Randy Green's Blog, page 460
November 18, 2012
Like being sanctified...
I remember a popular song back in the day with the lyrics, "like being sanctified". No, that song hasn't a thing to do with this post. So if you want to discuss the song, go to your mp3s!
Imagine a person who commits a crime and is hauled before the judge to stand trial. The evidence against him is inconclusive so the judge pounds his gavel on the judge's bench and thunders, "Not guilty!" The man has just been justified. Trouble is, he IS guilty of the crime. In fact his life is filled with guilt for breaking the law.
This is where sanctification enters the picture. The guilty person has been freed from guilt for his crime. Double jeopardy prevents him from being retried for it. However, he does have a penchant for committing crimes. Will he return to his life of crime, or will he turn over a new leaf?
The word sanctification is a theology textbook word for turning over a new leaf. A saint is a sinner who has been justified. He/she has accepted the Lord's provision of forgiveness for sins, based upon the death on the cross of Jesus Christ for man's sins and his resurrection out of death. This acceptance was achieved by grace through faith. This means that the Bible stated this to be true, and he/she accepted in both the head and the heart that the Bible is true and acted accordingly.
The word sanctification refers to the continual present tense of a person's life, the day-to-day actions of a person in rejecting the old life of living for self and instead substitute the new life of living for Jesus. This is NOT a life of doing what seems good in our own estimation. It IS a life of faith, of feeding on the Bible daily in quiet time alone with the Lord to learn what He wants us to do, and then doing it.
Justification is a once-for-all act where we accept God's offer of forgiveness for sins by accepting the Lord Jesus' death on the cross as our substitute death, and receiving His new resurrection life in its place. Sanctification is our day-to-day action of refusing to live the old life of doing what seems right in our own eyes and living for self, but instead living according to what the Bible teaches us to do. This can only be done by quiet time alone with the Lord Jesus daily, in prayer and meditation on the Bible.
Justification is a one time, once-for-all act, with consequences which continue through the present time. In Grammar this is known as the perfect tense. Sanctification, contrariwise, is a present tense affair. It continues day in and day out throughout our lifetime.
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 already worked His salvation in us. That is justification. Our job as those who are born again and therefore kids in God's family is to live like it, to work out what God has already worked in us. This is sanctification.
Imagine a person who commits a crime and is hauled before the judge to stand trial. The evidence against him is inconclusive so the judge pounds his gavel on the judge's bench and thunders, "Not guilty!" The man has just been justified. Trouble is, he IS guilty of the crime. In fact his life is filled with guilt for breaking the law.
This is where sanctification enters the picture. The guilty person has been freed from guilt for his crime. Double jeopardy prevents him from being retried for it. However, he does have a penchant for committing crimes. Will he return to his life of crime, or will he turn over a new leaf?
The word sanctification is a theology textbook word for turning over a new leaf. A saint is a sinner who has been justified. He/she has accepted the Lord's provision of forgiveness for sins, based upon the death on the cross of Jesus Christ for man's sins and his resurrection out of death. This acceptance was achieved by grace through faith. This means that the Bible stated this to be true, and he/she accepted in both the head and the heart that the Bible is true and acted accordingly.
The word sanctification refers to the continual present tense of a person's life, the day-to-day actions of a person in rejecting the old life of living for self and instead substitute the new life of living for Jesus. This is NOT a life of doing what seems good in our own estimation. It IS a life of faith, of feeding on the Bible daily in quiet time alone with the Lord to learn what He wants us to do, and then doing it.
Justification is a once-for-all act where we accept God's offer of forgiveness for sins by accepting the Lord Jesus' death on the cross as our substitute death, and receiving His new resurrection life in its place. Sanctification is our day-to-day action of refusing to live the old life of doing what seems right in our own eyes and living for self, but instead living according to what the Bible teaches us to do. This can only be done by quiet time alone with the Lord Jesus daily, in prayer and meditation on the Bible.
Justification is a one time, once-for-all act, with consequences which continue through the present time. In Grammar this is known as the perfect tense. Sanctification, contrariwise, is a present tense affair. It continues day in and day out throughout our lifetime.
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 already worked His salvation in us. That is justification. Our job as those who are born again and therefore kids in God's family is to live like it, to work out what God has already worked in us. This is sanctification.
November 17, 2012
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.
November 16, 2012
What's it take to be a Christian leader?
There's a misconception amongst a goodly portion of Christian leaders today. Such folks have the notion that Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah—in fine, all those whom the Bible presents as strong spiritual leaders—that suchlike people would make poor leaders in the churches today.
If you will permit me to say so, I beg to differ! The Word of God instructs us to speak the truth in love. In today's mushy liberal culture, anything controversial is politically incorrect. It is a no-no which only rabble rousers and low-lifes would dare foment. Perish the thought.
Such sentiments are founded upon the worldview of our contemporary anti-christ society, dear friends. Today "love"—when it's not defined as sex—is defined as a feel good, kum ba yah around the camp fire moment. Following that prescription, leaders who don't make us feel good are not "loving" and so are not Biblical.
In terms of the Bible such a view attempts to speak "love" without keeping the "truth" attached to it. This cannot be done! The Lord NEVER sets aside the truth in order to make us feel good. He ALWAYS keeps the truth and love connected. When "love" is not conjoined in holy matrimony with the truth, then it is not Biblical love.
Yes, let us speak in a loving manner by looking out for the welfare of our brothers and sisters. But let us not set aside any of the whole counsel of God because we don't want to offend someone. If we present the truth in love and anyone is offended, then they are offended by the Word of God, not by us...in which case they need to take it up with the Lord and not with us!
If you will permit me to say so, I beg to differ! The Word of God instructs us to speak the truth in love. In today's mushy liberal culture, anything controversial is politically incorrect. It is a no-no which only rabble rousers and low-lifes would dare foment. Perish the thought.
Such sentiments are founded upon the worldview of our contemporary anti-christ society, dear friends. Today "love"—when it's not defined as sex—is defined as a feel good, kum ba yah around the camp fire moment. Following that prescription, leaders who don't make us feel good are not "loving" and so are not Biblical.
In terms of the Bible such a view attempts to speak "love" without keeping the "truth" attached to it. This cannot be done! The Lord NEVER sets aside the truth in order to make us feel good. He ALWAYS keeps the truth and love connected. When "love" is not conjoined in holy matrimony with the truth, then it is not Biblical love.
Yes, let us speak in a loving manner by looking out for the welfare of our brothers and sisters. But let us not set aside any of the whole counsel of God because we don't want to offend someone. If we present the truth in love and anyone is offended, then they are offended by the Word of God, not by us...in which case they need to take it up with the Lord and not with us!
November 15, 2012
Adam, meet Adam
When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, the Lord dried up the water for them to do so. When they crossed the Jordan River, the Lord likewise dried up that water near the town of Adam, so they could cross over on dry ground. The symbolism is intriguing.
We must die to living in and for the world, symbolized by the exit from Egypt which ended by crossing the Red Sea. At the Red Sea God's people died to their old sinful life (the first Adam). They were cut off from returning to Egypt. But that only begins the matter. We also must rise out of death to newness of life, symbolized by crossing the Jordan River and receiving our inheritance in the Promised Land.
In our earthly existence we are not merely to be born again. We are then to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are to mature spiritually into reborn adults, just as surely as newborns are to mature into adults in the natural realm.
By drying up the waters of both the Red Sea and the Jordan River, the Lord taught both aspects of being new creations in Christ Jesus. The Promised Land symbolized victorious spiritual living, while the wilderness wanderings typified defeated carnal living. If we don’t enter the Promised Land and live by faith, then we are wandering the desert and living by sight.
If the Church would grasp this truth, not just intellectually but spiritually, what vast expanses would appear on the horizon! Revival would be the result. We mustn't merely call people to the front of the church building to "receive Jesus", dear friends. We must needs rear them with strong spiritual meat to nourish them into spiritual maturity.
I fear that too often newborn spiritual babes are rushed into "serving Jesus", into getting busy "doing things for Jesus", before they are taught enough to grow up in Jesus. First we must be born again. Next we must spiritually mature enough to know our spiritual gifts. Only then are we equipped to know God's ministry for our lives and perform it under the power of the Holy Spirit.
We must die to living in and for the world, symbolized by the exit from Egypt which ended by crossing the Red Sea. At the Red Sea God's people died to their old sinful life (the first Adam). They were cut off from returning to Egypt. But that only begins the matter. We also must rise out of death to newness of life, symbolized by crossing the Jordan River and receiving our inheritance in the Promised Land.
In our earthly existence we are not merely to be born again. We are then to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are to mature spiritually into reborn adults, just as surely as newborns are to mature into adults in the natural realm.
By drying up the waters of both the Red Sea and the Jordan River, the Lord taught both aspects of being new creations in Christ Jesus. The Promised Land symbolized victorious spiritual living, while the wilderness wanderings typified defeated carnal living. If we don’t enter the Promised Land and live by faith, then we are wandering the desert and living by sight.
If the Church would grasp this truth, not just intellectually but spiritually, what vast expanses would appear on the horizon! Revival would be the result. We mustn't merely call people to the front of the church building to "receive Jesus", dear friends. We must needs rear them with strong spiritual meat to nourish them into spiritual maturity.
I fear that too often newborn spiritual babes are rushed into "serving Jesus", into getting busy "doing things for Jesus", before they are taught enough to grow up in Jesus. First we must be born again. Next we must spiritually mature enough to know our spiritual gifts. Only then are we equipped to know God's ministry for our lives and perform it under the power of the Holy Spirit.
November 14, 2012
Will the real sinner please stand up?
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all [1 Timothy 1:15].
Those words came from the Apostle Paul. The question is, "Did Paul write them before he was saved or after? Paul's salvation experience occurred on the Damascus road (Acts 9). The above quoted words from Paul are from one of the final letters he wrote, before being martyred for preaching the Gospel.
In other words Paul wrote those words to Timothy toward the end of his life, long after he was born again. This is signifcant for Christians today because of false theology making the rounds on the Christian circuit. Some folks asseverate that Christians are not "sinners" because Christ saved them. Others limit sinlessness to just some Christians who follow Christ more maturely. Supposedly such folks have reached "perfection" already.
Paul's words are from an Apostle of Jesus Christ, a right holy man if ever there was one (aside from Jesus). Still, even as the end of his life drew nigh, Paul recognized that he was still a "sinner". Indeed, he saw himself as the FOREMOST of sinners. In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul noted that he hadn't yet attained to Christ's goal for his life, but he continued to press onward to reach it.
Let us not grow a fat head and hard heart and be full of ourselves, dear Christians. Let us not be too righteous to accept correction. Let us instead recognize that we are indeed sinners still. Yes, we have been saved by grace through faith and are justified; but no, we are not yet glorified and in eternity with the Lord. Only then will be be fully perfected. Until then we must continue being sanctified, continue working out our own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 1:12-13).
Those words came from the Apostle Paul. The question is, "Did Paul write them before he was saved or after? Paul's salvation experience occurred on the Damascus road (Acts 9). The above quoted words from Paul are from one of the final letters he wrote, before being martyred for preaching the Gospel.
In other words Paul wrote those words to Timothy toward the end of his life, long after he was born again. This is signifcant for Christians today because of false theology making the rounds on the Christian circuit. Some folks asseverate that Christians are not "sinners" because Christ saved them. Others limit sinlessness to just some Christians who follow Christ more maturely. Supposedly such folks have reached "perfection" already.
Paul's words are from an Apostle of Jesus Christ, a right holy man if ever there was one (aside from Jesus). Still, even as the end of his life drew nigh, Paul recognized that he was still a "sinner". Indeed, he saw himself as the FOREMOST of sinners. In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul noted that he hadn't yet attained to Christ's goal for his life, but he continued to press onward to reach it.
Let us not grow a fat head and hard heart and be full of ourselves, dear Christians. Let us not be too righteous to accept correction. Let us instead recognize that we are indeed sinners still. Yes, we have been saved by grace through faith and are justified; but no, we are not yet glorified and in eternity with the Lord. Only then will be be fully perfected. Until then we must continue being sanctified, continue working out our own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 1:12-13).
November 13, 2012
Water for Three, Please!
There are a lot of occasions in Scripture involving "three days". The typology involved is theologically astute! The axis of all history is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died and was in a tomb for three days.
Realize that Jesus is the axis of all Scripture. Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, (Jesus) explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures [Luke 24:27]. Jesus takes center stage in ALL THE SCRIPTURES, from Genesis through Revelation.
This being the case, and considering that His death and resurrection (a three day event) forms the center of Jesus' ministry, is it too much of a stretch to consider that "three days" in Scripture should be given consideration as typifying in some fashion Jesus' death and resurrection?
Consider the Book of Joshua. In Joshua 1:11 Joshua announced that the Israelites would cross the Jordan in three days. In chapter 2 he sent two spies to survey Jericho before Israel attacked the city. The spies were gone for three days. In chapter 3 the Israelites crossed the Jordan after three days.
At the Red Sea the Israelites were baptized into Moses (1 Cor.10:2). Christian baptism typifies the Christian's death and resurrection in Christ (Rom.6:4). Christ accomplished this on our behalf in three days.
When the older generation of Israelites left Egypt under the Lord's auspices, they irrevocably left that life of worldliness to be the people of the Lord. In Christian terminology this is known as dying to self and rising to new life in Christ Jesus. Once they crossed the Red Sea and its waters returned, they were cut off from the life they had in Egypt. They in effect died to Egypt, the world power of the day and symbol of the world. Hence they were "baptized into Moses" at the Red Sea.
The same applied to the younger generation of Israelites some forty years later at the Jordan River. Once they crossed the Jordan to the west bank and the Jordan's waters returned, they were cut off from the life of wilderness wanderings in order to receive their spiritual inheritance—for a spiritual inheritance it was, even though it was also a physical inheritance. They in effect were "baptized" into Joshua at the Jordan River.
The name Joshua means "salvation of YHWH". In English the name is Jesus. Moses brought the Israelites out of the world (Egypt), and Moses represented the Law. But Moses failed to bring the Israelites into the Lord's inheritance, into the new life of resting in Him because the Law cannot achieve that. It took Joshua (aka Jesus) to do that.
So we see that Moses (the Law, the Old Covenant) and Joshua (Jesus, grace, the New Covenant) are symbolized by the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, their wilderness wanderings, and their new life in the Promised Land. But the Promised Land does NOT typify heaven. It typifies victorious Christian living which can only be the result of God's grace. The wilderness wanderings, contrariwise, typify defeated Christians who walk in the flesh. This results from living in one's own strength and power, which the Law typifies.
Realize that Jesus is the axis of all Scripture. Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, (Jesus) explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures [Luke 24:27]. Jesus takes center stage in ALL THE SCRIPTURES, from Genesis through Revelation.
This being the case, and considering that His death and resurrection (a three day event) forms the center of Jesus' ministry, is it too much of a stretch to consider that "three days" in Scripture should be given consideration as typifying in some fashion Jesus' death and resurrection?
Consider the Book of Joshua. In Joshua 1:11 Joshua announced that the Israelites would cross the Jordan in three days. In chapter 2 he sent two spies to survey Jericho before Israel attacked the city. The spies were gone for three days. In chapter 3 the Israelites crossed the Jordan after three days.
At the Red Sea the Israelites were baptized into Moses (1 Cor.10:2). Christian baptism typifies the Christian's death and resurrection in Christ (Rom.6:4). Christ accomplished this on our behalf in three days.
When the older generation of Israelites left Egypt under the Lord's auspices, they irrevocably left that life of worldliness to be the people of the Lord. In Christian terminology this is known as dying to self and rising to new life in Christ Jesus. Once they crossed the Red Sea and its waters returned, they were cut off from the life they had in Egypt. They in effect died to Egypt, the world power of the day and symbol of the world. Hence they were "baptized into Moses" at the Red Sea.
The same applied to the younger generation of Israelites some forty years later at the Jordan River. Once they crossed the Jordan to the west bank and the Jordan's waters returned, they were cut off from the life of wilderness wanderings in order to receive their spiritual inheritance—for a spiritual inheritance it was, even though it was also a physical inheritance. They in effect were "baptized" into Joshua at the Jordan River.
The name Joshua means "salvation of YHWH". In English the name is Jesus. Moses brought the Israelites out of the world (Egypt), and Moses represented the Law. But Moses failed to bring the Israelites into the Lord's inheritance, into the new life of resting in Him because the Law cannot achieve that. It took Joshua (aka Jesus) to do that.
So we see that Moses (the Law, the Old Covenant) and Joshua (Jesus, grace, the New Covenant) are symbolized by the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, their wilderness wanderings, and their new life in the Promised Land. But the Promised Land does NOT typify heaven. It typifies victorious Christian living which can only be the result of God's grace. The wilderness wanderings, contrariwise, typify defeated Christians who walk in the flesh. This results from living in one's own strength and power, which the Law typifies.
November 12, 2012
Where is the Cloud?
The Lord led the Israelites for forty years from Egypt to the east bank. To do so He appeared to them in visible form as the Shekinah cloud. This cloud was a massive pillar which rested atop the Ark of the Covenant and shot far up into the sky. In the sky it mushroomed into a sort of umbrella over the camp of Israel.
While the camp of Israel was on the move, the priests carried the Ark on their shoulders in front of the camp. The Shekinah, representing King YHWH, sat atop God's earthly throne, the Ark, going in front of the Israelites. The King, you see, led His people on their journeys and into battle.
Once the Israelites came to the Jordan to cross it and conquer Canaan, the Shekinah cloud no longer appeared. Did the King not lead His people any longer? How did the Israelites know where to go and when?
Ah, those are good questions! The answers are good as well. If you want to know them, get your copy of Volume 6: Joshua. The book will be available this spring, God willing.
While the camp of Israel was on the move, the priests carried the Ark on their shoulders in front of the camp. The Shekinah, representing King YHWH, sat atop God's earthly throne, the Ark, going in front of the Israelites. The King, you see, led His people on their journeys and into battle.
Once the Israelites came to the Jordan to cross it and conquer Canaan, the Shekinah cloud no longer appeared. Did the King not lead His people any longer? How did the Israelites know where to go and when?
Ah, those are good questions! The answers are good as well. If you want to know them, get your copy of Volume 6: Joshua. The book will be available this spring, God willing.
November 11, 2012
How, and how not, to build character
The Apostle Paul wrote, We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope [Romans 5:3-4].
I live a life of affluence in an affluent society. I have all I need or want and give my kids all they want. I have so many worldly toys to play with, I am like a little child in a toy store. I cannot make adult choices and commitments in life because I am impossibly distracted by so many opportunities. It's more fun to go with the flow and not have to commit. I eat free lunches rather than earn my keep.
Trouble is, there is no such critter as "free lunch". Someone paid for the lunch, even if I ate for free. So my free lunch meant I loafed on the back of someone else's labor. This is the way of today's society in the good ol' USA.
How can I expect my kids to develop character, unless they experience the sufferings which can lead to real character. Am I really doing my kids right when I make their life so easy? Fact is, I am harming them by stunting their growth spiritually, emotionally, and in all ways.
As a Christian I need to do much better than the world. I need to be salt and light to the world by means of the Gospel, not mimic the world in affluent living. We cannot serve two masters. Either we serve the Lord or we serve affluence. Country club church is not the Gospel.
I live a life of affluence in an affluent society. I have all I need or want and give my kids all they want. I have so many worldly toys to play with, I am like a little child in a toy store. I cannot make adult choices and commitments in life because I am impossibly distracted by so many opportunities. It's more fun to go with the flow and not have to commit. I eat free lunches rather than earn my keep.
Trouble is, there is no such critter as "free lunch". Someone paid for the lunch, even if I ate for free. So my free lunch meant I loafed on the back of someone else's labor. This is the way of today's society in the good ol' USA.
How can I expect my kids to develop character, unless they experience the sufferings which can lead to real character. Am I really doing my kids right when I make their life so easy? Fact is, I am harming them by stunting their growth spiritually, emotionally, and in all ways.
As a Christian I need to do much better than the world. I need to be salt and light to the world by means of the Gospel, not mimic the world in affluent living. We cannot serve two masters. Either we serve the Lord or we serve affluence. Country club church is not the Gospel.
November 10, 2012
What does Rahab the harlot have to do with the Passover?
In Joshua 2 two Israelite spies sneak into Jericho to survey it, in preparation for an Israelite attack. Rahab the harlot, who lives in Jericho, joins Israel's side and conceals the spies from King Jeri. She asks the spies to save her family and herself when the attack comes, meaning she wants to be an Israelite proselyte.
Well, the two spies swear an oath to her to do so, but itemize three stipulations which she must meet if the oath is to remain in force:
1. the cord of scarlet required to be tied to Rahab's window
2. only those inside Rahab’s house would be saved
3. the promise was for Rahab & family, no one else
There is an uncanny parallel between the spies' stipulations to Rahab and the Lord's stipulations to the Israelites for the Passover event in Egypt. Do you recognize them? Well, you need to get your own copy of Volume 6: Joshua and learn the answer!
Well, the two spies swear an oath to her to do so, but itemize three stipulations which she must meet if the oath is to remain in force:
1. the cord of scarlet required to be tied to Rahab's window
2. only those inside Rahab’s house would be saved
3. the promise was for Rahab & family, no one else
There is an uncanny parallel between the spies' stipulations to Rahab and the Lord's stipulations to the Israelites for the Passover event in Egypt. Do you recognize them? Well, you need to get your own copy of Volume 6: Joshua and learn the answer!
Words, Phrases, Sentences, and More
What's in a name anyway? Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. Suchlike banalities are common enough, are they not? Trouble is, they promote a mentality which equates with such bromides.
Words are indeed crucial in the Lord's economy, dear friends. By His Word the Lord created the heavens and the earth. Man is like the grass which grows on the rocks. Having no root it pops up in the morning and shrivels up in the evening.
Not so with the Word of God however! The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God shall stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). God is not a man that He should lie or change His mind...EVER!
Because of this character in God, He cannot relate to us unless we to are people of our word. We must ALWAYS honor our oaths, never speaking only to be nice while having no intention of following through with what we say.
Words are indeed crucial in the Lord's economy, dear friends. By His Word the Lord created the heavens and the earth. Man is like the grass which grows on the rocks. Having no root it pops up in the morning and shrivels up in the evening.
Not so with the Word of God however! The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God shall stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). God is not a man that He should lie or change His mind...EVER!
Because of this character in God, He cannot relate to us unless we to are people of our word. We must ALWAYS honor our oaths, never speaking only to be nice while having no intention of following through with what we say.
