Foundational Verse Number 2

Just to make sure we are all on the same page let me make clear that I don't put these "foundational verses" above the verses that explain that Jesus is the savior and we are saved through our faith in Him.  That is always first and foremost.  Everything else comes after my accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Have you done that yet?  Asked Jesus to come in to your life and lead you?  Why not do it right now.  Have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Anyway, I look to the Bible for foundational truths to live by.  This is one of my top two or three.

2 Timothy 1:7(NKJV)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

What kind of spirit did God give us?  A spirit of POWER and LOVE, and a SOUND MIND.  So why do so many Christians walk around with their head down, acting and feeling defeated?  Use the power that God gave you!  :) 

This verse reminds me that when I allow myself to feel like that, I am not relying on God as I should.  This verse reminds me to change that immediately.  Make the decision!   

Abhor what is evil!

Interesting command in Romans isn't it? 
 

Romans 12:9(NKJV)

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 

Kind of goes against what many believe Christians should be doing more of which is being more accepting of "evil". 
 

Which leads to another observation.  Before we can abhor evil we need to identify evil don't we?  And that would require a judgement wouldn't it? 

Hmm, so much for the "blanket prohibition" against judging that so many believe in.

I so love the study of Scripture!

Once again we come around to my favorite foundational verse!

Monday, July 25, 2016

9:20 AM

Romans 5:3-5(NKJV)

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 

and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

God's success formula all wrapped up in a couple verses.  And it all starts with a great attitude.  Why?  As I've said before, I think a great attitude, especially in the face of adversity, is an external indication of your inner faith.  And we know from Scripture that all of the rewards of being a follower of Jesus spring from one single place…faith!

Who are our neighbors? Does Scripture say?

The first use of the word neighbor is in Exodus 3:22.  It actually defines what God means by "neighbor".

Exodus 3:22(NKJV)

But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

In the very first use of the word neighbor it is defined within a proximity issue, in other words a neighbor is somebody nearby.  Now let's see if it is defined differently anywhere else in Scripture.  The word neighbor is used 95 times in Scripture.

Exodus 11:2(NKJV)

Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” 

Once again we have the issue of proximity.  Your neighbor is within hearing distance.

Isaiah 19:2(NKJV)

    “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians;      Everyone will fight against his brother,     And everyone against his neighbor,     City against city, kingdom against kingdom.

And again it seems that proximity defines neighbor. 

Does it change in the New Testament?
 

Luke 10:29-37(NKJV)

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 

Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 

Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Once again I see a proximity issue. 

Here are my thoughts and I'll admit that maybe I am reading too much in to this but….here goes.

There are some who think that Scripture is telling us that everybody in the world is "our neighbor".  I would disagree.  From the 95 Scriptures I just read from both the OT and NT there seems to be a personal proximity issue in most cases.  Here is what I mean by that. 

Let's look at Jesus' example.  I don't think the injured man was the Samaritan's "neighbor" until the Samaritan happened upon him on the road.  At that point we have proximity.  Before that the Samaritan didn't know of the injured man's need.  At the point that he sees the injured man the Samaritan is aware of the man's need and takes action to help his "neighbor".  Does that make a little sense?

I realize the analogy is a bit squishy but it is the best I have.  It's an issue I will continue to study.   

Perfect description of the "religious intelligentsia" in my opinion.

 

Romans 1:20-23(NKJV)

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 

because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

Professing to be wise, they became fools, 

and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Who are Jesus' sheep?

Here is a question.  When the Scripture below says "feed My lambs", "tend My sheep", and "feed My sheep"; who exactly are Jesus' sheep?  Is it a general every single person in the world because "God loves everybody" type of thing?  Or is it referring to a specific group of people? 

John 21:15-19(NKJV)

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 

This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

As I've mentioned before I think sometimes Scripture is applied with too broad of a brush.  I'll use this Scripture to make my point.  There are many who seem to think that because God loves everyone that that means that everyone is entitled to the benefits of believing in Jesus, whether they actually believe in Him or not.  I don't believe that is true. 

So here is some Scripture that I believe is clearly singling out a specific group of people that Jesus is telling Peter to look after.  In the Scripture above I think the fact that My is capitalized signifies that Jesus is referring specifically those who follow Jesus, to the exclusion of the rest.  

Why do I think that?  Because Jesus has clearly said in other Scripture who exactly His sheep are.  Take a look.

John 10:27(NKJV)

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 

"…and they follow me.".  Therefore logic dictates that those who don't follow Jesus and have rejected Him, are not His sheep.  They are not entitled to the benefits of being one of Jesus' sheep.  Make sense? 

Barbarians has new meaning to me!

This passage caught my eye.

Romans 1:13-15(NKJV)

Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 

So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

The reason that it caught my eye is that I have a new understanding of the meaning of barbarians.  In the past I thought it was simply a word for the "uncivilized" of the world.  Kind of a generic word.

Well, I've been watching Rise of the Barbarians (History Channel I think).  I didn't realize that it was actually the specific word used to refer to all those who lived outside of the Roman Empire.  I also didn't know that Barbarian uprisings spanned the time of Jesus.

For example many have heard of Hannibal and the Alps.  I vaguely knew the story.  Hannibal was a great leader from the North of Africa.  He marched an army all the way around the Mediterranean Sea, then went slightly north behind the Alps, and then crossed the Alps in the middle of winter so he could attack Rome from the north!

He lost something like 30,000 men just crossing the Alps.  He had 38 elephants and only 4 survived. 

All fascinating stuff but what I didn't know was that this happened about 218 years before Jesus! 

Good show if you are interested in History.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue"

I wish more people understood this principal.  You are hung by the tongue, snared by the words of your mouth.

Let me give just one small example.  When I hear people say things like "if it weren't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all" I just cringe.  Man, talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Do you realize how destructive that is?  You are setting your subconscious up to expect and attract bad luck. 

Why would a person do that?  I personally think it is because they don't understand the power of the tongue.  They don't understand that the subconscious can't tell the difference between the truth or a lie.  They think it is just a pithy, offhand comment, no big deal.

Nothing could be further from the truth in my opinion! 

Proverbs 18:21(NKJV)

    Death and life are in the power of the tongue,      And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Does God hate?

I have heard many Christians say that God doesn't hate anything.  I would beg to differ.  Here is just one of many Scripture that say otherwise. 

Hosea 9:15(NKJV)

    “All their wickedness is in Gilgal,      For there I hated them.     Because of the evil of their deeds     I will drive them from My house;     I will love them no more.     All their princes are rebellious.

Not only does it say that God hates but it gives the reason.  He hated them because of the evil of their deeds. 

So where does that leave us as Christians?  Should we hate anything?  That is an interesting question isn't it?  We are told how God and Jesus are all about love and we should be too.  In general I think that is correct.

But I also believe that there is room for righteous hatred.  Take a look at this Scripture

Amos 5:15(NKJV)

    Hate evil, love good;     Establish justice in the gate.     It may be that the Lord God of hosts      Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Hate evil.  Seems simple enough.  But how do we square that with Jesus telling us to love our enemies?  I would suggest following Jesus example.  Jesus loves his enemies from the standpoint that He hopes they will repent and come to know Him and He loves them enough to forgive them.  But Jesus doesn't "love His enemies" to the extent that He excuses evil behavior without the repentance.  Make sense? 

Love Him….and keep His commandments

Here is an interesting take on all it take is being a good person to get to Heaven. 

Exodus 20:4-6(NKJV)

    “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 

you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 

but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Seems to me all those who think they can "take the best from all religions" and make their own are in for a bit of a surprise.  Or those who say they love "a god" but don't follow the one in the Bible.  Scripture tells us that those who reject Jesus have declared themselves enemies of God.  I would suggest to you that "enemies of God" are somewhat synonymous with "those who hate me" in this Scripture.

"For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him."

 

Acts 25:23-27(NKJV)

So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in. 

And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. 

But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. 

I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. 

For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

You know there are many who level this criticism at God.  If you are going to condemn people to death, or in the case of God, to eternal damnation, what are the charges?

Think about that.  What are the charges?  What is it that costs you salvation?  Not giving your heart to Jesus!
 

Really?  You mean somebody can be the best person in the world, do all kinds of good for mankind, and still go to hell?  According to what I read in the Bible, yes. 

You mean someone like Muhamed Ali, who just passed away and by all accounts was a devout and peaceful Muslim; he is going to hell?  According to the Scripture I read; yes.

"How is it fair" many people cry?  I would respond with how is it not fair?  God was good enough to give us life.  God gives us free will to make choices in our lives.  God lays out a plan of salvation which we are free to accept or reject.  God lays out ahead of time the benefits and drawbacks of each choice.  But He leaves the choice up to each and every one of us. 

Now for those who choose not to follow Jesus, they know ahead of time what the charges will be.  How much fairer can you be? 

"Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty"

One of my favorite Proverbs.  This is why I have tried to always have the attitude that I can sleep when I am dead.  Life is meant to be lived!!! 

Proverbs 20:13(NKJV)

    Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;      Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

Pastors and Wealth

I sometimes see articles on Yahoo about how celebrities net worth's are disgusting.  And I've seen articles about Pastors with titles like that as well.  Is their criticism justified Scripturally?

Proverbs 8:20-21(NKJV)

    I traverse the way of righteousness,     In the midst of the paths of justice,

    That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,     That I may fill their treasuries.

Notice that not only does God say he will fill the treasuries of those who love Him but He ties it in to the previous verse regarding righteousness and justice.  Interesting isn't it? 

God, who is Holy, says He will fill their treasuries.  Secular man tries to use wealth as a means to call someone unholy.  Who you going to believe, secular man or God? 

Seems to me God must really be asking Himself this today!

Psalms 4:2(NKJV)

    How long, O you sons of men,      Will you turn my glory to shame?     How long will you love worthlessness     And seek falsehood? Selah

Psalms 52:3(NKJV)

    You love evil more than good,     Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah

Would you be able to pass the test?

Here in Deuteronomy it describes a test we may face.  Would you be able to pass it?  Many Christians today have already failed it.

Deuteronomy 13:1-4(NKJV)

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 

and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 

you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 

What I am specifically referring to here are all of the "Christians" who think it is a good idea to take "the best of all religions" and combine them into their own.  They think it is a way to demonstrate how "open minded" they are.  They still think of themselves as Christians while adhering to bits and pieces of other ideologies.  Doesn't that sound similar to what is described above?

Make no mistake!  I've pointed this out before.  Scripture tells us that we will be held accountable if we allow ourselves to be led astray!

Wow, I never knew this was actually from the OT!

Jesus said that we must love our neighbor as ourselves.  How many knew this was actually from the Old Testament?  I didn't realize it until I read it today. 

Leviticus 19:17-18(NKJV)

‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

God is….Pure

So as I wrap up the 3rd word in the study of Words used to describe God a thought comes to mind. 

Purity of heart or purity of action? 

As I studied the word Pure in Scripture I found that almost all of the references have been to pure gold or pure oil or pure frankensense; things like that.  There were a handful of verses that more directly related to what I was looking for, the word pure in reference to God.  Take a look and then I will circle around to the question above.

Job 4:17(NKJV)

    ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?     Can a man be more pure than his Maker?

Matthew 5:8(NKJV)

    Blessed are the pure in heart,      For they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8(NKJV)

    Blessed are the pure in heart,      For they shall see God.

1 John 3:1-3(NKJV)

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

To purify gold it has to be heated or smelted.  In other words it has to undergo a stressful process to get it to purity.  The above verse tells us that if we believe in Jesus, that alone purifies us.  Does that mean we get to bypass the stressful part?  Not at all.  Scripture clearly tells us that we will go through trials and tribulations for Christ.  I guess the difference is that we get purity before the stress instead of the other way around. 

Revelation 22:1(NKJV)

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

Alright so back to the question.  Based on what I know of Scripture, purity of heart is the more important of the two.  My reason for believing that are twofold.  First all of the references that Jesus Himself made to "where a person's heart is".  Secondly I refer to the passages where Paul has said things like "the spirit is wiling but the body is weak" indicating that no matter how pure our hearts, physically we are doomed to failing over and over again. 

Make sense?

Now that doesn't give one free rein to do impure things because that would come back to the heart issue.  And make no doubt about it, you can't fool Jesus about where the heart is.

A group beating sanctioned by God? LOL!

This is an example of why I so love studying Scripture.  Some times I read stuff, things I have read before, but the Holy Spirit shows them to me in a new light.  And sometimes those new slants on things make me laugh right out loud.  Today was such a day.  :)

Acts 18:14-21(NKJV)

And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 

But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 

And he drove them from the judgment seat. 

Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.

So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. 

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 

When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 

but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.

OK here is what made me really chuckle.  Let me recap what happened.  Paul has been witnessing to the Jews and Greeks.  Many Jews and Greeks believe.  However some Jews don't and not only don't they believe but they want to actively harm Paul and stop him for convincing others to believe. 

Some of the Jews who had declared themselves enemies of God by rejecting Christ bring Paul before the Roman judgement seat and are trying to get Paul put in prison or whipped or whatever.  The Roman says "hey not my deal.  Your religion.  You deal with it."

With me so far?

Here is what cracked me up.  After the Roman refuses to get involved, the believing Greeks take the ruler of the synagogue, who presumably was leading the effort to harm Paul, and they whip his butt!!!  They give him a mass beating!   LOL!!!

Not only do they kick his tail but do you see anywhere that Paul or God condemn their actions?  What happened to turn the other cheek?  :)