Articles

Stone Cold Truths about Mercy, Judgment, and Forgiveness [podcast]

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]

HOW did God say He is known? – “by the judgment which he executeth.” Get ready! (Read 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-16.)

“The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.” Psalms 9:16

“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” Proverbs 16:6

So let me get this straight…. you don’t mind that God forgave you, sinner, but now you want to control who else He chooses to forgive and have mercy on? Repent now you vile hypocrite! The flames of eternal damnation shall forever feed upon your wicked soul if you don’t.

“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

Jesus told us that the devil is a liar and the accuser of HIS brethren who are our brethren (John 8:44; Revelation 12:10).

Barbara Gunter writes:

“I don’t mean to be harsh….but only loving when I say…if you have something against a preacher who sinned years ago….you need to talk to God about it. The Bible says that we must forgive and if we won’t…and don’t….then we will not be forgiven. And hell is the eternal home of those who refuse to forgive. That unforgiving person will die lost….no matter how ‘saved’ and ‘righteous’ they think they are. If this preacher has been restored, you better know that God forgave him….time for you to do so, also.”

Exactly! King David sinned grossly and God forgave him freely. He still had to reap what he had sown, but he was forgiven. Heaven will be full of those who fell into sin (that’s all of us) and repented like David. Hell will be full of the self-righteous hypocrites who act like God doesn’t see ALL their sin. They judged others hypocritically, that is, while they had sin in their own hearts. These will go away into eternal damnation (Mark 11:25-26; Luke 18, etc.).

“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

If you are wrongly judging another in your attitude or words, you should know that God sees ALL of your sin and not 1 of them is forgiven – until you truly repent. When you do, you will view others through the eyes of God’s mercy, the cross! (Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26; James 2:13, etc.)

The sins that should concern us the most are our own.

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

Covering or attempting to hide our sin is futility. Those who do so are out of God’s will, shut out from God until they repent and become honest.

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

Jesus taught that while on earth, there’s no length we should not go to in order to miss hell (Mark 9:43-49).

Oh, a reminder…

DOES anyone, ever get away with evil? No. Never. Not one. The Almighty sees it all. – “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

Man I cringe at the sins I committed years ago. Perhaps you can relate, and, we’d most likely agree that we are infinitely overjoyed and exuberantly grateful that God has forgiven our sins and iniquities and removed them “as far as the east is from the west,” which is infinity (Psalms 103:12).

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12

“When we cringe at sins we committed long ago, that’s because the longer we live for Him and the closer we get to Him, the more we feel how grievous our sin is to Him and the more it makes us cringe and hurt.” Barbara Gunter

When the LORD forgives, He intends for no one to then bring up the sins He’s forgiven. Who would dare do such a thing? – “an ungodly man.”

“An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” Proverbs 16:27-28

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 44:22

The sin that should concern us the most is our own, not someone else’s (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Psalms 51).

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7

“The ONLY one without sin DIDN’T cast a stone.” Barbara Gunter

“And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:8-11

v.11

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

Unforgiveness reveals that we have no Gospel clue of how we ourselves are saved.

Titus 3:5-7 is a sobering reminder of how WE are saved – by HIS mercy:

“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; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

In Christ alone, we have been shown divine mercy. If we want God to forgive and forget our sins, HE requires that we do the same with others!

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

ANY and EVERY person who doesn’t forgive, is going to hell irrevocably:

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25-26

If you don’t believe in forgiving all others, God doesn’t believe in and will not forgive you.

When we don’t like or understand or agree with God’s merciful plan and how He freely forgives, that’s called sin, rebellion, not agreeing with God….. and God’s not bringing any who don’t agree with Him to His eternal house of glory.

“David is the greatest example in the Word of God of a Christian who GREATLY sinned but was IMMEDIATELY forgiven when he confessed. And David was not only guilty of ADULTERY but also guilty of sending her husband into the front lines of battle KNOWING that he would be killed….making David guilty of MURDER. But God forgave him and did not remove His call from David’s life. Thank God that calling remained, and God greatly used David just as He is greatly using this particular preacher today!” Barbara Gunter

Like David, we ALL have scars, self-inflicted and otherwise. You are not alone.

“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

Also, the fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5 was turned over to Satan out of God’s mercy and justice, in order to get him to repent. And he did. Then what happened? Read 2 Corinthians 2. Paul told the body of Christ to make sure they “forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. … confirm your love toward him” (2 Corinthians 2:7-8). Wow. Don’t stone believers who have been restored, but rather shower them with love, confirming our love to them in Christ as those who also are utterly dependent on His mercy:

“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. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:7-11

One of Satan’s “devices” is self-righteousness that stops forgiveness and showing mercy. The context of this notable verse we all know, v. 11, is that their own sin and Satan have many self-righteous counterfeits trapped.

Of this text, William MacDonald writes:

“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.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

As a wise godly woman once told me …. “Think about it this way, when they’re slandering you, that means they’re giving someone else a break.” I never forgot that…. and that was well over 30 years ago!

Dennis Doud writes:

“There is a simple solution to unforgiveness. If I look at it correctly there is only one who has the right/cause to be unforgiving, and that is Jesus. We ALL have sinned whether we like to admit it or not. Too, what makes me better than others? Another thing to consider, is it not so that unforgiveness is being prideful? Of course, it is! I must forgive, it is my duty/obligation to do so. Besides, unforgiveness will destroy you from the inside out!”

“What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:15

“And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:15

Peter looked upon the Gentiles as “unclean” and yet God corrected him (Acts 10-11).

When God forgives someone, we must also – or we will not be forgiven, which means that all our sins are on our record and against us – until we repent and show mercy as God has shown to us, the wickedest of men! Read Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26. Want to spend eternity in hell? Just refuse to forgive one person. Prove this wrong! You can’t! Memorize, meditate upon, and live out Ephesians 4:32 now.

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 we call the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5 unclean after he was forgiven and restored?! See 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 turned your heart back to the LORD, confessing your sin, He freely forgave you. Right? Right! See 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? (Read 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2.)

“Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8

Let us live biblically!

“Do not err, my beloved brethren.” James 1:16

George Falcone writes:

“The gifts of God are irrevocable. NO ONE can take them away. I think of the many big name pastors that have fallen. Doesn’t mean the teaching wasn’t anointed. To write someone off as if they aren’t good enough for the Kingdom. I’d beware of beating your chest thanking God you’re not like that sinner over there!!”

Jesus told Peter that his preaching, the revelation he had was given by the Father…. then in the next words, Jesus tells him “Get thee behind me Satan” (Matthew 16). The latter does nothing to negate the former, eg: Judas in Matthew 10.

A Dangerous Place to Be

Many good “Christians” or church-attending folk somehow think that because they have a mere “form of godliness” that God will never judge their sins. They self-righteously surmise that they are safe.

If you think ANY person is getting away with ANYthing, think again. Ecclesiastes 8:11 comes to mind, which states: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

Of this, Bible commentator Adam Clarke writes:

“Because God does not immediately punish every delinquency, men think he disregards evil acts; and therefore they are emboldened to sin on. So this longsuffering of God, which leadeth to repentance, is abused so as to lead to further crimes! When men sin against the remedy of their salvation, how can they escape perdition?”

YOU keep your heart, guard it, till it, fill it with the Word, etc.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

It’s your personal responsibility to keep your heart perfect before the LORD (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:6, etc.). Praying Psalm 51 one is a great place to camp. Oh yes JESUS! Do Your purifying work in us, Your people. We, …. I, love You dear LORD Jesus!

Prayer is inseparably connected with knowing God (John 17:3).

Here’s clear proof that there’s nothing new about people claiming to be right with God or doing His will, while they work evil and vainly believe they are judgment proof.

“9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.

10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.” Micah 3:9-11

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"I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice": What does this really Mean? [podcast]

“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 9:13 Jesus specifically instructs us to “go ye and learn what that meaneth.” 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! Matthew 9:9-13 – Jesus calls Matthew Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and […]

The Essential of Forgiveness: Are Your Hands Around Someone Else's Throat? [podcast]

GOD SAW IT ALL – HE SAW ALL YOUR SIN AND YET YOU HOLD UNFORGIVENESS TOWARD ANOTHER. IF you want to be forgiven, you MUST forgive. Do it now (Mark 11:25-26). Begin by admitting aloud to God what He already knows – that you are pure evil and have sinned against Him inumerable times! cry out to Him for mercy and declare aloud that no one needs Jesus more than you do! “Harboring unforgiveness against someone else is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” unknown The reason people have a hard time forgiving, is that they’ve […]

Aren't You Glad God is the Judge and Not Man? [podcast]

David’s 3 Choices “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” Psalms 130:3 After David had sinned grossly against God, he was given 3 choices of reaping what he had sowed (Galatians 6:7-8). David had already repented and confessed his sin with Bathsheba and had been forgiven by God and yet, he had to reap what he’d sowed. David had committed adultery and having Bathsheba’s husband killed, numbering Israel, etc., he was given 3 choices to reap what he’d sowed…. “And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the […]

Abiding

“Fervent in Spirit” [podcast]

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” Romans 12:11

Concerning being “fervent in spirit,” one commentator notes that this means to:

“Maintain zeal to the boiling point.” Dake

“Fervent” – A primary verb; to be hot (boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids), that is, (figuratively) be fervid (earnest): – be fervent.

“Do nothing at any time but what is to the glory of God, and do every thing as unto him; and in every thing let your hearts be engaged.” Adam Clarke

“Never let your zeal flag (lag, drop, tank), maintain the spiritual glow, serve the Lord.” Here we are reminded of the words of Jeremiah 48:10: ‘Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully,'” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Apollos was “fervent in the spirit.”

“This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being FERVENT in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.” Acts 18:25

In all things Christ’s saints are to be “fervent in spirit”:

“Not slothful in business; FERVENT in spirit; serving the Lord;” Romans 12:11

Disciples of Jesus are to have a “fervent mind” toward all saints and ministers of His blessed Gospel:

“And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your FERVENT mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.” 2 Corinthians 7:7

“Fervent prayer” is to be offered to God for other of His saints:

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual FERVENT prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James_5:16

Jesus’ people are to have “fervent charity among” ourselves:

“And above all things have FERVENT charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

“Fervent heat” will soon consume the wicked who refused the salvation that comes from Christ alone:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with FERVENT heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10

“Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with FERVENT heat.” 2 Peter 3:12

On this biblical topic of fervency, of being “fervent in spirit”, one commentary offers the following:

“2 Peter 3:

To be ‘fervent in spirit’ means to have intense, burning passion, zeal, and enthusiasm for spiritual matters, often linked to serving God, rather than being lukewarm or apathetic. It implies being ‘boiled’ with spiritual energy, actively engaged, and diligent in faith, as described in Romans 12:11, (‘not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord’). It’s a passionate, fiery commitment, distinct from fanaticism, involving earnest application and a deep love for God.

Key aspects:

Intensity: A deep, glowing, or boiling heat of emotion and dedication.

Diligence: Not being lazy or half-hearted, but actively applying oneself to spiritual duties.
Spiritual Zeal: A strong desire and excitement for God’s will, the Gospel, and spiritual growth.
Source: Often described as being moved by the Holy Spirit, a fire within.
Biblical Example: Apollos was described as ‘fervent in the spirit’ as he taught diligently about the Lord (Acts 18:25).

How it’s expressed:

Passionate prayer

Diligent study of God’s Word

Active, loving service to others

Bold witnessing for faith

Being ‘on fire’ for God, not lukewarm”

Jesus says that those in His church who are “lukewarm” will be spued or rejected (Revelation 3:15-16). What’s the opposite of being “lukewarm”? – being “fervent in spirit.”

“Amen! Don’t let your fire die as the church in Laodicea did! They were neither cold nor hot. They were lukewarm. Comfortable! Indifferent! Their fire for the Lord had gone out. God’s not looking for people who play it safe but people who burn with fire for Him!!!” Karen Cochran

YOUR PRAYER: LORD, make me Yours. Please keep me close to You, NO MATTER what it takes. Break me dear LORD. Let the holy light of Your presence permeate and shine through my inner man. I am Your temple Jesus. Shine Your light on all darkness. I love You my LORD. In Jesus’ name.

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LORD, Prepare Me! [podcast]

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father […]

10 Truths to Behold in Isaiah 41:10 [podcast]

“Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:9-10 There are 10 truths to behold in Isaiah 41:10: • “Thou art my servant” • “I have chosen thee” • “and not cast thee away” • “Fear thou not” • “I am with thee” • “be not dismayed” • “for I am thy God” • “I will […]

Abiding

It’s not all Going to be Pretty [podcast]

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3

One of Paul’s resumes of the sufferings he endured as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

“3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

You are His. Cling to Him. The LORD Jesus is going to bring you through, not matter what you face (Deuteronomy 13:4).

“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.” Isaiah 43:1-2

“Hated”

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

“Ye shall Laugh”

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.” Luke 6:20-22

“Through much Tribulation”

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

Eternity with Christ, “with Joy”

“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12

“To Make them White”

“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Daniel 11:32-35

“Made white … the wise shall understand”

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:10

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"Endure hardness as a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ" [podcast]

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except […]

Is the Crucified Life Essential for Going to Heaven? [podcast]

Jesus taught that the Heaven bound disciple must have root in himself, must “endure to the end”, must have a long term, an eternal perspective (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 4:17; Luke 8:13). The Cost of Discipleship “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 […]

The More I Suffer, the Freer I Become: Joy in the Fire! [podcast]

Forged in the Fire! Liberty and Blessing through Suffering “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7 You have saving faith – and it’s on trial!!!! That alone is cause for celebration!! “Adversity is the companion to every Christian on his way to paradise. The more difficult the path, the more joy for him who follows the LORD.” AW Tozer Have you found more freedom through seasons of testing […]

Articles

7 Sayings of Jesus on the Cross [podcast]

What Final Statements Did Jesus Make on the Cross and What Did They Mean?

Our LORD Jesus Christ said 7 things while as He was offering His body and precious, sinless blood to buy us back to God. He was suffering for the sins of mankind and for no sin of His own (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 3:18). He was shedding His blood to Re-deem (buy us back) and that’s what Jesus did for “the whole world” when He died on the cross, was buried, and raised again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 John 2:2). Do you know Him?

1. “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34; Ps. 22:1).

This concerned those who hung Him on the cross and how He became the sin bearer, the sin sacrifice and how the Father could not look on sin, so temporarily turned His head. Jesus was forsaken so that we might be forgiven (Isaiah 53).

Application to us: Job 19:6-10; Psalms 139:8; 2 Corinthians 12:7-12; Hebrews 13:5-6

2. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34).

He asked the Father to forgive them – a token of what His shed blood would pay for and facilitate – forgiveness of sin for all who come to Him on His terms to be saved. The sacrificial death of the Son of God satisfied the claims of the Father’s justice to justify mankind (Isaiah 53:11).

Application to us: As God forgave us due to Christ’s perfect sacrifice, He mandates, without exception, that we freely forgive all others, from our hearts. Matthew 5:44; 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26; Ezekiel 36:24-26; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14

3. “Verily, I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43).

This promise of forgiveness and eternal comfort given to the thief who believed on Christ in his final moments is the same promise for all who come to Him and are saved (John 6:47).

Application to us: Immediate glory, comfort, and bliss with our LORD at the moment of death. Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 21:4; Luke 21:28

4. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Lk. 23:46).

Jesus closes with the prophetic words of Psalm 31:5, speaking to the Father. We see His complete trust in the Father (John 5:30, etc.). Jesus entered death in the same way He lived each day of His life on earth, offering up His life as the perfect sacrifice and placing Himself into the Father’s hands (Luke 22:42).

Application to us: This is a great prayer! Stephen emulated his Savior when being stoned to death for Christ (Acts 7:51-60). “Commend” means to submit. Personally I find these words, while in prayer, rolling off my lips – submitting afresh, daily, and asking the LORD to take full control.

5. “Woman, behold thy son … Behold thy mother” (Jn. 19:26-27).

Jesus, looking down from the cross, was still filled with the concerns of a son for the earthly needs of his mother. None of his half brothers or sisters were there to care for her, so He gave this task to the apostle John (Mark 6:3). Here we see Christ’s humanity.

Application to us: We must take care of earthly responsibilities according to the counsel of the written Word of our God (Psalms 119; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

6. “I thirst” (Jn. 19:28)

Jesus refused the initial drink of vinegar, gall, and myrrh offered to alleviate his suffering (Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23). But here, several hours later, we see Jesus fulfilling the messianic prophecy found in Psalm 69:21. By saying He was thirsty, Jesus prompted the Roman guards to give Him vinegar, which was customary at a crucifixion, thereby fulfilling the prophecy which showed that everything was happening according to God’s plan.

Application to us: We must endure hardness, bitter sufferings and seasons (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 2:3; James 1:2-4, 12, etc.).

7. “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30).

This means “paid in full.” The sin debt for all was fully satisfied in the sacrifice of our LORD Jesus Christ, the ultimate price was paid to satisfy the claims of the Father’s justice to redeem fallen mankind (Isaiah 53:11). He is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Application to us: Jesus accomplished our salvation single handedly, satisfying the claims of divine justice to redeem fallen mankind. He died to abolish law-keeping for righteousness and so we must “walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14-19; Hebrews, etc.) Read Romans 3-5; Galatians.

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“It is Finished”!

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30　 What Exactly was “Finished” at the Cross? WHAT Did Jesus Fulfill? What Did Jesus Finish? What did the Son of God Accomplish by Dying for Our Sins on that Cross? Much Divine Truth is Locked Up in This On the cross Jesus declared “It is finished” but what is it that was “finished”? (John 19:30) Let’s peer a bit into this ultimate truth… “It is finished” in John 19:30: “Finished” Strong’s Concordance teleó: to bring to an end, complete, fulfill Original Word: τελέω […]

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