cmp.2008.06.26
ed.2008.08.05.01 (Public Review)
Organization
1. The Promise Of A New Heart
2. Hearts Of Stone
3. A New Heart To Hear
4. A New Heart To Obey
5. A New Heart To Know
The Promise Of A New Heart
It is evident throughout Scripture, hearts of flesh and hardened hearts of stone are symbolic of two contrary natures. Our hardened hearts are hearts of stone, and because of the state of our hearts, we rebel against God. But, the heart of flesh is that nature that seeks the Word of God and eagerly submits to His will.
It is written that God has promised to give us a new heart, a heart of flesh in place of our heart of stone. And, as a result, we know that by having hearts of flesh, God has the opportunity to write His law upon our hearts so that we can live in obedience.
God Promises To Give Us Hearts Of Flesh
Ezekiel 36:26 (NASB)
"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Hearts Of Stone
Scripture teaches us over and over again that a hardened heart is a heart that does not fear God and a heart that rebels against God.
The conclusion of Ecclesiastes is that the whole duty of Man is to fear God and to obey Him, and this is exactly what a hardened heart of stone does not do.
A Hardened Heart Is Rebellious
2 Chronicles 36:13 (NASB)
He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear allegiance by God But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel.
A Hardened Heart Strays From God And Does Not Fear Him
Isaiah 63:17 (NASB)
Why, O LORD, do You cause us to stray from Your ways And harden our heart from fearing You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
A Hardened Heart Brings Death
Ephesians 4:17-18 (NASB)
So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
A New Heart To Hear
In Zechariah, God does not simply compare the hearts of those who cannot hear to stone, but He compares their hearts to flint stone. It cannot be coincidence that God is comparing their hardened hearts to a stone that is harder than granite.
But God promised us a new heart of flesh, where the roots of His seed in us, His word, can grow in order to withstand tribulation. He promises to give us a heart of flesh so that His word will grow in us. And if our hearts are sensitive, we will be able to see with our eyes, hear with our ears, understand with our hearts, and return and be healed.
A Hardened Heart Cannot Hear
Zechariah 7:12 (NASB)
"They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.
If We Want To Hear His Voice, We Cannot Harden Our Hearts
Psalms 95:7-8 (NASB)
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand Today, if you would hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness .
God Promises To Write His Law On Our Hearts
Jeremiah 31:33 (NASB)
"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
A New Heart To Obey
Throughout Scripture, God consistently expresses His will towards us through His commandments. But over and over again the will of God falls upon our hearts of stone.
We know that the word of God is life. And, because of this, we receive His word with joy. But, when His word has no firm root within our hearts, and because we are only temporary in our steadfastness, we fall from obedience to His word when persecution or affliction arises because of the word given to us.
When He Takes Away Our Hearts Of Stone, We Can Keep His Ways
Ezekiel 11:19-20 (NASB)
"And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.
If We Have Hearts Of Felsh, God Will Cause Us To Obey
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NASB)
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
A New Heart To Know
The singular expressed passion of God towards us is that we may know Him. But how can we know God if we don't even know His will? Unless we have hearts of flesh, God cannot fully reveal His will towards us. If we do not know the will of God, we cannot obey. And, if we do not obey His will, we cannot claim to know God.
God Promises To Give Us A New Heart So That We Can Know Him
Jeremiah 24:7 (NASB)
'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.
The New Covenant Is A Promise To Know God
Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NASB)
"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
We Cannot Know Him If We Do Not Obey
1 John 2:3-6 (NASB)
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Phil. 2:12 - Work
cmp.2008.06.23
ed.2009.06.11.02 (Public Review)
Organization
1. The Command
2. The Dilemma
3. Consistent Interpretation
4. Conclusion
5. Textual Analysis
The Command
Phil. 2:12 (NASB)
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
The Dilemma
When I first heard this verse, it was explained to me that this meant that we should each "figure out" our own salvation with fear and trembling. Even though this may not be a widely taught interpretation, I would like to explain this interpretation in order to clarify this commandment.
In English, we often use the phrase "to work out" to mean "figure out". I do not have an explanation why it was justified to interpret this passage in view of an English idiom, especially from this Greek passage, and in this particular context.
On the otherhand, if this passage really means that we are literally supposed to "work", it would be further evidence that Christians are called to do good work.
Consistent Interpretation
If we are each to "figure out" our own salvation, then there is not one way to find salvation. It is hard to believe that the path to salvation is "relative". Is the path to salvation different for each of us? Is it true that we all have to discover some new way to salvation, or has The Way already been made known to everyone? Christians believe that there is only one way to the Father, and that is through trust in Jesus, His son.
So, if this word "work" does not mean, "figure out", then what does it mean? The word "work" is used several times in this passage. It is unreasonable to interpret this word to mean "figure out" in one place, and as literal "work" in all of the other places. Isn't it reasonable to interpret this word consistently in this context? Either each of these passages in Greek implies "figuring out", or each of these passages imply literal "work" that is done. This is especially true because in every place, the same Greek root word is used.
Since there are no other instances in Scripture where "work" implies "figuring out", and since every use of this word in Scripture implies "something being done", then it is perfectly reasonable to conclude that this passage implies a literal action being accomplished.
Conclusion
If we interpret "work" literally, this command simply states:
"With fear and trembling of your own salvation, work!"
Isn't this also the final conclusion of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NASB)
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Isn't the fear of God the beginning of wisdom? Is it not also written that we are created to do good works?
Christians do not do good works because we are looking to be saved. On the contrary, we do good works as a result of our salvation. God, through the Spirit of Holiness has worked His salvation in us. As a result of what God has worked in us, we work for His pleasure. We do not work to earn salvation, but we live to do good work so that we may glorify God.
Textual Analysis
Argument:
In every case the word "work" is used in this passage, the same Greek root word is used. In every case, this word implies literal "work".
Phil. 2:12
μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε
with fear and trembling the your [own] salvation work
(Notice that the word "out", (as in "work out"), is not represented in the Greek.)
Phil. 2:13
θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.
God for is the worker in you [all] and the to will and the to work of the pleasure [of Him]
Phil. 2:30
ὅτι διὰ τὸ ἔργον κυρίου
because through the work [of the] Lord
ed.2009.06.11.02 (Public Review)
Organization
1. The Command
2. The Dilemma
3. Consistent Interpretation
4. Conclusion
5. Textual Analysis
The Command
Phil. 2:12 (NASB)
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
The Dilemma
When I first heard this verse, it was explained to me that this meant that we should each "figure out" our own salvation with fear and trembling. Even though this may not be a widely taught interpretation, I would like to explain this interpretation in order to clarify this commandment.
In English, we often use the phrase "to work out" to mean "figure out". I do not have an explanation why it was justified to interpret this passage in view of an English idiom, especially from this Greek passage, and in this particular context.
On the otherhand, if this passage really means that we are literally supposed to "work", it would be further evidence that Christians are called to do good work.
Consistent Interpretation
If we are each to "figure out" our own salvation, then there is not one way to find salvation. It is hard to believe that the path to salvation is "relative". Is the path to salvation different for each of us? Is it true that we all have to discover some new way to salvation, or has The Way already been made known to everyone? Christians believe that there is only one way to the Father, and that is through trust in Jesus, His son.
So, if this word "work" does not mean, "figure out", then what does it mean? The word "work" is used several times in this passage. It is unreasonable to interpret this word to mean "figure out" in one place, and as literal "work" in all of the other places. Isn't it reasonable to interpret this word consistently in this context? Either each of these passages in Greek implies "figuring out", or each of these passages imply literal "work" that is done. This is especially true because in every place, the same Greek root word is used.
Since there are no other instances in Scripture where "work" implies "figuring out", and since every use of this word in Scripture implies "something being done", then it is perfectly reasonable to conclude that this passage implies a literal action being accomplished.
Conclusion
If we interpret "work" literally, this command simply states:
"With fear and trembling of your own salvation, work!"
Isn't this also the final conclusion of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NASB)
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Isn't the fear of God the beginning of wisdom? Is it not also written that we are created to do good works?
Christians do not do good works because we are looking to be saved. On the contrary, we do good works as a result of our salvation. God, through the Spirit of Holiness has worked His salvation in us. As a result of what God has worked in us, we work for His pleasure. We do not work to earn salvation, but we live to do good work so that we may glorify God.
Textual Analysis
Argument:
In every case the word "work" is used in this passage, the same Greek root word is used. In every case, this word implies literal "work".
Phil. 2:12
μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε
with fear and trembling the your [own] salvation work
(Notice that the word "out", (as in "work out"), is not represented in the Greek.)
Phil. 2:13
θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.
God for is the worker in you [all] and the to will and the to work of the pleasure [of Him]
Phil. 2:30
ὅτι διὰ τὸ ἔργον κυρίου
because through the work [of the] Lord
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Letter: The Gospel of Deliverance
cmp.2008.06.17
ed.2009.07.29.01
To my brother in Jesus the Anointed of God, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
Because discipleship has become something preached behind a pulpit and not something demonstrated through good works and with dedication to individual lives, I have prayed and cried out for God to send someone who I search out the Scripture with to understand what discipleship means. And because of your heart, I thank God for His faithfulness.
We must seize the word that God has given us and we must lay hold of Godliness. But, what is a form of Godliness without power? The gospel of Jesus Christ is worthless if God is powerless to deliver those who call upon the name of Jesus. If God is powerless to deliver us from lives of sin and from the reward of sin, then the Gospel we preach is worthless.
What are our intellectual arguments without power? Do we presume to establish the faith of men on the intellectualism of men, or will we choose to establish faith on the power of God?
What evidence is there that God actually favors us, or favors the message that we teach? Is not the true testimony of the favor of God towards us His evidential presence in our lives? Even Moses would not leave that mountain until God chose to announce His favor for Israel by His continued and evidential presence with them.
And so, we are left to lofty and intellectual arguments, far from the establishment of faith on the power of God. We are still lacking. We are still thirsty. If the Scripture is true, then we can not claim to either know or love Him if we do not obey Him. And we certainly cannot obey Him fully by just avoiding sin but by we must also pursue holiness by doing what is right.
If we preach a bold gospel and repentance but fail in every respect to demonstrate the power of God to deliver from sin those who trust in the name of Jesus, then our testimony is reduced to the worthless intellectual rhetoric of men.
We must pursue Godliness, because everyone that knows what is right to do and does not do it, for them it is sin.
We must desire to cling to every revelation of what it means to be like Jesus. We must live by every word that God speaks, not just His promises, but His commandments as well. We must learn to walk in the ways of Jesus our Lord. And when we seek this first, we find that the living water of His word will wash and renew us.
And soon, we find that He protects us and guards us from sin for the sake of His name, and also because He loves us as sons and daughters. But how terrible it is when God hands us over to the desires of our hearts when we sin against Him! What discipline is greater for the one that hates sin than to be handed over to sin? And because of this we pray, "Father, I beg you, please do not lead me into temptation but deliver me from evil!"
I hope that despite our differences, you might permit the opportunity for us to spend time in fellowship. More than anything, I pray that God would grant to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him to plant the seed of His word into my life. Perhaps even, by His mercy, God might provide a way for me to plant some seed in the work that He is performing in you. And in this, perhaps I will grow in favor before God.
I pray that this letter finds you in peace. I pray that God would show me kindness and make a way for this letter to find you, either for the opportunity to sow His word into your life, or for even the opportunity for me to be reproved, having an opportunity to walk in a better and more excellent way.
I pray that the seed would be planted, not to just preach repentance, but to teach and disciple others how to walk in the power of God that will guard them from sin. I pray that the Holy Spirit would show you all of the promises in Scripture, and the ways to walk in, that if trusted in, would protect us from continuing in the sin that prevents us from living to do good work.
In the name of Jesus I pray that you continue to preach the gospel of Jesus, which in its simplest expression is: a way has been made for us to find favor with God and this through our trust in His son, Jesus. And through His reign in our lives, we are delivered from the power of sin over our lives.
And in view of this gospel, we must disciple through baptism and by teaching all nations obedience to what Jesus, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, commanded us.
I pray that favor and peace are given to you abundantly from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
ed.2009.07.29.01
To my brother in Jesus the Anointed of God, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
Because discipleship has become something preached behind a pulpit and not something demonstrated through good works and with dedication to individual lives, I have prayed and cried out for God to send someone who I search out the Scripture with to understand what discipleship means. And because of your heart, I thank God for His faithfulness.
We must seize the word that God has given us and we must lay hold of Godliness. But, what is a form of Godliness without power? The gospel of Jesus Christ is worthless if God is powerless to deliver those who call upon the name of Jesus. If God is powerless to deliver us from lives of sin and from the reward of sin, then the Gospel we preach is worthless.
What are our intellectual arguments without power? Do we presume to establish the faith of men on the intellectualism of men, or will we choose to establish faith on the power of God?
What evidence is there that God actually favors us, or favors the message that we teach? Is not the true testimony of the favor of God towards us His evidential presence in our lives? Even Moses would not leave that mountain until God chose to announce His favor for Israel by His continued and evidential presence with them.
And so, we are left to lofty and intellectual arguments, far from the establishment of faith on the power of God. We are still lacking. We are still thirsty. If the Scripture is true, then we can not claim to either know or love Him if we do not obey Him. And we certainly cannot obey Him fully by just avoiding sin but by we must also pursue holiness by doing what is right.
If we preach a bold gospel and repentance but fail in every respect to demonstrate the power of God to deliver from sin those who trust in the name of Jesus, then our testimony is reduced to the worthless intellectual rhetoric of men.
We must pursue Godliness, because everyone that knows what is right to do and does not do it, for them it is sin.
We must desire to cling to every revelation of what it means to be like Jesus. We must live by every word that God speaks, not just His promises, but His commandments as well. We must learn to walk in the ways of Jesus our Lord. And when we seek this first, we find that the living water of His word will wash and renew us.
And soon, we find that He protects us and guards us from sin for the sake of His name, and also because He loves us as sons and daughters. But how terrible it is when God hands us over to the desires of our hearts when we sin against Him! What discipline is greater for the one that hates sin than to be handed over to sin? And because of this we pray, "Father, I beg you, please do not lead me into temptation but deliver me from evil!"
I hope that despite our differences, you might permit the opportunity for us to spend time in fellowship. More than anything, I pray that God would grant to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him to plant the seed of His word into my life. Perhaps even, by His mercy, God might provide a way for me to plant some seed in the work that He is performing in you. And in this, perhaps I will grow in favor before God.
I pray that this letter finds you in peace. I pray that God would show me kindness and make a way for this letter to find you, either for the opportunity to sow His word into your life, or for even the opportunity for me to be reproved, having an opportunity to walk in a better and more excellent way.
I pray that the seed would be planted, not to just preach repentance, but to teach and disciple others how to walk in the power of God that will guard them from sin. I pray that the Holy Spirit would show you all of the promises in Scripture, and the ways to walk in, that if trusted in, would protect us from continuing in the sin that prevents us from living to do good work.
In the name of Jesus I pray that you continue to preach the gospel of Jesus, which in its simplest expression is: a way has been made for us to find favor with God and this through our trust in His son, Jesus. And through His reign in our lives, we are delivered from the power of sin over our lives.
And in view of this gospel, we must disciple through baptism and by teaching all nations obedience to what Jesus, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, commanded us.
I pray that favor and peace are given to you abundantly from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Posting Your Own Discipleship Blog
cmp.2008.06.12
ed.2008.06.12.05
How to post your own discipleship blog:
ed.2008.06.12.05
How to post your own discipleship blog:
- Make a blog and dedicate it to studying how to follow in the ways of Jesus. It can be on blogger, (http://www.blogger.com), wordpress, (http://www.wordpress.com), whatever. Just make sure it is dedicated to this purpose. As far as I know, there are no limits to how many blogs you can have!
- Create a list of other blogs that are doing the same thing and dedicated to the same purpose.
- Commit some time to help the people you linked on your site in their study to know the ways of Jesus.
- Leave comments, ask questions and answer questions to help refine each other's faith!
- Don't be afraid to hear objections! Remember, the trying of our faith is precious before God!
- If you have questions, create a post with your question, and apply a "Label" or "Category" to your post called "Questions".
- If you can figure out how to do it, in your blog "Settings", make sure you put an email address where it asks you if you want to be notified when people leave comments on your blog. That way, you can respond to people.
- When you do comment, select the box to be notified if someone replies to your comment.
- If you create a new post to answer someone's question, be sure to link it back to that other person's question if you can. Otherwise, post a comment with a link to that specific comment to let the person know that you tried to answer their question.
- Please, please make changes to your original posts whenever you learn something new. Sometimes we might be wrong, so we need to change. We all reserve the right to grow and come to a fuller knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Should We Follow The Commands Of Jesus?
cmp.2008.06.10
ed.2008.06.12.01 (Concept Draft)
Do Christians today feel that it isn't necessary to know or live according to the commandments of Jesus and His Apostles?
We have heard some denominations preach "Holiness" before God. They even forbid women to wear jewelry and to cut their hair. But do any of them know the commandments of Jesus? We have even heard it claimed that it is legalistic to pursue the observance of Biblical commands. But why is it that all throughout the Bible, "Lawlessness" is condemned?
Why is obedience considered legalism?
It is true that in Galatians, Paul called those "accursed" who taught others to live according to the Law of Moses. But what about teaching the commandments of Jesus? Were the commandments of Jesus merely suggestions? If the law that Moses proclaimed was binding even though it was only a shadow of the Heavenly law to come, how much more are the commands of Jesus more binding than the laws of Moses?
Even for those Christians who presume to teach that it is righteousness to preach and obey the Law the of Moses to believers, why don't they start with the commandments of Jesus?
Often I have heard that the only commandments of Jesus are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. But this is not true. Jesus very clearly recognized that these two commands were taught by Moses, so we cannot clearly claim that those were Jesus' commandments. But then, Jesus changed those commandments! In essence, He commanded, "No, I don't want you to just love your neighbor as yourself, I want you to love as I have loved you!" And so, it is not with our own heart, mind or strength that we are commanded to love, but to love with the heart, mind and strength of Jesus! Our love is simply too immature to actually fulfill the heavenly edict. Instead, we have to let Jesus love through us. And how do we know that we love God? According to the Apostle John, we know that we love Him if we walk according to His commands!
If the Holy Spirit was given to us, or rather, the Spirit of Holiness, then how can we claim that it is impossible to be Holy? It is clearly commanded that we are to be Holy as He is Holy. Jesus specifically taught us that yes, it is impossible with Man to obey the commands of God. But, Jesus specifically said that with God all things are possible. He was specifically stating that obedience to the will of God was possible, but that it was only possible if God was with us! Does this mean that all Christians who claim that they cannot truly obey the commandments of Jesus do not believe that all things are possible with God? Or, does it mean that it really is impossible for some to stop sinning because God is not with them? Perhaps the answer is more simple: maybe we claim to not be able to stop sinning because we truly do not want to stop sinning.
Where is the doctrine of obedience in the Church today? Why in more than 2000 years do Christians not have the law of God written on their hearts? What is the New Covenant? Isn't the New Covenant to have the law of God written on our hearts and to know Him? Didn't the apostle John teach us that it is impossible to say that we know God if we do not obey Him? And how can we obey Him unless we know His commands?
How is it possible for us to claim to have His commands written on our hearts and not know His commands? How is it possible for us to claim that we love God and not obey Him?
ed.2008.06.12.01 (Concept Draft)
Do Christians today feel that it isn't necessary to know or live according to the commandments of Jesus and His Apostles?
We have heard some denominations preach "Holiness" before God. They even forbid women to wear jewelry and to cut their hair. But do any of them know the commandments of Jesus? We have even heard it claimed that it is legalistic to pursue the observance of Biblical commands. But why is it that all throughout the Bible, "Lawlessness" is condemned?
Why is obedience considered legalism?
It is true that in Galatians, Paul called those "accursed" who taught others to live according to the Law of Moses. But what about teaching the commandments of Jesus? Were the commandments of Jesus merely suggestions? If the law that Moses proclaimed was binding even though it was only a shadow of the Heavenly law to come, how much more are the commands of Jesus more binding than the laws of Moses?
Even for those Christians who presume to teach that it is righteousness to preach and obey the Law the of Moses to believers, why don't they start with the commandments of Jesus?
Often I have heard that the only commandments of Jesus are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. But this is not true. Jesus very clearly recognized that these two commands were taught by Moses, so we cannot clearly claim that those were Jesus' commandments. But then, Jesus changed those commandments! In essence, He commanded, "No, I don't want you to just love your neighbor as yourself, I want you to love as I have loved you!" And so, it is not with our own heart, mind or strength that we are commanded to love, but to love with the heart, mind and strength of Jesus! Our love is simply too immature to actually fulfill the heavenly edict. Instead, we have to let Jesus love through us. And how do we know that we love God? According to the Apostle John, we know that we love Him if we walk according to His commands!
If the Holy Spirit was given to us, or rather, the Spirit of Holiness, then how can we claim that it is impossible to be Holy? It is clearly commanded that we are to be Holy as He is Holy. Jesus specifically taught us that yes, it is impossible with Man to obey the commands of God. But, Jesus specifically said that with God all things are possible. He was specifically stating that obedience to the will of God was possible, but that it was only possible if God was with us! Does this mean that all Christians who claim that they cannot truly obey the commandments of Jesus do not believe that all things are possible with God? Or, does it mean that it really is impossible for some to stop sinning because God is not with them? Perhaps the answer is more simple: maybe we claim to not be able to stop sinning because we truly do not want to stop sinning.
Where is the doctrine of obedience in the Church today? Why in more than 2000 years do Christians not have the law of God written on their hearts? What is the New Covenant? Isn't the New Covenant to have the law of God written on our hearts and to know Him? Didn't the apostle John teach us that it is impossible to say that we know God if we do not obey Him? And how can we obey Him unless we know His commands?
How is it possible for us to claim to have His commands written on our hearts and not know His commands? How is it possible for us to claim that we love God and not obey Him?
How Can We Know The Will Of God?
cmp.2008.06.12
ed.2008.06.12.08(Concept Draft)
Living By Every Word That God Says
How can we come to know the will of God?
It is written that man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
We often find believers who go and study the promises of God. We yearn for the blessings of God. But, God spoke more than blessings.
According to Pslams 119, God reveals His will to us in more ways than just making promises to us. He speaks to us His commandments, His laws, His precepts, His statutes, His testimonies, and in many more ways. What are the differences between a law and a commandment? What is the difference between a satute and a testimony? What is a precept?
Can We Expect God To Only Speak To Us Directly?
Some may question whether or not we need to study Scripture to know the direction that God wants us to walk in. They believe that because Jesus promised to give us the Holy Spirit that they do not need to study Scripture because the Holy Spirit would personally lead and guide them into all truth.
It is absolutely true that we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth. But, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would bring us into rememberance of all the things that Jesus taught. And, the Apostles wrote to us about the things that Jesus taught. Christians believe that the apostles made known to us the Gospel of Jesus through the Holy Spirit by writing to us. So, how can studying Scripture be considered unnecessary if the Holy Spirit made a way for us to have Scripture?
If we all had the gift of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all truth, and we could all discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, and we all could preach the words of God with integrity, then why are there divisions among us? How can one denomination preach a certain doctrine and another preach a completely contrary doctrine if the same Holy Spirit is fully revealing all truth to all of us?
But how do we come to the place where the Holy Spirit can lead and guide us into all truth?
God Has Already Revealed His Will
If we truly desire to know the will of God, then we should embrace what God has already revealed to us concerning His will in Scripture.
For example, at a Church service I recently attended, a pastor lead the congregation in prayer concerning China. China had gone through many earthquakes and millions of people were left homeless and hungry and are still currently in desparate need.
This pastor led the congregation to prayer to ask God for His direction and His will about what God would like the Church to do. The pastor's prayer certainly got me thinking.
Why would God reveal more of His will to us if the Church today does not cherish and obey what He has already revealed? What part of Jesus' commands to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, take care of orphans and widows, and preach the gospel to all nations does the Church need clarification on? The Church already knows what God wants us to do in China, so why are we asking God to tell us again?
To Meditate On His Word
It stands to reason then that we must search through Scripture as David did. If we are truly passionate, we would meditate on His word day and night. If we study Scripture in this way, with the passion of David, we would certainly understand and be able to discern the will of God for our lives in all cases.
If we hold true and faithful to the will of God that He has already revealed to us, how much more will God freely give wisdom to those who are faithful to what He has already given?
What Has God Already Revealed To Us?
So then, if it is true that God gives seed to the sower, and if it is true that God gives more to the faithful, then we must seek out and understand every revelation that God has given us to know His will.
We cannot simply stand on the promises of God, but we must live by every word that God speaks to us. So what are the promises, commands, statues, judgments, testimonies, laws and ways that God has revealed to the Church? How do we even define these things?
ed.2008.06.12.08(Concept Draft)
Living By Every Word That God Says
How can we come to know the will of God?
It is written that man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
We often find believers who go and study the promises of God. We yearn for the blessings of God. But, God spoke more than blessings.
According to Pslams 119, God reveals His will to us in more ways than just making promises to us. He speaks to us His commandments, His laws, His precepts, His statutes, His testimonies, and in many more ways. What are the differences between a law and a commandment? What is the difference between a satute and a testimony? What is a precept?
Can We Expect God To Only Speak To Us Directly?
Some may question whether or not we need to study Scripture to know the direction that God wants us to walk in. They believe that because Jesus promised to give us the Holy Spirit that they do not need to study Scripture because the Holy Spirit would personally lead and guide them into all truth.
It is absolutely true that we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth. But, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would bring us into rememberance of all the things that Jesus taught. And, the Apostles wrote to us about the things that Jesus taught. Christians believe that the apostles made known to us the Gospel of Jesus through the Holy Spirit by writing to us. So, how can studying Scripture be considered unnecessary if the Holy Spirit made a way for us to have Scripture?
If we all had the gift of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all truth, and we could all discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, and we all could preach the words of God with integrity, then why are there divisions among us? How can one denomination preach a certain doctrine and another preach a completely contrary doctrine if the same Holy Spirit is fully revealing all truth to all of us?
But how do we come to the place where the Holy Spirit can lead and guide us into all truth?
God Has Already Revealed His Will
If we truly desire to know the will of God, then we should embrace what God has already revealed to us concerning His will in Scripture.
For example, at a Church service I recently attended, a pastor lead the congregation in prayer concerning China. China had gone through many earthquakes and millions of people were left homeless and hungry and are still currently in desparate need.
This pastor led the congregation to prayer to ask God for His direction and His will about what God would like the Church to do. The pastor's prayer certainly got me thinking.
Why would God reveal more of His will to us if the Church today does not cherish and obey what He has already revealed? What part of Jesus' commands to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, take care of orphans and widows, and preach the gospel to all nations does the Church need clarification on? The Church already knows what God wants us to do in China, so why are we asking God to tell us again?
To Meditate On His Word
It stands to reason then that we must search through Scripture as David did. If we are truly passionate, we would meditate on His word day and night. If we study Scripture in this way, with the passion of David, we would certainly understand and be able to discern the will of God for our lives in all cases.
If we hold true and faithful to the will of God that He has already revealed to us, how much more will God freely give wisdom to those who are faithful to what He has already given?
What Has God Already Revealed To Us?
So then, if it is true that God gives seed to the sower, and if it is true that God gives more to the faithful, then we must seek out and understand every revelation that God has given us to know His will.
We cannot simply stand on the promises of God, but we must live by every word that God speaks to us. So what are the promises, commands, statues, judgments, testimonies, laws and ways that God has revealed to the Church? How do we even define these things?
The Great Commission
cmp.2008.05.21
ed.2008.06.09.01 (Concept Draft)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
If we are to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us, then how can it be possible to disciple anyone without teaching them to obey what Jesus commanded?
If we know that we are commanded to make disciples by teaching all nations the commands of Jesus, then we must accept that we cannot teach what we do not know.
If we do not know the commandments of Jesus, then we cannot say that we have been discipled, otherwise we would already know the commandments of Jesus.
Who is it that can presume to disciple who does not teach the commands of Jesus let alone knows these commandments for themselves?
ed.2008.06.09.01 (Concept Draft)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
If we are to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us, then how can it be possible to disciple anyone without teaching them to obey what Jesus commanded?
If we know that we are commanded to make disciples by teaching all nations the commands of Jesus, then we must accept that we cannot teach what we do not know.
If we do not know the commandments of Jesus, then we cannot say that we have been discipled, otherwise we would already know the commandments of Jesus.
Who is it that can presume to disciple who does not teach the commands of Jesus let alone knows these commandments for themselves?
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