Ray Ruppert's Blog, page 4

I AM - Yahweh

So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in yoursin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” (John 8:21)

I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless youbelieve that I am he you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know thatI am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as theFather taught me. (John 8:28)

In these verses, Jesus says "I am" in each one. However thereis a big difference between verse 21 as he only uses the Greek word ego toidentify himself personally. But in the other two verses he uses ego eimi.This is a repetition of “I” in Greek. The word “he” isn’t in the Greek. Inverse 24 he says we need to believe that he is I AM. This is the veryname of God in the Old Testament from Exodus 3:14 and 15. Jesus is essentially sayinghis name is Yahweh. We have this translated or written out in our Bibles as Lord. In verse 28 we are to knowJesus as I AM. We can't just believe without knowing and we can't only knowwithout believing. Jesus is God. Believing without knowledge is just emotional andcan’t save because it isn’t based on fact. Knowing without believing is sterilefacts and knowing facts doesn’t save. That is why we must seek the Lord withour whole heart, mind, and soul if we really want to be saved.  “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and withall your soul and with all your mind.’” (Matt 22:37). 

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Regenerated? Living Water. Holy Spirit

7 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up andcried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out ofhis heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in himwere to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus wasnot yet glorified (John 7:37-39).

I’ve heard several biblical teachers says that the OldTestament Saints were regenerated because the Holy Spirit enabled them to workon the tabernacle, rushed on them such as Saul and David. They say that priorto Jesus’ glorification (the resurrection), the disciples were regeneratebecause they couldn't believe unless the Holy Spirit enabled them.

But and this is a big but, it just doesn't square with theseverses. They were to receive a promise of surety for the future. Not just thedisciples but all who believed in him. Reiterating that it is the future, Johnsays the Spirit had not yet been given. If anyone knew when the Spirit wasgiven it should be John, one who received the Spirit.

So, what's the difference between Old Testament and NewTestament believers and receiving the Holy Spirit? Scripture is clear that OldTestament people were saved by faith. But it is also evident that the Spiritworked in and came upon Old Testament believers but didn't remain. It wasn't aguarantee that the Holy Spirit would always be with them. David asked that theHoly Spirit not be removed from him, by the Holy Spirit, he knew he could losethe Holy Spirit just as Saul had (Ps 51:11). Also, there are enough referencesin the Old Testament to a new covenant when our hearts would be changed in anew way.

The provision of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament isdifferent. While we can grieve the Holy Spirit, He will never be removed fromus (John 14:16). So, we are thankful that we now have the Holy Spirit in ourhearts as Jesus promised but He wasn't given until Jesus was glorified.

I'm thankful for the security of my salvation. Not so I cansin and not worry but that He is always with me to have this living water toovercome sin and live and become more and more sanctified. Thank you, Jesus.

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Conviction

19 And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they lookedupon the ark of the Lord. Hestruck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a greatblow. (1 Sam 6:19 ESV).

The background for this verse is that the Philistines hadcaptured the Ark of the Covenant and taken it to their various cities, but theLord had Chastened them with tumors, mice, and anxiety. Some of them even died.So, they sent the Ark back to Israel on a cart that is pulled by two dairycows.

When it comes to Beth-shemesh, the people take it off thecart and put it on a rock after they sacrifice to the Lord. Then the Lord kills70 men in Beth-shemesh because they had looked upon the ark of the Lord.Other versions say they looked into it. Considering that all saw the arkon the cart and when it was placed on the rock, into is a much more likely orbetter translation.

The thing that struck me is that I consider myself to be onewho would have probably looked into it. Whether curiosity or just plain sinfuldisrespect, it convicts me of being capable of sin against the Lord. This isn'tthe first place I have seen this kind of conviction in the Old Testament. Often,I see a person doing something stupid, wrong, or sinful and then I think tomyself, “I would have probably done the same thing in that situation.” Thisjust tells me that I'm sinful, sin has not been mortified in my body. So, Ijust keep trusting God and being very, very thankful that he has saved me inspite of my sinful tendencies.

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Believe Moses

For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe hiswritings, how will you believe my words? (John5:46-47)

Where does Moses start writing? Well, he starts in Genesis 1.And where did John start writing? Of course, John 1, which is where he startedtalking about creation showing Jesus is God and creator.

I've heard that many if not most kids who grow up in thechurch fall away because they get hammered by “science” telling them thatcreation took millions or billions of years and the Bible is wrong at thebeginning. So, what Jesus says holds true for them. If they don't believe thewritings of Moses beginning with creation, how can they believe Jesus?

The implication of believing all of Scripture rests onbelieving the first three chapters of the Bible. If I pick and choose what Iwant to believe about that, then the whole Bible is up for grabs. I don't need “science”to prove biblical creation, but it does. I don't need to fear that someonecalls me ignorant because I believe this. But if I didn’t, I would have noreason to believe Jesus or the resurrection. I wouldn't know or believe forsure that my sins are forgiven. No wonder people fall away when they don’t havethis assurance.

I believe that the Bible is God's Word and is true. I'vestaked my eternity on it because it points to Jesus.

 

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Signs of Faith

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned thewater into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick atCapernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will neverbelieve."

49 The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my childdies."

50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, hisservants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the timewhen his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterdayat the seventh hour."(John 4:46-52)

An official of Capernaum goes to Jesus in Cana to ask Jesusto come and heal his son. What does Jesus do? He says that unless you see signsand wonders you won't believe. This sounds pretty harsh to me. But the manignores what appears to be a rebuke and again asks Jesus to come with him toheal his son. The guy didn't appear to be looking for a sign, just to have hisson healed. He must have had faith to even ask. He didn't question Jesus butasked for healing. Then he believed Jesus’ word without seeing the results. Hedidn't go home right away either. He could have easily got home the same daybut didn't head home until the next day.

What was Jesus doing with this guy? Was it a test of hisfaith or was it something altogether different? Is it more for me and readersdown through the ages? I think the man delaying going home was his "sign of faith."

 I don't know how toapply this, but one thing is sure if we want a sign to prove who Jesus is wewon't get it. If we come to Jesus in faith and ask not to prove who God is butto just ask for our needs Jesus is there for us even if he doesn't answer rightaway or we don’t understand the answer.

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Workers for The Harvest

Do you not say, “There are yet four months, then comes theharvest”? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields arewhite for harvest. 3
6 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruitfor eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others havelabored, and you have entered into their labor. John 4:35-38

The context is the Samaritan woman Jesus meets at a well andJesus has a conversation with her. Then the disciples return, and the womanleaves.

The woman tells the town about Jesus, and they come out toJesus (this is the harvest). It is hard to determine who Jesus is talking about,who is the sower and the reaper. But possibly the sower is the woman and Jesusis the Reaper. But He tells the disciples that they are reapers.

Application? I am both a sower and a reaper. It depends onwho I am engaged with. But Paul clarified that one sows and the other reaps butthe Lord is the one who makes the growth (1 Cor 3:7-8). So ultimately God issower through prophets, teachers, evangelists, and plain old people like youand me. God is the Reaper through the Holy Spirit! What should I do? Just keepon doing what's at hand.

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Born Again and the Kingdom of God

 John 3:3, 5 

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom ofGod.”

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and theSpirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Parallelism is often found in the Bible. The Psalms andProverbs are full of it. The verse speaks of something in one way then itspeaks of it in another way in the parallel verse. Nicodemus, being the teacherof Israel (John 3:10) would have been very familiar with this and that isprobably why Jesus repeated the necessity of a new birth.

In verse 3, there are two ideas that are repeated in a differentway in verse 5. The first is being born again and born of water and the Spirit.Both are ways of saying the same thing. Therefore, the part of being born ofwater does not mean being baptized as a requirement for salvation as some dictate.While there is much debate over the “of water” part, the main idea of verse 3is being repeated. Our salvation is only dependent on God’s action as was statedin previously, “who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor ofthe will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). Being born again and born of waterand the Spirit are synonymous. Putting a bookend on this, Jesus explains thatwe don’t know who will be affected by the wind (Greek pneuma, alsoSpirit), but we do see the effects and that is how we can see the kingdom.

The second idea being repeated is describing the kingdom ofGod. Seeing the kingdom of God and entering the kingdom of God are synonymousalso. There is no difference. If you are able to see the kingdom of God, youhave entered it. If you have entered the kingdom of God you can see it. Beforewe could only see things from a worldly perspective and could not see how Heworks or that He is sovereign. When we enter His kingdom, we are His subjects andsee each other as part of His kingdom.

Application? I can only be thankful that the wind, theSpirit of God has moved to cause me to be born again. I cannot boast in mydecision to come to Christ, but that God has worked in me and give Him theglory.

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Resurrected Body

It is interesting that Jesus was able to appear after the resurrectionas a perfectly normal person on the road to Emmaus even though His disciplesdidn’t recognize him. “While they were talking and discussing together, Jesushimself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizinghim” (Luke 24:15-16). Then after entering their home He was able to disappearin an instant. “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And hevanished from their sight” ( Luke 24:31). He didn't walk out of the house in Emmaus,he just vanished!

Later, He then suddenly appeared in the midst of thedisciples in a room in Jerusalem. “As they were talking about these things,Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’” (Luke 24:36).He didn't walk through a doorway or through a wall but just appeared in theroom in Jerusalem (he did that twice by the way). I ponder what it will be likefor us after our resurrection.

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be hasnot yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him,because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Look at that, it says wewill be like him.

  What will our body be like?  “It is sown a natural body; it is raised aspiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (1 Cor15:44).

We will have a spiritual body, and I assume it will be likeJesus’ body. Since it is spiritual, it will be able to appear and disappear inthe physical realm even though it will also have attributes of a physical body.Will we want to beam around like that? Probably not, since we will be withJesus. But I do ponder if in the Millennium we will be doing that as we ruleand reign with Christ.

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Substitution

Luke 23:25, 42

He released the man who had been thrown into prison forinsurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over totheir will.   

“And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of ourdeeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Barabbas is released, who is an insurrectionist and murder.Jesus is delivered to be crucified. The thief on the cross says that he isrightly condemned but Jesus didn’t do anything wrong. In a sense I am just likeBarabbas and the thief. I am released and set free even though I am a murdererand a rebel against God. I should be justly punished for all my sins.

By God’s predetermined plan, Jesus was handed over to becrucified against even what a corrupt justice system would normally do (Acts2:23). This was done so that He could take my sins and my punishment uponHimself. Pondering this remarkable act of love is mind blowing. Many apologistshave used Jesus substitutionary death to conclude that no one would ever makeup a religion based on this.

When I die, I will be with Jesus in paradise. Thank You,Jesus.

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Temptations

Luke 22:46 “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you maynot enter into temptation.” This isn't the first time Jesus tells me to praythat I won't fall into temptation. In Matthew 6, in the Lord's prayer He tellsthe same thing. The difference is that there, the disciples were new tofollowing Jesus. Now they have been with Him three years. Right there with Him.They have now grown and seen miracles. They have seen His power working in themto heal and cast out demons. They are “mature” followers of Jesus. So, if theyneed to be reminded to pray not to enter into temptation so do I. I need topray just as they are told to pray.

Staying awake, how many times has Jesus said this inparables or elsewhere (10)? Part of being awake is remembering to pray andpraying not to enter into temptation. By the way it is not resisting temptationbut praying to not even being tempted. Help me, Lord!

Luke 22:54-55 54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the highpriest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire inthe middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

Peter is about to fail the temptation. Here is what I seehappening to Peter and to myself when I haven’t been praying to keep fromfalling into temptation.

1.      Peterhad already been warned back in Luke 22:34 that he was going to deny Jesus. Hedidn’t take it seriously at the time. That could be me when I ignore the Word.

2.      Peterfollowed Jesus at a distance. He didn’t want to get too close to Jesus. He hadalready taken a step toward disowning Jesus. I need to abide in Jesus. If I don’t,I’ll also follow at a distance. Jesus won’t be real to me. I’ll have a weakeneddesire to follow Jesus and be obedient to Him.

3.      Petersat down with them and warmed himself. His desire to satisfy his physical need overcamehis caution of mingling with the enemy. I can seek to comfort myself byindulging in the benefits of the world. When I do, I’m right in the midst oftemptation.

4.      Peterdenied Jesus two times. He didn’t remember Jesus’ warning. When I’m playingfootsie with the world, seeing how close I can come without actually yieldingto the sin, I will sin and not realize what I’m doing because my conscience hasbeen dulled as described in the previous three points.

5.      Peterheard the rooster crow after his third denial. He went out and wept bitterly.This is good news. When I truly repent of my sin and it hurts me the way ithurt Peter, I’m on the road to forgiveness, restoration, and not repeating thesin.

Help me, Lord, to not go down this path but to be awake andalert, praying to not fall into temptation.

 

Copyright by Ray Ruppert