The Gospel, Great Commission, and Implication of Why the Gospel

The Gospel, Great Commission, and Implication of Why the Gospel

Deuteronomy 24:18-22

 

     The Old Testament is the pencil drawing on the canvas, so to speak, of the oil painting of the New Testament.  It is the foundation of the building, or the foreshadow of things that were to come.

 

    

A foreshadow of Jesus, the Gospel, the Great Commission [COMMAND], and the reason why for the Great Commission: "18 But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall b...e for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt therefore I command thee to do this thing." ((Deuteronomy 24:19-22) : We were once in the kingdom of darkness, REDEEMED (bought) into the Kingdom of God, by Christ's blood, we don't keep the gift of grace to hoard for our self (verses 19-21) our within the church. Then the reason why again in verse 22. See the Gospel application? See the heart and intent of the Old Testament verse?

 

Love in Christ, Jason! 

Because I Am A New Creation

Because I Am A New Creation

 

2nd Corinthians 3:5-9

 

 

    

     There is a terrible notion that when we are saved in Christ, our adherence to the "heart" or "spirit" of the law, doesn't matter any more because I am "under grace." This is NOT to be saved, mind you, this is BECAUSE you have been truly regenerated, you've been born again, and the law is written upon your heart. This cancels out legalistic argument, because it is post salvation, for by grace, through faith we are saved, lest any man boast. Really good devotion that helps one understand those "old archaic Scriptures" really do matter in the heart of the Believer:
"(5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, (6) who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (7) But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, (8) how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? (9) For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
NKJV
The subject here is not the doing away with laws but the change in administration of existing laws. Remember that Jesus said not one jot or tittle will pass from the law (Matthew 5:18). In Hebrews 8:10, where the context is the Covenant, the New Covenant is shown to have laws, which will be written in our hearts.
Paul is making a comparison, showing the superiority of the ministry's responsibility under the New Covenant to the priesthood's responsibility under the Old. He compares ink with spirit, stone with flesh, letter with spirit (or intent), and death with life.
The "ministration of death" was Israel's civil administration for punishing violations of civil law. The laws were not done away, but the Old Covenant administration and enforcement of the law was set aside because the church does not have civil authority. It is that simple.
The church does not have civil authority over the state. However, the ministry has the opportunity to play a large part in the ministering of life to those God calls—through teaching and administering God's Word. Thus, the letter killed because the Old Covenant could not provide for life. Words—even of divine origin—cannot produce life. A vitalizing Spirit must be present to charge the words with transforming power.
Under the Old Covenant, God did not promise His Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sin, access into His presence, or eternal life. Jesus raised the civil law from its merely carnal application to the nation of Israel to its spiritual application to the church, which would be drawn from all of mankind, including, of course, the Gentiles."
— John W. Ritenbaugh
Berean Bible Society

Can I Really Call Jesus Lord?

Can I Really Call Jesus Lord?

Jesus

 

Luke 22:24-27

Revelation 22:3

 

 

     ^24"And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. ²⁵ And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. ²⁶ But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. ²⁷ For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."  (Luke 22:24-27) KJV

     I am by no means pointing fingers, I only point one with the constant reminder that there more of the same hand at pointing right back at me.  So here it goes.  There is an ignorance amongst self professing Believers in Christ, that says if I make to worship twice a month, attend a Bible study consistently, or even sing in the choir, and I have been saved, I got my get out of Hell card, I'm under grace, NOW I'M GOOD...NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.  Just being honest Beloved.  I have had to look an enormous amount of times since November 2012, to see if I can call Jesus Lord.  What determines the "IF" I am in position to call Jesus Lord, begins with grace, begins with grace and continues because of grace.  Notice what our Lord says in Luke 22:24-27, "And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. ²⁵ And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors."  Jesus starts by showing the opposite of His desired precept He is teaching.  He shows how the "world system" operates and only benefits temporarily in this life that is but a vapor.  Did you notice how the world system is STRIFE?  It has been that way since Adam fell, sin cursed mankind and the world creating strife.  The Christian is in the world, but NOT of the world.  We are a called out peculiar possession of God, a separated Royal Priesthood.  Even Jesus says we are to not be of this world system, or Gentile way: "²⁶ But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."  Right there, the text of verse 26, in context of the entire chapter of Luke 22. 

     What is the opposite then?  What is the point Jesus is driving home here?  He is showing by example.  We are to be imitators of  Christ, submitting to His will, following His lead, His Word.  We followed it to grace, so let's follow it to where Jesus says to go in that grace.  "²⁷ For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."  Again, Jesus shows the opposite for the thick headed Believer.  He shows the world system, then the BUT that changes everything in the entire precept of the verse.  He shows how He the second Adam, the perfect Lamb of God instructs, leads, teaches, implies, guides, His submitted follower or disciple [one who is a doer of His Word] what is an expectation of obedience.  "... but I am among you as he that serveth."  Pretty simple instruction Jesus lays out here.  One who submits to His teaching and applies it, is able and authorized to call Him Lord.  And this is just in the aspect of service.  Not during corporate worship of the Lord, that's a given folks that we gather corporately on the Lord's Day and use our talents to worship the Lord, and spiritual gifts.  That is a different sermon all together. 

     We are called to serve in between those gatherings on Sunday.  Serve others and not self like pagan Gentiles, lost people, or the world system.  We are "little Christs" aka Christians.  Opposite of the world.  Opposite of me, mine, or I mentality that is the root of sin, by default, pride.  Do you see what is in the middle of sin and pride? "I." I is in the middle of both those words, which caused Lucifer to fall, Adam to fall, but Jesus said God first, others second, and He proved it by service, all the way to His innocent mockery of a trial, and execution He served God to benefit others.  Not taking the "I" option.

   Beloved if you won't serve here and now, you are going to be miserable in eternity, because if you are saved, guess what?  YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE THEN!  Now, you may be asking "Where are you getting this from?"  Well, God saved it for the last chapter of the Bible.  Look here:

"22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³ And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: ⁴ and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads."  Revelation 22:1-4

If you are NOT SERVING, then Beloved, that's one area that by choice, you are refusing to obey an expected command to obey.  So... Can you call Him Lord?

Love in Christ, 

Jason 



Avoid Making False Doctrines

Avoid Making False Doctrines

An example of how a false doctrine can be lifted out of a verse, of a particular passage. If I were to pick verse 12 of Philippians 2 by itself, one could twist it to say it is a "works" Gospel; example:"12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." By itself, without the context of the passage, and the WHOLE Word of God, it would imply I must needs do something to be saved. All we Christians know better than that, or I pray you do. Look at the verse in the context of its passage, in agreement with the WHOLE of the Word of God; example Philippians 2:1-17 "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all." See how that avoided the Pauline Paradox? How it aligned the passage with the WHOLE of the Bible, and now it stands alone? "14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus; 18 who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2nd Timothy 2:14-19 KJV)

Current Events Gog And Magog

Current Events Gog And Magog

 

 

 

If you will compare this map, with current maps of Russia, Syria, and Israel, you will see alliances beginning to shape up for the future, just as foretold by John on the Isle of Patmos in his book of Revelation, and hundreds of years before him in Ezekiel. First Passage is from Revelation: "20 And I saw an angel come ...down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

"4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20) and Ezekiel would prophesy the same thing centuries before in this passage: "38 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 4 and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. 7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. 9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: 11 and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, 12 to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? 15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: 16 and thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
17 Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? 18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. 19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20 so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord."

With the climate of change in the Middle East, unrest in Egypt, Turkey, civil war in Syria and Russia aligning with Syria and Iran, America's moral and civil collapse things are shaping up just as foretold. Urgency Christians.See More

Why The Mount of Transfiguration?

Why The Mount of Transfiguration?

Jesus

1. It has taken me over 28 years of Christendom to grasp this dispensation event of the New Testament, BUT it is so....... clear the way it is expounded:
   "(1) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; (2) and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. (3) And ...behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. (4) Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. HEAR HIM!!!!!!! [sic] " (6) And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
   New King James Version
   
   Jesus clearly calls this mysterious occurrence a "vision" (verse 9). It was not reality but a glimpse of what the future held for Jesus Christ.
   
   The word "transfigured" in verse 2 sounds esoteric, but it is merely the passive form of the Greek word metamorphoo, meaning "changed in form" or "transformed." This same word is used in the well-known Romans 12:2, ". . . be transformed by the renewing of your mind. . . ." Unlike Matthew and Mark, Luke uses the phrase egeneto heteron, translated as "was altered" and meaning "became different" (Luke 9:29). In the vision, the three disciples saw Jesus change to the form He will have in God's Kingdom, which He alluded to in Matthew 16:28.
   
   Why did Moses and Elijah appear with Him? This is where the events of Matthew 16 become important. These two servants of God were the most revered among all the Old Testament figures. Moses, the Great Lawgiver, personified the Law, and Elijah, the Archetypal Prophet, the Prophets. Evidently, the vision depicted Moses and Elijah speaking to Jesus in a servant-Master relationship, but the disciples failed to see this vital distinction.
   
   Notice how Peter puts it. "Let's make three tabernacles, one for each of you." The other accounts say he did not really know what he was saying, meaning that he had missed something in his fear, that he spoke without thinking it through (Mark 9:6; Luke 9:33).
   
   What happened as a result of his thoughtless comment? Notice that Matthew writes, "While he was still speaking. . . ." This is a big clue. God, immediately seeing that the disciples did not understand, took steps to make it plain. To paraphrase what God says, "Look! Jesus is MY beloved Son, and He has MY highest approval. Listen to what HE says! He is far greater than Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets."
   
   This is why the transfiguration occurred. God wanted to make it very clear to the disciples that His way of life is based on the life and death and life again of Jesus Christ, not on the Jews' traditional beliefs. He had to stun the disciples so that they would put Jesus and His teachings on a higher level than Judaism—even higher than the teachings of Moses and Elijah.
   
   Whatever Jesus says is far more important to our salvation than the minutiae of Moses' law or the vagaries of prophecy. In many instances, Jesus makes upgrades to Old Testament law, giving a higher, spiritual meaning (for instance, Matthew 5:21-22). Hear Him!"
   
   — Richard T. Ritenbaugh

"Teach Us To Pray" Paul Washer

Teach Us To Pray

Paul Washer

 

    "It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.’” I want you to notice some things that are very, very important here. I believe with all my heart it was a fearful thing to watch Jesus pray, that it was an awesome event, higher than any other thing he did, because ...if you notice here it says, “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished...” No one dared touch that ark. When he was bowed on his knees, when he was calling out to this Father it was like no other thing anyone had ever seen on the face of the earth.
And then he goes on and it says, “One of his disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Now I find this a most amazing statement and I find it a statement that is very, very overlooked among those who study this text. If you will notice something very, very important, a disciple never came to Jesus and said, “Teach us to preach.” A disciple never came to Jesus and said, “Teach us to walk on water.” A disciple never came to Jesus and said, “Teach us to raise the dead.” A disciple never came to Jesus and said, “Teach us to cast out demons.”
Now if you were to want to know how to play basketball, you probably wouldn’t come to me because I know so little about basketball. You would try to find out what my expertise truly was and then you would ask me about that. You ask a man about his
expertise. You ask a man about the thing which most impresses you about that man.
I believe that without a doubt, the greatest demonstration of divine power was seen not when Jesus Christ raised the dead and not when he walked on water, but when he prayed.
And I believe that when the disciples saw Jesus praying, they could not believe their eyes. They could not believe even what their ears were telling them. Jesus was a man of prayer.
Now let me ask you a question. When people hear you pray do they hear someone who knows God? Do they hear the rhythm of the religion? Do they hear words that have been taught to you by other men? Do they hear form? Do they hear intellect? Or do they
hear a man or a woman or a child who spends much time in the presence of God?
Has anyone ever come to you and said, “Teach me to preach like you preach”? Well, that may be something to boast about, but not before God.
Has anyone ever come to you and said, “Teach me to administrate like you administrate”? Has anyone ever come to you and said, “Teach me to pray”?
I am not much of a man, but I have had the privilege in my life to be in the presence of many men used by God. And the one thing that I noticed. They had very little in common except one thing. When they bowed their knee, something unusual happened.
There is a saying. When someone achieves a certain thing he may look over and with a twinkle in his eye say, “You can’t learn that. You have got to be born with that.”
You can’t fake prayer. ~ Paul Washer