Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "salvation"
Justified. What's that?
There's this TV show about U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens of Kentucky. The name of the show is Justified. No, the TV show has nothing to do with the topic of this post, so go back to your widescreen if that's what you're looking for.
Consider another TV show which is more appropriate for our topic, viz., Perry Mason. I know, it's a bit dated and some of you young whippersnappers might not have a clue. But it IS more apposite for our subject than the other TV show is.
Picture in your mind's eye this imaginary courtroom. The defendant is accused of killing his wife. His defense attorney is none other than the famous Perry Mason himself. Mason's P.I. sniffs around the crime scene a while and does his stuff elsewhere, coming up with a goodly number of clues. Perry Mason does his stuff and figures out who the real culprit is.
At the conclusion of the trial the judge pounds his gavel on the judge's bench and roars in thunderous pronouncement, "NOT GUILTY!" Guess what? The defendant has just been justified. The word justification is a legal term which means "not guilty". It is really that simple, no matter how many paragraphs and chapters some theology textbooks use up in explaining it.
In Scripture we are taught by Judge Jesus that the absolute ONLY way to be justified is by grace through faith. The word grace refers to what God did all on His lonesome, and He freely bestows it on any person who will accept it by faith. The word faith has reference to what God teaches in the Bible. When we believe the Word of God in our heart and confess it with our mouth, then we have Biblical faith.
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father, that there is salvation—in our case justification—in on one but Jesus Christ. Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection out of death is the basis for man's "not guilty" verdict regarding sin. When we believe the Bible regarding this matter, believe it in our heart and confess it with our mouth, then we are justified. All our sins become judged on the cross circa 30 A.D., and we are thenceforth "not guilty" regarding them.
Isn't God marvelous? Isn't He awesome? I'd much rather depend on Him for salvation than on myself. Me get to heaven? Not a chance! But me "in Christ" get to heaven? Without a doubt.
Consider another TV show which is more appropriate for our topic, viz., Perry Mason. I know, it's a bit dated and some of you young whippersnappers might not have a clue. But it IS more apposite for our subject than the other TV show is.
Picture in your mind's eye this imaginary courtroom. The defendant is accused of killing his wife. His defense attorney is none other than the famous Perry Mason himself. Mason's P.I. sniffs around the crime scene a while and does his stuff elsewhere, coming up with a goodly number of clues. Perry Mason does his stuff and figures out who the real culprit is.
At the conclusion of the trial the judge pounds his gavel on the judge's bench and roars in thunderous pronouncement, "NOT GUILTY!" Guess what? The defendant has just been justified. The word justification is a legal term which means "not guilty". It is really that simple, no matter how many paragraphs and chapters some theology textbooks use up in explaining it.
In Scripture we are taught by Judge Jesus that the absolute ONLY way to be justified is by grace through faith. The word grace refers to what God did all on His lonesome, and He freely bestows it on any person who will accept it by faith. The word faith has reference to what God teaches in the Bible. When we believe the Word of God in our heart and confess it with our mouth, then we have Biblical faith.
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father, that there is salvation—in our case justification—in on one but Jesus Christ. Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection out of death is the basis for man's "not guilty" verdict regarding sin. When we believe the Bible regarding this matter, believe it in our heart and confess it with our mouth, then we are justified. All our sins become judged on the cross circa 30 A.D., and we are thenceforth "not guilty" regarding them.
Isn't God marvelous? Isn't He awesome? I'd much rather depend on Him for salvation than on myself. Me get to heaven? Not a chance! But me "in Christ" get to heaven? Without a doubt.
Now that is glorious!
We've spent the last two posts vetting the theological concepts of justification and sanctification. The concept of justification occurs throughout the New Testament.
For example, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus [ Romans 3:26]. God can justify the sinner and still be just because the Son of God, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind for all of time. His death on the cross served that purpose. The wages of sin is death [Rom.6:23]. Jesus had no sin because He is God. Ergo, His death wasn't for His own sins but for everyone else's. Consequently God is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus as their personal substitute sin offering.
Sanctification also fills the pages of the New Testament. By way of example, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure [Philippians 2:12-13]. God lives in the saved person, the born again person, the person who has been justified by faith in Christ Jesus.
The Christian has God's new life already in him/her. Our job is to mature spiritually so that we learn how to allow God control over our life. Instead of living in the power of our old life according to what we think, we live in the power of the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God . This maturing process is known as sanctification, and it lasts throughout our time here on earth. The old life remains inside the Christian and he/she has to choose to submit to it or else heed the Holy Spirit.
The third stage of salvation occurs when Christians are raptured, that point of time when the Lord Jesus calls us to meet Him in the clouds. At that time God's kids will be clothed in their new resurrection bodies, and this is their state through all eternity. This resurrection body is like that of the resurrected Christ. He is totally without sin, and so will we be thenceforth. No longer will temptation find a home in us. We will nevermore commit sin.
An example of glorification in the New Testament is in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Behold, I tell you a )mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
In Scripture the number "3" often typifies the superlative degree. For instance, we drive a car, someone else drives a better car, and then there is the best car. "Car" is the base degree, "better car" is the comparative degree, and "best car" is the superlative degree. Consider that there is the thrice holy God, and He is holy, holy, holy. This is Scripture typology to mean that God is the MOST HOLY GOD, the holiest God. No one can compare with Him.
By the same token man's salvation is comprised of three stages: the past or perfect tense stage, the continuous present tense stage, and the future tense stage. Biblical typology reads this as meaning that our salvation is the most complete in every way. Nothing can be added to it. It is lacking in nary a thing. Praise the Lord!Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book I: Chapters 1-16, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book II: Chapters 17-34, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesNumbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesExodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book II: Chapters 17-34: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book I: Chapters 1-16: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesHeavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes: An Exposition of the Scriptures for Disciples and Young Christians: Volume 1: GenesisGenesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes
For example, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus [ Romans 3:26]. God can justify the sinner and still be just because the Son of God, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind for all of time. His death on the cross served that purpose. The wages of sin is death [Rom.6:23]. Jesus had no sin because He is God. Ergo, His death wasn't for His own sins but for everyone else's. Consequently God is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus as their personal substitute sin offering.
Sanctification also fills the pages of the New Testament. By way of example, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure [Philippians 2:12-13]. God lives in the saved person, the born again person, the person who has been justified by faith in Christ Jesus.
The Christian has God's new life already in him/her. Our job is to mature spiritually so that we learn how to allow God control over our life. Instead of living in the power of our old life according to what we think, we live in the power of the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God . This maturing process is known as sanctification, and it lasts throughout our time here on earth. The old life remains inside the Christian and he/she has to choose to submit to it or else heed the Holy Spirit.
The third stage of salvation occurs when Christians are raptured, that point of time when the Lord Jesus calls us to meet Him in the clouds. At that time God's kids will be clothed in their new resurrection bodies, and this is their state through all eternity. This resurrection body is like that of the resurrected Christ. He is totally without sin, and so will we be thenceforth. No longer will temptation find a home in us. We will nevermore commit sin.
An example of glorification in the New Testament is in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Behold, I tell you a )mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
In Scripture the number "3" often typifies the superlative degree. For instance, we drive a car, someone else drives a better car, and then there is the best car. "Car" is the base degree, "better car" is the comparative degree, and "best car" is the superlative degree. Consider that there is the thrice holy God, and He is holy, holy, holy. This is Scripture typology to mean that God is the MOST HOLY GOD, the holiest God. No one can compare with Him.
By the same token man's salvation is comprised of three stages: the past or perfect tense stage, the continuous present tense stage, and the future tense stage. Biblical typology reads this as meaning that our salvation is the most complete in every way. Nothing can be added to it. It is lacking in nary a thing. Praise the Lord!Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book I: Chapters 1-16, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book II: Chapters 17-34, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesNumbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesExodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book II: Chapters 17-34: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book I: Chapters 1-16: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesHeavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes: An Exposition of the Scriptures for Disciples and Young Christians: Volume 1: GenesisGenesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes
Turkey or jerky?
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [2 Corinthians 9:15].
Seems a fitting thought in the Thanksgiving season, does it not? God's "gift" is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He GAVE. Something "given" is a "gift".
This gift is "indescribable". It cannot be described. It cannot be put into words suitable to depict it. While we were still sinners—that is, while we hated God, shook our fist at him in rage, and bellicosely blurted anathemas at Him, saying, "We won't have this man Jesus to reign over us!"—while we were content to be like that, God gave His only Son to die as a sin offering in our stead. Yes, indescribable.
"Thanks be to God". It was God Who did this, so our thanksgiving belongs to Him. Yes, thanks should ring out for His indescribable gift of Jesus the Son of God.
So then why am I not feeling particularly thankful at this time? Go figure. Perhaps I had too much turkey...or was that too much beef jerky? Turkey. Now that is soft and edible, and usually quite tasty. It should evoke thanksgiving from us.
I can't speak for you, but beef jerky? Now that is another matter altogether! Can you imagine sitting around the family table for Thanksgiving, the full course meal spread out in decorative fashion, and there in the center is the turkey? Scratch that, it's not turkey at all. It's beef jerky!
Didn't think so. I can't imagine that either. Turkey is appreciated on Thanksgiving by most folks, but beef jerky only appeals to a select bunch. And no one wants it on Thanksgiving in place of the turkey! Maybe that's it. Maybe, just maybe, I've been indulging myself with beef jerky. Think I better switch to the turkey because Thanksgiving is not for crab apple faints: it's for cranberry saints.
Lord, You are worthy of all praise and thanksgiving. Forgive me, please, and fill my heart with Your joy. I want to be filled with thanksgiving for You on Thanksgiving Day and always. Amen.
Seems a fitting thought in the Thanksgiving season, does it not? God's "gift" is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He GAVE. Something "given" is a "gift".
This gift is "indescribable". It cannot be described. It cannot be put into words suitable to depict it. While we were still sinners—that is, while we hated God, shook our fist at him in rage, and bellicosely blurted anathemas at Him, saying, "We won't have this man Jesus to reign over us!"—while we were content to be like that, God gave His only Son to die as a sin offering in our stead. Yes, indescribable.
"Thanks be to God". It was God Who did this, so our thanksgiving belongs to Him. Yes, thanks should ring out for His indescribable gift of Jesus the Son of God.
So then why am I not feeling particularly thankful at this time? Go figure. Perhaps I had too much turkey...or was that too much beef jerky? Turkey. Now that is soft and edible, and usually quite tasty. It should evoke thanksgiving from us.
I can't speak for you, but beef jerky? Now that is another matter altogether! Can you imagine sitting around the family table for Thanksgiving, the full course meal spread out in decorative fashion, and there in the center is the turkey? Scratch that, it's not turkey at all. It's beef jerky!
Didn't think so. I can't imagine that either. Turkey is appreciated on Thanksgiving by most folks, but beef jerky only appeals to a select bunch. And no one wants it on Thanksgiving in place of the turkey! Maybe that's it. Maybe, just maybe, I've been indulging myself with beef jerky. Think I better switch to the turkey because Thanksgiving is not for crab apple faints: it's for cranberry saints.
Lord, You are worthy of all praise and thanksgiving. Forgive me, please, and fill my heart with Your joy. I want to be filled with thanksgiving for You on Thanksgiving Day and always. Amen.
It’s Not Natural!
That by them you may become partakers of the divine nature [2 Peter 1:4].
We have seen a resurgence in the last generation or so of characters from classical mythology. The Greeks and Romans were polytheists (believers in many gods), not people of God’s covenant. They didn’t have the Scriptures and didn’t want them either! They preferred to make up their own accounts about the gods and ethereal life. They created these gods after their own image and according to their own personalities and behaviors.
They even fabricated many supernatural creatures which were composed of different parts of humans and animals. The Harpies were one of many examples of this. A Harpy was a rapacious and filthy monster with the body of a bird and the head of a woman. In Genesis 1 we learn that God created each species to produce after its own kind, thus denying this combination of different species. But when sinful man rejects the Word of God and goes his own way, he can’t help himself. He has to approve of what the Word of God decries.
If you watch sci-fi movies you’ve observed many a strange creature. Some are taken from mythology and some are imagined by the writers of the script. Even wonderful shows which promote Christianity have made use of mythological creatures. Just consider The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. I highly recommend these movies (and the books!) with no qualms. The mythological creatures are not promoted as reality. They are used to depict a mythological world, while teaching morality and fidelity and sound spiritual principles.
But you know, such creatures are not natural. They are escapees from the imagination of polytheists in a long ago time. The Greeks and Romans believed in such fantasies. That’s what happens when man’s mind rejects the Word of God in favor of its own imaginations. Out comes everything not of God, including such unsavory critters as the Harpies.
There is another thing which is unnatural, and Peter brought it to light in his second epistle. Ever since Father Adam sinned by disobeying the Word of God and eating fruit from the kogae tree, he and all his progeny—which includes you and me and every last human being—have been conceived in sin and born with a sin nature. That is what natural means for we humans today. A sin nature wants what the Bible forbids and rejects what the Bible applauds!
What is not natural for sinful man is to become partakers of the divine nature. That is about as unnatural as it gets! But that is just what Peter brought to light for the Christians. To become partakers of the divine nature is supernatural, beyond the ability of sinful nature. It can only be accomplished by grace through faith. It requires the One Who is above nature to intervene in nature to bring it to pass—aka a miracle.
God did this in the Person of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. If you read and meditate on 2 Peter 1:1-11, you will be taught considerable spiritual truth with respect to accomplishing the supernatural in your life. You will learn how to become partakers of the divine nature. Peter begins with faith, which is how we are born again in the first place, viz., by grace through faith. Whoever is born again already has the divine nature in him or her.
Peter wants each Christian to go beyond being born again, by maturing spiritually into holy men and women of God. When we’re born again we become spiritual babies who need to grow up just like in the natural realm. Peter enumerates seven qualities to add to our faith. By following this spiritual exercise regimen, we Christians can grow beyond the baby stage and mature spiritually. Here is Peter’s list of what each saint is to add to his or her faith (vv.5-7):
1. moral excellence
2. knowledge
3. self-control
4. perseverance
5. godliness
6. brotherly kindness
7. love
Why don’t we spend some time reading 2 Peter 1:1-11 and give special attention to how we can incorporate these seven qualities into our character. It will be well worth the effort.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We have seen a resurgence in the last generation or so of characters from classical mythology. The Greeks and Romans were polytheists (believers in many gods), not people of God’s covenant. They didn’t have the Scriptures and didn’t want them either! They preferred to make up their own accounts about the gods and ethereal life. They created these gods after their own image and according to their own personalities and behaviors.
They even fabricated many supernatural creatures which were composed of different parts of humans and animals. The Harpies were one of many examples of this. A Harpy was a rapacious and filthy monster with the body of a bird and the head of a woman. In Genesis 1 we learn that God created each species to produce after its own kind, thus denying this combination of different species. But when sinful man rejects the Word of God and goes his own way, he can’t help himself. He has to approve of what the Word of God decries.
If you watch sci-fi movies you’ve observed many a strange creature. Some are taken from mythology and some are imagined by the writers of the script. Even wonderful shows which promote Christianity have made use of mythological creatures. Just consider The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. I highly recommend these movies (and the books!) with no qualms. The mythological creatures are not promoted as reality. They are used to depict a mythological world, while teaching morality and fidelity and sound spiritual principles.
But you know, such creatures are not natural. They are escapees from the imagination of polytheists in a long ago time. The Greeks and Romans believed in such fantasies. That’s what happens when man’s mind rejects the Word of God in favor of its own imaginations. Out comes everything not of God, including such unsavory critters as the Harpies.
There is another thing which is unnatural, and Peter brought it to light in his second epistle. Ever since Father Adam sinned by disobeying the Word of God and eating fruit from the kogae tree, he and all his progeny—which includes you and me and every last human being—have been conceived in sin and born with a sin nature. That is what natural means for we humans today. A sin nature wants what the Bible forbids and rejects what the Bible applauds!
What is not natural for sinful man is to become partakers of the divine nature. That is about as unnatural as it gets! But that is just what Peter brought to light for the Christians. To become partakers of the divine nature is supernatural, beyond the ability of sinful nature. It can only be accomplished by grace through faith. It requires the One Who is above nature to intervene in nature to bring it to pass—aka a miracle.
God did this in the Person of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. If you read and meditate on 2 Peter 1:1-11, you will be taught considerable spiritual truth with respect to accomplishing the supernatural in your life. You will learn how to become partakers of the divine nature. Peter begins with faith, which is how we are born again in the first place, viz., by grace through faith. Whoever is born again already has the divine nature in him or her.
Peter wants each Christian to go beyond being born again, by maturing spiritually into holy men and women of God. When we’re born again we become spiritual babies who need to grow up just like in the natural realm. Peter enumerates seven qualities to add to our faith. By following this spiritual exercise regimen, we Christians can grow beyond the baby stage and mature spiritually. Here is Peter’s list of what each saint is to add to his or her faith (vv.5-7):
1. moral excellence
2. knowledge
3. self-control
4. perseverance
5. godliness
6. brotherly kindness
7. love
Why don’t we spend some time reading 2 Peter 1:1-11 and give special attention to how we can incorporate these seven qualities into our character. It will be well worth the effort.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Interstate Billboards – Part 1
When they came to the place called “The Skull”, there they crucified Him and the (two) criminals, one on the right and the other on the left [Luke 23:33].
Israel in Old Testament times was a nation ruled by the Law of Moses. The Lord (aka YHWH) was her King, and He gave Israel her Law through His prophet Moses. King YHWH also gave Israel the Promised Land as her terrestrial abode.
In other words the Lord created a new nation. He began with one man, Abraham, and grew him and his progeny into a multitude. Then the Lord delivered them from Egyptian slavery, took them to Mt. Sinai where He gave them the Law to govern their lives, and brought them into the Promised Land and gave it to them as their inheritance.
There was a purpose for the Lord doing all this. He created the heavens and the earth and planted man in His beautiful garden to tend it for Him. He looked over His creation and saw that everything was very good. That sly critter named SIN didn’t exist in man. Everything God made was very good.
Alas, but it didn’t stay that way. Satan was at odds with God, thinking to elevate himself to the throne of God. He wound up being “elevated” downward—far, far, downward—when the Lord booted his sorry rump out of heaven. Satan’s behavior made him a sinner. When the Lord created the heavens and the earth, Satan brought his sin along and shared it with Eve. She in turn shared it with Adam. Thenceforth mankind universally has been comprised of sinners.
That was where the Law of Moses and the nation of Israel came in. The world was filled with sinners, peoples and nations who shook their fist at God and refused to submit to His rule. The two major civilizations back in the day were Egypt and Mesopotamia. If you take a gander at a map of those times, you will see Mesopotamia on the east and Egypt on the west, and…the Promised Land smack dab in the middle.
Yes, the Lord created a new nation to represent Him to the world, to show sinful men that they were sinners, separated from Him and needing to return to Him. He gave Israel the Law and His tabernacle worship structure to accomplish this feat, and He planted Israel smack dab in the middle of the civilized world of the day so everyone would see this.
Israel, you see, served as a gigantic neon billboard along the interstate between Egypt and Mesopotamia. All commerce passed between those two civilizations, so everyone learned the truth about God from Israel—even during times when Israel wasn’t much to look at righteousness-wise. Israel was God’s witness to the world, sometimes for good and other times for ill.
Well, the Law was in effect only until the fullness of the time had come (Galatians 4:4). That time came when the eternal Son of God became a man named Jesus. Jesus is the God-man, fully God and fully man simultaneously. He came to earth to fulfill the Law for mankind. He then went to the cross and died to pay the penalty for all mankind’s sins. He rose out of death on the third day and ascended into heaven.
From heaven Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to create a new nation, a spiritual nation, known as the Church. Whoever will call upon Jesus in order to accept His payment for the penalty of their sins receives forgiveness of sins and is born again into the family of God, the Church of Jesus Christ. Originally this offer was given to Israel, to the Jewish people. Since then it has also gone out to the Gentiles, i.e., all non-Jewish people.
Let’s pull off the interstate into this shady arbor along the road. It’s time to take a breather and spend time alone with the Lord Jesus a while. We will continue this study in our next post. See you then!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Israel in Old Testament times was a nation ruled by the Law of Moses. The Lord (aka YHWH) was her King, and He gave Israel her Law through His prophet Moses. King YHWH also gave Israel the Promised Land as her terrestrial abode.
In other words the Lord created a new nation. He began with one man, Abraham, and grew him and his progeny into a multitude. Then the Lord delivered them from Egyptian slavery, took them to Mt. Sinai where He gave them the Law to govern their lives, and brought them into the Promised Land and gave it to them as their inheritance.
There was a purpose for the Lord doing all this. He created the heavens and the earth and planted man in His beautiful garden to tend it for Him. He looked over His creation and saw that everything was very good. That sly critter named SIN didn’t exist in man. Everything God made was very good.
Alas, but it didn’t stay that way. Satan was at odds with God, thinking to elevate himself to the throne of God. He wound up being “elevated” downward—far, far, downward—when the Lord booted his sorry rump out of heaven. Satan’s behavior made him a sinner. When the Lord created the heavens and the earth, Satan brought his sin along and shared it with Eve. She in turn shared it with Adam. Thenceforth mankind universally has been comprised of sinners.
That was where the Law of Moses and the nation of Israel came in. The world was filled with sinners, peoples and nations who shook their fist at God and refused to submit to His rule. The two major civilizations back in the day were Egypt and Mesopotamia. If you take a gander at a map of those times, you will see Mesopotamia on the east and Egypt on the west, and…the Promised Land smack dab in the middle.
Yes, the Lord created a new nation to represent Him to the world, to show sinful men that they were sinners, separated from Him and needing to return to Him. He gave Israel the Law and His tabernacle worship structure to accomplish this feat, and He planted Israel smack dab in the middle of the civilized world of the day so everyone would see this.
Israel, you see, served as a gigantic neon billboard along the interstate between Egypt and Mesopotamia. All commerce passed between those two civilizations, so everyone learned the truth about God from Israel—even during times when Israel wasn’t much to look at righteousness-wise. Israel was God’s witness to the world, sometimes for good and other times for ill.
Well, the Law was in effect only until the fullness of the time had come (Galatians 4:4). That time came when the eternal Son of God became a man named Jesus. Jesus is the God-man, fully God and fully man simultaneously. He came to earth to fulfill the Law for mankind. He then went to the cross and died to pay the penalty for all mankind’s sins. He rose out of death on the third day and ascended into heaven.
From heaven Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to create a new nation, a spiritual nation, known as the Church. Whoever will call upon Jesus in order to accept His payment for the penalty of their sins receives forgiveness of sins and is born again into the family of God, the Church of Jesus Christ. Originally this offer was given to Israel, to the Jewish people. Since then it has also gone out to the Gentiles, i.e., all non-Jewish people.
Let’s pull off the interstate into this shady arbor along the road. It’s time to take a breather and spend time alone with the Lord Jesus a while. We will continue this study in our next post. See you then!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Interstate Billboards – Part 2
When they came to the place called “The Skull”, there they crucified Him and the (two) criminals, one on the right and the other on the left [Luke 23:33].
Here’s the thing. Just as in the Old Testament God wanted to call sinful man back to Himself, so too does He in the New Testament. Just as in the Old Testament God employed the Law to do this, so too in the New Testament does He employ grace to do this. The word grace refers to God’s free gift of salvation to sinful man, which was earned by His Son Jesus on the cross. Just as in the Old Testament God created the earthly nation of Israel to be His witness to sinful mankind, so too in the New Testament did He create a spiritual nation, the Church, to be His witness to sinful mankind.
And this is where the story or the three crosses on Calvary comes in. Just as the Promised Land was smack dab at the crossroads of the two world empires back in the day, so too was Jerusalem smack dab at the crossroads of the Roman Empire back in the day. Calvary was located on a main street outside the gates of Jerusalem, where everyone passing through the city would witness the crucifixion.
Israel in the Promised Land was a gigantic neon billboard along the interstate, advertising God’s righteousness and man’s sinfulness. Jesus on the cross was a gigantic neon billboard along the interstate too, advertising God’s righteous judgment on man’s sins and His offer of grace for whoever will receive it, His forgiveness through the substitutionary death of His one and only Son.
Let’s take a gander at this billboard. In the center was a cross with Jesus dying on it. Jesus being God, He has no sin. He is holy. His death wasn’t for His own sins. He willingly laid down His life in order to pay the penalty for mankind’s sins. That was the purpose of God taking on flesh in the first place, viz., so that He could die on sinful man’s behalf. Therein lies real love, dear friends.
Two criminals were crucified with Jesus, one on Jesus’ right side and the other on His left. People passing along the road stopped and mocked Jesus. The Jewish authorities stoked the fire by mocking too. The Roman soldiers thought it was funny and joined in. What with all this mocking going on, even one of the crucified criminals took part in making fun of Jesus. Yes, Jesus was the laughing stock of the day.
The second criminal also spoke up, but not at all like the first criminal. He rebuked the first criminal for mocking Jesus. He confessed that Jesus had done no wrong and didn’t deserve to be on the cross. He admitted his own sins and chided the first criminal for being a sinner himself. How could he mock the holy Jesus, all the while he was so sinful and deserved to be on the cross?
That is the billboard the Lord set up along the world’s interstate, dear people. During the times of the Gentiles it replaces the billboard of Israel in the Promised Land. Israel as a nation is temporarily set aside as the Lord’s witness to the world. During the Church Age His spiritual nation, the Church, fulfills this function.
The billboard of the Law fulfilled its purpose and is no longer in effect. The billboard of God’s grace through His Son Jesus the Messiah is now in effect. That is the picture story painted on Calvary. At the center of it all, the axis of God’s grace is Jesus Christ. His cross was situated at center stage on Calvary.
Two criminals were crucified alongside Jesus, one on His right and the other on His left. Every human being aside from Jesus is born a sinner. Each one of us is a criminal, a rebel against God’s righteous rule. Each and every human being has, does, or will fit into the mold of one or the other of those two criminals. Either we mock Jesus and die in our sins, or else we confess that Jesus is sinless, is holy, and ask Him to receive us into His Kingdom.
All that’s left for us to do now is to decide which criminal we choose to be. The billboard paints the picture, my dear friends. What response will you make to it?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Here’s the thing. Just as in the Old Testament God wanted to call sinful man back to Himself, so too does He in the New Testament. Just as in the Old Testament God employed the Law to do this, so too in the New Testament does He employ grace to do this. The word grace refers to God’s free gift of salvation to sinful man, which was earned by His Son Jesus on the cross. Just as in the Old Testament God created the earthly nation of Israel to be His witness to sinful mankind, so too in the New Testament did He create a spiritual nation, the Church, to be His witness to sinful mankind.
And this is where the story or the three crosses on Calvary comes in. Just as the Promised Land was smack dab at the crossroads of the two world empires back in the day, so too was Jerusalem smack dab at the crossroads of the Roman Empire back in the day. Calvary was located on a main street outside the gates of Jerusalem, where everyone passing through the city would witness the crucifixion.
Israel in the Promised Land was a gigantic neon billboard along the interstate, advertising God’s righteousness and man’s sinfulness. Jesus on the cross was a gigantic neon billboard along the interstate too, advertising God’s righteous judgment on man’s sins and His offer of grace for whoever will receive it, His forgiveness through the substitutionary death of His one and only Son.
Let’s take a gander at this billboard. In the center was a cross with Jesus dying on it. Jesus being God, He has no sin. He is holy. His death wasn’t for His own sins. He willingly laid down His life in order to pay the penalty for mankind’s sins. That was the purpose of God taking on flesh in the first place, viz., so that He could die on sinful man’s behalf. Therein lies real love, dear friends.
Two criminals were crucified with Jesus, one on Jesus’ right side and the other on His left. People passing along the road stopped and mocked Jesus. The Jewish authorities stoked the fire by mocking too. The Roman soldiers thought it was funny and joined in. What with all this mocking going on, even one of the crucified criminals took part in making fun of Jesus. Yes, Jesus was the laughing stock of the day.
The second criminal also spoke up, but not at all like the first criminal. He rebuked the first criminal for mocking Jesus. He confessed that Jesus had done no wrong and didn’t deserve to be on the cross. He admitted his own sins and chided the first criminal for being a sinner himself. How could he mock the holy Jesus, all the while he was so sinful and deserved to be on the cross?
That is the billboard the Lord set up along the world’s interstate, dear people. During the times of the Gentiles it replaces the billboard of Israel in the Promised Land. Israel as a nation is temporarily set aside as the Lord’s witness to the world. During the Church Age His spiritual nation, the Church, fulfills this function.
The billboard of the Law fulfilled its purpose and is no longer in effect. The billboard of God’s grace through His Son Jesus the Messiah is now in effect. That is the picture story painted on Calvary. At the center of it all, the axis of God’s grace is Jesus Christ. His cross was situated at center stage on Calvary.
Two criminals were crucified alongside Jesus, one on His right and the other on His left. Every human being aside from Jesus is born a sinner. Each one of us is a criminal, a rebel against God’s righteous rule. Each and every human being has, does, or will fit into the mold of one or the other of those two criminals. Either we mock Jesus and die in our sins, or else we confess that Jesus is sinless, is holy, and ask Him to receive us into His Kingdom.
All that’s left for us to do now is to decide which criminal we choose to be. The billboard paints the picture, my dear friends. What response will you make to it?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Hereditary Heaven – Part 1
Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the Lord which He had done for Israel [Joshua 24:31].
I recall a church I pastored over twenty years ago. On my first visit to become acquainted with the good folks of the church, and they in return to become acquainted with me, I enjoyed a meal with an elderly couple. This couple had been a part of that congregation for so long, they for all intents and purposes owned it! Or so it seemed in their eyes.
Actually the husband was a rather reserved fellow, sitting back and allowing his wife to bask in all the glory to be had. He was content to be left alone and to leave everyone else alone. ‘Twould’ve been a grand accomplishment for her to have done the same. Alas, but it wasn’t to be so, not by a long shot.
Anyway, as we sat at the dinner table enjoying the food, this dear woman flapped her jaws more in the pursuit of self-flattery and egocentrism than she did for the purpose of eating. I preferred to use mine to eat, and so I chewed and took it all in…regrettably. She gave me the lowdown on the entire congregation, one-by-one, and threw in the last several pastors to boot. Ah, but there was one redeeming quality in that church…her!
Well, before she was through, she gave me an example of how one of those pastors was impossible to stomach. According to her, he had the unadorned chutzpah to talk about the blood of Jesus on Christmas! Do you believe it? On Christmas! She wanted him run out of town on a rail, but not before spending a week in the pillory and then dressed in tar and feathers.
She was setting me up, you see. Before she agreed to vote for me as the next pastor, she wanted to know whether I would do her bidding or insist on feeding the good church folk with the pure, unadulterated Bible. So her next step was to look me straight in the eye—much as the Queen of Hearts did to those who soon lost their heads—and queried, “You wouldn’t do that, would you? You wouldn’t talk about the blood of Jesus too much, even on Christmas? And then she leaned back in her chair and took a nibble of food, while she waited to hear me timorously say, “No, I won’t do that.”
I took my time and permitted her to gloat over her perceived victory of painting the candidate into a corner and committing him to do her bidding. When I finished chewing my food and swallowing, I then allowed the suspense to build up further by taking a long drink of tea. At last I looked at her with a smile and calmly responded to her bait, “No, ma’am, I wouldn’t talk too much about the blood of Jesus…because you can never talk too much about the blood of Jesus!” And then I added, “The blood of Jesus is the axis around which all of Scripture revolves. We must die to self and be born again in Jesus.”
We will take a respite at this time and continue the story in our next study. You won’t want to miss it. The ending feeds us on a lot of spiritual nutriment which is good for the soul.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I recall a church I pastored over twenty years ago. On my first visit to become acquainted with the good folks of the church, and they in return to become acquainted with me, I enjoyed a meal with an elderly couple. This couple had been a part of that congregation for so long, they for all intents and purposes owned it! Or so it seemed in their eyes.
Actually the husband was a rather reserved fellow, sitting back and allowing his wife to bask in all the glory to be had. He was content to be left alone and to leave everyone else alone. ‘Twould’ve been a grand accomplishment for her to have done the same. Alas, but it wasn’t to be so, not by a long shot.
Anyway, as we sat at the dinner table enjoying the food, this dear woman flapped her jaws more in the pursuit of self-flattery and egocentrism than she did for the purpose of eating. I preferred to use mine to eat, and so I chewed and took it all in…regrettably. She gave me the lowdown on the entire congregation, one-by-one, and threw in the last several pastors to boot. Ah, but there was one redeeming quality in that church…her!
Well, before she was through, she gave me an example of how one of those pastors was impossible to stomach. According to her, he had the unadorned chutzpah to talk about the blood of Jesus on Christmas! Do you believe it? On Christmas! She wanted him run out of town on a rail, but not before spending a week in the pillory and then dressed in tar and feathers.
She was setting me up, you see. Before she agreed to vote for me as the next pastor, she wanted to know whether I would do her bidding or insist on feeding the good church folk with the pure, unadulterated Bible. So her next step was to look me straight in the eye—much as the Queen of Hearts did to those who soon lost their heads—and queried, “You wouldn’t do that, would you? You wouldn’t talk about the blood of Jesus too much, even on Christmas? And then she leaned back in her chair and took a nibble of food, while she waited to hear me timorously say, “No, I won’t do that.”
I took my time and permitted her to gloat over her perceived victory of painting the candidate into a corner and committing him to do her bidding. When I finished chewing my food and swallowing, I then allowed the suspense to build up further by taking a long drink of tea. At last I looked at her with a smile and calmly responded to her bait, “No, ma’am, I wouldn’t talk too much about the blood of Jesus…because you can never talk too much about the blood of Jesus!” And then I added, “The blood of Jesus is the axis around which all of Scripture revolves. We must die to self and be born again in Jesus.”
We will take a respite at this time and continue the story in our next study. You won’t want to miss it. The ending feeds us on a lot of spiritual nutriment which is good for the soul.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Hereditary Heaven – Part 2
Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the Lord which He had done for Israel [Joshua 24:31].
We paused in our last study with this dear woman who didn’t much care to hear any teaching about the blood of Jesus. I, on the other hand, cannot get away from the blood of Jesus. And I politely told her so. Oh, but that got her dander up! She blurted out a revealing retort in an angry growl, “I don’t have to be born again. I was a good person all my life!”
I disagreed, “Oh, but Jesus said in John 3 that we MUST be born again, or else we cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
She retaliated, “That’s just for the wicked people, like the skid row bums and other suchlike low-lifes.”
I explained that Jesus spoke those words to Nicodemus, one of the most godly persons of his day, a sincere seeker of God and His righteousness.
To bring this story to a timely conclusion, allow me to state that this dear woman huffed and puffed and attempted to blow my door down. She vowed I’d not be the pastor of HER church, and bid me a not so fond ado.
Here is the point to the story, dear friends. There is no such critter to be found in the Bible as Hereditary Heaven. Every person born of Father Adam is born a sinner because Father Adam was a sinner. Like begets like. Sinners cannot give birth to saints. Only a sinless person can give birth to another sinless person. That is precisely why every person MUST be born again, if he or she will be a part of the family of God.
In the time of Joshua bin Nun, the Israelites followed the Word of God—of course with some failings on occasion. So long as Joshua and the elders of his day were alive, the Israelites continued to follow the Word of God and server King YHWH. This is what was recorded in Joshua 24:31, which we quoted to start this study.
If we are at Joshua 24 in our Bibles and turn the page to the Book of Judges, beginning with chapter 2 we learn just what transpired the moment Joshua and the elders of his day were no longer alive on earth. Their progeny began to imitate the heathen folks who lived with the Israelites in Canaan. You see, they were not born as the people of God. Each Israelite had to personally, individually, make his/her own choice to obey the Word of God and serve King YHWH only.
There is no such thing as Hereditary Heaven, my dear friends. Are you depending on your natural pedigree to be right with God? Do you look in the mirror and see a good old boy or girl? Is it your position that the Lord should be glad to have you? Do you live in Hereditary Heaven? Ah, oh. I am sorry to tell you, but there is no such critter. You must be born again.
So why not be so now? Let’s go to the Lord and spend some quiet time alone with Him. He has all we need for life, both on earth and in eternity.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We paused in our last study with this dear woman who didn’t much care to hear any teaching about the blood of Jesus. I, on the other hand, cannot get away from the blood of Jesus. And I politely told her so. Oh, but that got her dander up! She blurted out a revealing retort in an angry growl, “I don’t have to be born again. I was a good person all my life!”
I disagreed, “Oh, but Jesus said in John 3 that we MUST be born again, or else we cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
She retaliated, “That’s just for the wicked people, like the skid row bums and other suchlike low-lifes.”
I explained that Jesus spoke those words to Nicodemus, one of the most godly persons of his day, a sincere seeker of God and His righteousness.
To bring this story to a timely conclusion, allow me to state that this dear woman huffed and puffed and attempted to blow my door down. She vowed I’d not be the pastor of HER church, and bid me a not so fond ado.
Here is the point to the story, dear friends. There is no such critter to be found in the Bible as Hereditary Heaven. Every person born of Father Adam is born a sinner because Father Adam was a sinner. Like begets like. Sinners cannot give birth to saints. Only a sinless person can give birth to another sinless person. That is precisely why every person MUST be born again, if he or she will be a part of the family of God.
In the time of Joshua bin Nun, the Israelites followed the Word of God—of course with some failings on occasion. So long as Joshua and the elders of his day were alive, the Israelites continued to follow the Word of God and server King YHWH. This is what was recorded in Joshua 24:31, which we quoted to start this study.
If we are at Joshua 24 in our Bibles and turn the page to the Book of Judges, beginning with chapter 2 we learn just what transpired the moment Joshua and the elders of his day were no longer alive on earth. Their progeny began to imitate the heathen folks who lived with the Israelites in Canaan. You see, they were not born as the people of God. Each Israelite had to personally, individually, make his/her own choice to obey the Word of God and serve King YHWH only.
There is no such thing as Hereditary Heaven, my dear friends. Are you depending on your natural pedigree to be right with God? Do you look in the mirror and see a good old boy or girl? Is it your position that the Lord should be glad to have you? Do you live in Hereditary Heaven? Ah, oh. I am sorry to tell you, but there is no such critter. You must be born again.
So why not be so now? Let’s go to the Lord and spend some quiet time alone with Him. He has all we need for life, both on earth and in eternity.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
When Perfect Is Not A Good Thing – Part 1
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God [John 3:16-18].
John 3:16 is one of the most recognized Bible verses ever. It can be seen displayed on signs and placards at fooball games and other sports. Even the simple chapter/verse identification is well known, being akin to a slogan. The phrase “John 3:16” by itself is equivalent to the words of the verse.
But those words are not our topic of discussion for today. They are included because it is awkward to separate v.16 from verses 17-18. We need the context of vv.16-17 to understand where v.18 is coming from, you see. Verse 18 is our topic for discussion.
Let’s read v.18 together, shall we?
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Notice in those words two classifications of people. On one side is the only begotten Son of God, on the other is mankind. Notice the two categories of humans. Some of us believe in Him, while others do not believe.
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, brings separation to the ranks of mankind. He causes division within families, within churches, within marriages, between friends and neighbors. Jesus Christ first separates the wheat from the chaff, the dross from the molten metal, before He brings peace with God to man. This perforce must occur on an individual basis. Each person is required to make his own choice of his own free will.
How does this transpire? Well, first Jesus proclaims the Gospel, which includes the truth that all men and women have sinned and are separated from God. It also includes the truth that Jesus is the only way for man to return to God. Jesus makes this possible in Himself because He died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind.
Any person who accepts this Word of God (i.e., has faith or belief), and receives Jesus’ death as the substitute offering for his own sins, has the penalty for his sins paid. Ergo, he no longer stands guilty before God’s tribunal. He is not judged.
Any person who does not receive Jesus’ death as the substitute offering for his own sins—i.e., has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God—does not have the penalty for his sins paid. He does stand guilty before God’s tribunal. But here is the detail we must understand: such a one has been judged already. He won’t stand before God’s tribunal to be judged because God already declared him guilty. He will stand before God’s tribunal for sentencing.
Contrast the two categories of mankind created by the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
• believes in Him
• does not believe
Add to this the contrast in the result of believing or not believing:
• is not judged
• has been judged already
I of necessity must talk a tad about Greek tenses here. But not to worry. I will keep it short and simple. The first result leads to a present tense verb. This means it is a continuous occurrence, a continuous present existence. In other words the believer is currently and continuously NOT JUDGED. He doesn’t have to wait until he stands before God’s tribunal to hear His verdict. The verdict is already given as an established fact, with the result being that the person who believes in the Lord Jesus as His substitute sin offering is not ever called before God’s tribunal to stand trial. He is NOT JUDGED! Rather, he is already justified (i.e., declared “not guilty!”).
The second result is not such a pleasant thing to discuss, but it is utterly real and needs our full attention. The second result stems from the past, not the present or the future. Still, it is not a past tense verb, which in the Greek is known as the aorist tense. No! It is a perfect tense verb.
But time to take a breather and sip on some spiritual Gatorade. I will explain the distinction in the next study. You won’t want to miss it because it is deeply revealing.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
John 3:16 is one of the most recognized Bible verses ever. It can be seen displayed on signs and placards at fooball games and other sports. Even the simple chapter/verse identification is well known, being akin to a slogan. The phrase “John 3:16” by itself is equivalent to the words of the verse.
But those words are not our topic of discussion for today. They are included because it is awkward to separate v.16 from verses 17-18. We need the context of vv.16-17 to understand where v.18 is coming from, you see. Verse 18 is our topic for discussion.
Let’s read v.18 together, shall we?
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Notice in those words two classifications of people. On one side is the only begotten Son of God, on the other is mankind. Notice the two categories of humans. Some of us believe in Him, while others do not believe.
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, brings separation to the ranks of mankind. He causes division within families, within churches, within marriages, between friends and neighbors. Jesus Christ first separates the wheat from the chaff, the dross from the molten metal, before He brings peace with God to man. This perforce must occur on an individual basis. Each person is required to make his own choice of his own free will.
How does this transpire? Well, first Jesus proclaims the Gospel, which includes the truth that all men and women have sinned and are separated from God. It also includes the truth that Jesus is the only way for man to return to God. Jesus makes this possible in Himself because He died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind.
Any person who accepts this Word of God (i.e., has faith or belief), and receives Jesus’ death as the substitute offering for his own sins, has the penalty for his sins paid. Ergo, he no longer stands guilty before God’s tribunal. He is not judged.
Any person who does not receive Jesus’ death as the substitute offering for his own sins—i.e., has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God—does not have the penalty for his sins paid. He does stand guilty before God’s tribunal. But here is the detail we must understand: such a one has been judged already. He won’t stand before God’s tribunal to be judged because God already declared him guilty. He will stand before God’s tribunal for sentencing.
Contrast the two categories of mankind created by the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
• believes in Him
• does not believe
Add to this the contrast in the result of believing or not believing:
• is not judged
• has been judged already
I of necessity must talk a tad about Greek tenses here. But not to worry. I will keep it short and simple. The first result leads to a present tense verb. This means it is a continuous occurrence, a continuous present existence. In other words the believer is currently and continuously NOT JUDGED. He doesn’t have to wait until he stands before God’s tribunal to hear His verdict. The verdict is already given as an established fact, with the result being that the person who believes in the Lord Jesus as His substitute sin offering is not ever called before God’s tribunal to stand trial. He is NOT JUDGED! Rather, he is already justified (i.e., declared “not guilty!”).
The second result is not such a pleasant thing to discuss, but it is utterly real and needs our full attention. The second result stems from the past, not the present or the future. Still, it is not a past tense verb, which in the Greek is known as the aorist tense. No! It is a perfect tense verb.
But time to take a breather and sip on some spiritual Gatorade. I will explain the distinction in the next study. You won’t want to miss it because it is deeply revealing.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
When Perfect Is Not A Good Thing – Part 2
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God [John 3:16-18].
Let me explain the difference between the aorist tense and the perfect tense of Greek verbs. I believe you will agree with me that sometimes being perfect is not a good thing. You needn’t remember the names of the verb tenses, dear friends, only the difference between them. The Holy Spirit purposely chose the verb tenses to teach us a lot of deep spiritual truth.
The aorist tense means that something happened in the past one time only, and that is the extent of the action. The perfect tense means that something occurred in the past one time only, but the emphasis is on its continuing effect. Whatever occurred continues to remain true up to the present day. “Once upon a time something happened” = aorist tense. “Once upon a time something happened, and now look at the mess we’re in!” = perfect tense.
Here is a for instance to help understand what I just stated. Aorist Tense: “He killed a man two years ago.” Perfect Tense: “He has contracted AIDS and now is incurable.” See! In the first example the person isn’t continuously killing a man. Nor does the sentence refer to anything going on today. Once upon a time two years ago this person killed a man. Period. That’s all the past tense verb states.
In the second example the person isn’t continuously contracting AIDS. Nor does the sentence simply note that at one point in the past he contracted AIDS. The verb being perfect tense, the emphasis is upon the man’s AIDS having the continuing effect of rendering him incurable to the present day. I hope this helps you to understand the distinction because vital spiritual understanding grows out of this field. Let’s harvest it now, shall we?
In John 3:18 anyone who believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not judged. The verb is present tense. We explained five paragraphs prior what this means. In contrast, though, anyone who does not believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been judge already. The verb is perfect tense. This means that sometime in the past the person was already judged guilty, and the effect of this judgment is that he continues to remain guilty. The emphasis is upon his present condition, which was caused sometime in the past.
A weighty Biblical mystery is revealed by this usage of verb tenses. God created each species to produce after its own kind. It matters not whether it be vegetable, animal, or human. Apple seeds do not grow pears, not thistles produce corn. Monkeys do not evolve into humans either! Apple seeds grow apple trees which produce more apples. Monkeys give birth to monkeys. Humans give birth to humans. It matters not how many surreal ages of evolution we add to the mix of our hypothesis, no one has ever seen anything in real life which shows one species changing into another.
The Bible has a penchant for employing visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. The fact that each species ALWAYS reproduces after its own kind is one example of this. How so? Just this, that sinners cannot produce saints. Sinners produce sinners. When Father Adam sinned, he became a sinner. Whereas every human being has a genealogy which traces back to Father Adam, every human being is a sinner. Why? Because Father Adam was a sinner, and sinners can only reproduce sinners.
This is the reason why any person who does not believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been judged already, and I might add that he has been found wanting and condemned already. Don’t miss the implications of this. The perfect tense verb usage in John 3:18 proclaims the doctrine of the total depravity of man. We are born sinners. We are born with a sin nature. We are born with a predilection to disobey the Word of God, to reject Him and do our own thing.
• the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)
• all have sinned (Romans 3:23)
• ergo, all must die.
We have already been judged and condemned, you see, because we are sinners. UNTIL we believe the Gospel and accept Jesus Christ as the payment for our sins, we remain in that condition (perfect tense). Anytime a person does accept Jesus’ death as the payment for his sins, he is not judged because he is no longer a sinner. The penalty for his sins has already been paid by the Lord Jesus on the cross, and IT IS FINISHED!
Hallelujah! Such a profound and wonderful mystery to be revealed by the simple usage of verb tenses. Each person is born dead in his sins and separated from God. Each person remains this way until he hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accepts Jesus as His Savior. Fine revelation, that.
So this is your chance. If you have yet to believe the Gospel, what are you waiting for? Behold, now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Let me explain the difference between the aorist tense and the perfect tense of Greek verbs. I believe you will agree with me that sometimes being perfect is not a good thing. You needn’t remember the names of the verb tenses, dear friends, only the difference between them. The Holy Spirit purposely chose the verb tenses to teach us a lot of deep spiritual truth.
The aorist tense means that something happened in the past one time only, and that is the extent of the action. The perfect tense means that something occurred in the past one time only, but the emphasis is on its continuing effect. Whatever occurred continues to remain true up to the present day. “Once upon a time something happened” = aorist tense. “Once upon a time something happened, and now look at the mess we’re in!” = perfect tense.
Here is a for instance to help understand what I just stated. Aorist Tense: “He killed a man two years ago.” Perfect Tense: “He has contracted AIDS and now is incurable.” See! In the first example the person isn’t continuously killing a man. Nor does the sentence refer to anything going on today. Once upon a time two years ago this person killed a man. Period. That’s all the past tense verb states.
In the second example the person isn’t continuously contracting AIDS. Nor does the sentence simply note that at one point in the past he contracted AIDS. The verb being perfect tense, the emphasis is upon the man’s AIDS having the continuing effect of rendering him incurable to the present day. I hope this helps you to understand the distinction because vital spiritual understanding grows out of this field. Let’s harvest it now, shall we?
In John 3:18 anyone who believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not judged. The verb is present tense. We explained five paragraphs prior what this means. In contrast, though, anyone who does not believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been judge already. The verb is perfect tense. This means that sometime in the past the person was already judged guilty, and the effect of this judgment is that he continues to remain guilty. The emphasis is upon his present condition, which was caused sometime in the past.
A weighty Biblical mystery is revealed by this usage of verb tenses. God created each species to produce after its own kind. It matters not whether it be vegetable, animal, or human. Apple seeds do not grow pears, not thistles produce corn. Monkeys do not evolve into humans either! Apple seeds grow apple trees which produce more apples. Monkeys give birth to monkeys. Humans give birth to humans. It matters not how many surreal ages of evolution we add to the mix of our hypothesis, no one has ever seen anything in real life which shows one species changing into another.
The Bible has a penchant for employing visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. The fact that each species ALWAYS reproduces after its own kind is one example of this. How so? Just this, that sinners cannot produce saints. Sinners produce sinners. When Father Adam sinned, he became a sinner. Whereas every human being has a genealogy which traces back to Father Adam, every human being is a sinner. Why? Because Father Adam was a sinner, and sinners can only reproduce sinners.
This is the reason why any person who does not believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been judged already, and I might add that he has been found wanting and condemned already. Don’t miss the implications of this. The perfect tense verb usage in John 3:18 proclaims the doctrine of the total depravity of man. We are born sinners. We are born with a sin nature. We are born with a predilection to disobey the Word of God, to reject Him and do our own thing.
• the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)
• all have sinned (Romans 3:23)
• ergo, all must die.
We have already been judged and condemned, you see, because we are sinners. UNTIL we believe the Gospel and accept Jesus Christ as the payment for our sins, we remain in that condition (perfect tense). Anytime a person does accept Jesus’ death as the payment for his sins, he is not judged because he is no longer a sinner. The penalty for his sins has already been paid by the Lord Jesus on the cross, and IT IS FINISHED!
Hallelujah! Such a profound and wonderful mystery to be revealed by the simple usage of verb tenses. Each person is born dead in his sins and separated from God. Each person remains this way until he hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accepts Jesus as His Savior. Fine revelation, that.
So this is your chance. If you have yet to believe the Gospel, what are you waiting for? Behold, now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
