To Repeat or Not to Repeat
“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” Proverbs 13:3
NEVER be party to slander or a false report. If such were not going to be an activity to avoid, the Bible would not have so very much to say about it.
“Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an UNRIGHTEOUS WITNESS. 2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.” Exodus 23:1-2
IF you are spreading information about another person that YOU WERE NOT A LITERAL WITNESS OF – WITH YOUR OWN EYES – you are being “an unrighteous witness” by repeating a matter you are not a literal witness of.
“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18
“Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” Luke 3:14
NEVER EVER DRAW CONCLUSION ON ANYTHING BEFORE YOU’VE HEARD THE WHOLE STORY
A stern divine warning to refrain from drawing conclusion, from speaking before we have the full spectrum of information. It really is true that there are at least two sides to every story.
“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13
Are not our laws in this country crafted after this truth? “Innocent UNTIL PROVEN guilty.”…
“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” Proverbs 18:17
“He that is first in his answer in a disputed matter may appear to be right, but his opponent comes to cross-examine him and brings the real truth to light.” Dake
Like myself, have you ever heard one side of a story and determined with great anger which party was guilty? Then, the other party spoke and you were left dumbfounded at just how deceived you originally were, having heard just one side of the story? O, how long shall it be till we ingest and adhere to our LORD’s infinite wisdom/Word?
Laws against False Witnesses … The Severe Punishment of All False Witnesses
“One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two WITNESSES, or at the mouth of three WITNESSES, shall the matter be established. 16 If A FALSE WITNESS (someone who didn’t SEE for themselves) rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; 17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; 18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. 20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.” Deuteronomy 19:15-20
False witnesses like Haman will be hung on their own gallows – the one they constructed to kill another. – “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”(Galatians 6:7) The LORD misses nothing. He sees all and will repay those who repeat something they are not a literal witness of.
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13
The sin problem of judging others, wrongly that is, while we have a log in our own eye, is that God knows all our own sin we’ve not overcome yet, and is going to now expose and flip our life upside down. We’d better think long and hard about sending for unwarranted judgments on others when it’s not the Holy Spirit leading us to correct them “in the spirit of meekness” to help them restored to Christ (Matthew 7:1-5; Galatians 6:1-2; James 2:13).
“And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:15
Dare we count unclean that which God has cleansed? Dare we call David unclean for his sin when the LORD forgave, cleansed, justified Him? Dare well the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5 unclean after he was forgiven and restored?! (2 Corinthians 2)
Beloved of God, if after being saved, you have ever once lied, stolen, coveted, lusted in your heart, refused to forgive, etc., you were choosing to be “unclean” – defiled in the eyes of a holy God. Yet, when you turn your heart back to the LORD, confessing your sin, He freely forgave you. Right? Right! (1 John 1:9) In light of this, how shall we presently and forward, assess those in Christ’s family who have sinned? Shall we celebrate their return, their restoration as did the father of the prodigal son and as Paul did with the forgiven and restored previous fornicator? (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2)
AS was the case with the fornicator in the Corinthians church (1 Corinthians 5), when he repented, here’s what Paul then instructed the other believers in Corinth to do:
“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” 2 Corinthians 2:7-8
WHEN someone repents, it’s over. The offense is gone, done, washed away, remitted by the very “precious blood of Christ” – as if it were never committed (1 Peter 1:18-19). The transgressors is forgiven and restored (yet he will still reap what he sowed Galatians 6:7-8).
Of this truth the Believer’s Bible Commentary notes:
2:11 Just as there is danger for an assembly if it does not take disciplinary action when called for, so there is a danger of not exercising forgiveness when true repentance has taken place. Satan is always ready to step into a situation such as this with his cunning devices. In the first case, he will wreck the testimony of an assembly through tolerated sin, and in the second, he will overwhelm the repentant person with overmuch sorrow, if the assembly does not restore him. If Satan can’t destroy by immorality, he will try by the unmeasured sorrow following repentance.
Commenting on the expression “we are not ignorant of his devices”, J. Sidlow Baxter says:
Satan uses all manner of stratagems to turn souls from the truth: a sieve to “sift” them (Luk_22:31), “devices” to trick (as in our text), “weeds” to “choke” (Mat_13:22), “wiles” to intrigue (Eph_6:11), the roaring of a lion to terrify (1Pe_5:8), the disguise of an angel to deceive (2Co_11:14) and “snares” to entangle them (2Ti_2:26).”
“Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
Let us live biblically!
“Do not err, my beloved brethren.” James 1:16
Undiluted divine condemnation will be reaped upon the head of that one who dares to mock his Maker by judging others without mercy (James 2:13).
“Believe nothing against another but on good authority; and never report what may hurt another, unless it be a greater hurt to some other to conceal it.” ~William Penn
A mere accusation makes nothing true. False accusations began in the Garden of Eden and have continued since then. Here’s an example of a godly man, Christ’s apostle Paul, being falsely accused, slandered by many religionists….
“And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.” Acts 25:7
There were many railers who slandered our precious Savior.
“But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses.” Matthew 26:60
“For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.” Mark 14:56
“Ye Have Done it Unto Me”
There are many railers today who while claiming to be Christ’s children, slander the disciples of Jesus. Many today still slander our LORD by slandering or railing against members of His body.
The reality of false witnesses in this wicked era is established and yet, no disciple of Jesus should ever participate in the slander or railing against one of His children and if they do, they are attacking Jesus Himself who stated “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Then, the Judge of all souls declares “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:40-41)
To slander a child of God is a soul-damning sin to be dealt with no different than the fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5 where the Bible also lists other classes of damning sins, including railing. Those who rail on another simply attack or slander them. All unrepentant railers are murderers in heart and will be slain down into eternal damnation if they don’t repent before it’s too late and forsake this wickedness (1 John 3:14-15).
What kind of person does the Bible say digs up evil – reaches beneath Christ’s blood to judge a forgiven believer? – “An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” (Proverbs 16:27)
BEWARE of the witches, warlocks in our midst who would seek to use an already forgiven past sin against you (Proverbs 16:27-28).
God will forgive “ALL sins” except 1:
“Verily I say unto you, ALL sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and (even) blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” Mark 3:28-29
God will not forgive the sins of any person who refuses to forgive all others – from their heart (Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26, etc.). Unforgiveness is non-negotiably, irrefutably, soul damning sin.
PITFALL WARNING
Can spreading something true about someone, something they actually did, a sin they committed, be slander in God’s eyes? YES. Just because it’s true that he or she went into sin does not warrant you spreading it. No, God wants to “COVER” it, bury it – just like He wants to forgive and cover, bury YOUR sins. NEVER unduly uncover the past sin of a member of Christ’s body! Do you remember what happened to Ham when he dared to uncover his father? (Genesis 9) If you unduly uncover – your sins will be uncovered (Matthew 7:1-5; James 2:13). Now, read this again and let it sink in that only “an ungodly man diggeth up evil” or brings someone else’s past sins back up:
“An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” Proverbs 16:27
Listen to this:
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall COVER the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
See also James 5:16; Matthew 18:15-17.
Cain Followed His Parents and Did Things His Own Way
DID Cain murder his brother Abel because of Abel’s sins or his own?
“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” 1 John 3:12
Those who slander (kill, murder them with words) others do so because of the wickedness that exists in their own hearts.
The true remnant disciple must refuse to participate with false brethren in soul-damning railing (1 Corinthians 5).
What kind of person does the Bible tell us gives ear or listens to a tale bearing tongue?
“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.” Proverbs 17:4
The LORD watches who’s tale bearing and who’s listening and holds them both accountable.
It is the height of cruelty to believe the lies of an enemy concerning someone else. Yet, that makes it essential for us to dismiss things about a person if we don’t have a personal and truth-speaking witness. One dead give away of an unscrupulous, ungodly person is that they have no concern for the person they are slandering. They have no compassion or desire to see that person restore, that is, if in fact what is being said about them is even true.
Where does this originate from? Jesus says:
“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37
It is an extreme delight to our LORD and to His people when His children – imperfect in self and saved by His sheer mercy – dwell together in unity as we await the Son of God from Heaven (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalms 133:1
What does the Bible tell us a “true witness” does?
“A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.” Proverbs 14:25
Did you note how this Bible verse specifically defined “a true witness” and “a deceitful witness”? Read it once more please, paying close attention.
Just like the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the “true witness”or child of God seeks to bring restoration to the fallen/backslidden. Luke 15 is all about the restorative love of Jesus and how He delights to restore those whom He has saved and have backslidden. He is “not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance” and every one of His genuine saints have this same desire (2 Peter 3:9). Those who don’t have this desire, are not His!
The word “talebearer” appears 6 times in the Bible:
“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD. “Leviticus 19:16
“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. “Proverbs 11:13
“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Proverbs 18:8
“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Proverbs 20:19
“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Proverbs 26:20-22
To be a “talebearer” is simply to bear a tale – to carry it forth. It’s a tale when you are not a literal witness of it. So, such should not be repeated and the person who told you should be rebuked for this sin.
“Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: 10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.” Proverbs 25:9-10
Jesus taught us that if we have a problem with someone, we are to go directly to them and to no other, first and foremost (Matthew 18:15-17). Keeping things as private as possible seems like the divine will. Any person not obeying Jesus in this command is acting out of an evil heart and bearing evil tales. Christ’s disciples must not participate.
The next time someone says something negative about a certain person, interrupt them kindly, grab their hands and bow your head and say “Let’s lift that person up to the Father in Jesus’ name right now okay.”
IF you don’t know if it is true, ignore it. Set it aside and do not believe it. Don’t be surprised when lies fly about a sister or brother. Jesus promised that all who truly follow Him would be lied about and that they are “blessed” by God – “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you FALSELY, for my sake.” Matthew 5:11
HINT: Just because something is spoken, written, or repeated, doesn’t make it a fact.
Proverbs 17: 9 says “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that REPEATETH a matter separateth very friends.”
In this verse, did you catch the two things people can do concerning matters? In light of the fact that God is judging me according to how I judge others, I must ask myself whether or not I am covering OR repeating the matters that come into my ears concerning others. Such is a telling fruit. We know this because the Bible says in this same exact chapter “A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.” (Proverbs 17:4) Now, read that verse again and answer the following two questions:
1. What kind of a person does the Bible say “giveth heed to false lips”?
________________________________________________
2. What type person “giveth ear to a naughty tongue”?
________________________________________________
Beloved, never unduly expose others. When YOU sinned, did you want everyone to know about it or did you simply desire to repent and be restored to the LORD? Obviously the latter, right?
Apply Jesus’ golden rule and do to others as you wish for them to do for you in your time of need. This is walking in God’s love. Learn it and live His love! Study everything the Bible says about His love and beg Him to imbue your whole being with His love!
Recently I received an email from a ministry that was taking a certain preacher to task for a sin he committed many years ago. They based their cause on the hearsay of a former employee with that ministry. They seemed to drink in anything the former employee stated with not question or regard for whether he was telling the truth. They assumed he was. They seemed to assume that because that preacher was supposedly caught by sinful man in a sin years ago, that he was still committing that sin. They lost me quickly. I couldn’t finish reading that slander. I believe the Holy Spirit was grieved.
How do they know this man didn’t repent/hadn’t repented? Why do they assume such?
This doesn’t dismiss the qualifications for elders set forth in God’s Word. Yet, if sinless perfection (concerning performance) is the measure of being used of God, you and I are disqualified! For not one person could be used of God – not one – if God disqualifies us if we have sinned after He saved us. Remember the vile sin of Peter in His blatant denial of the very LORD of glory? But what did Jesus tell him? (Luke 22:31-32)
Is there no more forgiveness with the LORD?
Did the unchanging LORD of all creation and redemption somehow change?
When did God’s mercy cease? (Psalms 86:5, 15; 103:10-11)
Do you realize that God has NO respect of persons and so IF His mercy ceased toward the one you are slandering, it has also ceased to be applied to your slate? If this were the case, you are in big trouble.
Is the divine promise of 1 John 1:9 still in God’s Word?
What did Jesus tell Peter to do after he sinned? – Jesus told him to go do ministry! – “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Recently, someone asked how I had the patience to deal with the many misguided people whom we interact with. My reply was this …
The patience is in me toward others due to being brought by the LORD into the ever deepening revelation of my own infinite need for God’s daily mercy and grace ….. Ephesians 4:32 is a memory verse for all disciples. It says “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (if you name the name of Jesus, please memorize and live this verse from today forward)
Somehow we seem to forget that while Jesus was literally dying for OUR sins on that cross, He prayerfully cried to the Father “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
SOMEBODY throw your hands and heart to the Father and praise Jesus for the abundant and infinite mercy He has bestowed upon your wretched soul!
Even the great apostle of Jesus said:
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24
To those who have been slandered, see Psalms 31:20 and Job 5:21.
R.A. Torrey wrote:
“The humility of Jesus Christ was manifested in His silence under false accusation. Jesus did not defend His own good name. He left that to God. He ‘committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” and God has given Him ‘the name that is above every name.’ (Phil. 2:9)” What the Bible Teaches, p. 128
Jesus didn’t throw away the thief on the cross. No, Christ knew the man lived a sinful life and yet fully, freely forgave him in his last moments on earth. That once sinful, thieving man is now and will forever be in the bliss and glory of God’s eternal abode!
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to LOVE MERCY, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I sincerely repent of anytime I have personally participated in the sinful slander of another person. I beg You to forgive me for my own vile sins in Your holy sight, through the Person and blood of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. No one on earth needs You more than I do LORD! Not one person alive needs Your blessed mercy more than this vile, undone sinner! Father, please establish me as Your servant of reconciliation, a dispenser of Your bless-ed mercy and compassion, helping others find their way back to You! Break me LORD Jesus, I beg of Thee! Put a watch before this mouth and keep the door of these lips. In Jesus’ blessed name, Amen.
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Articles
The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]
What exactly does the Bible mean by the phrase “the sure mercies of David”?
The divine guarantee in Christ is that God’s mercies are upon your life, is available to you – as His divine mercies were upon the beloved David, from whose lineage came the promised Messiah. This grants no license for sin, which leads to judgment – now and forever (Romans 11:20-22; Hebrews 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21). God’s mercy in no way negates the biblical truth that we must all reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8).
Biblical examples of Sinful People God Forgave:
- Adam and Eve (Genesis 3).
- David (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 51).
- The prodigal son (Luke 15).
- One of the two men who stood before the LORD to pray (Luke 18:9-14).
- Peter (Matthew 26:26-69, Luke 22:31-32; John 21:15-17).
- Thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43).
- Woman taken in adultery (John 8).
- The fornicator in Corinth (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2).
According to Ezekiel 16:8-13 and many other Bible passages, God takes care of His beloved people.
Just as was the case with our earthly parents, so God took care of us, of you, when you couldn’t take care of yourself, He, your loving heavenly Father was there, tenderly taking care of you.
“Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. 9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. 12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. 13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.” Ezekiel 16:8-13
The LORD saved Paul as an example to us – to every vile sinner to be born thereafter.
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
IF God forgave David and told you that in Christ you have “the sure mercies of David,” why wouldn’t He freely forgive you? (Isaiah 55:3-4; Acts 13:34) If God forgave the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5 in 2 Corinthians 2, WHY wouldn’t He freely forgive your sins? Return to Him, confess all sin, forget the past, and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
The “sure mercies of David” are exclusively reserved for those who are in Christ!
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34
What is meant by the phrase we read in God’s Word “the sure mercies of David”?
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.” Isaiah 55:3-4
“55:2-5 In its alienation from God, Israel has been wasting its energy and resources. True satisfaction and lasting pleasure are found only in the Lord. If Israel returns to the Lord, they will receive all the sure mercies promised to David in the everlasting covenant (see Psa_89:3-4, Psa_89:28-29). These blessings are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus and in His glorious reign. The Gentile nations, too, will share in the benefits of the kingdom, and there will be amicable relations between Israel and the nations.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“the sure mercies of David” … yes those words definitely are so beautiful….. when we realize how wicked we are, we will find no stone to cast at any other. Instead we will send out the life saving message of “the sure mercies of David” which are in Christ.
UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross!
Read this verse carefully:
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13
Recently, someone asked me what is meant by “mercy rejoiceth against judgment”? Reply: God’s mercy is greater than the judgment of sin…… His mercy is powerfully forgiving. The LORD would clearly rather bestow His mercy upon sinners than His judgment.
“But God commendeth (exhibited) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
All men have sinned against our Maker and yet the LORD is so very good that He “gave his only begotten Son” to be sacrificed for “the sins of the whole world” so that none “should perish” (John 3:16-17; 1 John 2:1-2; 2 Peter 3:9).
I love this verse which puts it all in perspective…. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
Stay in the mirror – the Word. When we are not in the Word we forget just how wicked WE are, how in desperate need WE are of God’s mercy, and that’s when we judge others when we should be extending that bless-ed divine mercy upon them.
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass (mirror): 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty (Gospel), and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:23-25
God freely forgives His people on the basis of Christ’s perfect sacrifice…. and requires that we forgive all others as He freely forgives unworthy sinners like us on behalf of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We are unworthy in and of ourselves. Jesus’ righteousness alone provides for our salvation, the justification of God.
If God were not a forgiving God who restores the backslidden, NOT EVEN ONE of us would still be alive and headed for eternal glory.
It takes no less than to read Jesus’ 3 parables which make up Luke 15 to witness this glorious truth concerning His great mercy! Read it afresh with the restorational love of our God in mind!
Well, most of us would admit that we are not sinless… and sin is sin…. because God is holy….. and so we should have no stone of condemnation to cast at anyone except ourselves for any sin we committed in the past 😉
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” Luke 6:37
Does God forgive all sins? Yes, all except one…
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew 12:31-32
Well Judas committed perhaps the worst sin in history by betraying Christ and yet Jesus offered him mercy but he refused it.
Note that even in the midst of Judas betraying the innocent Son of God, Jesus called Judas, the traitor “friend.” This would clearly convey that Christ had his forgiveness in mind, had the desire to restore him.
“And Jesus said unto him, FRIEND, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.” Matthew 26:50
Of this verse where even while betraying the LORD Jesus, He refers to Judas as His “friend” or companion, Adam Clarke writes:
“Jesus said – Friend – Rather, companion, wherefore, rather, against whom art thou come? How must these words have cut his very soul, if he had any sensibility left! Surely, thou, who hast so long been my companion, art not come against me, thy Lord, Teacher and Friend! What is the human heart not capable of, when abandoned by God, and influenced by Satan and the love of money!”
God’s Word informs us that the LORD will love us all the way into hell if we choose to refuse to turn back to Him. Nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love (not life) of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39.) We see such unconditional love extended from the Savior upon the very man who was previously His close companion, one hand picked by the LORD Jesus and promised an eternal throne (Matthew 19:28). All men are given free will – till they die (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15, etc.). Instead of turning back to the Lamb of Glory before it was too late, Judas chose to kiss the Gate of Heaven and turn and plunge headlong into eternal hell (Acts 1:25).
God’s love is unconditional but His acceptance is not. | The Truth about Judas
“I would have been eternally lost if not for Jesus’ parable in Luke 15…O, may the prodigal, lost in this world, hear the good news, turn, and repent before its too late. O the tender mercies of God!” Jon Crane
As we see illustrated in Luke 15, RE-TURNING, turning back to God (repentance) is always the answer (Hosea 14:1-2). Denying such a need simply prolongs the separation and the misery of being in sin (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23). Just ask the prodigal son in Luke 15. Take a fresh look at the before and after on his life! Our loving heavenly Father, His mercy and desire to restore the fallen is so beautifully depicted in the three parables which makes up Luke 15.
Take a look at what our glorious LORD and Savior is depicting, is showing each of us in His parables of the lost sheep, silver, and son.
Mankind is already fallen, condemned, and separated from Him in sin. Never forget beloved that Jesus came to save and not to destroy! That’s His stated desire and will (Psalms 86:5, 15; Luke 9:56; 19:10; John 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:15, etc.).
ALL sin is first and foremost committed against God, not man. God is the only law giver who determines what sin is (James 4:11-12).
ANY sin one would commit is first and foremost against our Maker, God Himself.
“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Psalms 51:4
God is the only One who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
David is forever a trophy of God, set forth with the characteristic of the Messiah….. and yet, like all men, he fell, and was shown mercy….. in this we take heart and are forged with confidence by this example that if God forgave David, He will surely forgive and show mercy upon my life…. the key is to have a heart after God, which causes us to be honest and repent and confess all sin (Ps. 51).
“And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Acts 13:34
The promise of “the sure mercies of David”
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” Revelation 22:16
“The sure mercies of David” are secure to us in Christ because they are from our loving merciful God who forgive the beloved David.
God’s people are commanded to forgive others, to show them mercy toward, upon others as God has showed us His mercy in our sin.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
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Following Christ’s Great Commission Command [podcast]
The future belongs exclusively to Jesus Christ and His followers. Read the book of Revelation!
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Is your hand on “the plough” – that which God has called you to do in His kingdom work? Have you looked back?
“Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Colossians 4:17
Have you grown weary in well doing?
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
Are you obeying God by forgetting, by putting behind you the past – good and bad? Declare aloud in prayer before the LORD today: “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16
GOD WILL REWARD ACCORDINGLY
“And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” John 4:36
ALL WHO PARTICIPATE IN GOD’S WORK WILL BE EQUALLY REWARDED!!!
DO YOUR MISSION. Colossians 4:17
Think about this…..
Every laborer of Christ, no matter what small part he plays in God’s work, will be equally rewarded.
“For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24
Are we praying this specific prayer?
Whatever you do, never cease to preach Christ’s original Gospel!
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38
Being kingdom minded means that your life is all about King Jesus and you are living a life of prayer, busy about the ¨Father´s business¨, waiting with baited breath to jump in and engage in and support the teaching, preaching, spreading, the communication of God´s Word – fulfilling the Great Commission Jesus gave us (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).
Whose business are you about today – Christ´s or your own?
The answer to this question plainly reveals which kingdom you are in – Christ´s or Satan´s. The remnant body of Christ is all about the ¨Father´s business.¨ (Luke 2:49)
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Abiding
Chosen, Ordained, Joyfully Fruitful [podcast]
“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.” John 15:16
- “Ye have not chosen me”
- “I have chosen you”
- “and ordained you”
- “that ye should go and bring forth fruit”
- “and that your fruit should remain”
Of this truth, the Believer’s Bible Commentary notes the following:
“15:16 Lest there be any tendency for them to become discouraged and give up, Jesus reminded them that He was the One who chose them. This may mean that He chose them to eternal salvation, to discipleship, or to fruitfulness. He had appointed the disciples to the work which lay before them. We should go and bear fruit. Fruit may mean the graces of the Christian life, such as love, joy, peace, etc. Or it may mean souls won for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a close link between the two. It is only as we are manifesting the first kind of fruit that we will ever be able to bring forth the second.
The expression “that your fruit should remain” leads us to think that fruit here means the salvation of souls. The Lord chose the disciples to go and bring forth lasting fruit. He was not interested in mere professions of faith in Himself, but in genuine cases of salvation. L. S. Chafer notes that in this chapter we have prayer effectual (v. 7), joy celestial (v. 11), and fruit perpetual (v. 16). “That whatever you ask … .” The secret of effective service is prayer. The disciples were sent forth with the guarantee that the Father would grant them whatever they asked in Christ’s name.”
Adam Clarke writes;
“The first ministers of the Gospel were the choice of Jesus Christ; no wonder, then, that they were so successful. Those whom men have since sent, without the appointment of God, have done no good. The choice should still continue with God, who, knowing the heart, knows best who is most proper for the Gospel ministry.
To be a genuine preacher of the Gospel, a man must –
1. Be chosen of God to the work.
2. He must be placed in the true vine – united to Christ by faith.
3. He must not think to lead an idle life, but labor.
4. He must not wait till work be brought to him, but he must go and seek it.
5. He must labor so as to bring forth fruit, i.e. to get souls converted to the Lord.
6. He must refer all his fruit to God, who gave him the power to labor, and blessed him in his work.
7. He must take care to water what he has planted, that his fruit may remain – that the souls whom he has gathered in be not scattered from the flock.
8. He must continue instant in prayer, that his labors may be accompanied with the presence and blessing of God – Whatsoever ye shall Ask.
9. He must consider Jesus Christ as the great Mediator between God and man, proclaim his salvation, and pray in his name. – Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, etc. See Quesnel.”
God alone ordains His people to His work and brings them
through many purging seasons to cause His fruitfulness in
them, preparing them to bear more of His fruit.
God chose us and blessed us with the ability to repent and
receive Christ. As His people, He’s also ordained us to “go
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”
As we read this discourse from our LORD (John 15 and 17),
we discover that He is speaking of that abiding fellowship we
have with Him, and how out of it is borne the good fruit of
His ministry in and through our life.
Being rooted in that oneness, the abiding relationship with
Christ, is all-important to our relationship with Him and the
Father. As his student, His disciple, may the reader be
encouraged to pour prayerfully over these truths captured,
and given to us in John, chapters 15 and 17.
Isaiah 43
“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee … “
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, please make me one with You. Please deeply root and establish my life in an abiding fellowship with You dear LORD.
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The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]
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