God's Grace

 Book of 2 Samuel Chapter 9

David's Compassion

What is compassion? 

A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration.

One of the great pictures of compassion in the New Testament is the work of the Lord Jesus with the wild man of Gadara.

Mar 5:19  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 

Why did Jesus die for us all?

Mat 9:36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 

Mat 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 

Mat 9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

Compassion is the key to being a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Compassion and kindness must be the traits of all God's people!

What is one of the two greatest commandments from our Lord and Savior?

Joh_13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Joh_13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Joh_15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Joh_15:17  These things I command you, that ye love one another.

The world we live in today has left out love and swapped it for hatred, especially in America!

The Lord provides our needs as He sees them and if we are to be like the Lord Jesus Christ, then we need to show compassion to those that we see who have a need, especially when we have no need of items that could help them.

One of the greatest lessons on compassion in the Old Testament can be seen in our lesson today.

*****2Sa 9:1  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 

We should understand that King David did not know that there were children of Jonathan that remained. He therefore thought he could show his kindness to the next of his kindred.

We should understand that any kindred of King Saul would probably be hidden for fear that David would search them out to kill them. 

This is what a new king would do in most cases during the Age of kings, but David was a man after God's own heart and he would not have done this, especially for the promise he had made to Jonathan.

David was doing his best to fulfill the promise he had made to Jonathan.

1Sa 20:14  And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: 

1Sa 20:15  But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 

1Sa 20:16  So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. 

Jonathan knew in his heart that David would be the next true king of Israel.

It was the custom of that day for the new king to murder all his predecessor's family and Jonathan wanted David to promise that he would not do this.

This was done to stop any claim the throne by the family of the previous ruler.

We would think that things like this no longer happen in our modern world, but we need only look at what is happening to Donald Trump to know that these things still happen today!

The Democratic party has gone after all the family of Donald Trump in order to keep him from becoming president and are trying to ruin the reputation of Donald and all his family to keep them out of politics in the future.

This cannot be denied!

We can see that not much has changed in politics and world leaders throughout the Ages.

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 

Ecc 1:10  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

We see just about every day the results of new leaders disposing of the old leader in many cruel ways including assassination and use of prison and other ways.

King David did not do these things after becoming King of Israel.

David found one man Ziba who had been one of Saul's servants.

*****2Sa 9:2  And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 

2Sa 9:3  And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 

2Sa 9:4  And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 

2Sa 9:5  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 

I am not going to try to describe this event as Preacher Sam does.

The story of Mephibosheth and King David is a splendid example of the Grace of God.

David treated Mephibosheth and his son Micha with the greatest kindness, which was Grace.

He remained in Jerusalem and ate at the King's table.

Every child of God will one day go home and eat at the table of the Lord Jesus Christ because of Grace.

We know GRACE as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense".

Ziba had taken over the lands of Saul and was considered to be a rich man himself at this time.

There will be different versions of stories between Mephibosheth and Ziba as time passes.

Mephibosheth was five years old when the Philistines came to the home of King Saul to kill any remaining in the family of Saul, when one of the servants escaped with him and he fell, hitting his head, and that fall caused him to lose the control of his feet making him a cripple for life.

2Sa 4:4  And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame and his name was Mephibosheth.

Ziba had been a servant in the house of Saul, but was now a free man and he was determined to remain a free man.

King David did not allow this to happen.

Later, what David asked him to do was to become a servant to Mephibosheth.

2Sa 16:1  And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba "the servant of Mephibosheth" met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 

It was this same Ziba who brought nourishment to King David as he left Jerusalem to keep from killing Absolom.

During this time that David left his home because of Absolom, Mephibosheth backslide into his old

ways and remained at the house of David.

Mephibosheth is also called Merib-Baal and he had a son.

1Ch 8:34  And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.

These things came a little latter when turmoil entered into David's life because of his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.

So, King David sent for Mephibosheth.

*****2Sa 9:6  Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 

2Sa 9:7  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 

This is a picture of the Grace that will be shown to every believer by our Heavenly Father for His Son Jesus's sake.

When Mephibosheth came into the royal court he fell upon his face before King David thinking he was about to lose his life.

David gave Mephibosheth assurance that he had no evil intentions toward him, because David wanted to show him kindness for Jonathan's sake.

This is exactly what Jehovah our Heavenly Father wants to do for us as He gives us assurance that He will show us a great kindness for Jesus’s sake.

David then issued a royal decree in the name of Mephibosheth.

David gave him back all of his father's lands, the same land that Ziba had cared for and improved on all those years since the death of Saul.

David could have easily claimed all the possessions of King Saul for himself but he had not.

Saul's private estate did pass into David's possession when David came to the throne but David had ignored that piece of land.

This is the Lord speaking to David.

2Sa 12:8  And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. 

David had always shown respect for King Saul and all his family.

It was a great privilege to eat at the table of the king and Mephibosheth had this promise all his remaining days.

So, Mephibosheth bowed before King David.

*****2Sa 9:8  And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 

In the Israel of that day, a dead dog was considered to be the vilest and most contemptable object possible.

2Sa 3:8  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 

2Sa 16:9  Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

1Sa 24:14  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 

We need to watch what we call people, as it could have a different meaning to them, than our intent.

When Mephibosheth said these things to express great gratitude saying that by rank King David was exalted much more than he was.

King David knew what Mephibosheth was saying.

We need to do the same without calling names, recognizing that the Lord Jesus Christ is exalted much above us at all times.

*****2Sa 9:9  Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 

Mephibosheth was actually Saul's grandson, but words of relationships are used in a very different way in the Hebrew.

Ziba was already managing the lands of King Saul, but more for his own rather that for Mephibosheth.

The King now ordered him to manage those same things that belonged to Saul for Mephibosheth and though he was obedient in these things it did not sit well with him.

Ziba had been a slave in the house of King Saul, so he was still better off, but he certainly did not want to become a slave to Mephibosheth.

Under Jewish Law, Ziba was now a fee man and later King David made these things right.

Ziba was also ordered by King David to bring all his own family to serve as slaves and to till the land for Mephibosheth.

*****2Sa 9:10  Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 

2Sa 9:11  Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons. 

Ziba knew there was not much he could do about what was happening to him and his family.

It was a great honor that David was showing to Mephibosheth and a great picture of Grace for him, but not much honor given to the slave who had been freed at the death of King Saul and his family.

God included this story in the Bible also for us to study.

We might also note that Ziba had employed ten slaves himself.

Many of the slaves of that day were actually fellow Hebrews who had met with hard times and had to indenture themselves in order to pay off some debt but Jehovah had specific laws concerning these things.

There is much more to these stories we will see later.

At least Mephibosheth would not be around much because he was the guest of the King, but he had a son name Micha in one place and Micah in another place. They are one and the same person.

And this son had sons.

*****2Sa 9:12  And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

2Sa 9:13  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.  

King David showed the "Grace" of God to Mephibosheth all the days of his life, but does appear that Mephibosheth did turn on King David at the time of Absolom's rebellion.

We will substitute the name Micah for Micha in other places.

1Ch 8:34  And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah. 

1Ch 8:35  And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. 

We should be able to see that Ziba who had been a free man after the day of Saul’s death, had no real responsibility to be a slave to Mephibosheth nor his family.

The Scriptures have not told us whether Ziba was a Jew but it does appear that he was a true Israelite.

Lev 25:44  Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 

Lev 25:45  Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. 

Lev 25:46  And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. 

So far all I have able to search says Ziba was an Israelite and subject to the Laws of Moses.

Exo 21:2  If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

It appears that the true reading of the Scriptures that Ziba became a free man and any other slaves of King Saul.

It also appears that Ziba had stayed on to take care of Saul's possessions after his death which in fact he felt obligated to do until the new king, David decided what he was going to do with that property.

To the above modes of of a slave to obtain liberty, the rabbinical priesthood added, as a fourth, the death of the master without leaving a son, there being no power of claiming the slave, on the part of any heir except a son, that slave would be free.

All the sons of King Saul were dead.

When a slave was set free the Master had an obligation to that slave.

Deu 15:13  And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: 

Deu 15:14  Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. 

We should understand that Zida would have nothing if he just ran off so, he stayed to protect these things.

We could call this God's Grace toward Ziba.

Later, we will see King David separate half the lands of King Saul to Ziba, we can believe that David had become more familiar with the Laws of Moses and made this thing right with Ziba.

2Sa 19:29  And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 

2Sa 19:30  And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. 

All these details will come out because of the coup that Absolom, King David's own son and some rebellious elders, and politicians, and even some in religion had caused.

King David had only left Jerusalem because he did not want to war with his son Absolom and because he knew he was being chastised of God for his own sins, but God did not want him to leave Jerusalem.

God was not through with David at this time and God would not allow Absolom to become king.

We also see that God does not allow His Grace to go unrewarded to all parties.

God is still no respecter of persons!

These things show us that we can really get down after we recognize that we have sinned against God even when he has forgiven us!

Amen

It Is The Lord Jesus That Gives Us Access To Heaven

 A Better Access

Book of Hebrews Chapter 4

I believe that many Christians still have a hard time believing that with faith in the salvation work of Jesus Christ, we have then entered into the household of God, but it is very true!

Our bodies may still be in the place where the Lord has placed us, but the Lord Jesus has already prepared us a place in His Father's House!

The world must understand that the one thing that keeps them out of Heaven, is the true belief in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ brought about by the "promises" of God!

In Chapter Three we learned that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is "The Apostle" and "The High Priest" of Christianity!

Heb 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 

Sometimes even we Christians also fall into the trap of thinking that the name "Christ" is part of the name of Jesus, but that name Christ designates that it was Jesus, the same Jesus talked about by the Apostles, who is the Messiah who was promised in the Old Testament Scriptures, who is also the only begotten Son of God!

Knowing this then, we need to cling to our salvation with all the power we have and strive to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into doing the rest for us!

*****Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 

**The designation of the name "Christ" means that it is the Lord Jesus who fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of "The Anointed One".

The Anointed One, "the Lord Jesus", the true Messiah has made a way for us to enter into Heaven's Gates.

The Messiah, as the true High Priest, has entered into Heaven, not some earthly sanctuary!

The Messiah has offered His own blood for a complete cleansing of our soul.

The Messiah has born our sins once, but He will also appear a second time for our Redemption.

**The name "Jesus" emphasizes His humanity as a human high priest.

In so doing, He accomplished what all those Levitical high priests had failed to accomplish.

Our Lord Jesus the true Messiah, has entered into Heaven's Holy of Holies and remains forever our High Priest!

Our Lord Jesus Christ has guaranteed a better Covenant, and mediated a better Covenant, than the Old Covenant. (Old Testament)

Our Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled all the Old Testament "types" in securing our salvation!

**The term "Son" emphasizes His greater relationship with His Heavenly Father!

He is greater than the angels, because He is the only Heir, the true Creator, the only Sustainer, and the Exact representation of His Heavenly Father!

The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ is seen because He is the "Radiance" of the Glory of God!

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 

The Lord Jesus Christ, as our High Priest, understands what we are talking about when we pray because, He has a personal knowledge of each of us!

The Lord Jesus is able to feel within Himself every pain that we feel, and He understands everything that bothers us. He is real!

He understands our suffering!

It is fair to say that the Lord Jesus Christ suffers when we suffer!

He is the "presence" of the All-knowing God!

*****Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is a priest according to the line of Melchizedek and not according to the priesthood of Aaron.

Melchizedek was a priest of the most-high God and also king of Salem.

Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek because He knew the truth.

This Melchizedek, is one of the "types" of Christ in the Old Testament and the Lord Jesus fulfilled all "typology" of the Messiah in the Old Testament!

Name any trial or pain.

Name any temptation.

Name any suffering.

Name any infirmity.

Name any human experience and the Lord Jesus Christ actually sympathizes and feels those things with us.

We should also understand that when we look around at our brothers and sisters in Christ, and see those who are suffering much more than we are, we may understand why He will not always respond to us, but this will also make us realize the Scripture in the Book of James.

Jas 5:14  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 

Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

Notice what it says, "is there any sick" and "if they pray for others who are sick" then the Lord will heal them and those others!

Simply said when we have problems, and we see others who have similar or even worse problems than we have, and we then pray for them, we also have a better chance of being healed ourselves.

It is called "showing love for one another".

When we pray for those who are sicker or in more pain than we are then, if we have enough faith the Lord may heal both, them, and us.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our representative before God the Father, and He will never show a weakness to His Father. He can also not be bought!

Faith is still the key to all our life with the Lord our Messiah and High Priest.

Faith is still the key to our relationship with our Savior!

Faith is still the key to the entrance into the gates of Heaven and eternal life!

The Lord Jesus came to this earth in the flesh and lived a sinless life and in doing so, He understands our every weakness!

The Lord Jesus Christ, in His flesh, is like us in all our ways except for one thing He lived a sinless life!

1Jn 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 

1Jn 3:5  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 

1Jn 3:6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 

1Jn 3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

Salvation does not give us permission to live as we so choose, we must live as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as we are able!

We must not forget His command to repent!

When we repent and live in faith, we can go to the Lord Jesus at any time, and we should even when we have no needs!

*****Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

There is "Grace" at the throne of God, if we have chosen to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you hear me? Help is available to carry us through this life and there is enough "Grace" to carry us all the way to Heavens gates, where we will be welcomes by the Lord Himself.

1Co 1:3  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

1Co 1:4  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 

1Co 1:5  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 

1Co 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 

1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ has met every qualification required by mankind, but He has also met every qualification required by His Heavenly Father, which is far more important!

*****Heb 5:1  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 

Heb 5:2  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

Heb 5:3  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 

Heb 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.  

We need a High Priest because of "our sin"!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only High Priest that can remove "our sin" by blotting out the record of that sin in Heaven's Books!

There are five qualifications for a man to be God's High Priest!

1) A High Priest had to be appointed by God to represent mankind before God. 

This is the true purpose of each High Priest, to represent mankind before the Almighty God!

2) The High Priest was to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin. 

He would lead the people to make gifts and offerings to the Lord, but only he could offer the sacrifice for their sins.

3) The High Priest must be able to deal with sin with compassion.

This is more important today because the gross sin in our world and love for one another has grown cold.

4) The High Priest had to first offer a sacrifice for his own sin.

Each High Priest is just as guilty of sin and short of the "Glory of God" as the people they represent!

5) Each High Priest was God appointed and not man appointed.

No human being can say to be Priest, Preacher, Pastor, or any such title, because only those called of God can fulfill the function of the priesthood.

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 

Joh 15:17  These things I command you, that ye love one another. 

What do we not see a lot of today? That love for one another!

That word "ordained" means to be appointed, to be established, to be invested in the functions of the priesthood.

How did Jesus do this?

Mar 3:13  And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 

Mar 3:14  And "he ordained twelve", that they should be with him, and that "he might send them forth to preach",

The Lord first called them and then ordained them and then He sent them.

This cannot be done in any other order!

And those who were called had to first be saved! 

They had to have a personal knowledge of the work of the Lord Jesus for our salvation!

Act 1:21  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 

Act 1:22  Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

It is God who ordains His ministers!

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. 

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 

1Ti 2:6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 

1Ti 2:7  Whereunto "I am ordained a preacher", and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 

The purpose of ordination is to lead as many as will to the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation!

*****Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 

Heb 5:6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

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

Psa 110:4  The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 

Melchizedek was the priest of the "Most High God" and the "King of Salem".

Gen 14:18  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 

Gen 14:19  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 

Gen 14:20  And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 

Melchizedek was the King of Righteousness!

In typology, we see this Melchizedek is truly "a type" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Abraham paid him tithes.

He blessed Abraham.

He is in type a Priest that lives forever.

His priesthood can neither be transmitted, nor interrupted by death, he had an unchangeable Priesthood.

The Jews teach that this Melchizedek was none other than Shem the son of Noah who could have lived this long.

The Bible says He was a prince of Canaan Land, but a worshipper of the Most-High God.(El Elyon)

The Bible also says the Lord Jesus Christ, because He is a Priest after to the order of Melchizedek, is the Anchor for our soul!

Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 

Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 

The priesthood of Melchizedek was not based upon his birth. 

He was not in any priestly line. Levi had not been born yet.

The priesthood of Melchizedek was not based upon the performance of any written laws. 

Moses not being born God had given to him no laws.

Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God because of his character and his righteousness!

It was spiritual rather than legal!

He was true to priesthood life, before God had given commands to do so!

Notice Melchizedek showed up at the end of the very first war recorded in the Bible, and He came in celebration to meet Abraham, God's man.

There is great typology in this happening.

The Lord Jesus Christ will show up before this world destroys itself!

With Putin of Russia threatening to fire off His nukes almost everyday.

This is what we see going on in our world today a world that could fall into a world destructive war at any moment.

In typology, this war with Abraham could be said to be the first conflict between the Church and the world.

No sooner had Melchizedek appeared than he then disappeared.

No priest preceded him, and no priest was his successor.

Abraham, the friend of God, the Father of the faithful, met the King of Righteousness and he bowed before him!

A short time later the king of Sodom came and he bowed before Abraham.

A type of all the world bowing before the Lord Jesus Christ

We know that in the end, all knees will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ!

Amen

Grace and Christian Liberty

 The Gospel of Grace and Christian Liberty

Book of Romans Chapter 14

What is Christian Liberty? It is when sin no more has control of our lives.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 

How do we obtain Christian Liberty?

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 

Psa 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 

Psa 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. 

Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 

Psa 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

Christian Liberty comes by being guided by the perfect law of God!

Christian Liberty is not a license to sin!

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

What are doubtful disputations?

First we are never to argue with anyone about the Word of God. 

The Word of God speaks for itself and the Word of God is settled in Heaven!

Psa_119:89  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven

Sometimes we can be so determined to glorify God that we act like the the Devil.

Those that reject the truth of God are not our friends even though we need to always pray for them.

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 

2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

There are also those who are just weak in their faith.

We must certainly not place burdens upon those who are weak in their faith that the Lord Jesus did not place upon any of us!

We must always receive those who are weak in their faith just as Christ has received us when we were first saved.

This happens many times with those who are babes in Christ.

There are babes in Christ who have been saved for many years because they failed to study the Word of God which is actually a commandment to us all.

We are not to argue with them, just receive them and when the opportunity arises, then we can point out their misunderstanding.

1Co 9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 

In the early Roman Church there were many disputes in most cases because of the laws given to the Jews by Moses that have nothing to do with the Law of Grace.

We should understand this passage as it deals not with the express commandments of God which deal with the "Grace of God".

This passage is dealing with differences of opinion of the Word of God.

We are never to dispute the Word of God, again the Word of God speakes for itself and is indisputable!

Christian maturity is measured by our obedience to the Word of God!

Listen to Jesus:

Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 

Joh 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 

For instance:

*****Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 

There are some Christians who become strict vegetarians and practically condemn those who add meats to their diet and vice-versa.

The one who just eats fruits and vegetables could be looked upon as a weak Christian yet, they both are subject to criticizing and condemning each other.

When the Apostle Paul was facing this issue, he was very careful to keep the differences of Judaism and Christianity.

For instance Paul had Timothy to be circumcised which conformed to the law of Moses because he was a Jew yet, he would not allow Titus to be circumcised. Titus was a Gentile (heathen)

Gal 2:3  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 

Gal 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 

Gal 2:5  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 

It was not necessary for Timothy to be circumcised to be a Christian, but he would never have been allowed the time to preach the Gospel to the Jews had he not done so.

The lesson with Titus was to prove to the Jews that those other than Jews would not have to be obedient to the Laws of Moses to be saved.

These things were done in order to reach as many lost souls as possible, either Jew or Gentile with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

No one has ever been saved by the Laws of Moses!

Rules and Observing old doctrines can never save and are in fact heresy!

There is only one way to approach God and it is by and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is that Christian who has become weak and judgmental, who is also weak in their faith!

*****Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 

When we become judges then we have forgotten we are to be witnesses!

We see it is the vegetarian who has become the judge in this passage, yet God received them both.

1) The strong believer, who walks in the Liberty of Christ and does not live by strict rules such as those Laws of Moses, is also accepted of Christ no matter what that weak Christian thinks.

2) No one has the right to judge the servant of the Lord! 

Both of these people belong to the Lord, both are servants of the Lord because the Lord has already judged them and accepted them because of Grace, and not by laws.

They have no reason to judge nor pass judgement upon each other!

No believer has the right to play God!

3) God will hold up every believer!

*****Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 

Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

If we have a God who cannot keep us saved then we do not have much of a God!

2Ti 4:18  And the Lord "shall deliver me" from every evil work, and "will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom": to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

In the time of Paul these things caused havoc in the early Church!

If we truly believe the Word of God, then we must be persuaded that we are right and not wrong because God said we are!

We are to live as we understand the will of God!

We must dedicate everyday to the Lord!

What was the only difference between the saved Jew and the saved Gentile.

One set aside a few more days to celebrate God than the other, who gave everyday to the Lord.

Certainly nothing to cause a dispute as long as they both understood that salvation comes by Jesus Christ!

The hearts of both these men were given to the Lord!

*****Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 

Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 

Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

The truth is that, no one can tell Jehovah God what to do!

No one can tell the Lord Jesus Christ what to do!

No one can tell the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) what to do!

Only prayer can move the hand of God and this according to His will!

As Christians, we are to act like Christians according to the Word of God expressing that Jesus Christ is our Lord.

This is a Divine fact that is never to be questioned!

This being true, then we are independant of the world's judgement because we are subject to the rule of Jesus Christ!

We belong to the Lord in this world and we will still belong to the Lord in the world to come.

We belong to the Lord forever if we belong to Him in this life!

This being fact, then we live for the Lord by completing the work He gave us to do!

The Lord Jesus Christ has proven that He is the Master of Life, but because of His death it proves that He is also the Master of Death because he arose from that death.

Satan holds no control over the life or the death of those who love the Lord!

This is the reason the Lord Jesus laid aside His glory to come to this earth and bled and died for our sins and He rose again in that same body that we may live with Him throughout eternity.

Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ is Lord of the living and of the dead in Christ because He is the Master of both worlds.

The Lord does not give up His ownership of the Church when a member dies!

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

If we are to fear anything in this life, then we need to understand what the Lord is saying here!

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 

1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

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

So we can readily see that we have One Judge and that Judge is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not Allah, not Buddha, not any false deity!

So why even as Christians do we try to judge anyone in the Church or even outside the Church.

The Lord has already taught us that we can tell by the way they live their lives.

*****Rom 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

Rom 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 

Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

The Holy Spirit demands us to answer these simple questions ourselves!

Knowing these things, then why do we judge another brother or sister in Christ?

Why would we despise and look down upon a brother or sister in Christ when we know the only Judge is the Lord Jesus Christ who can see into the heart

The pure fact is "I know I belong to the Lord" but in reality I cannot know the truth of anyone else because I cannot see into their heart!

If you are a true Christian, then you have already been judged by the Lord Jesus Christ because He is the only Righteous Judge!

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

I got news for you, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will not be judged for our salvation!

We will not be at the Judgment Seat of Christ, unless we already belong to the Lord!

At the Judgment Seat of Christ we will be judged for what we have done since our salvation.

It is a "judgment" for rewards or loss of rewards.

Notice that phrase "every tongue shall confess to God". This does not leave anyone out!

If we have noticed the Holy Spirit began with teaching the weak Christian and now He is speaking to the strong Christian.

The fact remains we will not reach full maturity until we reach the "Judgment Seat of Christ"!

Everyone will give an account for themselves!

We will not be called to testify about others!

We will only be held accountable for our selves!

We will not be held accountable for what any other person has done!

We will stand alone before God at this judgment if we are one of God's children!

Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 

Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

We must understand that we are to never become a stumbling block for any child of God!

*****Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 

 So now we see that having Christian Liberty, it does have it's limits!

We must never be an obstacle standing between someone and our Righteous God!

We must avoid any offence.

Php 1:10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 

Php 1:11  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 

We must respect the convictions of others.

We must remember that conviction is the first stage of repentance.

We must promote the work of the Lord in all others.

We must guard against any appearance of evil upon ourselves.

It is a full time job trying to be a good Christian which leaves no time to judge others.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

When we are seeking the prize of Jesus Christ, there should nothing else have a greater importance!

We must remember the Lord Jesus Christ died for us all, not to judge us, but to save us!

Amen

Set Apart For God Sanctification

 The Gospel of Grace and Sanctification

Book of Romans Chapter 6

What is sanctification and what does it really mean? 

Sanctification means to be set apart for God's use. 

Sanctification is the act of being made holy.

The Almighty Living God is separate from His creation because He is the Creator!

God has always existed, but this world we see around us is only a few thousand years old. 

Probably at least six thousand years and no more than ten thousand years old. 

Do not fear what the evolutionists say. When they say millions and billions of years, they try to trick us into believing that if enough time passes anything can happen and this is just not the truth!

All miracles come by the hand of Jehovah!

Since God is separate from His creation, then to sanctified is to separate ourselves for the purpose of serving Him.

Sanctification is a lifelong process, at least from the time the Holy Spirit moves into our heart until our death.

Since Jehovah exist in holiness, then all that love Him must come into this same holiness!

Being Christian is being like the Lord Jesus Christ the true Messiah (God With Us)!

This is the act of sanctification being more like Christ every day.

We should be growing in the Lord Jesus Christ every day of our lives, until we are finally sanctified and have reached perfection becoming glorified when we meet Jesus.

We do not need a group to vote to see if we are Saints. We become Saints when the Holy Spirit moves into our heart.

We always ask what is the will of God for our lives? It is the will of God that we be sanctified!

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 

1Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 

2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We can only begin our sanctification by receiving the Holy Spirit!

1Pe 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

If we continue in sin after our salvation, we can never be sanctified, and we should question our salvation. Was it real?

We must consider ourselves dead to sin!

We must consider ourselves alive to Jesus Christ, who had no sin!

*****Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What is the truth of the Christian?

We know we are still sinners only saved by the "Grace" of God!

We are alive today and forever through the Lord Jesus Christ!

We do not allow sin to rule our lives anymore! The Holy Spirit gives us this power!

We do not allow any part of our body from our head to our toes to be used as instrument to commit sin!

We allow the will of God to be our will!

We allow the ways of God to be our ways.

We can do these things because we have the Holy Spirit living within us and all other strength comes by the Lord Jesus Christ.

We wear the seal of God!

Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

We are dead to sin, but alive to our Heavenly Father!

We no longer serve the Devil; we are servants to our Holy God!

Sin offends God and in reality, is as a disease that if left untreated, will lead to our eternal death.

Being saved does not destroy this sin nature, but gives us the power to not allow it to rule in our life.

Our bodies are not the source of our sin, but are the instruments used by the Devil to promote his sin.

We cannot allow sin to rule us!

We had no power to do that until the Holy Spirit came to live within us!

We must be constantly on guard against allowing any part of our body to be used for sin, this includes our mind. 

What comes from the heart will enter into the mind so we must keep our hearts pure.

Because of God's "Grace" sin cannot rule us!

If we were under the Law, then we would spend our lifetime struggling to keep that Law which is impossible.

The Law only brings disappointment and discouragement, it can never bring salvation!

When we fail the Law, it brings us shame and we feel unacceptable to God!

We feel unworthy, but remember, we will never be worthy of God's "Grace".

Our Heavenly Father is not this great Judge waiting to pounce all over us when we fail.

Our Heavenly Father is this Merciful God who offers His "Grace" because we have identified ourselves with His Son Jesus!

Our Heavenly Father loves His Son so much, that He accepts all those who love His Son, who is our substitute for the keeping of the Law.

Our Heavenly Father has claimed each and every believer as His own child!

God is a gracious and loving Father who cares for and suffers with His children and provides forgiveness, when His children come to Him and willing to forgive His children when they fail Him.

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. 

Since all this is true, the question is often asked; is the child of God allowed to continue in sin?

God is really quick to answer this question.

*****Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 

As a true child of God, we will never feel comfortable if we deliberately try to hurt or disappoint our Heavenly Father.

So, we must strive to avoid sin!

We should question the salvation of those who remain in sin, but still claim to be a child of God.

Tit_1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

If sin dominates your life and you feel you have no power over that sin, then get back on your knees and ask our Heavenly Father to forgive you by Jesus Christ.

Any power we have is multiplied by the strength of our Lord Jesus!

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

In fact the Lord Jesus says we can do nothing without Him and I believe Him!

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Our Heavenly Father is a loving Father, willing to teach us all these things and will discipline us when we need it.

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

God shows His love when He disciplines not His hatred, "He has already judged us and justified us" and this is eternal!

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Our Heavenly Father can easily see if we have become His servants!

*****Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 

When we yield to sin, we are on the road to death just as God explained to Adam before Adam became the first human with a sin nature.

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. 

Not the death of this flesh which comes to everyone, but a complete separation from a Holy God throughout eternity.

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

It is that "judgment" we had better concentrate on while we are still living!

Our Lord Jesus has made us free from the penalties of sin!

If we yield to the truth of God, He will become a part of us now and remain with us throughout eternity.

Eternity is that place where my Heavenly Father lives and He has allowed me to live with Him!

We had better understand for whom we serve determines our eternal destiny!

1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 

One man wrote: "We must walk as an open confession to the Lord our God"!

God is a forgiving God if we pray to Him with a sincere heart!

*****Rom 6:17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 

We should always keep in mind that we have made a choice when we chose to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

We chose righteousness! 

We had no righteousness until we chose Jesus!

I was once a servant of sin!

Now that I have chosen the Lord Jesus Christ, I am still a sinner though I try not to be and ask for forgiveness constantly and I walk in His righteousness because I have none myself.

Now I try to obey the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the "Gospel" of "justification" and the method of sanctification.

I have been justified in the eyes of our Holy God!

I obey God's commandments!

I believe upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 

1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 

I am now freed from that sin debt I owed and freed from the consequences of that sin!

I can never be charged with that sin ever again!

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. 

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

I now give myself to my Heavenly Father through His Son to do with me as He pleases according to His Word!

*****Rom 6:19  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 

Rom 6:20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

Where will righteousness lead us? Righteousness will lead us to holiness.

My members are all the parts of my body that I once gave to sin. 

My eyes, my ears, my mouth, my hands, my feet, my heart, my thoughts, and any other thing that I gave to sin including, lust, fornication, adultery and anything else.

I became a slave to sin, and sin has no ending! Sin multiplies until it has destroyed me!

If I gave so much to sin, then I need to be just as giving to righteousness and the Lord Jesus Christ!

I once served uncleanness willingly, let me now serve righteousness just as willingly.

The power of sin cannot be overcome, but by the Lord Jesus Christ!

God knew all these things and sent His Son Jesus to solve the sin problem for every human being, but it takes "faith" in the work of Christ Jesus to break the power of sin!

Rom 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 

When we allow "faith" to replace the power of sin and righteousness to work to our sanctification, we will see sanctification work till our holiness.

My goal and our goal must be to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 

Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 

Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. 

We must become slaves to righteousness as we were once slaves to sin.

This is what true repentance is all about!

A complete change of direction and a complete change of mind, toward the things of God!

Sin has only one goal and it is the destruction of our soul!

*****Rom 6:21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 

Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

Once we realize the power that sin held over us, then we will become ashamed that we left our Creator to become a part of that sin!

What gain can we have from sin? There is only one gain from sin, and it is death, so there is no gain from sin!

The fruit of sin is death of the soul!

There can be nothing good come from sin!

It is only by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that we can be made free from the penalty of sin!

Sin corrupts.

Sin destroys.

Sin dooms all those who seek its fruits because no good thing comes from sin!

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

Notice that word make.

We must be made free and not set free, there is a significant difference

Many a person have been set free from prison only to find their way back into prison.

We are "Born Again" into the family of God and "made" free from sin and the penalty of sin!

These are the precious promises of a Holy God!

2Co 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 

It is from these promises where we have our hope!

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 

The gifts of God bring eternal life!

*****Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Sin deserves death because sin is rebellion against the ways of God who is life.

Life and death are two extreme opposites!

Sin goes against the nature of our Holy God!

God is pure and morally pure in all His ways!

God is holy and full of glory!

God is a God of justice and righteousness!

And most important God is full of love and grace from which comes His mercy!

This death is:

To be cast far away from God.

To have no part of God.

To be banished from God's sight.

To be separated from God's presence forever.

To be condemned and punished for rejecting God's plan of salvation.

Sin will receive these wages of this death, a complete separation from our Holy God!

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

Eze 18:20  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 

Sin demands the wages of sin.

Righteousness receives the free gifts of God!

Not such a hard choice, but a choice we all must make.

To not choose at all, is still this death!

Amen

Growing In the Grace of God

Growing In Grace

2 Peter Chapter 1:1-11

As we have just spent several weeks in the study of the first Book of the Apostle Peter, we saw that the Book of 1 Peter was devoted to the remedy for suffering Christian Persecution. That remedy being we must have the "mind of Christ"!

Today as we begin our lessons in the Book of 2 Peter, we will see how Peter looks at the subject of God's "Grace".

Peter will teach us, by the Holy Spirit, that above all, we can know the Word of God and we can rely on what God says as the truth!

*****2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Simon Peter the chosen Apostle of Jesus Christ, still realized in his older days that he was nothing more than a servant of the Lord.

All that truly love the Lord will still come to Him on bended knees!

To be a servant of the Lord is to realize that we are no more than slaves who have been purchased from the slave market of sin and we have a new Master.

We that know the Lord on a personal level, are all bondservants by law to the God of all "GRACE"!

In fact I am a willing slave to the Lord Jesus Christ, He is my new Owner and the only Owner I will ever have!

Who is Peter writing to? To all those who are willing slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ, but slaves because we have "FAITH" in the price that Jesus Christ paid for our freedom.

Jesus Christ paid for us to be free and it cost Him His own life!

Not only was Peter a slave such as you and I and all believers, he was also a chosen Apostle of Jesus Christ.

Those Apostles chosen by the Lord were His messengers of the New Covenant of God! Which is the New Covenant of "GRACE".

We know that "GRACE" is the unmerited favor of God shown to sinful people.

In reality, God's Grace is the richness of God's "GOODNESS"!

It is this "goodness", this "grace", that we as Christians are to share with this lost world just as did the Apostle Peter, the servant of God.

Psa 145:7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

Psa 145:9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

It is these same ones who have that like precious faith, filled with the Holy Spirit, who are to take part in restricting sin in this world!

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Every lost soul that returns to the Lord, has removed the sin he once had and walks in a New Life.

There is a little less sin in this world every time someone accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

These things come by the knowledge of the truth of God!

*****2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

How do we show God's grace to others? We accept every "born again" child of God into our Church family, no matter the history of their old life!

This is the difference in living under God's grace than being in God's grace.

If they are a child of God, then they are our brother or sister in Christ!

As Christians we have all received the undeserved favor of God. We cannot earn God's favor. We absolutely do not deserve any of the things God so freely gives us, but through His Son He will give us all a little part of Heaven!

The only thing we deserve from our God is "judgment"!

These are the exact same things we are to do for all our Christian family, except to "judge". All judgment will come from the Lord.

God has made it possible for us to experience His "grace" rather than His "judgment"!

What is so great about being in the grace of God?

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

It is in our body where we can feel the loving grace of God by the things that He does for us.

Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

It is in our mind that we can have that peace that cannot be understood by this world!

Rom_15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Php_4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Lord Jesus Christ not only gives us these things upon our faith, but He actually multiplies them!

He gives us an abundance and then gives is us even more!

Jesus does this so we can share that grace and that peace of God with everyone we come in contact with!

We cannot receive these things until we know the Lord as our Savior and these things are added as we learn more about Him!

If Jesus Christ is your Lord, then He is your God!

Jesus Christ is life and the giver of life!

Jesus Christ is God and the giver of godliness.

Jesus Christ is righteous and the giver of righteousness.

If you have any gift, then it came from God.

All things necessary for life are given by the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

We should have no fear in this world because the Lord has already given to us all things that are necessary for our salvation.

There is nothing related to our eternal life with Him that He will hold back!

God has given to us all things necessary for our "spiritual life" and He will never take any of those things away from us!

We cannot lose our salvation once we have truly accepted that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and our Savior!!!!!!!!!!!!

We must not be deceived by those who teach something different from this truth.

The gifts of God are eternal!!!!!!!

He has called us to glory:

God has revealed Himself in a glorious blessing to those who love Him!

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

God has revealed His entire program to the Church!

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

God has called us to virtue:

Virtue can best be understood as living under the powerful influence of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Virtue is the good life that comes from being Christians in the complete will of God.

Gal_6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Php_4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We cannot know what living for Christ is all about, unless we study the Scriptures!

It is only in the Scriptures that we can learn of the great and precious promises given to us as gifts from God!

*****2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

These are powerful Scriptures and we need to take heed to what they say!

God's promises are His assurance that we will receive His blessings!

God's promises are divine: Which means they come from God our divine Creator, who by the way was the Lord Jesus Christ.

God's promises are suitable for all our situations as believers.

God's promises are clear!

God's promises are certain!

When we understand the promises of God and live accordingly, we will be partakers of His divine nature!

Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

This is the only means of escaping the corruption of this world and this corruption comes by our own lust and our foolish pride!

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.

These are the things that we as Christians must flee from, to escape the corruption of this world!

The seed of corruption is caused from sin and by the Lord Jesus Christ we are made free from sin!

The Grace of God comes by His divine power, His resources are infinite, and His promises are sure and since He can never die His promises cannot expire!

When we have that peace of God because of our faith and the multiplied grace of God because of our faith, then and only then can we grow in the Lord!

*****2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

In short virtue is the effect that knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior has had on our lives. So if we add to this virtue Peter is saying that we are to have that same effect on all others.

We should be so much like Jesus Christ that others want to be like Him to!

Virtue is the very best part of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is His eternal being!

The three virtues of each Christian are bound up in faith, hope and charity.

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Our own virtue must be based on all the things of Jesus Christ!

Being diligent means to must guard ourselves against any defilement!

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Being diligent means we must search our heart to be sure of our confession of faith.

Psa 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

Every Saint of God must have diligence!

2Co 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

2Co 8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

The one most important thing is that we know without a doubt that we are saved and are "Born Again"!

Then and only then can we add to our virtue, knowledge!

Knowledge is a gift of God by the Holy Spirit as are all gifts. Knowledge is closely related to wisdom and refers to our ability to properly understand the truths revealed in the Scriptures.

The knowledge of God is possible because He has revealed Himself to us and it requires our faith, the grace of God, the peace we have in knowing God and then our own virtue in being like Christ Jesus.

The sanctification process of each saint of God is a step by step process and is processed and led by the Holy Spirit who dwells within each of us.

It is after this knowledge that we are able to temperance.

*****2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

**Temperance means we have the power within ourselves to defend our faith and virtue in the Lord. We have self-control over the acts of our body!

Temperance means we have mastered our passions that would lead us to sin! Temperance means we have realized that the "grace" of self-control comes because of the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within us and who is our strength.

By the Holy Spirit we can have control of our rebellious desires!

I used to drink and smoke and commit other sin, but I just do not want to anymore, because I have temperance.

These things also work for me, because I also have patience!

**Patience. There is what we call inactive patience and active patience. We must have active patience!

We cannot just sit back and put up with the trials of life, taking them one by one as they come!

We must stand up and face the trials of life head-on! We must conquer the trials of life and make them useful for us and not be against us!

We must understand that God allows the trials of our life so we can grow and be strong in the defense of the "Gospel".

Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

We must remember that all our trials borne with patience, will end in triumph!

Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

to continue our Christian growth having added temperance and patience we must then add godliness.

The Lord would not have put these things in a specific order if it were not the best for us!

**Godliness includes all things necessary for our Christian life!

1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

1Ti 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

Whatsoever is needed for life is given to us by Jesus Christ and the Lord longs for us to have an abundant life.

This life that is given to us is to be lived the way God intended and God intended for us to live godly lives!

Godliness means we are to live in awe of our Creator and our Lord!

Godliness means that we are so aware of God's presence in our lives, that we live as He would live in our circumstances.

Even after this God says we still need to add some things.

*****2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

We must possess that brotherly kindness. The very special love that exists between brothers and sisters in a loving family.

These are brothers and sisters who truly cherish one another.

This is to be what family is all about.

It is to be the same for all our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ!

Those who have brotherly love have been "Born Again" by the Holy Spirit, and therefore we all have the same Father.

The great example of this is when Mary the mother of the Lord, when the Holy Spirit came upon her and she was overshadowed and she was with child, the baby Jesus.

Each of us, the children of God have a new Spirit that binds us to one another in a love greater than all families because we have become the family of God!

We may not even know all our brothers and sisters in Christ, but these are the ones we will spend eternity with!

We have a new Spirit, we have a new Family, because we are bound together by the Holy Spirit into "Brotherly Love" for one another!

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

But there is even more we cannot stop here we must add Charity!

In our English language we do not have a definition of love that comes close to the love of God. That word "Charity" is the closest word that even comes close to what the love of God really means.

Charity is the greatest of the three Christian graces.

Faith, hope, and charity!

How can we describe charity?

1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Charity is as close as we will get to perfection upon this earth and then only if we include all these other things that Peter has mentioned in these Scriptures.

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 we cannot do our best to show the love of God, then we are failing in our walk with the Lord!

If we have that true love of God in our hearts, but for some reason this does not show in the way we live and the way we give, then we need to try harder!

The Agape love of God loves regardless of feelings, (whether we feel like loving or not).

The Agape love of God loves even if that person does not deserve our love.

The Agape love of God loves even that person who is utterly unworthy of our love.

The Agape love of God, gives and gives and gives and does not stop giving love!

What did Jesus say?

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

All the Word of God is about the love of God, and we are to be God's example of His love for one another!

These are all the things that are to be in us if we are God's children.

*****2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When it is all said and done, all these things are the "fruit" of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Php_1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

These things must be added to our lives and not only that, but these things must "abound" in our lives!

This is the answer to the question, "what does it mean to grow in Christ Jesus"?

We have to grow and grow and grow, reaching out for the perfection of Jesus Christ!

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

As we continue in this Psalm, we see these words:

Psa 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Psa 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Psa 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

*****2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

What is the bleak picture of all those who do not grow in Jesus Christ?

Remember Peter is writing to the Church.

When we do not grow in Christ, we become Spiritually blind!

Short sighted in all the things of God!

Where is the modern-day church? Short sighted in the truth of God!

We will lack in the true purpose of why God leaves us here after He has saved us!

It is possible for us to be forgiven of our sins and not be in the will of God and not growing in Christ!

In fact this describes many a house of God today!

When we were first saved, we had a clear vision of seeking the things of God, but because we have not grown, we have lost that vision and in reality, are of very little use to the plan of God! Many will even hinder the plan of God!

When we forget that we have already been purged from our old sins, we are just one step away from returning to those sins!

It is impossible that we have not seen good Christians who have neglected to grow in Christ and have lost their understanding of the truth of God!

Walk the streets of America and you will see they are everywhere!

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

It is in our best interest to make sure that we have been called by the conviction of Holy Spirit, and have answered that call with true repentance and true faith!

*****2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

What is diligence?

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

You see, if we do all these things just as the Holy Spirit has revealed them to the Apostle Peter, we cannot fail in our walk with the Lord and we will be in the perfect will of God the Father.

If we have truly elected to be in the family of God, we will not have a problem in seeking all these things for ourselves.

Most all of us have stumbled in our Christian walk, and if we want to stop stumbling then here is God's answer!

If we have been coming up short in our walk with the Lord, then here is God's answer!

If we have been falling when we should have been running the race of God, then here is God's answer!

If we live a life of sorrows, then we can make this life we have to be a joyful life if we take these things just as they have been written to us and act on them with diligence!

God makes these things easy for us, because this is the reason the Holy Spirit is living inside us!

We must need to be diligent in seeking these things!

Our walk with the Lord requires our personal effort!

Our salvation is the gift of God, after we have shown faith and this first bit of faith, He will even provide.

After accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, it is then we begin that race that the Apostle Paul so speaks of.

Abundance means riches. We will live a rich Christian life, not in monetary gains, but Spiritual gains here on earth and then enjoy the riches of Heaven that cannot even be described!

The reality of these things is that they are eternal!

The Kingdom of God is real!

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Our life in Christ can be the best life we have while we are still living and then we will go to live in the actual home of God!

Amen

Let's us pray!