We’ve already explored why you are made in the Image and Likeness of God in three parts; One, Two, and Three. Those posts, starting from Genesis, regard what our final estate will be. And we previously posted on this very topic discussing The Image of Christ.

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 [Isaiah 53], 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.

The Stoic Christian, who I’m not very familiar with but seems solid in doctrine from what I’ve read, has a succinct article about artwork depicting Jesus, wherein this question is raised based on the Second Commandment. This is a consideration we’d not made previously.

Theologians often grapple with the question of visual representations of God and the incarnation of Christ. This document explores the four main objections raised by the Orthodox and Reformed traditions regarding visual representations of God and provides insights into the theological discourse surrounding this topic.

1. Violation of the second commandment

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [Exodus 20:4 KJV]

The objection stems from the belief that creating pictures of Jesus or God goes against the second commandment, which prohibits making idols. Critics argue that visual depictions of God, made by human hands, can lead to idolatry. They refer to Old Testament descriptions of pagan idols made of earthly materials, incapable of hearing, seeing, or acting.

The question arises: Do visual representations of Jesus, whether in Sunday School books, galleries, or places of worship, amount to idolatry? Furthermore, how should we understand the relationship between the unique revelation of God in the incarnation and visual depictions of that Word?

The other three concise objections are at the link.

It has occurred to me that many problems in some churches and church groups have arisen from idolatry, which is not a stretch since the word of God is replete with warnings. A question was asked, why is sodomy rampant in certain churches, sects, and denominations? God warns us in Romans 1 of this path when making idols of creatures.

“23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

Now, doubtless, Christ is not a creature but the Creator (Colossians 1:16); nonetheless, He is the image of God not in appearance but in manifest power, grace, truth, and by instruction in righteousness (John 1:14). Images of an effeminate or beautiful Jesus have their own disrespectful effect on the senses. The Image of Christ is His holy word (the Holy Bible); after all, He is the word made Flesh (again John 1:14). He is the Son of God and having been raised from the dead: “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” – Romans 1:4. Context is critical, this declaration is near the outset of the entire Romans thesis on New Covenant doctrine, and before verses 23 through 25 above. Having risen from the dead, all power also given Him (Matthew 28:18), He is The Word of God (Revelation 19:13) coming to destroy His enemies and bringing in His kingdom.

The recent case in New York about the defense of others on the subway will undoubtedly be politicized, and the laws will be abused for those purposes with no respect of persons but to discriminate wrongfully, trashing God’s ordained laws of justice. It would be quite remarkable if any just application of the law were found in this case.

The Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution comes from the ancient biblical legal foundation of not treating persons differently in matters of law as a magistrate or juror. It’s respect of persons, which is not respect for persons. Respect for persons requires discernment and, yes, discrimination in the classical sense of the word.

Though not about firearms, the case concerns the defense of others, something every CCW should consider carefully and pray about. You must know the laws in your state about using deadly force to defend others. It’s biblical to protect those less able from unlawful harm of all forms by the use of arms or other means. If we are commanded to rescue our neighbor’s Ox from the ditch, how much more important, made in the image of God, is the defense of our less capable neighbor?

Here are two articles concerning the matter.

Defending Law And Order Is Social Justice

Rewriting the Parable of the Good Samaritan

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 is considered.

But first, as background, respect of persons in the Holy Bible applies only to law. It stems from Leviticus 19:15 and has nothing to do with outcomes of equality or equity among men and surely not forced results. See also Proverbs 24:23.

Proverbs 28:21 perfectly makes the application as to why any person representing the law of the land must show non-bias. “To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.” What would a judge do for a bit of bread? Some areas of the world operate on “greasing the wheels.” Christendom was supposed to be different (Acts 24:26), but look no further than Congress receiving bread to bias the law, and here we are. There’s a reason money is sometimes referred to as bread and now you know why. Anyone in a position of authority is bound to this Bible truth and will be judged by the Almighty, including parents with their children, teachers, pastors, supervisors, civil leadership, business owners, etc. It’s the Law of God. And James 2:9 says failing to adhere is a sin.

Next, respect of persons in the law of salvation is considered. God is no respecter of persons; all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God by breaking His law and all will be judged rightly on that terrible day. But neither does salvation in Christ grant license to sin. Salvation in Christ is a judicial matter before the courts of heaven as to how you will make restitution to God for your transgressions against Him.

Romans 2:11 mentions respect of persons, and verses 12-16 explain why in God’s law, all men need Christ Jesus, both the Jew and Gentile: if you sin in the law (of Moses / 10 Commandments), you’re judged by that law and die in hell without Christ. If you sin outside the law of Moses (a Gentile), your conscience bears witness, through God’s law written on your heart, about your sin against Him; without Christ, you also burn in hell. That’s God’s law concerning soul salvation without respect of persons; you must have Christ Jesus, as your mediator before the Judge, by faith to enter into eternal life.

That’s how Jesus completed the law by making the final necessary offering, and that of Himself, to God so you might be found not guilty if you place your faith in His payment to God by believing His sacrificial death on the cross is sufficient to cover your sin debt. Christ rose again the third, proving He has the power to go to God for you as your intermediary, or great High Preist proclaiming you to be His by right of payment; by faith in Him, you make this covenant to become His purchased possession, a bondservant of the King, no more bound to death and hell, but an everlasting heir with Christ in the household of God. I say to you, my friends, it’s a far better gig than being trapped by sin under the law of either Moses or conscience; He says: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Much lighter than a life mired in the horrors of sin and its ever-worsening consequences and so much more, for liberty in Christ eradicates the law where men were bound to a set of rules they could never attain. Praise be to God.

Now, the precursive conversation that leads to Jesus’ parable and some application. Context is king. Understanding the parable correctly requires understanding its purpose. Here’s the beginning of the exchange between a lawyer and Jesus that sets the parable’s intent and meaning.

“25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” – Luke 10:25-28

So far, so good, but then comes the tempting in verse 29.

“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?”

If your church skips discussing justification and goes straight to an explanation about who your neighbor is, I’ll caution that you may be in a liberal church. No man will justify Himself before God.

Remember, the question before us is one of law: be it the law of Moses or that which God wrote on your heart. The lawyer is confronted with a matter of Bible law from which comes our now-ending system of jurisprudence that began to mold and then guided Western Civilization since the Gospel went into Europe.

Next, this bit of commentary from the second link above (Rewriting the Parable of the Good Samaritan), though essentially right in its assertions, has glaring results of the dumbed downed churches in America.

“This was the story of a man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead. A priest and a Levite both saw the beaten man and walked past him, crossing to the other side of the street. But the Samaritan stopped to help the injured man, attending to his wounds, bringing him to an inn, paying the innkeeper to care for the injured man until he was well.”

I realize that article is about current events, but some necessary background would be helpful. Why did the Preist and Levite walk by, even crossing to the other side of the street? They were trying to follow the letter of the law and not become unclean by touching a sinner, getting blood on themselves, or helping a man that might die in their arms. Remember the context, Jesus is talking to a lawyer about Bible law. The Preist and Levite should have violated the immediate letter of the law concerning purification to save the man, then gone through the ceremonial tasks of making themselves “clean” again under the law. It would have burdened them more to take the time to separate themselves from family, fellowship, and work to be purified again than it would to have helped the man. They used the law as an excuse for not doing the right thing; beware the leaven of the Pharisees.

And finally, here’s the parable:

“30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”

And Christ’s necessary final exchange with the lawyer whose question was, who is my neighbor?

“36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

It’s a merciful duty to defend yourself and others.

Concluding statements. Some states have had statutes on the books where a citizen must help somebody whose life is under threat, making it criminal to do what the Preist and the Levite did. That’s taking Jesus at His word and applying it seriously as a people, as it should be again. In post-Christian America, the law of Christ is fading fast. In much of Europe, it’s now illegal to defend yourself from murder, let alone somebody else under threat. That’s not at all Christian.

Atheists, Agnostics, and mushy Christians declare there is no need for God or His law in government or society; keep your religion private they demand. Look around at the darkening landscape: behold, injustice and violence in all quarters in the absence of the Law of God.

That’s some background to help you understand what’s at stake as a result of the recent event in New York on the subway and the case in Austin, Texas with Daniel Perry. The overall trend in Western law as America comes under judgment is an outright abuse of hundreds of years of Western jurisprudence by removing the biblical foundation of the law including that of having no respect of persons and considering rightly the duty of defense as a good neighbor in light of understanding proper application of the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Material Wealth has Driven America to a Poverty of the Soul.

I’ve been reading some Machen. The introduction of his short work, Christianity and Liberalism, is an excellent snapshot of the progressive conquest up to 1915 or so. The leaps the communists have made are clear from that starting point forward. This post is random thoughts, less so on the depth of the problem, but offers, from my own negative experience, some possible solutions.

Public schooling has reduced all education to a simple tactic, obeying the State expert and paraphrasing information, willfully neglecting consideration of that information’s purpose, usefulness, or validity. But it’s gotten worse still, full of communist dogma.

That system has been so deeply ingrained that Christian education is little more than State education without the overt worship of centralized authority. However, even then, most Christian schools still teach government worship while adding veneers of wholesomeness or tradition that are also accurately described as teaching helplessness but with Christian-sounding words and themes. Changing a curriculum is not enough if it still teaches children to remain dependent on the thoughts of other men.

Under the communist program, all hope of a child later finding his true purpose and potential is gone before ten years of age. Please don’t do this to your children; don’t teach them, as the heathen religions do, to reject the honest exploration of God’s purposes in anything. The object must be for boys to fill them with the ability to do things more significant than themselves. When boys hit young adulthood, they desire to be part of something bigger than themselves, for their people.

Gone from modern society in the last 100 years or more are excellent and beautiful art of all types. Also absent is the study of science, which the Christian correctly defines as the examination of God’s creation and His created order; science should always look for God’s purpose in a thing, or science itself becomes a false religion. To the religious mind, understanding that sin exists, where evil appears in creation, does not excuse that evil for some purported greater good in the name of “science.” Science absent from God can only lead to one place; mass murder.

There are no literary works of worth, probably because people must be taught how to write but are only shown what to repeat for a grade. Writing starts with critical thought upon the ponderance of an idea. Or, it begins with something else for the creative mind; I don’t know what that is; ask them.

The purpose of this is not yet another litany of complaints but to present a few ideas we hope will help. Sadly, almost all of these suggestions come not from positive experiences but from negative ones, so untested they remain.

I’m not claiming to be a good writer here. Of course, good writing starts with reading complex and rich texts, which is not the primary, but one reason that I reject all modern translations of the Bible. Reading that educates and teaches a man to think requires work to understand and, in the case of the Holy Bible, prayer. Much of the purpose of reading should be not to assimilate information but to teach the mind to take ideas and apply them critically, teaching how to think. Don’t teach children to read things to know what is said, becoming consumers of other men’s thoughts; they must read rich and complex texts thinking for themselves. Avoiding specific texts is prudent, but reading should teach how to think, not what to think; children learn that from listening to parents daily.

One positive is that my father taught me how to read and instilled a particular love for reading, or more precisely, respect. The Department of Defense, for all its flaws, taught me how to teach myself. That didn’t come by general instruction offered to every recruit but from a small program that required not compliance with orders but problem-solving in a unique environment. But, the point is, people can be taught how to teach themselves; this is a gift of immeasurable value to impart to somebody. Teach your children neither by rote nor through informing but by showing them how to learn and teach themselves.

It’s been many years since meeting a heritage American who speaks more than one language, other than missionaries who get trained as adults. So thorough is the brainwashing that folks with language knowledge are viewed with suspicion. There may be a sound basis for that; foreigners bring foreign ideas, but Christians shouldn’t consider teaching language to their children as some anti-civilization enterprise; quite the contrary. Otherwise, why do we train missionaries in language except to bring the great truth of Christ to that people’s dying souls and meaningless religions? Much of the spreading of quality of life beyond Europe had a humble beginning in the missionary work of extending the Gospel to every creature. Giving the heathen skills and resources makes them merely a more effective enemy of Christ; they need salvation.

Missing are complex and rich music, local agriculture and horticulture, and training in religion, including the history of the Church. Everything seems geared toward repeating what some other person has discovered or produced, perhaps worthy, perhaps not, but gone is the free expression of ideas, teaching children to think for themselves and act on their own accord under the law of grace.

Material wealth has driven America to a poverty of the soul. All aptitudes of intellect and physical ability are of God. This is the root of the problem; denying God’s grace in ordinating men’s gifts or talents denies the grant’s purpose from the giver. Of course, the converted must walk by faith in using the spiritual and material facilities that God endows. Our purpose on earth is to glorify Holy God; this is why He made each individual the way they are and gives children aptitudes toward certain enterprises so that they may bring glory to God in those pursuits.

I’m not sure that American Christians believe what the Holy Bible says; the communist project has been so thorough that it’s hard to know where to start, but as with all things, prayer and the word of God must be first.

To grow children in resurgent traditional heritage America, outside help with language, music, art, natural science, etc., is needed. Other than old books, I don’t know where to get good help, but language training needs to start well before eight years old, and so does music training. Where to get training not overrun with the effects of willfully making children dumb and dependent on central authority is a huge problem even in Christian curriculum.

Civilization is gone because of the loss of classical liberal education. Just using the words liberal education causes consternation; since the War of Northern Aggression, communist demagogues have entirely destroyed the word liberal.

The point is that the simplicity that is in Christ is the foundation and root of all expression that lifts man, causing his mind to wonder at what he could create, his soul to yearn for a better day, and his heart to seek well and thoroughly the gifts that God has given not that he may walk in the uselessness of private knowledge but that he may bless his fellow man through works using the skills that God has ordained. The grace of God teaches us to share our gifts, for He shared His own Son upon a cross for our sin against Him, bringing the miracle of salvation unto eternal life in us through the resurrection. And He continues to teach us through His word and lead through His Spirit.

Teaching children to be anti-state is not enough; they must be pro-civilization and pro-culture of grace and love. Teaching children merely the basis of knowledge is quicksand over generations as each loses a small fraction. Preparing children in anything, however right and proper, without emphasis on our duty to Christ to be of service to civilization will not save the next generations.

Communism or socialism isn’t the only problematic cause. The hyper-personalization of Christianity is destroying the religion. Personal soul salvation is not the end; it’s the beginning, the launching pad from which the great faith of grace and truth in Jesus Christ is to permeate all aspects of society. Hiding Christianity away will not save it, for the agents of evil will not be satisfied with merely locking you in your church buildings or limiting you to silent prayer. Nor will they tolerate compromise within the word of God when Christians allow adding theoretical origins and hypotheses to the creation and other events in the Old and New Testaments. Evil will not stop its march if we integrate sciency-sounding excuses into the faith of the Old Testament forefathers. If science “proved” Christ never walked the earth (because that’s the direction we’re headed), would you still believe? Would you still earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints?

Though solid doctrine hid well in the heart that we might not sin against God is foundational, and teachers of the Christian religion abound, but where are the doers of the word, where are those dedicated to the Lord of the harvest, how are His fields ripe for the picking but left fallow? Hyper-personalization leading to a secret selfish religion is how Christianity shrinks to a mere ember. Evil will never be satisfied until Christ casts Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. But the grace of the cross exists because Christ had a mission; do you think you’re immune to the onslaught of evil or that neglecting the assignments of a disciple will save you or your people?

All things come by the grace of God, for He owns all things. That simple fact produces character in the young, humility before the Creator builds love in a man’s soul. I deeply fear that God must take our material ease from us to bring us back to faith and knowledge of He who created and bestowed these things upon us.

The government has its own project of dependence, but God will not long compete with this mocking. The tremendous redemptive religion that is in Christ appears backed into a corner with enemies on all sides. Still, we reckon that’s just how Christ likes to fight, up close, personal: restorative or damning to the hearer of the word, for a man chooses his way upon contact from God, heaven or hell?

Read Joshua 23 and 24. We have gone the wrong way in all things, yet God offers a choice.

There is a longing for traditional ways, but it’s not enough to be anti-modern. There must be more than pious-sounding yet vacuous religious tenets for the building of a resurgence. With all assuredness, we begin in our own houses first. From there, the way to a future for our people is through knowledge of the giver of all graces who granted dominion to us over His creation, and becoming doers of the word in the name of Jesus Christ.

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.

———–

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?