Forgiveness In the Church

The Ministry of Forgiveness

 Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 2

 

 Only God can forgive sin!

We are to forgive those who sin against us, but only God can forgive that sin against Him!

 Isa 43:25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

 Mat 9:6  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,

 God could not forgive sin without a proper payment for that sin.

 How do we explain God's forgiveness? Forgiveness is a legal act of God where He removes the charges against us because the atonement for those sins has been made.

 We each have a book of our life written in Heaven, and God will open that book in our name and blot out the sin in that book because the Lord Jesus Christ has made the atonement for the sin we committed against our Heavenly Father.

 The Lord Jesus paid our sin debt! Our debts were nailed to His cross!

 Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

 Forgiveness means we have been set free from the burdens of our sin because of the "Grace" of God the Father.

 Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 

Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 

 Forgiveness means we have a daily forgiveness of sin as we serve the Lord.

 1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

The Book of John says: Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

 We will never have fellowship with God until we deal with our sin debt! We can only deal with our sin debt through the Lord Jesus Christ, The Word.

 We should understand that God's forgiveness is linked to God's "Grace"; there is nothing we as humans can do; the Lord Jesus has done all that was needed for us to be forgiven.

 Our chains of bondage are broken.

Our debt is cancelled.

We have received a pardon.

Our punishment has been cancelled.

We will not see the wrath of God come upon us.

 Because of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father has canceled the debt of sin that we could have never paid except by dying and spending eternity in Hell!

Rom_3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

 This is what forgiveness means to God!

 What does forgiveness mean to each believer?

 *****2Co 2:1  But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 

2Co 2:2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 

2Co 2:3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 

 We should not doubt that the Apostle Paul loved the people in every church he had planted. Christianity brings Godly love!

 We all know the problems in the church at Corinth if we have read 1 Corinthians.

 Paul longed to go to minister again to this church but not with controversies and sin surrounding them.

 Paul had written to this church urging them to put the Lord Jesus Christ first and end their controversies.

 No church will stand very long that does not put the Lord Jesus Christ first; He is the foundation of the Church, of every true church.

In fact, no group that gathers can be a church unless they have accepted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 No Pastor or Preacher can reach God's people if the message he preaches causes controversy in that church.

 That church would first have to recognize sin, address the problem of sinners, and return to the truth of God; then they would be ready to receive the meat of the Gospel and grow in Christ.

 1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 A true Pastor will bring joy to his flock because the Gospel is a message of peace to the soul.

 Joh 16:33  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.

 *****2Co 2:4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 

 The letter Paul wrote, which is called the Book of 1 Corinthians, was a painful letter for him to write.

 Paul did not write to them to cause pain; Paul wrote to them in love, his heart broken for the sin in that church.

 Every church needs to understand that God is full of "Grace," but God has rules that must be followed.

 Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 

Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

 1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

 Tit 3:10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 

Tit 3:11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. 

When we reject the truth of the Gospel, we have condemned ourselves, and we can only blame ourselves.

 Then once the sin problem is solved, the next step is forgiveness and restoration of those who had committed such sin.

 Our forgiveness must be led by the example of forgiveness given to us by God Himself.

 We have not forgiven anyone unless that forgiveness comes from the heart!

 *****2Co 2:5  But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 

 We have not forgiven unless that forgiveness comes from the heart!

 Certain offenders had caused grief for the whole church in Corinth.

 It could be that man who had taken his father’s wife, or it could be some Jewish ringleader who was trying to destroy the Church and destroy the Apostle Paul's ministry, or both of them.

 It could be this Jew because Paul does not mention immorality in these verses.

 Act_14:2  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

 Act_17:5  But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

 There were some of these wicked men at Corinth who were attacking the Apostle Paul and stirring up controversy, causing disturbance, and hurting the whole church, and they needed to be run off.

 There are times when there must be church discipline.

 1Ti_3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 This church had done so to those who were full of immorality.

To run those wicked Jews off, they had to cling to the Word of God they had gotten from Paul, Timothy, and Apollos.

The Church must stand its ground against any and all those who reject the truth of the Scriptures.

 *****2Co 2:6  Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

We do not know what punishment was given to this man, but we do know that Paul had said to excommunicate that man.

To hand that man over to Satan!

This was done, not to just keep this man out of the church, but to awaken him to repentance and to secure his salvation.

1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

All actions in the Church should be done with the desire to bring salvation to all!

We should note that those who voted to punish this man were only a majority and not unanimous because we see that word many and not the word all.

If I am not mistaken in my church, we require a vote of at least eighty percent before such action as this could be taken.

We never want to divide the church and make matters worse.

There will always be differences of opinion when it comes to church discipline, but there will be times when it must take place.

We see today that major denominations have split, and many of those decisions were made when the vote was a simple majority rather than a high percentage such as eighty percent or at least seventy percent. Fifty-one percent would mean the church is divided, and that church should just make sure to obey the Word of God. Those who reject the Word of God should not be counted.

Church discipline should come without destruction.

Our discipline should come with thought of forgiveness after repentance takes place because this is the way of God.

Any soul that has been disciplined should be welcomed back with open arms once the fruit of repentance is seen in them.

We must repent of our sin and turn toward the ways of God before He will forgive us!

This is the example we are to always follow!

Notice also that the name of this man is not mentioned by the Apostle Paul.

Discipline in the Church should remain in the Church.

We cannot allow the world to dictate the work of the Church.

*****2Co 2:7  So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 

2Co 2:8  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

What appears here is that the "many" of this church in Corinth wanted discipline to a lesser degree than the rest of the church members.

Again, all things must be done in accordance with the Word of God!

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 

If at all possible, we are to use great effort not to make this person an enemy of the Church.

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 

2Th 3:15  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 

We should understand that if we do not follow the Word of God in Church discipline, Satan is waiting at the door to receive that person who needs Church discipline. 

This is the time to show great love to that person and try to lead them to repentance and show that person we are being obedient to the Word of God, the same Word of God that he should be obedient to.

1) The entire church must forgive this person.

Mar 11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 

Mar 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

2) The entire church must be an encouragement to this person.

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

1Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 

1Th 5:13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 

1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 

3) This person must repent and turn back to the truth of God.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

4) There must be assurance demonstrated by the love of the church.

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

We must do everything that we can to keep the Holy Spirit working in our churches!

Dead churches are places of misery!

We must accept all the Word of God and not take away from it nor add to it!

*****2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 

There is another purpose of Church discipline.

It shows the Lord that we are obedient to the mission of the Church.

As long as we allow the world to work inside the Church, then the Church cannot focus upon the mission that the Lord has given to us.

We cannot allow controversy and division to rule the Church as it is doing today in many denominations.

If we are to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, then there must be Church discipline!

If the Church is not concerned with obeying Jesus Christ, then it is not a Church to begin with.

Mat_18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

A church is a place where people gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

All other places are places of Devil worship!

We must prove to the Lord Jesus Christ that we are faithful to Him and faithful to the Holy Trinity.

Nothing in this world is more important than our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are to be just as forgiving as He is forgiving!

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 

Php 1:28  And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 

*****2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

The Apostle Paul had given instructions on how to manage this incident that happened at the Church of Corinth, and we know there was more than one incident.

This church was tearing itself apart.

What Paul is saying is that he would stand by the discipline this church had come to because the majority of the church had chosen what they would do, even if they had not followed his exact words.

The important thing was this church had come together and acted in accordance with the Word of God.

By being united around the Word of God, Satan could not claim any victory at this church.

This man had repented and had been restored to the Church.

Satan will use any discord in the Church to get his foot in the door.

In fact, at least one of Satan's followers attends every church service just waiting for a chance to create havoc.

Satan uses many devices in his attempt to turn God's children and cause harm to the church.

Everything concerning the Church must be in accordance with the Word of God.

There is a spiritual battle going on around us at all times.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 6:12  For 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. 

We must not give Satan easy access to cause chaos in the Church.

We must beware that He is already causing havoc in many places of worship today.

If we are not willing to forgive a repentant sinner, then what does that say about the Church that is full of repentant sinners that the Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven?

Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

 Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 

Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Satan will do his very best to stop the work of the Church, and we do not need to provide him with opportunities to do so.

Satan hates the Gospel, and Satan hates the Lord Jesus Christ!

Only the Holy Ghost-filled Church can hinder the work of Satan, and we make it far too easy for him.

Only saved souls and changed lives show that Satan the Devil is a defeated foe.

The Lord Jesus Christ defeated Satan on the cross and we can't allow him to have the smallest victory.

The loving, forgiving Church that is obedient to the Word of God cannot be overcome by the devices of Satan!

Amen

To Know Him is to Fear Him

 

Wisdom's Instructions About the Fear of the Lord

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 14

 What is the "Fear of the Lord"?

 If we go back to Adam, God's greatest creation, mankind, we know that Adam walked with God in the cool of the day. We can only imagine the conversations they had as they strolled through the Garden of Eden.

 Things changed once Adam had sinned!

 Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

 Those private walks in the Garden were over because Adam now had a great fear of the Lord, and this fear came to him because of sin.

 We see that Adam's fear stemmed from his awareness of his sin.

 God knew where Adam was hiding, but he wanted Adam to admit that he was now a sinner.

 It is the same thing we must all do to improve our relationship with the Lord God our Creator.

 It is because we have sin in our lives that we must have a reverent "fear of the Lord".

 Then the Lord Jesus came to save us.

 Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 Today, far too many live in fear of what this world is doing to them, and they have forgotten to fear the only One who can send us to Hell.

 The Bible teaches us that we want to avoid Hell, and the only way to do this is to listen to what God has to say and be a doer of the Word of God.

 *****Pro 14:1  Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

 Remembering that wisdom comes from the "Fear of the Lord", we can see that a wise woman makes her home her priority. Her primary focus is on her family.

 She has not built with hammers and saws but with the qualities that make a home a home.

 She builds an atmosphere that supports and strengthens her husband and her children.

 This should be the priority in a wise woman's home.

 Today, with so many single mothers, these things cannot take place as they should.

 God has ordained this role of the wife and mother.

 1Ti 5:14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

 Tit 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

 This does not mean that the husband should not be involved, nor does this mean that the woman cannot work or be involved in things outside the home.

 It just means her priority is the "Fear of the Lord," which makes her a wise woman, and then she can build with her husband a house that is a home.

 Today, there are far too many who destroy the home through neglect. The first thing they reject is the Word of God, which makes them foolish, and they have no "Fear of the Lord".

 This kind of woman will tear down the family because she puts everything else first before her family and her husband.

 Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Pro 31:11  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Pro 31:12  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

 It pays for the man looking for a wife to choose very carefully, and choose someone who has a reverent fear of the Lord.

 It is the same for a woman looking for a husband.

 *****Pro 14:2  He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

 If we have a reverent fear of the Lord, it will show in the way we live our lives.

 Remember, God will judge us by the way we look at His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

 People who have truly placed their trust in the salvation and redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ will live their lives according to the written Word of God.

 We must declare the Lord with our lips and demonstrate it with our lives!

 That word walketh means the way we live our lives, our conduct, and our behavior.

 All those who claim to be Christian and walk like the world are not telling the truth!

 Many denominations are split over this very simple truth of God!

 1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 Repentance is still the great Doctrine of the Bible that we are to keep.

 True repentance is a change of mind and purpose and life, with remission of sin is promised.

 Remission refers to the penalty of sin.

Forgiveness refers to the person.

 *****Pro 14:3  In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

 We can say that the fear of the Lord is also demonstrated by the way people speak.

 The words of a fool will bring his own destruction.

 Psa 64:8  So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

 Whatever power that an arrogant fool thinks he has in the end will be a tool in the hands of the righteous.

 They may cause us pain for a season, but in the end, they will bring their own destruction.

 It can be said that a fool is his own worst enemy!

 Pro 12:6  The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

 *****Pro 14:4  Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

 Nobody likes to clean up a stall where animals are kept, nor the feeding trough, which is a crib or a manger.

 If a farmer did not have an ox, he would have no crib to clean.

 The farmer who has to clean the ox's crib does so with a smile because the ox does all the hard work that allows his family to have plenty of food.

 The farmer who is taking care of hardworking animals is better off than using his own labor to provide for his family.

 A productive ox is far better than a barn that needs no cleaning.

 There is a great reward that comes from a well-fed ox!

 The same is true of Spiritual food. Walking by faith has its own difficulties, but we will not get to Heaven unless we do.

 1Co 9:9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

1Co 9:10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

 *****Pro 14:5  A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

 A faithful witness cannot be convinced to tell a lie!

 A false witness is someone God hates!

 Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 One of the things that is wrong in our court system today is the fact that so many lies are told, and no one seems to care, and no one is held accountable.

 By the world's standard, this may seem to be okay, but God's standards are much higher than the world's standards.

 A foolproof test of a person's heart is whether or not he or she will tell the truth.

 A witness is someone who gives testimony in court or some official proceeding.

 A Christian will tell the truth no matter the circumstance.

 We even do wrong when we deal with our children at the time of Christmas and Easter.

 Being faithful should mean much more than some lie for any reason, and we know that our Lord hates a liar, and there is no such thing as a white lie.

 No amount of money should convince us to lie!

No promotion or promises should convince us to lie!

No threat of harm or danger should convince us to lie!

 We are to remain as faithful witnesses no matter the cost!

 Exo 23:1  Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

 Pro 10:18  He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

 Pro 12:19  The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

 *****Pro 14:6  A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

 There are times when those who deny God and God's Word seek God's wisdom, but they will never find it.

 The Word of God will remain just another man-made book to them because they do not have the Holy Spirit to discern for them.

 Wisdom is given only to those who have a reverent fear of the Lord!

 Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

 1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

 *****Pro 14:7  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Pro 14:8  The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Pro 14:9  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

 God shares His wisdom with His children so we can know how to move away from foolish people.

 No wisdom can be gained from a fool!

 Time spent with fools is wasted time, and we are taught not to waste the little time we have on fools.

 Eph_5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 Col_4:5  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

 Fools are deceiving themselves, and they will deceive anyone who listens to them.

 When salvation becomes part of our lives, we can look back and see the flaws we were living with and do our best to fix those flaws.

 This is called repentance, and we will need the Holy Spirit to be able to do this.

 Spiritual blindness means the fool thinks he is acceptable to God just as he is and requires no change.

 This one thing is causing the split of many denominations, and we must not get caught up with fools.

 1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 As we see into the realm of the LGBTQ movement, fools scoff at the concept of feeling guilty for their sins and the need for atonement.

 This applies to every person on this earth!

 They deny the need to repent of their sins!

 They deny that their lifestyle is living in sin and refuse to repent.

 1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 There can be no righteousness unless we fully accept our accountability to God and are grateful for His mercy and His grace.

 God made a way for us to escape His wrath, and we must do the things He has commanded us to do to be saved.

 *****Pro 14:10  The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

 Neither our joys nor our sorrows can be wholly shared with another person.

 No one can know how we truly feel, to feel that which we feel.

 It is only our Lord Jesus Christ who can know these things about us.

 2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2Co 1:5  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

 This is the exact reason He took on that body of flesh, so He could know exactly how we feel in terrible or even joyous situations.

 We can be sure that as Christians, we will experience great times of joy, but we will also experience those times of mourning and heart pain.

 Those who love us and love the Lord will give us room to go through these times and be ready to come to our aid if we request their help.

 If we are in a Bible believing church, we can be sure that if we are going through some situation, there is someone in that church who has been through a similar situation, and this person will know the comfort that came from God when they needed it.

 It is only Jesus Christ who knows the truth about us!

 Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 We should have a routine that starts with the Lord every day to prepare ourselves to go out into this wicked world.

 We need that hedge of protection that God provides if we are His children!

 We need to spend some time in the Word of God.

 We certainly need to spend some time in conversation with God.

 We must consistently walk in obedience to the Word of God all day.

 We must not only avoid evil but also avoid looking like we are taking part in any evil or wickedness in this world we have become strangers to.

 *****Pro 14:11  The house of the wicked shall be overthrown but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Pro 14:13  Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Pro 14:14  The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

Pro 14:15  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

 We must prepare for our own end.

 We must prepare for what will occur when our lives on this earth are over.

 We must prepare to meet our God!

 When our heart beats for the last time and our living spirit leaves our body of dirt, every individual will meet God in judgment.

 Heb_9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 Ecc 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

 Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 Those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, their body is just a house.

 Those who have given their heart to the Lord Jesus, their body is a Tabernacle.

 A house is a permanent dwelling; a Tabernacle is just a temporary dwelling place.

A house is a place for those who are settled, a tent or tabernacle is a place for those on a journey.

A house is more stable than a tent.

A house is of earthly value and more expensive than a tent.

 To those who are lost, a house is more desirable, but the Word of God does not agree.

 An earthly house is the best a lost person can hope for.

 When they reach the end of their days without the Lord, that earthly house is destroyed, and they are homeless throughout eternity.

 That soul that cannot die will spend eternity in Hell.

 Those who love the Lord know their flesh is no more than a tent, and this life is only part of our journey, and we are only passing through this world to get to our permanent home in God's New Heaven.

 2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 Those who are lost trust in their own judgment, which will lead to eternal torment and eternal death!

 Those who love the Lord Jesus trust in God's way, the way that leads to true life, which is eternal life!

 It is a tragic mistake to believe that there is no God who is our Creator, and we have to abide by His Word.

 All those who are deceived have been deceived by Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, and Shintoism, and the Dalai Lama, Joseph Smith, Charles Russel, and L. Ron Hubbard, and any salvation by works.

 Even those who are atheists have been deceived.

 Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 We may all travel the mountains and the valleys of this world, but to God's children, He will travel with them, and He is always ready to take them home at the end of that last breath here in this world.

 These things are not true for all the others who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

 These things are serious and not things that can be laughed at.

 The backslider in heart is the one who turns away from God, and he will reap the rewards of his wickedness: Pro 1:31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Pro 1:32  For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

 We must understand that we will reap what we have sown while we are in these earthly bodies!

 The backsliders are those people who seem to follow the Lord Jesus, but in their hearts, they have completely turned away from God.

 1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

 With the wisdom of God, we can take thought of our actions before we face them.

 Those without God will believe anything and follow anything.

 Even as Christians, it may be hard to see the concept of eternity, but it is real.

 How we spend eternity depends upon what we have done with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 If we are wise, we have prepared for eternity by believing the truth of God and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who opened Heaven's doors to accept those who have placed their faith in the Gospel.

 The ones we are to reach with the Gospel are not the ones who have rejected the Gospel many times, but the ones we are to reach are those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 *****Pro 14:16  A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Pro 14:17  He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Pro 14:18  The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Pro 14:19  The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Pro 14:20  The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

Pro 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

 We all know that things are going on in this world and in the heavens that we just do not understand.

 We have seen things discovered that no one can explain.

 Those who believe in the evolution theory have us all beginning as apes.

They have simple-minded people who could do nothing more than hunt game and raise a few crops just to survive.

 God says that from the beginning of time, humans were city builders.

 Gen 4:17  And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

 Gen 4:21  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Gen 4:22  And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

 We also know that after the great flood of this world, all the pyramids and ziggurats were built.

 Gen 10:32  These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

 Gen 11:4  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

 Gen 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Gen 11:9  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

 These things can be denied, but it does not make them any less true.

 Humans have always been able to build things!

 We who know the Lord fear sin because we now know the consequences of sin.

 Those who are fools are reckless and self-confident.

 Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

 Foolish people are quick-tempered and do not try to control their tempers.

 I know because I was one of them.

 Even later, with PTSD, I became worse, but the Lord Jesus has shown me the way out.

 Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

 A fool is someone who has heard that there may be a God who is our Creator, but they will not take the time to find out more about Him.

 This is part of our sin nature we inherited from Adam. We are foolish by nature.

 We can quit being foolish by choosing the "Fear of the Lord".

 The Word of God is our "hedge of protection" if we abide by it!

 We must understand that the Devil will certainly bow before God on the day God chooses.

 Evil will bow before the Church at God's appointed time.

 Evil will only profit in the world we live in now, but there is no evil in our future once God takes us home.

 Rom 16:20  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 As the Church, we are to see every soul as equal.

 The rich may have many friends, but those friends are only there because of their wealth, and they all hate the poor man.

 It is not to be this way in the Church of the Living God!

 The Church will not be blessed unless the Church has "mercy" on the poor.

 The poor are all those who have need of help financially and spiritually.

 Psa 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

 The ways of the world will make us angry, but we are to do our best not to follow the ways of this world.

 *****Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Pro 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

 It is not a sin to become angry; it is a sin to remain angry.

 By remaining angry, we become fools: Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

 It is called self-control; it could also be called being sober.

 Self-restraint means we are never to disregard the feelings of others.

 We cannot remain healthy without a healthy heart.

 He has a healthy heart, morally and physically, and is not cluttered up with anger issues.

 Pro_4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 Envy will eat away at our strength like heart disease and cancer eat away at our lives.

 Envy is like a deadly plague trying to destroy our nation.

 To oppress is to offer violence to the bodies, to the property, or to the conscience of others.

 This happens to the poor more than it happens to any other group, though the oppression of Christ is rising in this world.

 We can also see that protests have become nothing but a means to oppress those who do not agree with the agenda that is being pushed on them.

 We can see that these things bring on the wrath of our Maker, our Creator.

 No one has the right to oppress someone else in this world, and this includes wicked governments.

 1Jn 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

 Those who are wicked do not even realize what is in store for them!

 ***** Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Pro 14:33  Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Pro 14:35  The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

 Once we claim the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior with all our hearts, our future is set in stone. It cannot change!

 We can live in peace knowing that no matter when death comes our way, it means life.

 As Christians, we can look death right in the his face and say: 1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

 Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 Those who reject the Gospel have no such hope. They may not believe in Hell, but they are in for a rude awakening on the day of their death.

 Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 Almost every politician campaigns on making our nation better.

 Some truly try, and others had no intention but only sought to make themselves prosperous.

 Our nation cannot prosper through illegal immigration.

Our nation cannot prosper through the drug trade.

Our nation cannot prosper through lawlessness.

Our nation cannot prosper through corruption.

Our nation cannot prosper through immorality.

Our nation cannot prosper through spending more than it takes in.

Our nation cannot prosper through the profits of sin.

 Only one factor determines whether a nation rises or falls, and it is righteousness.

 Nations that follow God's standards, that are governed by the Word of God, are great nations.

 For America to be a great nation again, it must stop its downhill slide to Hell, and this goes for every nation.

 Good citizens serve the best interests of their nations.

 The wicked serve only themselves!

 God's principles will do the same for families, co-workers, and friends.

 How Christians are to behave is written in plain language in the Word of God.

 Wake up Church!

 Amen

The High Cost of Freedom

Freedom Through the Blood

Book of Exodus Chapter 12

Those ten plagues had crippled the economy of Egypt and had God stopped at this point those children of Israel would have remained as slaves of Egypt.

All those ten plagues had affected the Egyptian people much more than this rich king who was full of pride and arrogance.

There would be one more plague, but this one would be vastly different from the others.

The Passover deals with the "Judgment" of God, but also the Deliverance of God!

God began a principle in the Book of Genesis that will be followed throughout all the Bible.

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 

In the Book of Genesis we know that the sin of Adam and Eve brought the curse of destruction to this world we live in.

We are seeing the results of this curse increasingly today, in what many call climate change which is the reality of that curse upon this world.

Before Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, God made clothes for them from the skins of animals.

This demonstrated the principle of forgiveness through the shedding of blood.

Later we saw that it was Abel's sacrifice that was accepted by the Almighty God.

Gen 4:4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 

This principle of "Freedom" through sacrifice is repeated throughout the Bible. 

We see it here in the Book of Exodus as the "freedom" of the children of Israel would require a Blood Sacrifice.

Before these children of Israel could be set free, they had to pave the way for a new beginning.

This thing of escape from the tyranny of the world would be documented on a new calendar which the Jews still use today.

What do we know now that we have accepted the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation? Sin has an extremely high cost!

*****Exo 12:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 

Exo 12:2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 

The Passover deals with the "Judgment" of God but also the "Deliverance" of God.

This "Judgment" will be upon all those who cannot accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This "Judgment" will be upon all those who are evil oppressors, those who are ungodly, and those who are unrighteous in this world.

The "Deliverance" will take place to all who believe in and diligently follow the Word of God and the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should notice that the beginning of this new calendar for the children of Israel did not begin on the day of the Passover but fourteen days before the Passover.

We should understand this gap as a type of "grace".

My new calendar began when the day I was "Born Again" to a "New Life", and regenerated by the Holy Spirit coming to live within me.

Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Notice I have no righteousness of myself, but now because the Holy Spirit lives within me I have the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

All the sins of my past are forgiven! My new life had its beginning when I realized I was a sinner and in need of a Savior.

For the children of Israel, their new life would begin from the month in which the Passover occurred not the day of the Passover.

The Passover was the most significant event in the history of Israel and is still celebrated today.

Those who practice true Judaism still observe the Passover today, but they have no place to offer their sacrifice.

The Passover marked the very night that God "delivered" the children of Israel from the tyranny of Egypt, which is a type of the world we live in today, where we see persecution increasing and the taskmasters still delivering their slave tactics.

This first new month was called Abib which corresponds to March and April on the Roman Calendar.

The word "Abib" means "a young head of grain", "an ear of corn".

The beginning of a new life for the nation of Israel was marked by a new calendar.

The life of Jesus Christ was also marked by a new calendar.

When the Lord Jesus arose to New Life and left that borrowed tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, to a life to live eternally in a New Heaven it astounded the world so much that the world measures its seasons and its history from the date of the Birth of Jesus Christ.

This should be enough proof for all the world that the Lord Jesus Christ is a real Savior, a real "Deliverer"!

****Exo 12:3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 

Exo 12:4  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 

We next see that Israel is now called a congregation, a Holy Community by the Lord God Himself.

A congregation is the people of God who gather to worship Him or to hear the Word of God!

We also see that each household, each family, was to celebrate the feast of the Passover. 

Each family or group of people were to secure one lamb on the tenth day of the month of Abib.

This lamb was to be singled out from the flock and appointed to death four days before it was to be sacrificed.

For four days they were to keep this Lamb separate and feed and care for this lamb.

When the Lord Jesus was beginning His ministry John the Baptist said:

Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Joh 1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Notice also each person was to eat the Passover meal for them self.

This is the same way we take Jesus today, individually, then the family, and then all the congregation.

This describes the worship of the Church, the Body of Christ. 

We then share what we learned in the Congregation, take it home to our families and then as individuals we become Ambassadors for Christ.

This lamb was to be without blemish, or we would say perfect.

*****Exo 12:5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 

Any animal less than perfect offered for sin would be an abomination to the Lord.

An animal that had no reason for their life to end so abruptly, which represents pure innocence.

Each sinner represents one who is guilty of breaking all the laws of God.

Jas 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

The acceptance of the yearling goat was allowed for those who were poor, who might have an animal more for its milk rather than its market value of wool for clothing.

A male animal would be considered superior to the female animal in this sacrifice for sin and therefore more appropriate for a sin offering!

Lev 1:10  And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. 

This Lamb was to be a type of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Lev 21:21  No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. 

The Lord Jesus Christ would be both High Priest and King of Kings.

This lamb was to die in the fulness of its strength!

Before we move on let us see another important thing.

Verse three said "a lamb".

Verse four said "the lamb".

Verse five says "your lamb"

If you do not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, then He is not your lamb!

Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

*****Exo 12:6  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 

A few things we should note here is the things of this fourteenth day.

1) When we read the whole congregation, we should think there was some great gathering of the people.

We should understand this as the head of each household. 

In type we know the whole nation is seen as a nation of priests, just as each Christian is to be a priest to his own family.

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

It is the family that was begun first in the Book of Genesis with Adam and Eve being the first family and Adam being the first head of that family and the priest to his own family.

2) We should also understand that it was not just the chief priest and the elders and not just the scribes and the Pharisees who put Jesus to death, but also by the vote of the people.

Mar 15:9  But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 

Mar 15:10  For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 

Mar 15:11  But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 

Mar 15:12  And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 

Mar 15:13  And they cried out again, Crucify him. 

Mar 15:14  Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. 

Mar 15:15  And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. 

In fact, I also have to take my own responsibility for the death of Christ Jesus, because it was because of my sin and the sin of everyone that caused our Savior to be put to death.

3) On this fourteenth day the Lord Jesus died between the evenings.

Between the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month of Abib (Nisan)

If we study the Scriptures, we will see that the Lord Jesus died at the exact time that the lambs at the Temple were being slain which would be at our three o'clock, or the nineth hour.

This would have been just before that soldier pierced the Lord with his spear because the Lord Jesus gave His life, no one took it from Him.

Joh 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 

Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 

Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

When we consider this and then add to it all the things that happened.

It was finished: No more would lambs need to be destroyed for the forgiveness of sin.

It was finished: The veil was rent we can go before the Lord at any time without the assistance of some priest.

It was finished: The earthquake declared the power of God.

It was finished: It was the end of His suffering for our sin.

It was finished: The Lord Jesus was forsaken by His Father and that was now over, and His fellowship was restored.

It was finished: Satan was forever defeated.

It was finished: It was finished, Jesus had made "atonement" for all our sins.

One man wrote: Though millions of sacrifices had been offered; yet nothing was done to purchase redemption before Christ’s incarnation… so nothing was done after His resurrection, to purchase redemption for men. Nor will there be anything more done to all eternity.

Like our lesson states "Freedom Through the Blood".

It is all about the blood of the Lamb!

*****Exo 12:7  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 

In the twelfth chapter of Exodus we never see lamb in the plural because there was only one Lamb that could accomplish what God required!

As the blood is to life, it is also the essence of sacrifice! Essence meaning the nature of our being that distinguishes it from all others.

God did not make any of us alike! Until the sin of Adam and Eve, we all became sinners.

It was the blood applied on the outside of the house that kept those saved on the inside of the house!

Notice the blood was applied in the shape of the bloody cross of our Savior.

It was an act of "faith". If you believed God would save you behind the blood applied to your house, then you would be saved.

If you did not have this "faith" and did not apply the blood, then you would see the death of your first-born child and the first born of your animals.

Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 

The Lord Jesus Christ was our substitute:

Lev 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. 

So many things we see in this passage from the Book of Exodus.

Once the blood was applied it was safe to eat the Passover meal!

We must make sure that we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

We must make sure our families are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

We must make sure our homes are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

We must make sure the place we gather to worship is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

When the Blood of Jesus is applied to our homes it becomes a public profession of faith!

Our "faith" is to be in the promises of God just as He promised the Children of Israel at this first Passover.

*****Exo 12:8  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 

Exo 12:9  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 

This lamb sacrificed for freedom was to be eaten.

It was to be roasted and not boiled and eaten by those inside the house.

A journey lay before these of God's people and this food would give them strength.

Jesus said:

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 

Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 

It was to be eaten with unleavened bread.

The Leven represented sin and there was no sin in the house that is washed in the Blood of Jesus.

Joh 6:48  I am that bread of life. 

Joh 6:49  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 

Joh 6:50  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 

Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

The "bitter herbs" would forever remind them of the bitter days of their slavery in Egypt,

This is a picture of our own slavery to sin.

Our hearts are always to be broken over sin.

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 

Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 

For the children of Israel this lamb was to be prepared in a peculiar way and this way was never to be deviated. These are God-given instructions!

God given instructions are never to be changed!

One of the many things we see in these things is that the Church is to be family-centered!

Few are today.

Most of the Churches of today try to please those sitting in the pews when God instructs them to preach the entire Word of God.

We must accept the Lord Jesus Christ exactly as He was prepared and offered by Jehovah God!

There is no other way to be saved, Jesus said so Himself!

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

None of this food was to remain in the morning.

*****Exo 12:10  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 

What we see is that the "death" of this sacrificial lamb has become the food for life!

That lamb was to be eaten the same night it was slain.

The rising sun was to see no part of the slain lamb.

No part of Christ is to be left out! We accept Him as He is, the truth of eternal salvation!

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

In like manner the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ is complete, it is not a progressive thing over the period of our lives!

Our salvation is not in the process of being accomplished, it has been accomplished.

It is accomplished immediately upon accepting the work of Christ for our salvation!

One man wrote, "For God's suffering Lamb the dark night of "Judgment" is no more, and He lives on High eternal sunshine of Divine favor and love".

And how shall we eat the Lamb of God?

*****Exo 12:11  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover. 

We must clearly understand that today, not tomorrow, but today is the day of salvation!

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 

Upon hearing the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ we are to immediately accept Him, repent and rush away from this world and begin our New "Born Again" life.

Our new life marching toward the Promised Land of the New Heaven!

We must wear the right clothes and not get entangled in this world again, this world has no benefits!

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

We must wear the right shoes.

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

We must lean on our Savior for we cannot travel alone. Just as Moses had the staff of God, the Lord Jesus Christ is our staff.

Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

We are only pilgrims passing through this wicked land.

1Pe 2:11  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 

We are always to know that the Lord Jesus could return at any moment, and we must expect it!

We must understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the substitute for our own  "Judgment"

*****Exo 12:12  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 

Exo 12:13  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

As we have studied this Pharaoh understood when Moses laid down the staff, he carried it was in defiance of the false gods of Egypt and Pharaoh accepted that challenge and Pharaoh chose the wrong side.

Pharaoh finally accepts the defeat of his gods when he said, "Go then, serve Jehovah; and bless me also".

The children of Israel gave the glory to Jehovah at this time, but they were a rebellious bunch. 

They did not behave as if they owed any gratitude to Moses or Aaron.

Deu 32:16  They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. 

Deu 32:17  They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. 

Deu 32:18  Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

The "Judgment" of God is harsh on those who reject Him!

God was speaking to the children of Israel through Moses and God said:

1) I will pass through the land of Egypt as a destroyer in "Judgment".

I will enter every house of the Egyptians and kill the first-born child of both man and beast.

2) God said: "I will do the same to your houses and if I do not see the blood on the door posts of your houses, I will do the same to you.

You will escape this plague if I see the blood.

3) God said again: Against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute "Judgment".

Animal worship was an important part of the religion of the Egyptians and some of these Jews never forgot this and it caused problems all the days of Israel till God dispersed them through all the nations of the earth.

The blood that was placed on the door post and over the door should remind us of a bloody cross.

This blood was not a token to the Children of Israel, but to God for them!

The Destroyer would Passover each home where the blood could be seen!

This method of deliverance involved the sacrifice of innocent life.

This is the only method for complete deliverance!

This method requires faith in the Almighty Covenant Keeping God!

Mar 14:22  And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 

Mar 14:23  And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 

Mar 14:24  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 

Mar 14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is that Lamb of God who was sacrificed for each and every sinner and will save each and every believer!

Amen. 

Jesus Instructs the Church

 Instructions For Subjects of King Jesus

Book of Matthew Chapter 18

As "Born Again" Christians the greatest asset we have is our "faith". Hebrews 11:6 says without "faith" it is impossible to please Jehovah God!

You might be able to please the false gods of this world because they do not exist, but you will never please our Righteous Living God without faith!

Remember the Holy Spirit provides "saving faith" so here we are talking about faith above and beyond this "saving faith" that is freely given.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

We did not have to work for it, nor could we earn it, all the things of salvation are freely given to us by our Merciful God!

This faith must remain with us all our lives and it must grow, it is our shield against the evil of this world!

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

In the first part of this chapter Jesus teaches us we must become as little children in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

The disciples were consumed about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven and Jesus said you must humble yourself as a child.

Most children are not trying to get to the front of the line they are simply excited to be in the line and not be left out!

They will take the back of the line if that is all that is available.

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

There must be some modesty along with that faith.

A little child knows nothing about ambition.

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

In this context, every Christian, even "babes in Christ" must be allowed access to the things of God!

Mar 10:15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 

Then we must realize that these children, "babes in Christ" and those who have been led away from Christ, are the same ones the Lord Jesus is referring to in our lesson today.

*****Mat 18:11  For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 

Mat 18:12  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 

Why did the Living God pour Himself into a body of flesh? He came to save that which was lost, which is all of His creation. 

How will He do this?

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Then Jesus uses another parable to explain these things. The Parable of the Lost Sheep.

Jesus is very serious about all those with "childlike" faith who have received Him as their Savior!

Mat 18:6  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 

Mat 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 

We should clearly understand that the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible, Jehovah, takes His stand with those who love Him and believe in Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ says: "I Am Your Father"!

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Lord!

What did Isaiah write of our Savior?

Isa 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. 

The Lord Jesus was afflicted on the cross, but every time one of His children is afflicted today, He suffers with them.

We should keep this in mind as we witness all the suffering in our world especially the persecution of the Church.

As we honor those who love the Lord, we do honor unto our Lord!

If we have a hand in any persecution of the Church, then we are persecuting our Lord and our Savior over and over again!

We should allow this to sink in to teach us how to behave one toward another!

Jesus came to save those who are lost, He certainly will not lose any of them!

The Lord Jesus Christ left Heaven with a purpose!

The world is full of those who have strayed from our Creator.

Those that remain astray are doomed to be destroyed unless they are reached and saved by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 3:11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 

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

Rom 3:13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 

Rom 3:14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 

Rom 3:15  Their feet are swift to shed blood: 

Rom 3:16  Destruction and misery are in their ways: 

Rom 3:17  And the way of peace have they not known: 

Rom 3:18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

There is no one outside the scope of God's love, but we must come when He calls us to return to Him!

So Jesus teaches these disciples so that they clearly understand their purpose and the purpose of each disciple today.

Jesus said: think like, I think.

We should understand this "certain man" as our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He has gathered a 100 sheep, but one is gone astray before it reaches the safety of the truth of salvation.

I do not like the term "once saved always saved' because it suggests that we can do as we please after we are saved, and God does not care, and this is very wrong.

The fact is that once we have given our heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, our goal is to be like Him which is the reason of the term Christian, (Like Christ).

There were 99 of these sheep safe in the hands of the Lord and one who was lost and had not found its way to the Lord.

The Lord Jesus has done everything He can to insure our salvation for, whosoever will come to Him, and it can be said that He is actively seeking all those who are lost.

Why?

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

The Lord rejoices at the salvation of every soul!

*****Mat 18:13  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

We must never think that these lost sheep mean more to Jesus than those who are safe in the sheepfold!

We must understand that this parable is about Jesus building onto His Church.

The Apostle Paul got it right:

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  

We already know the Lord Jesus is the "Good Shepherd"!

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

We should know the Jesus is talking about His Sheep, the Church and then later on He will deal with Israel.

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

1Pe 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 

All of Heaven rejoices over every soul that is saved.

Luk 15:7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 

Here in the Book of Luke, Jesus uses a similar parable to teach us about those who justify themselves, but there is joy in Heaven over every sinner that is saved.

We always ask about the will of God.

*****Mat 18:14  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 

God has provided the only means there is for us to be saved.

God poured Himself into a human body just to die for our sins!

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Once the Lord finds us lost and rambling through this lost world and we see the truth of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ and believe, we become a member of His family.

He becomes "Our Father"!

He then expects our help to reach out to other "lost sheep"! 

Keep in mind He does not need us, but He promises rewards for becoming employed by the Holy Spirit.

We are also expected to help care for the flock by helping them to be witnesses of the "Gospel" and fishers of men!

What we refuse to do someone else will be sure to do!

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 

Jesus Christ died for those weak in their faith just as He died for those who are strong in faith!

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 

1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 

1Co 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 

1Co 8:12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 

1Co 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 

When we do things that are offensive to those, weak in their faith, we may cause them to stray. 

These things must be avoided!

We are to be as forgiving as Christ Jesus, but the Lord Jesus also gives us some guidelines on how to deal with them.

*****Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 

Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 

Again we see Jesus teaching us about the Church.

If the Lord Jesus is teaching us then, He is teaching us how to be more like He is!

A brother would be a brother in Christ, a member of those who assemble for Christ, the Church.

We see the Church in this world, all those who go through the Door, which is Christ, have become enemies of each other, rather than unified in defense of the Gospel!

We still live in these bodies of flesh so we will be at odds with each other from time to time, but that is no reason for these things to cause us to be enemies.

If we go in good faith to that one and explain how we feel about what that person has done to us, we may actually make a better friend.

If we have not already forgiven them prior to confronting them, then we will not help the matter come to a good conclusion.

***There is no need to broadcast these things to any others until this first step has been taken.

We are to confess our faults to one another and pray to the Lord before we confront each other.

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jesus admitted that this will not always work.

Sin is not always easy to get away from, and it cannot happen without the Lord!

The next step is to take one or two more who were witnesses to this trespass. 

What one may deny in front of one may not be so easy to deny because of others who witnessed this sin.

Still, do not resort to making this thing known to others or to the assembly of other Christians.

Mistakes are made in our lives and can be forgiven, but a ruined reputation may not ever be overcome.

We must keep in mind the purpose of these things is gain a brother and not to lose a brother.

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

Gal 6:3  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 

Gal 6:4  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 

Gal 6:5  For every man shall bear his own burden.

If this does not work restore this brother, then it is time to go before the assembly, all those who assemble in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must remember all God's Children are already "justified" so this assembly is not set in place to judge this person.

Only the question of Christlike behavior is to be considered, knowing we all fail from time to time.

We simply cannot live in denial of the truth of God! 

The sin that occurred is now to be made public to the Church and it is the assembly that is to seek to restore this brother or sister.

Again, keeping in mind the Lord Jesus is teaching us how to build on to the Church and not to tear down the Church.

We cannot rate the growth of any assembly by numbers. 

The rate of the growth of any Church should be how well we adapt to the truth of the Scriptures and to be more like Christ Jesus!

We must understand that the Church did not exist at this time, so the Lord Jesus is teaching these things for future use.

There will still be those who will not listen to the assembly of God's people and then, it is time to ask them to leave that assembly.

Remember these are Holy Ghost filled people who are trying to obey the complete Word of God and we cannot allow any one person to deny the truth of God because, one bad apple can certainly ruin the whole bunch.

This person has forfeited the right to assemble with God's people, but it does mean we should not continue to seek to restore this person as the opportunity arises.

*****Mat 18:18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

We should clearly understand that the Body of Christ has every right to discipline in their assemblies, but the one caution needs to be observed is that only the Word of God should be used.

Those who break man's laws will be disciplined by those laws without Church interference, except for the times when man's laws conflict the Word of God.

The Word of God is always right, rightly divided!

We should understand that personal matters are not up for discussion in the Church unless that person causes it to happen and not many will.

This is not a testimony unless that person causes it to be a part of their testimony.

We should clearly understand that no one but God can forgive sin!

We should clearly understand that no one but God can doom anyone to Hell!

We should understand that no one but God can make us free!

When that person refuses to reconcile their sin with the Church, then he is lost to that group of believers!

This means, the Church has failed to reach him or her and they are bound to earth, their business between them and a Holy God.

If this person ever comes to their senses and reconciles with the Church, they can be received as a redeemed brother or sister.

Those who attempt to divide the Church must be dealt with!

Mat 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Divisiveness causes the Church to look corrupt and weak, it must be put down immediately!

Divisiveness threatens all the ministries of the Church that first one being making disciples to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Notice that it is the Lord Jesus, upon which the Church is founded, that gives these instructions or better said, commandments!

The Church must always stand on the Word of God!

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

What is a true Church? Those who are gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

No other group who gathers in assembly are part of God's Church!

*****Mat 18:19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

Nothing in the Church is ever over until it has been bathed in prayer!

***Nothing in the Church is ever over until it has been bathed in prayer!

You see the Church must be united in this prayer and all divisiveness put down.

We are ambassadors for Christ, and we need to act like we are!

When a local assembly comes together in agreement with the Word of God, in prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, then and only then will that body of believers know how to handle that one who has divided himself or herself from the Church.

We must seek God's will and God's approval before we close the doors to anyone!

We must be unified in the name of Jesus Christ!

Notice this is not seeking the arm of God, it is seeking the face of God that many of us have forgotten to do.

1Ch 16:10  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 

1Ch 16:11  Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 

The greatest truth here is, that how can we ever attempt to correct a brother or sister if we do not have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ ourselves?

Then Peter asked another question.

*****Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 

Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 

Again this is a fair question when we think like humans. There must be some limit to our forgiveness.

But with the mind of Christ, then there can be no limit to our forgiveness. 

Think back to just how sinful we have been and continue to be, yet the Lord continues to forgive us our sin.

In fact, it should be harder for the Lord to forgive our sin since we have made a promise to follow Him in His ways.

I cannot help but to remember the Apostle Paul.

Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 

Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:for

to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 

Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 

Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

A good study of Romans Chapter 7 will help us all in this matter of living in this body of flesh!

I know we find it difficult, but in all things, we are to have the mind of Jesus Christ this means, we need to think as He says and as He does.

He has given us multiple examples when He was upon this earth.

He has shown us time after time how He reacts to sin, to abuse, to government, and to the Church and we know He will never change.

There is no way to improve on the "Goodness of God"!

There is no way to improve on the "Mercy of God"!

Because there is no way to improve on the "Love of God"!

God can save anybody anywhere at any time!

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

There is always another side to what God says and far too many travel this path to destruction!

Rom 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Amen