This Hope Purifies Us.

1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

The sons of God.

Are you a son or daughter of God?  If so, don't try to fit in with the world because it can't know you, not really. You won't be worldly and that will be odd. You won't be trying to fit in with the world. You will feel left out because you should be left out of the world and its ways. People may even sense that you don't quite fit in with things, and that's okay, you don't want to. The world will not know those who are sons and daughters of God because it did not know Jesus, and it did not know God. The world did not know them and it still does not know them. You say it does? That there are millions and millions and millions of Christians, and you're right about the number of those who claim to be Christians, you're just wrong about the about them belonging to God, and truly being sons and daughters of God.

The Father gave us His love wanting us to be called the sons of God. He wants us to be His offspring, not something separate from Him. The Father wants us to be a part of His life, yes, His life. Truly we do not know what we shall be, but we do know… we know for a fact… that when our Savior returns we are going to be like Him.

How often do we tell sons and daughter that they are "like" their mom or dad? Sometimes it's mannerisms, sometimes looks, sometimes personalities, and so on. Children do take on attributes of their parents. We, as sons and daughters of God, will also be like our Heavenly Father, we will be like our Savior, we will be loved and able to love with the love that is God's. We see God and seeing God we are like God. We are NOT GOD and NEVER do we want to be GOD, but we are His CHILDREN! As God's children we are like Him.

This is our HOPE and with this HOPE we are purified. Christ Jesus is our HOPE, Christ Jesus is PURE.

Please LORD, please we would belong to the Father, we would belong to You. We would be like YOU, we have this HOPE, please!

All through the love of our Savor, now and forever!!!!!!! 

The Royal Law

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 

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

Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

The law of God- the Ten Commandments in the New Testament-

1- Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

2- 1Jn 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 

    Act 17:29  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 

3- 1Ti 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. 

4- Mat 24:20  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day

     Mar 2:27  And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath

     Mar 2:28  Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. 

     Heb 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 

     Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 

5- Mat 19:19  Honour thy father and thy mother… 

6- Rom 13:9  …Thou shalt not kill…

7- Mat 19:18  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 

8- Rom 13:9 … Thou shalt not steal…

9- Rom 13:9  …Thou shalt not bear false witness…

10- Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 

These Ten Commandments are summarized in this way--

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

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

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

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

If you look at the ten commandments closely enough you can tell that the first four are geared towards worshiping God, and the last six are geared towards loving our fellowman. Through love we keep the commandments, the royal law.

Jas 2:12  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

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

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 

Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

Mat 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

Faith Can Be Dead Without Works.

Sincerity of our love.

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

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

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 

If we KNOW the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRST…. do we? 

Our Savior gave up heaven. You might instantly shake your head and say that He didn't, He's there right now, and you're right. However, He had to GIVE up heaven in order to go back to heaven.  The enormity of that act is somewhat lost on us I think.  God with God in heaven, think about that for a moment.

Let's take it down to another level- suppose you are born rich, filthy rich. You've never lacked for a single thing in your entire life. You've had the best of the best. You've been blessed with amazingly good health and a very sound mind. And then your sister/brother comes to you and says we have a problem. You learn that there is a village on the opposite side of the earth from where you live that unless someone goes to that village, becoming exactly like one of the people there and live their lifestyle- the complete opposite of all you'd known your entire life, the people there will perish. There are a lot of particulars we can't go into but that's the gist of it and now you need to decide if one of you will go, or not. Could you give up everything, I mean everything- every amenity you've ever known, and live a life of complete deprivation from your rich reality in order to save a village of people?

Of course the life of our Savior prior to His taking on human flesh as a baby is something far beyond anything similar to even the best life here on earth. He was SPIRIT form, He was from the everlasting, at His word heavens were brought into existence, worlds came to be, He was never in time, never constrained by any limitation we can imagine. He CHOSE to give all that up. To comprehend the depths of the poverty He took on for us, is impossible.  And He would have US take on poverty for our fellow man.  I know that sounds ludicrous and some may be instantly protesting saying we aren't all supposed to be poor people.  But there are many meanings of poverty.

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 

For us Jesus became poor and because He became poor we have the riches of eternal life!

He is our greatest example!

2Co 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 

Jas 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 

Jas 2:15  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 

Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 

Let us follow our Savior's example, let us have faith with works so our faith is not dead!

All through His amazing love!!!!!! His GRACE!

Christ Became Poor

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

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

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 

Christ became poor.

How often do people purposefully become poor?   I know in my life most of the people I know strive to become rich, or rather to at least make do with a few comforts of life. I don't know a single person who has tried to become poor, willingly become poor. Being poor happens, and we know there will be poor with us always, and we also know that we are to help the poor as often as we can.  Christ did not give up monetary riches, but the riches of His Spirit God form and His power that came with that form. He gave up a lot. People don't seem to realize that all the miracles that Jesus performed were not done by Him directly. Seriously, they weren't. Our Savior divested Himself of His power, power He had that played a part in the very creation of the entire world and all that is in it. Christ couldn’t even save Himself from death. What Christ could and did do, was rely upon His heavenly Father. Christ prayed to the Father and the Father's power worked through Him.  Christ became poor. The Father GAVE the Son power, yet before Christ took on flesh He had power of His own accord. Christ did act on the power given to Him.

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

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

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

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

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

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh 8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 

Joh 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 

Joh 5:20  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 

Joh 5:21  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 

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

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

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

Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 

Joh 5:26  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 

Joh 5:27  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

Christ became poor …

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 

Through our Savior's poverty we become rich. We are spiritually rich in Christ Jesus our Savior. Only because our Savior was willing to give up His position in heaven, willing to give up His spirit form and take on flesh; only because He became poor are we rich. Without sacrifice there is no salvation.

Our lives are to be lives of sacrifice in Christ. 

We too must be willing to be poor in this world to be rich in Christ.

By the will of God may we study this more tomorrow.

All in the love of our LORD, JESUS CHRIST, now and forever!!!!!!!

Zealous of Good Works.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 

Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Purify to himself a peculiar people- zealous of good works.

Tit 2:7  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 

Tit 2:8  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Tit 3:8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 

Tit 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 

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

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

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 

1Ti 6:21  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

Please, Lord, we would be yours. Let all our good works be wrought in YOU. Help us to this end. Teach us, guide us, be in us so that we can live for You. 

Too often we get caught up in the world, in the cares of this life, please Lord, please we would be YOURS. Help us to be caught up into YOU and the LIFE YOU would have us live! Please.

Please.

We Are Separated From God

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

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

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

We deceive ourselves all the time. It's easy to say we have no sin, when in truth we do. It's a cocky person who says they have no sin, isn't it? Not necessarily. If a person doesn't believe in such a thing as sin, it doesn’t mean they are arrogantly flaunting that fact. They could be the sweetest person alive and still not believe in sin. If you don’t believe in sin then you most assuredly can't believe you are a sinner. You would say you have no sin, if you don't believe in sin. You might also say you have no sin, if you think yourself above sinning. You can believe in sin and believe you have no sin. The truth is…

we have sin.

We need to confess our sins.

We can't be forgiven if we don't confess our sins.

Christ Jesus our Savior is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.

If we want our Savior's word in us, we have to admit we are sinners, in need of a Savior.

Our Savior is NOT a liar- we are sinners!

We are separated from our God-- without Christ Jesus our Savior!

Jesus Is the Light of the World.

Joh 9:1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 

Joh 9:2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 

Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 

Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 

Jesus is the LIGHT of the world.  We've been talking about Paul being blind and how blindness is more than physical. We can be spiritually blind and we need spiritual sight. We need the light of our Savior in our lives, HIS LIGHT. His light isn't the physical sun shining down, it is a spiritual illumination that will root out all the darkness that Satan will shroud us with. Satan loves when we are snug and comfortable under his darkness. If Satan can keep us spiritually blind he has nothing to worry about. Jesus says that he is the light of the world, and He is, a light for the entire world.

Joh 9:6  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 

Joh 9:7  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 

Joh 9:8  The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 

Joh 9:9  Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 

Joh 9:10  Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 

Joh 9:11  He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 

Joh 9:12  Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. 

Joh 9:13  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 

Joh 9:14  And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 

Joh 9:15  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 

Joh 9:16  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 

Joh 9:17  They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 

Joh 9:18  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 

Joh 9:19  And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 

Joh 9:20  His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 

Joh 9:21  But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 

Joh 9:22  These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 

Joh 9:23  Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 

Joh 9:24  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 

Joh 9:25  He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 

Joh 9:26  Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 

Joh 9:27  He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 

Joh 9:28  Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

Joh 9:29  We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 

Joh 9:30  The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 

Joh 9:31  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 

Joh 9:32  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 

Joh 9:33  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 

Joh 9:34  They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 

The pharisees did NOT want to believe the truth. They were so busy twisting and turning things around to fit their idea of how everything had to be. The truth was right there for them to believe. A man verified blind from birth could now see. It was a miracle that he could now see. Asked HOW he could see he told them that a man put clay on his eyes and told him to wash it off and when he'd washed it off, he had his sight. The Pharisees complained that Jesus worked- he made clay. With their outrageous restrictions on the Sabbath, they considered Jesus spitting into a little bit of dirt and mixing it, then placing it on the blind man's eyes - labor. Jesus was doing the work of His Father- healing.

Then the pharisees brought in the man's parents who were scared to say much, they didn't want to be ostracized from their people, kicked out of their church, their way of life.

When told off by the blind man for their hypocrisy they kicked him out of their presence. Those pharisees did NOT want truth. They would have been thrilled if the blind man had said no one did it, I just suddenly could see. They would have been happy if the man's parents had said, no, he wasn't really blind from birth, but off and on he could see. They wanted lies, they wanted to be placated. They did NOT want any spiritual light to even peek in and disturb their dark lives.

Joh 9:35  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 

Joh 9:36  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 

Joh 9:37  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 

Joh 9:38  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 

Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Jesus said-

He came into the world so….

They which see NOT might see and…

They which see might be made blind.

What?! He wanted to make the blind to see, this is comprehensible, yes? But what about those who see, He wants to blind? 

Those who comprehend their need of spiritual light, will receive the spiritual light. Those who do not comprehend the light, the truth, but have concocted their own version of the truth will be allowed to remain blind, because they do NOT want the truth!

Paul wasn’t left to remain blind- physically or spiritually because HE DID NOT WANT TO BE BLIND! 

Was Paul among the Pharisees that day when the blind man was present? It is quite probable. His hatred for Jesus was deep. He made it a life mission to stomp out Jesus' followers. He didn't have to be the one to go after the Christians, he wanted to be the one. That sort of determination didn't come overnight. Paul was blind to Jesus before Jesus' crucifixion and after, right up until Jesus offered Him the truth very up close and personal.  Paul could have said He was suffering under delusions, that a trick had been played on him, but he knew that wasn't truth.

Those then and those now who wish to remain blind will be allowed blindness.

Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

When we choose spiritual blindness we are sinning. When we choose to recognize our blindness and seek the Light of truth we are not sinning. If we arrogantly believe we have all the light of knowledge we'll ever need, and our light is the only truth we are truly blind and we don’t even know it!

Paul was released from darkness physically and spiritually- never to be blinded again. May we be released from ALL our spiritual blindness.  May we recognize our need of the Light of Truth, always! When Satan threatens to throw a blanket of darkness over us no matter the size, the thickness, of this blanket we have to pray that it is taken from us! We have to pray that we only ever seek LIGHT!

Joh_8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.