Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Romans 2:1 |
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Romans 14:13 |
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
James 4:12 |
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Just to add a couple verses to what Mishael posted for you about the real circumcision being of the heart. Not the flesh.
Romans 2: 25-29 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Judy, may the Spirit grace you with his wisdom and his understanding.
Were women commanded to be circumcised in the old testament? Are you cut off from God for not being circumcised?
Romans 2:28-29 For he (or she) is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outwardly in the flesh:
(vs 29) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; an circumcision that is of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
It's Christ in you, the new birth, that is the true circumcision.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ezekiel 33:11-20
( Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 12:35-36 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 13:37-43
( John 5:26-29
( Romans 2:2-11
( Romans 6:1-2
( Romans 6:15-23
( James 2:14-20
( 1 Peter 4:16-19
( 2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Sister Mary, good question. I appreciate somewhat lengthy 'general or typical response' from brother Chris. But I'll give you specific theological response.
When you received Christ as your personal saviour, you also received the other two members of Trinity (1Joh 5:7), Holy Ghost and GOD the Father, and you are now born again (Joh 3:3). You are a baby spiritually in the beginning when you are just saved recently. You can't feel or experience HIM right away but you need to grow spiritually to experience a new spiritual birth. Naturally everybody is born with devil spirit simply because we inherited Adam's sin and therefore we are sinners by birth ( Rom 5:12-14).
A newly born baby does not know what is going on around him until he will grow up physically and mentally, does he? Same analogy with spiritual rebirth. Grow spiritually by reading scripture, praying, listening to preaching, and etc. Then you can feel joy and do not forget to spread gospel to others.
Some theological consideration. I have many things to say about Holy Ghost but I can't say them all here. Did you know Trinity WORKS and exists as ONE? In other words you can't receive Christ or Spirit independently as I indicated above. I hear truly saved people say that they are uncertain if they received Spirit also. Are you one of them? I'll just list verses for you to understand about Trinity more deeply without going lengthy discussion. Joh 10:30, 6:44, 14:6; 1Joh 5:7, 8. Thanks
When you have truly repented of your sins & come in faith in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross for you, those sins are taken away, you're forgiven, you have been made clean & acceptable to God & you have God's Spirit dwelling in you. If anyone doesn't come in true repentance & faith in Christ, then salvation is not given. If you have come the way of the Cross & you're truly thankful to the Lord for what He has done for you, then His Spirit will make you completely new in your spirit (re-born spiritually), renew your mind, your view of life, of people and endue with His Power to live for Jesus & give you gifts that you may use to testify of God's Love & build up others. In other words, your life will be completely changed by God because you are a child of God.
Is this what you have experienced, or maybe you've heard that a special outward manifestation is needed as the only proof of the Holy Spirit in you? The Holy Spirit might choose to give this, but it is only faith in Christ that saves you & not the waiting for or pleading for some manifestation. Do you feel that your life is still the same as the old one? That nothing has changed - you may still be careless with sin or still finding delight in doing those things that are not right & not feeling a check in your heart when doing them? If so, you will need to attend to this urgently & seek the Lord & read His Word, that maybe the Spirit of God might reveal Jesus to you afresh.
That is one of the oldest questions asked concerning eternity, aside from the pre-existence of God. Both non-Christians & those claiming Christian faith have wondered about "good people consigned to Hell" & humanly speaking, we really can't believe that a Holy, Righteous God would do such a thing. But the Scriptures are clear.
What we term a 'good person' is based on our understanding of 'goodness', i.e. one well behaved, conforms to society's norms & requirements, has a careful, considered disposition, rendering help to others & not given to 'major sins'. And yet, will all that 'goodness', God still manages to find fault with him. Is God unfair or judging us too harshly? From our viewpoint, we might think so, but from God's viewpoint (& from the Word), He assesses us correctly.
If "all have sinned & come short of the glory of God (or, God's standards)" ( Romans 3:23), God takes into account that evidence of sin, however minute in substance, as that which infects & affects the whole ("a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" 1 Corinthians 5:6). Just as the addition of a little leaven (yeast) causes fermentation & expansion of dough that affects the whole bread, so to does the smallest of sins (white lies, pride, bitterness, false accusation, anger, etc.) spoils the whole person making him a sinner: he's not a person who slips up in some sin but still essentially good, but a person who because of sin is essentially bad but show traits of goodness at times. But even with all his 'goodness', can he present himself as acceptable to God? Never to a holy God.
Romans 2:11-16 explains why a person never hearing about God or the Gospel through His Son, still remains condemned. In advanced civilizations, the Law alerts a person to his errors & sins. Amongst hidden tribes, their tribal Law applies, & where that law doesn't deal with sin, man is naturally alerted in his heart to wrong doing, their conscience bearing them witness. No chance without the Gospel reaching them.
Romans 2:14,15 clearly show that the Law was never in our possession & we've never been subject to them. And then when the Gentiles became believers, the only instruction given was, not that any of the commandments given to the Jews be followed, but as per Acts 15:19,20: "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood."
Rather, our directive can never be from the Law given to Israel, because "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." ( Romans 8:2). If the Life-giving Spirit freed a Jewish Paul from the bondage of the Law, how much more to us Gentiles, who never received the Law, are only subject to the Spirit's directions in our lives.
Again, thank you for bringing up those very worthy points.
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (verse 7 Jesus said)- Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye MUST be born again.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.(Not because he is a Jew)
Galations 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
FAITH IS NOT WHO YOU ARE BLACK, WHITE, NATIONALITY HAS NO EFFECT ON BEING A HEIR WITH CHRIST BUT BY GRACE WE ARE SAVED BY/THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
"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; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 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: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;)In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
Here we see the Apostle Paul's teaching on those who have sinned "in the Law" (i.e. the Jews who were given God's Law to abide by & to judge themselves as those who failed in keeping the Law perfectly), and those who 'perish' (note: not 'sinned', since sin is effected, accountable & punishable by God by the giving of a Law, Romans 3:20) without having received the Law.
So to the Jew who remains under the burden of the Law & not in receipt of God's Grace in Christ, they will be judged by the Law, & they will fail, for none could ever keep the Law perfectly ( Galatians 2:21b:"for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.").To the Gentile (non-Jew) who in days past never received or even heard of God's Laws & therefore never subject to its conditions, Paul says that these may not have the written Law in stone/parchment, but by nature perform the Law as written upon their hearts; it's now their conscience that accuses them of doing wrong or excuses their sins, that God sees & thus judges. Certainly not like getting God's Commands directly, but when both Jew & Gentile have to stand before God, the judgement meted to them will be based on the Law whether given directly or written in their hearts/consciences.
And that's why the Gospel is so important: it is salvation to all.
f. Jesus' time of suffering & death came, but also His glorious resurrection, that through this Divine Act of God to redeem ALL men to Himself, both Jew & Gentile would now be acceptable to Him through faith in the efficacy of the shed Blood. Was the Sabbath & the Law still current for the Jew? As long as they lived according to the requirements of the Law, they had to abide by it & were judged by it; if they failed in one part of the given Law, they had failed in all ( Galatians 5:3, Romans 2:13, James 2:10). When the Jew put aside the Law as necessary for salvation, then the application of the Cross became real: that which was based on faith & promise, & not on the letter that only served to reveal him his sin & to draw him to Christ ( Galatians 3:24).
g. So why then is the keeping of the Sabbath still necessary? For the Jew without Christ, it remains a day of rest, as an act of obedience to God, & using that occasion for religious exercises. For the Jew & Gentile who is now "in Christ", the Sabbath, as all other Laws, have no binding, other than the importance of setting a Rest Day aside from our labours, & the Laws that reveal God's Mind & Purpose for both religious & social responsibility. If one, whether Jew, Gentile or Christian, chose to keep any of the Laws, including Sabbath, then they were bound to keep it & the whole Law - there's no option to pick & choose. And by keeping the Law to justify ourselves before God, even one Law, then precludes us from the Grace of God through Christ, because that is diametrically opposed to the meaning of the Law ( Galatians 5:4).
I don't believe that the "works" in Matthew 16:27 is mentioned by Jesus in respect to salvation. He speaks of rewards according to what "every man has done". Also, Romans 2:6. The Matthew verse could speak of the righteous who receive reward for their deeds, or to the unrighteousness, who receive nothing because their deeds were evil, coming from the darkness of their hearts ( John 3:19,20).
And then in the New Testament economy, post Cross, where salvation is granted to the sinner because of God's Grace through our faith in Christ's Work ( Ephesians 2:8-10), we're reminded that no "works" can enter into this Divine arrangement as that would negate "grace". And 'works' was primarily the obedience & dependence on the given Law of God, which could only show man's failure before God & inability to justify himself. But 'works' would include those other things that those outside the purview of the Cross, could try to use to establish his favour with God.
And then we come to the Epistle of James, which the RCs use to justify their belief & position: James 2:14-18. They maintain that both 'faith & works' are necessary for salvation, rather "for further justification". This was the point that Martin Luther, at the Reformation, opposed the RC Church on: he maintained that the believer is fully saved & justified at the moment of salvation & it's not a progressive justification, to which the RC Church stated: that justification cannot be a once only immediate act of God, but that through the Christian's walk (i.e. in a life of producing works worthy of his salvation), the believer is increasingly justified by God. If this were so, then justification comes by faith & works.
Rather, James tells us that 'works' naturally follow a true salvation, without which it proves a defective salvation. James does not hint at all that there is an on-going work of justification by 'works', rather that justification is a declaration by God of the sinner as being no longer guilty before Him.
Though there are many Scriptures to support the after life & into eternity with God, there are very few that can fully support the immediate passage of the spirit & soul after death takes its grip. Clear portions, as Mishael has showed, about the penitent thief & Lazarus are often used & I would add to his list: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8. Herein, we see Paul's hope that when his "earthly tabernacle is dissolved" (or, passed away in death), God will provide a heavenly one. In fact, he says that he is confident (convinced) that while we're in this body on Earth, thus we're absent from the Lord. Rather, his desire was to be absent from his body (leave his mortal body behind at death), & be found in the Lord's presence. To me, these verses & those others given, show that at death, the spirit that cannot be destroyed by death does not linger aimlessly near a grave or under water, but returns to God Who gave it. For those who've rejected Christ, their spirits too are held captive awaiting coming judgement.
All people can ONLY be saved by FAITH: faith being the implicit trust & looking to God to save them though not having seen Him. For the Jew, they received the Law from God & though none could fully obey its demands, it served to show them there sin, the need for sacrifice & of course, a faith that looked only to God & looked forward to God to provide a better Sacrifice. Most Jews didn't do this, though some did ( Hebrews 11) but God is the Judge of their hearts. For those without the Law (Gentiles), the laws written within us condemned us ( Romans 2:12-16) & we have to stand before God on that basis &/or the rejection of God's Sacrifice. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" ( John 1:12). And of course, we receive Him only by faith, not by works or sacrifice.
I can't answer your last question; it must be something wired in us to know what & where 'our shame' (our less honourable) body parts are.
Their faith which looked ahead & our faith also had to ultimately rest on a better Sacrifice bringing in a better Covenant ( Hebrews 7:19,22). Their faith had to find its hope in Jesus, God's Sacrifice, as ours also, post-Cross, does. Their justification & ours also rest in the Holy One from God. There has been no other way for anyone to be cleansed, forgiven & accepted. To the Gentile unreached with the Gospel, Romans 2:12-16 speaks of these who are also subject to the law written within them & by this law they are judged & will perish, as the law accuses them or they find excuse to sin. But why should they be condemned if Christ is not preached to them? Again, are there any readied by God to go to them so they might hear & believe? We have heard of accounts of tribes so grateful for the Gospel to come, as their hearts have been prepared to look for & receive it. Then there have been those who have been violent to the message, bringing death to the messenger. Those such as Jim Elliot & his four companions reaching out to the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador; or John Chau missionary to the Sentinelese people in the Andaman Islands (off the E. Indian coast) were all martyred for Jesus.
Or, to the good, decent people we know of, yet never moved to hear or respond to the Gospel. Will their decency & goodness be sufficient to save them in spite of sin? Romans 6:23 and Titus 3:5,6, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour". Even 'all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags' in God's Sight, so as much as we would long & hope for the ultimate saving of even those still without Christ even in death, I believe the Scripture is clear that a person's response to the Cross in this life determines his fate & sadly that fate is both horrible & eternal.
1. Thanks for that. Many have been saying once a christian and that's it. As you rightly said, end time event is not salvation. You receive salvation when you become born again and grace is imparted into you. But at the seat of judgement, you need mercy. The grace given to you at salvation is to overcome sin and do what you are assigned to do. You will give account of the use of the grace; what you used the grace for: Romans 2:5-7 "5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:"
At the judgement seat, you need mercy. And mercy is at the discretion of the Lord.
2. The issue of two men on the same bed is not in support of homosexuality. Rather, it is an assumption by those who conclude on the perversion. Being in the same bed together is not to mean they were sexually cordial. It is a family thing. And it does not mean they are both men; the word "men" could be used as unisex to mean a species. Thank you again
Romans 3:31 is a great verse but looking at what Paul said earlier, i.e. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (3:20-22).
A few things here: Paul was speaking to all there (both Jew & Gentile converts) yet some stumbled on this matter, particularly from Jewry who were once under the Law & were circumcised, which marked them as God's chosen. To those still applying the Law to their lives & putting themselves under it, are obliged to keep all the Law ( Galatians 5:3). And "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." ( James 2:10). But the Law was given to Israel, not only as God's Standard of living for them, but to show them that they couldn't keep the Law, rather they fell far short of it. Hence, each year animal sacrifice was made to cover those sins. But after Jesus' death & resurrection, those who come by faith to Him are no longer bound to the Law, as God's Gift to us was the only One to have fully kept (& fulfilled) its Holy demands.
So Paul makes a clear distinction: either you keep the whole Law & by it you will be judged: "as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law" ( Romans 2:12), or you take hold of God's Righteousness which comes by faith in Christ. There's no possibility of fusing the two together for they oppose each other. "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" ( Galatians 5:4). So the observance of the Sabbath day was a hallmark of Israel & they faithfully observed it. To make the Sabbath observance mandatory now means that we are no longer in the liberty of Christ but in bondage ( Galatians 5:1).
Every believer starts the journey of Repentance as a baby ( Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21; Romans 2:20; 1 Cor. 3:1; 1 Peter2:2). Then they grow into a child of God ( Mark 10: 10:15) and eventually into an adult. Trust us, that does not happen during a 'truck' ride.
Matthew 18:3. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
1 Peter 2:2. As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
Matthew 7:13,14. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the road, that leadeth to destruction (e.g. wildfires, pandemic, hurricanes, etc.) and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
In case you are wondering what Satan's strongholds are in his kingdom ( 2 Cor. 10:4).
- Religion. Consider the history of the Mystery Babylon and the Mother of Harlots ( Rev. 17:5). Do not forget the hundreds of years of the Inquisition during which time the Vatican ordered millions killed under their direction in the most cruel way anyone can imagine ( worse than the methods used by Al-Qaeda).
- Political Authorities.
- The Medical Profession.
- The Media Industry.
- The Legal Profession and Business Community.
- Sports and Entertainment.
Please remember: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith ( 1 John 5:4).
Verse 15-God gave us a conscience so that we can evaluate situations that arise in our lives, make a choice, and then judge ourselves based on the decision we made.
The little children you referred to are the 'believers' that start their journey of repentance as babies ( Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21; Romans 2:20; 1 Cor. 3:1; 1 Peter 2:2).
The word of God is spiritually discerned and not understood by the natural man ( 1 Cor. 2:14).
On the contrary: He that is spiritual judgeth all things ( 1 Cor. 2:15).
Debbie remember our good works are like filthy rags to GOD. It's by the grace of God that we are saved thru Jesus Christ dying on the cross for all of our sins, therefore our good works do not have anything to do with going to heaven!
The everlasting Law God established with those that desire to be called His children still stands.
The 10 Commandments still stand.
Any time we sin we are under the Law.
Everyone sins: Everyday!
Blood ordinances were fulfilled by the death of Christ ( Matthew 26:28, Romans 2:29, Colossians 1:14)
Priestly duties connected to the sons of Aaron were fulfilled in Christ. ( Hebrews 8:1)
The Temple was destroyed; as promised: ( Matthew 24:2)
Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children FOR EVER, that we may do all the words of this law."
1 Chronicles 16:17
"And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an EVERLASTING covenant,"
Ephesians 2:15
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ORDINANCES; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Hebrews 7:12
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
Matthew 27:51
"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"
All has not been fulfilled.
All will not be fulfilled until the return of Christ.
Believe the words of Jesus.
Mathew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Concerning works;
Why would Jesus care to evaluate the WORKS of the churches that are on earth at the end times when He comes back if they don't matter? ( Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19. 3:1, 3:8, 3:15)
This chapter will answer the question concerning the narrow mind of those that consider the condition of a true believing christian unfavorable. When we take the word of God, we need to take it all, not just some of it. The church has failed in this. The KJV, some say difficult to read have taken it upon their omniscient self too reinterpret it for us! While there are interpretations that may be reliable, what this has done is open floodgates for misinterpretations. Paul has taken on the sinful condition that is present in each and every one of us! He is not writing to a small synagogue in Galilee, but to Rome! It will not be long after this that Rome will fall, that the darkness that Christ spoke of will be upon humanity itself! You can deny the truth, but the truth will find you out. Remember the clanging cymbal, it is nothing when it comes to the condition of mans sinful heart. What is most interesting is that scripture refers to love as charity. Charity is what each and everyone of us is in need of!
Please read Hebrews chapter 3 which compares Moses' office with the exceeding much more of Jesus Christ.
A born again believer cannot claim to have a sinless life (1 John chapter 1). By faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection from the dead , we are imputed the righteousness of Christ ( Romans 4 & 5).
Jesus remained a devout Jew in the tradition of his forefathers, David, Jacob, Abraham. He was a biblical scholar of the Original testament and was found amonst the scholars expounding nuanced passages of Isaiah at 12 years old. It is said that Jesus is our propitiation with Yahweh and I believe it to be true in heaven. Wasn't Moses also an advocate to God, El Shaddai, on Mt Sinai on our behalf when the people partied like 1999 while Moses brought down the Tablets of the Pact. God was going to destroy them and create a righteous nation from Moses. He talked him out of it! I believe we are now as that wanton nation rejecting God, for He is a longtime absent from us due to our entrenched sinful behaviors. Read the whole story before deciding that your "born again" and noone can claim that without a sinless life!
The Jews were God's chosen people from the beginning of the human race, so it was only natural that God would send His Son to be born of a Jewish woman. But Jesus did not become a Christian. Christian refers to the followers of Christ who followed Him in Word and Truth after His death, burial, and resurrection.
Luke 6 37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Romans 2:1 |
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Romans 14:13 |
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
James 4:12 |
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put into prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the GOSPEL of the kingdom of God.
(vs 15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the GOSPEL.
Repentance is not the GOSPEL.
Psalms 52:1 Why BOASTEST thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man; the goodness of God endureth continually.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his GOODNESS and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS of GOD leads to repentance.
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! behold, the kingdom of God is WITHIN you.
THIS IS THE GOSPEL!
Colossians 1:27 ..... which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.
You are baptised (not by physical water; but with living water) INTO CHRIST!
The baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire Matthew 3:11
Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Just to add a couple verses to what Mishael posted for you about the real circumcision being of the heart. Not the flesh.
Romans 2: 25-29 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Were women commanded to be circumcised in the old testament? Are you cut off from God for not being circumcised?
Romans 2:28-29 For he (or she) is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outwardly in the flesh:
(vs 29) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; an circumcision that is of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
It's Christ in you, the new birth, that is the true circumcision.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ezekiel 33:11-20
( Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 12:35-36 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 13:37-43
( John 5:26-29
( Romans 2:2-11
( Romans 6:1-2
( Romans 6:15-23
( James 2:14-20
( 1 Peter 4:16-19
( 2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
When you received Christ as your personal saviour, you also received the other two members of Trinity (1Joh 5:7), Holy Ghost and GOD the Father, and you are now born again (Joh 3:3). You are a baby spiritually in the beginning when you are just saved recently. You can't feel or experience HIM right away but you need to grow spiritually to experience a new spiritual birth. Naturally everybody is born with devil spirit simply because we inherited Adam's sin and therefore we are sinners by birth ( Rom 5:12-14).
A newly born baby does not know what is going on around him until he will grow up physically and mentally, does he? Same analogy with spiritual rebirth. Grow spiritually by reading scripture, praying, listening to preaching, and etc. Then you can feel joy and do not forget to spread gospel to others.
Some theological consideration. I have many things to say about Holy Ghost but I can't say them all here. Did you know Trinity WORKS and exists as ONE? In other words you can't receive Christ or Spirit independently as I indicated above. I hear truly saved people say that they are uncertain if they received Spirit also. Are you one of them? I'll just list verses for you to understand about Trinity more deeply without going lengthy discussion. Joh 10:30, 6:44, 14:6; 1Joh 5:7, 8. Thanks
Is this what you have experienced, or maybe you've heard that a special outward manifestation is needed as the only proof of the Holy Spirit in you? The Holy Spirit might choose to give this, but it is only faith in Christ that saves you & not the waiting for or pleading for some manifestation. Do you feel that your life is still the same as the old one? That nothing has changed - you may still be careless with sin or still finding delight in doing those things that are not right & not feeling a check in your heart when doing them? If so, you will need to attend to this urgently & seek the Lord & read His Word, that maybe the Spirit of God might reveal Jesus to you afresh.
What we term a 'good person' is based on our understanding of 'goodness', i.e. one well behaved, conforms to society's norms & requirements, has a careful, considered disposition, rendering help to others & not given to 'major sins'. And yet, will all that 'goodness', God still manages to find fault with him. Is God unfair or judging us too harshly? From our viewpoint, we might think so, but from God's viewpoint (& from the Word), He assesses us correctly.
If "all have sinned & come short of the glory of God (or, God's standards)" ( Romans 3:23), God takes into account that evidence of sin, however minute in substance, as that which infects & affects the whole ("a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" 1 Corinthians 5:6). Just as the addition of a little leaven (yeast) causes fermentation & expansion of dough that affects the whole bread, so to does the smallest of sins (white lies, pride, bitterness, false accusation, anger, etc.) spoils the whole person making him a sinner: he's not a person who slips up in some sin but still essentially good, but a person who because of sin is essentially bad but show traits of goodness at times. But even with all his 'goodness', can he present himself as acceptable to God? Never to a holy God.
Romans 2:11-16 explains why a person never hearing about God or the Gospel through His Son, still remains condemned. In advanced civilizations, the Law alerts a person to his errors & sins. Amongst hidden tribes, their tribal Law applies, & where that law doesn't deal with sin, man is naturally alerted in his heart to wrong doing, their conscience bearing them witness. No chance without the Gospel reaching them.
Romans 2:14,15 clearly show that the Law was never in our possession & we've never been subject to them. And then when the Gentiles became believers, the only instruction given was, not that any of the commandments given to the Jews be followed, but as per Acts 15:19,20: "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood."
Rather, our directive can never be from the Law given to Israel, because "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." ( Romans 8:2). If the Life-giving Spirit freed a Jewish Paul from the bondage of the Law, how much more to us Gentiles, who never received the Law, are only subject to the Spirit's directions in our lives.
Again, thank you for bringing up those very worthy points.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (verse 7 Jesus said)- Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye MUST be born again.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.(Not because he is a Jew)
Galations 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
FAITH IS NOT WHO YOU ARE BLACK, WHITE, NATIONALITY HAS NO EFFECT ON BEING A HEIR WITH CHRIST BUT BY GRACE WE ARE SAVED BY/THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
"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; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 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: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;)In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
Here we see the Apostle Paul's teaching on those who have sinned "in the Law" (i.e. the Jews who were given God's Law to abide by & to judge themselves as those who failed in keeping the Law perfectly), and those who 'perish' (note: not 'sinned', since sin is effected, accountable & punishable by God by the giving of a Law, Romans 3:20) without having received the Law.
So to the Jew who remains under the burden of the Law & not in receipt of God's Grace in Christ, they will be judged by the Law, & they will fail, for none could ever keep the Law perfectly ( Galatians 2:21b:"for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.").To the Gentile (non-Jew) who in days past never received or even heard of God's Laws & therefore never subject to its conditions, Paul says that these may not have the written Law in stone/parchment, but by nature perform the Law as written upon their hearts; it's now their conscience that accuses them of doing wrong or excuses their sins, that God sees & thus judges. Certainly not like getting God's Commands directly, but when both Jew & Gentile have to stand before God, the judgement meted to them will be based on the Law whether given directly or written in their hearts/consciences.
And that's why the Gospel is so important: it is salvation to all.
f. Jesus' time of suffering & death came, but also His glorious resurrection, that through this Divine Act of God to redeem ALL men to Himself, both Jew & Gentile would now be acceptable to Him through faith in the efficacy of the shed Blood. Was the Sabbath & the Law still current for the Jew? As long as they lived according to the requirements of the Law, they had to abide by it & were judged by it; if they failed in one part of the given Law, they had failed in all ( Galatians 5:3, Romans 2:13, James 2:10). When the Jew put aside the Law as necessary for salvation, then the application of the Cross became real: that which was based on faith & promise, & not on the letter that only served to reveal him his sin & to draw him to Christ ( Galatians 3:24).
g. So why then is the keeping of the Sabbath still necessary? For the Jew without Christ, it remains a day of rest, as an act of obedience to God, & using that occasion for religious exercises. For the Jew & Gentile who is now "in Christ", the Sabbath, as all other Laws, have no binding, other than the importance of setting a Rest Day aside from our labours, & the Laws that reveal God's Mind & Purpose for both religious & social responsibility. If one, whether Jew, Gentile or Christian, chose to keep any of the Laws, including Sabbath, then they were bound to keep it & the whole Law - there's no option to pick & choose. And by keeping the Law to justify ourselves before God, even one Law, then precludes us from the Grace of God through Christ, because that is diametrically opposed to the meaning of the Law ( Galatians 5:4).
And then in the New Testament economy, post Cross, where salvation is granted to the sinner because of God's Grace through our faith in Christ's Work ( Ephesians 2:8-10), we're reminded that no "works" can enter into this Divine arrangement as that would negate "grace". And 'works' was primarily the obedience & dependence on the given Law of God, which could only show man's failure before God & inability to justify himself. But 'works' would include those other things that those outside the purview of the Cross, could try to use to establish his favour with God.
And then we come to the Epistle of James, which the RCs use to justify their belief & position: James 2:14-18. They maintain that both 'faith & works' are necessary for salvation, rather "for further justification". This was the point that Martin Luther, at the Reformation, opposed the RC Church on: he maintained that the believer is fully saved & justified at the moment of salvation & it's not a progressive justification, to which the RC Church stated: that justification cannot be a once only immediate act of God, but that through the Christian's walk (i.e. in a life of producing works worthy of his salvation), the believer is increasingly justified by God. If this were so, then justification comes by faith & works.
Rather, James tells us that 'works' naturally follow a true salvation, without which it proves a defective salvation. James does not hint at all that there is an on-going work of justification by 'works', rather that justification is a declaration by God of the sinner as being no longer guilty before Him.
All people can ONLY be saved by FAITH: faith being the implicit trust & looking to God to save them though not having seen Him. For the Jew, they received the Law from God & though none could fully obey its demands, it served to show them there sin, the need for sacrifice & of course, a faith that looked only to God & looked forward to God to provide a better Sacrifice. Most Jews didn't do this, though some did ( Hebrews 11) but God is the Judge of their hearts. For those without the Law (Gentiles), the laws written within us condemned us ( Romans 2:12-16) & we have to stand before God on that basis &/or the rejection of God's Sacrifice. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" ( John 1:12). And of course, we receive Him only by faith, not by works or sacrifice.
I can't answer your last question; it must be something wired in us to know what & where 'our shame' (our less honourable) body parts are.
Their faith which looked ahead & our faith also had to ultimately rest on a better Sacrifice bringing in a better Covenant ( Hebrews 7:19,22). Their faith had to find its hope in Jesus, God's Sacrifice, as ours also, post-Cross, does. Their justification & ours also rest in the Holy One from God. There has been no other way for anyone to be cleansed, forgiven & accepted. To the Gentile unreached with the Gospel, Romans 2:12-16 speaks of these who are also subject to the law written within them & by this law they are judged & will perish, as the law accuses them or they find excuse to sin. But why should they be condemned if Christ is not preached to them? Again, are there any readied by God to go to them so they might hear & believe? We have heard of accounts of tribes so grateful for the Gospel to come, as their hearts have been prepared to look for & receive it. Then there have been those who have been violent to the message, bringing death to the messenger. Those such as Jim Elliot & his four companions reaching out to the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador; or John Chau missionary to the Sentinelese people in the Andaman Islands (off the E. Indian coast) were all martyred for Jesus.
Or, to the good, decent people we know of, yet never moved to hear or respond to the Gospel. Will their decency & goodness be sufficient to save them in spite of sin? Romans 6:23 and Titus 3:5,6, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour". Even 'all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags' in God's Sight, so as much as we would long & hope for the ultimate saving of even those still without Christ even in death, I believe the Scripture is clear that a person's response to the Cross in this life determines his fate & sadly that fate is both horrible & eternal.
At the judgement seat, you need mercy. And mercy is at the discretion of the Lord.
2. The issue of two men on the same bed is not in support of homosexuality. Rather, it is an assumption by those who conclude on the perversion. Being in the same bed together is not to mean they were sexually cordial. It is a family thing. And it does not mean they are both men; the word "men" could be used as unisex to mean a species. Thank you again
A few things here: Paul was speaking to all there (both Jew & Gentile converts) yet some stumbled on this matter, particularly from Jewry who were once under the Law & were circumcised, which marked them as God's chosen. To those still applying the Law to their lives & putting themselves under it, are obliged to keep all the Law ( Galatians 5:3). And "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." ( James 2:10). But the Law was given to Israel, not only as God's Standard of living for them, but to show them that they couldn't keep the Law, rather they fell far short of it. Hence, each year animal sacrifice was made to cover those sins. But after Jesus' death & resurrection, those who come by faith to Him are no longer bound to the Law, as God's Gift to us was the only One to have fully kept (& fulfilled) its Holy demands.
So Paul makes a clear distinction: either you keep the whole Law & by it you will be judged: "as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law" ( Romans 2:12), or you take hold of God's Righteousness which comes by faith in Christ. There's no possibility of fusing the two together for they oppose each other. "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" ( Galatians 5:4). So the observance of the Sabbath day was a hallmark of Israel & they faithfully observed it. To make the Sabbath observance mandatory now means that we are no longer in the liberty of Christ but in bondage ( Galatians 5:1).
Matthew 18:3. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
1 Peter 2:2. As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
Matthew 7:13,14. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the road, that leadeth to destruction (e.g. wildfires, pandemic, hurricanes, etc.) and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
In case you are wondering what Satan's strongholds are in his kingdom ( 2 Cor. 10:4).
- Religion. Consider the history of the Mystery Babylon and the Mother of Harlots ( Rev. 17:5). Do not forget the hundreds of years of the Inquisition during which time the Vatican ordered millions killed under their direction in the most cruel way anyone can imagine ( worse than the methods used by Al-Qaeda).
- Political Authorities.
- The Medical Profession.
- The Media Industry.
- The Legal Profession and Business Community.
- Sports and Entertainment.
Please remember: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith ( 1 John 5:4).
Seek, and ye shall find ( Matthew 7:7).
In His Service.
Andy & Dianne van den Berg - Nova Scotia, Canada
The little children you referred to are the 'believers' that start their journey of repentance as babies ( Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21; Romans 2:20; 1 Cor. 3:1; 1 Peter 2:2).
The word of God is spiritually discerned and not understood by the natural man ( 1 Cor. 2:14).
On the contrary: He that is spiritual judgeth all things ( 1 Cor. 2:15).
Concerning the Law;
The everlasting Law God established with those that desire to be called His children still stands.
The 10 Commandments still stand.
Any time we sin we are under the Law.
Everyone sins: Everyday!
Blood ordinances were fulfilled by the death of Christ ( Matthew 26:28, Romans 2:29, Colossians 1:14)
Priestly duties connected to the sons of Aaron were fulfilled in Christ. ( Hebrews 8:1)
The Temple was destroyed; as promised: ( Matthew 24:2)
Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children FOR EVER, that we may do all the words of this law."
1 Chronicles 16:17
"And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an EVERLASTING covenant,"
Ephesians 2:15
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ORDINANCES; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Hebrews 7:12
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
Matthew 27:51
"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"
All has not been fulfilled.
All will not be fulfilled until the return of Christ.
Believe the words of Jesus.
Mathew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Concerning works;
Why would Jesus care to evaluate the WORKS of the churches that are on earth at the end times when He comes back if they don't matter? ( Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19. 3:1, 3:8, 3:15)
Also look at:
James 2:14-26 - "Faith without works is dead"
Revelation 14:13
Revelation 20:12
A born again believer cannot claim to have a sinless life (1 John chapter 1). By faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection from the dead , we are imputed the righteousness of Christ ( Romans 4 & 5).
And yes, God was and is a perfect Creator.