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God Cannot be Tempted with Evil

God is “Holy, holy, holy.”

“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3

“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8

All sin is man’s doing, not God’s. Man alone is to be blamed, not the LORD. All who would blame the LORD with their lame, self-serving excuses indict the Almighty!

We sure do strive against sin (Hebrews 12:4) and yet are given full divine grace and enablement to overcome all sin – “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

Those who conveniently ignore the divine mandate of Romans 6 to crucify the sinful man and his evil, sinful deeds are denying Christ who died to take away all sin from our lives. To deny such is to deny the Gospel.

The Bible never separates being saved from sin and being saved for eternity.

They are always connected and so anyone claiming to be saved and yet is not presently saved from their sin, is completely deluded. They have bought into the life of the ages which Satan launched in the Garden of Eden when he told the first man and woman that they could sin against the LORD and “not surely die” or be separated from Him (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). This lie from hell caused the fall of the first man and woman and is causing the fall of millions today who vainly believe they are saved for Heaven while living in their sins unrepentant!

At the Day of Pentecost, when the LORD’s church was born, Jesus’ apostle Peter testified to those saved: “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” (Acts 2:40)

“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.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

I can hear it now: “BUT BUT BUT……. being holy is a nice thought and theory, BUT BUT BUT… does God really expect to be what He commanded us to be? Will He not overlook our sins? Doesn’t He see us through the blood of Christ?”

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Those who are living in unrepentant sin and somehow believe God is going to forgive them in the end may wish to consider that:

1. You may never have the chance to repent, sudden, instant death happens to thousands daily (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 22:11).

2. You may call upon the LORD and He will not hear you (Proverbs 1).

Let me pause to say that obviously, this writer is a disciple also and so just like yourself, he knows the gravity of sin and yet is also blessed to know the power of Jesus Christ to crucify all sin out of his personal life, but only as this follower is truly abiding crucified with Christ. Only as we are abiding crucified with Christ are we free from the entanglement and defilement of all sin!

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Satan and sinful self are always at work, making excuse for soul damning sin. Yet the Bible has all of God’s answers for all sin, not just some sin. Learning to die – to lay aside self for the greater glory of Jesus’ reign – is at the heart of Christ’s message of the daily cross (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; John 12:23-26, etc.). Those who deny the daily cross Christ commanded, are the very “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

The list of excuses goes on and on and on, yet they’re all based on rebellion and unbelief against our Maker who through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ made full and complete provision through to save us from all sin.

In fact, is that not exactly why Jesus came?

The announcements of the Messiah’s birth, Ministry, and Divine Mission:

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

To deny that God sent His only begotten Son to save us from all sin is to deny Christ.

You are calling God a liar to say you can’t be blessed by Him to overcome all sin and sinning. Those who dare indict the Almighty this way despise the perfect salvation of Jesus Christ.

“The spirit of holiness” as from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is to possess all of God’s children, enabling them to “through the (Holy) Spirit … mortify the deeds of the body.” (Romans 1:4; 8:13-14)

“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 (be separated from God): but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (have life with Christ). 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (those living in sin are not being led of the Spirit and are not the sons of God). 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (why fear if God has given you His full divine power over all sin?). 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (as we live in His holiness by the power of His Holy Spirit):  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; IF so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (notice that this is clearly condistional). 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (suffering death to self).” Romans 8:12-18

Excuse makers are not true disciples of Jesus. They put more trust in the sinful nature than they do in the saving power of Jesus Christ which means they have “an evil heart of unbelief” and have departed from the saving faith of Christ Jesus (Hebrews 3:12-15; 1 Timothy 4:1).

“Take heed, brethren (not lost souls), lest there be in any of YOU (brethren) an EVIL heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But (in light of this jeopardy of soul) exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, IF IF IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Hebrews 3:12-15

The same excuse-making sinners who use Romans 7 to justify their sin, refuse to be confronted with Paul’s words in the very previous chapter – Romans 6. They refuse to repent of all sin and be crucified with Christ and are kindling for the fires of eternal damnation. Saving grace saves us from sin and quickens us to repent and confess any and all sin if we make choice to commit such as is named in Scripture and defiles our wedding garments (Mark 7:20-23; Galatians 5:19-21). Listen closely to this Titus 2 passage beloved:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14

It is clear from this Bible passage that only those who are by the enabling grace of God, learning of Him and “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” are ready to meet Christ at His soon return.

According to Titus 2, exactly what is divine saving grace teaching those who are truly possessed with it? – “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” (v12) This means that anyone who claims to be Christ’s and yet is not learning to daily deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,” is utterly deceived. Whatever you do, pour over and learn this passage! Let it take full precedence in your heart and mind, overruling the message of those wolves who have taken sin lightly and made you feel comfortable while living in soul-damning sin. Cast down those wicked false images of God beloved (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Deborah Blanchard notes:

“God is Holy and to be feared. He demands holiness from us. It is our choice and when we choose to be obedient to Him He gives us the power to overcome. It is a fearful thought of mine to come before a Holy God. At the same time, it is a loving God who provides all we need when we decide to come to Him on His terms.”

Continuing in sin and yet still saved?

“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?” Romans 6:1-2

If you are not currently saved from sin, you are not saved, period.

Let’s review the above passage:

Question:

“Shall we continue in sin, that (saving, essential) grace may abound?”

Answer:

“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

“This Present Evil World”

“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Galatians 1:4

Of Galatians 1:4, the late Donald Stamps aptly noted:

“DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD.  This verse if probably an early confession of faith that was well known throughout the N.T. churches. It connects the death of Christ with the forgiveness of sin and deliverance from ‘this present evil world.’ Essential to the saving purpose is the deliverance of believers from the evil that dominates the societies of this world. The first gospel message preached after the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit contained the words: ‘Save yourselves from this untoward generation.’ (Acts 2:40) Believers must live for God and refuse to be governed by the prevailing values, wisdom, opinions, corrupt desires, ambitions, and pleasures of the people of the world.” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 1830

If you love your sin more than Christ, you have openly denied Him and are in danger of hellfire. If you don’t repent and return to Him, allowing Him to make you holy as is defined by Him alone, He is going to deny you access to eternal glory and terminate you into the bowels of eternal damnation.

“It is a faithful saying: For IF we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 IF we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 IF we believe not, yet he abideth (remains) faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Notice that the LORD says of Himself here that “he cannot deny himself.” It never says He can’t deny you. Say what?! Yes, read the passage above again very carefully and you will note that many have been misled by false teachers to believe that God will never deny them because they had once been saved in their past. But is that what the LORD is saying in the passage above? No! He says that He cannot deny Himself – not us. It never says He cannot and will not deny us. In fact, it says in plain daylight that “if we deny him, he also will deny us.” The “if” means it’s possible to deny Christ and the divine promise here is that “if we (do) deny him, he also will deny us.”

Note also that this passage assures us that only “if we be dead with him” shall we “live (eternally) with him.” And, only “IF we suffer (death to self)” shall we “reign with him.”

Make no mistake: The blessing of eternal glory is condition, not un-conditional as many false teachers teach.

It’s time to snap out of the spell of all fictitious notions and falsehoods we have been fed by the epidemic of beguilers who now fill books, pulpits, audio messages, videos, websites, and otherwise with their lies from hell. Get into God’s Word and take Him who is the Judge of your eternal soul at His Word. Decide to “Let God be true and EVERY man a liar.”(Romans 3:4)

A Willingly Deceived Generation

“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Proverbs 30:12

Foolish, deceived souls somehow believe that they can be saved and have “eternal security” while they refuse to be saved from their sin. Nothing could be further from the truth as any honest hearted Bible student knows. This is a brazen denial of Christ who died “that he might redeem us from all iniquity,” not just some iniquity (Titus 2:14).

Those who refuse to submit to the “daily” dying to self will find any speck of Bible truth to twist to justify their rebellion and make excuse for their rebellion and sin (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Peter 3:16).

It’s essential to be “honest” in all things as Jesus taught and yet He also said that “men loved darkness rather than light.” (Luke 9:23-24; John 3:19-21)

2 Corinthians 7:1 says: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Departing from all Iniquity is Commanded by the LORD

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal (stamp, earmark), The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

It’s clear from this above passage that every single person who is currently in Christ’s body and secure with Him, is departing “from iniquity.”  Contrast with those who revel in sin and them make excuses for doing so.

Nothing in God’s Word could be more clear than the fact that all who die in sin – all – will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Ezekiel 33:12-13; 18:30; Romans 6:23; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8, 27, etc.).

When speaking to His very own people, Jesus promised that only those among them that “overcome” would be with Him eternally (Revelation 2-3). The Holy Spirit told us through Peter that in the end “the righteous” would “scarcely be saved.” Many have fallen away or not endured to the end which is a requirement imposed upon us by the LORD. “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18)

Whether previously saved or not, all those who die in sin are going to the lake of fire. The whole of God’s Word testifies to this fact. Jesus said to cut off the hand and pluck out the eye that causes us to offend the one true God who said He is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8) Read Mark 9:42-49, a passage purposely dodged by the spineless, self-serving cowards behind today’s pulpits who claim to be representing Christ while refusing to declare the full counsel of His Word (2 Timothy 4:1-5). The Son of God promised us that He will be ashamed of them in the Judgment, which means they will be vanquished into the bowels of eternal damnation (Mark 8:38; John 8:47). There’s no doubt that after we have been saved, we have all sinned against God and yet there are those who openly and honestly admit they have sinned and repent, turning back to the LORD (Luke 8:15; 1 John 1:7-10; Revelation 3:17-19). And then, there are those who use  false doctrine like OSAS (once saved always saved) to cloak themselves in that sin, falsely claiming they are still secure. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The LORD Jesus and the Father, the One who will judge our eternal souls, made it clear that we must repent of any sin committed. Only then does He “cleanseth us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) The LORD made full provision for all sin in the perfect sacrifice of Christ and yet, the benefits of that sacrifice are only appropriated (received) by those who meet the divinely stated conditions.

Notice what the divine counsel reveals through Jesus’ apostle Paul in the end of 2 Corinthians 12:

“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.” 2 Corinthians 12:20-21

Read this passage several times prayerfully. You will notice that as Paul is writing this to the church at Corinth, he is dreading having to go and have to deal with their sin – that is, the sin of those who had not yet repented of the sins they committed. He never denied that perhaps all of them had committed some sin since he last saw them. Yet, the ones he was exclusively concerned about were the ones who had not yet repented of their sin.

Sin is always a choice of the individual. The old sinful nature cannot be used as a scapegoat. It’s present with us and yet, must be kept under subjection to the divine power of the Holy Ghost.

“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

The word “keep” here once again makes it clear that the denial of the sinful self is an ongoing requirement. It’s also obvious that Paul didn’t believe or teach the “once saved always saved” heresy, otherwise he would never have stated that he himself could also become “a castaway” which simply means he could ultimately cast away from Christ into eternal damnation.

To intimate in any way that we are relegated to live in sin, would be saying that God’s regenerating, transforming, saving, enabling grace is not enough to keep us from all sin. That’s a lie from hell.

If you sin, be honest and admit it to the LORD. How foolish of us to think that He doesn’t see and know our sin in the first place? (Proverbs 15:3; Matthew 10:26; Hebrews 4:13) Who are we trying to fool?

“He that covereth (tries to hide) his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

The above Bible verse speaks about the necessity of being honest before the One who sees all. Also, it makes crystal clear that all sin that the believer chooses to commit must be confessed and forsaken.

Memorize Proverbs 28:13 (KJV). Write it on an index card and read, meditate upon, and memorize this truth. Share this with others.

Do you believe we have to be perfect after we become a Christian? Yes, perfect in heart, which without fail brings “fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” with Christ in glory (Romans 6:22). Many misuse the Bible truth that “the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Some use this as a cloak/excuse for their sin, acting as if God overlooks their sins, even if they refuse to repent, confess, and forsake them.

“What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:21-23

God looks upon the heart first and foremost as His eyes search to and fro throughout the earth, looking for that person whose HEART (not necessarily their performance) is perfect toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). The thief on the cross was utterly wicked until he turned his heart to Jesus and Jesus freely saved him in his last moment on earth. The fruit of and outward actions of our lives will begin to align with the abiding heart that is perfectly fixed upon and abiding in Christ (John 15:1-6; Colossians 3:1-8, etc.). We must not cover but rather repent of and forsake sin (Proverbs 28:13). Jesus said “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”(Matthew 5:6) Moses, David, Peter and many others throughout Scriptural history had sinful failings but repented while others (their contemporary counterparts) refused to return to the LORD in repentance. It’s interesting to contrast this phenomenon with these historical, biblical contemporary pairs: Cain/Abel, Jacob/Esau, David/Saul, and Peter/Judas. What was the difference? The heart. In each comparison, one repented and the other rebelled and was hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, departing from the LORD (Heb. 3:12-14).

Mercy, forgiveness, and divine enabling grace is always granted to those saved and who continue to come to God through Christ.

Our heavenly Father be thanked for the “throne of grace” He established through the perfect, precious blood of Jesus where our sins can be blotted out afresh upon repentance (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 1:7, 9; 2:1-2).

Jesus is coming and every one that has “this hope” of His return in their heart “purifieth himself even as he is pure.” (1 John 2:28-3:3)

Initial and final salvation is based on Christ’s perfect sacrifice and the reception of it is based on the individual’s initial and enduring faith – to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3, etc.).

Should we consider the Almighty harsh for giving us in His Word several lists of sins that violate Him? Do we consider Him to be as He told us He is – holy? Did He not give us ample fair warning that all sin will be judged, either by repentance now or when it is too late – when one stands before His holy throne in trembling ruins?

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4

Jesus came, not to grant free license to sin, but to the contrary, to forever judge sin in the flesh, by the sacrifice of His own body and to grant the blessed power to live in the Spirit and not live in sin. Because Jesus forever judged sin in the flesh by His perfect sacrifice, He defeated all notions and excuses for sin. There will be no defense when we stand before Him naked on Judgment Day. Why then would any person claiming to know Christ teach anything that justifies the sins that violate His holiness?

What does the Holy Spirit promise will happen to any person who has the fruit of any of these “works of the flesh” manifesting in his life?

“…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.” Galatians 5:19-21

The believer has already been judged when he or she got saved. Jesus died for ALL our sins, past, present, and future. Jesus sure did do His work perfectly-“It is finished” (John 19:30) and yet the appropriation of His propitiation (atoning sacrifice) is contingent upon our faith – both initially and ongoing. The idea that all my future sins are already forgiven is erroneous and not a New Testament teaching because God is not obligated to continue forgiving any soul that continues in sin. In fact, He told us that “the soul that sinneth, is SHALL die.”  (Ezekiel 18:4)  The fact that Jesus paid fully for our future sins is truth. It’s reality and set in stone, and yet, the forgiven, redeemed believer must endure in saving faith the end or he will be cast into the lake of fire. See. Matthew 10:22; 24:10-13; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 1 Peter 1:5, 9; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 2-3, etc. There is no such thing as un-conditional eternal security. All of Scripture refutes this lie that is widely peddled by modern false teachers. This is the same lie Satan told Adam and Eve – he told them that if they disobeyed God that God would not separate them from Him (spiritual death). But God booted them from the Garden (His holy presence). See Genesis 2:17 and 3:4.  Notice that one 3-letter word Satan added to God’s Word and how it led to the loss of the fear of God in the first man and woman and led to their fall into sin. God ushered them out of His Garden/presence.

Eternal life surely is eternal and yet the possession of it is forfeitable (Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 12:14-15; Jude 1, etc.). We are told that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from “all sin” but only “IF IF IF we walk in the light as he is in the light,” confessing our sins (1 John 1:7-10). After being saved, our sins are not arbitrarily forgiven. We must of necessity take personal accountability for them. We must agree with God’s pronouncements of what sin is and repent if we commit any of them (1 John 1:6-2:2). We shall eternally perish if we die with sin having spotted the pure white garments of His righteousness He graciously gave us, when He found and saved us. God’s Word warns that we are to make our“calling and ELECTION sure” and to keep ourselves “UNSPOTTED from the world,” otherwise we will be found rebels who “obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” and will be eternally condemned (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; James 1:27; 2 Peter 1:10).  We must set aside all tradition and things we have been taught of mere men and be washed with the water of God’s Word, being blessed to attain to His wise counsel. When we do, we will discover a conditional eternal security, not un-conditional. In speaking concerning the person who has believed and was saved initially, Jesus invented the term “fall away” and so such must be possible (Luke 8:13). To deny such would be to disagree with the One we claim to be our Savior.

Forgiven but also Reaping

David sinned and repentant and yet had to reap gross reward for his sin. Sin does have a price tag.

Yes God will forgive our sins and yet, we must reap what we have sowed (Galatians 6:7-8).

Jesus is able to keep us from sin that defiles and makes us unclean in His sight:

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24

The LORD “IS able to keep you from falling” into sin and to “keep” you ready to be presented “faultless” to in judgment – ready to meet Christ and be with Him and not cast away.

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” Ezekiel 18:30

Be bold and courageous in God. Know that He is able to keep you! Repent of any excuse making. Repent at once of all rebellion and damnable unbelief. If not, you will be “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” and ultimately be damned, all the while thinking you were saved (Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3, etc.).

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrew 12:14-17

The “wages of sin” is still spiritual “death.” (Romans 6:23) Like it or not – if you die in sin, you will spend eternity in hell/lake of fire.

Here’s the divine warning to God’s people, not the lost:

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (the covenant people of God are being addressed) 12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Ezekiel 33:11-13

Still stuck on the “eternal security” or “once saved always saved” fairytale?

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22

Are you returning to the “vomit” God delivered you from and then making excuse and justifying yourself in your sin? If so, you are a spiritual “dog” in God’s holy eyes which means you are defiled and unfit to have fellowship with Him here and now or in eternity.

Refuse to make any excuse for any sin you may commit. First off, you must realize that you are not forced to commit any single sin. It’s always a choice if it happens and you alone are to blame, period.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.” James 1:13-16

Read Romans 6 every single morning for the rest of this week or month! And do it! Own it! Pray that the LORD will make it reality in your life!

The holy fear of the LORD is only cultivated in the hearts and lives of those who honestly take Him at His holy Word. All others are denying Christ, hate His truth, and being turned over by God to “strong delusion” and to ultimately “damned.”(2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Whatever you do, repent, learn to love and obey the truth, fast and pray, and learn the daily cross Jesus commanded you to take up.

Get the books: Soul Damning Sins, I Die Daily, and Lie of the Ages.   STORE (all resources)

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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.

the-trap-of-the-clean-stall

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.”

At His Feet

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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Top 12 Missing Essential Doctrines in the Modern Church World! [podcast]


DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR “CHURCH” OR FAVORITE PREACHER? It’s real simple… if they are not preaching the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel given to us in the New Testament, they are preaching “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9).

“For MANY DECEIVERS ARE ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:7-11

Modern church wolves refuse to preach the original Gospel of Jesus Christ from the pages of Holy Scripture and in the power of the Holy Ghost. No, instead they preach sermonettes that cater to the self-worshiping idolaters they entertain and collect money from (2 Timothy 3:1-7). They don’t even use the King James Bible but rather some cheap counterfeit. Their ear-tickling topics range from healing damaged emotions, 5 love languages, best life now, recovery, learning to love yourSELF, coping platitudes, loneliness, psychobabble band aids, law of attraction, being a successful single, purpose driven delusionment, etc.

Fake “bibles” Exposed

LOTS of lying going on when we have counterfeits peddling affirmation without salvation, the “promise” of things “getting better” when their prey are heading straight to hell. Especially certain social media platforms are flooded with this false gospel coming out of “Christians.” There is no sin or repentance in their message which alone identifies it as a false gospel. You see, the things that are happening to the sinners around us are allowed by God in order to lead them to repentance and yet, the counterfeits among us are assuring those sinners it’s all going to get better and never giving them the 10 Commandments to show them they are sinners (Galatians 3:24) and then, leading them to Jesus (Romans 10:9-10, 13, etc.).  10 Commandments Evangelism

In the modern church world, there is …..

No cross. No Jesus. No blood. No judgment. No sin. No repentance. No hell. No readiness for the soon return of Jesus. No Heaven. No equipping preparation for ministry. No Scripture memory. No holiness. No Messianic prophecies and their fulfillment. No Christology. No fear of God. No repentance. etc., all of which are Bible doctrines essential to salvation and/or essential to sound foundation in Christ and are missing in the modern church world.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

The only reason we, each of us has been deceived in the past is due to our own biblical ignorance (Proverbs 24:5; Hosea 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). Lacking the knowledge of the Word, we didn’t see what they were LEAVING OUT. We didn’t know to discern what they were teaching and what they were NOT teaching. Now, as we grow in the knowledge of the LORD through diligent daily study of His Word, we know to look for the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith.

THE TOP ESSENTIAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINES NEVER HEARD IN THE APOSTATE MODERN CHURCH WORLD!

  1. The divinity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-4, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16). | Jesus Christ is God
  2. The virgin birth of the only begotten Son of God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). | The Virgin Birth of Jesus
  3. The essential precious blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19). | The Blood
  4. The inherent fallen nature of mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18). | Fallen, Sinful Man
  5. Worshipping God not idols (Exodus 20:3-5). | Idolatry
  6. The essential doctrine and necessity of repentance (Luke 13:3). | Repentance
  7. The Return of Christ and being ready for it (Luke 12:40; 21:34-36). | The Return
  8. Who Jesus is returning for and who will be shut out of His eternal kingdom (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27). | Ready for Christ’s Return
  9. The essential of enduring to the end to be with Christ eternally, initial and final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-30; Revelation 2:26). | Enduring to the End
  10. The essential daily cross, the crucified life, which Jesus required in following Him (Luke 9:23-24). | Living the Crucified Life
  11. Forgiving all others from the heart (Matthew 18:21-35). | Forgiveness
  12. Walking in God’s love (Ephesians 5:1). | The Love Walk
  13. Holiness – including the necessity of personal holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). | Holiness
  14. Judgment (Psalms 9:15-17). | Judgment
  15. Hell (Matthew 8:12; Mark 3:29; Luke 16:19-31). | Hell
  16. Fearing God (Psalms 2:11; Luke 12:4-5). | Fearing God

When’s the last time you heard verses like this in the modern church?

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33

The modern church is going down in flames into the flames of hell. It cannot be reformed. Come out from it.

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

In 2 Timothy 4:3 to “endure sound doctrine” means to hold oneself accountable to it. WHAT’s at the root of those who refuse to “endure sound doctrine”? – They simply do not love Jesus like He commanded them to (Matthew 22:37-39). They profess Christ as Savior and yet love self supremely and therefore serve the god of self. The Holy Ghost through Paul told us this of those who have a mere “form of godliness” in the last day resumé found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

Notice by divine design the very first thing he reveals is that “men shall be lovers of their own selves.” All the following evil comes out of self love, refusal to love God supremely and therefore repent, deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7

God is toppling all the heart idols (Ezekiel 14:3)… because He’s Jealous and wants us looking to Him and not these mere men, these vile wolves, these celebrity sinners posing as His representatives (Exodus 34:14).

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14

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Abiding

Fulfilling Your Calling [podcast]


“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Colossians 4:17

MINISTRY which pleases God is simply helping people know and grow in Christ for themselves – by the cross life and getting into HIS Word for themselves so they can follow HIM, not you! True ministry fosters in the hearers faith in God, not the preacher or local church organization! Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:5; 4:5.

Your communications and ministry are fed and fueled by your personal daily study and knowledge of God’s Word (Proverbs 22:17-21; 2 Timothy 2:15).

Ephesians 4:1-14

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12  For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:1-14

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