Friday, December 25, 2020

To Belong to God, or Not, You Choose.

 Every single human being is either God's or not God's by their own choosing. 


Some choose outright to verbally announce their God denial for all to hear, and yes, God will allow them to choose not to be His. He isn't secretly snatching them up to belong to Him against their will. He isn't bending their will in His direction. He won't force a single person to choose Him to be the God of their entire life over all other would be gods. If someone says they don't believe in God, God will not force them to believe. He will give them opportunities to know Him- a multitude of opportunities, but never force a belief- He doesn't work that way. 


Others choose to acknowledge God verbally but their lives are contrary to His will. He won't denounce these people for all to know the truth of their deceptive lives, God allows them their choice to be a deceiver. God allows people to hold fast to false beliefs, to traditions of men, all the while knowing their hearts are not really His. He won't stop trying to reach their hearts with truth, but again, God will not force a single person to follow His truth.


We live in a world so convoluted with deception, with people calling on God but not in truth. Thy truly believe they are His, so caught up in their own lies they don't for a moment believe they aren't His. These people, just like those who choose blatantly to denounce God- are NOT going to belong to God- all by their own choice, their own actions, their beliefs. They may even be judging those blatant God defying people as being lost even while they themselves are lost to God.


We cannot judge a single person's eternal life, not ever! We can see actions we know are outright condemned by God and judge that action to be wrong, but then as soon as we judge that action we HAVE to extend our deepest sympathy, the depths of our love towards the person committing that action- NOT our condemnation. And if our knee-jerk reaction is condemnation we NEED to repent of that action as soon as we realize our response was not one of love, but of dark nature. We need to extend our prayers to include their being forgiven and to their coming to know the love of God in truth. We must LOVE them, all the while Satan would have us despise them. We must not judge their eternal life, not ever, not in the slightest. We must forever hold out hope for them, just as we desperately need hope held out for us! All are worthy- Christ died for ALL mankind- and He will know those who are His, and those who are not. All are worthy of Christ, but NOT all will choose Christ. 


God help us all, help us to choose Christ!


(Excerpt- EJ Waggoner)


Romans Chapter 1- Brief summary- Condition of those who do not know God. How they lost their knowledge, and are without excuse.  And any who claim superiority over them are cut down by God for judging them. 






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To the Jew First. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This statement is sufficient to show that God is no respecter of persons. Indeed, the apostle states as a necessary conclusion that "there is no respect of persons with God." 


Rom_2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God.


"First" does not always refer to time. 


Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:


We speak of a man as being the first man in the country, not because there were no men before him, but because he is the chief man. In school a certain one is the first one in his class because he is the best scholar.  The Jew is the one who has had the greatest revelation made to him, and therefore it is just that he should be chief in the judgment.


The text shows, however, that God has no special favor to the Jew over other men. If glory, honor, and peace come to the Jew first, so also do indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish. The question is not, "What is the man's nationality?" but, "What has he done?"


God will render to every man according to his deeds, "for there is no respect of persons with God."


A few words may suffice to bring to mind what we have already studied. 


The first chapter of Romans may be briefly summed up as setting forth the condition of those who know not God, and the way in which they lost their knowledge, together with the fact that they are wholly without excuse. 


Then, just as we are ready to hold up our hands in horror at their wickedness, and to launch forth severe condemnation upon them, the apostle turns to us, and shuts our mouths with the stinging words, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."


*******


Thursday, December 24, 2020

Willfully Clinging to Sin Means Ultimate Destruction.

 *(Excerpt) 


'Tribulation and Anguish.


Those who sin are the children of wrath. Eph. 2:3. 


Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 


Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, are sure to come upon evil doers. But tribulation and anguish will have an end. The fact that none receive immortality except the ones who are Christ's at his coming, shows that all others will eventually cease to exist.


2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

1Th_4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first

1Co_15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.


There will be torment in connection with the punishment of the wicked, but the torment, however long it may continue, will come to an end in the utter destruction of the wicked. God's indignation will come to an end.  "For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction." Isa. 10:25.


The call is: "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity." Isa. 16:20,21. 


"He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger forever." Ps. 103:9. His anger will cease, not because he will become reconciled to iniquity, but because iniquity will come to an end with its workers.


"To Every Soul. " 


Rom_2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile


Tribulation and anguish will come upon "every soul of man that doeth evil," and "glory, honor,  and peace to every man that worketh good." 


None will be left out. There is not a soul so poor and ignorant that he will be passed by, nor one so wealthy and learned that he will be allowed to escape. Wealth and position will have no influence in that court. God has made the revelation of himself so plain that every man has had an opportunity of knowing him. "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness." 


Note well that his wrath is revealed against sin. Only those persons will suffer who cling to sin, and will not allow God to take it from them. In the final blotting out of sin, they are necessarily blotted out with it.


(To be continued…  end excerpt)


Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Immortality and Eternal Life

 



(Excerpt - EJ Waggoner- )


Immortality and Eternal Life. 


God will render eternal life to them who seek for glory and honor and immortality.  Christ "hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. 1:10. 


2Ti 1:10  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel


Life and immortality are two different things. 

Whoever believes on the Son of God has eternal life.

"This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3.


We have eternal life as soon as we know the Lord; but we can not have immortality until the Lord comes, at the last day.


"We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Cor. 15:51-53.


Rom_2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life


We are to seek for immortality; that of itself is proof that no man has it now. 


Since Christ has brought it to light through the gospel, it is evident that immortality can be found in no other way than through the gospel.  Therefore those who do not accept the gospel will never have immortality.


Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Judged By Our Works-Our Work Is to Believe In Christ Jesus.

(Excerpt EJ Waggoner)

Treasuring up Wrath. 

In the first chapter we learned that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." 

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness

Therefore all who sin are treasuring up for themselves wrath. 

It should be noted that in the judgment God is clear. Men receive only what they have worked for. God is not arbitrary. He has not fixed arbitrary decrees, and declared that whoever violates them shall be visited with vengeance. The punishment that will come upon the wicked is the necessary result of their own choice. God is the only source of life.

His life is peace. 

Now when men reject him, the only alternative for them is wrath and death.

"For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; they would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them." Prov. 1:29-32. 

Trouble and death are bound up in sin; they are what men choose when they refuse the Lord.

"According to his Deeds."

Unbelievers often say that it is not just for God to condemn a man simply because he does not believe a certain thing. 

But he does not do so. 

Not a word can be found in the Bible about judging a man according to his belief. Everywhere it is said that all will be judged according to their works. 

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matt. 16:27. 

"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12.

He "judgeth according to every man's work." 1 Pet. 1:17.

The man who says that his work is all right, sets himself up as judge in the place of God, who says that every man is all wrong. God is Judge alone, and he judges strictly according to a man's work, but a man's work is decided by his faith. 

"This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:29.

It is not for any man to judge himself, and say that his work is all right. It is for him simply to trust the goodness and mercy of the Lord, that his work may be wrought in God.


Monday, December 21, 2020

Despise Not God.

 If we do NOT despise God and His goodness, His forbearance, and His longsuffering, we WILL be led to repentance, we WILL be led to salvation through Christ.


If we DO despise God, if we despise His goodness, if we despise His forbearance, if we despise His longsuffering, we will NOT be led to repentance, we will not be led to salvation. 


God help us to NEVER despise His goodness, His forbearance, His longsuffering!  His will in all things, not our idea of how things should be, how God should be! His ways are far above our ways!


(Excerpt - EJ Waggoner)


"Repentance Is a Gift. 


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


"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Acts 5:30, 31. 


But it was not to Israel alone that God gave repentance through Christ. "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43. 


And so plainly did God make this appear that even the exclusive Jews were forced to exclaim, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." Acts 11:18.


Incentives to Repentance. 


Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 


The goodness of God leads men to repentance. Therefore the whole earth is full of incentives to repentance, for "the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." Ps. 33:5. "The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy." Ps. 119:64. God may be known through his works, and "God is love." All creation reveals the love and mercy of God.


And we need not try to improve on the Scriptures, and say that the goodness of God tends to lead men to repentance. The Bible says that it does lead them to repentance, and we may be sure that it is so. Every man is being led toward repentance as surely as God is good. But not all repent. Why? Because they despise the riches of the goodness and forbearance and long-suffering of God, and break away from the merciful leading of the Lord. But whoever does not resist the Lord, will surely be brought to repentance and salvation."


Sunday, December 20, 2020

The Goodness of God.

    

The goodness of God.


Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 

Psa 86:3  Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. 

Psa 86:4  Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.    


Psa 86:5  For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 


Psa 86:6  Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 


Psa 104:24  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 


Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 


Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power


Eph 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 

Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love


Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 


Col 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


Col 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 

Col 2:3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

Tit 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 

Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 

Tit 3:6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour


Excerpt - EJ Waggoner-


'God's Goodness Leads to Repentance.


"Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." Ro. 2:4


God is the perfection of purity and holiness; man is altogether sinful. God knows every sin, yet he does not despise the sinner. "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17. Christ said, "If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not." John 12:47.


In everything that he said and did, he was simply representing the Father. God "is long-suffering to usward;"  and "the long-suffering of our God is salvation." 2 Pet. 3:9,15. Now it is impossible that one should consider the goodness and long-suffering of God without being humbled and moved to repentance. When we consider how tenderly God bears with us, it is not possible that we should deal harshly with our fellow-men. And if we do not judge, we shall not be judged. Luke 6:37.'

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Wicked Ways In Me.

 "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,  whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12:14.


Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 

Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 


Our lives are laid bare before God. From the vilest of criminals intent upon destruction to the mild-mannered person who is content to live their lives without any acknowledgment of God's truths, and even to the most religious among mankind- none can hide a single thing from God. 


From the most blatant sin, and the sin which is considered the greatest of secrets, God knows them all. You may profess Christianity, while those around you witness your short temper, your snide reactions, your insincerity, your bitterness, your gossiping, your self-righteousness and they know that your Christianity is but pretense - unless - they also witness a true remorse for these things, and the great lamenting over besetting, cherished sins that you recognize in yourself and despise. If they witness the struggle of flesh and spirit in you in a sincere way- they will not be able to point the finger and cry- a pretend Christ follower! 


People try to hide truth even from themselves and guess what? It's possible, it's done all the time, day in and day out. God allows men to believe their own lies when it's certain they truly do not want His truth. 


Our lives laid bare reveal the greatest truth of all-we are vile sinners in need of a Savior. We are vile sinners who cannot remove the stain of sin-soaked into our flesh, tattooing us right down to our very heart's core with its evil condemnation. We could scrub at the filthy stains of sin but they won't come off. We don't have enough stain remover in the world to touch the smallest patch of sin stain.  All our efforts to remove our sin, sin that warrant the righteous judgment of God, is futile. We have to accept this as fact and submit ourselves to the only one who has any power to remove the stain of our sin-soaked selves. Is there any wonder at all whatsoever that we have to submit daily? And at times even minutely?  


We fall to our knees before the sin remover daily allowing Him to wash us with His blood, the only stain remover that exists for our sins. 


We can't hide from our sins, there is no escaping the revelation that will come to all of mankind at one point or another in their lives. We can ignore them, we can cover them with all sorts of pretty pictures trying to blot out the vile evil tattoo stains upon our hearts, but they are there, forever there if they are not given to our Savior to cleanse.


Truly it's not enough to acknowledge sin's existence and denounce it, we have to acknowledge our guiltiness, our part in sin's prolific destruction, it's continued hold on us at every turn. We must despise sin's constant attempts to permanently mark us. We need to humble ourselves, we need to search ourselves and see if there are any wicked ways in us…and we need to let GOD search us and lead us in the way everlasting!


Excerpt EJ Waggoner- 


'Outcry Against Sin.


In Pilgrim's Progress when Talkative left Faithful to decide upon the subject of their conversation, Faithful proposed this question:


"Faith. … How doth the saving grace of God discover itself, when it is in the heart of man?


Talk. I perceive, then, that our talk must be about the power of things; well, 'tis a very good question, and I shall be willing to answer you. And take my answer in brief, thus: First, Where the grace of God is in the heart, it causes there a great outcry against sin. Secondly –


Faith. Nay, hold; let us consider of one at once: I think you should rather say, it shows itself by inclining the soul to abhor its sin.


Talk. Why, what difference is there between crying out against, and abhorring of, sin?


Faith. Oh, a great deal! a man may cry out against sin of policy; but he cannot abhor it, but by virtue of a godly antipathy against it. I have heard many cry out against sin in the pulpit; who yet can abide it well enough in the heart, and house, and conversation. Joseph's mistress cried out with a loud voice, as if she had been very holy; but she would willingly, notwithstanding that, have committed uncleanness with him."


A keen perception of right and wrong, and a vigorous denunciation of sin, will never justify any man. 


On the contrary, they only deepen his condemnation. It is a sad fact that too many of the so-called reformers of the present day seem to think that gospel work consists largely in the denunciation of evil practices. A detective is not a minister of the gospel.


Judgment According to Truth. 


"But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things." (Ro. 2:2)


"Hold," says one, "I am not sure of that." Well, you may very easily assure yourself of it:


 1.God exists. We are agreed as to that.

 2.He is the source whence every created thing comes.

 3.Every creature is absolutely dependent upon him. "In him we live, and move, and  have our being." Acts 17:28

 4.Since all life depends on him, it is evident that the continuation of man's life  depends upon his agreement and union with God.

 5.Therefore God's own character must be the standard of judgment.

 6.But God himself is truth. "There is no unrighteousness in him." Ps. 92:15

 7.But he has made a revelation of himself and his righteousness to all men.  showed in the sight of the heathen. Ps. 98:2.

 8.Therefore all men, from the least to the greatest, are without excuse for their sin.

 9.Then it is plain enough that when God judges all men, without exception, his  judgment is according to truth. And earth will be constrained to join with heaven in  saying, "Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because  thou hast judged thus." "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy  judgments." Rev. 16: 5,7.


No Escape. 


No one need think that he can escape the righteous judgment of God. It is usually the most enlightened who flatter themselves that they shall escape. It is so easy for us to think that our great knowledge of right and wrong will be counted for righteousness, to persuade ourselves that our condemnation of the sins of others will make the Lord believe that we could never be guilty of such things. But that only makes our condemnation the more clear.


The first chapter of Romans knocks all the props from under every man. If the lowest are justly held guilty, there is no escape for the "higher classes." "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,  whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12:14.'