Tag: Romans 5

If Justification Comes to All Can it be Rejected?

On By TimIn Justification, Romans 052 Comments

How much more then, being now justified by His blood, shall we be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 5:9

Some do not believe this. They think they can abandon Jesus at whim. One cannot undo their justification. I do like the hint of surety of a pre-tribulation rapture of believers, but that is for another time.

The teaching of traditions produces a shallow understanding of justification. The very fact that a person lives after they sin is proof that they are indeed being justified freely and unconditionally. Paul wrote this plainly.

But first, it is necessary to know that the wages of sin is death. The wages of sin is not eternal. It is not being remanded to Hell. It is not eternity in perdition. From the beginning, God was clear on what happens when a person sins. He (or she) dies. The wages of sin death is the same death that God declared would happen to Adam… “In the day you eat you shall die.”

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

Genesis 2:16–17

Because Adam did not die that day, it has led to incorrect traditions being applied. These are commonly named original sin and spiritual death. These things are not real at all. Adam lived after sinning because of the justification that came with Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Perhaps you object that He wouldn’t even be born until some almost 4,000 years later. But He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

When a person sins and lives to draw another breath is certain proof of justification upon them. This is clearly what Paul taught. It is also patterned in the Torah at the exodus with Passover, and again in the ordinances of Yom Kippur.

Because people don’t die immediately on setting off to sin, clearly indicates that a stay of execution is in place.

It is the death of Jesus that saves all from the wages of sin. It is the resurrected Savior Who gives righteousness and eternal life to any who believes. Those are two different ideas. One is unconditional, while the other is conditioned upon the exercise of faith. The ones that believe this are justified, accounted as righteous, and receive eternal life.

All Are Being Justified Freely

This is one of the simplest ideas to understand, yet it is hidden away with religious nonsense and tradition.

Paul spoke plainly… All fall short, whether saved or not. But those same all that fall short are being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God has set Him forth to be a propitiation through faith, in His blood. This is a demonstration of His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously committed. This is in Romans 3.

That comes after Paul’s explanation that nobody is justified by the works of the law. That is, you are not justified by doing good things. In fact, nothing one does or does not brings justification.

So it follows that all are being justified freely, and to say that it is proven by the fact that they live after they sin. It is right there.

One may object to the idea that people are being justified, which means they are not justified yet. The verb tense is purposefully present and passive, because justification is always with a person as long as they are alive. In fact, it is what keeps them alive. If it were not a present thing, none could live long enough to believe and seek remission of sins.

It is important to note that the verb tense is passive. It is happening to the people because of something outside of them and what they do. This justification comes to everyone who falls short, and that unconditionally.

When God spoke to Adam about the consequences of eating from just one tree, He told Adam that He would die immediately for sin. God said to Adam, “You shall surely die.” Those words indicate the certainty of death for the action; they do not indicate immediacy. But that is not all that God said. The phrase includes the immediacy with “in the day you eat from it.” Adam did not die in the day he ate from the tree, though his death was certain.

Adam was being justified freely by something (really Someone) external to him. It is pictured in the fact that God covered his nakedness. This is the pattern being established. It is ultimately demonstrated by the work of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Justification is freely and unconditionally given to all. One cannot reject it. One can ignore it or oppose it, but those still live because Jesus died. If people really wanted to reject it, they would have to remove themselves from this life. As one lives, it is impossible to reject it.

All who live live because of Jesus Christ giving them life at birth, and justification of life after they sin. The unbelieving benefit and the believing do, too. Even Christians need that just to live after sin.

Though Paul is writing to Jewish brothers in Rome, we can learn from his words. What follows contains a profound idea in how the free justification that comes to all turns into righteousness.

Now to him who works, wages are not given as a gift, but as a debt. But to him who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. Even David describes the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness without works: Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Romans 4:4–8

Abraham did it. He believed God, even in his own sin, his belief was credited as righteousness. Justification doesn’t come with belief. Righteousness does.

Therefore just as through the trespass of one man came condemnation for all men, so through the righteous act of One came justification of life for all men. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:18–19

Paul is saying that the entire lot of humanity is being made righteous outside of the constraints of the law and morality. Many balk at that, even some Christians who think they are justified and righteous by what they have done.

Yet there are many who purposefully ignore what Jesus has done for them. They perish in perdition, just as Jesus said: “Unless you believe I am He, you will die in your sins.”

Think about that. One is freely given life, and it is not acknowledged and even ignored. What would be the consequences of such actions?

That is why people go to perdition. It isn’t because they’ve sinned. That problem has been handled resoundingly. They go because they really don’t appreciate life and the One Who gives it freely.

This is Directed to You

Whether you believe this or not is irrelevant to its beauty and its veracity. The simple fact that you’re alive today is because Jesus died. To not consider and acknowledge that in this life has eternal consequences. Those who believe have eternal life. And if the opposite of life is death (not non-existence,) then the opposite of eternal life is eternal death. That is the reality.

It’s time to believe what God says. It is time to praise Him alone for that work done.

It is also time to teach the pure word of God… Not the gunked-up traditions of men imposed onto it.

The Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire

On By TimIn Holy Spirit3 Comments

Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them through the way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearby. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt.” Therefore, God led the people around, through the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea, and the children of Israel went up prepared for war out of the land of Egypt.
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely attend to you, and you shall carry my bones away from here with you.”
They took their journey from Sukkoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. He did not remove the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

Exodus 13:17–22

Having just spent the past few days at a conference where the Holy Spirit was emphasized, it seemed appropriate to adapt this part of a small group study presented on Exodus 13 and post it here. In all the typologies presented in Exodus leading up to the selection above, we have encountered the working of God Almighty (El Shaddai, the Father) and the Lamb (Jesus Christ.) As these have worked to free the Israelites from bondage, we meet this Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire. The question then comes… What (really Who) is this cloud?

I think the answer may surprise some. I think the cloud is the perfect typification of the Holy Spirit. I think the immediate text of Exodus clearly indicates this. Here is why.

Then the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them, and the pillar of the cloud moved before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, and there was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night. Therefore, the one did not come near the other the entire night.

Exodus 14:19–20

Encountering this text is quite an eye-opener. The angel of God properly understood is none other than a Christophany. It is the person of Jesus Christ as He interacts with people as recorded in the Tanakh. In our minds, we may tend to think that Jesus is the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire. The text gives us a distinction. The use of the conjunction and joins the two ideas together. It would follow that if the angel of God has the attributes of a unique Person, then this Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire must also. They Both move in similar ways. But the Angel of God moved to flank the Israelites, while the Pillar of Cloud moved before them and also stood behind them. It is like they were being commissioned.

If you know me. I like to discover patterns in the Scriptures. I consider this to be one of those things that patterns something yet future. The Israelis were saved from and called out of bondage. The purpose was to serve the Lord. We might tend to think of that as just them making animal sacrifices… But I think it is far more. It was to be a witness of Him to the entire world. In a sense, I see this as the same commissioning that Jesus gave His disciples.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you.” When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.”

John 20:21–23

The account of the Exodus gives us the pattern Jesus repeats. Just as God sent Jesus, God sent the Angel of the Lord. Just as Jesus sent His apostles (picture Him behind them sending them out,) the Angel of the Lord flanks Israel. Just as Jesus was revealing the Holy Spirit to His disciples, we see the same action of the Angel of the Lord revealing the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

The first thing we can know of the Holy Spirit is that He comes as a gift. Though the initial text from Exodus 13 does not call Him a gift, God gives Him as a guide to the Israelis. He guides and He gives light to them. The New Testament testifies to the fact that the Holy Spirit is a gift.

“Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38

This is the first place we encounter this Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire. I(t is clear that the Holy Spirit covers and guides these Hebrews. The Angel of God removed Himself to reveal the Holy Spirit. This is yet another pattern that is revealed in the New Testament.

“The gift is not like the result that came through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one sin led to condemnation, but the free gift, which came after many trespasses, leads to justification. For if by one man’s trespass death reigned through him, then how much more will those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:16–17

The Holy Spirit comes after the Lamb. Just as the Lamb was sacrificed for the Passover, the Holy Spirit comes to those saved from death. The Holy Spirit comes after the Lamb has given His life.

The evidence indicates that this Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire typify the ministry of the Holy Spirit. What else can we know from the Tanakh about His work?

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

The prophet Isaiah tells us overtly of how God’s Spirit works. But it is the Septuagint that is laser-focused, revealing Him precisely.

And God’s spirit will rest on him, a spirit of wisdom and intelligence, a spirit of counsel and strength, a spirit of knowledge and piety. He will fill him with a spirit of the fear of God; he will not judge according to reputation or reprove according to speech.

Isaiah 11:2–3 (Lexham English Septuagint)

The Holy Spirit comes to the believer with a sevenfold ministry of gifts and activities. These things are witnessed to us by the prophet Isaiah, and expounded upon by the Jewish scholars who translated the Hebrew text into Greek.

Somehow, I want to work the following into a numbered list of seven, and that may work out. I would rather just explore what the Bible says about the working of the Spirit, I think that would be more appropriate. So let’s check it out.

Comforter, Counselor, Advocate

“I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, that He may be with you forever:”

John 14:16

The Greek word paraclete is translated in that text as Counselor. Other translations use the words Comforter and Advocate, (not a conclusive list.) There is no single English word that suffices to encompass the meaning of the word. Paraclete is used much like the idea of a lawyer in court. One that comes alongside to help. Think of the lawyer for a moment. His skill is in knowing the intricacies of the law. He also offers advice and counsel to his clients. The lawyer is an active advocate for the person.

This serves as a unique starting point. It is easy to see how the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire comes alongside the Israelites. In how the cloud is present with the Israelites, day and night He provides comfort. His presence is as a Comforter. He covers Israel.

“He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.” 

Psalm 105:39

In the same way that the Pillar, the Holy Spirit comes into each of us believers as cover and protection.

In Him you also, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and after believing in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13–14

Paul calls Him the Seal of a believer. The earnest (or down payment) of a sure promise to be delivered. In that way, the Holy Spirit is both covering and protecting the believer in the same way the Pillar did for the Israelis. This text also conveys the idea that the Holy Spirit comes after the Lamb.

The Holy Spirit gives counsel.

“He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept His statues and the ordinance that He gave them.” 

Psalm 99:7

Clearly, God speaks to Israel through the Cloud. He counsels them as a guide to keep His ordinances and to go His ways.

“But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority. But He will speak whatever He hears, and He will tell you things that are to come.”

John 16:13

One can trust the Holy Spirit to complete His minsitry in the believer. Just as the Pillar spoke to Israel, reminding them… The Spirit does the same in us

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.

John 14:26

The Pillar advocated for Israel. He did not forsake them in the wilderness.

yet You in Your great mercy did not forsake them in the wilderness: The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way they should go.

Nehemiah 9:19

His presence was a testimony to all. Even amongst those His presence supported Moses and the other leaders in their work. He worked through them, too… Testifying to their leadership.

“And whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord spoke with Moses.”

Exodus 33:9

“The Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood in the opening of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.”

Numbers 12:5

Other Ministries of the Holy Spirit

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.”

Ephesians 4:30

It goes without saying that the ministrations of the Holy Spirit can be grieved. Even in this account of the Israelites with His very visible protection around them, they grieved Him by not trusting in Him.

When Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and indeed, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they were extremely terrified, so the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Exodus 14:10–12

Thank God that the leading of the Holy Spirit is never to a dead end. God parted the sea and made a way for them, keeping His presence in both the Angel of the Lord and the Pillar. When Moses spoke to Pharaoh the words of God, he called Israel His son. Paul tells us that those led by the Spirit are sons of God. It is He Who testifies to that fact.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”

Romans 8:14

He is Darkness to His Enemies

Have you ever wondered why some just cannot see the truth witnessed by the Scriptures?

In the Exodus, as the Israelis were penned in between the advancing Egyptians and the Red Sea at the gaping mouth of a canyon, the Pillar was working.

“So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, and there was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night. Therefore, the one did not come near the other the entire night.”

Exodus 14:20

The Egyptians had their perception of reality obscured. It happens in unbelievers. It is not that God blinds them so they cannot see, it is that they have not wanted to see the truth but only desired to satisfy their felt needs. The Egyptians became blinded by their own vengeance.

For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, “They are confused in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.” So I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he shall pursue them. And I will be honored because of Pharaoh and because of all his army, so that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.

Exodus 14:3–4

God is more than willing to oblige one’s folly by protecting His own. When the Egyptians decided to pursue Israel, it became darkness to them as their goal was obscured by the Pillar. They pressed on in that darkness of hatred to certain doom. One only has to look back at the longsuffering and patience God had for Pharaoh to change his mind. It seems he may have, but we know not really. There is a lesson there for those who do not believe… Eventually, there is a point in time where God removes His influences and all you will perceive is darkness leading to certain doom. That is indeed a scary path.

It is not a bad thing that God hides things.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

Proverbs 25:2

Pharaoh failed to pursue the hidden things of God. He failed the glory of kings. Yet there is a lesson he provides to the unbeliever who finds themselves reading this. You are reading this for a reason. You are pursuing the hidden things. Don’t give up until you find them!

It is this childlike approach to the truth. Pharaoh wanted it for his own exploitation, but they are revealed to those who humbly seek.

“At that time Jesus said, “I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to infants.”

Matthew 11:25

This is the same principle Jesus spoke of and attested to in His parables.

“He answered them, “It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For to him who has, will more be given, and he will have abundance. But from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Therefore I speak to them in parables: ‘Because they look, but do not see. And they listen, but they do not hear, neither do they understand.’ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: ‘By hearing, you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing, you will see and shall not perceive; for this people’s heart has grown dull. Their ears have become hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I should heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them, and to…” 

Matthew 13:11–17

He Rests in the Tabernacle

“He erected the courtyard all around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the curtain of the courtyard gate. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

Exodus 40:33–35

This is one of my favorite things about the Holy Spirit. He rested in the Tabernacle. After those Hebrews followed the instructions of Moses, they erected the Tabernacle. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The picture given to us is that of a cloud, just as presented inthe Pillar that led the Israelis in the wilderness.

Think about where the Tabernacle is today.

What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God, and that you are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19

The tent of meeting is within the believer. It is that first moment of faith, I believe that Jesus is the Redeemer Who died and rose again. Most of us believers know these things to be true. But if you are that person who might not quite believe, or perhaps one that scoffs, please don’t harden your own heart.

Escaping the Corruption of the World

On By TimIn 2 Peter 01, Eternal Security, Salvation1 Comment

There exists a vast difference in between the ones who escape the corruption of the world and partake of the divine nature and those who escape the defilements of the world for a season.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:2

In the introduction, Peter is established the tone. That tone is to Peter is encourage other believers to hold fast. Not that they might lose out on eternal life at some future time, but to ensure their own maturity in the faith. To grow to maturity ought to be the goal of every Christian.

At the beginning of this epistle, Peter establishes a premise. Sometimes that premise is blurred by the particular translation of the Bible used which may lead to some insecurities. Because of this, I prefer a literal word-for-word translation. This helps me to grasp the nuances in word meanings being translated. It also helps to have tools available to try and understand the subtleties in the original language that do not translate clearly. Taking the extra time for a bit of a deeper dive helps to ensure right division of the Bible.

With that said, let’s dive in!

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence, by which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these things you might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:3–4

At the outset, Peter is saying that Christians have everything they need no to live godly lives. These come by the promises of God. Promises that you have no part in save to receive them. He keeps them, even in light of what you do… Because it’s His word. His word is not made void by the freedom He has bestowed on us.

Because we have these promises, we escape the corruption of the world and become partakers of the divine nature. That statement is loaded with lots of stuff to unpack. Note the phrasing, escape the corruption. The corruption is in the world through lust. Think of the word lust as desire and intense craving.

Focus on the word corruption. It is the Greek word phthoras which does mean corruption and can also mean destruction. The destruction is ultimately death. That is the end result of sin. But the Christian escapes this.

For this reason make every effort to add virtue to your faith; and to your virtue, knowledge; and to your knowledge, self-control; and to your self-control, patient endurance; and to your patient endurance, godliness; and to your godliness, brotherly kindness; and to your brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 1:5–7

Peter then provides a prescription for the saved person who has eternal life. Keep in mind that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. The outline is indeed doable by every Christian.

It is self-explanatory in nature. Faith is required to get eternal life and forgiveness is sins, it is also necessary to live a Christian life. It’s not faith alone. We add virtue onto our faith.

Virtue is excellence of character… Blamelessness. Add knowledge to virtue and then self-control. Self-control is different than virtue and comes after. Patience, godliness, kindness then follow, and finally love.

Most of us get it backwards. We think we love first. Peter is telling us that we cannot truly love without all of those things that come orderly before.

For if these things reside in you and abound, they ensure that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8

The discussions that sometimes revolve around 2 Peter tend toward who is really saved. The reality is Peter is encouraging us to be useful and fruitful. This is not unlike much of the Bible, which itself teaches us how to be useful to God. Yes, first we need to be saved. Being useful and fruitful comes with maturity.

Virtue Revisited

I need to say more about virtue. It is a word that conveys an idea of blamelessness. Paul helps us to understand this idea of blamelessness and from whence it comes. He calls it a gift.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if through the trespass of one man many died, then how much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. The gift is not like the result that came through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one sin led to condemnation, but the free gift, which came after many trespasses, leads to justification. For if by one man’s trespass death reigned through him, then how much more will those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:15–17

Righteousness is the quality of being in accordance with God’s requirements. It’s to be blameless in the law. Paul says this gift comes freely by Jesus to any who want it. Recall what Peter said, He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We don’t add to it, not maintain it. We simply cannot!

It is this gift of righteousness that leads to justification of life. Meaning you and I as Christians can stand blameless in the presence of God. It’s like me saying “Just as if I’d never sinned!”

Strong’s Dictionary gives us some additional insight to this word virtue (Greek aretē.) It means excellence of character, whether that excellence is intrinsic or attributed. As Paul showed, righteousness is attributed to us by God as a gift.

There is another sense conveyed by virtue… It is the idea of valor. Valor is the strength of mind needed to resist fear and brave danger. Think about that. God has given you that strength of mind.

Adding Virtue to Faith is Then Easy

If you are a Christian… You are saved. You have eternal life. Nothing can move you from that position. Fear can trick you but you don’t have to succumb to it. We resist that fear.

When the enemy comes and tells you you’re not doing enough and therefore not valuable to God, know it’s a lie. It’s designed to make you afraid. Resist it the fear, and the enemy has to flee.

God sent His Son Jesus for us. You and I have value and worth far greater than you can imagine.

The journey from faith to virtue is easy. God gives it to us. It means those that have eternal life by faith cannot be removed from it. If there’s a struggle on whether you can lose the gift of eternal life and your salvation, it stops here. And the text is going to show us that clearly.

Blind and Shortsighted in Forgetfulness

But the one who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted because he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2 Peter 1:9

When we forget who we are, and more to the point… Whose we are… It can lead to shortsightedness. Remember, you and I are already cleansed from former sins. Yes that is true. Yet it goes beyond former sins. Remember Peter saying that we might become partakers of the divine nature?

Paul says we already are.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13–15

We are already resurrected with Him. There is no way that can happen unless we are already partaking of the divine nature. Not only that, we are forgiven all sins. These are not just the former sins, but all of them!

Whatever claim the enemy had on us is gone. That’s the freedom of the Christian life. That’s the virtue that we courageously stand in now. We are immovable. We cannot sin enough to lose out on anything God has already given to us. Why would any of us really want to do that?

Now knowledge is added to the virtue. So what now?

Add the rest, self-control, patience, godliness, kindness, and love.

Calling and Election

Therefore, brothers, diligently make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided for you.

2 Peter 1:10–11

We make our calling and election sure. That is not about salvation. It’s about being useful, useful to God. He has given to every one of us unique gifts to be of service to Him. It is our responsibility to know what these things are and how to employ them for His glory. That is making sure your calling is to a particular place of service. Your election is to be useful to God… Not just saved.

Championing Us

Therefore I will not be negligent to always remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I live in this body, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that soon I will take off this body, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me. And I will also be diligent to make sure that after my death you will always remember these things.

2 Peter 1:12–15

We all need encouragement. It ought be a strong part of our lives to encourage and admonish others in the same love that Peter does. We do that by reminding ourselves and others of all of these things.

Warnings

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their judgment, made long ago, does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Peter 2:1–3

This discussion takes a darker turn away from encouragement. Peter is instructing as he exposes false teachers and those led astray by them. These deny the Lord that bought them. Does that mean they have lost salvation?

No. As we have already witnessed in Colossians, sin has been nailed to the cross and taken out of the way freeing humanity from the grips of the enemy. The Lord bought the lot of Adam’s race, every single human that has, had, or will have life. To deny that is to never ever come to salvation and receive the gifts of eternal life and righteousness. I admit, it’s a simple conclusion, but it’s right there. It is the truth. That’s why the writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Therefore we should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels was true, and every sin and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?

Hebrews 2:1–3

Considering the immeasurable generosity is such a gesture, how do people ignore it as if nothing really happened?

It would be the height of arrogance and indifference. It’s easy to understand why people go to perdition. And Peter does not have kind things to say about these types of people and the ideas they share with others.

For when they speak arrogant words of vanity, they entice by the lusts of the flesh and by depravity those who barely escaped from those who live in error.

2 Peter 2:18

Remember, the first phrase… Escape the corruption (phthoras.) Peter uses the same idea of escape again. This time it is to describe those who barely escape from those who live in error. I think he is speaking of Christians. These false teachers entice believers with religion. Religion is the idea that people can make themselves presentable to God by abstaining from sin.

Promised Freedom

Although they promise them freedom, they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by that which a man is overcome, to this he is enslaved. For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then turn back from the holy commandment that was delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog returns to his own vomit,” and “the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mud.”

2 Peter 2:19–22

Freedom is contrasted with the enslavement to corruption. Instead of teaching reliance on the promises of God, the false teacher offers a semblance of freedom that is really slavery.

These teachers have themselves not yet escaped corruption (phthoras) but are still slaves to it. Remember what Paul said:

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?

Romans 6:16

Stepping out to sin is presenting yourself as a slave to it. Sin leads to death… The (phthoras) destruction.

Back to the text in 2 Peter, these false teachers seem to escape the defilements of the world. Defilements in the Greek is the word miasmata. It’s different than phthoras, and is only used this once in the entire New Testament. The single usage connotes it has some significance.

Miasmata means shameful deeds, or what we would call sins. In other words, it seems these are escaping sins. But it only seems for a bit as they return to the carnality of the world.

When a person hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ presented they receive the knowledge of Him as Savior. What they do with that is of paramount importance as Peter hints at.

Let’s consider an example. It’s like when people come to church. They might enjoy the time of worship and even get something from the message given. They may even enjoy the fellowship and kindness that abounded. Then they leave and not applying what they heard. They are not changed. Yet, for a short period of time in church… They escaped the defilements of the world in the shelter of the Spirit present in the body of Christ. They did not repent, were not saved, and they did not receive eternal life. These go back to their carnality.

The part of having not known the way of righteousness the becomes condemnation. Each time the Gospel is ignored it hardens the heart. At each iteration it will become easier to not respond. That is why the latter state is worse not hearing.

Escape the Corruption

Christians escape the corruption and become partakers of the divine nature. It is escaping destruction. And such can never become corrupted again. Therefore losing eternal life and salvation are not possible.

Those that escape the defilements can sometimes be described with a term I like, “churchians.” These are folks who go to church and try to live a good life by not sinning, somehow thinking those things give them credibility. Some even shame others for not living like they do. Self-help and motivational therapy is not Christianity. Doing good deeds is not what makes a Christian. Neither is keeping the law or obeying commands. Don’t fall prey to the quaint religious language.

A Christian is one who believes in the One Whom God sent… Jesus. It’s His name we bear. It’s I solely in Him Who we trust. We know He lived, died for our sins, and spent three days in the grave. That was not the end… For He rose again as Victor over death.

Believing that is what makes one a Christian. Jesus keeps those who are His. Those things don’t come by following a set of rules.

God’s Gift of Everlasting Life

On By TimIn Eternal Security, Gifts, Romans 11Leave a comment

Don’t let someone bamboozle you.

For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29

Said another way:

For God’s gifts and calling never change.

Romans 11:29 (ISV):

In this text, Paul was speaking directly of the privileges granted to Israel he noted by name in Romans 9:4. By extension, it includes the usage of the word gift as previously encountered in Romans. He is demonstrating a biblical principle. The gifts (and calling) of God don’t change. (Which means Israel is still God’s chosen people, righteousness, and everlasting life doesn’t change.)

Now… Considering we’ve gotten this far in Romans, we have already encountered some other truths that have application in that verse.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

It’s unequivocally true, everlasting life is a gift of God given to the believer. There are other gifts.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if through the trespass of one man many died, then how much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. The gift is not like the result that came through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one sin led to condemnation, but the free gift, which came after many trespasses, leads to justification. For if by one man’s trespass death reigned through him, then how much more will those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:15–17

God expends the gift of righteousness lavishly. That doesn’t change either. In fact, Paul says that gift leads to justification.

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

This text is the crux of what Paul is teaching. It is a foundational understanding to what transpired at the cross. Note that it says the righteousness of God comes to all through faith and is ON all who believe. We already know that righteousness is a gift of God. And we know the gifts of God don’t change. Meaning that once the gift of righteousness comes upon a person, it doesn’t ever go away or even get marred.

Furthermore, the text says all have missed the mark. But those same all who missed the mark are being justified freely. (Verb tenses matter greatly. Pay attention to them!)

This is a clear demonstration of the righteousness of God. All are being justified freely as God’s gift of righteousness is extended to all.

Having already proven that righteousness is a gift that a believer already has upon them and it cannot change. Likewise, everlasting life is also a gift. But does the believer have that now?

You betcha!

“Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life.

John 5:24

And if one witness is not good enough…

Truly, truly I say to you, whoever believes in Me has eternal life.

John 6:47

Paneas and the Cross

On By TimIn Matthew 16, ResurrectionLeave a comment

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things that are of God, but those that are of men.”

Matthew 16:23

There is more to be said in that last phrase you are not mindful of the things that are of God. Jesus was foretelling things that would soon take place. This is not the first time He spoke of this. Remember what Jesus said about Himself.

The Things of God

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but may have eternal life.

John 3:14–15

Jesus was speaking of this account from the Torah.

So the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many children of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, and He will take away the serpents from us.” And Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and put it on a pole, and it will be, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, will live.” Moses made a bronze serpent and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the bronze serpent he lived.

Numbers 21:6–9

In that account, the Israelites had begun to complain and murmur against God’s provision. They refused to enter His rest (the Promised Land) and were remanded to wander in the wilderness of that sin. The circumstances of their present condition were of their own doing. Yet even in the midst of that wandering, God provided for their needs with manna from heaven.

God sent serpents to remind them of their precarious condition. They turned to God through Moses. Moses was instructed to make a likeness of the serpent from bronze, put it on a pole, and lift it up. Any who by faith, looked at the serpent to be healed of the poison would be cured and live. I can think that some in that multitude have thought that silly scheme and they perished. But to those who believed the declaration, they looked and lived.

It would be just like that for Jesus.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

1 Corinthians 15:56

Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, so death has spread to all men, because all have sinned.

Romans 5:12

Just as the sting of the poisonous serpent would bring certain death, we know that we have an appointment with death by the sting of sin. The serpent was the source of the sting that brought death to the Israelis in the wilderness. Mortality in humanity that came as a result of the serpent was the source of the sting that brought death to all men.

Moses made an effigy of the serpent, he did not put a real serpent on that pole. In like manner, the same would happen to Jesus. It is not that Jesus was not a real human. On the cross, the Bible tells us that Jesus became sin for us. He was like us in death.

The precision in these foreshadows is breathtaking. I am not saying Jesus was not human, or that something magic happened. His death is real. And His death satisfied the justice due for sins. He unabashedly spoke of His death.

Again, Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself? For He said, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ”
He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
They said to Him, “Who are You?”
Jesus said to them, “Just who I have been telling you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true. So I tell the world what I heard from Him.”
They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing of Myself. But I speak these things as My Father taught Me. He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

John 8:21–30

He also hinted at something more than just His death, but that was something most could not comprehend. We must also consider all the words of Jesus. Peter was not mindful of the things that are of God. Namely that Jesus would give His life and take it back up again to prolong His days.

Lifted Up

Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I received this command from My Father.”

John 10:17–18

This idea of being lifted up is also connected to what comes after His death. It is the destruction of the Gates of Hell. Resurrection would prolong His days, and then He would be received into heaven. That is, He is lifted up from this Earth. As His physical human advent on this planet careened to the culmination of the plan, death was not the end.

“Now My soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? Instead, for this reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Jesus answered, “This voice came not for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself.” He said this to signify by what kind of death He would die.
The crowd answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever. Why do You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

John 12:27–34

Thankfully, we do not just look to a dead Christ on the cross to live. The cross is empty because He lives. We look to the living Jesus in glory. He signifies the hope that we have. He signifies our own resurrection. He takes the sting from death.

Any that would want to live, that is escape perdition, need only believe and put action to that faith by looking to Jesus for salvation.

Real Life After Death

Jesus spoke consistently of His death. It was also fitting in this location at the Grotto of Pan. He also spoke consistently of more to come after His death. It was His mission to die and experience death for everyone, believer or not. Through that death, He would bring many to glory. Any that would want it can have it.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels to suffer death, crowned with glory and honor, so that He, by the grace of God, should experience death for everyone.
For it was fitting for Him, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:9–10

A Word About Justification

On By TimIn Justification, Romans 05Leave a comment

Words mean things. Let’s look at one.

Justification: Dictionary.com defines justification as “a reason, fact, circumstance, or explanation that justifies or defends(.)” It is the noun form of the word justify.

Justify is defined as “to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit(.)”

With that knowledge, let’s apply that to what Paul says.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, being now justified by His blood, shall we be saved from wrath through Him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, how much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. Furthermore, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:8–11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

To some, this passage is often muddied with something called original sin. That is a term loaded with much baggage. It helps to not read that baggage into Romans 5 and take it for what it says.

First, while we were in rebellion, Christ died for us. Paul says we are justified by His blood. We are acquitted and guiltless. That applies to everyone, saved or unsaved. Paul declares that as reconciliation. The reconciliation is in His death.

Then there is this huge implied “but.” Though being reconciled by His death, we are not saved by it. We get salvation from His life.

Therefore just as through the trespass of one man came condemnation for all men, so through the righteous act of One came justification of life for all men.

Romans 5:18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Paul is clear on the justification. The justification is to life. That is, not guilty of the death which is the penalty for sin. All men that live after they sin demonstrate they have justification of life.

The penalty for sin is the wages of death. All men are free from that. The problem as Jesus said… It is dying in your sins.

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

John 8:24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That is where the canker gnaws. “Unless you believe I am He,” He says. He is the One who justifies us from death and can take your sins away because He lives… You will die in your sins.

The Rapture (Part 6) – Why a Change?

On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 15, RaptureLeave a comment

In the last installment, we learned the mystery was revealed by Paul. We will explore the need for change.

Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

1 Corinthians 15:50 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

A Change to the nature of the Body is Necessary

The bodies we inhabit today are mortal. The flesh is corrupted with death. The flesh became corrupted when Adam ate of the forbidden fruit.

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

Genesis 2:16–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

And to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ Cursed is the ground on account of you; in hard labor you will eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles it will bring forth for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, because out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Genesis 3:17–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Until the fall, the bodies of Adam and Eve were not corrupted. There was no death. As they ate, mortality entered as God had ensured the body would return to the dust. We know that is true. When our bodies die, they deteriorate into a skeleton, and given enough time, the skeleton also disintegrates back into the dust.

The mortality is passed onto the entire progeny of that first man. The mortality is inherited.

Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, so death has spread to all men, because all have sinned.
For until the law, sin was in the world. But sin is not counted when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of Adam’s sin, who was a type of Him who was to come.

Romans 5:12–14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Sin is not passed down, death is. Because these bodies are corrupted. They’re dying.

With these bodies, we cannot enter the eternal state. There needs to be a change.

We Shall be Changed

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We shall be changed, and the change will be faster than instantaneous. Not all of the Spirit baptized believers in the body of Christ will not die. Some will remain and be changed instantly. (But not before those who have previously passed on.)

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We shall not all sleep. All will be changed. Not all of us will die. But all of us will be changed. Some will not undergo the process of physical death. All will undergo a change in that moment. The dead would be raised up incorruptible, no longer to die. And those mortal believers alive will put on immortality.

The change will happen in the twinkling of an eye. The Greek word for moment is atomos, it is from where the English word atom comes. It is a small measurement of time. It can be likened to the amount of time it takes to recognize a face on someone. That flash of recognition is the twinkling of an eye.

For this corruptible will put on incorruption, and this mortal will put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:53 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The dead whose bodies had deteriorated into dust will put on incorruptible bodies. Their bodies will no longer suffer death. In the same way. The living mortals will instantaneously put on immortality.

Looking back at another text, we see clearly that Paul identifies himself with the living and not the dead.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall be forever with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Death is Gone

Paul knew that the rapture was imminent. It was his hope to be caught up, and he identified with the living. This is an important concept as we move forward in 1 Corinthians 15.

When this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then the saying that is written shall come to pass: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:54 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The instant this happens for anyone s the voiding of death. This is the victory, and as we’ve learned from previous installments this is the proclamation to principalities and powers. Those that rule in the unseen realm do not have victory over death. Believers are beyond their grip and control.

Paul is citing this:

He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; and the reproach of His people He shall take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken it.

Isaiah 25:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It is also cited in Revelation 21.

“O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?”

1 Corinthians 15:55 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is another citation from the Tanakh. This si another reference to the writing of a prophet.

I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.

Hosea 13:14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

In this case, God has no compassion for death, his enemy.

This is the victory the church-age believer has. Death is swallowed up. It has no power.

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:56–58 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That is the exhortation. Our belief in God is not in vain.

Purified by Obedience

On By TimIn 1 Peter 01, Daily Walk, SinLeave a comment

Since your souls have been purified by obedience to the truth through the Spirit unto a genuine brotherly love, love one another deeply with a pure heart, for you have been born again, not from perishable seed, but imperishable, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

1 Peter 1:22–23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Since your souls have been purified… You’ve already believed and it is accounted to you for righteousness. This is the message of faith that was demonstrated for us by the patriarchs. They are the ones who fell far short of the mark but believed God and He made up the difference.

Obedience to the truth.

There are times that we want to conflate this idea of obedience with law-keeping and morality. That is not what Peter is speaking of, clearly. He uses the phrase and places the objective of obedience to truth. He spoke of that immediately preceding this: “Through Him you believe in God who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1 Peter 1:21)

Obedience to the truth is believing in God.

It comes through the witness of the Holy Spirit. Seriously, without His working even before we believed, there is no real hope for us. It is the Holy Spirit Who has orchestrated the events in our lives to reveal Jesus to each of us in a real way. And can I say… In these last times?

It’s like how Peter expressed it at the beginning of the epistle. Even though his intended audience is Jewish people who are scattered throughout the world at that time, there are important things we can glean. Especially in the very season we find ourselves.

It is this work of the Holy Spirit that reveals Jesus to us and continues to lead us toward sanctification. He leads us to Jesus and once we believe, He patiently works to sanctify us.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the refugees scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

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

There is a purpose for sanctification. It is purposed for you. That is why the word elect (or chosen) is used. It is purpose.

The objective is obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus. These two ideas go together. Just as I offered before, this obedience isn’t to the law or even good morals. But it is to the truth. By being obedient to that truth, your sins are covered by the sprinkling of Jesus’ blood.

Because of these truths, it leads us to holy living. That we may be used to be a witness for others.

Brotherly love.

This will be expanded upon a bit later in the epistle. For now, understand that our salvation has brought us adaption into the family of God. You and I have a brother, Jesus. He is the perfect example of brotherly love.

He asks us to love others with a pure heart. Remember, if you’re saved your souls are already purified. And because you know brotherly love from Jesus, it isn’t difficult to extend that love to other brothers and sisters in the faith.

Listen, our hearts separate from God seek to alleviate our own discomfort and seek our own comfort. With a pure heart, we esteem others before ourselves putting their needs before our own. Just as Jesus did for us.

You have been born again.

There is a reason certain analogies are used. This idea of being born again may seem old-fashioned. I certainly hope it isn’t. It’s a very clear way to teach the truth.

Peter is saying we’ve been born again with imperishable seed. He contrasts that idea with our natural birth into the human being we are. He notes that birth comes from perishable seed. That means it is will not last. We know that, as we are born dying.

But unlike our natural birth, our new birth is from imperishable seed. That means there is no corruption. There is no death in that birth. Praise Jesus!

There is another truth that undergirds all of this. A person, once born can never become unborn. One born from perishable seed can never have that birth undone. Such may perish, but that doesn’t undo the birth. The same is true for our new birth. It cannot be undone. Because that birth comes from imperishable seed, there is no corruption or death.

If you think I am saying you cannot lose your salvation. I am not. Peter is, in holy writ revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God lives and abides forever.

Does it live in you?

If it does… It lives forever! It abides forever!

For
“All flesh is as grass,
and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
This is the word that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:24–25 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The temptation is to think of the flesh as Gnostics do… But this is vitally different. It’s not that the flesh is made bad. It has been made corrupt, having inherited that from the disobedience of Adam. Death is passed on.

Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, so death has spread to all men, because all have sinned.

Romans 5:12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This flesh will pass away. Everything that we do here and in that capacity is going to pass away. It’s the word of the Lord that abides forever.

That is precisely why Peter is calling us to holy living. We know that our Father will judge impartially. We are just passing through this world. It has many snares for us, all of which are vain and lead to perishable rewards.

It’s this higher calling that has everlasting benefit. Holy living doesn’t earn you much in itself, but it points others to Jesus. In that is much benefit.

The Last Man

On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 15, Death, ResurrectionLeave a comment

For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I love nuggets of truth hidden in plain sight. For that reason, this is one of my favorite portions of Scripture.

Death came by man. It came by one man and it spread to all men because of their own sin.

Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, so death has spread to all men, because all have sinned.

Romans 5:12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It is also by man that came the resurrection of the dead. That is, by One Man came resurrection. He is called First Fruits. His name is Jesus.

If you read a bit further in 1 Corinthians, you will see Paul call Jesus that Last Adam. And I want you to think of that when you encounter the word man in our text above.

In other words, since death came by Adam, by Adam came also the resurrection of the dead. What Paul is saying is that Jesus Christ, being the Last Adam (or the Last Man) is the One Who fixes all that has been broken by the first man’s sin.

Jesus really is the Last Man.

Especially to Those Who Believe

On By TimIn 1 Timothy 04, Death, Hebrews 02, Reconciliation, SanctificationLeave a comment

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

1 Timothy 4:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Sometimes, Scripture is very precise in what is being said. Many times, that precision is glossed over. This is one of those things that is passed over, and more often than not argued over.

Paul is teaching his disciple Timothy. He is explaining the reason for suffering reproach. Trusting in the living God will do that. Yet in that Paul states, God is the Savior of all men.

Wasn’t it Jesus Who died?

Let’s find out. Paul is blatantly saying Jesus is God. I love that. It’s a precise statement that might be overlooked.

But what about Savior of all men… Did God save all men?

Let’s see what Paul reveals elsewhere.

For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, how much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.

Romans 5:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is another place where the precision of what is real is overlooked. For now, I want to focus on reconciliation. We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. It’s a simple statement. It’s done. That is what Jesus did when He said “It is finished!” You and I, in fact, all humanity was reconciled to God.

That is, Jesus’ death conciliates mercy in the presence of God. It provides the forbearance of punishment to any in sin and such are not immediately cut off from living the moment sin is purposed in the heart. (Did you ever wonder why Daniel said Messiah would be cut off? It’s for this reason. It’s sudden.)

It is why the writer of Hebrews said Jesus tasted death for every man.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels to suffer death, crowned with glory and honor, so that He, by the grace of God, should experience death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He humbled Himself, in this case, made as a man to suffer death for men. The death due for sin is sudden. It’s evident in Jesus. He died suddenly and for sin. In that way He Yates that death for every man.

He didn’t spend time in Hell serving infinite punishment or warring for your freedom. That was done already when He died. “It is finished!”

To Those Who Believe

Look back at our first text. Why would Paul differentiate Who God is from those who believe?

It’s like Paul is saying believers have something extra that not all men have.

Reread the second text. Now, note how Paul differentiates reconciliation from salvation. He says we are saved by His life.

What Paul is concisely explaining is the double nature of atonement taught in the law (Lev 16.) There is a dead offering, one that conciliates mercy. That seated mercy provides a respite from justice, but it doesn’t remove the curse of sin and the condemnation it brings. For that, confession is needed. It is typified in Leviticus 16 by the high priest leaning on the head (think authority) of the live offering. As he does, he confesses sin for the people. That offering is then led away alive and released into the wilderness carrying all the confessed sin away.

We need the resurrected Jesus. We need that authority to Whom we can confess our sin and have it removed… Forever! That is why Paul says especially to us believers.

The death of Christ is effectual for all men. Remission of sin and eternal life are the gifts given to the believer.

This is explained succinctly by one of my mentors.

“All men are commended mercy which preserves from being destroyed immediately and that so they can be and are, led to repentance and by repentance, the forgiveness of sins and by the remission of sins, salvation everlasting. Being led does not mean they will follow.” Jeff Thomas

In Conclusion

I do love how Paul seems to say these things that he would know intimately, being very familiar with the Law of Moses. Its prophetic implications are interwoven into much of what he writes.

My hope for you, as you’ve read this far… Is that you are one of those especially saved by His life. This requires a conscious decision on your part.