Where is my Salvation

Psalm 35:3 "Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation."

How often do we feel forsaken? It is not uncommon for Christians to feel alone and abandoned. Even though HE promises not to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) the feeling still creeps in from time to time. Sometimes it can happen that we would even question our salvation. King David was a human being. And for all his praise and worship he too felt this isolation at different times. And he had the courage to write about it. We can read in the Psalms where he frequently felt abandoned by GOD. He cried out to GOD not to abandon him forever. We can sometimes grow so weary of life's battles that we feel this same low that David faced. But in addition to his praises, and in addition to his feelings of loneliness, David also recorded his response to those feelings. When we feel the isolation and the darkness that we are promised is only a feeling and not our reality, we, like David, can cry out; "LORD, tell me You are my salvation."

Peace and blessings.
Shannon

Can a person reject GOD too long?

I am writing this after a recent conversation with a friend. It seems some people teach that if a person rejects GOD too long, GOD will cut them off and no longer have salvation for them. I reject this teaching. There are two reasons. One is that it implies that GOD has a limited supply of patience and grace. And two, it makes HIS word a lie. Let me explain.

2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Here it is clearly stated that GOD desires that all should turn to HIM. And HE is longsuffering (patient) with those who reject HIM. GOD never gives up on any of us. As Christians it is good to know because this means HE never throws us out of the family for messing up too much. But it is also good news for anyone who doesn't know CHRIST. You have never been too bad or waited too long to come to CHRIST and receive HIS salvation.

The mistake made by many who teach differently is usually found in Romans 1:28, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;" Reprobate means disapproved. Keep in mind that we were all disapproved until we came to CHRIST. Also note that this verse speaks of people who seemed to come to CHRIST but soon gave it up. These people were never rooted in faith. Without faith true conversion cannot take place.

And to those who teach that this means that they can no longer be saved I have to say that is misinterpretation. It means they may seem harder to reach. But that is only from our perspective. No one is ever out of reach for GOD. It might seem hopeless to us sometimes. Especially after years of praying and witnessing to an individual only to see them reject GOD and become hard hearted. Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, and Luke 18:27 all make it clear that what seems impossible for us in by no means impossible for GOD. And as for someone hardening their heart the scriptures make it clear that this is normal. Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26 both contain the words of GOD saying that HE will remove this heart of stone. And remember CHRIST said to fall on the rock and be broken and HE will mend us. Otherwise the rock will fall on us and crush us. (Matthew 21:44 and Luke 20:18)

So if you are concerned about someone you know who seems to be hopeless, don't give up. No matter how many times they reject GOD keep praying for them. If they are still alive there is still time. And if you are someone who has rejected GOD and you believe that you are beyond GOD'S ability or willingness to save, that is the devil lying to you to keep you from GOD. Turn to CHRIST. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Peace and GOD bless.
Shannon

Brass Skys

Deuteronomy 28:15 and 23

"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:"

"And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron."

Understand that these are the words that Moses spoke to the Israelites when he had given them GOD'S laws. What I want to point out is that if we refuse to obey GOD there is a long list of bad stuff that can enter our lives. What we see in verse 23 is that the sky and the ground can become hard as metal. As for the ground, he was referring to the lack of fertile soil for crops. It represents ground that can't be effectively plowed for a garden. But the interesting thing is what he said about the sky. It can become like brass. Brass can be a highly reflective metal. It was used by the ancients to make mirrors, among other things.

This is what I'm thinking. Have you ever experienced those times when you thought your prayers were bouncing off the ceiling? I have. Sometimes that is probably the devil trying to get us to stop praying. But sometimes, maybe they are? If we are living in rebellion against GOD, HE has the right to turn our sky into brass. And HE can and will do so until we repent and worship HIM "in Spirit and in truth". Are your prayers bouncing off the ceiling? Maybe GOD is waiting for you to seek HIS face again. Just a thought.

Peace and blessings.
Shannon

What I have to always do

I am prone to failure. And as a result I am also prone to getting beaten down with guilt. So this is what I have learned I have to do always. This is my protection from getting beaten up and beaten down and knocked completely off course when I fail. This is what I must do when the adversary tries to burden me and guilt me into giving up when I fail. This is a four step process including scriptures that I have to remember in order to keep from turning stumbling into utter failure and hopelessness.

Step One, Realize my sin. Admit to myself that I have stumbled once again and make no excuses.
Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Romans 3:10 - "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Step two, Confess my sin, failure, mistake, transgression, or whatever I call it, to GOD quickly and in complete openness and honesty.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Step three, When the adversary tries to beat me down over my failure, remember that after taking the first two steps, I am forgiven and that sin no longer exists. It is gone and is no longer held against me.
1 John 1:9 (again) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 2:1 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
Hebrews 10:17 "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
Psalm 86:5 "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."
Romans 7:18-25 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

Step four, Repent. Turn away from the point of failure. Make every effort to avoid making the same mistake again.
Hebrews 10:26 "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,"
Galatians 2:17 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid."
1 John 2:1 (again) "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"

Getting Back to CHRIST

Matthew 14:28 - 31 "And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

     Why is it that we seem to struggle so much getting back to CHRIST? We start off a new life as Christians. And we make a couple little mistakes and we tell GOD we're sorry and we go on. But sooner or later we goof up pretty bad. And when we do we seem to wallow in it. Instead of turning back to CHRIST in repentance we tell ourselves, or let the devil tell us, that we went too far. We believe we are unforgivable. We think we totally blew it. This same thought keeps many people from turning to CHRIST in the first place.

     But in LUKE 5:32 CHRIST said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

     And many people feel like GOD wouldn't take them back. But in John 8:35 CHRIST also said, "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever."

     And as adopted children of GOD we are HIS sons and daughters through CHRIST. In other words, once you are in the family you will not get kicked out.
     So go back and look at the scripture from Matthew 14. Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on the water. Everyone likes to pick on Peter for looking away and sinking. But I won't do that. I'm impressed with what Peter did. First of all, he was the only one in the boat who had enough faith to get out and walk on the water. And secondly, he had enough sense to realize he was sinking and to quickly cry out to CHRIST.
     Now look at the response of CHRIST. Was it to watch Peter sink a little before helping him? No. Was it to put HIS foot out and kick Peter away? No. Did HE yell, "Swim Peter!" No. Yes CHRIST asked Peter why he doubted. But that was after HE "immediately" reached out and picked him up. CHRIST is compassionate. HE knew Peter goofed. HE knows we will goof. But when we do HE will help us just like HE did Peter. So what does it take for us to learn that it's not about our performance in HIM? It is about HIS performance in us.

     I hope you are greatly encouraged.
     Peace and blessings,
     Shannon

The Danger of the Tongue

       We understand that sin is sin. There is no big sin or small sin to GOD. It is all sin. Although there is one sin referred to as the "unforgivable sin. We also see in several scriptures that there are some sins that really cheese GOD off in a special way. Lying is one such sin. I have seen in scripture that lying is especially dangerous.
       In Romans 13:9 Paul writes a list of exceptional no no's. "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
       Lying is the fourth thing on the list! Of all the sins Paul could have mentioned being dishonest is number four!
       James 3:5-8 puts it this way; "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
       Do we consider our words before they come out of our mouth? Some people say they just tell it like it is. Is that always the Godly way to respond? No. What's the big deal? I have learned a valuable lesson in this life. Even those tiny little lies we tell to spare someone's feelings are dangerous. When a person finds out you lied to them or about them it can really be painful. They may not bleed. But you have stuck an emotional dagger in their back. Friendships can be broken over this very thing. Churches have divided over this same concept.
       An old saying says that, "the pen is mightier than the sword". The pen delivers words. How much more dangerous is the tongue? It can deliver words before they can ever be proofread. It is an emotional sword.
       This is why CHRIST said in Matthew 15:18 , "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man."
And Paul said in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
Honesty is the way to go. Sometimes the truth can be painful. But lies hurt even more when they are discovered. And they will be discovered.
       And what about gossip? Well it's just as bad. Sometimes it contains some truth. But rarely do the people involved in gossip know the whole truth. And the omission of parts of the truth is the same as a lie and can be just as dangerous and just as painful.
       James 3:18 says, "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
       I hope this will encourage all of us to think before we speak.
       Here are a couple more to consider;
       Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."
       Proverbs 18:13 "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."
       So listen more, speak less, and tell the truth.
       Peace and blessings.
       Shannon

Hope's conversion

This is a paragraph I borrowed from "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan. It is one of my favorite books. I don't usually read fiction but this is an allegory that I found very interesting and inspiring. It usually floats back and forth between my first and second favorite book after the Bible. The other book is "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand. I borrowed this because I really like the point it makes and wanted to share an idea. To me it really demonstrates the true nature of repentance and salvation. There are other equally good sections but I felt this one suited the purpose particularly well.

Hope's conversion

"I did not see him with my bodily eyes, but with the eyes of my understanding, and thus it was. One day I was very sad, I think sadder than at any one time in my life; and this sadness was through a fresh sight of the greatness and vileness of my sins. And as I was then looking for nothing but hell, and the everlasting damnation of my soul, suddenly, as I thought, I saw the Lord Jesus looking down from heaven upon me, and saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” But I replied, Lord, I am a great, a very great sinner: and he answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Then I said, But, Lord, what is believing? And then I saw from that saying, “He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst,” that believing and coming was all one;"

The point

First note Hope's sadness. It was this heaviness of heart that led to his repentance. This is the work of the HOLY SPIRIT drawing us to CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." (NKJV) It is the SPIRIT given remorse of our sin and separation from GOD that drives us to GOD. This brings salvation that we will not regret. And this brings change in our life turning us away from sin and to GOD. The worlds sorrow may be equally sad. But it only brings regret and failure. It does not lead to any change. Without leading to salvation it leads the only other direction which is death.

Today we see much false doctrine. There is a danger of doctrines that depend upon works or fulfilling Old Covenant laws as something our salvation depends on. We can never depend on our efforts for salvation. Our own effort is worthless before a GOD so Holly, and righteous, and just. Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as the unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as a menstruous cloth. And we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (MKJV) We are saved only by HIS grace. Ephesians 2:8,9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-not by works, so that no one can boast." (TNIV) So we see we must be dependant on GOD'S "sufficient" grace for our salvation.

But there is another equally dangerous doctrine that takes verses like Acts 16:31 which Hope quoted, "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your household." (MKJV) But today it seems too many people weaken this truth with a watered down misinterpretation of true belief. Belief was not just casual acknowledgement of the facts. It is not enough just to say you believe in CHRIST and assume that means you automatically go to Heaven. James 2:19 "You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe and tremble." (MKJV) You see, even the devil believes in GOD. True believing is to cling to these facts and trust in them. If you do that you will act upon them. James 2:20 adds, "But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (MKJV) And going back to Ephesians 2:10 we see, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (TNIV) So there is more than just changing your mind and believing in CHRIST. Although it starts with a change of mind it will lead to a change in action. This is what Hope meant when he quoted John 6:35 "And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes on Me shall never thirst." (MKJV) "Believing and coming was all one." You can't come to CHRIST if you don't really believe on HIM. But if you really believe on HIM you will come to HIM. Make sense?

Peace and blessings,
Shannon

"The Practice of the Presence of GOD"

"The Practice of the Presence of GOD" by/about Brother Lawrence (1605-1691)

I just finished reading this book. In my list of favorite books this one is in a tie for second place with "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand. (Founder of Voice Of the Martyrs) My all time favorite is "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan (1628-1688)

Anyway…"The Practice of the Presence of GOD" is a really inspiring book. This man worked in a kitchen in a Monastery from about 44 years of age until his passing at around age 86. People who encountered him were quickly aware that he was different. He seemed to be in communion with GOD no matter where he was or what he was doing. This was actually his goal. And this book is a collection of his letters as well as notes from conversations with a couple fellow Brothers. The copy I read includes footnotes with references to scriptures he would draw from. And with these notes it would make a very interesting Bible study.

"Believe me, count as lost each day you have not used in loving GOD."-Brother Lawrence (1614 - 1691)

Patrick of Ireland

The story of Patrick of Ireland
(387 - March 17, 461)

"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ above me."

"Before I was humiliated I was like a stone that lies in deep mud. And He who is mighty came and in His compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall."

From "The Baptist Vision" March/April 2009 Volume 15 / Edition 2

He is a man whose life and work is surrounded by myth and legend. It is rather difficult to uncover the underlying truth about his life, yet those who have discovered the real Patrick will testify that the real story is far more fascinating than the myth.

Born in what is now Great Britain, a remote province in a disintegrating Roman Empire, Patrick's father was a deacon, and his grandfather was a pastor; however, though blessed with godly heritage, he entered young adulthood an unbeliever.

Raised in an aristocratic family, Patrick enjoyed a large house with many servants to attend to his every need, yet he had no time to care about God and His Word. No one could have expected that this idle youth would have become one of God's greatest missionaries.

Patrick was only 16 years old when Irish marauders raided his small village. He was taken hostage and subsequently sold as a slave to a farmer in Ireland. Later, Patrick would testify that his two constant companions while a slave were hunger and nakedness. He labored night and day, tending to sheep and other livestock. Remarkably, it was during this period of deep trial and deprivation that Patrick came to know Christ as his personal Saviour. In fact, God so completely changed his life that he became known to everyone who knew him as "that Holy youth."

God often allows events to occur in the course of our lives that we cannot understand, but He is always working for our good. The Lord tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." In Isaiah 55:9 God moved the prophet to write "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Even though it must have seemed that all was lost, God mightily used these awful circumstances to bring Patrick to Himself.

Forced to labor for six long years, the Lord finally provided Patrick an opportunity for escape. He had to walk for nearly 200 miles, wading through marshy bogs and climbing the rugged mountains. When at last he made it to the coast of Ireland, Patrick encountered a ship which took him back to Britton. Though its crew was wickedly pagan, Patrick always believed the ship had been provided by God.

When Patrick returned to his homeland, he was a changed man. His time and energy was now devoted to studying the Scriptures. His only desire was for communion with Christ. It was during this time that God began to speak to him about returning to Ireland this time as a missionary, carrying the Gospel that would free the slaves of sin.

Would you willingly return to the place of your captivity to give God's Word to those who had treated you so cruelly? Patrick did just that because he understood that Christ loved those men just as He loved him. It truly was the love of Christ that constrained him to go.

Walking the length and breadth of Ireland, Patrick gave witness to the saving power of the Gospel of Christ to every person he met. His life was in danger each day he remained in Ireland. He was arrested many times, but even this could not shake his resolve. His testimony was Paul's testimony. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

Patrick felt himself unqualified for missionary service, having never completed his education. However, God greatly blessed his faithful service. Many historians believe that as many as 120,000 people called upon Christ as Saviour as a result of Patrick's ministry.

Patrick of Ireland died on March 17th in the year 461ad. So great was his impact on Ireland that legends began to circulate about his life. Such legends serve to distract men from the truth that Patrick was a powerful preacher of the Gospel and a witness for Christ. But the truth is far more incredible than any legend.

Centuries later, Patrick would become known as St. Patrick of Ireland, and the day set aside in his honor would become known as St. Patrick's Day. While others may celebrate the legend of the shamrock, God's people should rejoice in the true story of Patrick, the mighty soul-winner of Ireland.

Regeneration

"The temptation to make our relation to God judicial instead of personal is very strong. Believing for salvation has been reduced to a once-done act that requires no further attention." A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)

In our happy days of modern theology with all its love and peace, all the believe and receive, all the name it claim it, all the health and wealth... What happened to the doctrine of regeneration? What happened to the idea that if you are a Christian you will live like a Christian? How did it come to all this? We have this idea now that you just pray some little prayer on a card and say you're sorry and whoosh! Off to Heaven you go! That's not the way the early church taught it. That's not the way Christ taught it. When did being a Christian become an optional accessory to salvation? Why do we teach people that you say this little prayer and you are saved and then if you feel like it you can actually live for Christ? You don't have to pray so much. You don't have to read your Bible daily. You don't need to go to church more than once a week. You don't need to go to church at all for that matter. That stuff is for radicals! That's Zealot stuff! Those people take religion too far! No! Those people have been born again! Those people met the only begotten Son of the true and living God. Now they spend every waking minute wanting to know Him more. They discovered they were alone in life and now they have a chance to walk with God and that is exactly what He has put on their hearts to do! James said, "Don't fool yourself. Don't just hear it and walk away. Live it!" No that's not King James. That's my paraphrase of James 1:22. You think I'm being too "religious"? Read Hebrews 10:38&39. Read Hebrews 9:14. Read 1 Peter 1:22&23. Read 1 John 3:10. These guys all knew better than to say if you believe in some concept of a god and try to be kind of a nice person most of the time, that you could look forward to a place like Heaven when you die. That's not how it works at all. No you cannot save yourself by works. The Bible makes it clear that this is impossible. (Ephesians 2:8&9) But if you refuse to be recreated you are refusing salvation. Oh no don't give me that "Lordship" stuff! Well do you really think you can look God in the face and say, "Forgive me for my sins but stay out of my business."? Isn't that what we are telling people with our modern day seeker friendly evangelism?

What about Ephesians 4:21-30? "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

I know this kind of thinking doesn't make me very popular. But I have to be honest. I'm actually trying to help. I know that none of us are perfect and we won't be as long as we live in this vile flesh. But James explained it quite well when he said that your works perfect your faith. (James 2:22) As I said before, you cannot save yourself by your works. It's not about keeping the Law. The only thing that saves anyone is faith. But if you have faith you will seek to please God. And this will help your faith to grow and to be perfected. And in the process you become a better person for it. And in the end you can hear the King of kings and the Lord of lords say "Well done good and faithful servant. Enter in." (Matthew 25:21&23)

Peace and God bless.
Shannon

The Law

     I finally finished reading the second half of "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan. That is a great book! Now I'm reading "The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread" by Richard Booker. It is based on a sermon preached on New Year's Eve 1961 by Dr. W. A. Criswell. This was a sermon that lasted four hours and Dr. Criswell couldn't finish. It was then published by Dr. Criswell in book form. His book by the same title is no longer in print. I will have to watch for it on Amazon or EBay or something. Why Richard Booker doesn't mention Dr. Criswell I don't know. But I'm always skeptical of people who say "The Spirit revealed to me…" When everyone knows where they really got it. I might have to write someone a letter. I do that sometimes.

     But at any rate…In my own study time I was thinking about my own salvation. Some of this is seen in the scarlet thread and some isn't. I know I am saved by grace thru faith. It's God's grace. All I can do is have faith in it. But I see so many people trying to work their way to Heaven. That's sad. It can't be done. Mankind is too far separated from God. I see people who believe the Law can save them. If this were true Christ died in vain.
Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
And Galatians 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
     So why do people do it? If they truly study the Law like they say they do then they would know that the Law was not written for Gentiles. The fact is that the Sacrifices and Feasts (all the dos in the Law) were forbidden for Gentiles. A Gentile could not keep these parts of the Law unless he converted to Israel by circumcision and baptism (works). The only thing the Gentiles were allowed to recognize were the don'ts. Modern day legalists (Pharisees) conveniently forget this. Under the Law it was actually illegal for Gentiles to keep feast days including and especially the Passover.
     It is important to understand that Christ fulfilled the old covenant. We now live under a new covenant. The Jews stumbled at the Law because they didn't understand the spirit of the Law is more important than the letter of the Law.
Romans 9:32 "Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;"
     Those who live by the letter of the Law do so because they don't understand how to walk in the Spirit. Because they don't have the Spirit. But the Law will not save them. It will only judge and condemn them. The Law is not to live by it is to learn by. Big difference. Christ has fulfilled and abolished the Law.
Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Acts 13:39 "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
     So think about all this next time you decide it is time to clear your house of leaven or you are looking for a church that meets on Saturday. Think about it. Pray about it. And trust God and allow Him to give you peace.

     God bless you all.
     Shannon

400

      I'm sorry to offend. But I have to get this off my chest.
      2011 is NOT the 400th anniversary of the "King James" Bible! It is the 400th anniversary of the "Holy Bible" of 1611 AD! Please do your homework! They are NOT the same thing!!! The KJV did not come about until 1857. And it is still not standardized! The wording in the scripture is different between KJV Bibles published by Nelson, Holman, Schofield, and others. Not just in the footnotes but in the SCRIPTURE TEXT! And the 1611 Bible did include all 15 books of the Apocrypha (some think it is 14 but the 1611 combined "Baruch" and "The Letter of Jeremiah") as opposed to the Douay Bible of 1610 which only included 12 books of Apocrypha. Please admit the historical facts. I read both the KJV and the 1611. They are not the same!
      Also the KJV was never "authorized". The misuse of this word stems from an American problem understanding that Parliament obtained a patent on the translation of 1611 and only "authorized" printers were permitted to print and publish it. This insured that the Royal Family would continue to receive "royalties" for the sale of the "Bible" which they still receive for all Holy Bibles of the 1611 translation and other "revisions" of the 1611 text. Although the "KJV" or "authorized version" or "the 1611" are all considered to be in the "public domain" in the U.S.A. I am obviously not a KJV "onlyist". But I do prefer the KJV to other translations.
      Another thing that concerns me is that so many "onlyists" refuse to believe the truth about the History of the translations. Not just the English but Greek, Latin, German, French, and others. Christ said His words would be preserved for all generations. Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, and Luke 21:33 all agree Christ said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." I believe this whole heartedly. But the KJV is an English translation. Not "the only written word of God". If it was then Christ's promise was not kept until 1857. And, if the KJV is the "only" so on and so on; Which KJV is the "only" one? As I said before, they are not all the same! It's just a fact. And the KJV is NOT a "perfect" translation of any text. Tyndale himself said it would never be possible to have a "perfect" English translation.
      And if it is so "perfect" why did they change the name of Christ? "Jesus" is an English name. "Jesus" and "Joshua" are both English names. "Jesus" is NOT Greek for "Joshua". "Jesus" is the English version of "Iesous" which is the Greek word for "savior". Hebrews 4:8 and Acts 7:45 are proof that someone changed the name who didn't know the difference between Yehoshua the Messiah and Yehoshua the son of Nun. I wouldn't fuss about it. But KJV "onlyists" blow it off and make excuses for the fact that the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) is changed to a different name. To me this whole KJV only debate borders on Idolatry.
      And for the record; Forbidding men and women from praying together is a form of cult behavior. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4
      There! I said it.
      God bless you.

Resolutions

I almost decided to ignore the change in the calendar and just post a normal blog. 2010 has been a particularly cruddy year for me and my family. I'm glad it's gone and I'm ready for a better year. But I was reading my dictionary, (yes I know I'm weird) and I noticed this;

2. decision:
3. determination:
8. music harmonic progression: the musical progression from a dissonant to a consonant chord or note firmness of mind or purpose a firm decision to do something

…and so decided on this blog.

I wasn't going to make any New Year's Resolutions this year. I once heard someone say that a New Year's Resolution is just a way of making a promise to ourselves that we know we will not keep so we can spend another year feeling guilty about what we didn't do. But I have decided once again to make a short list of things I intend to do differently this year. As a Christian I have to say that if we are truly saved then we should already be resolved to love, obey, trust, and follow God. In my mind that is what salvation is like. I'm not trying to undermine Ephesians 2:8-9. We are certainly saved by grace through faith alone. But I think being "resolved" to follow God is what happens when we find that faith. (Read The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.) And if you are not a born again follower of Christ I recommend you consider starting your New Year off by "resolving" that issue. However, in light of the 8th definition of "Resolution" I would say there is a unique application to Christianity. We need to be growing ever closer to God through Christ and His Holy Spirit. (Romans 6:4) We are kind of like a dissonant chord. (A dissonant chord is "unpleasant to hear" or "conflicting: incompatible or inconsistent.") We are not exactly like Christ. But we are to be growing in His image. (Ephesians 2:10, Jeremiah 18:2-6, Isaiah 64:8) That would be like making the gradual progression from a dissonant chord to the perfect consonant chord He means for us to be. (2 Peter 3:18) So instead of making promises to myself I know I can't keep I am going to look for ways to find that harmonious growth.

The first thing I "purpose" to do this year is to read my Bible cover to cover at least two times. I have done this before but not two complete times in one consecutive 365 day period. It sounds like a lot. But it is actually not that much. There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible. That only requires reading 6.51 chapters per day to finish two times in 365 days. This will only average less than 45 minutes a day. (Note; that is 3.25 chapters per day to finish once in 365 days.)

Aside from reading my Bible I also plan to do some more detailed study. (Know indeed that there is a big difference between reading and studying.) I enjoy study and this is not anything new. But I plan to start with the Gospels and while I study I want to at the very least outline each chapter. I hope to have time to do a verse by verse commentary. This is a big goal and I will only be able to achieve it if God permits.

I have other things on my list. There are many things I am praying about. And many loose ends in my life that I would like to find some answers to. But these two general items will be enough to get me started in the right direction. So much of everything is really in God's hands anyway. I hope 2011 is a great year for you all. May it be a year of discovering more of our great and mighty God.

Peace and blessings to you.
Shannon