God And His Children

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2

It is the sinful nature of man that desires not to do the will of God: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:7-8

When a person is truly saved: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9 To have been born again, makes one a dual creature, i.e., “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6

These two natures are at conflict with each other: “…for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17 The flesh prevents the Christian from being sinlessly perfect; and the Spirit of God within prevents a Christian from being sold out to sin.

When God saves a sinner, He not only gives them a new creature within by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, but He also sets the sinner free, to where they are no longer held as a servant to sin: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:17-18

Also, God chastens His own children: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Hebrews 12:6-8

For a person to claim to be saved, and yet continue to live in sin, is the best evidence that they are not really saved, just deceived. All whom God saves become what His salvation produces. Let no man deceive himself. Salvation involves repentance, i.e., turning from sin, unto God. Thus, there is no mind to continue in sin that grace may abound, but to be saved from sin.

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In Short Supply

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30

In Noah’s day, there was but one, Noah. Abraham rose to the occasion, but Lot failed. Though despised and rejected, Joseph fulfilled God’s plan and purpose. In spite of overwhelming circumstances, God raised Moses up. When the whole generation of Israelites failed, that God brought up out of Egypt, Joshua and Caleb’s faith remained steadfast.

The book of Judges records several instances of God plucking certain ones out of the state of spiritual apostasy, and raising them up to lead the nation to victory. God took a shepherd boy and made him into mighty King David.

The Lord called fishermen, etc., and made them His apostles, pillars in the church He built. “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-27

When God seeks out a man to make up the hedge and stand in the gap, it is not about looking for those who possess superior qualities in and of themselves. It is rather about God looking on the heart, and seeing one who will hearken to, and follow the bidding of the Holy Spirit, so as to be made the vessel of God, through the strength of God’s grace and power.

“Many are called, but few are chosen.”

God is looking for men who will seek their vision about life from heaven above, with eternities values in view. Men who understand that upholding the truth and honoring God, are how they fulfill their life’s duty now, and will rejoice in that which is to come.

The call of God is unto fathers to declare unto their children the testimonies of God through training and example, “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.” Psalm 78:7

Have you made your calling and election sure, so that you shall never fall, so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord? 2 Peter 1:10-11

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God’s Rule For Study

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

We must not throw a “monkey wrench” into our spiritual lives by violating God’s basic rule for a true understanding of His Word. Study, as God prescribes it, is from where true Christian knowledge, understanding, and wisdom develops.

We must first study the Word, rather than what someone else says about the Word. Psalm 1:2-3: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

In all good, honest, and truthful studies, the text is first studied to get the full and complete message of what is really being said. In judicial matters, the judge does not go by what some “experts” say about the law, but by the context of what the law reads. We must believe in and uphold God’s law regarding His inspired Word: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:20 It should be carefully noted that a person will not get the wrong understanding about Christianity by having only God’s input!!!

Someone may say, “Why should I go through the struggle of studying the Bible itself, when there are so many ‘good’ Bible study courses and books available?” But is that not like saying, “Why should we concern ourselves with the constitution, and/or the written laws since there are so many ‘good’ lawyers and legal commentaries available?”

Yes, you can go for the “ready-made” so-called Bible studies. They are geared to be interesting to human intellect. They seem to advance one beyond the labors of one’s own study of the Bible only. Today, ministers are avoiding what must be endured to study the Bible verse by verse, and instead are presenting so-called Bible studies that give people “an interesting overview” of the scriptures in a short amount of time. People are “oohing” and “aahing” at what they are learning so fast from these studies, which are presented on the intellectual level.

If we go to the ready made study, what do we really have? We have nothing more than man’s interpretation of the way he wants us to perceive the scriptures. This is the means that all man made religions use to derive their doctrines from the Bible.

Faith is not developed from the intellectual discourses set forth by men, but from direct study of the Bible, Romans 10:17. The whole counsel of God comes from the direct study of all of God’s Word, without the prejudice or omission of the study courses of men.

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Remembering

“…the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Ecclesiastes 9:5b

An outlook for the future is grossly inadequate that lacks a remembrance of the past. Psalm 78 shows us how Israel went completely astray from God when they no longer remembered the great things He had done for them.

God established memorials for Israel, but they erred exceedingly by not paying attention to what they represented. Our nation has memorials as to the convictions and faith of our forefathers who credit the favors of God for the establishment of this nation.

Memorial Day was established to remember, with honor, those members of our armed forces who gave their lives to fight for and defend the freedom of our nation.

As time passes, individually their names and persons are remembered no more. Though we may not know them, we must not forget what they did for us.

Someone wrote, “All gave some, some gave all.” They gave of their lives that we might have the lives we have. Let us live our lives responsibly, in honor of the price they paid that we might have this privilege.

People who just live their lives selfishly, irresponsibly, and sinfully indulgent, should stop and consider how contradictory their attitude towards life is, when compared to those who unselfishly sacrificed their lives, that others might have the opportunity to live free and wholesome lives. It is an insult to the sacrifices made by those who died defending our freedoms, to then misuse those freedoms in living selfish, sinful, wicked lives, that are an evil in and to that free society.

May God help us to remember what it took to get what we got, lest we forget what it takes to keep what we have.

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Let God Decide

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5

Although this verse hasn’t changed since I first read it as a kid, the attitudes of many people have.

God’s Word states very plainly that He is the author of the distinction of the sexes in their appearance.

This Divine perfect principle is not about the salvation of our souls, but about the clothes we wear. Being set forth in God’s law makes it holy, just, good, spiritual (Romans 7:12,14), as well as profitable for our doctrine – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

You don’t have to look for arguments against this Divine principle; all you have to do is mention this verse and the arguments will come to you. Even from those who once embraced this truth.

Some invoke confusion and ignorance as their argument with something like: “Well, how do we know what is man’s clothing verses what is a woman’s garment?” That would have been a poor argument for any to raise against this Divine principle when God first gave this principle to man, the same as it is a poor argument today. Look at the figures on the doors of public restrooms. They identify men’s verses women’s by their distinctive dress appearance. (It might be embarrassing to be confused and ignorant about this when the need arises.)

When I was young, the dress code of the public schools required skirts and dresses for girls (no pants, shorts) as well as trousers for boys. How did they figure that out? Look back at pictures of the public before the ungodly sexual revolution hit our society and you will see they had it figured out then.

The clincher is to listen to what God says about the violation of His principle: “…all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” He never said it is an abomination to the law, or to the nation of Israel, or to the Old Testament, or to a certain dispensation, but, “an abomination to God.” Granted, there are many things that are unique to Israel’s Old Testament order. A discerning reader can see these. But this principle of God is a valid principle as long as God is around. The violation of this principle is an affront to the authority and person of God, not some passing dispensation. How does your Bible read?

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