Evidence that the Ten Commandments have been Abolished for Righteousness
author unknown
When referring to the law of commandments, the verses below use the same word for “Abolished”. Sabbatarians (those who strictly observe Saturday as the Sabbath, such as Seventh Day Adventists and other judaizers) say the latter verse is referring to the ceremonial law.
“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” Ephesians 2:15
The “commandments contained in ordinances” refers specifically to the Ten Commandments.
“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? or the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:1-7
The following verses in Corinthians 3 clearly state that the Ten Commandments are abolished (four times) by using the same word for “Abolished” that was used in Ephesians 2:15.
“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3
Adventists and other torah/law keeping heretics say that the whole book of Galatians deals only with the ceremonial law, but a simple reading Galatians 4 proves them wrong;
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” Galatians 4: 1-11
Colossians 2:14-16 clearly states that the weekly Sabbath is abolished. Adventists are at a loss as to know what to do with this verse!
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Colossians 2:14-16
The idea that the Ten Commandments are separate from the ceremonial law, as Adventists claim, is a false doctrine not found in the Bible!
The Sabbatarians say that the Ten Commandments are for all mankind and are God’s universal eternal law. In response to this assertion, we reply:
If keeping the Sabbath was a moral law intended for all mankind, then why did God NEVER charge the Gentiles with breaking it. God charges the Gentiles many times for breaking all of the nine moral commandments on the tablets of stone, but NEVER ONCE says anything about breaking the Sabbath! This proves that Sabbath keeping is not inherently moral, but was just another ceremonial law given ONLY TO THE Jews!
The very words of the Ten Commandments clearly tell us that they were for the Jewish people ONLY! God never brought me or my ancestors out of Egypt! (Ex 20:2) The Lord has not given me the promised land of Canaan! (Ex 20:12) The Sabbath is a sign between God and fleshly Israel. There is no requirement for non-Jews to keep it! (Ex 31:1, 17; Ezek 20:12, 20) If Sabbath keeping was intended for all mankind, then why does Holy Scripture specifically state “strangers within your gates”? Obviously, the Gentiles (strangers) were never required at any point in history to keep the Sabbath!
Imagine that the Ten Commandments were a postal letter with no mailing address. The post office could easily determine who the intended recipient of the letter was by identifying the people being addressed.
• People who sometimes had strangers within their gates. (Ex 20:10)
• People who assembled at the mount on which there was a cloud. (Ex 19:16; Deut 5:22
• People who were slaves in Egypt. (Deut 5:15)
• People who had been delivered from Egyptian bondage. (Deut 5:15)
• People who were on their way to posses the land of Canaan. (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16)
• People that God made a covenant with at Horeb. (Deut 5:1-3; Neh 9:14)
It would be impossible for people living in the Arctic Circle to keep the Sabbath. How could they, from sunset to sunset? Obviously God never intended anyone but the Jews living in Palestine to keep the Sabbath.
Historical archives prove the common view between 150AD and 200AD was that the Patriarchs never kept the Sabbath!
JUSTIN (150 AD): Moreover, all those righteous men already mentioned [after mentioning Adam. Abel, Enoch, Lot, Noah, Melchizedek, and Abraham], though they kept no Sabbaths, were pleasing to God; and after them Abraham with all his descendants until Moses… And you [fleshly Jews] were commanded to keep Sabbaths, that you might retain the memorial of God. For His word makes this announcement, saying, “That you may know that I am God who redeemed you.” (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, page 204)
TERTULLIAN (200 AD): Let him who contends that the Sabbath is still to be observed a balm of salvation, and circumcision on the eighth day because of threat of death, teach us that in earliest times righteous men kept Sabbath or practiced circumcision, and so were made friends of God. .. …Therefore, since God originated Adam uncircumcised, and inobservant of the Sabbath, consequently his offspring also, Abel, offering Him sacrifices, uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, was by Him commended… Noah also, uncircumcised – yes, and inobservant of the Sabbath – God freed from the deluge. For Enoch, too, most righteous man, uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, He translated from this world… Melchizedek also, “the priest of most high God,” uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, was chosen to the priesthood of God.
The Ten Commandments are the Old Covenant. (Ex 34:27-28)
The Old Covenant was abolished. (Heb 8:13)
The Ten Commandments are therefore abolished!
Points to consider regarding the Sabbath
1. If every man from Adam to Moses kept the Sabbath, why is the Hebrew word for the weekly Sabbath found in the Ten Commandments and never in the book of Genesis?
2. Why was it that, before Moses, no one was told to keep the Sabbath and why are there no examples of anyone keeping the Sabbath?
4. Why were the Patriarchs never instructed about he Sabbath, but were instructed as to offerings (Gen 4:3-4), altars (Gen 8:20), priests (Gen 14:18), tithes (Gen 14:20), circumcision (Gen 17:10), and marriage (Gen 2:24, 34:9)?
5. Why was there no weekly Sabbath commandment given in the New Testament?
6. Why was the Sabbath the only one of the Ten Commandments that are said to be “throughout your generations”, the usual phrase that indicates it was a temporary ceremonial law only for the Jews?
7. Why is there no example of Christians exclusively coming together on the Sabbath day as a church or prayer meeting after the resurrection of Christ?
8. Why is there no command in the New Testament for Christians to keep the Sabbath holy? Paul taught in the synagogues as many as 84 times. Why does the Bible never say he kept the Sabbath?
9. How could Adam, Noah and Abraham keep the Sabbath, when Deuteronomy 5:2-4 says that the Ten Commandment covenant was not made with any of the fathers of Israel who lived before Moses?
10. If we must follow the example of Jesus in all things like keeping the Sabbath, then why do Sabbatarians not follow the example of Jesus in circumcision, animal sacrifices and keeping Passover?
11. If the Sabbath was for Gentiles, then why was the Sabbath a sign to remind the Jews of their exodus from Egypt? (Ex 16:23, 29; 31:13-18)
13. If the Sabbath law is still in force, then why do they not stone their own members when they break the Sabbath as the law said?
14. Ellen G. White, who is considered inspired by Seventh-day Adventists, said that the Pope changed the Sabbath in about 321 AD. Why do all Adventists today reject their inspired prophet and say the change of the Sabbath occurred in about 140 AD?
15. If White was wrong about this, was she wrong when she traveled to heaven and saw the 4th commandment glowing brighter than all the rest?
16. If the current position of the Seventh-day Adventist church is that the change from Saturday to Sunday took place in 140 AD, doesn’t that mean that they have come a long way from White’s claim that this occurred in 325 AD?
17. If the change from Saturday to Sunday actually happened, why is there absolutely no discussion of this for the first 600 years of church history? Merely calling Sunday the Sabbath doesn’t count!
19. If Sabbatarians reject White’s assertion that Constantine changed the Sabbath day to Sunday, why do they keep bringing him up as proof? If Constantine changed the Sabbath to Sunday, why does here merely legislate that work must stop on Sunday with no actual mention of the day being moved?
20. If the first/old covenant was abolished according to Hebrews 8:13, and the Ten Commandment law was that first covenant (Ex 34:27-28; 1 Kings 8:9, 21; Heb 9:1-4), then why do Sabbatarians want to keep the first/old covenant?
21. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians never kept the Sabbath (7th day) and have always worshipped on Sunday?
22. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians ate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday in the tradition of Acts 20:7?
23. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians always called Sunday the Lord’s Day because this was the day Jesus rose from the dead?
24. Why has no Sabbatarian every produced even one historical quote (75-500AD) that states Christians kept the Sabbath?
25. If the Sabbath is not a ceremonial law, then why is it lumped into the same identical class of “holy convocations” as the rest of the Jewish feast days? (Lev 23:2; Ex 20:9; 31:17)
26. If the Ten Commandments remain, but the book of law was abolished, then why did God put two copies of the 10 commandments in the book of the law? (Ex 20; Deut 5)
27. How can there possibly be a difference between “The Law of God” and the “Law of Moses”, when God gave the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6; Neh 8:1) and Moses gave the Law of God (Neh 10:29; 2 Chron 34:14)?
28. If there is a distinction between the moral and ceremonial laws, why are the Jewish feast days called part of the Law of the Lord? (2 Chron 31:3)
29. If there is a distinction between the moral and ceremonial laws, then why in a single chapter of Nehemiah 8 are the following phrases all used interchangeably: “book of the law of Moses” v1, “the law” v2, “book of the law” v3, “the law of god” v8, “book of the law of god” v18?
30. Why are the two most important commandments contained within the Law of Moses unrelated to Sabbath keeping? (Mat 22:36-40)
31. What did Jesus say about the law that Moses gave the Jews? (John 7:19)
32. If, according to the Adventists, the Sabbath cannot change because God cannot change (Mal 3:6), then what about all the other feast days and laws that changed (Heb 7:12), and why did Jesus give a new commandment in John 13:34?
33. If the Ten Commandments are going to be in heaven, what is the use of “thou shalt not commit adultery”, if there is no marriage in heaven? (Luke 20:34-35)
34. If the Sabbath was given to all men, why then were Gentiles called “strangers”. Why were Gentiles outside the gates not required to keep the Sabbath? (Ex 20:10)
35. How could the Sabbath be a sign between God and Israel if all nations were expected to keep it? (Ex 31:17)
36. Why did God send the Jews into Babylonian Captivity for breaking the Sabbath, but never ever criticized any Gentiles for never keeping the Sabbath?
37. Why did God often criticize the Gentiles via the prophets for moral violations, but never for breaking the Sabbath?
38. If the Gentiles were supposed to keep the Sabbath, why are they called “strangers of the Covenant” in Ephesians 2:12?
39. If the term “commandments” always means the Ten Commandments, then why are the laws that are not part of the Ten Commandments called commandments in Matthew 19:16-19 not also included?
40. If the term “commandments” always means the Ten Commandments, then what did Paul call the injunction for prophet’s wives to keep silent in the assemblies, a “commandment of the Lord” in 1 Corinthians 14:37?
41. If the term “keep my commandments” always means the Ten Commandments, then why is there a new commandment? (John 15:10-12, John 13:34)
42. If only the Ten Commandments are going to endure until heaven and earth pass away, why did Jesus say the law AND THE PROPHETS? (Mat 5:17-18)
43. When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” why did Jesus NOT QUOTE from the Ten Commandments, but from the abolished ceremonial law of Moses? (Mat 22:36-40)
44. If the Ten Commandments are the highest and most complete expression of God’s will, then why did they lack the two most important commandments? (Mat 22:36-40) and where is the prohibition against drunkenness, homosexuality and fornication?
45. If the Ten Commandments are the highest and most complete expression of God’s will, then why did Jesus give a new commandment to “love one another, even as I have loved you”? (John 13:34) Where were the Jews told to love their neighbor as God loved them?
46. If Christians worshipping on Sunday is equal to Sun Worship, then is Messianic/Adventists worshipping on Saturday equal to Saturn worship?
47. If Sabbatarians will boldly quote “scholars” who are really Bible trashers and skeptics who claim “the origin of Sunday worship is entirely pagan”, like Arthur Weigall in his ridiculous little book, “the paganism in our Christianity”, will these same Sabbatarians turn a few pages later where these same authors say the origin of the Sabbath is also pagan? “I have, already mentioned that Sunday, too, was a pagan holy-day; and in this chapter I propose to discuss the origin of this custom of keeping one day in the week as a Sabbath, or “day of rest,’ and’ to show that the practice was forcefully opposed by Jesus Christ. The origin of the seven-day week which was used by the Jews and certain other peoples, but not till, later by the Greeks or Romans, is to be sought in some primitive worship of the moon (The Paganism in Our Christianity, Arthur Weigall, 1928, p209, 210-211)
48. If the Sabbath is a moral law, why did Jesus say that David, the priests, and a man with his donkey could all break the Sabbath without sin? (Mat 12:1-14; Mark 2:23, Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6 John 5:8-18; 7:19-24; 9:14-16)
49. If the Sabbath is a moral law, why did God grow tired of the Jews keeping it and told them to stop keeping the Sabbath? (Isa 1:13-14) Did God ever grow weary of anyone not committing adultery or murder, and tell them to be immoral and kill?
50. If the Sabbath is a moral law, how could Jesus break it without sinning? (John 5:18)
YES the whole 66 book canon of the Bible is for us and yet, IT reveals that a NEW covenant superseded the Old one. The book of Hebrews reveals to us that a “BETTER covenant” with “BETTER promises” made the old covenant obsolete “for righteousness.” (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6; Romans 10:4) The faith of the NEWWWW Testament saint, saved by grace, is not set upon trying to keep the law (“keeping Torah”) but rather set upon the only ONE to ever keep the law perfectly – then He. Christ, nailed it to the cross and “took it out of the way.” (Colossians 2:14-19) It’s over so repent and get over it, now! The infinitely inferior old was a mere shadow of the infinitely superior NEW Testament that was to come and HAS come with Christ! (Hebrews 10:1) Beware of the demonic judaizing devils in our midst. They are snakes!
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Abiding
The Victory of the Crucified Life [podcast]
The victory of God in your life comes through the victory of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. And thereafter, from adhering to His instructions on how to walk with Him – the way of the cross.
“Praise be to God! Glory, glory, O what a wonderful Saviour we have in Christ Jesus! What salvation! What beauty of holiness that can change ashes into beauty! We praise Thee, Most High in all Thy beauty and holiness, and thank Thee for salvation found in Thy holy One, Jesus Christ.” Jon Crane
WHO are truly Christ’s?
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (the cross, crucified life).” Galatians 5:24
Read that verse above again. Memorize it.
There are many who claim to be Christians, followers of Jesus, yet regrettably, but a miniscule few are actually His, are actually serving the Son of God on His stated terms – recorded in God’s Word, the Bible. One cannot pretend to honor the Savior who bled on that cross, was buried, and raised again and yet not be diligently learning what He said and obeying Him.
MOST who claim to be Christ’s live according to what suits THEM, not Christ. “Depart from me” is coming if they don’t repent (Matthew 7:21-23; 25:40-46).
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
You are no longer your own. You are a new creature in Christ, an ambassador of Christ, the temple of the Holy Ghost. Read 1 Corinthians 6 and 2 Corinthians 5.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
There’s War Going on
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Galatians 5:17-18
This war, the warring against the flesh, cannot and will not be won outside of the crucified life and yet, scarcely do we ever hear the daily cross, the crucified life original Gospel message, even mentioned today by pastors, much less taught on regularly. They are what Paul calls “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19) The days of the prophesied great apostasy are in complete fulfillment (Matthew 24:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 2; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-13; 4:2-4; 2 Pter 2; Jude 3-4; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 2-3, etc.).
God has already said that you can walk in His full victory – the victory won by the sinless Son of God who alone was crucified, buried, and raised again from the dead.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
And His victory is to empower His people to do HIS work:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
WHEN you begin seeing GOD raise you upward into His victory, the victory He alone can bring in your life, you are going to scratch your head and wish you’d heard and applied this cross message a long time ago! It’s going to be one of those Boom Jesus! moments.
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
“Wish I’d have known about walking in this original Gospel cross message a long time ago! Why did I wait so long? If you want to have more fruit you must die! Want to to be resurrected and have new life in Jesus? Die. God doesn’t use anyone who hasn’t fully surrendered themselves to Him.” Karen Cochran
Do We Truly Have and Walk in Christ’s Victory Beloved of God?
It’s one thing to say “I have victory in Jesus” and yet another to actually be walking in, experiencing that victory over sin and Satan by way of the crucified life which Jesus and His holy apostles prescribed as the only way to actually possess, or be possessed by that victory. Think cross economy – death, burial, and resurrection – the Gospel being re-enacted in your daily life (Romans 6).
WE CAN only preside as master over the flesh, the self-life, as we are crucified with Christ – and thereby is the flesh kept under the authority and power of Christ, who is raising up into His victory the crucified saint.
Memorize this:
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
Not one of us is walking in victory outside of complying with our LORD’s cross message – that we must die so He can live in and reign in us. And you are not alone. As usual God gives the grace, His divine empowerment to all who obey Him. Note “through the Spirit” …. Read this closely:
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:11-14
According to Scripture, including the above passage, there is no walking in the Spirit, walking in the raised-up-by-the-Holy-Spirit-life outside of being crucified with Christ. We have a whole generation of misled “Spirit filled” professing Christians who have never heard of the original Gospel requirement and message of the cross. Their diabolical handlers are what Paul calls “the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18-19).
Notice that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is inseparable from the crucified life. Read this closely:
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (the cross, crucified life).
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
You do not and will never have victory in Christ until you submit to His cross – to being crucified with Christ, just as He mandates for all who will follow Him. This is His stated term:
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24
Only those truly submitted to God, to His cross, are going to overcome sin, Satan, and the flesh and walking in the victory Jesus died to grant each of His people.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
TODAY, you are either dying downward and being raised up by Christ into His victory – or you are losing, you are in defeat and will remain there until there is sincere repentance, confession of all sin, and an embracing of the crucified life Jesus calls you to.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:1-14
Reading Romans 6 each morning this week is a life changer waiting to happen. Do it.
“They want heaven without the cost …. That is a false gospel message and many are deceived by it. We are to deny ourselves take up the cross daily and follow Jesus. Trust and obey.” Darlene
Holiness is essential and there can be no holiness without the cross.
Holiness is not the way to Christ. Christ is the only way to holiness – and He prescribed, He mandated the cross for such to be accomplished. There are no shortcuts.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:” 1 Peter 1:15-17
“Satan has redefined Christianity with no requirements, no sacrifice and costs nothing. You can live as you please, because God accepts you as you are. It’s been all finished at the cross as many vainly believe. If you truly follow Jesus you must crucify the flesh. There is no way to be Holy as I am Holy 1 Peter: 1:15. without dying and taking your sinful self (flesh) to the cross of Christ. Without holiness no one will see the Lord! Hebrews 12:14 Doctrines of Devils. 1 Timothy 4: 1-2 Yes. They want a ticket to heaven but nothing else. No relationship just a free ticket. They somehow believe God will welcome them with open arms.” Karen Cochran
Why would anyone in their right mind want to be filled with sinful self when we can all be filled with the Savior, with the Holy Spirit? John the Baptised cried out to the LORD with this prayer and declaration that we should all pray right now to our God in Jesus’ name:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, thank You for finding and saving me into Your eternal kingdom family through Christ. I come to You now in Jesus’ name, surrendering to You afresh, laying my whole being, my life, at Your feet dear LORD. Please have Your holy way in this life, possessing my heart, mind, and body. Sanctify me for Thy glory dear LORD Jesus. Please wash and cleanse me of all sin, of all that is unclean and defiles, right this moment LORD by Your precious blood. Please fill this, Your vessel and use me. In the name above all name, the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Camping Out on the Message of His Cross |
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Abiding
The Sheep vs the Goats as Defined in Scripture [podcast]
“The goats feed their carnal appetite. The sheep of Christ feed on the Word of God! Jesus’ sheep know His voice. They follow and obey their Lord Jesus (John 10:27). The goats obey their fleshy desires (Galatians 5:16-21), and follow the hirelings and not the Great Shepherd, the LORD Jesus (John 10; Heb 13:20). Christ’s sheep are known by Him! (John 10:14,27; 1 Corinthians 8:3). The goats will be cast out and told, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.’ (Matthew 7:23). Terrifying words! Are you Jesus’ sheep, or are you a goat, a counterfeit? Search your heart today. Ask God if He knows you! It matters not if we claim to know Him. He must also know us, as this Scriptures clearly reveal!” Karen Cochran
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24
Of sheep and goats, one source notes:
“Jesus shares the story of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25:31–46 to describe the final judgment. In the story, the Son of Man separates all of humanity just like a shepherd sorts sheep from goats, placing the sheep on His right side and the goats on His left.”
The Naked Truth about Who’s Going to Heaven and Who’s Going to Hell
WANT to see those whom the LORD calls His own? Want to see who the true Heaven bound remnant are? Look at those who are about the “Father’s business” which is the Great Commission (Luke 2:49; 24:47; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts, etc.). Everyone else is doing their own thing.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
With their life, the rebel declares “Not Thy will but mine be done!”
With their life, the righteous declare with Christ “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 24:42).
“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.” John 14:21-24
“And hereby we do know that we know him, IF we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:3-6
Walk and live as Jesus lived? Yes. Those who know and love Him are about the work and “the will of him that sent” them.
Take a look:
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). Jesus then speaks of evangelism, something every one of His people are to be doing (John 4:34-38).
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40
“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Matthew 12:30
Anyone not fully with Jesus, is against Him, the only Savior.
So you claim Christ as Savior but don’t participate in prayer, support, and Great Commission action? Time to repent for real. The fruit of your life is rotten. You are presently a Savior-rejecting, self-serving counterfeit.
Read 1 Corinthians 9. The first half is concerning our privilege to give to HIS work. Then the apostle Paul speaks of running the race, to the end, becoming all things to all men to see them saved, being crucified with Christ.
The more I read God’s Word, the more convinced I am that the Heaven bound remnant are known in that they are about the “Father’s business” —the Great Commission—and not their own (Luke 2:49). They have laid down and are forsaking their own lives in this fleeting world in their supreme love for Christ Jesus (Acts 20:24). Anyone claiming to be Christ’s and not doing, participating in the Great Commission command … clearly reveals that they are in need of repentance, before it’s too late. Jesus is not their “first love” —which means they are committing spiritual adultery on Christ, the Great and coming Bridegroom (Revelation 2:4-5). Repent and obey Him or perish.
If you are committed to Christ, with no exception, you are committed to studying, knowing, and walking out His Word. You are committed to carrying out the Savior’s Great Commission command.
YOUR PRAYER: Right now dear holy and heavenly Father, please begin a fresh work in this heart. May Your love fill this heart and may You alone be my “first love.” May the love in me for You burn. Let it far exceed all other loves and interests! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Abiding
Dirty Ox Stalls bring Dividends [podcast]
An intriguing proverb that applies directly to our daily lives and the stewardship of the time our LORD has afforded us in this brief life. Gaining traction via the wisdom of our great God and King Jesus Christ. How to avoid spending our lives “spinning our wheels.”
“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4
The blessing of a dirty ox stall…. What’s most important to God is productivity, not neatness, not tidy-ness, not a clean stall.
Here’s a proverb from the Holy Spirit and Solomon which breathe wisdom into our lives. Let’s read it again:
“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4
The proverbs of the LORD we have in His Word hold hidden meaning which breathe wisdom into our lives.
A proverb is a figure of speech, words that impart truth by using natural illustrations to convey spirit truths.
Jesus taught in parables. Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meaning, divine wisdom to establish us in our relationship with Him as we love, worship and obey the LORD.
This is exactly what we have in Proverbs 14:4, where an ox and his stall are featured in order to convey the divine truth that productivity is more important to God than the pettiness of cleanliness.
The proverbs often use simple images to convey a deeper moral or practical lesson.
Active, working oxen bring dirt and dividends. Clean ox stalls glitter but produce no gold.
When commenting on this proverb, one man said: “Don’t be deterred by the dung.”
Fruitful saints aren’t known by how clean their house is but rather how full, how abundant their treasure in in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Their prayer and work is focused upon pleasing their LORD Jesus and not with how clean their temporal living space looks, by how sparkling clean their life looks to mere sinful men.
One pastor notes the following about the divine truth imparted to us in Proverbs 14:4:
“There are some proverbs that stick in our heads more than others and this is one of them for me. The image is memorable and the lesson is unforgettable. Solomon paints the picture of a barn without oxen and because of no oxen, the stalls are clean and pristine. This is a barn that the perfectionist likes; a barn that can be organized, cleaned and maintained without interruption. This is a barn that the neat freak and the clean freak crave; a barn that they can come into and know that everything is clean and tidy. This is a barn that needs no work. This is a barn that, after working in the field, demands no additional time or effort to clean. This is a barn that needs no attending to after hours. It demands no thought when heading out of town. It never smells. It doesn’t even make a sound. There is no sickness in this barn nor does death ever visit its crib. This is a barn that requires no food or water and as such, it doesn’t require any constant removal of dung. It’s clean and pristine! … While that sounds appealing to the average man or woman, the average farmer doesn’t pursue an empty crib. He knows that the tradeoff is well worth it. It’s the cost of doing business in agriculture. He knows that he could farm his land on his own and that he could produce “some” increase on his own. He knows that he doesn’t need oxen to till the ground, to sow the seed or to harvest the crops but if he’s going to have “MUCH” increase, he needs oxen and there are no oxen that clean up after themselves.”
The mess is worth the money.
The dirt is worth the dividends it brings.
Dirty spaces bring special graces.
The progress and productivity are worth the pile of trash.
Men who are dirty from working all day will go home with fruitfulness for their family. They are satisfied and blessed to do so and so we wake up the next morning and gladly go do the same. The trade off that brings wages is worth it.
This proverb also brings into mind the harvest that can being produced by you alone, in contrast with the harvest produced having others to labor with you to bring forth “much increase.”
Also, by not inviting others to join you in doing our LORD’s work, we deprive them from being blessed to lay up treasure in Heaven as our LORD commanded each of us who His children to do (Matthew 6:19-21).
The following is from Josh Denhart:
“In ministry we think, “If you want a job done right, do it yourself.” You may avoid messes, but you have just stepped into the “Trap of the Clean Stall”.
Proverbs 14:4 reads, “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. “
In the ancient agrarian world, animals brought a massive advantage. To have an animal meant you could accomplish so much more. Today we refer to a car as having a certain amount of “horse power”. In times past, an animal brought with it a certain amount of power. Power to increase the harvest and get the job done. Here, the writer of Proverbs is referring to “Ox Power”. The power and advantage is brought through the strength of an ox.
The writer of Proverbs says that it is really a trade off. On one hand you get a significant increase through the strength of an ox, yet with it you get, poop. Yes, good, ol’ fashioned ox poop.
Goal: Huge Harvest
Let’s compare the alternative. You have no oxen, but you have an amazingly clean manger stall.
More harvest with a poopy stall vs. a perfectly clean stall and a diminished harvest.
Our goal is not a clean stall. Our goal is a huge harvest. A natural side effect of a huge harvests are messes. What do you want? Do you crave a super clean stall over a bountiful harvest? Listen, a tidy stall in and of itself is a bad trade for a compromised harvest.
Let me shoot straight with you. I have a well-managed case of OCD. I crave order. If you serve in children’s ministry, you probably do too. I hate disorder. Yet the calling of the harvest trumps our neurotic desire for order.
Do not fall into the trap of the clean stall.
You Can’t Do It Alone
We must define our goal for the harvest over and over! Our goal is reaching the lost through equipping the fold. Our ultimate goal is not order for order sake. Our goal is the good news of Jesus going deep into the hearts and heads of kids, which brings messes. Get used to it. And get over it.
We can have order as we achieve a large harvest, but uncomfort with messes can short circuit great harvests.
Let’s take this proverbial analogy a step further. You as a ministry leader are essentially the farmer. You can’t and don’t want to do it alone. You need help. Those willing to help you from a staff or a volunteer perspective can bring great strength and accomplish more for the harvest than you by yourself. And, yes, I am equating associates and volunteers to oxen.
The Harvest is Plentiful
Oxen and people are living beings. Both bring messes. Farming, like ministry, is just messy. Jesus said He came not for the healthy but for the sick. Sick people vomit physically and emotionally, have issues and need attention. That is our job. Years ago, someone sarcastically said, “Ministry would be great were it not for all these people!”
Listen, if you want order more than you want the harvest, you may find yourself doing it alone. Doing it alone equals to a field white for harvest with no one to get the job done. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. More workers means more messes. We as farmers must manage the messes and rise above the stall to see the harvest.
Do you want a harvest more than you want order? Absolutely. Therefore, we had better embrace the reality of a poopy stall. Do not fall into the trap of the clean stall.”
One has to roll up his sleeves and get dirty to produce dividends to the glory of the divine.
Ever see construction works at the end of a work day? They are dirty and yet earned dollars, dividends. They will do it the next day also. Why? – because the trade off is productivity, earning that which is desirable.
Lots of work brings movement and a mess.
Lot’s of dirt when you much to diligently do and bring dividends.
A clean workspace brings no coin.
Do you want to work and get dirty, cause a mess, and yet make a profit? Or do you want to keep your place clean with the outcome being no coin?
The blessing of “much increase” comes at the expense of a clean crib, work space. It’s a bless-ed trade-off, right?
Personally, I could care less about a disheveled work place. My goal is to be fruitful, fruit-filled for Christ, bearing – “fruit … more fruit … much fruit.” (John 15)
In your business life, would you rather a disheveled work space and work to do, or a clean work space with no work?
It is better to have dirt to clean up with work that brings wages than to have a clean work place with no work.
Increase in material prosperity, productivity, fruitfulness comes by utilizing the oxen for labor and as a result there will be a mess made. The fruit produced far outweighs having to clean the stall, the work place.
“A barn can be kept cleanly swept where there are no oxen, but isn’t it better to have some dust and dirt around, knowing that the labor of an ox will lead to a bountiful harvest? The rewards of toil more than compensate for its disagreeable aspects.
This proverb is not intended to encourage homes or chapels that look like disaster areas. But it does discourage that passion for order and dustlessness that puts the brakes on progress and productiveness.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Dust and dirt bring dividends.
Productivity makes for progress.
The grind brings the goods.
Labor brings some loot.
Someone has wisely stated:
“Salons always have hair on the floor.
Garages always have oil on the floor.”
The oxen serve a good purpose and produce productivity.
What is it to have a clean work place? That just means you aren’t being productive, you don’t have work that is bring wages and blessings.
“Straining at a gnat”…. Swallowing a Camel
This idiom Jesus uses means over-emphasizing the minors while under-emphasizing the majors, “the weightier matters of the law.”
Matthew 23
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. “
Martha and Mary – Mary had the Divine Priorities in their Rightful Place
“38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
No, it’s not a sin to keep things clean, to be organized. Yet, at the judgment, Jesus is not going to say “Oh wow, you kept your living and workspace clean! Enter thou into the joy of the LORD.” No, but rather….
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21
At the coming judgment what we did for His glory, in His holy name, will be rewarded.
Matthew 25
“And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Read John 15 and underline “fruit” and “more fruit” and “much fruit.” “Fruit” emanates from the life that is soundly grounded in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.” John 15:16-17
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The Victory of the Crucified Life [podcast]
The Sheep vs the Goats as Defined in Scripture [podcast]
Dirty Ox Stalls bring Dividends [podcast]
Top 12 Missing Essential Doctrines in the Modern Church World! [podcast]
Fulfilling Your Calling [podcast]
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Top 12 Missing Essential Doctrines in the Modern Church World! [podcast]
The Flesh will Never be Reformed it Must be Crucified [podcast]
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Doubt Casting Wolves Exposed
Ridiculous King James Bible Corrections
“A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey” [podcast]
The Victory of the Crucified Life [podcast]
The Sheep vs the Goats as Defined in Scripture [podcast]
Dirty Ox Stalls bring Dividends [podcast]
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