Bone To Pick with Paul

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

Argue with the APOSTLE PAUL?

Me argue with the apostle Paul? Yes, you bet! And I can tell you right now that I am right and he is wrong!!! (Okay, read on before you conclude that I am a heretic.)

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

According to God, man’s heart is what???:

1. “deceitful above ALL things”
2. “desperately wicked”

Man’s heart is “deceitful ABOVE all things, and desperately wicked” before the holy God of all creation.

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

Jehovah is perfect and holy:

“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:16

Sinful man has no hope of being accepted outside of God’s redemption through Jesus Christ. May God be thanked that through Jesus Christ, man can be redeemed and accepted in the beloved ( Eph. 1:6, 7; Rom. 3:23-26).

“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.” Romans 7:18

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24

Never forget that this is the state of YOUR heart without God – “wretched”! If in this moment we didn’t have the grace of God, our souls would be left to their own fallen state and devices, which is total depravity (Rom. 5:1-2; Jer. 17:9, etc.). Let us learn to appreciate and thank Him (verbally & from the heart) for His “abundant grace” (Romans 5:17).

“But by the grace of God I am what I am…” 1 Corinthians 15:10

OKAY PAUL, WE NEED TO TALK! Paul, “I am chief”, not you!

“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. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16

What! Paul states that he is the “chief” of all sinners! He is wrong! I am going to argue with the Apostle Paul when I pass on to be with our Lord! I have one bone to pick with the great apostle – I am the chief of sinners, not him!!!

Because he didn’t realize I was coming after him, Paul even had the audacity to say this:

“Unto me (Paul), who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” Ephesians 3:8

The bottom line is that no one is righteous in and of themselves and it’s only – exclusively – by divine mercy that any sinner can be saved into God’s family.

You may think this is strange for a man to say, but in reality, this is a very biblical and therefore a healthy perspective to hold as we walk with the Lord. I’m not talking about that old sorry attitude that says we cannot overcome sin and will sin every day no matter what. That’s a bunch of unfounded foolishness and the lie of Satan himself (Rom. 6:14; 8:2; 2 Cor. 2:14, etc.). We’re talking about the eternal truth that God is holy and I am wretched. Without His present grace, I am without hope. I am not talking about just giving up and living in sin, I’m talking about the state of the human heart without God – fallen and totally depraved! His grace is magnified in my life as I realize my own wicked state without His life in me – presently. Check this out:

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in (your) weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Notice the term “he said unto me.” Jesus, your Savior, is saying something to you beloved and that is this: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in (your) weakness.”

Am I “weak”? In other words, have I been brought to the place where I realize that He is my all sufficiency and that I can do nothing of eternal value without Him?

Without His presence in my life, I am left to my evil desires which guarantee my entanglements, falls, and demise because the wages of sin is still death (Rom. 6:23; Is. 59:2). Without His blessed redemption and its present work in me, I am yet without hope!

Thank the LORD that He is the “the Father of mercies.” (2 Corinthians 1:3)

Where are the thankful hearts of those who have been redeemed from sin’s leprosy? As in the case where Jesus healed the 10 lepers, why does only 1 of 10 come back to give Him glory? Where are those lips that should be giving Him praise!? Have we left our first love? If we haven’t, it is obvious in that we give Him open and heartfelt thanks for the redemption of Christ which has saved our souls. In those whose hearts burn with passion for Him, the present reality of God’s redemptive grace is ever fresh. Their hearts are filled with gratitude to Him. They don’t talk about a grace that once was, but one that is a present reality – working in them to bring God glory.

Without His love that drove Him to the cross and compels me to His cross, I am utterly without hope or help! Without Him I can do NOTHING (John 15:5). We can go nowhere in our life with God if we are not brought to the place of this realization – brokenness:

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24

Apparently, Paul is speaking here of the sinful nature, the iniquity (tendency, inclination, bent) that dwells within us all and wars against the presence and will of God in us. It’s a seething and venomous fire which burns within us, seeking to express itself in sinfulness. It certainly will, if not quenched daily by our submission to God and His will. Iniquities war within us daily to express their sinful desires and if not cast down and crucified, will bring us to spiritual ruin.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (have life).” Romans 8:13

Note the phrase “if ye through the Spirit.” We must, through close communion with God “the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us”, mortify (put to death) the desires of the sinful nature which relentlessly seek to express themselves through our mortal bodies. (2 Tim. 1:14) To further emphasize the unceasing war waged by the sinful nature against all that is good (of God), let us consider what Paul the apostle stated in another place:

“I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31

Friend in Christ, have you noticed that the fleshly nature cannot be cast out, but must be overcome – “daily”? Its unappeasable, sinful bent is relentless and cannot be left unchecked for a moment. Here is the prescribed way we are to appropriate the Holy Spirit’s power in overcoming:

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

As we “Watch and pray” the Holy Ghost will fill our hearts and lives and grant the power to live a life of holy consecration.

“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

According to the holy Scriptures, personal responsibility is ongoing. It doesn’t end at the moment one is brought by the Holy Ghost into the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 12:13). The sinful nature must be subdued – continually brought “into subjection.” Did you notice that the great apostle himself stated that it was possible for himself to become a “castaway (reject)” after he had “preached to others.”? (See also Ezekiel 33:12-13.)

Okay, so you haven’t been perfect in overcoming the sinful nature. Well, I certainly haven’t either, but today is fresh – it is new and so are the Lord’s compassions precious one (Lamentations 3:19-22) . He loves you and is in no way mad at you. His will and plan for your life is one of “peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

In seeking for the whole counsel of the Lord, we should also recognize that allowing the wicked state of our sinful nature to rule our lives is not permissible in God’s kingdom (Heb. 12:14, Luke 19:27, etc.) If He does not cover us we have no hope, and He NEVER promised to cleanse and cover that one which continues in open rebellion – living after the sinful nature.

“But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.” Psalms 68:21

Who is God going to “wound”?:

1. His enemies

2. such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses

Sin must be confessed and forsaken for divine mercy to be extended (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 7,9, etc.). I must be washed from my sin daily, I must die daily so He can live (1 John 1:7; Gal. 2:20). The cross of Christ must continue to have deeper and deeper meaning and application as I see more clearly my wicked state against His perfect holiness revealed to me as I cling to His cross. I can only see such as I stand face to face with His unspeakable holiness revealed in His holy law (Rom. 7:12).

“I Will Have Mercy, And Not Sacrifice”

We must never allow spiritual pride to darken our hearts as it abode in the condemned hypocrites of Christ’s earthly day:

“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:9-13

If in our spiritual activities we become self-righteous and look down upon sinners and those who associate with “sinners,” then all our spiritual sacrifices are in vain (to no effect before God). We are ALL in constant need of His forgiveness, so how can we dare look down upon another!?!?! Who are we not to forgive others as we are commanded, knowing that we have been forgiven of more than can be summed up?

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

A wise soul has stated:

“A man is humble when he stands in the truth with a knowledge and appreciation for himself as he really is.” author unknown

SEEING AND LIVING FROM GOD’S EYES (Word):

“To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:2-7

Though I disagree with the apostle Paul that he is the “chief” of all sinners (haha), I am in full agreement with all else that God the Holy Ghost has spoken through this beloved apostle. As I hope you can see, I am being a little facetious here. Here is the only hope of this wicked soul (me), and all wretched souls:

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

In my “weakness” Christ will be magnified when I depend completely upon His perfect grace and strength.

“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

His grace is at work in us!

“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth (stiff arms) the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:5-10

Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

Let us seek to apprehend and live in the biblical perspective of who God is and who we are in Him. May Jesus Christ receive all blessing, glory and honor for His great redemption that He has provided the world through His perfect and holy blood which He shed on the cross of His crucifixion! What great grace and salvation is this!

Oh before I forget, if you happen to get to Heaven before I do, please tell the apostle Paul that I need to speak with him and that I have a bone to pick with him. Thanks.

Saved By His Grace,

todd tomasella

Can and Will God Use You?

Do You Seriously Think God Can’t Use You? [podcast]

Articles

The Gracious LORD will Abundantly Pardon [podcast]

“Abundantly Pardon”

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

The repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus called Him “Lord” and simply asked, believed on Christ. Where is he now? “paradise” …

“Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:41-42

God’s pardon is paramount to being in paradise with Him and His saints. When we cry out to Him, the LORD will freely forgive us. That’s why He came and what He desires to do. Yet we must never forget that we shall reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8). If we choose to sin, there will be dire consequences and while we can be forgiven, those results must be reaped.

How many people does God desire to perish? Not one (2 Peter 3:9).

Matthew 5:3, 6, 8

“Jeremiah’s message was never meant to leave the heart in despair. Every warning from God carried an invitation to return. The Lord does not expose empty religion to shame His people, but to heal them. Repentance is not the loss of hope, it is the beginning of hope. Christ still receives every soul that comes with humility, and He gives living faith where there was only habit, peace where there was only fear, and joy where there was only emptiness. The call remains the same today, to draw near to Him with a sincere heart, trusting that His mercy is always greater than our weakness.” Dan Blincoe

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?” Joel 2:12-14

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

YOUR PRAYER TO GOD: Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, please break me! Please crush me dear LORD. YOU are my Potter. Pour the water of Your Holy Spirit and Word upon this life You made and saved for Your glory, not mine. I love You Jesus! Let this heart be broken, contrite, and let tears flow from a poor and pure heart that hungers and thirsts after Your righteousness. In the name of my LORD Jesus, amen.

“God has a multitude of mercy (Psalm 5:7), is “plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 86:5), “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4), and has “abundant mercy” (1 Peter 1:3). Wow! And I need all of that! But the real test is since He gives me all that mercy, do I extend mercy to others? If I don’t show mercy to others I will not receive mercy from God. James 2:13.” Karen Cochran

FORGIVE “from your hearts” or go to hell. That’s your choice (Matthew 18:21-35).

It becomes easy to forgive when you look in the mirror honestly and see all your own sins (Mark 11:25-26). Repent now.

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in SINCERITY and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” Joshua 24:14

“God specializes in taking broken vessels and molding them, shaping them, and making them vessels of honor fit for His use!” Karen Cochran

Woman taken in the act of adultery. What about the man? Selective mercy, judgment?

Yes, we are to “Go, and sin no more” and yet “IF (not when) any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father.” Right? We can confess our sin in repentance and be forgiven (1 John 1:6-2:2).

It seems, from the whole counsel of God’s Word, that Jesus is more likely saying “You are now forgiven, saved, and grace empowered and do not need to live in sin any longer.” Surely His mercy and grace didn’t “run out” the first time she was redeemed, rescued. God is a merciful God and YES He 100% requires that we repent whenever needed, re-turn to Him and confess all sin. Yet when we do, is He not merciful? See Lamentations 3:22-23; Psalms 51; 103:10-12; Luke 22:31-32, etc.

The point intended here is that the “Go and sin no more” seems to be isolated by some…. first Jesus forgives/redeems her as she was obviously repentant. Then He says “Go and sin no more.” Did that mean “You better not sin again or it’s over, no more mercy, no chance of you ever returning to Me!” OR, did He mean that she is now redeemed, is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and empowered by divine grace to live free from sin and so she no longer has to be under it’s dominion”? See Romans 6:14; Titus 2:11-12.

“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:15

HOW can God possibly use me to show His mercy to others if I am not walking in His mercy toward others?

IF YOU DEAL mercilessly with others, undiluted harsh judgment is coming upon your own life. That’s a divine promise:

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13

Read that again. Memorize it.

YOU set the measure of the judgment/mercy coming upon your life from God by how you show such to others.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

The Sins and Restoration of the Patriarchs [podcast]

Abraham, Moses, and David – Their Sin and God’s Restoration! “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 This fact doesn’t justify any sinning and yet, as the Word of God, must be factored in (Isaiah 28:16; Romans 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15). “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9 Sinless perfectionism is a lie (1 John 1:7-2:2). “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me […]

God is Ready to Forgive and Plenteous in Mercy [podcast]

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5 God is… “good” “ready to forgive” “plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:15 Our LORD is… “a God full of compassion” “gracious” “longsuffering” “plenteous in mercy and truth” “His Compassions Fail Not” “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not […]

The God Who Is Ready To Forgive [podcast]

“A GREAT WAY OFF” Luke 15:20 Luke 15 – 3 parables of that which was lost (SSS): — Lost Sheep — Lost Silver — Lost Son What is the overriding divine theme communicated in this beautiful Bible chapter? THE whole of Scripture testifies to the reality that the LORD delights to restore when we simply come to Him humbly, on His terms. “And he (the wayward son) arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed […]

Abiding

“If God be For Us Who can be Against Us?” [podcast]

WHO is God truly “with”?

“And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and IF YE SEEK HIM, he will be found of you; but IF ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2

What happens when one of His children deny Him?

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

Those who reject Him shall be rejected by Him. OSAS/eternal security is a fairy tale espoused by the moral cowards who refuse to serve God on HIS stated terms – repentance, faith, true worship, obedience, holiness, the crucified life, etc.

“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Matthew 10:14-15

Persecution and the Disciple of Jesus

1 Peter 4

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Romans 8

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 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.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“Romans 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, etc. – “In this and the following verse the apostle shows how our calling is an argument that all things work together to advance our eternal happiness, by showing the several steps which the wisdom and goodness of God have settled, in order to complete our salvation. In order to this he first gives us, in this verse, the foundation and finishing, or the beginning and end, of the scheme of our redemption: For whom God did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. To foreknow, here signifies to design before, or at the first forming of the scheme; to bestow the favor and privilege of being God’s people upon any set of men, Rom_11:2. This is the foundation or first step of our salvation; namely, the purpose and grace of God, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began, 2Ti_1:9. Then, he knew or favored us; for in this sense the word to know is taken in a great variety of places, both in the Old and New Testaments. And as he knew the Gentiles then, when the scheme was laid, and before any part of it was executed, consequently, in reference to the execution of this scheme, he foreknew us. This is the first step of our salvation, and the end or finishing of it is our conformity to the Son of God in eternal glory, Rom_8:17, which includes and supposes our moral conformity to him. When God knew us, at the forming of the Gospel scheme; or, when he intended to bestow on us the privilege of being his people; he then destinated or designed us to be conformed to the image of his Son; and, as he destinated or determined us then to this very high honor and happiness, he pre-destinated, fore-ordained, or pre-determined us to it. Thus we are to understand the foundation and finishing of the scheme of our salvation. The foundation is the foreknowledge, or gracious purpose of God; the finishing is our being joint heirs with Christ. Now, our calling or invitation (see on Rom_8:28 (note)) stands in connection with both these.” Adam Clarke

Hypocrisy, Persecutions, and Afflictions [podcast]

“True Christiany will cost a man favor of the world. He must be content to be thought ill of by man if he pleases God. He must count it no strange thing to be mocked, ridiculed, slandered, persecuted and even hated.” -J.C.Ryle If you don’t have people leaving you due to what you’re preaching, you’re not preaching the Gospel Christ’s preached. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:66 Ministry work always comes with “much contention.” There is a devil and he has human agents. Jesus will settle every score, will […]

The Persecution Podcast [podcast]

“Think it not strange” in 1 Peter 4 simply means to not be surprised. If you love the LORD you will want to hear all He says in His Word, including the reality of persecutions for Christ’s sake (John 8:47). Any man posing as a leader among God’s people and isn’t preaching regularly on the reality of Christian persecution, is absolutely an ear-tickling wolf! Run! Part 1 Below Part 2 Below Part 3 Below Part 4 Below Sounds like our LORD is saying that WHATEVER, WHOEVER we lose in this life due to following Jesus, God […]

Apostasy

The Book of Jude Narrated [podcast]

The Book of Jude:

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: ²mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

³Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ⁴For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. ⁶And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. ⁸Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ⁹Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

¹⁰But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. ¹¹Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. ¹²These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; ¹³raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

¹⁴And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, ¹⁵to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. ¹⁶These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

¹⁷But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. ²⁰But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ²²And of some have compassion, making a difference: ²³and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

²⁴Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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