Friday, September 27, 2019

Vanity of Our Minds.


Eph 4:17  … walk not … in the vanity of their mind

Vanity of their mind, such an interesting four words. Let's look at the word vanity in our Bibles.

Vanity-
(Greek)From G3152; inutility; figuratively transientness; morally depravity: - vanity.
(Hebrew)From H1891; emptiness or vanity; figuratively something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb: -    X altogether, vain, vanity.

And I don't think we need to look at the words for -  'of their mind', do we?

Just because I could though, I looked up the word 'mind' in the Greek.

G3563
νοῦς
nous
nooce
Probably from the base of G1097; the intellect, that is, mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication meaning: - mind, understanding.

So here we have it- the vanity of their minds means - the moral depravity of our minds, the emptiness, unsatisfactory, transitory existence of our minds. The moral depravity, emptiness of our intellect, our understanding- in thought, feeling, or will.

This is the existence of all who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviors and been born again in the Spirit.

But you tell me that you know many brilliant atheists and devout Christ haters? You know a lot of upstanding, wonderful people- the kindest you'd ever meet who refute the validity of Christ's very existence, let alone surrendered their lives to Him. How could those people be said to be vain- their minds, their understanding morally depraved and empty of thought, feeling and will? How could their minds be deemed transitory- temporary?

I'll tell you that what we may consider on an everyday current level of moral depravity, of meaningless thoughts, feelings and will- is not what is meant on a spiritual level, not at all.

If we believe that our hope is only in ourselves, that there is no God of hope, we are morally depraved and yes, all our thoughts, feelings and will mean nothing. We are vain, we are empty in all truth, meaningless- completely and utterly meaningless. Why? Because we are meant to be a part of God, and our worth lies in the fact we will have an existence beyond the sin-tainted lives we all lead. To believe that our existence, that the world we are brought into through no thought of our own, by no action of our own, is how it is supposed to be- is to believe in hopelessness, to believe in futility.

Why do people try to fight for freedom, for happiness, for goodness, for painlessness, for what they believe is right UNLESS they know there is a reason to fight?  It is completely SENSELESS to fight to right what is wrong, if there is no belief that there is wrong in our world.  There is a whole lot that is wrong on many levels and it truly doesn't take us too long to figure that out as we grow up from babyhood. There is no exact age of comprehension for us individually, but there comes a time when we are very young when we are most likely in tears that we know things aren't quite right in our world, and from that point on that understanding only grows.

I believe in a RIGHT world, I believe in PEACE, I believe in LOVE for all, I believe in the reality of these things but I also know that after the thousands of years of recorded history- those things will never exist within this world in totality- NOT through our effort. We've tried haven't we? Since recorded time people have tried to create a world ruled fairly but it never works out- never- not a single time has it worked out. There is always someone who isn't given the fairness desired by all. Someone always seems to have to be subservient to another which instantly negates the perfection that is trying to be achieved.

The vanity of our minds… just how much of our lives is spent caught up in the results of our vain minds?  And if you read the above you know I’m not simply talking about the modern, secular idea of vanity. I'm not accusing you of having a mirror in your pocket that you must look at constantly because you are so vain - self-centered about your appearance. I'm talking about how many of us have lives centered around the moral depravity that is a total lack of understanding in things of the Spirit?

We need to be RENEWED in our minds- in the SPIRIT of our Minds.

By the grace of our Lord God, more on this tomorrow.

All through the love of Jesus Christ our Savior, now and forever! Amen.




Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 
Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 
Eph 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ; 
Eph 4:21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 
Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 
Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 
Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 
Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil. 
Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 
Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 
Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 
Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 




Thursday, September 26, 2019

Prisoners of the Lord.


Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called

The prisoner of the Lord.

Eph 3:1  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles

The prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Luk 21:12  But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 

For my (Jesus') name's sake… into prisons.

Are we all figurative prisoners of the Lord? By all I mean those who choose to be a Christ follower, a Christ believer. Some, like Paul was, are in prison for their faith, real steel door, behind iron bars prisons. They are called to believe and the Holy Spirit fills their hearts to such a degree they are willing to endure torturous conditions just to proclaim their believe.

Jesus said this-

Mark 8:38  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 
Mat 10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

And after His death believers did this- 

Act 5:41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 
Act 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. 

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 
Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

Every single Christ follower in prison for their faith around this world we live in is obviously NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

I sit here and even the thought of torture has me shuddering. Being torture in a very literal, physical way is something far removed from my realm of existence. I am allowed to walk out of my house wearing a I Love Jesus  tee-shirt, or a tee-shirt with any number of Christ and God affirming sayings on them. I have a shirt that reads- 'Life is Fragile, Handle With Prayer'. I can BOLDLY wear these shirts out anywhere I want to without any fear of being taken prisoner, and really no fear of being ridiculed.  I live in a world where it is more common to hear- 'I like your shirt.' - than anything else. This is my existence- no fear of prison for proclaiming my faith in Jesus Christ. I have no reason whatsoever to be ashamed of my Lord and Savior. I do not have the testing ground of pain, of agonies, of being shamefully abused mentally, emotionally, verbally, physically because of my love for God. And just because I do not have this experience, does not mean it doesn't exist for a lot of people.

I heard on the news that the president of the United States is going to speak out on Christian persecution in a big way, why? Because it exists and is growing worse and worse in a lot of places around the world.  I can't imagine watching my children being murdered right before my eyes just because I believe in Jesus Christ.  People are MURDERING Christians for their faith, for their belief and it just blows my mind that they are doing that, the very thing they did in Christ's day, in the apostles day, in the dark ages, in the middle ages, and so on. Persecution for believing in our Savior has never ended, it has ebbed and flowed throughout history.

The power of belief in Christ is so threatening to others, rather than turn away and simply ignore what they don't personally believe- they kill the believer as if that will somehow kill the power of Christ.

Are we prisoners of Christ Jesus? Are we prisoners of the Lord? 

We'd better be.  We'd better belong to Christ no matter what we are called to endure.  To be His prisoner is to be free, truly free in a way those who deny Christ can never be.

God help us all!

Give strength to EVERY Christ believer called to endure any sort of trial or tribulation, any torture, any imprisonment. Please, Father in Heaven, please bless them, bless us, and have Your Holy Son, Jesus Christ return soon so we may ever be with Him!

All through Your love, Your mercy, Your grace!

Your will be done!

Amen.


Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Signing Up for Christ is Signing Up for War.


Yesterday I touched on the book - The Atonement by J.H. Waggoner, and what it has meant to me to go through it all in excerpts daily for the last couple months, in fact it was started July 9th and today is September 25th so we've been at it over a couple of months.

The book brings out so many facts but as its title reads- The Atonement - I want to talk about - The Atonement.

When I say "The Atonement" I don't simply mean Christ paying the price for my sins on the cross, making me  AT ONE with Him again. I mean ALL that encompasses. Creation, the fall, redemption and the entire process of being redeemed. Yes, there is a process. Anyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior knows the accepting part is an active on going, daily, and yes, often hourly choice. The accepting is a life lived for Christ. The accepting is acknowledging the word of God as part of our daily sustenance. The accepting is knowing what our Savior is doing on our behalf right now and what His future intentions for us are. The accepting means recognition of our unworthiness and our need of Jesus' worth.

 
Every day you are going to come face to face with trials and tribulations, every day. Some days the onslaught is seemingly unending, and it is HOW we react to our trials and tribulations that will enable us to grow in Christ or falter. And by react I don't mean the knee jerk reactions specifically, but the ultimate reaction to what we face. Sometimes the dust has to settle all around us, the chaos filled dust, before our reaction is decided.

You may meet people who will tell you that they accepted Christ as their Savior twenty years ago and they'll smile and lead you to believe that for the past twenty years their life has been one of ease- made by that decision. You'll feel a longing to have such a life, one where your accepting Christ means joy unending.  A few days later you may see that person unexpectedly in a store vehemently scolding their child, or rudely cutting someone off in traffic using unseemly gestures- in situations that give you pause because you thought they were above such behaviors- Christ unapproved behaviors.

The thing is…  we will feel the joy of our Christian walk, but we need to recognize the fight it truly is. We signed up for war when we signed up for Christ. A lifetime war, a battle that will wage on and on and on until our God determines it can't go on a moment longer and WE cannot know when that moment will be.  That person you saw being unseemly may have a moment later apologized and asked for forgiveness from their child, or repented instantly their use of bad gestures to fellow harried drivers on the road.  The war is real and the humbling of ourselves in being able to admit -at the promptings of the Holy Spirit on our Christ surrendered conscience- that we sinned and need forgiveness is a life lived for Christ, a daily very hard life lived in a sin hardened world.

The Atonement is so much-- I want to recap in another way as well- by looking at the Table of Contents from the book.

'C O N T E N T S
PART FIRST.
AN ATONEMENT CONSISTENT WITH REASON
CHAPTER I. COMPARISON OF NATURE AND MORALITY. 9 Nature declares a God—Cannot teach morals—Did not make her own laws—Idea of the eternity of matter unreasonable—Natural laws no standard of right—Difference of penalties and consequences.
CHAPTER II. THE MORAL SYSTEM .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 17 Reason calls for a moral government—Necessity of revelation—Infinite justice of God—Human responsibility—The wrong-doer an incompetent judge.
CHAPTER III. REQUIREMENTS OF THE MORAL SYSTEM. 25 (Section)1. Sin ought to be punished. (Section)2. Can the sinner be cleared? (Section)3. What pardon supposes. (Section)4. What must be done in granting pardon. (Section)5. Voluntary substitution. (Section)6. Why an atonement is necessary. (Section)7. The sinner must accept, not make, conditions—Rights of subjects—Remarks and question.
- v - J. H. Waggoner
PART SECOND.
THE ATONEMENT AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
CHAPTER I. PRINCIPLES OF THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT. 41 Attributes of God—His Law—Its nature—Ten commandments—Objections considered—Distinctions of covenant and law—Conversion—The fourth commandment.
CHAPTER II. SIN AND ITS PENALTY .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 64 Dr. Barnes’ View—Remorse of conscience not a penalty—Death the penalty—What is death—“Punishment” not a specific term—Destruction.
CHAPTER III. JUSTIFICATION AND OBEDIENCE .  .  .  .  . 75 Difference of justification and salvation—Righteousness of God in his law—Justification by faith has reference to a future judgment—Gospel a system of “naturalization”—Andrew Fuller on nature of the Atonement.
CHAPTER IV. DEATH OF CHRIST VICARIOUS.  .  .  .  .  .  . 89 Substitutionary nature of offerings for sin—Christ’s death satisfaction to justice—Justice and mercy meet—Error of authors noticed—Impressive sentiments from Maclaurin and Dobney.
CHAPTER V. THE SON OF GOD DIED .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 103 Why blood of bulls and goats insufficient—Value of the Atonement in the dignity of the offering—Union of natures in Christ—Methodist Discipline—The Word made flesh—Scripture proofs of the exalted nature of Christ—This Divine Being died for man—Value of the law attested by his sacrifice.
The Atonement - vi
CHAPTER VI. DOCTRINE OF A TRINITY SUBVERSIVE OF THE ATONEMENT .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 115 Trinitarians do not believe that the divine nature died—Their sacrifice only human—Distinctive being of the Father and the Son—Self-contradictions of Trinitarians—”The mystery of godliness”—Incarnation of Son of God beyond comprehension.
CHAPTER VII. WHAT THE ATONEMENT IS.  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 127 The Atonement is the work of the priest—Not the death of the offering—Made in the sanctuary—Blotting out of sin—Typical nature of the earthly priesthood, sacrifices, and sanctuary—Love of God provided the sacrifice—Death of Christ makes salvation possible to all.
CHAPTER VIII. THE JUDGMENT .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 137 Judgment of the righteous precedes the resurrection—”Judgment is come” (Rev. 14) before the advent—A warning must be given—Prophecy of Daniel—Sanctuary in Heaven—Days of Noah and last days—Probation ends before the advent—Judgment proves the value of the law.
CHAPTER IX. THE SCAPE-GOAT .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 159 Distinction of sin offering and scapegoat—Argument of Dr. Edward Beecher—A type of Satan—Binding of the devil—The earth desolated—Sin returned upon the head of its author.
CHAPTER X. THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 170 Erroneous opinions noticed—To be set up on the earth—Prophecy of Daniel—Saints are now heirs—Mortals cannot inherit the kingdom—Possess it at the advent—The two thrones—Work of the saints in the one thousand years—The meek inherit the earth.
- vii - J. H. Waggoner
CHAPTER XI. REDEMPTION .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 188 Salvation and redemption—1. The redemption of man—The resurrection—Literal, or physical—Importance of the doctrine—A substitute accepted—Life the greatest gift of God—Death an enemy.
CHAPTER XII. REDEMPTION.—CONTINUED.  .  .  .  .  .  . 201 The original purpose of the Creator—2. Redemption of the earth—Promises to Abraham—Christ the seed—Believers are joint-heirs—Gentiles made fellow-heirs with Israel—The token or earnest—”The rest that remains,” Heb. 4—Various authorities.
CHAPTER XIII. CONCLUSION.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 222 The new earth—The promised glory—Beyond our comprehension—All things new—Our need of God’s grace to fit us for that glory.'

Do we comprehend the depths of the Atonement? It's necessity, it's truth, it's process through Christ our Lord and Savior, our 'God with us', our God who was 'made flesh' and lived with us? Do we know what God's plan for us is? Matthew 1:23, John 1:14

Let us live in Christ as Christ lives in us (Gal.2:20). 

May God bless us all and help us all, keeping us in Him, keeping us from evil. All by the will, the mercy, the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

I Want the Meat and the Milk of the Word.


For the first time in a long time I am not reading from an excerpt, or being inspired by an excerpt. I wrote too soon, because while I'm not including any excerpt today, I do want to talk about the book we've just gone through- The Atonement by J.H. Waggoner.

The book was so incredibly thought provoking and in such a way that it reminds me of no longer having the milk of the word, but the meat. We need the meat of the word of God in our lives if we are to grow in Him. His word, His holy word is our meat and we have to feast on it like never before.

The Atonement.  That makes it sound singular as if the atonement were simply one act, but the truth of the matter is so much more.

Recently I came across something that reminded me that too many people are spoon fed bits and pieces of scripture, and a lot of people are advised to stay mainly in the New Testament books. Some are even told that the Old Testament books were cancelled out by the New, as if they could be replaced, overwritten, upgraded, improved. We know those terms we hear them in our everyday lives don't we?  When are we getting the latest cellphone, tablet, tv, game console. Just look at all the new features added to…

Isn't that was mostly happens when a new product comes out- it is often built from the original prototype with those new features added to it. I'm not saying that there are no completely original products, but mostly we take from the old and incorporate on to that old thing.

Poke holes if you will, and some must because it is in their nature to do so, but think about it for a bit. We have the first telephone… before that telephone there were no telephones…however…  the things used to create that telephone are from things known. Metal, wood, all products in existence since creation.

Heb_5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb_5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Have I gone back too far? Maybe. You know the point I’m trying to make and that point is… the Old Testament can NEVER be done away with or ignored if you are seriously seeking the meat of word of God. I can say that with great confidence, without any doubt at all and let me tell you why.

Luk_24:27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Jesus began at Moses, Jesus continued on citing all the prophets, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior used the only scriptures available and out of them He revealed HIMSELF to those He was walking with.

If we cannot find our Savior in the Old Testament, we have no business pretending to know Him.  Am I slighting those who only have access to a New Testament, God forbid! But most everyone able to read this from the internet has access to the Old Testament.  Those who are somehow possibly, though it is hard to imagine- reading this from paper might not have access to an Old Testament, or for that matter the New Testament- stranger things I'm sure have happened. The point being we mustn't discount the Old Testament in any way.

2Ti_3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

How much of the scripture?

ALL.

And when this was being written, there weren't a bunch of New Testaments about for people to read.  Over time all the New Testament books were written after our Savior died. Though I'm almost positive there were a few scribes following Jesus about taking notes of a lot of what was going on, and those inspired scribes were led by the Holy Spirit to retain the things needed.

You can find the history of the Bible online, it is fascinating. The bottom line being, you either believe men were INSPIRED by God to write and to organize the scriptures into what we know as the Bible or you don't.  Are there some pretty farfetched interpretations of the Bible translated from the Hebrew and Greek? Oh yeah! But going way down to the bare bones of what we know to be original, God will guide us to truth.

I hope, if nothing more, that if there are any people truly reading this, that they will seek truth from the Old and New Testaments, recognizing we have such a great need to learn from both.

More on this tomorrow perhaps, because I do want to write more about the book we've just finished.

All by the grace, the will, the wisdom, the glory, power and praise of our Lord, our Father God, and the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ our Savior now and forever!!!!!!!   Thank you!

Monday, September 23, 2019

Contrary to Popular Opinion- All Evil Will End.


Concluding our study on the book - The Atonement.

'In examining the type of the scape-goat, we found the devil confined in the abyss for one thousand years. At the end of that period, all the inhabitants of the grave are called forth; the wicked of all ages stand up in life, and the great enemy of God and man is once more among the victims of his deceptions. He has borne the heavy burden of many sins placed upon his head, but his punishment yet awaits him. The Judgment has been sitting, and its decisions remain to be executed. But with the certainty of destruction before him, his malignity is not abated. His hatred to the ever-glorious Son of God

The Atonement - 224

and to the saints, who, through the blood of their Master, have overcome his deceptions and his power, leads him to instigate the risen nations to raise their arms once more against their Maker. Vain effort! Those who now think they can oppose his power with success, find then how fatally they have been mistaken.

“And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them.” Rev. 20:9.

As once this earth was overflowed with water, then it will be overspread with fire. This is that “day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men,” to which this sin-cursed earth is “kept in store.” This is that terrible day “that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”

High ascends “the smoke of their torment,” who have often mocked at the judgments of God; for “the wicked shall perish and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” Ps. 37:20.

And as it is written that the Lord “smote Egypt in their first-born, and overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; for his mercy endureth forever;” Ps. 136:10, 15; so in the terrors of that great, that burning day, we behold the power of Jesus’ blood; for he suffered “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” Heb. 2:13.

And with him all his works are destroyed. 1 John 3:8.

This ends the world’s great controversy. When “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power,” is visited upon the wicked; when the righteous are introduced “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away,” the record of the great future is briefly given. No elaborate description of that eternity of joy is offered; for words cannot describe all its glories; nor could our minds, always having associated with meaner things, appreciate the description. But we are permitted by faith in the sacred revelation, to look beyond the scene of terror, which we have been considering. The fury of the crackling flames exhausts itself; where the seething fires burned deep and fierce they languish for want of prey. As the smoke rolls up from the earth, there is revealed to our view a scene both grand and lovely; its surpassing beauty words cannot express; but above it all a voice is heard, “Behold I make all things new!” And

- 225 - J. H. Waggoner

now awakes the universal chorus: “And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”

The universe again is free from sin. Redemption’s work is done. Beyond lies the vast ocean of eternity, all radiant with glory. Here the mind gladly rests in contemplation of the heavenly scene.

And now, while yet the scoffer, who has never had a thought of the eternal and infinite justice of God, declares that the Atonement is unnecessary, what fitting words of wisdom shall I choose to persuade him of its truth, and check his irreverent railing? How weak the effort a mortal puts forth to frame an argument worthy of the theme. From that dying agony; from that precious flowing blood; from that interceding grace; from that bright resurrection morn; from the earth made new; from that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, I turn and look at my own heart; and looking there, O man, your scoffing is vain. That glory I long to possess; that blood, that grace, that love, I need to fit me for the presence of my God. And shall I, a worthless worm of earth, defiled by sin, behold that glory and enjoy forever? Then truly God is love. Nothing but love divine can perfect a work so great. And to him alone, the God of grace, I look for “victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Reader, may you and I find it there.

(Excerpt from-) THE ATONEMENT PART SECOND:
THE ATONEMENT AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
 (1884)

BY   ELDER J. H. WAGGONER

(The End)

Sunday, September 22, 2019

We Face the Possibility of Two Deaths and Two Resurrections.


Rev_20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

'CHAPTER XIII.

CONCLUSION

The Bible is eminently a practical book; its great object is to make the man of God perfect; to thoroughly furnish him unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3:15-17.

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 
2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

 To this purpose it presents duties, warnings, and promises, holding out inducements by every means to lead us into the path of life and peace. It gives both history and prophecy, spreading out before us the past, the present, and the future

Here we have the only reliable cosmogony—the only “science of sufficient reasons” of the origin of the heavens and the earth. Here only can we learn the future of man and his dwelling-place. Peter says: “By the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water; whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men” And in that day of the Lord “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.” “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:5-7, 10, 13.

The world was once overflowed with water; the foundations of the great deep were broken up; the earth was a wreck; its surface was so changed as perhaps not to be recognized by those who beheld it before; and its inhabitants, except eight souls who were tossed upon the boisterous deep, were gone—all gone. Its gay and busy millions suddenly disappeared. The Lord promised that there should not be “any more a flood to destroy the earth.” But he did not promise that the earth should not any more be destroyed. As it once “perished” by water, so it will once more perish, but by fire. “The heavens and the earth which are now,” are presented in contrast with those before the flood. But the material is the same; the earth is only changed in its form or features. So it will be with the new heavens and earth; there will be a second

The Atonement - 222

change, wrought by the agency of fire, and the earth will come forth purified from all the works of a fallen race. Then will the “purchased possession” be redeemed from the curse, and the glorified saints shall possess “the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world,” even “the first dominion.” And then “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” There is blessedness, there is joy, there is glory, far beyond our conception; as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” “No more fatigue, no more distress, No sin nor death can reach that place; No tears shall mingle with the songs That warble from immortal tongues.”

Reader, is there not infinite value in the atonement? Is not the blood of Christ precious? Does not the eternal inheritance, the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, present attractions beyond all else of which your heart has conceived? Does not eternal life in the kingdom of God appear a boon most precious? Then join with all the saints in blessing God for the rich provision through his Son, and for the word, the Holy Book, wherein alone such matchless grace, and such endless joys are revealed. Without the revelation of God’s will, how uncertain, how dark would all appear! Without this, who should teach us the knowledge of God? who should acquaint us with the principles of morality and truth, by which we may honor and please our Creator? who should lead the fallen, erring one to a remedy for sin, wherein justice and mercy maybe harmonized? Only eternity can reveal, and only immortalized beings can realize, how great is our indebtedness to God for his word. Happy the man who can say, “Holy Bible, book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine.” But to them who despise the riches of his grace, and scorn his counsel and will none of his reproof there is another revelation in the

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word of God. He has not only sent redemption to his people, but prepared for his enemies a doom commensurate with their crime. Having shown that obedience to the law, and acceptance of the gospel, are necessary to salvation; that salvation on any other terms would be derogatory to the character and Government of God, it follows necessarily that those who reject these terms cannot be saved. The penalty of their sins hangs over them, soon to descend upon their guilty heads; for in strict justice God reserves the wicked to the day of Judgment to be punished. 2 Pet. 2:9. And as eternal life is the gift of God, so they who do not seek it through the Son, must of necessity receive the wages of their sin, which is death. “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” There are two resurrections taught in the Bible; for what the impenitent lose involuntarily by the sin of Adam, will be restored to them without regard to their will and action. Besides the resurrection of life, already noticed, there is also “the resurrection of damnation.” They who have part in the first resurrection are blessed and holy; on them the second death shall have no power. They are raised in power, in glory, in incorruption, while they that sow to the flesh, “shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Gal. 6:8. They will be subject to the second death. Once they die on account of Adam’s sin; from this state they are raised by Christ. But the second time they die on account of their own sin; and from this death there is no redemption. No hope is held out for those who fall under its power. No resurrection morning dawns upon the darkness and gloom of the second death.

(To be continued)

(Excerpt from-) THE ATONEMENT PART SECOND:
THE ATONEMENT AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
 (1884)

BY   ELDER J. H. WAGGONER


Saturday, September 21, 2019

We Have the Earnest of the Spirit Until Redemption.


'But the question is raised: If the everlasting inheritance is the subject of the argument, why does the writer introduce the seventh day, and also speak of another day? They who ask this question seem to think that the apostle is arguing concerning the weekly Sabbath, and its change to another day; but, surely, they never would gather such an idea if they carefully read or studied the connection. Besides the facts which have been already presented, showing that the inheritance is the subject of the discourse, we notice.

1. If the Sabbath is “the rest” spoken of, then the Lord must have sworn in his wrath that they should not keep the Sabbath! So far from this, he had some put to death who refused to regard the Sabbath. But he declared that they should not go into the land of Canaan.

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2. They who fell in the wilderness did not come short of the Sabbath, but kept it on their journeyings. But they did not see “the rest” which was given to the survivors.

3. The rest which remains is the antitype of that which Joshua gave to them. But Joshua did not give them the Sabbath, he gave them “there stand the inheritance,” to possess which they left Egypt.

Looking at it in every light we see but this fact, that the inheritance only is the subject of the argument. In answer to the question we first remark, that the inheritance of the saints, and the kingdom which shall be given to them, are very closely related. So far as territory is concerned, they are identical. As Abraham, with his seed, is to be the heir of the world, and possess the whole earth, so the Son of David is to receive the kingdoms of the world and reign unto the uttermost parts of the earth; the kingdom and dominion “under the whole heaven” shall be given to the saints. As this rest or inheritance was finished from the foundation of the world, so of the kingdom; it was prepared from the foundation of the world. Matt. 25:34.

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

And by the text in question Paul proves that it was finished from the foundation of the  world. At the end  of the work of creation “God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” This proves that “all his works” were finished at that time, for rest is subsequent to work. This was “the dominion” given to Adam, which he lost by sin. It is to be redeemed and restored by the last or second Adam; but he will do it as the seed of Abraham, under a covenant or promise made to Abraham. This is the use, the only use, which Paul makes of the seventh day. It stands related to the promised rest to attest that the promise was not a matter of uncertainty; it related to that which was already made.

And now we are prepared to appreciate the remark which he makes on Ps. 95. It is on the record that the children of Israel received a certain rest, or possession, under Joshua; also that some who came out of Egypt provoked the Lord, and came short of that rest. But the Holy Spirit by David, some four hundred years afterward, exhorted the children of Israel who were then in the land of Canaan, not to follow in the ways of the rebellious ones who failed to enter into the rest. And the conclusion is drawn by Paul that if that land were in truth the

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inheritance intended in the promise, then those who lived in the days of David did not need the exhortation, seeing they were already in possession of it. Thus he speaks:— “Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, he again defineth a certain day, saying in David, after so long a time, To-day, as it hath been before said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.” Heb. 4:6-9, Revised Version.

As Paul spoke by inspiration this must be conclusive; and this rest which remains must bear the same relation to that which Joshua gave to the house of Israel that Christ bears to Joshua—the latter is the antitype of the former. It is the substance of the original “promise made of God unto the fathers.” And this proves that the house of Israel no  more received the inheritance promised to Abraham and his seed, than that circumcision in the flesh, outward, is the real circumcision which God requires, or that an unconverted Israelite, one who rejects Christ, is of the seed of Abraham, an heir according to the promise.

The only apparent difficulty presented in Paul’s argument on “the rest” in Heb. 4, is the change from the use of the Greek word katepausis, rest, to that of sabbatismos, literally “the keeping of a Sabbath,” or a sabbath rest, in verse 9. But there is no real difficulty when we consider that Sha-vath and noo-ah are interchanged as verbs. Katepausen properly represents the latter, yet in verse 4, Paul follows the Septuagint and uses katepausen in a quotation from Gen 2:3, where sha-vath is used in the Hebrew. Sabbatismos has a signification, according to the lexicons and the most judicious commentators, beyond literal Sabbath-keeping. Thus Greenfield says: “spoken of an eternal rest with God. Heb. 4:9.” Robinson the same: “in N.T. only of an eternal rest with God. Heb 4:9.” Dr. Smith, in Bible Dictionary, notices the opinions which have been offered that it refers to the Sabbath, and says: “The objections, however, to

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this exposition are many and great, and most commentators regard the passage as having no reference to the weekly Sabbath.” The “Bible Commentary” says:— “There remaineth.—Or, v. 6, ‘there still remaineth,’—is still to be looked for hereafter, over and above that rest in the land of Canaan. This inference follows, since the Holy Ghost speaks in the Psalms to us. A rest.—Rather a Sabbath rest; lit. ‘a keeping of sabbath;’ when the people of God, the ‘Israel of God,’ Gal. 6:16, shall obtain rest from all that trouble them; 2 Thess. 1:7, and when all enemies shall be put under the feet of Jesus, the Captain of the Lord’s host. Then, at last, the faithful shall ‘enter into the joy of their Lord.’ (Matt. 25:21, 23).” The Cyclopedia of M’Clintock and Strong has the following: “Sabbatism (sabbatismos, Heb. 4:9, A. V. rest), a repose from labor like that enjoyed by God at creation; a type of the eternal Sabbath of Heaven. See Rest.” And of “rest,” it says: “Rest also signifies a fixed and secure habitation;” and refers to the texts quoted on that subject. The great difficulty in referring Heb. 4:9 to a weekly Sabbath lies in this: it leaves the apostle’s argument without any logical conclusion. Although the verse begins with the word “therefore” (in the Greek), if it refers to the weekly Sabbath, it has no logical connection with the argument preceding; certainly no relation to the declaration in verse 8, that if Joshua had given them rest—implying the rest of the promise—he would not afterward have spoken of another day—for receiving it. And this is the view taken by most authorities. Dr. Clarke says:— “The apostle shows that, although Joshua did bring the children of Israel into the promised land, yet this could not be the intended rest; because, long after this time, the Holy Spirit, by David, speaks of this rest; the apostle therefore concludes—verse 9, ‘There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.’ It was not, 1. The rest of the Sabbath; it was not, 2. The rest in the promised land, for the psalmist wrote long after the days of Joshua; therefore there is another rest, a state of blessedness, for the people of God.”

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Dr. Barnes speaks at length on this subject, and marks clearly the relation of argument and conclusion. We quote briefly. On Heb. 3:11, he says:— “The particular rest referred to here was that of the land of Canaan, but which was undoubtedly regarded as emblematic of the rest in Heaven. Into that rest God solemnly said they should never enter.” And on chap. 4:8, 9, he says:— “The object is to prove that Joshua did not give the people of God such a rest as to make it improper to speak of a rest after that time. If Joshua had given them a complete and final rest; if by his conducting them to the promised land all had been done which had been contemplated by the promise, then it would not have been alluded to again, as it was in the time of David. Joshua did give them a rest in the promised land; but it was not all which was intended, and it did not exclude the promise of another and more important rest. . . . “There remaineth, therefore, a rest. This is the conclusion to which the apostle comes. The meaning is this, that according to the Scriptures there is now a promise of rest made to the people of God. It did not pertain merely to those who were called to go to the promised land, nor to those who lived in the time of David, but it is still true that the promise of rest pertains to all the people of God of every generation. The reasoning by which the apostle comes to this conclusion is briefly this:

1. That there was a rest called ‘the rest of God’—spoken of in the earliest period of the world,—implying that God meant that it should be enjoyed.

2. That the Israelites, to whom the promise was made, failed of obtaining that which was promised, by their unbelief.

3. That God intended that some should enter into his rest—since it would not be provided in  vain. 4.

That long after the Israelites had fallen in the wilderness, we find the same reference to a rest which David in his time exhorts those whom he addressed to endeavor to obtain.

5. That if all that had been meant by the word rest, and by the promise, had been accomplished when Joshua conducted the Israelites to the land of Canaan, we should not have heard another day spoken of when it was possible to forfeit that rest by unbelief. It followed, therefore, that there was something besides

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that; something that pertained to all the people of God to which the name rest might still be given, and which they were exhorted still to obtain. The word rest in this verse, sabbatismos, sabbatism, in the margin is rendered ‘keeping of a Sabbath.’ It is a different word from sabbaton—the Sabbath; and it occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, and is not found in the Septuagint. . . . It means here a resting, or an observance of sacred repose, and refers undoubtedly to Heaven, as a place of eternal rest with God. It cannot mean the rest in the land of Canaan, for the drift of the writer is to prove that that is not intended. It cannot mean the Sabbath, properly so called, for then the writer would have employed the usual word sabbaton, Sabbath. It cannot mean the Christian Sabbath, for the object is not to prove that there is such a day to be observed; and his reasoning about being excluded from it by unbelief and by hardening the heart would be irrelevant.”

This is a very fair statement of the case, though the writer appears almost to lose sight of the object of the promise in referring it to Heaven. He is certainly correct when he says: “If Joshua had given them a complete and final rest; if by his conducting them to the promised land, all had been done which had been contemplated by the promise, then it would not have been alluded to again.” It must be kept in mind that the promise which was not exhausted in their possession of Canaan, was “the promise made of God unto the fathers,” especially unto Abraham and to his seed, and embraced “the land of promise,” which according to the New Testament, was “the world,” or “the earth,”—the whole earth, or as the angel said to Daniel, “under the whole heaven.” And here we rest the argument on this point, believing that it is abundantly proved that the children of Israel “according to the flesh,” were not all “the seed of Abraham;” that their circumcision in the flesh was not all that was intended in that ordinance; and that a temporary possession by Abraham’s natural descendants of the land of Palestine, was not all that was meant in the promise that he and his seed should inherit it for an everlasting possession. The promises to Abraham will be fulfilled only when “the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

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We will notice one more objection; not so much because of its strength or plausibility, as that it has been urged by some eminent theological scholars, in whose opinions people may have confidence. It has been said that the righteous, the meek, do now possess the earth; that all the blessings and enjoyments of this world really belong to the people of God. But this objection is readily disposed of; indeed it seems strange that any one with the New Testament in his hands should urge that the meek now inherit the earth; that the promises are now being fulfilled to them. It is disproved by most explicit declarations of the Scriptures. (1) The poor of this world, the rich in faith, are only “heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him;” the kingdom prepared “from the foundation of the world.”

(2) When the meek inherit the earth “they shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Ps. 37:11. This is not the case at present, as we all know by observation and experience; the following words of our Saviour settle it:

(3) “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. The enjoyment or blessing of the Christian is not from or of the world, but from what Jesus has done for us to overcome the world. So far from the meek having “abundance of peace” in this world, they have persecutions and afflictions; their life is only a warfare, in which they are speedily overcome if they lay aside their armor.

(4) The wicked inherit more of this present world than the righteous do, the latter being “the poor of this world,” while a woe is pronounced upon the rich. But the scripture says: “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” Gen. 21:10: Gal. 4:30. If the inheritance is of this present world, the son of the bondwoman has the largest share.

(5) Abraham dwelt in the land, but he did not inherit it. He with others, heirs with him of the same promise, dwelt in the land of promise as in a strange country. And so the apostle said his brethren were “strangers and pilgrims.” 2 Peter 2:11. Abraham had to buy a place to bury his dead in the land which was promised to him for an

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everlasting possession; even so now, the children of Abraham have an abiding-place in the earth only by paying tribute to earthly powers. But of this we do not complain. The time for us to inherit the earth has not yet come.

(6) That the Spirit is an “earnest of our inheritance” is proof on this point. The earnest looks to the fulfillment of a promise in the future When God promised the land to Abraham he gave him circumcision as a token, an assurance of his promise. So now we have the circumcision of the Spirit, “which is the earnest of our inheritance.” How long do we need the earnest or token? Until we take possession of the inheritance. And how long is that in the future? “Until the redemption of the purchased possession.” The meek will not inherit the earth before it is redeemed, for in its present state they can only possess it in common with the children of the bondwoman, and they cannot “delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Jesus purchased the earth with the right to redeem it from the curse. And he will surely claim his right, and his people shall receive their reward. The expectation of the poor shall not perish. “The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” Dan. 7:27.

(((2Co_1:22  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2Co_5:5  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. ))))


(To be continued)

(Excerpt from-) THE ATONEMENT PART SECOND:
THE ATONEMENT AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
 (1884)

BY   ELDER J. H. WAGGONER