Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
God does not need you to defeat the devil today. Jesus has already done it and given you the victory. (Colossians 2:15, Romans 8:37) Your part is to enforce the victory by simply standing your ground, which is victory ground. In other words, you “fight” from victory ground by standing. You don’t fight for victory.
In Ephesians 6:10-18, the passage on spiritual warfare, the word “wrestle” appears only once (verse 12), while the word “stand” appears four times-“stand against the wiles of the devil”, “withstand in the evil day”, “having done all, to stand”, “Stand therefore”. (Verses 11, 13-14) Four times the Holy Spirit tells us to stand. Yet, many Christians are focusing on wrestling their way to victory!
My friend, you are already on victory ground. You already have everything in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:21, 23) You are already blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) The devil knows this. And that is why his tactic is to deceive you and make you think that you don’t have the victory.
So when he attacks you by saying, “Look at that small sum in your bank account! How are you going to pay the bills?” stand your ground. Declare, “I am not trying to be rich. I am already blessed in Christ!” It doesn’t matter how much you have in the bank. You are richly supplied because you are in Christ. And as the need arises, the supply will be there if you believe it.
It is the same with healing. The devil will try to attack you with symptoms in your body. He will try to put pain in your body, and make you feel weak here and there, so that you think that you are still sick. He is trying to make you believe that you don’t have your healing. That is the time to be conscious of Jesus’ finished work and declare, “I am not trying to get healed, I am healed! I am standing on the victory ground which Jesus has given me!”
Beloved, it makes a world of difference when you fight from victory and not for victory!
Thought For The Day
You are already on victory ground. You are already blessed with every blessing in Christ.
More On: “What is the full armor of God?”
Answer: The phrase “full armor of God” comes from Ephesians 6:13-18: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:12 clearly indicates that the conflict with Satan is spiritual, and therefore no tangible weapons can be effectively employed against him and his minions. We are not given a list of specific tactics Satan will use. However, the passage is quite clear that when we follow all the instructions faithfully, we will be able to stand, and we will have victory regardless of Satan’s strategy.
The first element of our armor is truth (verse 14). This is easy to understand, since Satan is said to be the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Deception is high on the list of things God considers to be an abomination. A “lying tongue” is one of the things He describes as “detestable to Him” (Proverbs 6:16-17). We are therefore exhorted to put on truth for our own sanctification and deliverance, as well as for the benefit of those to whom we witness.
Also in verse 14, we are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate shielded a warrior’s vital organs from blows that would otherwise be fatal. This righteousness is not works of righteousness done by men. Rather, this is the righteousness of Christ, imputed by God and received by faith, which guards our hearts against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks.
Verse 15 speaks of the preparation of the feet for spiritual conflict. In warfare, sometimes an enemy places dangerous obstacles in the path of advancing soldiers. The idea of the preparation of the gospel of peace as footwear suggests what we need to advance into Satan’s territory, aware that there will be traps, with the message of grace so essential to winning souls to Christ. Satan has many obstacles placed in the path to halt the propagation of the gospel.
The shield of faith spoken of in verse 16 makes Satan’s sowing of doubt about the faithfulness of God and His Word ineffective. Our faith of which Christ is “the author and perfecter” (Hebrews 12:2) is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial.
The helmet of salvation in verse 17 is protection for the head, keeping viable a critical part of the body. We could say that our way of thinking needs preservation. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure gospel hope of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine or give way to Satan’s temptations. The unsaved person has no hope of warding off the blows of false doctrine because he is without the helmet of salvation and his mind is incapable of discerning between spiritual truth and spiritual deception.
Verse 17 interprets itself as to the meaning of the sword of the Spirit–it is the Word of God. While all the other pieces of spiritual armor are defensive in nature, the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. It speaks of the holiness and power of the Word of God. A greater spiritual weapon is not conceivable. In Jesus’ temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His overpowering response to Satan. What a blessing that the same Word is available to us!
In verse 18, we are told to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities) in addition to wearing the full armor of God. We cannot neglect prayer, as it is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. The full armor of God–truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer–are the tools God has given us, through which we can be spiritually victorious, overcoming Satan’s attacks and temptations.
Are you an “actor” or a “reactor”, a “thermostat” or a “thermometer”?
Do you make decisions with godly wisdom, or let your circumstances and people’s opinions dictate your course of action? The truth is, God wants you to rise up in godly leadership by following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
In Philippians 1:9, Apostle Paul said this prayer for believers: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment”. Many Christians want to walk in love. But do you notice that there is a place for wisdom and discernment in your love walk?
Our Lord put it this way to His disciples in Matthew 10:16: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” The word “wise” here is phronimos in Greek, which is also the word for “intelligent, sagacious and prudent.” Instead of also being discerning and watchful, many Christians are just loving and harmless.
But if you apply what the Lord says, to show strong love with discernment, it will make you an attractive person. It will make you interesting and exciting, and it will bless your marriage and all your relationships.
The Anointing Within Will Teach You
Now, you know that Jesus is the very personification of wisdom. The Holy Spirit dwells in you when you receive Jesus. (John 14:16–17) And this anointing will guide you.
1 John 2:27
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
The word “anointing” is a gerund, a Latin verbal noun that expresses ongoing action. This means that it is still happening right now. Today, God leads us by the inner anointing—the presence or absence of peace on the inside. This anointing which abides in you will teach you concerning all things. It will teach you about your finances. It will teach you how to position yourself, it will teach you about your relationships, and best of all, the inner anointing will teach you about your walk with God and about the Lord.
This doesn’t mean that you don’t need Bible teachers or Bible schools. We still need to have the Word because the Scripture outlines our direction and purpose, the way the railway directs the train. The Holy Spirit inside you is like the engine of the train where the power to control and propel comes from. For example, you could be listening to some teachings, and the verses that you hear confirm what you know on the inside. What 1 John 2:27 is saying is: You don’t need anyone to teach you to know God’s leading. The Holy Spirit will teach you.
So, when you meet someone who appears very charming but you feel uncomfortable on the inside, ask the Lord. Before you sign a contract, and there is an absence of peace, go and find out more. God can show you on the outside, things or verses, to confirm what you already know on the inside.
Let me explain. Years ago, a guy asked our church for some financial contribution which he claimed was for the work that God had given him in India. But I felt a “scratchy” feeling on the inside. So I sent my leaders to check on this person’s ministry work first. As they began to probe more and more, they discovered that this guy was a fraud. He was a con artist! And we realized that he had been operating in Singapore for a number of years, going from church to church. We had to make this person face the consequences of his actions.
When Do You Turn The Other Cheek?
“Well, Pastor, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that we have to be nice. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, you must turn the other cheek to him also.”
My friend, that’s a misinterpretation. Let’s look at what Jesus said:
Matthew 5:39–41
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
In those days, the practice was this: If someone smites you on the right cheek, he is challenging you to fight with him. So what did Jesus mean when He said, “turn the other to him also”? This is what He meant: Be someone who is an “actor”. Don’t be a “reactor”. Just because someone challenges you to a duel doesn’t mean that you must accept it. When you “turn the other cheek”, you will shock this person and take the fight out of him. Don’t let him have the power to make you angry. Now who is in charge? You are! Don’t let people’s actions determine how you react.
In the other illustration, Jesus said, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” During Jesus’ time, one of the Roman laws was that any Jewish subject could be commanded to carry a Roman soldier’s equipment for one mile. Jesus encouraged His followers not only to comply with the law of the land, but to go above and beyond. If somebody did you wrong, don’t let evil overcome you. Turn around and surprise the person. Jesus was talking about taking charge of the situation. He wasn’t talking about a life of pacifism.
But as a nation, a church, a corporation or a family, something is wrong if you always “turn the other cheek” and let the adversary walk all over you. If someone is out to cheat our church, we’re not going to let him get away with it.
Evil Reigns When Good Men Are Silent
It is one thing to say that you forgive and let go of the matter if someone has cheated you personally. But when you see a con artist going around in church, speak up and report the matter. It is no more about personal forgiveness. It is about being responsible to the flock of God. Don’t just say, “It’s okay, it’s water under the bridge. Let’s just walk in love.”
No, you are not walking in love. You are walking in cowardice behind the label you call “love” because you are afraid to confront.
Like Adam, some men have kept quiet and allowed evil to reign. Though Adam heard God’s commandment clearly in the garden, his silence allowed Satan to deceive his wife. (Genesis 2:16–17, 3:1–6)
Many a time, marriages crumble because the man abdicates his responsibility by telling his wife, “Okay, I don’t know. You decide.” And the wife takes over. After a while, when she needs a real man who is responsible and makes decisions, she finds that she is the one who is wearing the pants! So ladies, learn not to subjugate your husband by taking decisions away from him all the time.
Men, take up godly leadership at home. Dare to make decisions because God made you the head of the house. (Ephesians 5:23) You are the king and priest of the house.
But know this: When it comes to making important decisions, it is wise to discuss them with your wife. There are times when there are major projects that God speaks to me about which I discuss with my wife to see how she feels about them on the inside. So don’t just tell your wife, “I’m the head of this family. Submit!” God made woman to be man’s helpmate. (Genesis 2:18) Your wife can be a pool of wisdom to draw from.
But at the end of it, you have to be the one who decides. Stand firm and put your foot down if you have heard God on the inside and still feel strongly about a decision.
Jesus Wasn’t ‘Mr Nice Guy’
Some people will say, “Pastor, I don’t want to rock the boat by speaking up. I want to keep my family peaceful. I want to be nice, just like Jesus.”
If you want to be like Jesus, listen to the Spirit man within. There are times when He will say, “Stand tall, and speak up!” Look at Jesus’ reply when the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath.
Luke 13:15–16
…“Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
Now don’t forget, Jesus was the guest speaker in that synagogue. But He called the ruler of the synagogue a hypocrite in front of his congregation.
Was Jesus “Mr Nice Guy”? No, but He was a loving and compassionate Savior to the woman whom Satan had bound for 18 years.
The Good Shepherd Protects His Sheep
A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him but look at what the Lord said when His host marveled that Jesus had not first washed before dinner.
Luke 11:39–46
Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?…Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.” And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
Now, Jesus was not being unhygienic when He did not first wash before dinner. Rather, He deliberately chose not to follow the strict ceremonial washing practiced by the religious Pharisees.
So Jesus was correcting the Pharisees by calling them “foolish ones” because they were careful with the outward keeping of the law to maintain the appearance of righteousness but inwardly, they were dirty.
Don’t get me wrong, Jesus loved the Pharisees. He came to redeem them and to give them the gift of righteousness too. But He did not hold back his criticism when their pride and self-righteousness stopped people from receiving.
Notice Jesus never called a prostitute a “hypocrite”? He never called the tax collector “you snake”. But to the self-righteous Pharisees, Jesus called them a “brood of vipers”. (Matthew 12:34, 23:33) Why? Jesus loved His sheep but because of the way the Pharisees and teachers of the law interpreted the Mosaic law, they laid heavy burdens on people and held them in bondage.
The Love That Abounds In Knowledge And Discernment
Now I am not saying, “Don’t be ‘Mr Nice Guy’. Be nasty.” Just because you are not “Mr Nice Guy” doesn’t mean that you can’t be loving, strong, courageous and discerning.
The apostle Paul responded with strong love when Elymas the sorcerer tried to stop the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, from hearing the Word of God.
Acts 13:9–12
Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
In case you have the misconception that Paul wasn’t walking in godly love, the Bible says that Paul was “filled with the Holy Spirit”. This means that Paul was led by the Spirit to rebuke the sorcerer.
“But Pastor, Paul caused blindness to come upon Elymas. Where is the mercy of God?”
Notice that the Bible says that the sorcerer was blind “for a time”, not permanently, and after that, the proconsul believed. God had strong love and mercy on the proconsul. The proconsul needed to hear the Word, so God blinded the sorcerer for a time because he was a fraud who was trying to stop the preaching of the gospel.
So, the Holy Spirit will give you strong love and strength to protect the flock of God. Men, He will give you strength to guard and protect your family. If someone comes along and tries to do something to my wife or my daughter, I will make him bleed for it. I’m not going to just stand there and “turn the other cheek”! The shepherd holds the rod for a reason. The rod is in your hand not to whack the sheep, but the wolf! So don’t be confused about who your enemy is.
Jesus The Man
Don’t back away because you are fearful. Look at what Jesus did when the soldiers came to arrest Him in the garden of Gethsemane. They were armed and dangerous. But Jesus, knowing all that would come upon Him, stepped forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” When they answered, “Jesus of Nazareth”, Jesus said, “I am He.” (John 18:3–5)
Jesus didn’t back away. He went forward boldly. And He loved us so much that He went all the way to the cross for us. Jesus was and is truly a real Man. Yet, there are Christians who are so afraid to share about Jesus with their friends because they are worried about what others might think of them. Instead of worrying about people’s opinions, step forward and honor the Lord who gave His life for you!
Do you know that deep in our hearts, we are all longing for a hero? That is why we are attracted to the hero in movies like Braveheart. William Wallace, the hero in Braveheart, is attractive because he was not afraid to stand up to the self-centered and money-minded lords and dukes of Scotland, and he led the defeated people to freedom. The hero always lives for a cause greater than himself.
As I was watching Braveheart, I began to find Wallace familiar. He reminds me of our Lord Jesus—the strong, selfless Man who came to liberate and free us from a life of sin and defeat. The Lord is not skinny and pale like the emasculated Jesus we see portrayed in traditional paintings on the walls of some churches. The real Jesus is the beloved Son of God, the Man who died on the cross bravely for us. And He is the hero that our hearts are longing for.
The Hero In You
Today, there is a hero in you because you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says that Christ is in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
Men, remember: You don’t have to worry about being a leader in your own strength. God does not expect you to be one using your willpower. Christ in you will teach you and lead you to rise up in godly leadership. He has positioned you as the king and priest of the house.
Wives, start to honor your husband as such. Allow him to make decisions and trust that God will fill him with more wisdom. It will work out to your benefit. Most men are more than glad to take up godly leadership at home when their wives are supportive.
Don’t forget that Jesus, the greatest Man of all, loves you with a self-sacrificial love. The more you expose yourself to His love, the more you will learn to flow with Him and follow the anointing within. Only His love can effect an effortless change in you and cause the blessings to flow.
God is a non-material personal being, self-conscious and self-determining.
Meaning:
God is someone we can get to know. He, unlike ourselves, doesn’t need to be told what to do. On the other hand He tells us what to do and how to live in a manner pleasing to Him. Just because He can’t be seen by the human eye doesn’t mean He is not there and therefore should be ignored. Quite the opposite is true, His creation demonstrates His existence. Also, since he cannot be seen, we need to devote ourselves to study everything that has been written about Him so that we can get to know Him like He wants us to and begin to live our lives in a way that pleases Him.
Scripture Support:
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
I Timothy 6:16
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
I Timothy 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Conclusion:
God has no image. He cannot be seen by the human eye, but creation points to His existence. His Son, Jesus testified to His existence and desire to be sought by His creatures. He also provided us with an example of how to live our lives seeking and serving God.
Application:
I need to study the Scriptures in order to find out more about God, both who He is and how He wants me to live. Also when I look at all the beautiful things in this world I will thank God for creating them and for creating me.
God is Life
Definition:
Life is the vital principle, or breath of life, which God imparted to man, making him a living soul. It is the gift of God, mediated through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not synonymous with endless existence, which is also true of the unsaved. It is qualitative, involving the impartation of a new nature, resulting in fellowship with God in Christ, and is not interrupted by spiritual death. It will find its perfection and full reality of blessedness with God in the life to come for the believer. God has absolute life in Himself and is the source of all life.
Meaning:
Since God is life anything other than God is death. God breathed the breath of life into Adam thereby giving Adam a qualitative difference in existence than the other animals God created. Man was created to be able to commune with God and interact with Him. When man fell as a result of sin this relationship was marred. Only through a proper understanding of man’s relationship to God, and belief that Jesus died for the sins of the world to give man back the life God intended, can one once again have this qualitative existence of life in a right relationship with The Giver of Life – God.
Scripture Support:
Joshua 3:10
And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
Psalm 84:2
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth our for the living God.
I Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
Exodus 3:14
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
I Samuel 17:26
And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Psalm 115:3-9
But our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
Job 23:13
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Conclusion:
God is alive. Unlike idols and gods, God can think and act to protect His people. He can give life to those who seek Him. When His people pray to Him, He is able to hear them and He does answer them.
Application:
Since God is the only living God, I will serve Him alone and put my trust in Him to answer my prayers to fulfill His purpose.
God is Infinite
Definition:
The infinity of God is not an independent attribute. If we were to say, “God is the infinite,” without specification, the meaning would be pantheistic, equal to saying, “God is everything.” In using the word “infinite” we must always be specific.
Meaning:
Therefore, God is not found in the trees or in the mountains but in who He is. Surely His power is displayed through the creation of the trees and mountains and everything else we see and don’t see, but those things are not to be worshipped. Only God is to be worshipped, for He created all things in His infinite power with His infinite wisdom.
Scripture Support:
Psalm 145:3
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
II Chronicles 2:5 & 6
And the house that I build is great: for great is our God above all Gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
I Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded.
Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
Conclusion:
There is no way to fully understand the vast greatness of God. Infinity is the term man uses to describe something that cannot be counted or measured and God is surely immeasurable.
Application:
I will not put God into a box and limit Him. When I talk to Him, instead of putting limitations on the things I pray for, I will ask God to fully bless me and guide me through His infinite power and wisdom.
God is Immutable
Definition:
The perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change in essence, attributes, consciousness, will, and promises. No change is possible in God, because all change must be to better or worse, and God is absolute perfection. No cause for change in God exists, either in Himself or outside of Him.
Meaning:
Perfection means perfection. There is no reason for God to change because there is no change that would make Him better. However, man should be striving to be found complete and perfect in God’s eyes.
Scripture Support:
Psalm 102:27
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Hebrews 6:17 & 18
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
Conclusion:
There is no reason for God to change. When something is perfect it is best to leave it alone and avoid causing it to lose it’s perfection.
Application:
When things are going bad I won’t blame God, asking why He has changed and doesn’t seem to be living up to His promises. Since He doesn’t change, I will look at my life and see where I have deviated from the path He wants me to follow. I will change my direction toward the right way and follow Him.
God is Truth
Definition:
Truth is the interrelated consistency of statements and their correspondence with the facts of reality and the facts themselves. It suggests an integration of character, and adherence of virtue, a kind of reliability, which includes and goes beyond the literal meaning to include those aspects of personal behavior which seem to be implied by the love of truth. The concept of truth is derived from the character of God, and is the exact opposite of the concept of lying. “It is impossible for God to lie.”
Meaning:
Since it is impossible for God to lie we know that everything He says about what will happen will actually take place. If we are to become perfect we need to be known as individuals who tell the truth, like God. That means when we promise something we need to keep that promise or not make it in the first place. We need to try to place ourselves in situations where we don’t feel the need to lie to defend either ourselves or our behavior.
Scripture Support:
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
John 17:2 & 3
As thou has given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 33:4
For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Psalm 57:10
For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
John 8:31b-32
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 17:17
Sanctify them through truth: thy word is truth.
John 18:37 & 38
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
II Thessalonians 2:10-13
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
Conclusion:
Whatever God says He will do, He will do. Therefore, when He says those who believe in Jesus shall have eternal life, you can rest assured that will take place. Just as sure is His providing a way out of temptation, protection from the flaming arrows of the enemy, and Satan’s eventual demise by being thrown into the Lake of Fire forever.
Application:
When I read in the Bible something God wants me to do, I will do it. I will trust Him to comply and follow through in giving me the things He promised if I obey Him.
God is Love
Definition:
The very nature of God, and the greatest of the Christian virtues. Attributes of love include patience, kindness, protection, trusting, hoping, and persevering. Love is not envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, easily angered, a recorder of wrongs or does it take delight in evil.
Meaning:
Love, therefore, needs to be prevalent in our lives if we are to be called Christians. For how else can love be the greatest of Christian virtues if non-Christians cannot see love being demonstrated in our lives.
Scripture Support:
I John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 15:9-14
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Matthew 22:36-40
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and the great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, not any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
I John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
I John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Conclusion:
God loves us more than we can ever know. However, His love for us is to fill us so much that it overflows from us to others, so they can begin to know and experience God’s love. Yes, He sent His Son to die for us, but He did so for others as well.
Application:
I will seek to allow God’s love to fill my life so that I can love my fellow Christians as well as non-Christians in an effort to bring them into a relationship where they can experience the greatest love of all — God’s.
God is Eternal
Definition:
Eternal refers to the endless past, the unending future, or to God’s present experience of all time. God has no beginning as man can understand beginning and no ending either, but God exists now and knows both the beginning and the end as we perceive them.
Meaning:
This also points to how much we can trust God. Since He created time as we know it, He lives outside of time and can see the beginning and the end of our lives and the age of men and the church. Therefore when He tells us what events will precede and be a part of the end of the age, we can rest assured that those events will happen just as He described. More than that though, we can live with the peace of knowing that when we die we will be with Him forever without end. A day will be as a thousand years.
Scripture Support:
Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Genesis 21:33
And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
I Timothy 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Conclusion:
God has always existed and He always will. Nothing can resist Him and nothing will ever be able to bring an end to Him.
Application:
Since God cannot have an end and He promises to provide me with eternal life with Him if I believe His Son died for me, I will believe and live my life right now serving Him.
God is Holy
Definition:
Holy means the pure, loving nature of God, separate from evil. aggressively seeking to universalize itself: that this character inheres in places, times and institutions intimately associated with worship; and that it is to characterize human beings who have entered into personal relations with God.
Meaning:
To be holy means to be separate from evil. Therefore, we need to separate ourselves from evil, by not associating with evil, being found in a situation where one could get the idea of being evil. That doesn’t mean to not have any friends that are not Christians, for even Jesus spent time with the social and religious outcasts of His day. When we associate with those people our behavior needs to demonstrate that we are different from the people or the evil things surrounding us at that given moment.
Scripture Support:
I Peter 1:16 – 25
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
I John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Psalm 98:1
O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
Psalm 145:17
The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
I Samuel 2:2
There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
Isaiah 6:3
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
John 17:11
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Revelation 4:8
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Conclusion:
The holiness of God is directly related to His righteousness, God alone is to be worshipped. He alone is separate from evil, but He tells us to be holy like Him.
Application:
Since God never tells us to do something we are unable to do, I will commit myself to separate myself from evil and trust that He will enable me to do just that.
God is Immortal
Definition:
Only God possesses immortality “as an original, eternal and necessary endowment.” The immortality of man’s soul is conferred upon it by God and is contingent on His will.
Meaning:
Man cannot gain immortality by his own power, instead God must grant it to him. God promises to give it to those who believe in Him. Those who don’t believe will be separated from Him forever and will suffer eternal punishment and torment as a result of not being with God who gives life and immortality.
Scripture Support:
I Timothy 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I Timothy 6:16
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Conclusion:
Only God is immortal in and of Himself.
Application:
I need to trust God and submit to His will in order to be able to live with Him eternally in immortality.
God is Invisible
Definition:
God cannot be seen by the human eye. Yet His eternal power and divine character are known and clearly seen by the things He has made.
Meaning:
The fact that God cannot be seen does not mean He cannot be known. Some men have chosen not to know God as they have denied Him by claiming that the world evolved by random chance and natural selection. But, if one were to look at the order of things as being held constant by the Creator, who created all things, one can begin to see the God who was and is powerful enough to create such a beautiful place even though He cannot be seen directly.
Scripture Support:
Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
I Timothy 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 11:27
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
I John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Conclusion:
Just because God cannot be seen directly does not mean He does not exist. The things He created and the order with which they were designed point toward an Almighty God with tremendous power and wisdom.
Application:
I will seek to know and understand God through His Word and His creation. I will love my fellow Christians so that God may dwell in me and I may experience more of His love.
God is Omnipresent
Definition:
The attribute of God by which He fills the universe in all its parts and is present everywhere at once. Not a part, but the whole of God is present in every place. This is true of all three members of the Trinity. They are so closely related that where one is the others can be said to be, also.
Meaning:
Therefore, when man is sinning God is there. If a child is doing something a parent has told him not to do, God is there. There is no place man can go to hide from God.
Scripture Support:
Psalm 139:8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Jeremiah 23:23,24
Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
Ephesians 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Psalm 113:5
Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high.
Psalm 123:1
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
I Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
Matthew 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
I Corinthians 1:27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Romans 10:6,7
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? Or, Who shall descend into the deep?
Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Conclusion:
There is no place to go where God is not already there.
Application:
I need to be serving God everywhere, not just at certain places like church or with my family. I need to be aware of God’s presence at all times and walk with Him always.
God is Omniscient
Definition:
The attribute of God by which God perfectly and eternally knows all things which can be known, past, present, and future. God knows how best to attain His desired ends.
Meaning:
This, like omnipresence, demonstrates that man cannot hide from God because God knows all things. He knows the number of hairs on each head, He knows the heart and thoughts of every man. Just because no man is around to see us do wrong doesn’t mean nobody saw it happen – God did. The proverbial tree falling in the forest that doesn’t make a sound because no man was there to see it or know about it falling at that time, God sees and knows. Our intentions in the things we do are known to God. We need to be sure that our attitudes are congruent with our actions because God knows when we are doing things for the wrong reasons or motives.
Scripture Support:
Psalm 147:4,5
He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
Acts 15:18
Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Psalm 33:13
The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
II Kings 13:19
And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
Jeremiah 38:17-20
Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be will unto thee, and thy soul shall live
Romans 4:17
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and calleth those things which be not though as they were.
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
Matthew 11:21-23
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
I Samuel 23:5-14
So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up. Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
Conclusion:
God knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen. He knows when we do things for the wrong reasons and when we do things for the right reasons. All things we do should be to serve Him and bring glory to Him.
Application:
Since God knows everything I do and the reasons or motives I have for doing them, I will commit myself to doing everything as if I were doing it for God Himself. I will yield myself to Him daily, that I may do what He wants me to do and be what He wants me to be.
God is Omnipotent
Definition:
The attribute of God which describes his ability to do whatever He wills. God’s will is limited by His nature, and He therefore cannot do anything contrary to His nature as God, such as to ignore sin, to sin, or to do something absurd or self-contradictory. God is not controlled by His power, but has complete control over it; otherwise He would not be a free being. To a certain extent, He has voluntarily limited Himself by the free will of His rational creatures.
Meaning:
This means that if God says something will happen. He has the power to make sure that it will happen. Therefore, when He promises eternal life to those who believe in Christ, He has the power to grant it. Just as He cannot sin, He has the power to forgive those who do.
Scripture Support:
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Job 42:2
I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Jeremiah 32:17,27 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Luke 1:37
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Revelation 19:6
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Conclusion:
There is nothing that God cannot do except that which goes against His nature. God alone has the power to conquer sin and death. He even created Satan who disobeyed and fell, therefore, He has power over him. He promised to give us the power to overcome he that is in the world.
Application:
I will rely on God’s power when Satan tries to tempt me. I will call upon the name of Jesus to provide me with the protection and the peace He promises to those who call upon Him, because He is powerful enough to keep that promise.
Awareness of God
with Purpose, Objectives, and Goals
Is blaspheming the Holy Spirit
the unpardonable sin for Christians today?
That is a serious question. Read the following arguement that says Blastpheming of the Holy Spirit is not meant for believers today.
Bible verse: Matthew 12:31-32
31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
When I was a teenager, I got hold of a teaching from a book which said that a Christian can commit the “unpardonable sin”. Have you heard this “unpardonable sin” teaching before? This erroneous teaching says that all sins can be forgiven, but if you commit the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit 1(Matthew 12:31), there is no forgiveness. That’s how this sin came to be known as the “unpardonable sin”.
As a young Christian, I did not understand why other believers didn’t seem to be affected by the thought that they could actually commit the unpardonable sin. For me, I was really frightened. My conscience was very sensitive and the more I thought about the possibility of committing the unpardonable sin, the more I was convinced that I had committed that sin! My thoughts became increasingly negative and I even started to doubt God. This gave me even more reason to believe that I had indeed blasphemed the Holy Spirit.
I went to my church leaders at that time to seek counsel, but instead of leading me to the new covenant of grace, they told me that it was indeed possible for a Christian to commit the unpardonable sin. By then, I was getting more and more depressed. The devil was oppressing me with thoughts of guilt and condemnation. Plagued by such thoughts, I would go to Orchard Road, Sinapore’s main shopping belt, and I would witness to the people on the streets about Jesus, all the time believing that I had committed the unpardonable sin. I thought that if I got these people saved, God would see them when they made it to heaven and perhaps remember me who would be in hell. I honestly believed that! The amazing thing was that the evangelistic anointing was already flowing in me then and many did actually receive Jesus, even though I thought that I was not going to make it to heaven.
Discovering The Gospel Of Grace
The more I believed that I still had unforgiven sins, the more I believed that I had used up all of God’s grace in my life. No one taught me about the blood of Jesus, or showed me that my behavior was actually dishonoring the blood of Christ and negating Jesus’ work on the cross for me. No one preached the good news to me, so at that time, I really thought that my sins were greater than God’s grace. I felt like I was losing my mind and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. My mind literally felt like it was about to snap and I became so afraid that I would be committed to a mental institution.
It was through this tumultuous journey that I began to understand the grace of our Lord Jesus. I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that a Christian cannot commit the unpardonable sin. Be careful when you hear any teaching that gives you the impression that believers can commit the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. There are times when the devil put negative thoughts about the Holy Spirit in your mind, or when you yourself say something negative about the Holy Spirit. This may lead you to wonder and worry if you have committed the unpardonable sin. Well, let me declare once and for all that there is no sin that a Christian is not forgiven of. When you understand why God sent the Holy Spirit, you will realize that the unpardonable sin is simply to consistently reject Jesus!
The bible tells us that the Holy Spirit came to testify of and witness about Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “The Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”2 (John 15:26) To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is therefore to continually reject the person of Christ whom the Holy Spirit testifies of. Study the Word of God carefully. Who was Jesus speaking to when He spoke of the unpardonable sin? He was speaking to the Pharisees, who continually rejected Him as their Savior and plotted to kill Him on several occasions. They even accused Him of having an unclean spirit, saying, “He has Beelzebub. By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”3(Mark 3:22) Jesus’ response was, “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven… but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”4(Mark 3:28-30) Why did He say that? The next verse tells us that it is “because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.”’
The Holy Spirit is present even today to witness about Jesus. Therefore, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to keep on rejecting the gospel of Jesus and to depend on your own efforts to saved. Jesus was warning the Pharisees not to commit this sin, and to stop rejecting Him. This clearly does not apply to the believer. You see, in reading the Bible, it is important to note who the words were spoken to and to ascertain if the words are relevant for the believer. In this case, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees who had rejected Him and who even made claims the He had an unclean spirit. Imagine their audacity! As for you, my friend, have full assurance in your heart that it is impossible for a believer to commit the unpardonable sin. A believer has already received the gift of eternal life and will never be “subject to eternal condemnation”.
Rightly Dividing The Word
There is a lot of confusion and wrong believing in the church today because many Christians read their Bibles without rightly dividing the old and new covenants. They don’t realize that even some of the words which Jesus spoke in the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are part of the old covenant. They were spoken before the cross as He had not yet died. The new covenant only begins after the cross, when the Holy Spiirit was given on the day of Pentecost.
There is a lot of confusion and wrong believing in the church today because many Christians read their Bibles without rightly dividing the old and new covenants.
I know that our Bibles are divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament, which begin with the four gospels. However, it is important to realize that the cross made a difference! Some of what Jesus said before the cross and what He said after the cross were spoken under completely different covenants. You also need to see who Jesus was speaking to. At times, He was speaking to the Pharisees, who boasted in their perfect law-keeping. With them, Jesus brought the law to its pristine standard, such at it was impossible for any man to keep.
“But Pastor Prince, I believe that we should do everything that Jesus said!”
My friend, Jesus said, “if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you… And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”5(Matthew 5:29-30) Have you done that?
Come on, Jesus said all that to bring the law back to its pristine standard, a standard that ensured that no man could keep the law. He said all that so that man would come to the end of depending on himself and begin to see that he desperately needs a savior. So when we read the words of Jesus in the four gospels, it is necessary for us to rightly divide the Word and understand who Jesus was speaking to.
Let me give you another example. You may have heard some preachers yelling at unbelievers and using the term “a brood of vipers”. But Jesus never called sinners – not even the prostitutes and corrupt tax collectors – ” a brood of vipers”. Never! Those harsh words by Jesus were reserved only for the Pharisees6(Matthew 12:34, 23-33) whose fixation on the law blinded them from seeing God in the flesh – Jesus, who gave the law in the first place and who came to fulfill the law on man’s behalf. So learn to rightly divide the Word of God whenever you read the Bible. Not everything that Jesus said was spoken to the church.
Feed On The Letters Of Apostle Paul
Paul’s letters were written to the church and are thus for our benefit today. God raised him up to write the words of the ascended Jesus, who is seated today at the Father’s right hand. That is why, when it comes to reading the Bible, I always encourage new believers in our church to begin with the letters of Paul. (Many new believers like to start with the book of Revelation or Genesis, without first getting a foundation in the gospel of grace through reading the letters of Paul.)
Have you noticed that Paul never mentioned the unpardonable sin? Not one time, in all his letters to the churches, did he warn Christians about the unpardonable sin? If Christians could commit the unpardonable sin, he should have mentioned it in every epistle that he wrote. On the other hand, Paul emphasized that Jesus, by His death on a cross, has made us “alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses”7(Colossians 2:13) I have checked the original Greek word for “all”8(NT: 3956, Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.).
in this verse and guess what? “All” means ALL! Jesus, with His own blood, had forgiven you of ALL your sins, so there is no sin that is unpardonable! By one perfect sacrifice, Jesus has cleansed you of the sins of your entire life and you are now sealed with the promise of eternal life! Now, this is good news that will establish your heart with grace and confidence.
God does not leave you wondering whether you are saved or not. He tells you from the love of Christ. Not even sin because His blood is greater than your sin! Knowing that all your sins are forgiven is crucial for your health, peace of mind, wholeness and wellness. My struggle with the unpardonable sin during my teenage years is a case in point. The more you believe that all your sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, the more you will become whole – body, soul and spirit!
Knowing that all your sins are forgiven is crucial for your health, peace of mind, wholeness and wellness.
I hope that by now, you can see the dangers of lifting the Word of God out of its context. We have to be careful not to take a verse out of its context and build a teaching or doctrine around it. Bible teachings have to be confirmed by several supporting verses and these have to be studied within their proper contexts. When you hear teachings that put fear in your heart and place you under bondage, don’t just swallow them hook, line, sinker, fisherman and boots. Look at the context of the verse, and see if it is a new covenant truth or an old covenant teaching. Who was the verse spoken or written to, and how is it applicable to you today? Just remember that all new covenant truths exalt Jesus and His finished work. Hallelujah!
The Main Clause Of The New Covenant
It is sad that you hardly hear the main clause of the new covenant being preached today:
Hebrews 8:8-12 (NKJV) 8… “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah- 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
“I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Memorize this, beloved, for this is the main and final clause of the new covenant!
Unfortunately, it seems that what the average Christian believes today is the complete opposite. They believe that God is not merciful to their sins. When something goes wrong, inwardly they think, “Well, the rooster has come home to roost. My past sins have caught up with me. All these terrible things are happening to my family and my finances because of the sins that I have committed.” When they have a flat tire, they start thinking to themselves, “What sin is God punishing me for now?” This kind of thinking is so prevalent in the church because Christians don’t really believe that they are under the new covenant.
The problem with the church today is wrong believing. I’m sorry to tell you this, but if you refuse to believe what God has said about the forgiveness of sins in the new covenant, then you are actually in disobedience. Jesus Himself defined the new covenant for us at the last supper when He said, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins”9(Matthew 26:28) The main clause of the new covenant is the forgiveness of all your sins because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I don’t care how many good deeds you have done, how much money you have given to charity or what leadership position you hold. If you do not believe the main clause of the new covenant, you are in disobedience.
God does not keep an itemized account of all your failures.
God put the main clause of the new covenant as the last clause to show us that it is this final clause that makes everything work. If you don’t believe the main and final clause, you are rejecting the new covenant and negating the finished work of Jesus. The new covenant says that God is merciful to all your unrighteousness, and has forgotten your sins plus your lawless deeds. If God says that He has forgotten them, then He has truly forgotten them. Who are we to contradict Him? God cannot lie!
But how can God forget my sins?”
He can because He is God! If He said it, then He has done it. You know that sin you committed many years ago? God has forgotten it. Contrary to what you might have been taught, God does not keep and itemized account of all your failures. There is no big projector screen in heaven to show all your sins from the day you were born to the day you return to heaven. All the records of your sins have been incinerated by the blood of Jesus when He cried out, “It is finished!”10 (John 19:30) His blood has removed the sins of your entire life. When God looks at you today, He sees you covered with Jesus’ blood and completely righteous.
Only the devil, you yourself and the people around you will bring your sins to your remembrance. So when you are weighted down by the mistakes of your past, run to God and lean on His grace! Why? For He will be merciful to your unrighteousness, and your sins and your lawless deeds He will remember no more. This is the main clause of the new covenant of grace!
Theology is the study of religious faith, practice, and experience. It is the study of God and God’s relation to the world. This arguement was written by my favorite
Christian thologian, Joseph Prince.
An other pastor friend of mine sights Hebrews 6:4-10 as arguement for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
being the unpardonable sin
He believes that based on
Hebrews 6:4-10 (NKJV)
4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. 9But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Jesus gives us free choice in accepting
Him as Lord and Savior by faith!
You also have free choice in believing or not believing the series of statements for or against
blasphemy, as the unpardonable sin.
Please remember what God said about judging in Matthew 7:1-5
1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
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SCRIPTURES TO REMIND YOU OFGOD’S LOVING-KINDNESS AND
HEALING FOR YOU . . .
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
ISAIAH 53:4-5
Since you were precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you . . .
Do not be afraid, for I am with you . . .
ISAIAH 43:4-5
I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the LORD.
JEREMIAH 30:17
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
COLOSSIANS 1:13-14
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.
PSALM 121:7-8
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.
PSALM 91:7
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
ROMANS 8:35, 37
“. . . I am the Lord who heals you.”
EXODUS 15:26
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
MATTHEW 8:7
And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and none of the terrible evil diseases of Egypt which you knew will He put uppn you . . .
The most important question you will ever be asked is, who is Jesus Christ to YOU? Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV). In 1 John 5:11-13 we are told that if we have the son in our life we can KNOW that we have eternal life. Jesus is the only way for us to live an abundant life here on earth, or receive eternal life in fellowship with God. Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins so that we could be sinless in the eyes of God. If we do not receive the free gift of eternal life by experiencing the forgiveness achieved by Jesus, then we will receive the punishment we so justly deserve. Jesus must become the Lord of our lives. Imagine your life as an automobile—Jesus must be behind the wheel of your life. The verses below show the attributes of Jesus, but if he has not forgiven your sins, been invited into your life and involved in a personal relationship with you, there is little purpose in reading on. You can change your life at this very moment. Admit your sin, repent of it before God. Believe in the atonement of Jesus on the cross and receive the gift of eternal life which Jesus died to freely give you. Invite Jesus into your life to live through you and thank him for doing so.
All verses taken from the New International Version unless noted otherwise.
He is God Almighty
Isaiah 9:6 — For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 7:14 — Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (Prophecy).
Matthew 1:23– “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”– which means, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14 prophecy fulfilled).
Comment:
Jesus was declared to be the Mighty God and Everlasting Father long before he was ever conceived in the womb of Mary. The Everlasting Father became the child and son born in the manger. Therefore Jesus truly is Immanuel, God with us. Jesus is Almighty God become a man.
Isaiah 40:3 — A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God (Prophecy).
John 1:23–John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord'” (Isaiah 40:3 prophecy fulfilled).
Comment:
The word LORD, spelled with all capital letters is the name of God, Jehovah. In prophecy, John the baptist was to prepare the world to receive God Almighty. In reality, John prepared the world for Jesus, preaching the message of repentance. John did not make a mistake, he knew that Jesus was Jehovah God joining the human race.
Isaiah 45:23 — Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear (Prophecy).
Philippians 2:9-11 — Prophecy fulfilled: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Isaiah 45:23 prophecy referring to Jesus).
Comment:
Isaiah 45:23 quotes God to say that “every knee will bow…every tongue will swear.” In the previous verses God stated: “…there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me…there is no other.” In Philippians, Paul, a Pharisee, uses this same language to refer to Jesus. He understood scripture’s description of God as a solitary spirit, a lone sovereign. He also knew that applying this scripture to Jesus was the same as calling him the only true God. In essence, Paul was saying that Jesus was the only God and Savior, become a man.
Isaiah 44:6–Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Isaiah 48:12–Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Revelation 22:13, 16– I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Comment:
God declared through Isaiah that he was the “first and the last,” but Jesus went further with his declaration by claiming to be the “Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and end.” How many “firsts and lasts” are there? The only accurate explanation is found in the fact that Jesus is Almighty God incarnate.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God
Hebrews 1:3 — The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:4 — The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Colossians 1:15 — He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Comment:
According to John 4:24, “God is spirit.” Luke 24:39 tells us “a spirit has no flesh or bone.” All scripture confirms that God, in the Old Testament, was invisible. “No man has seen God” (John 1:18); but Jesus is described as the “exact representation of God, the image of God, and the image of the invisible God.” The spirit of God that never permanently occupied a body or form before, took on the form of a man by becoming the person of Jesus Christ. He was no longer invisible, untouchable, without form, now he dwelt among us. Both God Almighty and man: born in Bethlehem as Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to save us from our sin
Matthew 1:21 — “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
John 1:29 — The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 3:17 — For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Hebrews 7:27 — …He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
I John 1:7 — But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
I John 3:5 — But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
Comment:
The name of Jesus in New Testament Greek is “Iesous” (e-ay-soos’). The origin of Jesus’ name is found in the Old Testament names “Joshua, Jehoshuah, or Jehoshua,” pronounced Yehowshuwa` (yeh-ho-shoo’-ah); or Yehowshua. These names mean Jehovah-saved, Jehovah saves, Jehovah saviour. The name of Jesus was not decided upon in an arbitrary fashion as most children’s names are. Jesus’ name was decided based upon his mission in life, and his mission was determined from the foundation of the world—He was to save us from our sins (Revelation 13:8) with one sacrifice for all time. The significance of the name of Jesus does not end with his mission in life. It is also found in the fact that Jesus is Jehovah. The one true God, who “stretched out the heavens alone, and spread out the earth by himself” (Isaiah 44:24), came to earth to save us by living as Jesus Christ. “God did not send someone else to save the world…he came himself.”
Jesus is the Son of God
Psalm 2:7 — I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father (Also Hebrews 1:5).
Matthew 1:18 — This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:28–…If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
Matthew 3:17 — And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 26:63-64 — But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
Romans 1:4 — …and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Comment:
The sonship of Jesus was predetermined in the mind and plan of God from eternity, but he did not really exist until he was born in Bethlehem. As my mentor Robert Sabin described, when a homebuilder looks at blueprints of his future home, they see the plans for the bathroom and say, “There’s the bathroom.” They can see it in their mind’s eye, but it doesn’t exist yet. The plan of Jesus’ birth, life, sacrifice, and death was similar. You might say, God had a blueprint of salvation that was so real to him he could see it as though it already existed. Romans 4:17 tells us “God…calls things that are not as though they were.” Psalm 2:7 (quoted above) in the KJV states “this day have I begotten thee.” Jesus was God’s son, his only son—he had a birthday which means there was a time when he did not exist. The spirit of God is eternal, without beginning or end. Man is not eternal. As a man, Jesus had a beginning. The humanity of Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins at Calvary. The spirit of the risen Christ, humanity and divinity together will never end. Since the first Christmas day, Jesus will always be God, and God will always be man. 1 Corinthians 15:28 describes a time when “God will be all, and in all.” The sonship of Jesus as mediator to the human race will no longer be necessary when there is no more sin, no more death, no more sorrow. Jesus will always be God’s only begotten son.
Jesus is both the creator and descendant of David
Isaiah 11:1–A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Matthew 1:2-26–See this text for the lineage of Abraham to David, and David to Jesus.
Matthew 22:41-46–While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” 42 “The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘ 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Romans 1:3 — …regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David….
Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 22:16 — “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Comment:
When Jesus declares he is the “Root and Offspring of David,” he is exposing two facts: 1) David is descended from Jesus and 2) Jesus is descended from David. How can this be? Jesus, the human, did not exist actually before David, but the spirit of God did. The “Root” is the Spirit of God. The Spirit that spoke the worlds into existence out of nothing. The same Spirit that selected David as king and then blessed his kingdom. It was that Spirit which overshadowed Mary to become the father of Jesus. The Spirit of God then took on the identity of Jesus, by living in him. Jesus’ human ancestry is traced back to David and Abraham. His bloodline comes directly from God. Jesus is the Spirit of God from the Old Testament who became a man in the New Testament, thereby the “Root and Offspring of David.”
He is the King of Kings and Lord of lords
Daniel 2:47–The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
1 Timothy 6:13-15–I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 17:14 — They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings– and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Revelation 19:16–On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Comment:
Misunderstanding these scriptures leads to an inaccurate perception of God. In any kingdom, there can only be one “King of kings.” You may say, “That is true in a human kingdom, but it could work in a divine Kingdom.” God Himself leaves no room for plurality within His sovereignty. He declares “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself “(Isaiah 44:24). To create a doctrine to solve problems of scriptural interpretation only creates problems, not solutions. The question raised from these texts is: How can the King of kings of the Old Testament be alone as God, and yet Jesus rightfully claims the same title in the New Testament? The answer is found in the fact that the King of the Old Testament is also King in the New Testament. There is no division of power, no delegation of authority, no savior dispatched from heaven. God did not send someone else to save the world, He came Himself. God did not send a prince into the kingdom, the king put on the robe of a prince and came into the kingdom. You may ask, how can this be? Read on below.
Jesus’ Father, the Spirit of God, was living within him.
John 10:30 — Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”
John 10:38 — But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
John 14:8-10 — Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
John 14:20 — On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
2 Corinthians 5:19 — …God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation (NKJ).
Colossians 1:19 — For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him
Comment:
Have you ever asked yourself the question: When Jesus prayed, who was he praying to? Why did Jesus seem to have such a subordinate role if he was God Almighty? (After reading this, I encourage you to visit the Sir Isaac Watt’s article “A Solemn Address to the Deity.” He had very similar questions.) Jesus was born a male child of the human race. He required food, water, warmth, and nurturing to survive and flourish. Jesus became tired; he slept; he wept. He was tempted in every aspect possible. The humanity of Jesus was as fragile and susceptible to failure as any other human being. The difference between Jesus and us, is Jesus had total access to the Spirit of God living in him. John the baptist described Jesus by saying: “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit” (John 3:34). It was the Spirit of God living in Jesus that gave him the power to do miracles, to know the thoughts of men, to be “God with us.” The humanity of Jesus prayed to the Spirit of God in him for strength, insight, wisdom, knowledge, direction, and power. The Spirit in Jesus was no longer just a temporary manifestation of deity on earth (See Theophanies). God became a man, or “The Creator became part of creation” (Robert A. Sabin). The humanity of Jesus was the mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). The flesh and blood was necessary for the propitiation of our sins (Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10); for without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). The importance of Jesus being a man does not end there. Jesus is also our advocate, defending us when we stand before God in judgment when the accuser attempts to steal us away from God (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25,1 John 2:1). The humanity of Jesus should encourage every downtrodden, brokenhearted, defeated individual because in Jesus, we have someone who understands what we are going through. Jesus will always be a man, but he won’t always need to be a mediator, an atonement for sin, an intercessor. See above reference to 1 Corinthians 15:28 under “Jesus is the Son of God.” God will always reside in Jesus, therefore Jesus will always be God.
Jesus is the baptizer with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter
Isaiah 44:3–For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 59:20-21–“The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD. 21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the LORD.
Joel 2:28-29–I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Matthew 3:11 — “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Mark 1:7-8 — And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Luke 3:16–John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Luke 24:49–I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
John 1:33 — I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 2:1-18–When the day of Pentecost came…All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them…Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd…this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Comment:
In the Old Testament, God was speaking when he promised the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 59 uses the Hebrew Tetragrammaton for the proper name of God–LORD. Yet in the New Testament, there can be no controversy that Jesus will be the one who pours out the Holy Spirit. Jesus even refers to the promise of the Father in Luke 24:49 that he will pour out. When considered in perspective of Jesus being Jehovah God in the flesh, there is no conflict between the Old and New Testaments. Any other interpretation, requires the formulation of a doctrine to reconcile the Bible with itself.
Jesus is the Holy Ghost/Comforter
Matthew 28:20–And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
John 14:16-18 — And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Romans 8:9-11–You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you
Comments:
One must be exercise caution to remember that the Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit, not a separate entity. The words “Holy Spirit” are “pneuma hagion” in the Greek. Translated it means “holy breath.” It was the holy breath of God that hovered over the waters in creation (Genesis 1:2). That same holy breath of God overshadowed Mary, the mother of Jesus, and then lived in his son. The holy breath of God raised Jesus from the dead. The spirit of the risen Christ referred to in these verses is the same holy breath of God. Only now, the spirit has taken up permanent residence in a man. Jesus told his followers in John 14: “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you” (KJV). He identifies himself as the comforter, which is one and the same as the Holy Spirit. In Romans, Paul refers to the Spirit of God living in you, and in the next phrase emphasizes the importance of having the Spirit of Christ in you. The connection should be simple.
Jesus will be on the throne when we arrive in heaven.
Matthew 19:28–Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne…
Revelation 3:21–To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Revelation 4:2-3–…there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.
Revelation 7:17–For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
Revelation 19:4–The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne.
Revelation 22:3-4–The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Comments:
According to the Bible, how many thrones are there in heaven? It is clear by the constant use of the singular word throne, that there is only one throne. How many will be seated on the throne. Matthew refers to the Son of Man. Is that one? When Jesus speaks in Revelation 3:21, he tells us the he will be seated with his Father. Is that two? It must be understood that the Father and Jesus are one (John 10:30) because the Father lives in Jesus. There is one God, one savior, one Father, one LORD, one throne, one King of Kings and Lord of lords…Jesus.
Jesus is everything to us: He is God, savior, mediator, propitiation for sin, advocate, and comforter. Soon, he will be our rescuer, King and ruler.
