The Master's Goods – Page 2 – For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. Matt.25:14

Foreknowledge and Foreordination

The following was taken from “Ideals and Realities” by G.H.Lang; published in 1934. You will notice that the author uses the word “foreordination” in place of “predestination”. Please take note as you read the following concerning his view on foreknowledge vs. predestination. There is much disagreement on the topic; even to the point of doctrines , like Armenism and Calvinism, being invented by man to try and explain the seemingly “contradictions”. But there is another view that may well explain in much clearer terms of man’s will and God’s sovereignty.

As soon as ever redeemed Israel stood on the resurrection side of the Red Sea they celebrated in advance their entrance into Canaan, The series of past tenses in their song (Exod. 15: 13-15), and the certainty expressed as to the future (16-18), is arresting. “Thou has: led Thy people . . . Thou hast guided them to Thy holy habitation Thou shalt bring them in and plant them.”

Here are no ” ifs,” no conditions, no contemplation of failure, either of the nation or even of individuals. The entrance of all then singing is asserted beforehand as if they were already in the land. Yet in the fact, 600,000 there present and singing failed to enter in because of unbelief and disobedience (Heb. 3: 18-4: 6).

In form and in theme this passage is parallel to Romans 8: 28-30: “Whom He foreknew He also foreordained . . – whom He foreordained them He also called: and whom He called them He also justified: and whom He justified them He also glorified.” Here also is a series of past tenses, and the attainment of glory by all the justified is asserted without any hint of possible failure to attain. Yet the very many conditional passages before presented declare clearly the possibility of missing the heavenly inheritance, as so many of Israel missed the earthly, and, indeed, in this very chapter 8, verse 17, the sharing of the glory of Christ has been set forth as conditional: ” heirs indeed of God, but joint-heirs with Messiah, if so be that we suffer with Him that we may be also glorified with Him.”

The feature of the Word of God here seen is profoundly important. Where a matter is stated as it lies in the purpose and willingness of God the statement is inclusive of all the subjects of that purpose and has no contingencies expressed, for these latter are not part of the divine purpose, though foreseen by the divine knowledge. It was from no determination of God that the 600,000 did not reach Canaan, though He foresaw it. Foreknowledge does not of necessity involve foreordination. One may get to foreknow that a thief intends to break into his house, but he does not therefore foreordain it. Hence in Rom. 8: 28 it says: “Whom He foreknew He also foreordained,” not “He thereby foreordained.” Did the one necessarily include the other God would have been the foreordainer of sin, for He foreknew it.

But where the statement includes the human response to the divine call the unavoidable facts of human frailty or perverseness are necessarily found, and possible failure is contemplated and attainment becomes conditional.

Thus 1 Cor. 15 :23 is of the former class: ” they that are Christ’s at His parousia” will be raised, no exceptions being suggested; but verse 49 (in Nestle text) is of the latter class: “as we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly.” So Jude 24: “He is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of His glory,” sets forth the ability of God, which knows no restraint on His side; but 2 Pet. 1, 10, 11 supplies the balance, and the corrective to presumption, by its urgent appeal, “brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never stumble, and thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance, etc.”

It has surely been a lamentably successful wile of the enemy of truth to persuade christians to hurl these classes of passages at one another from opposing camps, instead of them being seen as complementary and in full harmony with the facts concerning both God and man.

Ephesus

Before proceeding with this admirable study in the prophetic I think it might be profitable to first give an introduction to the reader of the term Nicolaitan. According to the second century writing of Irenaeus Of Lyons (c.120-202) The Nicolaitans were followers of Nicolas, one of the seven deacons; Acts 6:5 who were indulging in sexual sins. This tradition seemed to continue on through the writings of later fathers. The name was taken and applied literally until the 16th century when men started to understand the prophetic nature of the seven churches of Asia Minor. It was at this time that the transliteration of the Greek word was used to describe the “deed” and later “doctrine” of this sect that our Lord hated. [Note by admin]

An excerpt taken from G.H.Pember’s The Seven Letters of Revelation 2-3: A Continuous Prediction of the Whole Career of the Church between the Two Advents of Christ

Chapter Four:

The believers in Ephesus had, as a Church, enjoyed the greatest privileges; and stirred by the ministry of Paul, Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla, Timothy, Tychicus, and others, they had so far advanced in holiness and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Paul, in his Epistle to them, is able to speak in terms of high commendation. But the letter which we are now to consider was dictated some thirty years later, and then the symptoms of a deadly decay were just beginning to appear. Another generation had arisen, still holding fast the tradition of earnest devotion to Christ, but having lost much of the motive power of that devotion. And so this Church, with its suggestive name of Ephesus, or “relaxation,”[10] could aptly represent the waning of love at the close of apostolic times.

To the Ephesians, then, the Lord presents Himself as the One Who holds in full control the seven angels of the Churches, and walks continually in the midst of the lamps. For believers who had lost their first love were likely to have forgotten these solemn facts. The result of His ceaseless inspection is that He knows, not merely every word and deed, but even every thought of the Church; and, most graciously, He first mentions what is deserving of praise.

Their works and labor and patience, in regard to all who were within the pale of the professing body, have not escaped His notice. He has observed their hatred of that which is evil, and their carefulness in testing and detecting the false apostles of whom they had been forewarned.[11]

He has seen, too, their attitude towards them that are without, their steady patience in endeavoring to lead them to Him, and their willingness to bear persecution for His sake; and He has marked that, spite of all hindrance and opposition, they have not grown weary in well-doing. He has, therefore, no complaint to make in regard to doctrine or work. There is both orthodoxy and energy, and, moreover, a praiseworthy determination to be separate from evil. And yet all this cannot avail. Upon the seemingly perfect Church there is a slowly-spreading plague-spot which causes Him suddenly to change His tone. The praise He has given is deserved, but He adds, “Nevertheless, I have[12] against thee that thou hast left thy first love.” The teaching, labor, and zeal, of Ephesus were blameless; but her love was waxing cold, and, therefore, she was fast becoming as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

But the Lord would not abandon her to ruin. He calls upon her to remember; to look back upon what she was, that she may mourn for what she is, and cry, “Oh that I were as in months past!” For after all, this Church, which to the eyes of men seemed perfect and wanting in nothing, is found to be “fallen.”

A threat follows. Unless Ephesus repents, and does the first works—not merely feels the first feelings, but does the works which should spring from them—the High Priest will remove her candlestick. She shall be His witness no longer. This chastisement does not involve everlasting destruction, but only the withdrawal of power to bear effectual testimony. Many an unfaithful and worldly-minded believer is smitten by it, and walks the earth deprived of all power of speaking for his Savior. He may utter words, but they carry no weight. The influence of the Spirit does not accompany them. For the sin of his covetousness, for his selfishness, and because his soul cleaves to the dust of earth, he has been deprived of the gifts which he abused. He is losing the precious seed-time of life; there is no reward laid up in the heavens for him. Such a one can scarcely hope to have boldness in the Day of Judgment, when he stands before the Throne of Christ to give an account of the things done in the body. He must expect to suffer loss, and to be saved only “so as through fire.”

So searchingly has the Lord used His eyes of flame; and in laying bare the condition of Ephesus, He reveals to us the earliest symptom of decline which appeared in the universal Church, the wane of love. But what depths of His tenderness are disclosed by this Epistle! He first speaks at length of those things which He could commend; and then, after a very few words of censure, again reverts to praise. Yet He does rebuke. He will not overlook our faults for the sake of our virtues.

The last thing for which Ephesus may be praised is that she hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which Christ also hates. Possibly those to whom reference is made were a sect of the day in Ephesus; yet nothing is known of their history, all notices in early writers being manifest conjectures framed to explain our Lord’s allusion. But, whatever they may have been in the literal Ephesus, it is clear that something more than an unknown party or sect is indicated in a great prediction of the whole Church. And so, in the prophetic interpretation of the Epistle, the name Nicolaitan is doubtless typical—like Jezebel, Sodom, and Egypt, in other parts of the Apocalypse—rather than historical. It signifies “subduers of the laity,” or “people,” and its introduction seems to intimate that the apostolic arrangements for the government of the Churches were beginning to be abused; that some were already striving to act as lords over the charge allotted to them, endeavoring to establish a hierarchy, a clerical caste which should be distinguished from and superior to the great body of believers. No authority for such a scheme could be found in the New Testament, and those who were guided by the word and Spirit of God must have foreseen how disastrous its results would be. For, if successful, it would turn away the eyes of the Church from her great High Priest to human leaders. It would quickly arouse party feelings, cause schisms, and tend to secularize that which should be purely spiritual. And it would thus soften, and finally obliterate, the line of demarcation between the Church and the world, and induce the former to use the tactics, and desire the aid, of the latter.

Paul anticipated Nicolaitanism in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders, when he said, “For I know this, that after my departing, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). And these men, since the Ephesian Church had not yet yielded to them, are probably to be identified with those who said they were apostles, but upon trial were detected and found to be liars.[13]

Peter also throws out a hint that the evil was spreading in other Churches, when he entreats the elders to whom he is writing not to exercise the oversight of their flocks as if they were lords over the charge allotted to them.[14] And John refers to a particular case, and speaks of one Diotrephes, who loved to have the pre-eminence, and was casting out of the Church those who would not submit to him.[15]

But all this mischief had been foreseen and reprobated by the Savior Himself in the memorable words, “Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 20:25-27).

The significant manner in which the Lord notes the rejection, for the time, of the Nicolaitans by Ephesus, coupled with the emphatic addition of the words, “which I also hate,” is, perhaps, a hint that, although the Church was still standing in that particular, she had need to take heed lest she should fall. For if any Church is losing its love to Christ, how can it avoid becoming a mere earthly organization under human leaders?

Some twelve years after the dictation of this letter, Ignatius addressed an epistle to the Ephesians which contains unmistakable evidence that a hierarchy was then being established among them. Ignatius supports it, and gives the most extravagant injunctions respecting obedience to the bishop, which culminate in the words, “It is manifest, therefore, that we ought to look upon the bishop even as we would look upon the Lord Himself.” The subject appears to have been attracting general attention at the time; for Ignatius often alludes to it, and in his Epistle to the Magnesians, allows himself to say, “As, therefore, the Lord does nothing without the Father—’For I can,’ He says, ‘of Mine Own Self do nothing’—so also do ye nothing without the bishop; whether ye be presbyters, or deacons, or laymen.”

Thus, then, the signs of decadence among professing Christians of the first age were the waning of deep and heartfelt love to the Lord Jesus, and a consequent discontent with Him as the only Head of His body the Church—a feeling similar, perhaps, to that which prompted the Israelites to demand a king who should go before them. And so men began to form human organizations, which, whatever their nominal sovereignty, soon proved by their deeds that they owed allegiance, not to Christ, but to His adversary, the Prince of this World.

In the last portion of the Epistle, the promise to the overcomer, the Lord addresses those individual members of the Church who are so guided by the Spirit that they are able to discern even the deep things of God. There is a similar promise at the close of each of the other letters, and they are all drawn from the Old Testament, and arranged in historical order. And so, in this first case, the reward offered is the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

The allusion is singularly appropriate. The parents of our race were created in innocency, and should have eaten of the Tree of Life; but were commanded by God not to touch the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Then another being, the Tempter, appeared upon the scene, and induced them to break God’s commandment on the ground of expediency.

Thus they turned from Jehovah and obeyed Satan. They ate of the forbidden fruit, and were, consequently, driven out of the garden, and far away from the Tree which would have made them live forever.

So, in these early days of the Church, Satan craftily enticed her aside from her Lord; and as her love towards Him began to wax cold, suggested that His spiritual presence was no sufficient connecting bond for the assemblies of His people upon earth, and that believers must, therefore, endeavor to weld themselves into societies by adopting such forms of government as are usual in the world.

To these seductions she yielded, and despising the wisdom which is from above, chose rather to be led by that which is earthly, soulish, and demon-like. So her early purity became as the morning dew. She was quickly, as a corporate society, thrust out of the Heavenly places into which she had been called to sit with Christ. Her organization began more and more nearly to resemble those of this world; and she was soon fain, by minding earthly things, to seek consolation for the loss of that spiritual power which now remained only with some of her individual members.

Grace May Impose Conditions

Taken from G.H.Lang’s

“Ideals and Realities” chapter IV

Published 1934

We have pointed out (a) That all gifts come to men from God on the principle of grace, since we deserve nothing but wrath. “To the sinner anything out of hell is mercy”; (b) That nevertheless there is always possibility that man may not accept what grace offers, and so not benefit by the grace of God.

This is true of the unregenerate: such may refuse or neglect salvation entirely. It remains true of the saved, in so far that they may fail to receive those further benefits to which regeneration opens the way.

No one questions this in relation to this present life, for it is certain that many believers do not enjoy very much of the present portion available to every believer. Assurance of salvation, conscious relation with God as child to father, priestly access and power in intercession, some heart-sense of sitting with Christ in heavenly places, may be instanced as privileges often missed, of which, indeed, many who own that Jesus is their redeemer have no knowledge at all, not even as possible. Through defective instruction they are like those disciples who had not received the Spirit because they did not know He had been given. (Acts 19:2).

It is also certain that some who did not know these privileges in power have forfeited this experience through carnality and worldliness.

As, then, present privileges may be missed, on what ground are we to hold that future privileges cannot be? Of course, intelligent students of the word do not so hold. It is generally admitted that rewards in the kingdom will be proportionate to works of faith, to labours of love, to sufferings for the kingdom in this life, which rewards therefore have the nature of prizes, crowns, and may be forfeited.

Now the important part here considered is that, not only status and reward in the kingdom, but sharing in it at all stands also on this precise footing. No new principle of life or recompense is introduced, but only an extension of the same principle. It thus becomes simply a question of what is the testimony of Scripture upon the point. This testimony we deem to be as plain and abundant as for the truth that there is to be a kingdom of God. We take numerous statements addressed to disciples to mean exactly what they say, as Matt. 5:20; 18:3; Rom 8:17; 1 Cor 6:7; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; Phil. 3:10,11; 2 Thess. 1:11; 2 Tim. 2:11-13; Rev. 2:27,28; 3:4,5,21; etc.

It is narrated that Queen Elizabeth was dealing with an appeal for pardon by a would-be assassin. She proposed to show grace upon conditions that she would name. The suppliant answered that grace with conditions were no grace. It is said that Elizabeth declared that to be a better lesson in theology than her bishops had ever taught her.

Probably many may deem this a striking thought, yet it is certainly false. Grace is none the less grace if, for good reason, it impose conditions.

John Bampton left property for the maintenance at Oxford of the celebrated lectureship that bears his name. This was grace, since he was under no liability so to bequeath his possessions. But for securing a certain standard of excellence he imposed the condition that the lecturer should be at least a Master of Arts, and for the securing permanency to the lectures he ordered that the lecturer should not be paid until there had been printed thirty copies of the lectures. These conditions did not impair his grace but they showed his wisdom.

A gift may be absolute or conditional. If it be the former the property can never be reclaimed by the donor or denied to the receiver. But if it be the latter the receiver forfeits his title if the condition be not fulfilled.

Bequests are known which operate only on such conditions as that the legatee (a) shall take the name of the testator, or (b) shall continue to dwell in the house devised, or c) shall never become a Roman Catholic. Such conditions are of two classes: (a) operates before the property devised passes to the legatee; (b) and c) continue after the property has passed. In the case of (a), the name having been taken the gift becomes absolute; in (b) and c) it remains always conditional.

Now as regards the gifts of God they are of necessity always conditional, but some are of the (a) class, others of the (b) and c) class.

Justification and eternal life are the former. The condition required, and which is necessarily indispensable, is repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. If this condition is not fulfilled these gifts offered by grace never pass to the sinner. If, however, this condition is met these benefits operate, and are irrevocable by God and non-forfeitable by the receiver. Thus it is written of the repenting and believing man that he is “justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” and that ” the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 3:24;6:23).

We take the terms “freely” and “free” to mean not only free from purchase price to be found by the sinner, but free from after conditions, once upon repentance and by faith these benefits have been acquired.

But we do not find this asserted as regards any subsequent privileges offered by the grace of God. These all are equally gifts of grace but are of the (b) and c) class, having conditions attached , having conditions attached which require perpetual fulfilment. If God has made reigning with His Son in His kingdom consequent upon suffering with Him now, this does not impair His grace to men in ever opening so magnificent a prospect, but it shows that it is indeed marked by ” all wisdom and prudence” (Eph. 1:8), for thus His grace cannot be abused to promote slothfulness and unfaithfulness.

Is the Last Trump Last?

No This isn’t about President Trump. Though I do find it interesting that we have a situation, in these last days of our current age, of a leader of the free world with such a resounding name.

I want to speak about another “trump” that is supposedly set in stone. What I am about to do is shake a foundation that is so prevalent in “Churchianity” today.

Is the “Last trump” actually last?

What I am referring to is the “Last trump” of 1Corinthians 15:52.

When is the last trump? The reason this is so important is because it is at this trump that an “end time” event is hinged upon.

1Co_15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The companion verse that testifies of this is found in 1 Thessalonians.

1Th_4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

In both verses there is a “trumpet” and a resurrection. Therefore this is the same event, but it is 1 Cor that expounds on which trump is to be sounded.

Lets take this expounded knowledge and look at the trumpets in Revelation.

The trumpets are first mentioned in Revelation chapter eight.

Rev_8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

Rev_8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

It is not until the opening of the 7th seal that the trumpets are prepared to sound. Even the first trumpet is not mentioned until the end of the seals. It is not presumption to say that this is not the beginning of the tribulation, as the six seals, with their judgments, have been opened prior to this point.

The trumpets are sounded in the following order with their particular judgment.

Rev_8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Rev_8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

Rev_8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

Rev_8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Rev_9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

Rev_9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

When reading about the first six trumpets it is evident that much is taking place. God’s judgments are happening even up to the sounding of the seven trumpet.

So, is our theory that the last trumpet of 1 Corinthians chapter fifteen is the same seventh trumpet of Revelation?

As with any theorem or idea, if true, than we should be able to predict, with confidence, what will happen when applied elsewhere. If the theorem is incorrect that will be evident as well. So our theory is this:

If the last trump, mentioned in 1 Cor 15, is truly the seventh trump of Revelation then we should see, at least two predictions, or events, happening.

1) a resurrection.

2) a judgment of, at least, believers.

Remember it is the passages in 1 Thessalonians that mentions the coming of Christ along with the departed Saints.

“..even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him”; 1 Thes 4:14.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout..”; 1 Thes 4:16

1st Corinthians chapter 15 speaks of the dead being raised at the last trump.

“..at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible..”;15:52.

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Rev 11:15-18

(15) And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

(Note: the kingdoms are taken away from the nations and Christ sets up his kingdom at this juncture in time:

[2Ti_4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;]

)

(16) And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

(17) Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

(18) And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation, when compared to 1 Corinthians 15, is complimentary to our theory that the last trump is indeed the 7th trumpet.

The rewarding of both dead and alive believers, mentioned in verse 18, can only happen if there has been a resurrection. For how can one receive “..the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ” without first having received one’s resurrected body? As in a court of law a “body of evidence” is used to present the case before any judgment can be issued. Without evidence you have no case.

I find in scripture no mention of any other trumpets, nor the number being anything other than seven and yet on any given Sunday you will hear “Pre-Millennial” teachers speak on a rapture that happens before the tribulation using both the 1st Cor and 1st Thessalonians verses to justify such a teaching.

Those that believe in a “post trib” rapture will look to such errors to justify that their belief is better suited.

Though our “post trib” brothers are correct in pointing out this error, I believe they also fall into a trap of not being more diligent in their pursuit for truth; missing passages that do teach a “taking away” of faithful believers from the “hour of temptation”.

Though space will not permit me to expound on a “pre-trib”, “mid-trib” or “post-trib” rapture in this article, I will leave you with a final thought concerning them.

Our Lord stated that The end of the world is the harvest; Mat 13:39. The harvest in the old testament is given to us, by the Lord, as a key to unlock prophecy. I leave it to the reader to further study on their own just how the “Jewish” harvest is a type in end time prophecy.

The Book[s] of Life

Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

This seems like a very important question and one that requires a serious answer. Our lord is approached and given an opportunity to resolve, once and for all, the all-important question that man should be asking. Forget John 3:16 for a moment. Here in Matthew 19 the Lord can put to rest, once and for all, the debate on whether or not eternal life is by faith or by works. Whether the Baptist are right concerning “Faith alone” or whether the Catholics are correct with keeping the commandments. And this opportunity is given by none other than a “rich young ruler”. Oh that many more would ask Jesus the same question! That people would take opportunities in this life to be concerned with their eternal state. Most are just concerned with their present life; on whether or not they should tear down their barns to build bigger.

The man who dared to ask Jesus the most important question.

We call him the Rich Young Ruler, and we do so by comparing both accounts of Matt and Luke. This is an example of comparing scripture with scripture.

He is a young man Matt.19:20
He is a ruler Luke 18:18
He is rich Matt.19:22,23

I will use the same concept of comparing various passages to show that the “Rich Young Ruler” unless he repented, will miss the 1000 yr Kingdom of God and will have his name blotted out of the book of life.

Jesus refers to the 1000 yr kingdom of God as “entering life”

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Whether or not the young man understood that eternal life was freely given to all that “called upon the Lord” makes no difference to us at this point. The Lord’s answer to him gives us the understanding of what God wants us to come away with. The fact that the young man was told; “but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” suggests that this was not the initial salvation that accompanies belief apart and separate of works. The scripture is so clear on the topic of salvation from God’s eternal wrath. So clear, in fact, that this has to be a different salvation. A salvation that requires keeping commandments. If you don’t slow down and listen carefully to our Lord’s words, you will stumble and get tripped up.

Jesus does indeed connect “life” with the 1000 year kingdom in verse 23,24. Verse 17 and 23 are parallel verses. You will find many instances, in the scripture, where the Spirit of God will teach a new concept by using two different phrases to state the same. You can exchange the two phrases and the concept is the same. Another example would be the word of God , truth and Jesus. These three titles are given throughout the Gospel of John and yet are the same; John 1:1,14,17;17:17.

Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. [Or enter life; verse 17]

Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Here, not only is “entering in life” the same as the “kingdom of heaven”, but “kingdom of God” is referenced with “kingdom of heaven”.

This warning is not just directed at a Jewish man two thousand years ago; but unto New Testament believers as well. Paul warns rich believers against trusting in their riches 1Tim.6:17. (Those who trust in their riches cannot enter the kingdom of God).

Now concerning the “Lambs book of Life” and “The book of Life”[or Kingdom], lets look at a few passages.

We know there is more than 1 book at the final judgment.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Here is where you have to rightly divide the word using the context. It is true that in verse 12 the “Book of life” is mentioned instead of the “Lambs book of life”, but the context is referring to final judgment and Lake of Fire. And besides that in the very next Chapter 21, the saved that are written in the “Lamb’s book of life” walk the streets of New Jerusalem. Once again context is important.

Here are some other books that the Scripture mentions:

Psa_69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

A book where all the living of the earth are written, possibly the moment they are conceived. David talked about his members being written down while God created him in the womb.

Ps 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

But yet, David talks about the wicked being removed from one book (possibly when they die) and not even written in the same book the righteous are written in.

Ps 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Rev_13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Rev_17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The wicked are not written with the righteous. I believe the moment you believe in Christ as your Saviour, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13) and your name is written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” as well as the book of kingdom life.

Revelation 17 is the parallel verse to chapter 13 that explains in more detail the absence from the “book of life” from the beginning. This corresponds to Psalms 69:28..”Let them not be written with the righteous”.

Luk_10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

All Christians are written down in at least three books, and possibly more. The three that the scripture makes a point to emphasis are; the “book of the living” which is a book that all people are in;Psa_69:28, Psa_139:16; The Lambs book of life, or just “book of life”; Rev 21:27; and then there is the “book of the First Born” Which I take to be the “book of life[kingdom]” (Remember that the Kingdom of God is called life in Matt 19:17). There is also a “book of remembrance” wherein those that fear God and think upon him are written; Malachi 3:16.

The “First Born” in scripture were those of the household who would receive a double portion of the inheritance from the father. The firstborn can be disinherited if he provoked the father who gave the blessing. Esau is an example of the firstborn losing his blessing because of sin.

Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Php_4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul could either be referring to the “Lambs book of life” or the kingdom “Book of life”. In the context, these people that Paul mentioned were fellow laborers in the ministry.

Rev_3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Eight times Jesus, glorified in heaven, mentions “overcoming” for the Christians and the possibility of not overcoming.

One who overcomes this world’s system by the Spirit of God can only do so by the word of God.

1Jn_2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever

The Rich young ruler didn’t overcome the world with its lust of the eyes. He walked away from the very One who cared for his soul. Therefore he was in danger of missing the kingdom and having his name removed from the list of the Firstborn written in heaven.

Pharisees Pt 5: 10 Signs You Might Be a Pharisee: Killer Superstructures

Matthew 12

1At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

It makes “perfect sense” to the Pharisee that his convictions are “Biblical.” He finds it almost incomprehensible that anyone could disagree. After all, the keeping the Sabbath holy was not a “small thing”! It was not a minor thing like tithing. It was one of the Ten Commandments! Surely anyone but a liberal Sadducee could “see” that. But Pharisee code was not scripture! It was “Super-Scriptural.”

I have no problem with a man preaching his convictions. (Even the superscriptural ones, because it’s not for me to say that the Lord may genuinely be speaking this practical application to the man’s heart.) But often it morphs into something sinister.

The reasoning goes like this: the Ten Commandments teach us to keep the Sabbath holy. Maybe we should take that as far as we can. Maybe we should run as far away from an “unholy” Sabbath as possible.

So far so good! I have absolutely no problem with that. I have no problem with convictions. Teach people how to read and interpret the Bible, share your convictions, and then teach them how to interact with the Holy Spirit to develop their own. But don’t you dare preach your convictions for scripture. Taking a little of another man’s corn (If you were hungry) was allowed by scripture (De 23:25). But the Pharisees were so mad because Jesus violated their code concerning just exactly how THEY were convicted to KEEP the Sabbath. I am all for “super structures”. We all build on our convictions. Our convictions change, as we grow in grace. Some get more strict, and some more mellow over the years.

What I abhor is when the “superstructures” built on clear Biblical commandments and precepts merge with and become equal with the commandments themselves and, thus, become binding to the group. Sometimes these superstructures are used to control others. Control cleans up messiness it is true, but the cost is conviction. The maturation process is crushed by over pruning.

9) You might be a Pharisee if you harshly micromanage (or try to) everyone in your sway.

In the book of Matthew, we see this micromanaging by the Pharisees. When to fast, when not to fast, when to eat, what to eat, where to worship, when to worship, who to hang out with, hygiene, were the things they concerned themselves with when rebuking Jesus. The beautiful thing about the gospel is freedom. I serve God because I want to. If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t have to. Before you can ever even consider the conditional promises, you must understand that you don’t have to keep them. Without the freedom, the best code, perfectly kept is filthy rags. In fact Christ will turn some away who did “good things,” Things that Jesus himself did, casting out devils, prophesying, “Many good works.”

Inside freedom, the obeying of biblical commands and precepts, (Even the obeying – in faith – of personal convictions and superstructures) are a sweet smelling savor.

But the problem, the reason they get turned away, is lack of intimacy with their Lord. He says “I never knew you.” You can do all the right things, for all the wrong reasons. To prophesy, to cast out Devils for any other reason than as an outgrowth of a personal intimate walk with God, is called “Iniquity” by Jesus. That is why Pharisee ends up with proselytes who are two fold the child of Hell as himself. The second generation Pharisee often will blindly follow just the group superstructure. He many times has no concept of the growing process that only comes from a life of intimately “Knowing God”. He has not felt the yearning wooing heart of Christ. He knows nothing of the voice of God. His whole religion has been the code, the superstructure. “This is what the group says was good. This is what they told me to do to be a good Christian.“ He needs his own personal superstructure. Not someone else’s. he needs the freedom to follow today’s convictions, personal convictions, birthed in relationship with Christ.

Depart from me ye workers of iniquity. I never KNEW you.

To get the reward, you must in your freedom, chose to obey God’s Word and do so for the right reasons. reasons sprouting from response to the Holy Ghost’s personal dealings, from Knowing God.

I have a vivid memory of a little girl (preacher’s daughter) who walked up to my Mama who was doing dishes in our home. This cute little girl pointed at my Mama and declared, “You are going to Hell because you wear shorts.” She was much too young to know about sexuality, too immature to understand modesty, or Hell and God’s judgment. All she knew was the code of her daddy’s church. I don’t fault her. But i tell this story to point out how disconnected the second generation Pharisee can be from the process of conviction and personal growth.

Romans 14:1-12 teaches us to let folks grow.

Romans 14

1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

4Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

10But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

“Despising and judging.” All over days and diet. But God made us all priests, all with a main line to the same Holy Ghost with no need for any other mediator. Preacher? Preach! Exhorter? Exhort! Compeller? Compell!

CONVICTER? CONVICT!

(That last one is not a spiritual gift. It’s the sole responsibility of the Holy Ghost.)

There is Biblical judgment. We don’t ignore that at all.

But there is a very real, very manipulative, over bearing, unmerciful, nagging, controlling judgment as well. The latter is very much like witchcraft in it’s methods and purposes. It can stifle intimacy with God. It can suffocate the man’s ability to hear the Holy Spirit. At worst, it can keep him from entering the Kingdom.

Pharisees Pt 4: 10 Signs You Might Be a Pharisee: Winning the Battle But . . .!

Pharisees Pt 4:

Pharisees Pt 1

Pharisees Pt 2

Pharisees Pt 3

12 Signs You Might Be a Pharisee: Winning the Battle But . . .!

There are some folks you can’t defeat in a debate. . . ever . . . whether you are right or wrong! I am reminded of the idiom, “He could sell ice cubes to Eskimos.” (I hope that’s not too terribly “PC”) But it does explain how some are much more persuasive than others. Some influential Pharisees got the “Debate Gene”.

I remember when I was in 7th grade in Texas History class. The teacher wanted us to explore the battle for Texas independence from several perspectives. One of the things we had to do was debate whether or not general Santa Anna should be tried for war crimes. Now we all HATED Santa Anna. After all he killed John Wayne!!! (Well . . . in the movie he did.) But I was chosen to be on the side that defended Santa Anna. Man! I was angry! How could the teacher expect ME the biggest Santa Anna hater of all to defend him?!? Well I finally gave in and we set off to study the issues. And something strange happened. WE LEARNED!!! My side won the debate. Now I’m still not a big fan of Santa Anna (John Wayne Killer!—Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!) . . . ahem.

But I do know how to win a debate. I am good at it. It is fun-fun-fun for me! I know lots of tricks.

Matthew gives us some insight as to how the Pharisee’s mind works

Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

8) You might be a Pharisee if you are more interested in winning the argument than winning the person.

These Pharisees in Matt 22 were skilled debaters. This is a necessary skill if you re to keep questions to a minimum. The truth becomes, in a Pharisee’s mind, the winning of a debate. Some folks aren’t good at it and will not even bother because they know that they can’t say anything skillfully enough to “win”.

This came to light in a devastatingly powerful manner, one evening when I was on a Christian Message board online. I was debating and as usual I was using my wit and sarcasm to “make my point”. I was startled by a voice from behind me. “Ooooh BURN!!!” It was my teenage son. He thought it was cool that I was crushing my opponent and making him feel stupid. Man did I have some ‘splainin-to-do-Lucy! I tried to explain to my son that I wasn’t trying to “burn” the other person; that I was trying (in a godly manner) to help him by pointing out his error. He accepted that explanation but it was too late for me. God had made His point. I was trying to “burn” the guy. It gave me a sense of control, of importance, of worth to be able to calmly shred a person’s arguments. But did I make a friend? Did God enter into a new depth of relationship through me with the other person? Did the man’s position change? Did his heart change? Was he so awed by my deft debating that he fell on his knees and repented? No. No. No. No. And . . .let’s see . . . uh no.

A family member (now deceased) who was a life long preacher once gave me some advice. He said, “Win them to yourself first, then you can win them to Jesus, because you are the incarnational representation of Jesus on Earth right now.” I cannot make a man repent. I can’t make him believe anything. But I can control my attitude when dealing with the man. If I have no relationship with a person, or a strained relationship, I cannot win the man. The Bible says “He that winneth SOULS is wise.” (Interesting word choice.) It’s the area of the soul where I can “win the man.” The spirit is God’s department. I have seen food, music, sharing a book, sharing a trial, sharing your pain, meeting a need, or even just a simple kind word in due season, do, in a second, what a million years of winning debates could never do!

The Pharisee wanted to entangle Jesus in his talk, wanted to win the debate. Peter proved that a sword can be used to cut off a man’s ear. If you use the mighty sword of God’s word in that manner, don’t be surprised when the injured person doesn’t listen to you.

Oh yeah, and one more thing about Santa Anna. I learned from defending him that the truth is not always so black and white. Sometimes it’s multi faceted. Sometimes it’s messy and uncomfortable. Like us.

Pharisees Pt 3: 10 Signs You Might Be a Pharisee: The BUN RULE!

Pharisees Pt 3:

Pharisees Pt 1

Pharisees Pt 2

12 Signs You Might Be a Pharisee: The BUN RULE!

I have a good friend who won’t mind me sharing this story. She used to attend a church with a great list of extra rules and regulations. And she was the queen of the Pharisees! She was CODE baby! She dressed correctly, acted correctly, talked (or didn’t talk) correctly, ate the right stuff, everything! She was a model citizen. But one day she noticed a group of ladies shopping at the same (group approved) grocery store where she was shopping. These ladies were dressed very similarly to her. They seemed to be in code too. So she approached ham and introduced herself. After offering up some condescending looks, laced with perhaps a little pity, these women physically turned their backs to her and shunned her. She was shocked. She was “perfect, righteous and holy” in her own circles. What was it that caused these women to feel that my friend was not worthy of their “acknowledgement”? She labored over that question for a night or two. Why? What about me was not good enough?

Then it dawned on her! It was the buns! They had a “BUN RULE!” My friend had (unwittingly) wandered into a pack or Pharisees who deemed her shameless and lewd for having her hair down and not in a bun. Other than that her appearance was almost exactly the same. She had no idea about the “bun rule” and they failed to explain that one “major” detail. (Gnat! -*cough*) I know for a fact they missed out because this woman is very gifted and has a very edifying testimony, but they just couldn’t stand her bunlessness! She had met Pharisees that could “out Pharisee” her!

She was troubled because it hurt her feelings to be shunned, and perhaps to be thought of as less than “holy”. So after agonizing about it and it dawned on her! “That is exactly how I make anyone feel who doesn’t keep my code,” is what she concluded!

7) You might be a Pharisee if: You are not submitted to, accountable to, or interested in interacting with in a meaningful way, any of Christ’s followers who don’t conform to the group code.

I used to define myself as “independent”. What a clumsy brand. I do believe that individual churches should be autonomous. But there is a certain elitist arrogance I struggled with for years. (Still struggle some, I suppose.) The most edifying fellowship I had the whole time I was pastoring an Independent Baptist Church was with a man outside the “circle”. He was CHURCH OF CHRIST!!! We had a whole list of condescending nicknames for those folks. But I noticed him smiling across the Barnes and Nobles. His hair was “too long” (so I hoped no one would see me talking to him) but I was drawn by his smile like a moth to the flame. He ministered the love and grace of God and radiated sheer child like joy. I was dumbfounded. He was not “code”.

I never saw him again. Maybe he was an angel. We talked, prayed, and cried for two hours right there standing in the bookstore. I never forgot him.

This “Cambellite” had the incarnational Christianity my heart was longing for. I realized then that God’s children are His business! All His children are gifted, and their gifts are not just a nice luxury that I might at my convenience take advantage of. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MY EDIFICATION AND ORGANIC GROWTH.

I am not “independent” anymore. I am hopelessly INTERDEPENDENT! I can’t love my Lord and not love His people. How do I dare judge another Man’s servant? How do I assume that God is not at work in his life at every stage of the journey? I’ve belittled men with long hair, only months after I cut my own hair, as if God is patient with me but no one else. I have sarcastically railed on folks who used a different version of the Bible without ever taking the time to patiently explain my position, It’s all about attitude.

What is your attitude toward folks without buns?

(Part 4 coming!)

Pharisees Pt 2: 10 Signs You Might Be a Pharisee: “South Carolina “Hole Checker” “

Pharisees Pt 2: 12 signs you might be a Pharisee: “South Carolina “Hole Checkers”

By Lacy Evans

Hello! My name is Lacy and I am a Pharisee. (Hello Lacy!)

I am a Pharisee by nature. It’s the devil’s ju-jitsu move against folks who preach holiness. (Plus, I just like a good fight!) I am in this deep. It is who I am, and healing has been a long drawn out process . . . still in process. So it’s not that I am standing on a hill judging Pharisees. I’m down in the valley with my people, my fellow Pharisees, hoping for mercy.

Many of us suffer from this “disease”. Many of us are in various stages of Pharisee recovery.

A couple of years ago I was seeing a great non-traditional doctor for my wife and visiting some dear friends in South Carolina. We did house church there and it was a real blessing. God moved. But one incident, a teaching moment I suppose, is etched in my memory.

As we Pharisees are prone to do, I dragged my daughter (two years old, at the time) out for a Pharisee dog and pony show. I had to show how holy my family was by parading my daughter’s burgeoning two-year old righteousness out for all to gawk. So she did “Jesus Loves Me” (With the ASL hand signs) Well . . . the ASL sign for Jesus is formed by alternately pointing to the palm of one hand with the middle finger of he other hand. “Je (point)-sus (point)”. I have to admit it is beautiful and even if it’s not my precious, wonderful, beautiful, adorable, sweet, (where’s my thesaurus) daughter. Even if it was a total stranger. It is still to me the most beautiful way of all to “say” Jesus. Well after her song, one of the ladies present felt compelled to correct, Sadie, and American Sign Language. She had to tell me that Sadie was pointing at the palms when she signed “Jesus,” but that the “actual part of the hand where Our Lord was pierced was the wrist.”

Now that may or may not be true, but before she could stop and just rest and revel in the beauty of a child signing and singing “Jesus Loves Me,” she had to check the location of the hole. So many times we have to check the location of our brother or sister’s “holes” before we can fellowship with them, and often in doing so, we lose the beauty of the moment that God was sharing with us.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

1) You might be a Pharisee if: You major on the minors.

Sometimes, I admit, different folks have different reasons for deciding what is a “major” and what is a “minor”. Everyone deserves a chance to be heard. But the anti-gnats must be careful not to raise up an anti-gnat standard then battle under it to the bloody death! These “standards” are often false standards, extra-biblical standards, or perhaps just mis-prioritized standards. Gnats are yucky! That is true. But swallowing a camel is often fatal.

These Pharisees had church life down to an art form. There was no messiness allowed. Their kids were well behaved. (Probably sang “Jesus Loves Me” and pointed to the wrists!) Their tithing was a thing of beauty. They had calculated the tithe down to the smallest herb and seed grown in their garden. But, judgment, mercy, and faith were lacking in their doctrine and their walk. And that’s the thing we have to watch, the thing we have to ask ourselves, Do we truly live Judgment Mercy, and Faith? (Throw “Love” in there.) or do we just pay it lip service or redefine the terms to justify our gnat straining?

2) You might be a Pharisee if: You create and hold to super-scriptural rules.

Matthew 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Usually a Pharisee will take a good solid biblical precept and over-enforce it. They take their own specific conclusions and convictions ABOUT the clearly biblical truth and make those convictions/conclusions binding to the whole group. Washing your hands is a good thing. It was no doubt a “logical” conclusion, perhaps even a legitimate personal conviction that a rabbi had concerning some of the levitical ceremonial laws outlined clearly in the Old Testament. One problem was that his conviction about the scripture became as binding to his followers as the scripture itself. The scripture that a woman should be a “keeper at home” becomes, “No woman under any circumstance may work outside the home and all your children must be home schooled” or the command to “not wear that which pertains to a man” morphs into a huge list of what women can and cannot wear, or what color a man’s shirt can be, or whether a man should have zippers or buttons, sandals or tennis shoes, ad infinitum. It becomes a gnat that misses the whole point.

3) You might be a Pharisee if: You get angry or break off fellowship with anyone who doesn’t follow your code.

They were ready to kill Jesus because he didn’t wash his hands. But he refused to play their game, refused to acknowledge their authority. When a pharisee’s pet standard, or darling concern is ignored, the fight is on. I’ve been called worldly, accused of cozying up to backsliders and rebels, even warned that I might become a homosexual if I didn’t get in line with the “code”. None of these are exaggerations. I have friends who have been excluded from fellowship because their wife had a job and their children were in a private school, and not home schooled. I’ve seen women ostracized because they had a C-section, in a hospital (of all things).

4) You might be a Pharisee if you are manipulative.

Matt 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Extortion is the illegal use of one’s official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or PATRONAGE. Pharisees hated Jesus because Jesus hated and exposed their lust to control. (They hated all prophets for that same reason.) A Pharisee has to look good and he has to have everyone under his influence look good. But it’s about control. “What do you think?” “Well let me ask _______________.”

He’s got you!

Who can you marry? What can you eat? What can you wear? Where can you work, live, visit? Who can your friends be? What can you believe? There is wisdom and protection in a multitude counsel. Limiting that multitude to one or several charismatic individuals is dangerous.

5) You might be a Pharisee if: Your standard of comparison is your self.

The looking outward toward the “world”, toward straw-man extremes, toward the “modern age” as a way to say how much more holy “we” are than “them” is the fuel that moves the Pharisee. It is the thing that motivates him.

Luke 18:11 (King James Version)

11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I thank God that I (Fill in the blank with any number of Christian Mishnah items) and that I never, never, never eat a gnat!

Jesus didn’t seem too impressed with the Pharisee’s “holiness.” But the publican’s humility was golden!

6) You might be a Pharisee if you: Put yourself above other parts of the body.

“I AM NOT LIKE THIS PUBLICAN!!! “ was the Pharisee’s saving grace! A Pharisee will create labels for himself like “Fundamentalist” and labels for everyone else like “Liberal” and “Modern”. You ole Publican you!

Part 3 (Numbers 7-12 coming soon.)

Pharisees Part One. 10 Signs You Might Be a Pharisee: Confessions of a Reforming Pharisee

Lacy Evans

Matthew 23:23 (King James Version)

Pharisees

23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone

It is semantically clumsy to refer to Pharisees as legalists. Usually it is ineffective in conveying your real meaning. A “legalist” is narrowly defined as one who, in varying degrees holds that the Old Testament/Mosiac law must be followed, in order for a person to be saved. So holding the doctrine that a person must be circumcised, or keep the Sabbath, or follow the Levitical diet, etc. in order to become a Christian, in order to be a “good” Christian, or “show fruit that he is a Christian.” That would be “legalism.”

What the Pharisees did was like taking legalism and feeding it steroids in a lab. Pharisees took the Tanakh (What we call the Old Testament), and added volumes of extra stuff, commentary, rules, more rules governing those rules, etc. This extra stuff, the Mishnah, became binding in their religion. As binding as scripture. After all, God gave us teachers, priests, etc. Shouldn’t we follow them?

Modern Pharisees do similar things with the Christian Scriptures. They take good Biblical precepts, but build upon them elaborate (often beautiful) Christian “Mishnahs.” They add volumes of extra-biblical rules in which to govern our lives. Christianity ceases to be about liberty of soul and becomes a bulky burdensome yoke of rules, regulations, and restrictions.

So a Pharisee will take a 55 MPH speed limit and make that a prohibition against driving. After all if you don’t drive at all, you’ll be sure and never go over 55. Or he take a command to dress modestly and make it into a micro-managed over the top code of dress, which is strictly enforced by severe peer pressure, condescending looks, and impromptu “counseling” sessions. A command to not be “worldly” becomes a plethora of rules that govern art, music, diet, education, employment, entertainment, etc.

The binding of a yoke was for one purpose, to control the ox. A rabbi’s particular teaching was known as his “yoke”. To identify with a teacher or rabbi was to accept his yoke. Jesus said “My yoke is light”. He gives us the freedom to rebel, to mess up, to stumble. He does warn us of the consequences. He, very gently, very patiently, shows us his “yoke” and expects us to accept it, but he never coerces, never harangues, never manipulates. But strictly enforced adherence to the list becomes the mark of holiness. In some extremes it becomes the whole of holiness.

But Christ looks at he heart. Do you think the little boy who is “sitting on the outside but still standing on the inside”, or the woman who “can’t work because she has constant and severe chronic pain, but would go back to work in a second if it were physically possible” are holy because they have been “forced” to conform to a code of behavioral standards? No more holy than a chained up dog who rots away in the back yard dreaming of running away and finding himself a boy so he can finally be a “real” dog.

A “real” dog wants to please his master. He learns tricks and his only source of joy is the praise and adoring love that master, that boy. A dog needs a boy to be a real dog. A chain will keep him in the yard, but a boy will make him want to be home.

The rod is for children. If you never move past it your children will either never grow at all, or they will grow in spite of you and bolt (and rightfully so) from you at first chance, to get away from being treated like a child. I have adult children and absolutely the most dreadful thing I could think of is for them to conform to my “will for them” out of fear or coercion, for them to still try to perform for me to gain my acceptance by playing my game.

I want them to have character. I have to let them go, to let them grow, to let them fail, to let their world come crashing down. BUT they must know too that no matter what, I love them. I will help them if they ask. I will never leave them or forsake them, whatever they may do to screw things up for themselves. The prodigal son wan not berated, manipulated, not warned that if he left the (Fill in the blank) Fundamental Blah Blah local church, that his wife would leave him, he would backslide, and that his life would go to hell in a hand basket. (And that is not a rhetoric laced exaggeration, it’s almost word for word commentary from folks I have counseled.)

No he was treated like an adult. Allowed to try. Allowed to fail. And allowed to repent. Then they threw a party! The older brother was a Pharisee. He just got mad, because though he “kept the code” and never “broke ranks”, the returning son got a party. Think about that!

In Part 2, I will give the twelve signs that you might be a Pharisee.