Under the Old Covenant, men were put to death if certain criteria were met. First, the sin had to rise to the standard of such a wicked act specified in the law of God. Secondly, two or more witnesses were needed to corroborate the accusation. Also, importantly, those worthy of death were not shipped off somewhere to be put to sleep with clinical precision some years or decades later, but the accusers would throw the stones of judgment in an hours-long gruesome death. It’s not the purpose of this writing, but as one might horridly imagine, the effect on crime was dramatic when family, friends, and neighbors were called upon to kill their own in such a brutally sobering affair.

“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” – Deuteronomy 17:6

John Baptist, as a witness of the truth, told of Christ’s coming. John said; there standeth one among you, whom ye know not. Jesus would, shortly after, begin His work revealing Himself. Jesus later would exclaim His witness is the most significant, not only for the miracles seen by hundreds of thousands but that He and the Father are witnesses together of the Son of God. This is a pronouncement of death upon the first-century keepers of the old law, and it extends into the New Covenant for us today.

“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” – Hebrews 10:29

Jesus is the witness, and ultimately by His command, the soul that sins shall surely be put to death in hell. Jesus shed His own blood; in effect, though all men are guilty of breaking the law of God, making you therefore worthy of death, He took upon Himself this condemnation, as the true and faithful witness, that He would pay by blood for your sin. You are guilty of sin, your own conscience bearing witness against you, but the Saviour has cast the first stone upon His own head for you.

Are you counting the blood of the covenant that God has made as an unholy thing? Is God not holy? Christ was sanctified, set apart for this purpose, that your sin might be forgotten, the law satisfied being revealed to you today. Vengeance through God’s wrath belongs to He who rules heaven and earth; He has declared these things as the sole arbiter of your debt for sin and how it must be paid. Please don’t spitefully rebuke the Spirit of God that comes to you through grace and truth. Would you pay with eternal damnation when God has already offered to transfer that debt through His own Son, making it settled in full?

You, who have rejected the Christ of God and have decided to take the full force and brunt of the law of God, deny the wonderful gift of Jesus’ death for your sin. How much greater shall the wrath of God be for not only accepting your guilt and admitting hell is your destination but, in so doing, the depth of the offense toward God is immeasurable; it’s a personal affront. You heap wrath upon wrath on your head. Christ already died, and you declare His death was not worthy to reckon you among the living, forgiven at last. Not only has sin powerfully condemned you, but you indicate to God that He offered His own Son in vain. How much sorer punishment suppose ye is the price upon your eternal soul! You have valued God’s perfect sinless sacrificial forgiveness through the cross as naught! He is King of all; what have you done?

And that’s it, a concise post in which is the truth of the price on your head under the law, a price you could never pay. Jesus died the death of a sinless sacrifice for you and rose again so that you both might live. That’s how much He loves you. Christ is alive, so your life may be in Him, made like brothers before the Father.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” – John 3:36

Believe the witness of Christ; accept it. The value of Christ, for He is all-sufficient, will by faith, change your worth from condemned in eternal death to not only forgiven, but because you have accepted by faith the price of Christ, God will receive you, counting your faith as righteousness for trusting so thoroughly, so completely in Him. God smiles upon all who say in their heart, I believe; thank you for your Son. Take the offer to walk away from death, not guilty; turn toward Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. He paid the terrible price you never could; go, God, having recast wrath to peace during your few remaining days on earth and changing your final home to everlasting life with Him; do you believe?

Note: Tagged Gospel Witness with the other posts in this series.

“11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” – Proverbs 24:11-12

Herschel mentioned these verses the other day. They caught our attention. Certainly, the correct understanding is the defense of innocent life under the watchful eye of Holy God. A man is also to capture his brother’s ox that is astray and return it (Deuteronomy 22:1), and more so, we are commanded to return even our enemy’s wandering ox or ass (Exodus 23:4). Though He is at enmity with Holy God for his sin, how much more is a man than a beast to the Almighty who has numbered every hair on his head (Luke 12:7)? We must tell all men how to avoid hell, leading them back to their rightful owner who is holy Father God.

Throw a rock in any direction, and you’ll hit a sinner who’s being drawn unto death beneath the curse of sin; the devil has blinded their eyes to the truth, except some man should be their guide. They live in the kingdom of death and hell hopeless without the saving love of Christ, and we, having a saving knowledge of the Master, are duty-bound to warn.

For His Church today, Christ instructs us by parable in the cause of finding the one lost sheep, rejoicing when it is brought again to the ninety-nine (Luke 15:1-7). That parable is about the sinner’s restoration and may apply to those who wander like a sheep that’s gone astray from the truth and those men who have yet to be converted. He says in another place, more to the point; “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” – Matthew 18:11

The spread of the Gospel didn’t stop; it went into all the world as Christ was made the ruler of all the kingdoms on earth after the temple was destroyed, ending the Old Covenant. Under a new, better, everlasting covenant, the Church exploded in number as God built His new heavenly temple. This work is ongoing; we should be deeply bothered by the ebbing in our day, praying for the lost and that Holy God would move whole continents to faith again.

Under the Kingdom of God, a disciple of Him who came to seek and to save should also be about this same divine business of spreading the Gospel. For we are all witnesses (Acts 1:8); the Gospel is to be preached to every creature (Mark 16:15) under heaven until the commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is fulfilled. Whenever you see something in God’s word three times, He is emphatic; you have been commanded thrice to spread the Gospel.

All men must hear the glorious truth of the Christ of God who died for our sins according to the Scripture and rose again the third day according to the Scripture that all might be fulfilled necessary to save God’s lost sheep. If they die, dear watchman on the wall, and you warn them not, their blood is on your head (Ezekiel 33).

Searching and seeking for those Christ would save by His mighty power as life-giver and author of the second birth by the Spirit of God, Christ directs every Christian to this vital task. There are no exceptions and none who may say, “Behold, we knew it not.” You, too, were headed to death and hell for grievous sins against God and His righteous standard, and so is the whole of man.

Jude well says: “21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

God does know your heart; there is no day of excuses; all must meet the Maker of heaven and earth. Consider how God ponders the ways of men, for He is the keeper of your very soul. He who issued the breath of life into you, and made Himself sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, doth He not know your frame? Christ will render to every man according to his works. Deny Christ now; He will deny you in heaven before the holy angels of God (Luke 12:8-9).

Sinners are easy to find; we are without excuse. Telling them the truth is simply a matter of forsaking your own will and seeking to accomplish the works for which you are appointed. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

“19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” – Ephesians 2:19-22

We are citizens of the Kingdom, raised up with Christ Jesus, fellows with the saints who were mighty men of valor by great acts of faith in deed and service of the Almighty. That same Spirit rules in us; no mountain cannot be brought low, conquered by the will of God in us. Stop doubting; you are of the household of God who is your Father. Why do you fear? Call upon the Lord of the harvest for renewal of the Holy Spirit in you; it’s not by your own power but by His that the love of Christ is broadcast near and abroad.

The foundation is sure, built upon the Rock, which is holy, the prophets and apostles attesting to us daily in the word that all is made sure in Christ, the chief cornerstone of us who, if only we are willing and active to follow after, are laid a sure foundation offering the hope of life everlasting to those who need Him.

When you serve God, you not only work on building the holy temple of the Lord in yourself, but you grow it outward, the Lord adding to His Church daily such as should be saved. God prospers you, fitting you to duty, honor, love, peace, joy, and service of mighty works to His glory, growing together all His saints into that holy temple in Christ our risen Saviour and great High Priest, Just Ruler, the King of all domains.

Salvation is of faith, but so too is the life of the believer; by the Spirit of God in you, walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), taking one initial step in the belief that God will save thousands by His word from your mouth and watch God pour out His Spirit upon those being called to His great purposes into the everlasting Kingdom built on the resurrection of Christ and destruction of the defunct old way. It’s a New Covenant in the blood of Christ; your life is not your own; go, making the way of salvation sure to all who hear God under the sound of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is given a Kingdom that we are to build with Him sharing the word of God as He draws and calls all men to the foot of the cross, some, sadly unto condemnation, but brothers and sisters in Christ, millions and millions have been reborn by the Spirit already. And many millions more by their faith, and not theirs alone, but ours to tell them what great things our God has done that they might hear and believe. And if the Lord allows, even billions more may be added. How could you do nothing?

Now, Bill Lee, the Tennessee Governor, is getting in on the act of rule by kingly decree while also calling for a TN Red Flag law. This is fallacious because TN can already take a person’s gun(s) for mental health reasons. I can’t recall the exact language, perhaps somebody knows, but it, of course, involves harm to self and others, imminent threat or danger, etc.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed an executive order Tuesday to strengthen the state’s background check process for purchasing firearms and encouraged lawmakers to pass a “red flag” law that would prohibit dangerous people from owning guns, in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Nashville last month—one year after Lee said he would not support tighter gun laws.

Define “dangerous person.” All men are dangerous; some are peaceable, while others are harmless; may the Lord never find you in the latter category.

Key Facts

The executive order requires all crimes to be reported to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation within 72 hours, after which they are “accurately, completely and timely” processed into the state’s background check system.

“all crimes?” Does this mean even misdemeanors and previously nonprohibitive petty crimes? What about folks that have served their time and are now productive citizens and gun owners? Will they be the first to get an early morning SWAT raid?

The state investigative service is also required to examine the state’s process for firearms purchases and submit a report listing any needed changes to both Lee and the state legislature within 60 days.

I’ve always had concerns about Lee since I met him early in his first campaign. I asked him about Constitutional Carry, to which he responded forcefully and without hesitation that he was against it. It was a gut response from which one could immediately know that he firmly believes that only government should have guns. He even went on to say that he would have to consult with the police about that. And so here he is, many years later, consulting with State Police over who should be allowed to have a firearm.

Lee called on the state’s GOP-controlled legislature to pass a “new, strong” order of protection law—also referred to as “red flag” laws—that would prevent people who pose a threat to themself or others from owning firearms.

Now Governor Lee wants 3 a.m. Red Flag raids on people who some antichrist “doctor” will unlawfully warrant. We’re coming to expect more of this “trust the experts” from the inexpert power-hungry profit-motive governments at all levels in the United States.

Is a man with publicly obvious spiritual, mental, and emotional problems that thinks he is a woman a qualifying mental problem? No, by federal law! So who are these Red Flag laws going to target; people who say there are only two sexes, made in the image of God, and all else is sin, a wicked prevision? Transexuals are obviously deviant and socially deficient; any serious Christian would know they have a demon; why are our rights in jeopardy over the influence of the devil in the soul of the godless?

Lee, who said new restrictions would “give the people of Tennessee what they deserve,” indicated last year he would not support restricting firearms or strengthening gun control laws after two previous mass shootings in the state.

Crucial Quote

“We should set aside politics and pride” and take steps to prevent future gun violence, Lee said in a press conference Tuesday at the Midtown Hills police station in Nashville, which responded to the shooting at Covenant School last month.

Lee is governor; every decision he makes is politics. This is also a fallacious argument.

Bill Lee also must be a fake Christian, or he would know better than to infringe on the rights of the law-abiding. A Christian would understand, in his heart, that to accuse his countrymen of the sin of pride over their Biblical duty to protect themselves and their families is False Witness (Exodus 20:16), which is a crime against God. “Thou shalt not kill.” is enjoined. That discussion of self-defense before the throne of God is already over by the Commandment of the Holy One, our true King, not Bill Lee, who is treading dangerously on ground that would usurp God’s sovereignty.

Can evil cast out evil? America has serious spiritual problems due to sin against God. More sin against God by decree of government will not solve this problem. “18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.” Luke 11:18-19. Can sin cast out sin, Governor Lee? The solution to the devil is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but so-called Christians don’t believe in the power of the Gospel because they are not actually converted.

What’s offered; more gun control by Republicans! When will America awaken to the falsehood of two competing parties?

And a review of Tennessee’s permitless carry, which Lee signed. It’s NOT permissive but restrictive. The only place it authorizes carry is on private property. That’s not permitless carry, let alone actual Constitutional Carry. Millions of Tennesseans daily carry a firearm, thinking they have a right to carry, but they don’t. The fake NRA sponsored the counterfeit Constitutional Carry bill that was passed in TN.

Part 1

“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” – 1 Corinthians 11:3

Unless you are her leader, your wife can’t be happy and will be useless to you. The man is to offer his family to God, without spot, sanctified by obedience to the Holy Writ, just as Christ will present His Church, cleansed from all sin by His blood, to the Father.

True contentedness in marriage only exists when each knows and subordinates themselves according to the law-word of God. The Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12), the Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14), the Eighth Commandment (Exodus 20:15), and the Tenth Commandment (Exodus 20:17) all apply directly to the man’s responsibility not only to his wife but to all women, both those that his own family, and those that are not. Therefore this responsibility to the Almighty extends to God’s ordained family for its purpose in creation, structure, and function.

The family is central to God’s plan for every person. The family is critical to a foundation upon which God will build a functioning civilization. The Left sees the family as a primitive construct, a fiction that can be reimagined to fit any abominable wickedness of sin ever considered by the heart of man. Without the family, as God supplied, society rapidly breaks down under the weight of sin. Please keep in mind that it’s not the lack of family; it’s the presence of sin that causes the absence of family to perpetuate total degeneracy; sin always comes first. No sins can stand alone; the corruption of man’s heart has far-reaching and horrific consequences once a bit of evil is allowed.

We don’t have space here to answer many aspects of these four commandments of Holy God. However, as we’ve stated over these pages, violating only one of the Ten Commandments is nearly impossible; there’s too much cross-application among them. It’s impossible to keep the whole law.

It was an act of God’s caring, which had Him provide a helpmeet. And by His mercy in creating the family for us, it’s an act of reciprocal love for the Almighty to constitute your family upon the foundations of the Holy Bible. If you are Christian, God’s word should be your sole worldview, within which you establish a functionally just society, the head of which is Christ, and must include the sound family structure revealed to us in God’s law and word. It’s a lie from the pit of hell that women can lead the family, the fruits of which lay glaringly evident at the fall and today; sin abounds, begetting even more corruption.

Women are to be a helpmeet for the man (Genesis 2:18). The man is to lead the woman (1 Corinthians 11:3). When the woman directs, sin enters in (Romans 5:12). That’s what happened in the garden with Adam and Eve. Adam stood right there when Eve sinned against God, and he did not stop her (Genesis 3:6). The whole Earth stands cursed because the man failed to lead as the head, harkening unto his wife instead of Holy God.

It’s the man’s job to lead the family in righteousness. Perhaps you esteem God’s word lightly, but no matter: what’s explained here isn’t Christian theory; it’s a fact evident in nature (His created order), to any man of sound reasoning, that God was kind enough to warn us about in His word.

God has given three central institutions of which Christ is to be the head; Church, Family, and State. Men are to lead in each instance as Christ’s representative to those under his charge. Woman’s leadership leads to sin, destroying family and Civilization with it.

“19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” – Ephesians 1:19-23

Christ is the head over all things to the Church. If you are Christian, you are a member in particular of the body of Christ, so to you, Jesus Christ is above all things; He has the preeminence. We keep the commandments of God by faith in Christ our King. See Exodus 20:3 and John 1:1.

We might as well address this while we’re here. Marriage is a covenant one man and one woman makes with Holy God. It’s not a state-licensed activity between two people of any sex to be disannulled at a whim.

At marriage, the man and the woman are made one, no longer twain (Mark 10:8), but one flesh, a joining by covenant in a holy union with their Creator. Christ is the head of the Church, which is His body. The man is the head of the woman, now made by marriage one body. As Christ is the head of the Church, which is His body (at marriage, the man and woman are made one body), the man is the head of the woman and his children; this constitutes the body of the family; they are the man’s charge, under Christ our Lord.

In the section of Mark below, Jesus discusses divorce, but the direct application is thoroughly made with no reservations to the family as a whole.

“5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. – Mark 10:6-9, Jesus refers to Genesis 2:24.

Carefully consider that monogamy is disappearing, so too, prostitution has waned; what in one is pure before God and the other terrible wickedness are merging under the Leftist program. Sadly, women are so terribly misled that they consider themselves free from the constraints of patriarchy, while men view them as unpaid servants of pleasure. Men don’t like women who give themselves away but view them as a simple physical utility to an evil end. Being broadcast across all media, it’s a lie from the pit of hell that physical interaction equates to love. Women themselves have taken this up and are promoting it, only to end later in life with a devastated soul longing for the satisfaction that God, from the start, offered by obedience to His design purposes for the woman to belong to one man, raising a family. Sin never finds a comfortable middle ground; it invariably progresses to destructive ends.

The man and the woman have exclusive property rights to the other’s body. The exclusive right to be the only desire of the heart and mind takes much steadfastness in the faith with prayer, Bible devotions with reading both separately and as a couple, gathering together with other faithful and monogamous Christians in the worship of your Lord, and serving Christ together in building the Kingdom of God while seeking His return. Nobody said marriage was easy but fulfilled are the man and woman who look upon their marriage as consecrated by the Almighty that He alone has dominion over.

——–

Part 2

We thought to provide the meat up front in Part One. What follows is a common outline. It’s not enough; it’s not holding the family together, even in the churches, this lightly touched-upon explanation that’s taught everywhere. As though God were merely suggesting these things and not commanding in His might from the throne of wrath that His people obey or suffer civilizational collapse. The New Religion soft peddles everything ruining your future.

God made them male and female (Genesis 1:27).

God gave Eve to Adam to be his helpmeet. This is why, in Christendom (we suppose a type of symbolism), the woman is given by her father. Her father was, before marriage, her image (type) of God, leader, and priest. She is given by her father to her husband, who now becomes her sole leader and priest in the image of Christ.

Continuing to emphasize the likeness of the Church, Jesus Christ being her head, with the man as head of his wife and family, Ephesians 5:25-31 is often cited. But first verse 32 because it tells us the purpose of this section.

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:32

What’s being spoken of is the Church of Jesus Christ. Remember that a mystery in the Bible is not something hidden but something that has been, or is being, revealed to us in Scripture.

In the section of Ephesians below, the writer uses the family as an illustration of the Church. These illustrations in the Holy Bible are instructive by design, so we must look for the lessons contained in them. One thing about them is that they often take something self-evident in God’s institutions to explain a more significant function relating to our understanding of God’s purposes for us in creation. In this case, God uses the husband’s relationship as the wife’s leader, which should be evident in the macrocosm as common knowledge, to explain a more profound truth of Christ and His Church, bringing the obscure into the light by using marriage as an example of His Church, Christ as the head.

Still, many have taught, in our day, the government of family structure and roles based upon Ephesians chapter 5, and this isn’t wrong. It is gravely disappointing that Western Civilization has fallen so far that one must teach this section from a reverse perspective. Still, in verse 25, instruction to the husband is what we find. The man is to present his family to God, without spot, sanctified by obedience to the Holy Writ, just as Christ will present His Church, cleansed from all sin by His blood, to the Father.

You’ve seen these verses before, so take them and hide them in your heart, that you might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).

“25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” – Ephesians 5:25-31

These duties are immense and can only be undertaken with much prayer and steadfast insistence.

-The man is commanded to be a type of Christ

-Die to save her life

-Be the spiritual leader as the priest of the family

-Be both submitted to God yet the leader of the household simultaneously

-Love his wife as much as Christ loves him (that’s a command of Holy God)

-Ensure the family is without blemish before God

-Be sinless, spotless, and above reproach, and keep his help meet the same

-And he must sacrifice his own will, unto God, so that his family will thrive

A man has an innate drive by the design of God to fulfill these roles. And a woman would be much better off letting her husband lead the family, tribe, and nation. An intelligent woman will recognize Ephesians 5 as a grand and useful master list, from God Himself, on how to support her man to maximize the realization of their dreams together.

The Left is destroying men by insisting that these tasks belong to government and also indicating that they aren’t needed duties but that women can suffice to do them. It’s gibberish, and all lies.

The fall of man as it relates to sin today and the destruction of society must be considered.

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” – Genesis 3:6

It’s not hyperbole to say Civilization hangs in the balance when we sin against the Almighty. The man was with her and, as the leader, failed to stop his wife from her sin, and in so doing, Adam disobeyed God. Sin brought the fall of man, and with it, the whole earth is now cursed.

Christ’s sovereignty came by submitting to the Father, even unto the cross of humiliation. For us, by submission to Christ as our head come the blessings of the authority to carry out the roles in God’s design for men and women.

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38 and many others.

Even Jesus subordinated Himself to the Father. We must subordinate ourselves to God’s word. The man must take charge, and the woman must submit to the glory of God the Father. Once this is accomplished by continuous active pursuit, a colossal burden is lifted from the family. Keeping God’s ordination brings blessings evident in nature and daily living to those faithful to keep His commandments.

The result of sin today is evident all around. Only the devil wants women to be like men and men to be like women. Why? Because the devil and his workers of iniquity hate you and want you destroyed and dead.

If the man and the woman are to be under Christ, the woman is subordinate to the man. The priests of the New Religion will never be allowed to say that women acting like men publicly in society and at home have caused major mental and emotional problems, but it’s why 40 percent of women are taking antidepressants. They’ve been told that they can, and even should have been, just like men in all aspects of the associations they inhabit.

God made men to work, protect, hunt, build, and make hard decisions to ensure the survival of the tribe. God made women to nurture, gather, encourage, and, yes, especially to inspire. These traits of women are not belittling to mention; this notion is absurd brainwashing. Women are necessary for the proper raising of children, maintaining a family, and critical to nurturing that familial relationship without which all of society falls apart.

The choices of blessings or curses are set before us each day; choose wisely.

I’m not qualified to have written this, but it’s by the dispensation of the grace of God that would allow teaching to men and women whose shadow I’m not worthy to gaze upon.

Part 1

Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes can be somewhat disheartening, but we should know that reading it will set the proper perspective about our station in this world. Though good men should leave a legacy for their children’s children and teach the brethren about Christ while seeking the lost, Christians do this not for any expectation other than heaven. If this book bothers you, and at times it does me, though all may be vanity, ask yourselves, what is my purpose here, and what God do I serve? “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:21

“4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?”

Ecclesiastes 8 refers to a human king and his subject’s obligations. It may refer to Solomon and the king’s oath. Gifted with wisdom beyond any mortal man only eclipsed by that immortal One, Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:42), and from that position and wealth, the writer knows a thing or two about that which he speaks. But understand that the object of the lesson isn’t the king or his governmental decrees.

This is incredibly important in these times that grow alarmingly dark. As verse nine would indicate, there is a time when a man would rule over another to his own hurt: today, our leaders destroy trust at every turn, damaging the people; our rulers only sabotage themselves in the long run. All America is a people with an indignant frame toward the truths set before us in Ecclesiastes 8; its many warnings have roots in verse two.

“2 I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.”

Keep the king’s commandment, and that, regarding the oath of God. A just government honors the word of God and not with its lips but in the execution of its laws. When government and the rule of God conflict, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” particularly in matters of evangelism by the body of Christ because the Almighty will prevail.

You could read verse two as a command to keep the laws of men where they are agreeable with God, knowing God’s law is higher. Or you could read it as keeping the king’s commands staying within the scope of God’s law. God’s law will prevail. The rulers of America swore an oath, apparently, beyond their understanding. God, in His wrath, will visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes (Psalm 89:31-32) to the ruin of our nation for its disobedience.

To us who are saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, He is the prince of the kings of the earth, our heart is always set “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

We have a high King, Christ Jesus. Keeping our oaths to Him, for He will not repent of the blood He shed to make us His purchased possession, our allegiance and fidelity belongs solely to the Almighty; do all things according to the will of God, found in His writ. Where the word of our King is, there is power; no evil can stand against it.

God’s love toward us demands reciprocal love in obedience to follow Christ. “We love him, because he first loved us.” Salvation comes with responsibility. Wisdom is the fear of the Lord in outward manifestation as obedience to Christ; departing from evil, the wisest thing a man can do is to follow Jesus.

“3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?”

America is at a fall, and not even Christians know the degree of what’s transpiring because if they did, they would be shedding every unnecessary impediment to saving America. So few today comprehend that the God of the Bible is the God of covenants. He makes oaths that shall not be broken except on pain of destruction. Don’t go out of His sight chasing after some evil thing, for God will glorify Himself in Christ Jesus.

We have a duty to keep the King’s commandment concerning the oath of God that we took, which is the law by contract that we, all those chosen in Christ Jesus, must follow. Christians everywhere waste time and energy blaming the objects of our judgment instead of the source, which resides in the mirror.

If Christians were absolutely about the Father’s business, with love for Christ as their sole motive, believing that the word of our King is power, they would face down every evil. Accepting the truth that nobody can fix Western Civilization except Christians, by the oath of God, which is to keep all that Christ commands; if God in His grace would bless our effort, we, by the power of our King, can save America.

We say we love Him, but our hearts are far from Him. Before you object, Jesus says in John 14:15: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

I’m guilty too; cowardice, sloth, failure to go to the appointed place at the specified time. When I was on active duty in the Navy, you could do almost anything and get a comparative slap on the wrist, but if you missed the ship’s movement as it left port headed to sea, that was about the worst thing you could do to fellow crewmates who then were on the hook for your job. The number of men on a ship is finite, with jobs specific; some things just wouldn’t get done to the detriment of the entire mission. Failure to be where God commands us is rampant today, and the few serving with all effort in the Kingdom of God suffer as millions deny the work for Christ or do little at all; “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?” But don’t wait for them; stand up; lead by following Jesus. If one man fails, the mission of Christ in this generation is in jeopardy.

Have you ever asked, ‘what is the appointed place, oh God, where I must tell of the great things you’ve done?’ At any rate, start right where you are today; we are without excuse;  Every Christian, man, woman, and child is to be a witness for Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God, a beacon of light and truth and hope, salt in the first place to prevent rotting and feted churches and country, and a righteous rebuker of the wicked. Too few are willing to pay the price to serve in truth and righteousness. Friends, there is no discharge in that war; you’re going to lose it all; you might as well lose it now for Christ instead of waiting for the power to go out, the food to get cut off, or the knock on the door for that last train ride.

Though He compels us to approach strangers with the Gospel, He will not physically force you to demand of your Christian brothers that we “…Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” which is the beginning from the end and all that lands between, the conclusion to all righteous duty and holy living is to keep the commandment in regard of the oath of God.

The assurance of God for us is that Christ died for our sins to secure us unto Himself for a people to serve Him, which brings glory to the Father. Jesus kept His word under the will of the Father, fulfilling the Holy Scriptures, but too few of His disciples do.

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Part 2

“5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.”

God made an oath, a covenant when His own Son was crowned with glory and honor, suffering death by the cross; He tasted death for every man by the grace of God. And He rose again to take His kingship, His station above all. Like it or not, it’s a covenant in blood, in the only immaculate blood that was or ever shall be, keeping the commandment of Jesus Christ, He will keep you from the evil. Keeping the commandment of God to heed the call of Jesus Christ unto eternal life, in death, you will feel no evil thing. You who are afar off, weary in sin, failing God almighty, your nation, your family, your children’s children, and wrecking your covenant by forsaking adherence to the Sovereign of all things, make your oath with Jesus Christ today.

Who shall stand for good in the day of evil? If not God’s people, then none at all.

Jesus warned, “…ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” Where is wisdom but in the Holy Bible: have you not read in the prophets and the law what travails begin at the outset of civilizational destruction; the wise man’s heart can discern both time and judgment – look around – do you know what time it is?

“6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?”

Who can tell us anything but God, who gave us His word so that we can know Him and His love and hope toward us that keep His word? He has revealed to us what horrifying things befall the disobedient nation. It’s why history repeats or at least rhymes, as the saying goes. Time and judgment catch us all and, sadly, often unawares. But we don’t think America is unaware; it just doesn’t hurt enough yet. That’s what the judgment of God is upon a people, pain until they return to the oath, open His commandments, and do them, knowing the pain of death is otherwise in the offing, we must cry out, “Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.” Return ye unto God.

“8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.”

No man can keep his soul. Instantly at death, you pass to one of two final abodes; there’s no moment of decision upon departing, no interval to plea your case to the Judge. You are powerless over the moment as agency leaves you; a foreign force quite beyond your control effects your soul’s departure; the journey and the end thereof are in the hands of God alone. There’s no discharge, no escaping the draft of force; all men are appointed once to die, but you don’t have to die in hell. God owns the day “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” The day of death is coming for us all. The many efforts you make without Christ, any work of wickedness: not by force of arms, not by governments of men, not by works or wishful thoughts at all; no evil can deliver those given over to it: call upon His holy name, only Jesus Christ will save.

“12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him”

In His patience and longsuffering, the Almighty sends warnings, sometimes by men, sometimes by circumstances, but read His word; the hour is late, fear your King before the sinners of this world.

What is your desire toward Christ? Answer Him! Though you’ve sinned a hundred times or more, Jesus paid your sin debt on calvary’s hill, dying there and rising three days later, offering victory over hell to you. Don’t take your chances on tomorrow; Jesus Christ will save your soul, forgiving your sins, and setting you before His throne, a brand new son of the King: neither is there salvation in any other; it’s Jesus. He will save you from your sin, save your marriage, save your children, save your household if you seek Him carefully by the covenant He made at the start. And through those that are His, He can save our nation from eternal ruin. Undoubtedly, America is lost, but we have Christ: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10

Don’t hold fast to the wayward life; let Christ change you. Salvation is beautiful; it’s a restorative life-giving work of the Almighty to those who believe by faith, trust in His holy name, and pray for forgiveness. Then, as brothers in Christ, who is Lord of all, act upon every word of His sacred Scripture, which He commands. This, too, is an act of belief by faith, trusting God to restore our right standing.

“13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.”

This life is but a shadow, and when you come into the presence of the Light, there will be no more shadow, only truth laid bare. Ending here with a warning in verse 13, Ecclesiastes can be dark but don’t let the vanity of this world sow despair; praise the Father, determine in your heart toward the holy Redeemer to walk in the light, as he is in the light, seeking fellowship among the saints of God to build that which He desires; “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”  The day is short; fear God, knowing the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Christ is King and does whatever pleases Him; who shall question?

The book of Romans is often cited as a road to building faith in God and how to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. So too, the book of John seems to have as a primary purpose telling of forgiveness for sin through Jesus Christ by faith in His death, burial, and resurrection from the grave. And many example verses and sections of Scripture show the truth about the hopelessness of the works of man’s own doing, the consequences of sin, and the pain of death and hell for men who reject Christ. But what did Christ say about these things, including trusting in Him alone to have faith to enter into life everlasting with the Holy Creator?

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Jesus Christ

Whether building initial faith or as a self-education tool for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this post is presented to increase men’s faith in Jesus. Faith comes by hearing the word of God, which He has magnified above His own name (Psalm 138:2), so we’ll look at several verses in the word of God, primarily from the book of Luke.

It seems that Luke, though he was a believer, recorded Christ’s time on earth and the times of very early Church history from the approach of a dispassionate observer. Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, is the penman of the Book of Acts. He also penned down the Gospel According to Luke, from which the verses below are taken.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10

This verse sounds very simple at first glance, and you may think it doesn’t apply to you. Jesus is seeking you, but what does it mean to be lost and then saved, and why is Jesus seeking you?

Salvation is from sin, and admitting you are a sinner is often a hurdle. So a lost sinner must understand why corruption from sin is harmful and, most importantly, how it has damaged your relationship with Holy God. And you must know that Jesus is the way to have your sin not only forgiven but removed altogether from the presence of Father God. Without shedding of blood there is no remission. Here is the requirement to enter heaven: having your sins purged by the blood sacrifice of a perfect and sinless living offering to God. There is only one such offering, the Christ of God, Jesus.

A man is lost because he’s wandering alone without God, and Jesus is seeking you to save you from hell, like a shepherd looking for His sheep that’s gone astray.

“4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.” – Luke 12:4

We were designed to fear death, given an innate desire for life by our Creator God. You can try to prolong your life with great effort, but eventually, your body will expire. Your fears won’t save you, and no amount of wealth, doctors, or good things you’ve done will stop the day from coming. Everyone must die. Death is the result of sin. It stalks every man; we are all sinners. If there was no sin, if you were not a sinner, then you could have no fear of death. But you are a sinner.

“2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. – Luke 12:2-3

Nothing is covered or hidden from God. There will be a judgment of all men. No sin will be allowed into heaven. All that’s been done in darkness; lying, stealing, cheating, slandering, every word and every evil thought and desire of the heart and lusts of the flesh will be judged.

God knows all your secrets, and everything you’ve attempted to keep hidden from view will be brought to light; there can be nothing private at God’s great judgment. Secrets are kept due to shame of oneself or malice toward another man, all of which God rejects. God is holy, perfect, and sinless; He won’t allow sin in heaven because it would defile His holiness. He won’t have unforgiven sinners in heaven with Him.

It’s excellent that Jesus calls us friends and He teaches us who to fear in the following verse from the Holy Bible. The Bible is God’s holy word; do you trust it to tell you the truth? It shows Christ’s loving kindness and desire for you to know and entrust Him with your soul in eternity.

“5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” – Luke 12:5

You know that you have sinned against Holy God, and the judgment of God requires payment for your sin, which is death and hell. You must fear God, understanding that He alone has power and authority over whether you go to heaven or hell, and His decision is final. There is no higher power over you than the Almighty, who created you and gave you life.

You must know that you are a hell-bound sinner, fearing God Almighty. When you meet God, you will finally realize what holy is and how awful your sins have been.

God holds the number of your days in His hand; at the appointed time, you will die. He’s a just judge and will have an accurate accounting, but He’s a merciful God who also wants rest for your soul in heaven. Not only is Jesus your friend who loves you, but God loves you so very much that He knows your name and sent His Son Jesus to warn and to call you to Him. God is warning that there is no other way but Jesus Christ as payment for your sin. Nobody wants to die and go to hell, and with Jesus as your Saviour, you needn’t fear death.

Therefore, we understand, thus far, that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; none can get to heaven on merit or ability. You will die and face the judgment of God for your sin, which is hell. We’ve hinted at it already, but what can a man do? It’s essential, this thing of avoiding the wrath of God in judgment. Deciding to trust Jesus and serve God is the most pressing decision you will ever make.

Let us now look at two important things that Jesus said.

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:5

Jesus leaves no room whatsoever for discussion or argument over the matter. There’s no other way; if you do not repent, changing your mind about the sinful condition of your eternal soul and admitting that God is the Judge of the living and the damned, you will perish in eternity, which is eternal death in the damnation hell.

And this next verse, again spoken by Jesus Christ, says that He didn’t come to call the righteous.

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:32

He didn’t come to call pretty good folks. He didn’t come to call those doing good things for their neighbors, or those following the law, or keeping some religious ceremonies or church rituals. He didn’t even come to call people who’ve kept the Ten Commandments or people being faithful church members.

No, He came not to the righteous man but is calling a sinner like you to repent toward God by putting your faith in the power of Jesus to save you.

So what can you do?

Jesus Christ is the sinless Son of God and lived in bodily form as a man, yet without sin. He, being innocent, accomplished for you what you could not do on your own. Being perfect, Jesus satisfied God’s judgment on the cross against sinners and was raised from the dead.

“Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” – Luke 9:22

You must believe, by faith, that Jesus Christ was slain; crucified on the cross, Jesus paid your sin debt to Holy God. This sacrifice occurred two thousand years ago and stands good with Holy God today as payment for your sin. And He was buried, but He was raised again on the third day. He proved that He has command over life and death when He rose from the dead. This shows you that He can give you eternal life.

“And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.” – Luke 5:20

What does Jesus say; thy sins are forgiven thee! If you have faith and believe in the power of Jesus to save your soul, God will forgive you eternally, which means forever. He’ll make you a son of God, welcomed into His loving kindness.

And, here comes the best part. Jesus has the power of life and makes the offer of life everlasting to take you to heaven with God for all time. Do you believe it? Jesus can change your life now, and you can meet God and be friends with Him!

It’s all about life everlasting in heaven. If you will follow Jesus in the Kingdom of God and be His disciple above anything else, then pray to Him.

Nobody can tell you what to say to God. It’s between you and God through faith in Jesus Christ. But you have learned the essential things to pray about while reading this discussion; you know what Christ said in the verses above. Pray to God from your heart if you would.

In prayer, seeking to be saved from the offenses you’ve committed against Holy Father God, ask forgiveness from Him; tell Him you’re sorry for your sin. Tell Him you know in your soul that He has the power and authority to save you from hell. Explain that you believe Jesus paid your price for entrance into heaven. And explain to Holy God, in prayer, how you will serve Jesus in the Kingdom of God.

God is faithful and true; He always honors His word. When He makes a covenant, you can count on Him. He says you will receive eternal life in the glories of heaven with Him if you believe.

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” – Luke 15:7

There shall be joy in heaven for you who call upon God through faith in Jesus, seeking in prayer everlasting forgiveness and life eternal. You, just one sinner seeking Holy God, bring all of heaven to tremendous jubilation for your trust in Jesus Christ. Salvation is of the Lord.

“19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” – Mark 10:19-21

I woke up thinking about this post from Sunday night and its implications in today’s churches. In this section of Scripture, the rich young ruler tells Jesus that he has kept the law from his youth. Only Mark, of the three synoptic Gospels, records more closely the physical interaction between that man and Jesus. Perhaps Mark, who many consider to be an eyewitness to much of Christ’s time in public life, was in a position to see his Master, where Matthew was not, and Luke, we reckon, was not there.

Only Mark records, “Then Jesus beholding him loved him.” We’ve heard some speculation about this in preaching and teaching. Some say the love Christ showed was actually pity for the man because he must have lied about keeping the law. And yet others have attempted to reduce the significance of the moment and the non-verbal response of our Lord.

During travels this last summer, I attended a Wednesday night meeting at a small church. In becoming acquainted with the Pastor before the service, he revealed that we would discuss the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the law of God until the temple(s) was built, where the law was then held in the holiest of holies. The Pastor asked me and a few others from his church in the pre-meeting discussion where the ark is now. Well, I said it was in heaven, always has been in heaven; the ark and the temple were merely types or a picture of the throne room of God. Fortunately, only a few people heard me because I gave away the conclusion to his lesson. The Pastor offered for me to stay in his RV while passing through. Good folks, down to earth. A discussion with a very recent convert was especially fruitful and enjoyable. It’s always a delight to meet newer believers. That night’s lesson did not mention the section of Mark above, but you’ll see the point momentarily.

Back to the rich young ruler and Jesus. Why wouldn’t Jesus have looked upon a man with love who had kept His law? The law was given by God, and Christ is God, Himself being the law in the flesh; “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” Could that look of love have been God’s approval as He called the rich young ruler to follow Him to his own cross of martyrdom? The ruler kept the law but loved his stuff; this we all get. Having observed the ordinances, he was called to abandon the things of this life, going wheresoever the will of God would take him (Joshua 1:9).

There were attempts to downplay the law’s importance in those poor lessons about this passage. All failed to show that Jesus is God and that the law is The Word of God! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1.

It’s bothersome having never heard a preacher state simply that God loved him for keeping His law. Why is this so hard to say? Because it hurts, all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. God loved the man for keeping His law. The only way around this is to press incredulity losing the straightforward meaning of the interaction between Jesus and the ruler. We’re not saying that the man never sinned; only Jesus has done that. But he did, apparently, keep the Commandments Jesus cited.

The keeping of the law can never save a man’s soul, this we know, but where is the error in righteous living unto a holy God? Surely the churches are not advocating theft, dishonor of parents, deceiving, cheating, or killing, are they? Why can’t a man who believes, and is sure of his eternal station, keep the law? Is it so offensive to believers today?!?!

Some said the law was for the Jews, which is true, but if you search the Scripture, only the law of sacrifice (and the rules of Pharisees) has been done away with. We still live with sin today. The law remains and convicts the sinner unto repentance which is its purpose (1 Timothy 1:9). The implication is that some seem to claim that we can now, living under grace, pretend to be Christians while acting much like those headed to the devil’s lake of fire, which is a perilous new doctrine. But as the linked post from Sunday night shows, it may not be so new after all.

Wickedness remains; the law and God’s judgments are in the New Testament and are used by the Holy Spirit of God to bring conviction of sin in the heart of the lost man and believer alike. Yes, Jesus loves us and is the Saviour offering the gift of eternal life, but He is no less Lord (Romans 6:23).

When we witness to lost sinners, we use the simple example of a lie to prove their sin. Is this wrong to cite one of the Ten Commandments today? No, all men have lied. It’s a simple way to prove sin while not getting sidetracked into various debaucheries and sinful living. Slightly off-topic, but while we’re here: people under conviction might confess felonies. For many reasons, some obvious and some not, don’t let detailed discussion of sinful behaviors happen when talking to the lost; keep it simple; use the lie as a single primary example. Looking them right in the eye, you can tell them they’ve lied and done much worse. This drives the point home while sticking to the subject of salvation by the grace of God’s forgiveness of sin.

The law is in heaven; it’s always been with our holy God. The law is there in the throneroom with the four living creatures, all the holy angels, and the four and twenty elders on their faces saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Amen.

The law is still there, right where it’s always been. The point is, if you’re in one of those churches that downplay righteous living for the Lord, get out and find a church that’s at least serious about all that God commands, teaching His whole counsel. People now verbally dancing around the law of God expect to stand in its very presence one day soon. God have mercy on them.

“11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” Romans 2:11-16

We won’t go through this thoroughly now. I tell people to read these verses first as one reading. Then read what is not in parenthesis and then read, thirdly, what is between. This will significantly help with comprehension. The section outside parenthesis cannot save you by the law, nor will the part inside save you without the law; salvation is by Christ alone.

Assuming you never attempted the foolhardy life of trying to keep the law absent the Holy Spirit, when you sinned, you sinned without the law and were headed to perish in hell, but you had broken the law nonetheless. When God saved you by faith in Christ’s atoning death, burial, and resurrection, He forgave you forever. When you sin in the law, even today, having heard His word but being already saved, you have even less excuse not to live according to God! Is the law of Mighty God written on your heart, yes or no? We’re not telling you to stand before God depending on the law, but verse 15 indicates that God shows the work of the law written on our heart, our conscience also bearing witness.

The Church is trying to thread the needle between saying we have no obligation to the law and demanding righteous living; it’s not working. Everything is falling apart, and it started with the churches long before the government, family, and society went to the dogs. One reason a Reconstructionist approach attracts is that clearly, what the Church is doing isn’t working. And blaming our failures on escatology is a lousy excuse to accept rampant heathenism and an even worse excuse for believers to live like heathens themselves!

What is a Christian that spends his day as a liar, cheating, stealing, abusing family, etc.? Well, he’s not Christian; we know that. Those saved by Christ no longer live like that; that’s part of the miracle of salvation. We are being recreated in the image of God’s own Son and trying to live a life spent as the image of Christ to those around us. When Christ looks upon you, will He love you?

“16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” – Jeremiah 6:16-17

When you have strayed and sought out many inventions, taking new gods by worshiping the works of our hands (Jeremiah 1:16), the everlasting Father, in His word, commands God’s people to return to the old paths. He calls us to produce what is tried and true in classical society as set forth in His word to rebuild the reverence and adherence to God’s ordained structure for Church, Family, and State in the manner that it was intended from the very beginning of creation. And God demands Christ’s Church follow His commands, a righteous leader as the head of the family, and a just government with just ordinances that will implement the same law of God that blesses all the earth.

God is not a mean old man; His law is a beacon of warning that righteous men shall live in peace, finding rest for their souls, but the wicked will have no peace at all; foreigners will rule over them with a hard whip. Holy God will set stumbling blocks in the way, fathers and sons will fall, and neighbors with their friends will perish for lack of Jesus Christ. God will bring evil upon you; even the fruit of your wicked thoughts will be meted out to you who have forsaken Him.

So primarily, God warns us to return to Him, to worship and trust in Him, forsaking the new gods that have led only to societal rot through greed and lusts of the flesh. Return to the Gospel of Christ, and preach the whole counsel of God, teach the generations to be like Jesus Christ.

“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” – Ecclesiastes 7:29

The many inventions spoken of are applicable and scalable to any that man’s mind can set above our Lord, be they religions, technology, idols, or ways to rule ourselves apart from His perfect law and word. God made us to seek the good, giving us an innate desire for faith in Him, to know Him, and pursue Him. Still, we create all manner of things that extinguish the mind and soul in time spent unfruitfully, separating us from God. Some of these things have become a religion of sorts, replete with idolization, worship, and sacraments.

The many inventions themselves become the false god of our adoration.

The call is not for a return to the days of pre-mechanical implements. This is critical to understand; lifestyle comes from a foundation in Christ. A change of lifestyle while on your way to hell is not what God is asking. The new things, the technological advancements, have blessed us in many ways but have, at a terrible cost, separated us from family, hearth and home, lands, and the labor of the heart working with our hands and having settled community structures of neighbors we know and count upon. Rootlessness coupled with unknown and untrusted people is causing great despair.

And America continues to tell God that we will not walk in the good way or seek His face and those old paths from the Father of our founding. But there is encouragement as many thousands are coming to realize the importance of family, local stability, and tradition while seeking the Lord. As dismayed as we may be regarding national issues, realizing that you can only fix yourself and your family is driving a mini-revival in America toward the old paths. Many are settling on a small patch, raising a few animals, homeschooling, and working toward traditional self-sufficiency. Pray it catches fire, and those not only return to sound families, food sources, culture, and localities but repent toward God and serve Him.

The watchmen are lame and do not warn (Ezekiel 33), teaching hyper-personalized comfort when every alarm bell rings with warnings of trouble on the horizon. They covet much when the charity of God is needed, and they say peace when war looms, and there is little shame of abomination in the sight of the Lord.

But a few men, known of God, are sounding the trumpet, telling any that will hear to hearken unto holy Father God, return to His law, return to His design in creation for your family and the just rule of law. Remove yourselves from the unclean things, and call on Christ. Many of us are too old now to return to the old ways, but we can pray, we can encourage, and we can teach.

There are men that love their wives first, before their children, which prioritizes showing their children what a godly husband does. This ends divorce if it’s done correctly and consistently. And it ends the multi-generational broken families, all because one man did what God commands and the sons were taught well by example. God will bless these efforts as it’s His law that puts the man’s wife above his children. And there are men who’ve known only one woman. This is a beautiful and amazing thing, and those I know are blessed beyond measure for their loyalty to God’s designed purposes.

And young women, too, are asking where the men of the old way are, where are our roots and structure that we may have hope in the future God wants for us; this is inspiring. Joyfully, many women don’t want to give their best years to a faceless corporate bureaucracy while standing on a mountain of debt for a Godless lifestyle while somebody else raises their children. They see a false choice in that and instead give their best years to one man, raising their family together, making a home in loving and nurturing as the helpmeet, which is their duty to the Almighty. Satisfying the commitment that Holy God demands will always fulfill one’s soul more so than any other thing.

Without the old paths and the good way, no rest for the soul comes; troubles appear at every arc with increasing rapidity while warnings of war, financial destitution, and famine are in the air. But still, waiting with open arms for you with forgiveness in His clemency, the only faithful and true God is offering the blessings of means to set yourself aright within the covenant of our fathers, to save your civilization, for a more promising glory than heretofore. Will you return to Him?

Stand in the ways of God and see if His blessings come upon you, your family, and your country. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” See how faithful He is; God’s mercies are new every morning.

First, admit your sin and failure to God. Determining to change your behavior is good, but without Christ, it’s not restorative to the soul or nation. There’s a generational work for you; ask the Almighty for the old paths, in which is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Pray for the traditional pathways and set about the business of restoration. Throughout Scripture, we are admonished to pray and then act. Many want to pray, yet others want to act, but God teaches in these verses what must come first and then second.

We know that His mercies are from everlasting to everlasting to those who do His will, keeping His law and ordering their life, family, and society according to the sure foundations of this ever-present truth: Christ is King and will have no other name above Him.

Part 1

Was 70AD the final coming of Christ?

There is a new branch of Christianity popping up. They deny the physical bodily second coming of Christ, claiming the entire Holy Bible was completed in 70AD. Don’t scoff, be forewarned; it’s gathering a following.

Jesus is coming back. God will not always suffer man to live in sin. He will not forever leave His creation broken. If Christ returns not, and no final judgment is due, this leaves dramatic misunderstandings in Scripture and history that only the imaginations of men can fill.

We found this exposition of Acts 1:9-11 by Keith A. Mathison,

“In recent years a challenge to traditional orthodox eschatology has arisen in the form of a doctrine that may be termed “hyper-preterism.” According to proponents of this doctrine, the Christian church has been mistaken in its expectation of a future Second Advent. According to proponents of this doctrine, all New Testament prophecy was fulfilled in the first century. This means that, according to hyper-preterism, the Second Advent, the general resurrection, and the final judgment, among other things, are past events.”

Being familiar with Acts 1:8 and the following several verses, I read some of that post. It was helpful. If that Scripture section is somewhat obscure to you, perhaps read the entire PDF.

Dr. Gentry wrote elsewhere,

“A serious problem with the hyperpreterist’s theological system of an unending (i.e., un-renewed) world and continuing our current as-is history is that their worldview cannot explain God’s purpose for the world as a whole. Sad. In fact, effectively they do not have a “world” view.”

I have the same problem with the notion that Christ will not return. Gentry has been covering this subject in several posts with explanations from the Holy Bible. His analysis is based on what is expected in the second coming. To understand more, peruse his page for the many recent posts on this topic. I found that quote having almost completed writing the below.

To grasp the depth of the concern, we must understand that, if valid, it would affect our understanding of Scripture starting at the beginning with the creation event. All of history and the Scripture would be called into question.

If there is no yet future complete restoration coming, then Genesis 3 would be allegorical. I’ve thought about this a lot for months, and it brings me to tears. It would mean the world was always broken and dying, and Moses told a fairy tale to explain sin and death. There is some obvious symbolism in Genesis 3, it’s a revelation of God, but the Lord does not set forth the primary thesis of the fall to explain away His inability to speak a perfect creation into existence. If sin, and death thereby, existed from day six and always will with no final restoration but only personal soul reprieve, that would make Genesis 3 a mere allegory. This is what grieves me and brings tears: for what, then, did Christ die? My Saviour did not die for an allegory! He died for my many severe and very destructive sins. When God made me aware of my sin, I knew I needed Christ. He saved me out of this world until the day of complete redemption.

God did not create a cursed world. See Romans 5:12. In the fall with Adam and Eve, they saw they were naked (Genesis 3:7) before a holy and just God. God killed an animal and dressed Adam and Eve in skins. The shedding of blood for the covering of sins was required from that time until Christ, the perfect and final sacrifice, shed perfect, sinless blood to cover us all. But, all the earth is cursed, and the curse remains; complete restoration is pending.

My heavenly Father is not limited in His power of creation or recreation; he is not a man, nor can we personify Him! We love the poetry, songs, parables, and hyperbolic symbolism of judgments. Still, neither is the Holy Bible a series of fanciful tales from the depths of men’s imagination as he struggles to understand his place in the universe. That’s philosophy, not theology!

My Redeemer lives. God did not allow His own Son to be crucified for an allegory while supposing sin always existed and always will; this seems impossible to accept. Sin is real; every believer knows it and feels the weight of the stain, even struggling some after salvation. If Christ returns not and no resurrection with final restoration is coming, then God must have created an imperfect world. “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” – Genesis 1:31. How could God see His creation in Genesis one, call it very good, and rest on the seventh day if it remained unperfected at inception and already full of sin on a course toward eternal death? Is sin “very good” in the sight of the Lord high and holy?

There are fancy words for it that I can’t fully define, but in plain language, if Christ returns not, our complete understanding of the Bible, with its many redemptive instances and interwoven threads from Genesis onward, is called into doubt. Since holy men of God (2 Peter 1:21) first started to pen down the various writings, particularly prophecy, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, some truths are evident in the text and history; a better estate awaits those that cling to Christ; with Jacob, we say, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

If no return of Christ and complete restoration comes, then thousands of years of unnecessary suffering and death is what God gave us. It would leave God little better than the devil himself, would it not? I often get these questions and concerns from unbelievers; why is there so much evil and suffering, and how could God do this to us? I have no answer for them if Jesus isn’t returning because that means the world was always wicked and always will be. In which case, indeed, the lost man’s question is fair, why would God cause it? The correct answer is (Genesis 3), of course, that we, mankind, beguiled by the devil, Adam and his wife with him, did that. God didn’t create a sinful state; the devil, the woman, and the man broke His creation! It’s cursed (Genesis 3:12-21) under the covenant Adam broke, which only God can lift. If He saved your soul, that curse is lifted for you today, but restoration with no more death, no more tears or sorrow is coming. In the interim, we strive against the evils of this day, often and sometimes entirely consumed in looking for the times of deliverance to be with our God.

We know that the evil man will be judged, and the man with the faith of God will be accepted. That happens, according to Scripture, at Christ’s return. If not, then that judgment was discrete only to Israel in the first century. When I sin, it’s not long until the Lord lets me know what’s acceptable and what’s not, and if I persist, there are consequences. It’s an axiom of Scripture revealed in many verses that sin has effects. Is the evil man never to face God because Christ has already returned and judged? It’s plain throughout Scripture that God not only chastens His sons but also doesn’t allow sin to abound forever among His enemies.

We’ve mentioned it, but now, the most dangerous is the teaching that there will not be a final judgment. And if no determination and last estate are coming, why not live in sin, filling ourselves with the crudest of bodily pleasures as a gnostic would? If the world was without hope from day five, then God created men wicked and not in His image or likeness at all on day 6. But we know better: We are made in God’s image but sinned against His law; Christ died for our sin: the actual corruption of the soul, materially evident (not figurative) in how men toil and the evil that they produce. God is the Creator and Redeemer. The genuine deliverance of the soul into eternal life starts at salvation which is the promise of the final estate. He remakes us in His image again over time, which, like our Master, Jesus Christ, will include death, burial, and resurrection.

We contend in these related posts that we are made in the image and likeness of God so that when we see Christ, we will be like him as we enter into the glory of the Father in eternity. These posts are about the ongoing redemption of man in history and yet future full restoration: Made In the Image and Likeness of God, Part One, Part Two, and Part Three. Also recently written is this call to pious living while we await His soon coming; a personal call to be the Image of Christ to those around us.

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Part 2

These two sections of Scripture are a tremendous encouragement to the believer. 2 Corinthians 5 is clear even to unlearned observations such as this writing. Also, see Ephesians 1:13-14; “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, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

God is serious about coming back to get us! For example, Earnest Money shows the degree of intent when purchasing a house. Praise Holy Father God, though we have soul salvation now, He has also shown His earnestness in redeeming us into the final inheritance. If you have the earnest of the guarantee (of redemption), being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, you then have yet to be judged for works after salvation.

Whether we are absent from the Lord or departed from our human body (2 Corinthians 5:8-10), we labor and serve to be accepted by Christ because (2 Corinthians 5:10) we have yet to be judged. If the resurrection already happened, how (why) do we have the Holy Spirit showing that Christ is solemn about coming to bring us into the new creation, fully redeemed with Him? The judgment comes after Christ receives His entire inheritance, by which we mean after the last soul still in the body is saved. The Holy Spirit in the believer is evidence of salvation now and proof of ownership by Christ, including assurity that He will claim, at the last trump, all who are His.

The notions that Christ is not returning – resurrection is not forthcoming, and God will not recreate His designed purpose without sin and death – would call into question the authenticity of the entire Bible. And if the authenticity of the Bible is in question, then what naturally follows is to question the author’s authority! This puts the reliability and even the very existence of God in question. The Authenticity, Integrity, and Authority of God are at stake.

The objection is that the entire Bible has already been fulfilled. Is 2 Peter 3 about 70AD? We doubt that. Our Lord in Matthew 24 lays out many indicators of the coming judgment against first-century Israel and specific warnings to flee Jerusalem and Judea. But 2 Peter 3 speaks of no such signs. Indeed, in this chapter, though God is longsuffering, waiting for your belief by faith and encouraging our holy living until then, suddenly and without warning, the end will come.

We further consider 2 Peter 3. Did the world already burn with fervent heat? What is 2 Peter 3 about? Is it also only an allegory? There is no record or evidence of destruction by fire. A type of final destruction and restoration came in the flood to which Peter refers. If the great fire already happened as an allegory, then the flood Peter references must not have occurred either. Or vis versa, if the deluge isn’t factual, neither is the last day by the fire.

Is the whole Bible a fiction? Is Christ real? Did God walk among men in the flesh, yet sinless? Yea, or nay? Though scientism denies the flood, we know it happened both as evidenced in the world and revealed by His word. Every early race of man has a tail of the flood for a reason. It was a warning of God to all men. But we moderns, in our conceit and pursuit of new knowledge, have forsaken the forewarnings of God. And 2 Peter 3 indicates this indeed would be the case. We believe there will be an end of this world by fire and new creation.

The reuniting of the soul with the body is critical to Christian theology. Christ commended His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46), as we pray you already have in salvation to be in heaven. And Christ rose from the grave, bodily showing the Christian (each of us a little christ and types of Christ) the hope of the resurrection. “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” – Romans 14:9

God breathed life into Adam and made him a living soul. When God saves a soul, the Spirit comes into them restoring their proper condition with God, but not yet fully, but as down payment, as we’ve said. Jesus didn’t simply die and rise; He was revived, the perfect being in bodily existence. His body and spirit were reunited. There’s nothing to misunderstand from Romans 14:9; Jesus was restored (resurrected) to life. Like our King, we will accomplish things before the resurrection, not the least of which is going to heaven to sing glory, glory, glory, hallelujah to our God and unto the Lamb who lives forevermore. He is worthy. Amen.

And if we are types of Christ, we too will be reunited with our bodies to be like Christ, the firstfruits of the resurrection! We’re not claiming to be perfectly sure what that will look like, but we expect it will be physical, bodily, in some manner.

How is Christ the first fruit (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23), but none of His seed leads to the bodily likeness of those chosen by faith at His will? (Gentry covers 1 Corinthians 15 well.) Does Holy God not have the power to remake us in the image of Christ? Will we not see Him as He is and be like Him? (1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:52) Were the hundreds of thousands of believers both buried and alive in the body in 70AD changed and have left with Christ? Surely somebody would have noticed and reported it!

In the prophecy of Job 19:24-26 he says that in his own flesh, he will see God also stand upon the earth. This seems so significant that we find it hard to fathom being fulfilled with no record. And what of the rest? If the resurrection had already happened, Noah, Able, Ezekiel, Isaiah, David the king, Solomon who was made wise, Rahab the harlot turned bloodline to Christ, Daniel the profit, Abram the father of many nations, and the first-century disciples; if all these were raised, then wouldn’t we know? If the New Testament ends in 70AD, then all the saints of the Old Testament and first century, too many to number, of the well-known and never mentioned in Scripture, were already resurrected; God would have, we have to believe, told us in Scripture. Was there a secret first-century “rapture?” If true, it would mean that believers today have their final state as a spirit before the throne, which, if that were God’s plan, we wouldn’t object, but whole sections of Scripture must be ripped from the pages of canon if we are to believe this.

If Christ has already returned and there will be no judgment, why do we bear the burden of our soul to be like Christ, fearing the day we will be reminded of our failures to serve and mistakes we’ve made bringing in His kingdom? And we grieve in the heart because we continue in sin against our own desires of holy living, knowing we must face a Holy God, the Master of all.

I’ve heard many fanciful tails to explain Scripture, and there is a common theme among them; some are second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God after others more worthy. This I reject, not because I’m worthy too, but because there are none acceptable, no not one, but Christ Jesus stands righteous for all who believe by faith. Salvation is in Christ and nowhere else.

Nobody can, nor does anybody deserve to avoid that great and terrible day. There’s one driving message in all of prophecy: you will see God; therefore, live according to this knowledge; prepare to meet thy God.

Conclusion.

I’ve warned groups when speaking, individuals, and similarly over these pages. The Pharisees were the most knowledgeable people about the Bible ever to live. They were the keepers of the law of God and perhaps the most religious people in all history. Yet, they missed the Messiah partly because He didn’t fit their preconceived notions of what He would be and how He would proceed to fulfill Old Testament prophecies at His coming. So our warning is this to you today, do not expect perfect knowledge of how Christ will proceed at His appearance. His second coming will not go precisely according to the dictates of any one camp among the modern keepers of New Testament prophecy. You can take issue with that statement and pull out your favorite theologian’s commentary but know this: you must belong to Him! Peter, an eyewitness and an apostle of Christ, says of Paul that his writings on the subject are challenging to understand. As when that first raindrop fell from heaven, and God shut the door to the ark, He comes again with fire. As interesting as the topic of prophecy may be, the very practical appeal of the working man, Peter, is to be personally ready for the appearance of our Lord, which is what 2 Peter 3 encourages God’s people to do.

It’s very difficult to miss the truth of His second coming throughout Scripture. He is returning for those that are His; it’s a promise of God. Christ’s coming is not supposed to be disturbing, discouraging, or confusing, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:18. It should be comforting to know God loves us, will judge His enemies who, though we long for their repentance, also have made themselves our enemies, and He will not always leave us in this condition.

Isaiah 53

We’ve already explored why you were made in the Image and Likeness of God in three parts;  One,  Two, and Three. Those regard what we suppose our final estate to be. But the question before us now is, what is the image of Christ in men while God has seen fit to leave us here in anticipation of Christ’s return?

“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” – Isaiah 53:2

I’ve seen many “AI” renderings lately, the makers of which have supposed to be of our Lord Jesus Christ. The definition and use of AI is another topic, but the image of Christ is critical for believers to understand. Seeing these images got us thinking, what is the image of Christ?

There was nothing special about His appearance as a man. He was not particularly attractive or fascinating to gaze upon, and He was not especially stunning in outward physique or face. And He, being a working man, unquestionably wasn’t pretty and effeminate as so many Middle Ages paintings would depict. He looked like an average guy.

Isaiah 53 is the prophecy of the trial and crucifixion of Christ. The degree and intensity of humiliation are vividly displayed, for in being debased, smitten, and stricken of God for our sin, the Father hath highly exalted Him and given him a name which is above every name (Philippians 2:9). Isaiah 53 is the Scripture the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading when the Lord’s messenger of the Gospel, Phillip, showed Him the way of salvation (Acts 8:26-40).

Verse 2 shows us that there would be no outward appearance of His person that indicates He is the Lord. But it’s more than that. Why did God ordain, in His wisdom, that Christ should have no external beauty?

Humans are visual creatures. It’s the most prevalent of our five senses. We have 3d depth perception in one of the broadest color spectrums of any creature on earth. Humans become enamored with beauty for a season. Some men appreciate specific facial structures and adornments given by God, while other men may respect different ones.

We’ve seen folks enamored with the appearance of somebody to the point of refusing to acknowledge that soul’s inward condition and ugliness. And conversely, if Christ had been attractive, could any have heard His great word and the offer of the Kingdom? The Father, through Christ, was and is seeking a people to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), not in outward impression.

Lovely, however, is the notion that He grew before God as a tender shoot, indeed, born of a virgin, God in a helpless child nurtured into manhood. So too that He grew from dry ground, an infertile hard pack where no life of the Spirit would grow; all Israel hadn’t heard from God in 400 years and was far astray from the Holy Creator of heaven and earth when John Baptist came preaching repentance toward God making way for the Holy One. Jesus arrived right on time, according to the prophet Daniel. But, praise God, not all were in darkness; some waited for the consolation of Israel and the Kingdom of God at His appearing. Simeon in the temple – Luke 2:25 and Joseph of Arimathea, who buried Christ’s body – Mark 15:43, are two examples.

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” – Isaiah 53:10

Isaiah 53 reveals the lost condition of the human soul and God’s desire for reconciliation. Perhaps you’re not so sure about God’s desire. What more excellent an offer than that His own Son should die for you, standing in your stead as payment for your sin? It pleased the Almighty to bruise Christ and put Him to grief, making His soul an offering for sin. On the cross, Jesus Christ saw you, who would be a son of God. Jesus saw all His seed who would receive the new birth by the Spirit of God to be heirs with Christ in the Kingdom of God.

God made Christ’s soul an offering for the torture of hell that your eternal soul was supposed to suffer. Though every sinner deserves hell, God gave His soul to suffer in agony so that your immortal soul, helpless in its sin-stained condition, might see the Glory of God in eternity. Jesus poured out His soul, receiving an inheritance of the eldest Son, firstborn from the dead, resurrected to new life. He defeated hell and set the captives free.

Yes, God wants to reconcile with you so that you might know Him, even be friends with Him in service of His domain; it would please Him. Imagine that; God being well pleased with saving your soul by a simple faith in the power of Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead.

The challenging part for those who are His is to resemble Christ. You, dear Christian brethren, are supposed to look just like Him, who sacrificed everything so that men could be remade and joined again in fellowship and harmony with God almighty.

You were made in God’s image, but the likeness is broken by sin. Even for those born again, sin remains and is a constant battle. However, the resemblance to God has been recreated (a new man), and your mind and heart should be refreshed, having been given the image of God again in the Spirit who created you. “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” – Colossians 3:10. The new man, having been made a new creation indwelled by the Spirit, should look and act like Christ, God in flesh.

What did Jesus do, teach, and prepare His disciples to do? Those are the specific things the followers of Christ are supposed to do even today, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” – Romans 8:11.

Don’t limit or reject the quickening of the Spirit, but trust God in all things doing the will of Him that loves you. What does a leader in Christ do? He declares to the believers that we are to emulate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). What is the similitude of Christ if not His people following His commandments because they love Him (John 14:15). The mirror is pointed right back at me, for none are perfect and all fall short. Still, brethren, “…press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14).

Jesus is the express image of the Father (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3). A disciple in any endeavor of human activity is supposed to be the likeness of his teacher; so much more the Christian, we are to be the picture of Christ who is the Master of all. But so many Christians today will need to be taught how to serve. John 14:9 is instructive, “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

Has the word of God been so long time with you, yet you haven’t seen Christ and how you are to serve? Reading the Scripture, filled with awe and wonder at Him, what are you going to do about that? Hide it away in a napkin buried in the ground? What are you afraid of (Matthew 25:25). We’re all naked before God, why care what people think of you, serve Christ! “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” – Luke 6:46

There is no outward beauty that we should desire Him. The truths He taught and commanded in the Holy Bible are where the magnificence of Christ resides because in His word is where a man must always find the revealed will of the Father. Do the people you spend time with, do they see Christ? Do they know Him through you?

If you want to understand the relationship between God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit better, always do the will of the Father, for that is as Christ did. It’s one reason why the Father sent the Holy Spirit in Christ’s name; to teach you all things and remind you what Christ has said. Without studying the Scripture, there is nothing about which to remind you! And without doing what the Holy Bible says a disciple of Christ must do: if you read it and don’t do it, it’s not real to you. You remain a theoretical Christian untrained by the Spirit and untested through the fire, having never walked by faith in the service of our Lord to see the blessings of the Dispensation of Grace. You’re missing the Kingdom into which you were reborn and are meant to be an active citizen.

What is an ambassador for King Jesus but one who represents Him in all things and beseeches the lost sinner to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). A consumer of Christianity who won’t be a bondservant of Christ in the New Covenant is a wicked and rebellious son.

What is the glory of Christ Jesus; the fullness of grace and truth (John 1:14). Be the fullness of grace and truth to bring glory to God.

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” – 2 Corinthians 4:10