Soul Salvation

a.k.a Sanctification

See also The Conception of Adam: Spirit Soul & Body

Hebrews 10:38

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the “saving of the soul”.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

John 17:17 (KJV)  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonian saints, whom he had spoken praise toward, was that they would be sanctified in spirit, soul, and body.  These three make up all of mankind, who are made in the image of their Creator.

For God himself is made up of three separate persons, though they are one; 1 John 5:7

It stands to reason that man is distinct in all of God’s creation in that he is made up of three. For man is made in the image of God; Gen 1:27. The Holy Spirit is particular in the order  they are mentioned. It is first the spirit, then the soul, and finally the body.

To better understand the sanctification of each it is necessary to understand the purpose of each of the three, let’s consider the scripture.

The spirit of man is likened to a candle.

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

Job 20:3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Job 27:3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

It seems that God’s purpose for the spirit is to be a light or conscience. A built in restraint and guide to be used during man’s stay on this terrestrial ball. It is also the life of the body.

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

It was when God had breathed into the nostrils of Adam this breath of life [spirit] that he became a living soul.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

If the spirit of man is the candle then it has no purpose without a light.

John 1:9 (KJV)  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Psalms 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle [spirit]: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Job 18:5,6 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.

There is a certain amount of light, or revelation given to all mankind. Even the wicked is said to have some light. It is with this small amount that man is able to perceive of a divine Creator given the creation he partakes of each day; Psalms 19.

  By the measure that it has received revelation from the Almighty, it is enlightened. This is a revelation that all people possess so that they are without excuse. But there is a greater light of revelation that informs man that God has a name, and that He has a Son who is the mediator between Him and His creation.

  Proverbs 30:4 (KJV)  Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

  The greater light of revelation can only come from God’s word communicated to man by the Spirit of God through the preaching of the word. It is through the regeneration of his spirit by the Holy Spirit that he can now be in communication with God. It is the conduit by which man is able to commune and worship with his Creator.

  The soul, or flesh as it is sometimes referred to, cannot please God. Even after a person has been reborn in spirit, their soul is at enmity with the Divine nature of God; Rom 8:7,8

Our Lord has told us that we can only worship God in spirit; John 4:24.

It is first the spirit that is redeemed by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The soul still has to wait. 

Romans 7:22 (KJV)  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man [spirit]:

No man knows the make-up of the spirit or soul. Are they metaphysical? Or do they consist of matter unknown in our physical world? The scripture is silent on this.We are only told of their purpose while on earth.

As for the future state of the spirit of man; when he dies, it returns back to God who gave it. There doesn’t seem to be a distinction between the righteous and wicked when it comes to this revelation.

Job 34:14-15 (KJV)  If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Could it be that the disembodied rich man in hell had only his soul? Luke 16:22. If the spirit returned to God, as Solomon stated, it would seem logical.

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The next mentioned is the soul. But for the sake of ending this article with the soul,let me first take some time on the body of man.

  The body is what connects man to this physical realm. With it man can walk through this world. He can interact with his environment. Of the three It is the one made from elements of this world.

Genesis 3:19 (KJV)  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

When thinking of this verse, it is apparent that the scripture has revealed to us that the body is made up of elements found in the earth. What isn’t apparent is that man would have known this apart from this revelation. It was centuries later before science caught up with the scripture. Take for example the following from Wikipedia.

Almost 99% of the mass of the human body is made up of six elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. Only about 0.85% is composed of another five elements: potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium. All 11 are necessary for life. The remaining elements are trace elements, of which more than a dozen are thought on the basis of good evidence to be necessary for life.[1] 

Our body, like this world, is corrupt and is in a constant state of decay. In science this is called the “law of entropy”. Our connection (body) with this present world is decaying and will eventually come to an end. Even as a garment becomes frayed and torn. No wonder the scripture likens it to a tent or temporary shelter; 2 Peter 1:13,14

The scripture reveals that this law of entropy cannot be changed in this present world. Only when this present world is finally destroyed and replaced will this decaying process also be removed.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man [body] perish, yet the inward man [spirit] is renewed day by day.

The body must wait for it’s redemption; Rom 8:10,11. It is still a future event.

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

As for what our redeemed body, at the resurrection, will be like, we can be assured it will vary based upon our service in this age. Our works will determine its glorification. There are different types of glorification.

1Co 15:40-44 (40)  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. (41)  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. (42)  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: (43)  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: (44)  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

There is a sowing and reaping affect. In this life we are told to sow to the Spirit. That requires a dedication to the Lord through sufferings. It may be that you are called to a physical suffering, but most assuredly a spiritual suffering for all who live godly in Jesus; 2 Tim 3:12. A sinless life requires suffering; 1 Peter 4:1.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

We sow in dishonour now, for the promise of glory that will be revealed in our resurrected bodies. A body not of flesh and blood but one of flesh and Spirit. Jesus is our example. After his resurrection he appeared in flesh to the disciples insomuch that he challenged one faithless to touch and see that he was indeed real; John 20:27. But it was a body animated by the Spirit, having shed his blood for the atonement of sins.

We shall be like him in that matter; For “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God”; 1 Cor 15:47-50, 1 John 3:2. It is then that we as believers can say that death’s sting is no longer felt, though death is not defeated finally until after the 1000 year reign of Christ.

But Paul’s prayer for the believers in Thessalonica was for a whole sanctification of body as well as spirit and soul. It is God’s will that believers are complete and whole at the judgment seat. It is a reality that many will not. Let’s consider the warning that Paul gave of himself as being found naked at the presence of the Lord. 

2Co 5:1-10

(1)  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2)  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (3)  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. (4)  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (5)  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (6)  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7)  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (8)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (9)  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (10)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

To be found naked at the judgment seat is a danger to any believer for what will then take place.

Baptism by Fire:

From the opening of the New Testament twice the scripture speaks of a future baptism of fire for the believer. 1) John the Baptist spoke of a baptism of the Spirit and by fire; Matt 3:11. 2) The Spirit’s prophetic testimony with the “cloven tongues like as of fire” on the day of Pentecost. 

Baptism by fire is but the future for the believer because we are told on several occasions that we have an “earnest”, or “firstfruits” of the Spirit; 2 Cor 1:22,Eph 1:14,Rom 8:23.

EARNEST, n. ern’est. Seriousness; a reality; a real event; as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance.

1. First fruits; that which is in advance, and gives promise of something to come. Early fruit may be an earnest of fruit to follow. The first success in arms may be an earnest of future success. The christian’s peace of mind in this life is an earnest of future peace and happiness. Hence earnest or earnest-money is a first payment or deposit giving promise or assurance of full payment. Hence the practice of giving an earnest to ratify a bargain.

Only with a glorified body can a believer withstand the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit[fire].   It is the Spirit that is the fire that will test the degree of glorification of our body. “Our God is a consuming fire..” Heb 12:29. What we now sow in this life will come to fruition in our new body; whether it was to the Spirit or to the flesh.

Gal_6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 

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The soul:

Romans 7:18 (KJV)  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

If the soul cannot please God, then what is its purpose? Well, it is what makes up you. It is your personality, your characteristics. It is YOU. Adam was formed by God. But he was a non living “soul” until God breathed into him a spirit.

You can see several times where the scripture will use “soul” to represent a person.

Acts 2:41, 7:14, 27:37

Similitude:

Just as the Lord used parables to both teach and confound his people; Matt 13:10,11, the Lord also spoke in similitudes, or what would be our modern “simile”. This is his way of teaching his people doctrine using something that we would be familiar with. Something that we would be accustomed to from our day to day life.

Hosea 12:10 (KJV)  I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

To give a better understanding of the soul’s role and purpose, God uses the relationship of a husband and wife.

The spirit is called the inward man; Rom 7:22, 1 Peter 3:4. It is given the male gender, whereas the soul is described in the feminine pronoun.

Psalms 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Psalms 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

It is by design that the soul is described in this fashion by the Holy Spirit. He is teaching us a spiritual truth using natural aids such as genders. As a matter of fact, the bible is a gender “rich” book. When examining most nouns in the scripture you will find a gender pronoun attached to it.

The man is the head of the woman even as Christ is the head of man; Eph 5:23, 1 Cor 11:3. Whereas the wife is to be in subjection to her husband. Even so, the soul is to be under subjection to the spirit. For only can there be order and peace within a person when his/her “spiritual” house is in order. We are told of the contentious wife and the harm caused in the household;

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

The communion of the Holy Spirit by way of our spirit and the line of communication is how we are to be instructed in the ways of God. It is the spirit [inner man] that receives instruction of which the soul is benefited from. There is an orderly transfer of instruction.

It is the instruction from the word of God, as it enters the “heart”, enlightening the spirit of man, with the aid of God’s Spirit that the soul of man benefits.

But a contentious soul is an obstacle to growth.

1 Peter 1:22 (KJV)  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

God has purchased our whole being,  our spirit, soul, and body, by His blood he shed on an old rugged cross. He has promised to deliver us from this corruption in due time. It is the outward body that is experiencing death, yet In the fullness of time, it and us will be fully redeemed. We cannot expect to experience the completed redemption until that last trump, when the dead in Christ shall rise. Even those that are alive at his coming will not fully know the redemptive power until then.

  Even when Christ is reigning on earth  with His rod of iron. Even while the tempter is chained in the pit and he no longer causes great turmoil and anguish for the inhabitants of earth, death is still not put down.

Revelation 20:5 (KJV)  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

It is at the conclusion of Christ’s earthly reign that he is finally defeated. Even now, for the believer, death still has its “sting”.

In conclusion I must state that this topic has not been exhausted. This small study has not covered all things concerning the soul, or the spirit, for that matter. But if the reader has made it thus far, let me conclude with some warnings designed to make the hearer more resolute in their spiritual life and in their walk.

  The scripture speaks of the soul as something that needs to be possessed or it could be subverted and lost by the Christian.

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

There are consequences to not protecting our soul from the world and the flesh. Just as there were consequences for Adam’s refusal to protect Eve from the wiles of Satan. The result was death for man and his seed.

  Christian there is the world and the devil lurking around the corner. We must care for our soul by continuing in the faith; not drawing back into perdition. It can only be done in the spirit walking by faith.

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth: The dualism of “salvation”.

Mat 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

Just a basic perusal of the word “salvation” in the NT one can see that the scripture has to be describing at least two. The use of the English word as found in the dictionary:

SALVA’TION, n.  [L. salvo, to save.]

1.  The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity.

The word as it is used to describe preservation from physical danger.

Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

Luke 1:71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

It is obvious that being saved from physical harm is the context of the above verses. It would be a mistake to apply these verses to John 3:16. Apart from that, though, the scripture also refers to spiritual harm, both eternal, as in without end, and temporal. Let’s look at the term salvation in reference to eternal harm.

John 3:16   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Titus 3:5 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;

In a spectacular way ( I know not how else to describe it) the physical salvation from harm is also used in a way to point to the “spiritual” salvation. Take for instance the prophecy of Joel.

Joe 2:30-32 (30)  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.(31)  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.(32)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Acts 2:19-21 (KJV)  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The context of Joel 2:32 is the final deliverance of the Jewish remnant at the end of this present world. Peter, through the Holy Spirit, uses it to warn the people, he was presently witnessing to,  of spiritual destruction. Paul uses it again in Romans 10:13.

Upon closer examination and understanding of English Grammar we see another salvation that is “future” tense.

Romans 8:24 (KJV)  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

I will use the above verse to “springboard” into a deeper level of understanding. Paul is referring to a future hope that we can only know and see by faith. The question that he asks is proof that  this “salvation” is yet future: “  for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”. The answer is obviously in that it is not yet here. It is a future salvation based on a “hope” that is not yet apparent.

Below are more examples of a future salvation that a Christian cannot obtain until the day that faith is replaced with sight.

1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Timothy is to continue in Paul’s doctrine if he is to be saved in the future. The Corinthian believer is warned about those that have no works at the “Judgement Seat of Christ”. That he or she would be saved, but only by fire. A fire, that I submit, is a purifying fire. The same fire that our Lord said would be the end result of those “In Christ” that have no fruit (works of the Spirit); John 15:2,6. See also Hebrews chapter 6.

What kind of salvation is this? This can’t be the salvation that is spoken of by our Lord in the gospel of John chapter 3.

Understanding this “dualism” separates the young Christian, who is still living on the milk of the word, from the older Saint that feasts on the meat.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Even the child of God needs to be saved. James is writing to “born again brethren” and yet even they, as well as 21st century Christians, need to add works to faith for a future salvation. Standing without falling at the Judgment Seat of Christ is salvation from temporal loss. A Salvation that is drawing nearer as we approach the “Revelation” of Christ from heaven.

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

A salvation that is drawing near certainly cannot be upon us yet. Even the “elect” needed to obtain it. For it is the end of our faith. When this salvation is revealed it will not be from a state of faith, for those that obtain it, but of sight. This salvation is the culmination of this age of faith that we live it. For the just shall live by faith, now! But later both it, and hope, will be done away with.

 My prayer is that a child of God would carefully consider what has been proposed. Search the scripture and prayerfully meditate upon it.

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Hebrews 6:11  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 

Fellowship With Christ

Taken from G.H.Lang’s Ideas and Realities

It is but of the nature of things that a follower must tread the same path as the guide if he would reach the same goal, that a soldier must brave his captain’s conflicts if he would share his triumph, that a maiden must suffer with a rejected lover-prince if she would share his home and throne.

The ground of the glorifying of the Son of man is His fidelity to His God while in the path of trial and the conflicts of the kingdom on earth: Isa. 53:12, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great because he poured out his soul unto death”: Phil. 2 : 9, “wherefore also God highly exalted him” because “he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death”: Heb. 2 : 9, “we behold Jesus because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour”: Rev. 5 :9, Worthy art thou . . . for thou wast slain.”

To such words every believing heart says adoringly, Amen! But why does not every believer give an equally ready Amen! to such parallel words as these: Matt. 16:25, Whosoever would save his life (for him self) shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake shall find it”: Luke 14.11, “everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted: Rom. 8: 17, “joint-heirs with Messiah if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified with him”: 2 Tim. 2: 11, “if we died with him we shall also live with him; if we endure we shall also reign with him; if we deny him he also will deny us”? This last is as distinctly called a ” faithful saying” as is 1 Tim. 1: 15 ” Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” and it will prove to be so whether the christian faces it or shrinks from it. The love of God imposes no arbitrary conditions, but such only as arise from the nature of the case and are always for our good and possible of fulfilment. Therefore they cannot be waived. And if Jesus on the cross masters the affections, and if Christ on the throne enthralls our gaze, and if His coming kingdom fills the future, then the heart will find joy in sharing His afflictions and will be fortified to endure unto the end.

Thus, but not otherwise, shall be fulfilled, to His joy and to ours, the promise, “He that conquereth, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also conquered, and sat down with my Father in His throne” (Rev. 3:21); thus, but not otherwise, shall His wife make herself ready for the marriage with the Lamb (Rev. 19 : 7, 8); thus – and do thou, my soul, take it personally to thy heart – thus, but not otherwise, shalt thou reach this supreme felicity that:

“He and I in that bright glory
One great joy shall share,
Mine to be for ever with Him,
His that I am there.”

“Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep in the (power of the) blood of the eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus Christ, make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. But I beseech you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for it is but in few words that I have written unto you” (Heb. 13: 20-22).

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.

  1. He is a young man Matt.19:20
  2. He is a ruler Luke 18:18
  3. 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

Pharisees Pt 1

Pharisees Pt 2

Pharisees Pt 3

Pharisees Pt 4

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.