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Christ Is All

"It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error"... is an erroneous truism. One cannot have a schism with each side claiming the truth. Truth will indeed divide, but from the lie. Truth will indeed cause separation, but from falsehood. Truth, in fact, will unite those of same faith. And isn’t that what the Gospel does, and what the Apostles urged us “to contend” for?

Beloved... it was necessary for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3

He Who Has Suffered

1 Peter 4:1-2 says, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he should no longer live the rest of his time on the earth for the lusts of the flesh, but for the will of God.

“He who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.”

It should be clear that physical sufferings alone do not lead a person to cease from sin. I don’t believe that if I suffer from chronic excruciating back pain I will cease to sin. One will suffer “spiritually” though, while in the flesh in our struggle against sin. As Eph. 6:12 tells us... we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Christ suffered in the flesh when He came in the likeness of man, and was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin, Heb. 4:15.

This Do In Remembrance of Me

In Luke 22:19&20 we read the very familiar passage, And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

And so we remember the Lord every Sunday morning in our worship around these elements. This morning, I would like to remember our Lord by way of Genesis 18. We know the chapter where the Lord (Jehovah) appeared to Abraham on His way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. They had gone too far. Their sin was VERY grievous.

OUR nation has gone too far.

Thou Shalt Not Hate

There is a movement, a program in the world to eliminate hate. At first consideration, it would appear to be a great idea. Let’s put all our energies into LOVE. We must not “hate” our neighbor, but we must “love” our neighbor. Now that is not only scriptural, but it is a commandment.

Scripture tells us of a certain “expert” in the Law who asked Jesus concerning “loving your neighbor” saying, “Teacher, who is my neighbor?” You can, and should read about it in Luke 10.

That Which Edifies

During the course of every week lately, I pray and hope to find something from the Word which edifies us in Christ. In one sense, just about anything from God’s word edifies, because, as Jesus said, “they speak of Me!”

But I hope to find that which would build us up together, as the Lord wills, of course.

Jesus came to edify... before the cross and after the cross. If the scriptures, in their entirety, speak of Jesus, it’s for the purpose of edification. Nothing that God does for us through and by Jesus excludes edification.

“Edify” means “to build up.”

The Assurance of Spiritual Life

Months ago, a brother said to me, “We are not guaranteed a spiritual life.” And that disturbed me. It disturbed me enough to do my own study.
I wondered...
1. ”How can I not have a spiritual life if I am Born Again ???”
2. Who is this “new man” God has created in Christ Jesus Who is my life?
3. Who is this new man renewed after the image of the One who created him.
4. If, as the Word says, I have been given a new spirit and a new heart of flesh and
    not of stone – where do they reside... in this earthly body of sin?
5. Hasn’t this old man been crucified with Him, so the body of sin might be
    done away with...so that the Holy Spirit can now take up residence in a child of
    God?
6. And how can we be a heavenly creature if not spiritual?
7. If my citizenship is in heaven and of the household of God then I must be a new
    heavenly being because “flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

Grace and Glory

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

The perfect oneness of Christ and His Church, and the consequent reciprocity of interest and affection which exists shows that while Christ represents the Church above, the Church represents Christ below; while she is glorified with Him in heaven, He is glorified in her on earth. ~ said Octavius Winslow, 19th century preacher 

The Grace of God!

Titus 2:11-12, For the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age.

This passage in Titus is all about Jesus, being the Grace of God; bringing salvation; He has appeared; to teach us; to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts; to live soberly, righteously and godly; in this present age.

The word “deny” has the idea of disregarding one's own interests, by forsaking, or renouncing a thing, whether evil, or good... IF it is ungodly and a worldly lust.

"Soberly" suggests “the exercise of that self-restraint that governs all passions and desires, enabling the believer to be conformed to the mind of Christ” -according to Vine’s Dictionary.

WHY Do We Remember Jesus

In 1 Cor. 11:23- 26 the Apostle Paul writes, For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
In the same manner also he took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim (1.e., declare and assert) the Lord’s death until He comes.

Let Us Remember WHY  We Remember.

The Assurance of Spiritual Life

John 3 verses 3 and 5, Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly guarantee to you, unless a person is born from above... spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified... you cannot enter nor even SEE the kingdom of God.” AMP

And in verse 6 He said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

If you are born of the Spirit, you have a spiritual life. Anyone who does not have the Spirit born spiritual life is still DEAD in their sins.

Rom. 8:2, ...the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. The liberating law of the life-giving Spirit has freed us from the enslaving law of death-giving sin.

Rom. 8:3-4 God, by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh guided by worldliness, but live our lives in the ways of the Spirit guided by His power.

The Scriptures Speak of Christ

John 5:39 says, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

Search the scriptures. Jesus was speaking to the ruling Jews who were persecuting Him “because He had done “these things” on the Sabbath” (John 5:16). The Jews of that day had what we today might call the Old Testament. Most believe they had the Torah, or the first five books of the bible (Pentateuch); as well as the Prophets and Psalms, Proverbs, Daniel, Ruth, Esther and some minor prophets... not necessarily all in every synagogue.

Infinite Distance

We must occasionally bring to mind the great gulf between sinful man and our Holy Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. We must recall Who and What He is, and who and what we were in order to more fully comprehend and appreciate what He did! We should not want to dwell on who we “were” but rather appreciate more what He did for us.

This Do In Remembrance of Me

In 1 Cor. 11, the Apostle to the Gentiles writes to the Corinthian assembly. I say that purposely to draw attention to Paul because He was the only one ordained by the risen Lord Himself to go specifically out from the Jews directly to the Gentiles, even though his ministry would include everybody and anybody. A point I believe very much missed by Christendom today. Catholicism, for example, may as well be a pharisaical religion under Law. And although Protestantism tried to break away, it hasn’t gone very far. The mysteries of the “Body of Christ” were revealed to only Paul. And, as Peter writes in his letter, they are HARD to understand. Wrong perspective.

Many scholars believe this letter to be the first written description of the Lord’s Supper since this letter from Paul is dated earlier than most of the Gospels. This is very edifying to contemplate since Paul was NOT at the “Last Supper.”

Humility and Love

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, The steadfast love of the LORD (Jehovah) never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

In the four Gospels we read the accounts of the life and death of Jesus (Jehovah incarnate). There is an infinite volume of truth about Jesus’ life, His birth, His death, His purpose(s), His words, His miracles, His righteousness, His divinity, His judgments, His sorrows, His joy, etc., which we will not fully comprehend in this life.

Behold the Man

In John 18 and 19 we read of Jesus’s arrest. Then He was sent to Caiaphas, then to Pilate who questioned Him and scourged Him. After that, Pilate brought Him out to the crowd and said, “Behold the Man!” John 19:5

Pilate was essentially saying, "Here is Jesus. He is not your Messiah, He is not your king, He is not God. He is just a man."
Let us consider the man... Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. Heb. 12:3. 

What joy could possibly be worth enduring the pain, torture and humiliation of crucifixion? Could it be that Jesus would be exalted above all else in Heaven and Earth? Or that He would be King of Israel... and the world? Wouldn't that be selfish and vain of Jesus? The joy set before Jesus was redeeming the human race and all of creation, for God so loved the world.
See also John 10:11.

In The Beginning Was The Word

John 1:1, In the beginning... was the Word, and the Word was WITH God, and the Word was God.

This study begins with “in the beginning” because it requires understanding. In the beginning is a vague and indistinct phrase. There is no definite place in time specified. We naturally think of Genesis 1:1 as the beginning of the time of creation. But in John 1:1, we should consider a “time” before creation, which was not a “time” in our sense of the word, but the eternity before time, or it could mean during the time of creation. In any case, the entire triune Godhead is outside of time but works within time as well. We are here introduced to a relationship before anything is created; the relationship of “the Word” to God.

Go And Cry Out To The gods You Have Chosen

Jeremiah 2:27-28 says, "They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!' Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble!"

God warns His people of old, that if they persisted in looking to their false gods in the time of prosperity--that they would have none but their idols to assist them in the season of adversity. In the same way, in times of prosperity, the unsaved not only neglect God but despise Him as well! They cast off all fear of God and serve their idols, to the utter neglect of God.

We Do Not Relinquish The Vain Pursuit!

We Do Not Relinquish The Vain Pursuit!
~Charles Simeon (unedited)

Jeremiah 2:11-13,  Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate, says the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

"POP" Christianity

Not many people, in today’s modern culture, care to be part of an organization, or club, or clique unless it is popular. There is, it seems, a broad stamp of approval in being in with a group that others are eager to be part of. It offers assurance that “we’re OK” — actually better than OK; it swells our pride, which feels good; it validates our existence.

The Assurance of Spiritual Life

Ephesians 1:13-14 says, In Him (we) also trusted, after (we) heard the word of truth, the gospel of (our) salvation; in whom also, having believed, (we) were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Our inheritance is eternal life. There is no eternal life without spiritual life which is fellowship with God. He made us, who were DEAD  in sin, alive in Him, Christ. That life is forever. A spiritual life of fellowship with God is guaranteed. What is not guaranteed  is our spiritual perfection in Him... our growing into the mature man, to the measure (standard of judgment; determined extent, which is lofty) of the stature of the fullness of Christ; which is our spiritual completeness in Him. It’s not guaranteed because that part is up to us, and apparently there are some believers in the world who either don’t know that we have to grow  into it (ignorance of the word), or have decided it’s not necessary (complacency).

The Vast Nursery

In the "ward" called Christianity, there is a vast nursery of babes, which encompasses most of the domain. They are fed milk sporadically but it is of little nourishment. So the newborns come in, and they grow…ever so anemic.

Day Care is but one day a week. The rest of the time they are left to their own devices. Some mature to kindergarten. Few graduate beyond the elementary. The scholar is an unrecognizable mutant. This is the vast nursery of today's Christians. There are few attendants and even fewer doctors. The babes are sometimes left to lie in their own ineffectuality.

The Price of Redemption

The price of redemption was very high, not for us, but for God... probably beyond our comprehension. God, of course, is Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. Nothing is impossible to Him, Luke 1:37; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 18:14; Matt. 19:26. This is not a statement of faith... it is fact.

To consider the price, we must understand what happened at the “fall” of both Adam and lucifer. satan,as he is now called, was the author and possessor of sin and death. Before Gen. 1:1 is a HUGE study. 
For us, it began in the Garden with the sacrifice of that innocent animal to clothe Adam and Eve back into a state of fellowship with God. We should note that it was God’s own sacrifice of, I believe, sheep. God Himself had to “submit” that innocent animal to death in order to take its hide. I wonder if we can understand the profound significance of what God did.

Grace in Jesus

2 Peter 3:18 says, Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to Him is the glory both now, and forever. Amen

How do we grow in Grace? Well, maybe we can search out the answer to that question in a Bible study. But allow me to introduce some thoughts and comments for discussion.

The exhortation is, we MUST grow in Grace, otherwise we remain babes in Christ coasting along on God’s loving-kindness and mercy. God, our Father, does not want that.

The Glory and Fullness of Jesus

1 John 4:16-17 AMP
We have come to know by personal observation and experience, the love which God has for us, and have believed with deep, consistent faith. God is Love, and the one who abides in love, abides in God, and God abides in him. In this union and fellowship with Him, love is made perfect among us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment with assurance and boldness to face God and not fear judgment; because as Jesus is, so are we in this world.

Thyatira: Revelation 2:18-29

 from: “The Addresses to the Seven Churches” by Hamilton Smith (unedited)

In order to rightly interpret the address to Thyatira, and the addresses that follow, it is important to see the characteristic differences between the first three addresses and the last four.

It is clear that the first three Churches set forth the condition of the whole professing Church at three successive periods of its history. Moreover, the general condition set forth by these Churches does not continue throughout the Church's history; though, indeed, the evils that develop, during the periods set forth by these Churches, continue to mark the Christian profession for all time.

Thus the united testimony of the Church that marked the Ephesian period has passed away; though the loss of first love has ever since marked the Christian profession.

Barabbas

Part of the Consider Him Series... 

I would draw our attention to Hebrews 12, verse 3, Consider Him Who Endured, and although that might be a lifetime of study and consideration, that is what I’ve been doing. 

The Greek for consider according to Vine’s Dictionary and the Interlinear is:
(an-al-og-id'-zom-ah-ee), from which we get our word ANALOGOUS. I found it interesting that analogous means “something that is similar to something else and can be compared to another.” OR... “having similar features to another and therefore able to be compared with it.”

As I Consider Him Who Endured, I give sympathetic meditation, conscientious study, careful thought, quiet deliberation, and attentive observation (because that’s what “consider” means) to... JESUS... and Barabbas. 

Comfort

2 Cor. 1:3-7, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as Christ’s sufferings are ours in abundance, so also our comfort, our encouragement, and our consolation is abundant through Christ, it is truly more than enough to endure what we must. 6 But if we are troubled and distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted and encouraged, it is for your comfort, which works in you when you patiently endure the same sufferings which we experience. 7 And our confident expectation of good for you is firmly grounded and unshaken, since we know that just as you share as partners in our sufferings, so also you share as partners in our comfort. 

Intercessory Prayer

In Isaiah 53:12, we read...
...He poured out His soul unto death and was numbered with the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

I have been immersed in prayer this week, and it has never felt more “intercessory” than it has this week. I never really related to being an “intercessor” before, but that’s exactly what we are when we “intercede” on someone else’s behalf. I want to thank very much everyone who has prayed with me.