Tag: Justification

Why do Really Bad Things Happen? Could God Stop Them?

On By TimIn Forbearance, Jeremiah 07Leave a comment

They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My heart.

Jeremiah 7:31 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is something God didn’t ordain, decree, dream up or make happen… Babies were being burned alive in sacrifice to Molech. If one takes the time to read the rest of the chapter, it is easy to discern that God did punish this sin.

The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23.) But from the very beginning of the book, we read about people committing sin and they don’t receive the wages of sin.

Why?

There seems to be a respite of punishment. To some, it isn’t blatantly obvious. But to the one who studies, it becomes very plain. And it provides an insight as to the very good reasons why God doesn’t stop repugnant-moral evil.

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed swiftly, the heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil. Since one who sins may do evil a hundred times and extend his life, I also have experienced that it will be good for those who fear God when they have reverence before Him. But it will not be well for the wicked, and he will not prolong his days, like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

Ecclesiastes 8:11–13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The wisest king Solomon lamented over the lack of swift punishment. He watched how evil is pervasive and rampant, and one can do countless heinous things and still live. Solomon knows the end for the wicked, and the extension of life has a purpose.

What purpose?

That is hinted at in the title of Jesus in the very last book of the Bible. He is called, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

What the title is saying is that His death covers all sins that have been committed. If one has considered the entire work between the bookends of Genesis and Revelation, as that title of Jesus is encountered, the reality should be clear. This is the patient-forbearance of God.

Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Romans 2:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

One could rail against others not getting just recompense for some heinous act. The murderer isn’t punished swiftly. But have we ever considered our own lies and thievery demand the same justice?

It’s kinda weird.

But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith, in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously committed, to prove His righteousness at this present time so that He might be just and be the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:21–26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The law shows the futility of trying to make up for past proclivities. It is impossible. Yet because all have sinned and fallen short, as they live after they sin, God is justifying them! That’s why they live. That’s why God doesn’t stop sin from happening. If He stopped what we considered heinous, He would need to mete out the same toward us when we tell a lie about someone. And all would drop dead the moment they conceived sin in their heart.

Who could then be saved?

Continue reading. This goes on to say that God overlooks sins previously committed. There is no distinction there. He doesn’t just overlook the really bad ones.

It’s a demonstration of His righteousness. The same righteousness of God that comes to a person by faith. Though all humans are in the midst of being justified, this provides them a day of salvation (Isaiah 49:8.) What is meant, is it is a time given to all to seek remission of sins. That only comes by faith.

Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new. All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The punishment is delayed so that every person has time to repent and be saved.

Firstfruits of the First Resurrection

On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 15, Justification, Last Days, Rapture, ResurrectionLeave a comment

But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

1 Corinthians 15:20–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus is Firstfruits of the resurrection of the dead. As Paul continues to explain the resurrection, we’ve understood from that context before, it is bodily. It is to a new type of body that isn’t subject to sin. (This idea is elaborated upon later in the text.) In his continuing instruction, there is something more for us to understand. Rightly, it points to Jesus. He is the Firstfruits, but of what?

The term firstfruits is significant. But first, let’s explore the significance of this term from one perspective; the feasts established in the Torah, The law is called a schoolmaster.

But before faith came, we were imprisoned under the law, kept for the faith which was later to be revealed. So the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:23–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It was to bring us to Christ. Therefore the feasts established for Israel in the law would also be a tutor. These feats are patterns to help us identify the Messiah. There were seven established, some of which have been fulfilled by Jesus on Earth.

The first is Passover. In the first Passover we learn that the blood of an unblemished lamb protected the household where it was applied to the doorposts from the death of the firstborn. In the same way, Jesus fulfilled this by shedding His own blood. That when properly applied by the believer, metaphorically on the doorposts of the heart. It protects the firstborn of that house, the believer himself from sudden death. This isn’t protection from any death, but the death that comes as a judgment from God.

The second is The Feast of Unleavened Bread. Biblically, leaven is a typification of sin. The idea conveyed is the haste to escape Egypt. They had no time to leaven their bread. It is also at this time that leaven is also removed from houses. In the same way, Jesus takes away the leaven in our lives. In a sense… We also ought to hurry to believe when we are confronted with the truth.

The third is The Feast of Firstfruits. This is a celebration of the firstfruits and is done at the beginning of the spring harvest. It was signified by waving a sheaf of the first grain harvested to the priest. He would then wave this before the Lord in an offering. In like manner, Jesus also had to be presented before God.

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”

John 20:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

These are the spring feasts, the first three of seven ordained for Israel. All three have been fulfilled by Jesus just as the Old Testament patterns indicate. The fourth feast Pentecost, is also one said to be fulfilled, but I will leave for another time.

I want to talk about firstfruits. Just as the pattern is established in the feasts, this was the first of the entire harvest. What then is the significance?

Paul shows the order of the harvest. “Christ the firstfruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father.” I think that’s inclusive of the harvest. What I mean is, we have the beginning of the harvest given and the end when Christ comes, which is not the rapture. This is clearly explained to us in another place.

I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and the authority to judge was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:4–5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus has to come again to reign on Earth. At His coming, those who died justified (Acts 24:15) will be raised up to reign with Him. “Then comes the end.”

The harvest that Jesus is Firstfruits of began with His resurrection. It will end with the beginning of His Millennial reign. The harvest will continue, meaning there will be multiple resurrections in between. All of which is part of the First Resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14) to life (John 5:29.)

In Dependence Day

On By TimIn Acts 17, Daily WalkLeave a comment

I have been giving some thought to the significance of this day. In the United States, 4 July is the day we commemorate independence from the tyranny of the crown. One of the major themes of the day is freedom! It is in that light, we ought to point this day to Jesus.

Acts 17:22–31 (MEV): Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious. For as I passed by and looked up at your objects of worship, I found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Whom you therefore unknowingly worship, Him I proclaim to you.
“God who made the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands. Nor is He served by men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives all men life and breath and all things. He has made from one blood every nation of men to live on the entire face of the earth, having appointed fixed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord so perhaps they might reach for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
“Therefore since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to suppose that the Deity is like gold or silver or stone or an engraved work of art or an image of the reflection of man. God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He commands all men everywhere to repent. For He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, having given assurance of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

You may wonder why I am citing this portion of Scripture. Perhaps it is because of the similarities of the celebrations of this day with that of honoring an unknown god (a whole other post.). While Paul pointed to these men of Athens and noting their religious sincerity. Today’s celebration for many is an homage to an unknown god. I want to proclaim this God to you; He Who has provided to you your freedom. This God doesn’t live in man-made temples, nor does He need anything that we can provide.

The Yoke of Bondage

Paul understood clearly the mission of Jesus Christ. He has come to set us free from bondage. But what does that mean, to be in bondage?

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid! Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves to obey, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But thanks be to God, for you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and having been freed from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for just as you have yielded your members as slaves to impurity and iniquity leading to more iniquity, even so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness. For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. What fruit did you have then from the things of which you are now ashamed? The result of those things is death. But now, having been freed from sin and having become slaves of God, you have fruit unto holiness, and the end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:15–23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Paul is stating that if we yield our bodies toward sin, that is some moral decadence, we become enslaved to that. For some of us who struggle with addiction, we can understand. I wish not to make light of addiction but will offer an easily understandable example.

Remember back to the first time you tried your favorite dessert. It could be a chocolate cake or crème Brulee… Even something more exotic. Remember the sensations of the first taste, and how you just wanted to experience that forever. I am willing to say, that while you may enjoy these favorite treats, it is almost impossible to recreate that first experience. Sometimes, our physical bodies send us sensations of intense cravings for these things. The cravings we experience couldn’t exist without our first indulgence. With desserts, we can often partake but overdoing creates problems. The issue is, we clearly understand how to alleviate the real pangs that come with our own desires. That is part of the bondage to which this is speaking.

I know my example used something as innocuous as dessert, but some do have real struggles with that. Your body just wants a little more. It is the same thing with bigger issues. You can ask a millionaire, “How much money is enough?” The answer will be a little more. It goes with almost anything… We want newer and better clothes, a better car, a bigger house. The addict just wants to keep the high going. But at what cost? That is the weakness of the flesh… It always wants just a little more.

Some of these things are inherently bad for us and maybe detrimental (to us or even others.) Sin comes with this same bondage. In our own selves, we just want a little more. We think nobody will know. With those secret things, nobody else gets hurt. It is still bondage. Paul goes on to say what the result of all those things… Death. What advantage do we have from these things?

If you do too many drugs it may result in overdose and you may die. The same holds true for too much booze, too many cigarettes, even too much chocolate cake.

Presenting ourselves to these desires leads to enslavement. It is a circular cycle of repetition. Presenting ourselves to sin leads to a suppression of the knowledge of God.

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth through unrighteousness.

Romans 1:18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We could think that the suppression of the knowledge of God may be for us only. More likely, it will also spread to others. Sin affects ourselves and will inevitably affect those around us. We don’t only present ourselves to bondage and suppression.

Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him or give thanks to Him as God, but became futile in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Sin brings death. It works collectively. It leads to futility. Of course, the world understands this futility by another name, entropy.

There is freedom. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Independence

It is only in Jesus where we can be free from this yoke of bondage to sin and death. In His early ministry, there was a conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus, a teacher in Israel. Most of us Christians know of the conversation, and some who are not Christian may know. That is where John 3:16 comes; For God so loved the world that He gave His only unique Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The continuing conversation goes like this:

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the verdict, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that it may be revealed that his deeds have been done in God.”

John 3:17–21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There’s that circular cycle of bondage again. There is also that dire verdict of condemnation that abides on all outside of Jesus Christ. The good news is that we’ve all really been set free.

For freedom Christ freed us. Stand fast therefore and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

What do I mean by “we’ve all been set free?”

Jesus’ death on the cross was the payment that sin demanded.

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 2:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

You’re reading this for a reason. If you aren’t a Christian and want freedom from the bondage, it’s an easy thing.

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the word of faith that we preach: that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be ashamed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is generous toward all who call upon Him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:8–13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

One must first Acknowledge that Jesus is Who He claimed to be, and that He died and rose again. That He is the very same Lord you are calling upon. The next step is to Believe it all to be true. When you acknowledge Him for Who He is, and Believe He is Who He is, then Confess it with your mouth. The promise is there, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” If you are calling on Jesus Christ, the God-man, you will be saved and set free.

What of the Christian who is stuck in a seeming circular cycle of bondage?

It’s the same way for you. Jesus has already given you victory over sin. If you want it, believe it. Confess your sin to Him. Of course, you’re going to have to not present your members to that enslavement. Yes, it may be difficult, but you already have victory. Trust Jesus for that and deny your body what it thinks it wants. The first baby steps will be very hard. It’s just like exercising your muscles. You might have to say no a hundred or more times but keep exercising the ‘no’ muscle.

Always know that Jesus came to set the captives of sin free…

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Luke 4:18–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

In Jesus there is true independence from bondage.

Dependence

Even the very freedom that God gives is an innate acknowledgment that everything we have is dependent upon Him.

“God who made the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands. Nor is He served by men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives all men life and breath and all things. He has made from one blood every nation of men to live on the entire face of the earth, having appointed fixed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord so perhaps they might reach for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’

Acts 17:24–28 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He made it all. Everything we have comes from His hand.

He is the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of every creature. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell, and to reconcile all things to Himself by Him, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him, I say—whether they are things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:15–20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Paul is telling us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is also the firstborn of every creature. Importantly, we see the words that all things were created by Him and for Him. This precludes this First Born from being a simple man, or even a created thing. It demands that He is God, and He is. It’s a simple thing, we are made by Him for Him. And only in Him… This Jesus… do all things hold together.

We are clearly dependent upon Him, even for our freedom.

“Therefore since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to suppose that the Deity is like gold or silver or stone or an engraved work of art or an image of the reflection of man. God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He commands all men everywhere to repent. For He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, having given assurance of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Acts 17:29–31 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Back to Paul and his speech at the Areopagus. We are the offspring of God, created by Him and for Him. He is not some “bearded white guy in the clouds,” He isn’t the dead man portrayed on the cross on the end of a rosary. He isn’t limited by the vain imaginings of any man.

He commands all to repent! That is, to change their mind and the way they are going. To those who don’t know Jesus, such are condemned already. They can change that.

If you are a Christian and aren’t walking in the Light, change that. That is what is being said. Stop the way you’re going and turn around.

There is an appointed day of judgment for the world. It is a Man, the God-Man Jesus Christ. He will judge the world. The promise is that God raised Him from the dead. Just like cited above “This is the word of faith that we preach: that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8b–10.)

Celebrate your in-dependence.