Be established in the present truth

2 Peter
{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
{1:2} Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord
{1:3} According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,

**We're not left to flounder. According to the divine power we are given ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness. We get all these thing through knowledge...

{1:3}...through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

**Knowledge of Jesus. The more we know of Jesus the more we know about how we are to live. We are called to live our lives in Jesus, not just accept Him as our savior and then go about out lives as if nothing has changed. We often despair of being able to live in Christ but we are given all we need to do so. We can't ever think we know enough of Jesus, that we've learned all there is to learn. We'll never know all there is to know even if we read the Bible a million time and memorize it backwards and forwards. Forever we need to delve into His words, His life, pray to Him, live in Him accept His Holy Spirit to guide us in our lives as a reality, not as something mystical and sort of real in an abstract way.


{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.

**
Precious promises in the knowledge of Jesus. Precious promises that through them we are part of the divine nature. We can escape the corruption in the world but only through knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


{1:5} And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
{1:6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness
{1:7} And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
{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.

Add to our faith- virtue.
Add to our virtue- knowledge.
Add to knowledge- temperance.
Add to temperance- patience.
Add to patience- godliness.
Add to godliness- brotherly kindness.
Add to brotherly kindness- charity.

We have to ADD these, we have to seek these, we have to pointedly bring into our lives through our love of Jesus. We should never be content with who we are if we lack any of these things...


{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.

**
We can't be this way, we can't forget that we were purged from our old sins, that we've been forgiven, that we've been offered a new life in Christ. If we're not growing in these things we have to examine our lives and ask ourselves why.

Are we seeking to strengthen our faith, our virtue, our knowledge, our patience, our godliness, our brotherly kindness, our charity?

Examine your life, we all have to examine our lives and realize that if we're found lacking that it might be because we don't remember how we were first saved by Jesus, how we first came to knowledge of our Lord, our redeemer. The new man we become in Christ as we seek forgiveness through repentance and seek to follow Him, we have to keep this ever before us, never forgetting.


{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
{1:11} For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
{1:12} Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. {1:13} Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance

People shout that you can't do anything to be save and I've said it before and I'll say it million times, they're right. Salvation is a gift of God, through that salvation we find hope in Christ to eternal life and that hope changes us through the Holy Spirit. We can't get caught up in thinking our walk with Christ ends the moment of acceptance, it's only just begun in truth. We have a responsibility not to save ourselves or think we do by anything we may do, but to seek Christ now and always and grow in grace, grow in knowledge, and to be fruitful in all that Jesus would have us be as we come to know Him more and more.

Amen.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”- 2 Peter 3:10-11

Purified your souls in obeying the truth

1 Peter
{1:22} Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently

Obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren.
See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

Obeying the truth through the Spirit.

How? Unto unfeigned love of the brethren.

Love one another with a pure heart fervently.

Love.

1 John
{5:1} Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
{5:2} By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Luke
{10:25} And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
{10:26} He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
{10:27} And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
{10:28} And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

1 John
{4:7} Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
{4:8} He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
{4:9} In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
{4:10} Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
{4:11} Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
{4:12} No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
{4:13} Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
{4:14} And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
{4:15} Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
{4:16} And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
{4:17} Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
{4:18} There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
{4:19} We love him, because he first loved us.
{4:20} If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
{4:21} And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.


What do you suppose would happen if suddenly there was no profit at all in being a doctor? No profit. What if being a doctor earned you about as much as your average grocery clerk? Stay with me here this is all hypothetical and we're not going to get into the cost of education and all that. Right now, all the doctors in the world have been forgiven all their educational debts so that's not an issue, neither is malpractice insurance, that's all gone too. They have no extraordinary debts or costs to pay out, no more than your average grocery clerk. How many people do you suppose would become doctors if there were no money in it? If it weren't for the prestige and wealth? How many?

It's easy to see today when you're shoved into a waiting room packed with people and have to wait hours just to get shoved into another room alone to wait some more. And then the doctor comes in and spends more time fiddling with their little computer looking at your records and fussing about than they do looking at you. Oh yes, it's easy to see that hurrying up and trying to diagnose you, the answer a pill or two, a blood test or four, a urine test here and a x-ray there, lets just see what's what as quick as possible there are many more cattle needing herded through the place before the day is over. Are we even real to these people? Maybe I'm being harsh, or maybe not harsh enough. All I know is it makes me wonder how many people go into the physician field solely for monetary reasons and in truth they care very little about the people they'll be treating.

Loving your brother.
Love meaning caring more for them than yourself.

How often does that happen?

I saw evidence of it not too long ago when my daughter who has a bad back and numerous health issues started pushing the car of a stranded woman to help her out. I was floored. I was a little angry too, how dare she do such a thing, didn't she know she could really hurt herself! She obviously felt helping the stranded woman was more important than worrying about her health. Stupid? I want to think so, but in truth isn't that what's important? Helping others and not caring about yourself?

Thought of self comes first- how does *this situation* effect me? Will I like this? Will it be an inconvenience to me? Do I have other plans? What's this to me? Self first and if all is satisfactory there then maybe I can think of someone else.

God help me. God help us. Love has nothing to do with self. Nothing. Love has everything to do with others. Everything.

Love God. Love others.

No commandment to love yourself.

That ol' love others as yourself, doesn't mean loving yourself, it means love others as YOU would want to be loved. If we had to love ourselves and love others that way it would only be an obstacle especially for those that concentrate on loving themselves first before they love others, there is nothing selfless in loving yourself. No, I'm not saying hate yourself. I'm saying self is important truly only in the sense that we do all we can to remain healthy and such so that we may respect our lives because God loves us and would have us love others. We're not here on earth to serve ourselves, but to serve God and others.


Mark
{8:35} For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

John
{15:9} As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
{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.
{15:11} These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.
{15:12} This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
{15:13} Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
{15:14} Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command

1 John

{3:16} Hereby perceive we the love [of God,] because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.
{3:17} But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
{3:18} My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
{3:19} And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him

Amen.

They profess that they know God.

Titus
{1:14} Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
{1:15} Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
{1:16} They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate

They profess that they know God.

How many people do you know profess to know God? A lot? A few? Do you profess to know God?

People do profess it, some loud, some not so loud.

Do you know people that profess to know God but seem very ungodly?

The Bible tells us there are people like that. Think about it, really think.

Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth- what is the truth? Jesus our Savior is the truth. Anything that turns us from Jesus, from the message that Jesus taught, from Salvation by grace through Jesus Christ, from the love that is God is not of God and they are the commandments of men, they are listening to fables. People like to listen to those that will tell them pleasing things, they like to hear things that make them feel good, that make them feel as if they know God even if they don't. Many people follow other people rather than God. People need to seek God and God alone, not things other people are seeking. Just because you hear something that sounds about right, don't be fooled, check it, go to the word of God, go to the Bible seek answers for yourself. We're all accountable for ourselves, for what we choose to believe in. No one else is accountable for you and what you believe. You can say all you want that you were *raised* a certain way and that's why you believe as you do but in the end you have to be able to say you studied for yourself, that you sought the truth for yourself. You won't be able to blame anyone else for what you believe. You have eyes to see, you have the discernment you need by studying the word of God, by praying for guidance, by seeking God you must be able to understand that there are going to be many who profess to know God, but they don't.

Unto the pure all things are pure, but until them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Mind and conscience defiled.

We hear of the atrocities of people and the inhumane things they do to others and this is why... their minds and conscience are defiled. They profess God and in works they deny him. No, we're not saved by works, but we can know people by their works. In works if someone denies Christ, they are not of Christ.

Matthew

{7:15} Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
{7:16} Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
{7:17} Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
{7:18} A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
{7:19} Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
{7:20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
{7:21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {7:22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
{7:23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
{7:24} Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock
{7:25} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
{7:26} And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: {7:27} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
{7:28} And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine
{7:29} For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.

Please Lord help us all to not be wolves in sheep's clothing even unwittingly thinking we know you. We need to know you Lord, please to that end bring us. We need to be wise in you, only in you not of ourselves. Please Lord help us to be pure in you, not defiled, not following those who claim to know you but don't know you at all. In the name of your son our savior Jesus Christ, by His grace and mercy, by love.

Amen.

Godliness in hope of eternal life.

Titus {1:1} Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness{1:2} In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began{1:3} But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour{1:4} To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Ever thankful for the Lord, for His mercy, His love, today on Thanksgiving Day we need to thank Him even more than ever.
Read this from Paul to Titus.
The truth which is after godliness in hope of eternal life which God cannot lie promised before the world began.
The truth.
Godliness in hope of eternal life.
God cannot lie.
Promised before the world began.
*
Our wonderful, most amazing Lord and Father didn't do anything haphazardly in creating the world. We can be very thankful for such foresight without it there would have been no salvation.
How many times do people plan things and not think of everything? All the time right? If we only thought of this, if we only thought of that. God thought of it all and we can take great comfort in that.
The truth we all need so desperately is life in Jesus.
All we know is life. We can witness death but we cannot know death in all its reality. We know that when a person dies their life as we know it is over. They get buried or cremated and they're gone from our lives completely except in memory. We too will one day be the person that dies, the one that is gone from the lives of others except in memories. Is that all there is? People want to believe there is more because it gives them hope. Who wants to believe that there is nothing after death? We can have the hope of eternal life and that hope is found in Jesus, this is the truth.
Godliness in hope of eternal life.
One day we who place our trust and our love in Jesus will live again and not in some substandard existence of ghostly form. Jesus didn't die so we could live in a semi-existence. He rose from the grave as a human being with flesh and one day we will as well.
We can all hope in God, and we should all acknowledge the truth which is in God.
I thank God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and praise Him for all His Love and the wonders of that love.
Amen.

Turn away their ears from the truth

2 Tim
{4:3} For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears
{4:4} And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables


**

Not endure sound doctrine.

They will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts.

They shall stop listening to the truth.

They shall be turned to fables.

**

People don't want sound doctrine they want to hear things they like to hear, they want to be told lies to make them feel good. Have you ever heard that as an excuse...'I was just telling them what they wanted to hear.' It's the truth that people feel better when they get confirmation of things they *like*, rather than things they don't *like* to hear. Who wants to be told they'll die eternally if they don't accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? People like to believe that upon death a better life awaits them no matter what. While they might accept they need to believe in Jesus, they don't fully accept that He commands them to do more than that. People like stopping at the believe part but Jesus Himself said to the man who asked what he had to do to have eternal life the following--

Luke
{10:25} And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
{10:26} He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
{10:27} And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
{10:28} And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

You'd think Jesus would say just believe me if that were it, right? Seriously.

But people want to hear just believe, they don't want to hear anything else because then they jump up and say you can't work your way to heaven and...and... loving God and my neighbor falls into that category.

Seriously. We are so self absorbed that putting others first actually becomes a chore, we have to stop and think before we automatically put others first. We have to do so much and yet people only want to believe, just believe.

We're told people don't want to hear sound doctrine, they don't want to hear the truth, they want people who will tell them things they like to hear rather than the truth, they want fables and they're happy.

The time is here, it's not to come, the time is now. People are turning their ears away from the truth right now.

We can't be among them, we just can't!

The truth has to be heard no matter how much we don't want to hear it, and don't fool yourself, it's not always easy to hear at all. We want it to be, we really do, but it's hard, the way is hard, narrow and yet worth any sacrifice a person might make, Jesus made the greatest sacrifice of all and any thing we might have to do to is worth it. Believe in Him yes, yes, yes, without the faith there is no hope. Believe and follow Him. Believe and do as He says. Love. And love isn't easy, selfless love is truly impossible without Him and yet it's what He'd have for us all.

Amen.

Destitute of truth.

Freedom.

Every single mentally capable human being today can be free.

A bold statement and a true one. The only thing in question is- what is my idea of freedom that makes this true?

Surely there are people enslaved all over the world in places we'd never dream of slavery existing. White slavery, black slavery, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, European, you name a single race and there are slaves among that people. Just the other day another *sex slavery ring* was busted, so yes, slavery does exist and it's not only for manual labor, but sexual labor, perverted labors, you name it.

Some people say they are a slave to their job and they mean it, why wouldn't they? They're not able to do what they please but rather are figuratively chained to their desk or whatever it is they do, chained to their occupation because to stop would me hardship- great hardship. They might be free to become homeless and destitute but the other alternative is slavery to their job.

Yes, you can say anyone can quit their job and get another one. They can go to school and start over. They can do this, they can do that, no one has to be a slave to their job. Well, I say they can be. I say you can be without a job, you can live so you don't have to answer to a single other human being, you can do as you please come and go at will without anyone telling you what to do or where to go and you'll still be a slave.

Wait, wasn't this about that bold statement I made, 'Every single mentally capable human being today can be free.'? Here I am practically saying we're all slaves so which is it? Both? Neither? Some where in between?

We're all slaves to sin, and we're all free in Christ.

Truth.

Even those literally enslaved by masters can be free in Christ. Freedom in Christ with a hope of eternal life. Easy for me to say because I'm not the one being tortured, I'm not the one who has to bend to the will of another human being day in and day out living a life of pure agony? Probably. It has to be a lot harder for one enduring hardship to rise above it simply because the one not enduring it is already above it. Bold words, freedom for all, but true words.

Here Paul is instructing the people-


1 Timothy

6:1} Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

Count their masters worthy of all honor? What if they're animals, torturers, inhuman in their defiling, demeaning, degrading treatment of said servant? Love thy neighbor, do good....

Luke
{6:27} But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
{6:28} Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
{6:29} And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also. {6:30} Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask [them] not again.
{6:31} And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
{6:32} For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
{6:33} And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
{6:34} And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
{6:35} But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.
{6:36} Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
{6:37} Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
{6:38} Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

*

1 Timothy
{6:2} And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
{6:3} If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
{6:4} He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
{6:5} Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
{6:6} But godliness with contentment is great gain.
{6:7} For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

{6:8} And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
{6:9} But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
{6:10} For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
{6:11} But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
{6:12} Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

'destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness'

Destitute of truth.

If we believe that living a life of physical freedom, materialistic possessions, of counting ourselves blessed simply because we have surrounded ourselves by possessions- we are so far off the mark it's not funny.

We are richer than the richest man in the world who has the greatest monetary wealth if we have the truth, and it is a richness we only increase by giving it away. The truth is ours to give. The truth is ours to share. We can be rich in the only way it really matters because as the Bible says--

{6:7} For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Nothing.

May God help us to fully realize that the greatest riches we could have are those that cost nothing and are only increased when we give them away endlessly.

We are free in Christ, free in the truth, free no matter our earthly bonds, no matter what shape or form they take our freedom is in Christ now and always.

{6:12} Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life

Praise God for His love, for His mercy and truth, His grace and goodness, in Christ Jesus' name.

Amen.

Perilous times

2 Timothy
{3:1} This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. {3:2} For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedientto parents, unthankful, unholy, {3:3} Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {3:4} Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God{3:5} Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.{3:6} For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, {3:7} Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Rare indeed is the society we see which seems to genuinely care for others before themselves.We think of ourselves first.We do.We think of ourselves first because we are lovers of ourselves.You might think you hate yourself, but the next time you say the word *I* who are you thinking of and in what context?
We are lovers of our own selves. Number one comes first, gotta look out for number one, who is number one? Self. Covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...
We are ALL of these things.
Perilious times.
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof
...from such turn away.
How can we turn away from such when it seems that these are the only people left- including ourselves?
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So sad...
...ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We need the truth desperately. Without the truth it's impossible for us to be saved. Impossible.
Ever learning......never able.
May God help us all in these very perilous times.
We'd be fools to think these aren't the last days, and even though each generation believes such, it's the way it has to be or people would become complacent.
Perilous times indeed.
I don't want to ever be one who is 'ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.' The truth is found in Jesus Christ and it is to Him I hold fast, by the grace of God, our Father.
Amen.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”- Colossians 2:6-7

Recover themselves out of the snare of the devil

2 Timothy {2:22} Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.{2:23} But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. {2:24} And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men,] apt to teach, patient, {2:25} In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; {2:26} And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
**
Flee also youthful lusts- youthful lusts. It's no secret that when you are youthful you do have untempered lusts. Some teenagers let their lusts consume them. Men and women have these lusts as well and often men an women are loathed to let the youthful lusts be tempered and carry them on into adulthood. We're no longer allowing youthful lusts to stay there are we? If we talk sex alone just look at the explosion of erection drugs out there for men who have trouble getting and staying that way. More and more youthful lusts are sought after and encouraged not being turned away from. 'Flee also youthful lust', perhaps there is a reason for this, perhaps dwelling on and encouraging youthful lust is a huge distraction from all that would help a person grow in Christ. Youthful lusts are purely selfish aren't they? Self-gratification, self absorbtion, and we know that selfishness is against all that is God.
Told to flee youthful lust we are also told to... 'follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.'
Further we are admonished, 'But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they they do gender strifes and the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gently unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgeing of truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will.'
Wow, so much there.
We are admonished flee youthful lusts, rather follow good. We are told to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, avoid strife. People like to goad other people into arguments don't they? Well sometimes. Debating is something we're encouraged to do, and keeping it civil of course is the best way but often debates can get heated. Some people-- most people-- like to be right about whatever it is they're arguing for and Christians are told not to argue, not to cause strife, but to be gentle, teaching, patiently, meekly.
God does give repentance to those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior who died for them so they could have eternal life, and that is the truth. Without believing in the truth repentance is impossible.
Repentance to the acknowledging of truth and that they my recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive at his will.
Recover themselves ouf of the snare of the devil. Amen!
The devil does take captives as he wills, we might not want to believe it, but it's true. Captive into sin, snared by the devil, no one wants that do they? No one wants to be snared by the devil. How many are snared and don't even know? Recovering themselves out of that snare is done by obtaining repentance by acknowledging the truth. Through Jesus and Jesus alone we can find repentance can we be recovered out of Satan's snares.
Praise God for His love through Jesus!
Amen
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”- Psalm 100:4-5

Who gave himself a ransom for all

Ezk.
{7:5} Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
{7:6} An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.

1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

**

God would have ALL men be saved.
God would have ALL men come to the knowledge of truth.
One God.
One mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.
Christ Jesus who gave himself -
a ransom for all-
to be testified in due time.


A ransom.

Jesus is a ransom for us.

ransom (ràn´sem) noun
1. a. The release of property or a person in return for payment of a demanded price. b. The price or payment demanded or paid for such release.
2. Theology. A redemption from sin and its consequences.

verb, transitive
ransomed, ransoming, ransoms
1. a. To obtain the release of by paying a certain price. b. To release after receiving such a payment.
2. Theology. To deliver from sin and its consequences.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary


If salvation could be bought how much would you pay for it? Seriously how much money would you spend to buy eternal life? What if there were a special on eternal life, buy it now in the next twenty-four hours and receive an extra eternal life for a loved one? What if it were a once a lifetime offer that if you passed it up you'd never get another chance to purchase eternal life? What if eternal life was some days offered for 1 penny and other days 1,000,000 dollars, only you never would know in advance when it would be offered for lower or higher? Would you risk missing out on eternal life by *not* buying it as soon as it was offered to you, knowing you could die the moment after and be lost forever?

That's a lot of what if's isn't it?

Salvation can't be bought by us though. It's one of those things you just can't buy no matter how rich you are. Salvation isn't exclusively for those with money, prestige, power, nor for just the middle class, or the poor. There isn't a single person who can buy salvation, not one, it's not for sale. I might say it's like the air you breathe but even that would be a falsehood because some people need extra air- oxygen from tanks to live and those people have to buy their air, so it's not like the air you breathe at all.

It's my believe that salvation is automatic for all children under the age of accountability. A bold statement? Perhaps, but it's my personal belief.

A babe newly born is no more a sinner than Jesus. Seriously, how can that baby be a sinner? You say the babe inherits it through its parents? That because Adam and Eve sinned that automatically everyone is born a sinner? I have to disagree and tell you what I think. I think we're born from parents who are sinners (obviously they're past the age of accountability and they sinned at some point in their life. You know that first- for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.) How can I say that babies haven't sinned if *all* have sinned? I believe babies inherit the tendencies to sinned and once their age of accountability comes around and they begin to know right from wrong and commit wrong knowingly- they've sinned. Their flesh is weak as all human flesh is because we are born from sinful parents all the way back to Adam and Eve.

Sin is the transgression of the law.

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

Romans {3:31} Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

There has to be a law in order for there to be a sin, yes? Yes.

There has to be a breaking of the law for there to be a sinner, yes? Yes.

Salvation is guaranteed to babies who have not broken a single law.

You know what I think is one of the first laws to be broken by a child? I could be wrong, but I think it's the one about honoring your mother and father. A child starts to slip into the awareness of that authority in their lives and they learn that they need to obey that authority and yet they defy the authority of the parent- knowingly. Seriously. Think about it. What child doesn't grow up learning that they have to *listen* and *obey* what their parent says? A parent tells a child- 'Go get into your pajamas.' A child tells the parent, 'No. I'm not ready to.' Is that the sin? Not yet. The parent then says, 'Listen to me, I'm your mother/father and I said go get into your pajamas and when I say go get into your pajamas you do it. You have to listen to me, I know what's best for you.' The child then after hearing all that says, 'No. I don't want to.' Is it sin yet? We want to say NOOoooooo! We want to say the child is just being normal with normal defiance, the child is just stretching his wings so to speak, seeking independence a bit. We can come up with all sorts of excuses for what the child is doing, we could, I could. Is it a sin yet? Yes. It's knowing right from wrong and still doing it. Some might say no, it's not sin because the child doesn't realize he/she should obey their parents and why should they do so on the say so of the parent. This parent they're defying has been the same parent who has been in their life since birth, the same parent who has taught them so many things up to this point of defiance. This parent has shown love to the child, they've nurtured him/her, fed them, clothed them, soothed them when they were frightened. This parent has been an authority in their life all along. This parent isn't a stranger ordering the child around, but someone they love and trust. Why shouldn't they listen to the parent is a better question.

Anyway, I'm sure people have all sorts of thoughts on this particular subject but I fully believe that once we learn right from wrong and we choose to do wrong knowingly then we're accountable for that wrong.

Salvation can't be purchased for us sinners, not by us. We cannot buy salvation. We are effectively hostages to sin, yes, hostages and all we can do is accept the fact that another has to pay the ransom for our salvation. Sin will not release us willingly, sin will hold fast to us and keep us captive to it with a desperation we can't even imagine. We think only of *rich* people being kidnapped to ensure *rich* ransoms will be paid for them. But sin isn't a respecter of wealth, we are all a great treasure to Satan and he'll pull out all the stops to keep us from being ransomed, or rather, from accepting the ransom that is being offered to us. Before you think it odd that any kidnapped person would want to stay with their abductor, think again. There is case after case of people who are kidnapped who after time can't imagine not being with their abductor, they even sometimes fall in love with their abductors. Satan is like the most seductive of abductors. He knows everything to do to keep us *happy*, to fulfill our *needs*, he could be touted to be the best, most skilled abductor in all history. His victims include almost everyone. Not only is he skilled in keeping his kidnapped people content, he has the record for being the most prolific kidnapper in all history as well. The thing is, his skill lies in deception. He deceives people in such away they don't even know they've been kidnapped, how's that for skill?! If you don't feel kidnapped, if you don't believe you are kidnapped, then how can you ever want to be ransomed? See, it works great for him, perfect even.

Recognizing that this evil principality, this evil spiritual power does exist and does have the power to keep us captive to him is the first step towards Salvation from being kidnapped. Relying on God, relying on the gift of Salvation through the ransom of the blood of Christ, who died in our place to save us from our kidnapper is necessary. We have a Savior, we have a Redeemer, we have to cling to Him daily because Satan is an insidious kidnapper and just because he might lose you to salvation when you run to your Savior, doesn't mean he's going to stop trying to kidnap you. If anything, he might employ more devious tactics to try and steal you away back to him. He'll never stop trying, and if he can find a way to sneak in and get you, he will.

Truly we need spiritual armor just as the Bible tells us we do.

Ephesians
{6:11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
{6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
{6:13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
{6:14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
{6:15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
{6:16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
{6:17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
{6:18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

God would have us all saved. That we all would know the truth.

1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Jesus died for us all and wants to save each and everyone of us.

Salvation is free, we don’t have to pay for it, it was paid by the Son of God for us, we just have to claim it, we just have to choose to be saved.

Praise be to God, all glory and power, all honor to our God, to our Father, to the Son Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit now and forever.

Amen.

Bound to give thanks

2 Thess.
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth

From the beginning God knew that should man fall that a way would be made for them to be made holy again. That's was sanctification means, being made holy, in this case 'through sanctification of the Spirit'

Dict.

1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate.
2. To make holy; purify.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary

Salvation through being made holy. Salvation through spiritual sanctification. Believing in the truth and being made holy of the Spirit, this is salvation. The truth is Jesus Christ our Lord is our Savior, He is the truth. Believing in the truth, believing in Jesus, being made holy of the spirit. Our spirit being...in the process of becoming holy. The holy spirit can sanctify us, the holy spirit allowed to work in us can make us acceptable to God.

Romans
{8:12} Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
{8:13} For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
{8:14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
{8:15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
{8:16} The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
{8:17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him,] that we may be also glorified together.

Isn't that wonderful?!

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Spirit to spirit, sanctification of the Spirit.

2 Thess.
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth

Giving thanks.

Appropriate again :)

Thanksgiving is right around the corner less than a week away and there are many instances of giving thanks throughout the Bible.

Thanks

Dict.

thank (thàngk) verb, transitive
thanked, thanking, thanks
1. To express gratitude to; give thanks to: He thanked her for the gift.
2. To hold responsible; credit: We can thank the parade for this traffic jam.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary

Expressing gratitude.

'Bound to give thanks alway to God for you' Gratitude to God always. Gratitude to God, Thanks to God. It is through God that Salvation is made possible. Through God, through the truth, through the Spirit.

There is no other way to God, to salvation except through the Son.

It is wonderful that we are saved, wonderful that God from the beginning knew that there would be those who would choose salvation through Him.

We should thank God, all the time. Thank Him for His wonder, for His amazing love, for so much.

No, we might not always feel thankful, we might not always want to thank God especially when things are going wrong in our lives and yet He's in control if we allow Him to be. All the trials we go through in life, all the horrors great and small, they all will somehow, someway work out for good if we trust the God is in control. We don't have to like it, we won't like a lot of things, we're not meant to seek a life of ease and smooth-sailing and call any upset a result of God's punishing us, we're not. We can't think that way. We can't *blame* God, Satan would have us blame God, and God would have us trust in Him, trust in God for the ultimate promise through Jesus.

We have to thank God because He is in control of the chaos that is often our lives. He's in control and there is comfort in knowing that while we don't understand a single thing, He sees the huge picture and knows the end from the beginning. He'll guide us, He'll sustain us, He'll give us all we need to believe and trust in the salvation through Jesus and that salvation will lead us to a life we can barely comprehend because we only have tiny glimpses of the glory waiting for us.

Thank you God!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A million times thank you!

I don't understand it all and I'll never claim to understand it all. I know I don't always give thanks when I should, but I need to try and do so more and more. By the Grace of God, thank you God, now and always.

Amen.

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;”- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

That they all might be damned ...

**

We're heading into the flu season and lots of people nowadays get a flu shot. They are inoculating themselves in hopes of warding off the flu. No one likes being sick, at least no one I've ever known. The flu can be so nasty, and in some cases even deadly, it's no wonder people want to inoculate themselves from getting it, or at least if they do get it then it's a much milder form. Who wants to gamble with their lives like that? You might say a lot of people because not all get the flu shot. I have yet to get mine, but I'm hoping to next week. I want to be inoculated against the flu. You know last year I was inoculated and guess what? I still got sick, really sick, like you have to take medicine to get better sick, not just wait it out and it goes away. Anyone that knows me, really knows me, knows I hate taking medicine and don't unless it's a last recourse. Why did I get so sick if I had the shot and paid 25.00 to get it? Because later on it was made known that they guessed the virus strains wrong. That's all it really is, guessing which viruses might appear in a given season and getting a vaccination prepared to fight what you GUESS, even educated-ly guess, might be out there ready to strike you down. Some years you get it right, some years you get it wrong, last year they got it wrong and supposedly this year they've acquired better guessers and it's supposed to be a lot better.

The point I'm making here is we often go to great lengths to protect ourselves, our health, our safety, we want to live healthy and accident free. We place great store on keeping ourselves as up to date on things that will ensure our protection from anything that would harm us, biological or not. Why shouldn't we? Again I reiterate, no one likes to be sick. No one likes to put themselves in such jeopardy they risk death- hold on, daredevils, mountain climbers, race car drivers, foot ball players, motorbike racers, surfboards, the list is endless for those who DO put their lives at risk. These people enjoy the thrill of living on the edge, teetering on the precipice of life and death, they call it a high, the ultimate rush. So I suppose I can't say NO one likes to live dangerously, but I can say MOST people don't like to be sick or live dangerously. Most people don't like to gamble with their well-being in that way.

The very people that take the utmost precautions against becoming ill and getting injured often neglect the very thing that can protect them the most. No, it can't protect you like a science fiction body shield making you a super human being, but this protection offers the greatest protection you'll ever have. Protection for your eternal life. Protection that offers you life everlasting without a day of pain, sickness.

What's the thing that can protect us? How can we inoculate ourselves for eternal life? By daily, sometimes hourly, minutely, secondly injections of the truth.

Stop groaning. It's true.

The only thing that can save us ultimately is the truth. Eternal life isn't guaranteed to you just because you were born. You're not guaranteed a life of happiness after death. There isn't a realm you roam happily automatically. That light people see at the end of the tunnel when they have near death experiences and come back, that light isn't the promised eternal life. Even people that want nothing to do with God whatsoever, who have committed gross sins and only want to commit more of them have had near death experiences and have seen the so-called light, the so-called promise of happy life everlasting. Some might argue that was to change their lives around giving them a second chance, showing them what they have to lose, but no all those people are changed by the experience. Some are thrilled that they know they'll go on to a better life no matter what they do.

Deception.

Make the majority of humanity believe that they go on to a better place upon death. That every little boy or girl whose mommy or daddy die can believe their lost loved one is in heaven watching them.

Deception.

We can be assured of eternal life with Christ alone. We need a love of the truth if we're not to be deceived. LOVE of the truth, one super inoculation coming up. Keep the love of the truth in your life at all times, not some of the time, but at all times and you know that you're protected.

Let's pretend for a moment a wicked disease sweeps over all the earth and millions of people die before scientist come up with a cure. The cure is something you need to take all the time, something like a patch that has to administer low doses of the protection all day long. The guarantee that you'll die if you don't wear the patch is certain. Would the majority of people choose not to wear the patch? No, they want to stay protected, they want to live.

We need a low dose Jesus patch that we wear every day, all day long ministering to us His love, His forgiveness, His Holy Spirit, the truth. We need a love of the truth. A love so great that we never forget it not even for a moment. In all we do, in all we are we have to have Jesus with us, we have to have a love of the truth, a love of God.

Read the following which about why a lot of people will perish and not have eternal life--

2 Thessalonians

{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Read it again. You know how I like you to read things again just to bring the point home.

2 Thessalonians

{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

In them that perish... they are deceived by unrighteousness, deceived by the workings of Satan, deceived by powerful forces, deceived by signs- signs that people will believe are from God, deceived by lying wonders- wonders that are amazing and all lies. Deceived because people will NOT receive a love of the truth that they might be saved. They don't want it! They don't want the patch that'll keep them alive. They don't want the inoculation, they don't want to protect themselves with the truth. They want to draw a nice cloak of deceivability around them and believe lies and wonders, signs that are so close to the real thing, they want to believe all that but they don't want to believe the truth, they don't want to love the truth.

Once dead set (pardon the pun) on believing the pretty lies that are so close to the truth it's hard to tell that they're not, God's going to let people believe that lie. Meaning what?

Meaning the truth is out there for all to see. The love of the truth is available to everyone. Not everyone wants the truth, in fact the majority would much rather be deceived, it feels better on their conscience.

All that choose to be deceived rather than love the truth found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, will perish, there will be NO eternal life for them, these people will never know true joy, true peace, true love, never. The pleasure they get is in unrighteousness, not from the truth.

People want a special protection bubble to keep them from all of life's many anxieties, heartaches, despairs, but that doesn't exist. Our hope has to be in eternity and the promise of that life to come in Jesus. We can overcome the world and all it's pains, but that doesn't mean we won't suffer. The only way we overcome is with a love of the Truth, a LOVE of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

In truth, the word of God

Skeptics. Skeptical. Skepticism.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary.

skeptic also sceptic (skèp´tîk) noun
1. One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.
2. One inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
3. Philosophy. a. Often Skeptic . An adherent of a school of skepticism. b. Skeptic. A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of Elis (360?-272? B.C.).


One who instinctively or habitually doubts...questions...or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.

Do you fall into this category? Are you a skeptic? Do you or others consider you a skeptic? Is it good to be skeptical? Habitually doubting and disagreeing with generally accepted conclusions? A skeptic might doubt the believability of God, while the majority of people in the world believe that He exists and is in charge of things.

Is it safe to say there are more skeptics when it comes to believing in God, or more when it comes to believing Jesus is God's only son, that He was made man and dwelt among us and died for us, only to rise again and live for us?

I believe there are a lot more skeptics when it comes to Jesus. You've the entire Allah worshipping community that only believe that Jesus was a good prophet, not God's Son as well as the entire Jewish community, not to mention the many religions that worship nature as if it created itself, pagans and such as a religion the majority while accepting the validity of God they reject His Son.

Back when Jesus lived among people before His death He did many, many miracles of the like the world had NEVER seen. He did it taking no glory to himself but giving it all to God, His Father. Jesus didn't come to earth to be an earthly King and to be worshipped in the way man tends to worship their earthly kings. He didn't come seeking accolades and blind worship, worship without knowing who exactly you were worshipping. Earthly kings tended to glory in others worshipping them, showing them obeisance, they took accolade after accolade as something worthy of them, something due to them. Jesus gave all the glory to God, all of it.

Not unsurprising, Jesus was put to death, condemned by important religious and secular leaders of the day, allowed to die even though He boasted nothing of Himself, nothing. He was a quiet threat to them because while He didn't seek the worship, others wanted to give it to Him, others were building Him up because of their witness of Him, because of their belief in Him and their belief in His amazing claim to be the Son of God. If He weren't crazy and ready to be locked up in a room with padded walls (uhm did they even have those sorts of rooms? Probably not.) If He weren't ostracized as a lunatic claiming sonship with God, if He weren't accused of being totally mad and deserving more of the care they gave to lunatic, then they had to believe in His claim enough to be scared of its validity. They had to believe just enough that what Jesus claimed might be true and therefore they had to get rid of Him to prove Him a liar. Crazy people can't admit to their craziness, delusional people under the control of the delusions cannot admit to their craziness, how can they? The very face they believe their delusions makes them crazy. So the only way this crazy man thinking He's God's Son could be a threat is if people BELIEVED Him to be what He said He was. Enough people believed that His followers grew in numbers. As He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey he was herald befitting a king! If he quieted the crowd honoring Him even the rocks would have cried out. It was time for the revelations to be made fully and while a lot of people believed, a lot in the high places didn't. The realization to those skeptics wasn't that God's Son was truly among them, but that a MAN claiming to be God's Son and FOOLING many people had gained too large a following, so large it was threatening their authority. Oh yes, the authority God placed on them as priests and such. If a Messiah was going to come, if the Son of God really were going to grace earth with His presence He come from the priests themselves, the priests would have a hand in His arrival and in His upbringing, in His existence. They surely wouldn't be left in the dark about a Son of God, what a claim to glory-- for THEM.

Jesus, Son of God, took no glory to Himself but gave it all to God, the Father.

Listen to this...

1 Thess.
{2:13} For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

*

Beautiful isn't it? Read it again.

1 Thess.
{2:13} For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

*

Thanking God without ceasing...why?

Because when the word of God was spoken by them, people heard it and didn't believe it came from man, but of God.

What was that we said earlier-- many people in the world believe Jesus was a good man, a good prophet, but not God's Son, it's true, that's what they believe, really, really believe.

They believed what He said and did was good, but NOT the word of God. They liked what they heard, but gave no power to the words spoken. Powerless words, nice to hear but beyond that they mean little. Good ideas perhaps, a good philosophy but man's philosophy not God's.

Is it any wonder that thanks without ceasing is made when people truly believe? When people believe with their hearts and their minds, truly believe the word they receive is of God how could they not be affected? How could it not be counted towards them as something wonderful. Believing and claiming all the power that God has in the words He's spoken, means claiming the Truth, validating the truth.

In truth the word of God.

Not the word of mere man. Not the word of a very good man. Not the word of the greatest orator, the greatest humanitarian solely a man.

In truth the word of God.

We can take what men say with a grain of salt, but the word of God is something we need to holdfast to, something we need to believe in wholeheartedly.

1 Thess.
{2:13} For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

There is power in the word of God, great power to save, but the power isn't forced on anyone, it must be believed.

Glory be to God! Glory be to the Father and to the Son!

All glory to God and God alone, now and forever. May the power of God in each word of His continue to forever be effective towards those that would believe.

Amen.


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

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages...

Colossians
{1:18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

**
Christ, our Lord and Savior, the head of the body. We all know that without a head a person dies. You can lose so much but there are a few vital things you can't lose and still live. You can lose a finger, a hand, an arm, a toe, a foot, a leg, and you can lose a few internal organs as well and still live. Without the head the body is dead, and vice versa, without a body the head is dead.

Christ is the head of the body which is His Church, His people. Christ had no reason to take on the flesh of man, to consign himself to being crucified, he had no reason to die for save He did so for us. Without having a people on earth, without having those who would truly believe and have faith in Him, there was no reason for him to exist in human form. He did what he did for us, out of love.

We as children of God need Christ first and foremost as the head of the body if we're to live.

{1:18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The firstborn from the dead.

People who believe you did and go straight to heaven or to hell as it were, how do they reconcile this statement truly? Christ is the firstborn from the dead. Christ alone lived after the weight of all the sin in existence was placed upon him and he prevailed by faith in His Father to save Him, even when He was totally shut off from the contact He had with His Father. Sin separates us from God and dying not only physically, but dying from taking on sin and separating Himself from God made Christ Jesus the firstborn from the dead. He died sinless for us, willing to take on our sins and die for us. He overcame sin and yet allowed our sins to be placed upon Him. He lost all life and was cut off in death, for three days he lay in the grave, for three days He didn't live again. There was no instantaneous separation that sent Him flying off to heaven. Death isn't like that, not for Jesus the firstborn from the dead, nor for any of us.


{1:19} For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell

**
It pleased God, Jesus' Father that Christ should have all the fulness of humanity, that He should take on human form, that He should live by faith in Him and that He should die sinless to save the sinners. This was God's will.


{1:20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

**
All things in heaven and on earth, all things the human, the angelic, all things would be reconciled to Christ. When sin began it was with an angel, one-third of the angels rebelled and followed Lucifer united against God. It seems only right that Christ would be able to reconcile even angels. Doesn't the Bible say we shall judge angels?

1 Corinthians {6:3} Know ye not that we shall judge angels?

Yes, Christ died for us, Christ died and paved the way for true, everlasting peace to exist. Christ reconciled ALL things to Himself.


{1:21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

**
Wicked works separate us from God. People don't seem to understand that fully. Sin separates us from God and a way to be reconciled with God had to be made and that way was and is Christ.


{1:22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
{1:23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister

**
Through Christ's sacrifice we alone can be presented blameless and unreprovable- it's something we need to live daily! Live daily renewing the precious promises we have been given by Jesus for salvation.

What is said here? If ye continue... IF ye continue... IF, meaning we have a choice to make and the choice has to be made constantly as we continue in the faith.

If ye continue in the faith.

Grounded and settled.

Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.

Faith, hope, truth, gospel.

We cannot be moved from this hope of Christ crucified and risen.

It's when the hope is taken from us that we are left in darkness, hopeless.

Everyone has access to the hope found in Christ, everyone.


{1:24} Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
{1:25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
{1:26} Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
{1:27} To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
{1:28} Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
{1:29} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

**
Amazing isn't it? The dedication, the importance placed up all things Christ.

The mystery that was hidden now revealed.

The promise for thousands of years hoped for, finally obtained. The wonder that is salvation through Jesus Christ, son of God. Christ in us is our hope of glory.

Preach to others, warn others, teach others these things are so necessary because the mystery is uncovered and a secret no longer. Redemption is through the blood of the Lamb, our Savior Jesus Christ died for us to obtain salvation in Him, through Him we are to be reconciled with God our Heavenly Father.

We seek the truth of life, we seek hope, we strive to find something to make life all meaningful and not a pointless existence. We realize that no matter what achievements we make that they mean nothing without Christ, without being reconciled any victory we claim is hollow, empty, and meaningless. Christ is our hope, our everlasting hope! May we all cling to the hope found only in Jesus.

Amen.

Giving thanks unto the Father

Colossians
{1:12} Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
{1:13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
{1:14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
{1:15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature
{1:16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him
{1:17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

**

With Thanksgiving just around the corner this is something that is very pertinent. Giving thanks.

When you thank someone (not being sarcastic) it's a genuine feeling of gratitude isn't it? An appreciation of something they've done, something they've said. An act of kindness usually precedes a thank you, and sometimes a thank you come beforehand in anticipation of a forthcoming kindness. You done it haven't you? Asked someone to do you a favor and thanked him or her before the favor is done. You're thanking them in anticipation of the act being done. More often than not though, we thank people after they've helped us out. Can you remember the last time you thanked someone? I do. Last night and I believe it was Matthew for taking the Garbage out to the curb. What about the last time you were thanked? I believe Jo thanked me for giving her money for a treat after school, last night. In both cases there were acts precipitating the thanking.

There are a lot of things we need to be thankful for, a lot. The most important thank you should go to God, the Father.

Just as an Oscar award winner stands up and says-- 'I'd like to thank my father without whom I'd never have come this far.' We need to thank our Heavenly Father because with Him we would never be partakers in the inheritance to come. The Bible says so...

Colossians
{1:12} Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
{1:13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
{1:14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins

**

Here mixed up in this thankful moment are bits of both types of thanking- after the act of kindness and before the act of kindness.

We thank God because the way to Him has been forged. We thank God because we know He'll keep His promises for the future when we are translated to the kingdom of Jesus.

The way is forged and there is nothing that can change that at all whatsoever. The promises to us are very real.

We talk about the powers of darkness dragging us down, but we can thank God for delivering us from that power of darkness. We have hope, great hope and that has been made possible through the Son of God. It's through Christ's blood we are redeemed, it's through Christ's blood we have our sins forgiven.

Christ by whom all things are possible-

{1:15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature
{1:16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him
{1:17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Amazing isn't it! Truly amazing. We weren't created and left to flounder. We were created and loved. We were created, watched over, and when we chose wrong a way was made for us to find redemption.

No matter what our circumstances on earth, and some truly have circumstances we find hard to comprehend, we all have Christ in common. From the richest to the poorest, from the healthiest to the sickest, we have our Creator, our Redeemer to look to for hope, for salvation, for a new life, for a future kindness. We thank God the Father for the Son. We thank the Son for revealing the Father's love and offering us hope through His great sacrifice. We thank the Holy Spirit, the comforter sent to us while we make our way through the time we must spend here on earth waiting for the promise to come when Christ returns.

There is so much for us to be thankful for, but first and foremost, God. God who offers us the greatest hope of all through His son, in offering us a life without the sin that brings so many so much heartache and pain.

Our hope is in Heaven.

Our hope born of the blood of the Lamb.

Our hope is grasped onto now tightly, and our hope will be realized.

Thank you God for all You've done, for creation, for redemption, for hope when the powers of darkness would have us to believe life is hopeless.

Amen.

Strengthen with patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

Colossians
{1:1} Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
{1:2} To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{1:3} We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
{1:4} Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
{1:5} For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
{1:6} Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew
the grace of God in truth:
{1:7} As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
{1:8} Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
{1:9} For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
{1:10} That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

***


{1:11} Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Amazing isn't it? Strengthened with all might- according to HIS glorious power-- not physically. We think strengethening with all our might as being physically powerful. Using all our might to commit tasks, to endure and yet here Paul is praying for those saints, those believers at Colosse, wanting them to be strengthened with all might according to Jesus' glorious power unto ALL patiences and longsuffering with joyfulness.

Let me tell you having such a strength is very rare. Very rare.

We don't have patience, we are filled with impatience, filled to the brim with it. Our lives are focused on here now, getting what we want as soon as we can with the least delay. We have a desire and we want it filled instantly. Fast food, fast check outs, fast commutes, fast service, fast work days, fast falling in love, fast waits for every situation the faster the better. When it's time to relax we cut back on that *fast desire* a little bit wanting our leisure time to be prolonged- however during that leisure time we want our comforts quickly. We want our pizza delivery in 30 minutes or less, we want commercials on our television to speed through the less the better, we want any home chores needed to be done on our days off to go very quickly. Interrupted by another we want the interruption to quickly be over- precious time is a wasting.

Patience.

Strengthened with all might - unto all patience (according to Jesus' power).

Strengthened not just a little bit but with ALL might! Unto patience.

Why would the followers of Jesus need to have such patience? Maybe because when people don't see end results instantly they lose sight of their goal, they grow bored, they grow disillusioned, they stray. Just because the life of those living back 2000 years was totally different than our lives today doesn't mean they were any less impatient for their lives to be freed from the burdens they were under and Christ to return to save them. Today and for the last 2000 years Christians have been looking for the promised return of Christ. Some might call Christians crazy disillusioned fools to hold fast to this hope for so long! 2000 years! Fools? Well, some might say definitely, that sooner or later people need to give up hope, if He's not returned after 2000 years what would make people believe He'll ever return?

Faith.

Christians have faith and no wonder Paul used those words- Strengthened with all might....ALL MIGHT...according to HIS glorious power until ALL PATIENCE!

Such patience is needed for Christians, all Christians. If we are strong in patience then we're not going to be like those who say--

'Matthew
{24:42} Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
{24:43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
{24:44} Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
{24:45} Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
{24:46} Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
{24:47} Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
{24:48} But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
{24:49} And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
{24:50} The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him,] and in an hour that he is not aware of
{24:51} And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Evil servants say in their heart- the Lord delays his coming and as a result no longer walks upright.

Patience. We have to have patience. Christ will return and Christ will strengthen His saints with all might in that patience and not only in patience but in -- {1:11} Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness

Longsuffering with joyfulness!

Did you read that?! Read it again.

Longsuffering with joyfulness!

We don't suffer with joyfulness, why it's absurd! Only those amazingly heroic people perhaps with some terminal illness somehow manage to suffer and be happy. These people write uplifting books for others suffering. These people are pointed out and put on the news specials and documentary, people exclaim and marvel over the ability of the few to suffer with joyfulness. On a tv show called HOUSE- about a very caustic brilliant doctor- there was a show about his disbelief that a patient could be happy all the time regardless of circumstance and you know what, he was proven right- the person in question had a medical condition that made him happy all the time. I don't recall the details but suffering with joyfulness is an oddity really.

Yes, people suffer all the time, all the time. Each person has their own unique suffering. What might be painful to you either emotionally or physically, might not be so to me, but that doesn't make your pain any less and vice versa.

We suffer in many ways and Jesus is there to strengthen us.

Paul is praying that Jesus will strengthen us with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and LONGSUFFERING WITH JOYFULNESS.

Strengthen with patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

Truly it's amazing when we can suffer with joy.

We will suffer, we will be tempted towards impatience. There is no wonder that Paul would pray such a prayer.

May Paul's prayer for the saints at Colosse be our prayer today.

Colossians {1:11} Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

We need this! We need strength now more than ever 2000 years later. We need strong patience and we need the ability to suffer with joyfulness and not give in to our suffering which is so easy to do. We suffer and we want sympathy, we suffer and we want to cry and wail. We suffer and want others to suffer with us, or at least give us a lot of sympathy, suffering with a smile isn't something we're prone to doing. We need the Strength of Christ in all might to live lives acceptable unto him now and always.

By His grace, by His mercy.

Amen.

Being fruitful in every good work

Colossians
{1:1} Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
{1:2} To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{1:3} We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
{1:4} Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
{1:5} For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
{1:6} Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew
the grace of God in truth:
{1:7} As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
{1:8} Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
{1:9} For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

*

{1:10} That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Walk worthy of the Lord
Unto all pleasing
being fruitful in every good work
increasing in the knowledge of God.

Here you are, you've accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you've repented and asked for forgiveness for doing things that would keep you separated from God and that moment is amazing, it's wonderful, the newly formed relationship with the Lord is beyond words. Yet very few people accept Christ into their lives and then die a moment later so that they don't have to live a life in Christ.

Accepting Christ as your Savior is step one- living in Christ is step two.

Paul in writing to the new believers at Colosse had much to say.

He's telling them this-

'Walk worthy of the Lord.' What does it mean to walk worthy of the Lord?

Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God.

Walk Worthy- be fruitful - how? In every good work. AND increasing in the knowledge of God.

Every good work.

A stumblingblock for so many people who shout- WE'RE NOT SAVE BY WORKS!

I shout back- NO, WE'RE NOT SAVE BY WORKS BUT BY GRACE, BUT GRACE DOESN'T MEAN THERE SHOULD BE NO GOOD WORKS. Good works aren't going to save you and it's a mistake to think they will, but good works are necessary because Christ's entire ministry here on earth had to do with being an example to us and the good works HE did are countless! He didn't sit back and say do nothing just believe. He didn't say believe and do nothing else at all. If our Savior who did all manner of good works in His ministry on earth wants to live in us through His Holy Spirit it stands to reason that we would live a life similar to Christ's- ministering to others in all we do.

Seriously.

Our lives are to be lived- walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work.

Truly I will shout from the rooftops that I am not saved by a single good work, not one! But in the next breath I'll proclaim walking in Christ, walking worthy of the Lord, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God.

Do you see? Every action we make after we are forgiven by God and seek a life in Him through the sacrifice of His Son can draw us closer to Him- increasing our knowledge of Him or further away.

Ask yourself what the outcome of your actions are as you're going through the day but be careful when you do so because it's dangerous.

I mean it.

It's dangerous.

Why?

It's dangerous because the revelation of just how much we do that has nothing to do with drawing closer to God, increasing in the knowledge of Him, will tend to lead us to despair and we know where despair leads us, completely away from Christ.

If there is a single thing you do each day that helps you draw closer to God that's wonderful! Truly wonderful. Yet like the Pharisee who claimed didn't I pray every day, ten times a day, didn't I give to the poor, didn't I do this and that- held up against the lowly man who cried out, forgive me Lord, I'm a sinner- we have to remember none of our actions save us only Christ saves us and the actions afterwards become the shared ministry of Christ.

It's like you become a policeman and as soon as you take off your badge and gun after work you go out and live a life full of crime. Instantly we all agree that policeman is corrupt! Like a doctor who hangs up his smock and stethoscope only to go out and get pleasure from inflicting injury and pain on others- corrupt! Like a fireman who turns out to be an arsonist, like a preacher who turns out to be deep in gambling and sex addiction.

We cry corrupt! We shout it out and point our fingers boldly, corrupt!

Yes, we as Christians claim Christ and go and continue on in our sins readily, we claim Christianity but to an outsider watching us through the day they would have no idea we were a Christian, none, not by our actions, not by the way we live our lives. Oh, we smile at them and say, I'm a Christian, and they blink at us in confusion, nod and smile and silently wonder what our idea of Christianity is.

That old bumper sticker, 'Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven', is so misleading! It is. Is there any truth to it? Yes. A whole lot of truth but it's not something any Christian should be proud of in the sense we blame any action others might catch us in that is unseemly for one who claims Christianity and we say, I'm forgiven, don't worry, God understands He knows I’m not perfect.

Is that true? It very well could be true because we cannot judge another's relationship with Christ to the point of judging their eternal life, but we have to have the ability to discern actions whether they are actions Christ would perform or actions He would condemn.

{1:10} That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God

We cannot throw out good works as much as we might want to do so because we don't want to be accountable for our actions.

{1:10} That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

We are Christians. We are followers of Christ. We take on the mantle of a Christian just as a doctor takes an oath to save lives, a policeman takes an oath to serve and protect, we are Christians and our oath is claiming the Salvation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and living a life with Him in us through His Holy Spirit, seeking to forever be closer and closer to God. Our actions should reflect our claims. And our actions like a new doctor who makes a mistake and has to learn the ropes, or like the policeman who makes a bad judgement call as a rookie while they're learning-- might seem far from what we imagine a Christian's actions to be but we are learning and growing in Christ, it's a process and while I don't know where you are along that line of growth in Christ, you don't know where I am, and we have to pray for one another that no matter where we are - in rookie/resident land- or further along- that our walk will be one of constant growth towards furthering our knowledge of God. Christ came to show us the way to the Father and it's Him we all should seek to know fully.

May the Grace of Christ be with us all as we walk in Christ.

Amen.

That he might bring us to God

{1:6} Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew
the grace of God in truth:

*
The gospel was preached every, everywhere, people like to imagine that there are tons of people that never heard of Christ and salvation, but the world has heard. Lots of people have rejected the gospel and continued on in their own paths which make us believe that they've never heard. But the gospel which came to those in Colosse was being spread throughout the all the world. No, I'm not saying that there aren't those that have been denied hearing, but I fully believe that all have a chance, all in ways we can't imagine. It's arrogant of us to presume that God doesn't have His own ways to get His word to people, that *we* alone can preach the gospel. No, I'm not saying we shouldn't preach the gospel, I'm just saying that we can't claim that it's IMPOSSIBLE for all the world to have a chance to hear the Gospel.

The gospel brings forth fruit, it did to those Colosse and it does to us today. Once we hear the truth of the gospel and know the grace of God in that truth we can't help but bring forth fruit. Our lives can't help but change.

Colossians

{1:7} As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
{1:8} Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
{1:9} For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

*
Amazing! Here Paul is telling the Colossian that he hasn't ceased to pray for them, pray that they might be filled with the knowledge of HIS WILL in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

The knowledge of HIS WILL. Christ's will. What is Christ's will? That we come to the Father through Him. In all Christ did he revealed the Father on earth to mankind. It is His will that we come to the Father by His grace, accepting the sacrifice He made, accepting the forgivness He offers.

Imagine being touched by Christ and looking up into His eyes filled with compassion, with love and hearing him say, 'Your sins are forgiven you, go and sin no more.'

Just imagine it for a moment without letting your overwhelming guilt crush away the moment. I mean it, we hear the words 'go and sin no more' and we feel a crushing weight of guilt because we know what sinners we are and that sin not yet committed by us is just lurking around the next corner. We can't LET that guilt crush us and bring us to despair, we can't or we've lost already. If we holdfast to despair and ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit to repent then we truly are lost. Jesus taught us to pray the Lord's prayer and in my study of it the part where He told us to pray- 'Lead us not into temptation' in the Jewish form of that prayer, it is more along the lines of 'Lead us not to despair'. Think about that for a moment. When we are tempted into sin it is a road that leads to despair isn't it? Despair that we'll ever be able to 'go and sin no more'. We truly need to pray to not be taken by temptation in that place of despair. Satan holds up our sins and tells us we're too bad to ever be saved and covers us in a cloak of despair but we don't have to listen to him, our sins are forgiven and when we by our weak sin-filled flesh fall into sin we have an advocate that once told an apostle that he had to forgive others not just once but over and over again. In that example we know that though our flesh is very weak we do have an advocated with the Father, and advocate that will plead our cause before the Father. So when we hear Christ say our sins are forgiven, go and sin no more, we know that He has made it possible for us to be with the Father, His Father, in His Family, at One with God, God with us. The will of Christ is for us to be at one with the Father and all our wisdom and spiritual understanding needs to be centered around that and that alone. Here and now we are to accept the Way, the Truth, the Gospel and our lives there after are to be spent being filled with the knowledge of Christ's will in wisdom and spiritual understanding.

More tomorrow :) May God bless us all with His Will, may we through the forgiveness of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior live in hope of our new life one day with Him and Father in heaven.

Amen

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”- 1 Peter 3:18