"The burden of the word of the Lord…"?

One of the things I am often struck by is the difference in tone between the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Here is a verse that stood out to me today.

Malachi 1:1(NKJV)

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

Burden?  In the OT there are several places where following God is described in terms similar to that.  The funny thing is, I have never found that to be the case in following Jesus.  I have personally found it to be just the opposite.  I have found following Jesus to be quite freeing.
 

How about you?  Are you following Him yet?  No better time than right now to start.  Just ask Jesus to come in to your life and lead you.  Have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Repentance and Remission of Sin

Once again notice what Jesus Himself specifically said should be preached on His behalf.

Luke 24:46-49(NKJV)

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 

and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

And you are witnesses of these things. 

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Repentance and remission of sins.  Not go ahead and do your own thing and you will be saved anyway.  Hmm. 

Another way of saying no sign will be given?

I think this illustrates perfectly the whole concept of no additional sign will be given.  Jesus is basically saying "Look, you have God's Word in the Bible and if you aren't going to believe that then you aren't going to believe anything else. " 

Either take God at His word or call Him a liar if you dare but He isn't going to offer additional proof just to try and convince you to believe Him.

Luke 16:27-31(NKJV)

“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 

for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 

Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 

And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 

But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

Did Judas go to Heaven?

I don't know why but that question has never occurred to me before.  While this might seem like a "well duh" question, just stick with me for a minute or two.

Luke 22:3-6(NKJV)

Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 

So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 

And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 

So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Luke 22:20-22(NKJV)

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 

But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. 

And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

The reason I ask the question is because of this verse and verses similar in the book of Mark. 
 

Matthew 12:31-32(NKJV)

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Think about that.  Judas was one of the 12 disciples so we know that He accepted and followed Christ.  Judas spoke against the Son of Man but I don't see anywhere that he spoke against the Holy Spirit.  So it would seem to me that there is a likelihood that Judas still went to Heaven. 

Now couple that with the fact that we serve a just God.  God needed a fall guy to carry out the plan.  Judas was that guy.  Scripture tells us that Satan entered Judas so he wasn't acting of his own volition.  (Luke 22:3(NKJV)Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.)

In that case it would seem unjust to me to condemn Judas to Hell for eternity.  We shall see! 

Do pacifists seek vengeance?

Just another little tidbit for those who think Jesus is a pacifist.  Do pacifists seek vengeance?  :)

Jesus is talking here about the Battle of Armageddon and His kingdom coming to earth.  
 

Luke 21:22(NKJV)

For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 

Does forgiveness require repentance?

This is an issue that I have ran across twice recently.  Take a look at these Scriptures.

Luke 17:1-4(NKJV)

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 

And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Luke 13:2-5(NKJV)

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

I guess I would say yes and no.  Here is what I mean by that.  I think that to receive eternal life, repentance is required.  I think Scripture makes that pretty clear.  As I have written many times, no kumbaya, live and let live Jesus.  

But what about on a personal level?  I think that is totally different.  While I don't think that we are required to forgive if repentance is not offered, I think it is a good idea to do so.  It just isn't good to carry around animosity and resentment. 

Forgive freely and easily in my opinion but let me make something clear.  Voluntary forgiveness does not mean opening yourself up to be used.  I'm talking about people who would try to guilt you into doing something.  As an example "If you really forgave me you would pay my rent for me."  and things like that.

Forgive someone like that?  Absolutely.  Give in to their emotional extortion?  Only if you are a fool.  Scripture doesn't require that!

Who are Jesus' enemies?

I have written many times in the past about people who declare themselves "enemies of God".  In case you are wondering if that is Scriptural check out this passage.

Luke 19:24-27(NKJV)

“And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 

(But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 

‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 

But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’”

Jesus Himself tells us that His enemies are those who rejected His Kingdom.  Those who don't want Jesus to rule over them. 

Now many point to the Scripture where Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies and I believe that we should do that.  But what is it exactly that we should be praying for?

I believe what we should be praying for is that the enemies of God repent and ask Jesus in to their lives.  Because until they do that they are still enemies of God.  They are not deserving of the promises of God as long as they choose to remain enemies of God.  And make no mistake about it.  The choice and decision is always totally up to them.   

Notice that Jesus doesn't say bestow all of the blessing of God on our enemies.  Only to pray for them.  Those who choose to repent are welcomed with open arms and enjoy all of the blessings of being saved.  Those who choose not to repent, well, in the final disposition of things Jesus still deals with them as enemies.