Excerpt from the book I Die Daily
The Essential Cross of the Believer
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it.” Matthew 16:25
Now that we know who the Way is—Jesus, let’s look into what this very Son of God Himself said concerning those who would follow Him. After all, if a person is going to go to God’s Heaven, he needs to find out what God Himself said is essential to get there, right?
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If ANY man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
Like it or not, Jesus is speaking here of the eternal soul of every man. If need be, read His words again here. Notice that the Son of God uses the terms “if ANY man” and “whosoever.” Jesus is speaking to all about His requirements and conditions. (Anybody want to argue with the Son of God?) Did you notice that there is no special privilege or concession given here for those who have previously been saved? We should rid our minds of the subtle deception that we are somehow “secure” outside of the protection that comes from obedience to God’s Word (Prov. 30:5; Acts 20:32). Only those who are not currently “doers” of the Word of God are deceived into thinking they are secure while not presently abiding in Christ. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
The crucified life is God’s only solution for complete victory over all sin. Walk it. Read Romans 6 each morning this week prayerfully. Stop listening to those not preaching the cross.
The apostle Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31). How did Paul “die daily”? How is this exemplary apostle’s dying depicted in Scripture? He sentenced himself to death, kept under his body of sin, and was crucified with Christ and to the world, and the world to him. He was buried with Christ and determined to glory in Christ’s cross alone (Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Cor. 1:9; Gal. 2:20; 6:14).
“Oh how the devil hates the message of the cross!” John Umlauf
We were all born in sin and “dead in sins,” and now the LORD “hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ” (Rom. 6:8; Eph. 2:5.) After being found and saved by the LORD, the believer should follow Christ in water baptism, yet only to show that he is now “dead with Christ” and that Christ now reigns in his life, as he is now “raised up” with Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; 8:11). Water baptism is the public announcement showing and openly declaring one’s own death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, one’s new Master. The death of self is symbolized in the going down into the water, and the coming up out of the water represents the resurrection accomplished by Jesus and now made effectual in that life. The Gospel is not about H2O, but rather it’s about being baptized into Christ’s death—being dead, buried, and raised up with Him (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-12). As we are dead with Christ and to self, buried with Him, He raises us up in His power to please Him.
One’s entrance into the kingdom of God at initial salvation is only the beginning point of his participation in the Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection life of Christ. The born-again saint never outgrows his essential need to participate with Jesus in the Gospel. The true disciple follows Christ “daily,” and that includes denying himself and taking up his cross to be crucified with his LORD and Savior. He chooses Christ who is the life, the only way, and the truth; and is therefore ready for His soon return. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
Romans 6 is not speaking of water baptism, but it is that which is signified or symbolized by water baptism—being dead to self and sin, buried with Christ, and raised up to new life with Jesus, to no longer serve sin and please self but Christ. Look at verse 4 of Romans 6: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Note the words of Holy Scripture here— “buried … death … raised up.” This is the Gospel as it is being lived out in our lives. As we choose to daily die—moment by moment—giving way to His greater purpose, He raises us up out of the place of death and burial to be led and used of Him.
Anointed to the Burial
I remember fondly the days leading up to my water baptism as a young believer. My pastor at the time was keenly aware of the importance of people understanding what water baptism is, so he gave me a question-and-answer type work sheet to go through. Each question gave Scriptures to study and get the answers from. So, when I was water baptized there was a realization and spiritual anointing that came upon me—a distinct sealing type phenomenon by the Holy Spirit in which I was buried or hid with Christ in God. There was clearly a work of the Holy Spirit that day.
Beloved, there is no power or magic in water. God is trying to get at death to self, and His Spirit enables such. Water baptism merely represents going down into the death process and coming up out of the water represents the raised-up life. Without the work of the divine Person of the Holy Ghost and the believer’s going down into the death of Christ, water baptism is futile.
It is the work of the Spirit of God that is essential in our new birth, death, burial, and resurrection, just as He participated in our LORD’s birth, death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 1:35; Rom. 8:11; Col. 2:11-12).
For to this end (for this chief purpose) Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Romans 14:9
Not only is the Holy Spirit’s involvement and Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on His cross essential, where He worked with Christ to shed His blood to redeem us, but according to this same and only Savior, the taking up the cross to deny and bury self is also essential in pleasing God. His resurrection rule cannot occur without the willing participation of the recipient of His salvation. Jesus died to buy us back from sin, Satan, and slavery to self; and now our lives are made new in Him, all things now being of God and under Christ’s reign (Rom. 14:9; 2 Cor. 5:17-18).
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
Those redeemed by the One who bled on that cross that stood atop Calvary’s hill, should from the moment they are grafted in, no longer serve self but rather the Savior.
The way the believer lives unto (pleases) the LORD and not self, is by the power of the One who was for us “slain from the foundation of the world.”
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (the antichrist), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8
It all began “from the foundation of the world” when in His mind, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:6, 8). So, redemption through “the Lamb slain,” which grants His overcoming grace, began in the mind of God from “the foundation of the world” (Jer. 1:5; Rev. 13:8). How could we ever now doubt how much He loves us! It is to Him alone who is worthy that we, with our lives, now give “honour, and glory, and blessing.”
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:12
All this being said, we should observe that the LORD doesn’t do things against the free moral agency He gave to every man. The individual must be “willing and obedient” if he is to “eat the good of the land” (Isa. 1:19-20).
Gaze, oh gaze on the divine form, the eternal glory, the heavenly beauty, the tenderly pleading gentleness of crucified love, as it stretches out its pierced hands and says, ‘Oh, will you not abide with me?’ – Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ, p. 175
“The New Man”
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
You are no longer your own, but rather bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
If a saint chooses not to live out of the “new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,” he will by default revert back to the Adamic nature and its sinful deeds. Is this permissible in God’s eyes? Does the LORD overlook the sins of those He has saved?
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Romans 6:1-8
Hint: renewing your mind is biblical but it will never take the central place of the crucified life. The extent of “solutions” given in the modern church include renewing your mind. Yes yet that comes after the cross in kingdom priority – the crucified life – which is never mentioned in the apostate modern church world.
v1 – the cross
v2 – renewing the mind
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Whenever the constant of the cross, the crucified life, is absent from our personal lives, there will be defeat, there will be no victory.
Trying to renew your mind, changing your thinking, is only successful after the fact of a life that is “crucified with Christ.” (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14, etc.
Putting Your Foot Down!
https://safeguardyoursoul.com/dominating-the-devil/
The “But” Factor
The taking up of the cross, the implement of death to self, is essential in separating the saint from the taint of sin, self, and Satan, which would otherwise defile us in the eyes of Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8).
Are you beginning to see why the cross is essential—both Christ’s and ours? The LORD told His own covenant people that their sins had separated them from Him. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
The word “but” here speaks of the dividing factor or attribute of sin. Sin interrupts our fellowship with Him who is holy. Sin still separates. Both the cross of Jesus (first and foremost) and our carrying our own cross deal with the problem of sin, but only when applied and participated in.
To take up the cross in obedience to Christ’s command is to agree with God that the sinful man must be mortified with his evil deeds and desires (Gal. 5:24). We must by the crucified life, “put off” the old man, the man of sin, and “put on the new man.” (Eph. 4:22-24) When one takes up his cross, which is the implement of death to self, he demonstrates that he loves the LORD more than self. God then blesses his life to be separate from sin and sinners, and to escape the taint of sin that would otherwise defile him in the eyes of Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). Such a work is essential to separate the saint from the stain of sin, self, and Satan. The cross makes possible one’s death to self and sin and the resurrection presence of God (Rom. 6:7; 2 Cor. 4:1011). Holy-Spirit-enabled death to self disallows, stifles, and restrains the work of sin in us so that Christ’s divine life might work in and through us to bless others (Rom. 8:13; 2 Cor. 4:12).
Any person who has been made righteous by the LORD and now somehow believes he is secure while living in sin, is utterly deceived and all of Scripture testifies to this truth.
Who is it that is made free from the sins that violate the holiness of the LORD? “For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7).
Beloved, it is the sanctifying work of the cross of Jesus and the application of it in the life of the saint that sets him apart in holiness to the Savior.
We find not one promise of security or assurance in Holy Scripture given to any person who is not presently abiding in Jesus Christ—as He prescribed in His Word (John 10:27-29; 15:1-6). Jesus promised His original 12 apostles an eternal throne in Heaven, yet one of them chose not to abide or remain in Him, and subsequently went to hell for his iniquity (Acts 1:25). Christ promised His 12 that “ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 10:22). Remaining in Christ—enduring to the end of one’s life—is a divinely-issued condition for being with the LORD eternally (this Bible subject is covered extensively in the book titled Lie of the Ages).
Concerning the daily cross and how it applies and does not apply to the believer, David Kupelian, vice president and managing editor of WorldNetDaily.com, writes:
It’s self-evident that we’re all born with a troublesome nature called ‘pride.’ Basically, pride is the part of us that wants to be God. It loves being praised, quickly puffs up with angry judgment over the real or perceived wrongs of others—and as a rule is oblivious to its own faults. Moreover, you can think of pride as a ‘life form’—a living, breathing ‘something’ which, like any other life form or ‘creature,’ can be fed or starved. When it’s fed, it grows and enlarges; when it is starved, it diminishes and dies—daily.
Of course—and this is something of a divine paradox—as Christians, we know we can’t save ourselves, and yet we are most definitely called to obedience. So, let’s not slough off our responsibility to ‘die daily’ by comfortably presuming on the unending mercy of God. His mercy is unending, indeed, but also balanced with justice, and these two seemingly contradictory qualities work together mysteriously and wonderfully toward our redemption, but only in the truly sincere human soul that doesn’t tempt God.
This writer realizes that the modern gospel differs from this biblical truth and message, but whom shall we trust? God, or mere men? Who is the Judge before whom we will one day stand to give account?
May God bless each of us to “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4), placing Him and therefore His holy truth above the words, concepts, or philosophies of any other (Prov. 21:30).
Do we take God at His Word? Do we believe, trust, embrace, and obey His words?
“The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.” – George Mueller
After repenting and receiving Christ and initial salvation, one must remain in fellowship with (abide in) Jesus till the end of his life or he will lose out eternally (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Rom. 11:22; Col. 1:23; Heb. 2:3, 3:6, 1215; 10:26-39; 12:14-15; Rev. 2-3, etc.). Jesus told those who had believed that if they continued in His Word (not man’s) they would be His disciples, and that they would know the truth and the truth would make them free (John 8:31-32).
Jesus died to justify us, saving us from living in sin which would merit us the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9). He certainly didn’t die to grant us a license to live in sin, but rather grace and power over sin through the crucified life (Rom. 6; Tit. 2:11-12).
The deeds of the body must be put to death, or they will wreak sinful havoc on that life where they are not crucified. The cross is the only answer, not behavioral modification, which is the level on which most messages in the modern church world seek to deal with sin. If the sinful nature is allowed to reign by not being put down, the course of resident, inherited iniquity will be sin and death (Rom. 6:1-23; James 1:14-15). “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (spiritual death—separation): but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).
When man fell in the Garden, he became dead inside. He lost the relationship and place of intimacy with His Maker, and no longer needed to be tempted externally. Man’s original inner inclination toward the LORD became slanted and tending toward self. He became self-absorbed instead of absorbed into the LORD his Maker. He then lived unto self—out of self. His inward bent is now to please self, which is rebellion and part and parcel of the first Adam. This is the fate of all born with the stain of inherent sin.
Man cannot please God in his fallen nature— “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). This is why fallen man must be regenerated, and thereafter self must be denied by the power and grace of the Holy Ghost (Rom. 8:13; Tit. 3:5-7).
When self-will is laid down flat and the LORD’s will takes over, victory is brought about— “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). God’s greater grace, will, and glory, override self and succeed triumphantly. He said we are “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
It is only when and as sinful self is laid down and sacrificed that the far exceeding blessing of the life of Jesus is manifested in our daily life (2 Cor. 4:10-11). When we are crucifying self and walking in the Spirit, in Christ, the saint is pleasing to the Father. Remember that it is only in Jesus Christ that the Father told us He is “well pleased” (Matt. 3:17; 12:18; 17:5). To be in Christ is to be pleasing to the Father, but to be in self is to be at enmity with Him (Rom. 8:1-7). May His divine life engulf us today as He increases, and we decrease (John 3:30). “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).
The Bible calls our fallen inherent sinful bent the “flesh,” “body of sin,” “carnal,” and the “old man.” We commanded to crucify the old man that is bent toward sin and evil desires that if acted upon, would cause us to be in violation against the holiness of God (Gal. 5:24). God is holy; therefore, that fallen sinful nature must be subdued, or one will not be pleasing to the LORD but rather experience spiritual “death” (Rom. 8:6, 13),
The Bible tells us that “the flesh” is “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7, 13.) The apostle Paul said he had to “keep under” his sinful nature so that he would not ultimately become a “castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27). Sound out this word “castaway.” Many today would seek to manipulate the meaning of this word to fit their own convoluted theology, yet a “castaway” is simply one who would be cast away from God and forfeit His eternal blessings due to a violation of His order and holiness.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8
The sin of Adam affected the whole world. It was a sin that was felt throughout God’s creation, which was before according to His pristine and perfect design (Gen. 13). Adam’s sin affected all human beings from the time of his transgression. Many call this the doctrine of Inherent Sin, which states that Adam’s sin nature was passed on to all who came after him “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19
Once the LORD finds and regenerates the individual saint, this universally inherited Adamic nature must be restrained or made unresponsive by the power of the Holy Spirit and the willing participation of the disciple, in order for the life of Christ to manifest in that life— “if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13.)
In the same way that we inherit physical features from our parents and ancestors, each and every man has inherited from Adam his fallen spiritual nature and condition, which is spiritual death— “death passed upon all men” (Rom. 5:12). All men are born of water spiritually dead (separated from and at enmity with God).
Since death “passed upon all men” after Adam and “ALL have sinned,” we are also under the condemnation of God, separated from Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” until reconciled through Christ (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 5:12, 18-19; Ephesians 2:3). We all stand guilty before God and deserving of the punishment of our sin (Romans 3).
No More Condemnation
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
According to Romans 8:1, there is an initial and an ongoing condition for getting out from under the “condemnation” of God:
- One must repent, believe upon, and be “in Christ Jesus,” and
- “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Remaining or abiding in Christ is essential to remaining in the justification and blessing of God (see also John 15:1-6).
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus”—so as long as the redeemed believer remains “in Christ Jesus,” he is not under “condemnation” (Rom. 8:1).
“No good thing” dwells in man outside of Christ, and as long as he remains out of Christ, he is a slave to corruption (Romans chapters 6-8; Rom. 7:18). The only victory is Christ and being in Him. Only Jesus can conquer sin, and those who are in Him are possessed with the power of His conquering, overcoming grace.
The first Adam was conquered by sin. The last Adam (Jesus) conquered sin (Rom. 5). The first Adam left us with an inherent nature of sin while the last Adam regenerates, redeems, and rescues us from the sinful nature, condemnation, penalty, and punishment we received from the first Adam.
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 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.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:15-21
“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Through Jesus Christ, the Church and the individual believer have been granted “great grace” to live according to the righteous standards of the One who told us He is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Acts 4:33; Rev. 4:8). Grace was given to grant the believer power over sin and not to justify him in his sin (Tit. 2:11-12). When we come before His throne of grace, it is not only to receive mercy, but also grace, or divine enablement, to overcome (Heb. 4:16; Rev. 2-3). Fighting the good fight of faith and overcoming are a must (1 Tim. 6:12; Rev. 2-3).
“Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). The opposite of living in sin is living in the place of holiness. We are “called” and commanded to live holy, and this should be of concern to every person who “nameth the name of Christ.”
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16
His holiness prevails, and sin cannot have dominion over those who are dead with Christ, buried, and presently raised up in His life. This is the truth expressed in the whole of this passage.
Derek Tidball, in his book The Message of the Cross, asks:
“Why is there an uneasy silence about crucifying the sinful nature with its passions when it is clearly so crucial to the Bible’s teaching about holiness? For all our excuses, the truth is perhaps that such teaching does not fit easily into a comfortable world where self-indulgence and self- satisfaction reign supreme. Our silence betrays how deeply the atmosphere of the world has infected the church, and how we fear the opinion of the world more than the opinion of the Lord. The cross, however, cannot be shunted to the sidelines. It stands high on the hill of Calvary and calls individual believers to stand apart from the cultural values of the world. It equally calls the church as a whole to a deep repentance for its compromise with the world, to take radical action in ejecting sin from its midst and to demonstrate a new seriousness about holiness.” pp. 240-241
Many writers of old and today read Romans 5 and ignore the divinely imposed conditions of Romans 6. They therefore come out with a slanted and dangerous theology, which has led many to turn “the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license for sin),” and by doing so they are “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).
Always remember that without personal holiness, no man is going to see the LORD (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 3:5-6).
If one only read this portion of Scripture (Romans 5), he might lean toward Calvinism and an unconditional eternal security, yet there’s more to this picture, and the ensuing verses reveal the rest of the story. Romans 6 reveals the God-given personal responsibility of each saved saint, and how these blessings of His grace are conditional upon the obedience of the individual recipient. Read Romans 6-8 through three times in the next week. Also, a thorough and ongoing look at Romans chapters 3-8 is essential to a sound doctrinal foundation.
YOU know when you are right with God, when you are enduring the sound doctrine of His Word, when you are running TO the cross message and not AWAY from it! “Enemies of the cross” of Christ “mind earthly things” and not the things the LORD commanded (Philippians 3:18-19).
The apostle Paul 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” (Rom. 7:18).
We must rightly—biblically—assess our true spiritual nature, and when we do, we will know that without Jesus, we are corrupt and depraved in the nature of the first Adam. Knowing that there is “no good thing” that dwells in us, that is, in our flesh, we should sentence our self-life to death, that our lives might rely upon the LORD and not sinful self. “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Cor. 1:9).
The lack of teaching in the Christian world on this all-important biblical truth has greatly hindered the understanding of many who have a desire to fully please and serve the LORD. May the LORD bless each of us to have this message of the cross embedded deeply into our hearts and minds. Speaking of His own cross, Jesus told His disciples to “Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men” (Luke 9:44).
The gross lack of attention to this core biblical truth (the cross) has given way to a myriad of Cain-type methods to modify behavior instead of teaching men to crucify the evil tendencies of the fallen nature and walk in the new man—presenting ourselves as living sacrifices unto the LORD and being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2).
PRAYER: LORD, please teach me Your truth. Allow my heart and mind to understand from whence I came and where You desire to take this life that You gave. I am sinful by nature and yet, You have made me a new creature in Christ, granting Your overcoming grace by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Right this moment, if never before, I stop my life and humble myself under Your mighty hand, fully submitting my life to You, begging You to live in me and raise my life upward to glorify You alone from this moment forward. I am dead and buried with Christ—I am crucified with Christ. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. Holy Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Capture Points
- On an index card, write out the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 16:24-26.
- Examining the words of Romans 8:13-14, discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering and leading the disciple to glorify God in this life by putting away the works of the flesh and living a life in the Spirit (KJB recommended).
- Because there is “no good thing” that dwells in us (in our flesh), discuss practical measures as to how the disciple of Jesus is to daily sentence to death the deeds of the sinful nature (Romans 7:18; 2 Corinthians 1:9; Galatians 5:19-21).
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Abiding
Colossians Narrated [podcast]
Colossians Chapter 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Colossians Chapter 2
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Colossians Chapter 3
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Colossians Chapter 4
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8 whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 and Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds.
Grace be with you. Amen.
Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.
Colossians – the whole category | Bible Books Narrated | Hundreds of Scripture-Rich edifying audios here.
Making Peace with God – Before it’s too late | The Return of Christ
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Apostasy
GOD’S GRACE “IN THIS PRESENT WORLD” TITUS 2:12 [podcast]
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
LOTS OF FRAUDS WHO CLAIM TO BE SAVED BY GRACE YET DEFEND INSTEAD OF ADMITTING, REPENTING, CALLING OUT AND CONFESSING SIN. “Grace” that isn’t leading you to live godly in this present world, denying ungodliness instead of living in it, is NOT saving grace. You are lost if this is the phony “grace” you have.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:11-12
YES God’s grace in Christ is certainly amazing and yet, the evangelical, calvinistic worlds have grossly emphasized and perpetrate a perverted view of God’s grace…. Fulfilling the prophecy of Jude 3-4. God says these are “ungodly men” who we are to “earnestly contend” against! (Jude 3-4)
It’s only the sin-justifying, grace-perverting frauds who hate personal accountability and obedience as the manifestation, the fruit of true worship and love for God (Titus 2:11-12; Jude 4).
IF you love God, truly, you will obey Him. Those who do not obey Christ, don’t love Him (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).
Hell is full of people who got saved, then made excuses for their Christ-denying cross-less life on earth (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16).
This is how true grace manifests IF someone is saved by it….. otherwise they have either never been saved or have since fallen away from saving grace (Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; 2 Peter 2:20-22, etc.).
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:20-21
Dear OSAS fairytale believer: Grace is given to overcome sin and not to justify it.
This “so great salvation” (Heb. 2:3) that “hath appeared to all men” was wrought for us by the grace and life blood of the Son of God (Lev. 17:11; Rom. 3:23-26). We were down and out “having no hope” and “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom. 5:6; Eph. 2:12) We were “without strength!” – In other words we had no ability in and of ourselves to get back to the one true God we were separated from due to our own sin (Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 5:12). Yet, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) He saved us to be made progressively more free and to please and serve Him with joy in the Holy Ghost. He is our Salvation and enabler in all things. We truly CAN do “all things through Christ which strengtheneth” us! (Phil. 4:13)
Whenever God commands something, He also provides the grace for it to manifest in your life – as you are submitted and therefore obedient to Him (James 4:6-10; 1 Peter 4:10-11). His grace, divine enablement, operational power, is always sufficient to bring His perfect will to pass in our lives and to bring us through any and all difficulties, grueling seasons we may find ourselves in! (2 Corinthians 9:8; 12:9-10; 1 Peter 5:10)
No gift could possibly be so “great.” See Hebrews 2:3. It is to Jesus Christ the LORD of all lords that we as vile and depraved sinners, owe all thanksgiving and have the immeasurable, grand and blessed privilege to worship. There is no fathoming the magnitude of the blessing, of the grace and mercy of our God poured out to us through “the blood of his cross.” (Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 2:9; Col. 1:20; Tit. 3:5-6) His grace truly is amazing and yet He is holy and righteous and will not permit sin into His presence.
“By him (Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15
Seems to me that in “grace” circles grace itself is deified instead of the One who alone granted that grace?
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
My identity, my salvation is first and foremost in CHRIST JESUS Himself and not in the grace He brought and provided via His death on the cross! First things first! Keeping the main thing the main thing! (1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Hebrews 2:9)
The apostle Paul, the divinely inspired grace teacher, stated here in our theme verse (please re-read Titus 2:11-12 above) that when God’s grace is genuinely at work in a person, that person is being taught and learning certain things. Let’s go to the divine source, God’s Word, to discover what these things are:
According to Titus 2:11-12, just what does God’s grace teach one who possesses it?
- To “deny ungodliness…in this present world”
- To “deny…worldly lusts…in this present world”
- To “live soberly…in this present world”
- To “live…righteously…in this present world”
- To live “godly, in this present world”
If a person claims to be saved (secure for Heaven) and yet is not “denying ungodliness” and “worldly lusts…living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,” he is simply deluded. See also Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16; James 1:22; 4:4 and 1 John 2:3-6.
If you don’t mind, I am nominating Titus 2:11-12 as that place in Scripture believers think of when they think of the grace of God. Do you think that saints and/or those who claim to be saints might take on a whole new level of responsibility if such were the case?
The person who currently possesses and is living in the grace of God can be assured of eternal life (Heb. 12:14). One can know or verify whether or not he truly possesses the grace of God by reading closely this enlightening theme passage of Titus 2:11-12. The authentically saved person is presently abiding in Christ’s grace – “Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts” and living “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (life).”
If these things are not manifesting in our lives, be sure that we are not presently living in the grace of God and should immediately repent before the LORD (James 4:6). In verse 11 of Titus 2, the Word states that it is “the grace of God that bringeth salvation.” And then Holy Writ reveals how those who truly and currently possess this essential grace live their lives – “in this present world.”
“‘For whom ye yield yourselves, servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.’ (Rom. 6:16) If we are compelled, therefore, to yield ourselves servants to sin, and be subject to Satan’s power, insomuch that we cannot help but obey him, and really have no choice in the matter, then our free agency, our volition, is destroyed; and to make matters worse, the devil has more power than God. Satan can make us disobey God, but alas, God cannot make us disobey Satan. The devil compels us to be sinners, but God cannot compel us to be righteous. What kind of doctrine is this?” –Howard W. Sweeten
In America, the vast majority of those who are called evangelicals do not even realize that this Titus 2 text exists. The masses have never had this text pointed out to them and expounded upon by their leaders. What is it these leaders are afraid their audiences will discover if they unveil this text? Some leaders just simply do not teach the Word (2 Tim. 4:2-4). This alone makes them false. For the Calvinistic leader I must ask: What are they hiding? What are they afraid people might find out? Why are other Bible passages on grace spotlighted and not Titus 2? Why is this Bible passage purposely neglected and avoided? What are our leaders afraid will be revealed to the people they communicate to? Do these leaders fear that the divine truth revealed in Titus 2 will contradict what they are teaching? Do they fear offending people by communicating what the evidences (fruit) of true grace and salvation are?
Unrepentant rebels who claim to be saved lack the discernment and ability to rightly divide the word of God because they refuse to turn their hearts over to the LORD – 2 Corinthians 3:14-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. OSAS dupes reject the mountains of Scripture that teach a conditional eternal security because they simply do not want to repent and lay down their lives in this sinful world.
Speaking of “A Foreign Grace,” David Servant, in his book The Great Gospel Deception, says:
“It is not only the fruit of people’s deeds that mark them as false teachers, but also the fruit of their words. If they teach what is contrary to essential New Testament doctrine, they are false teachers.
Of course, no teacher in the church is going to stand up and declare that he is teaching what is contrary to the New Testament. Rather, he will neglect certain important scriptures and twist others to persuade his constituency that he is teaching the truth. This is being done today by many very popular and influential teachers who teach about a grace that is foreign to the Bible. The grace they proclaim is not the true grace that leads to holiness…
How is it possible that people who denied the only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, could have ‘crept in unnoticed’? The answer is that they were not standing in front of congregations declaring, ‘I deny Jesus Christ.’ Rather, they were denying Jesus Christ through their false teaching about grace, turning it into licentiousness.
Their message could be summarized as follows: ‘Isn’t God’s grace wonderful? Because our salvation stems from His grace and not from our meritorious works, holiness is not essential for salvation. Because of God’s wonderful grace, all who believe in Jesus are saved, even if they continue practicing sin.’” p. 230, 231
As David Servant points out, the false teacher is not going to stand up and announce that he is a wolf. It is the individual believer’s responsibility to discern leaders by the fruit of their teaching. What is not taught (left out of the message) can be more deadly than what is taught. What we don’t know can kill us. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hos. 4:6) To be able to discern one must study the Word diligently and be exercised therein (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16; Heb. 5:11-14). This gross lack of knowledge among some who claim to know the LORD is also an indication that many have not diligently studied the Word of God for themselves, but rather have relied upon their leaders to tell them what God has said. Consequently, so very many have been deluded with a false gospel.
Saints of the LORD, let us allow Jesus Christ to become important enough to our hearts to learn for ourselves what He has stated to us in His Word. Is the LORD truly your first love? Are you actively and fervently memorizing Scripture – His very words? Let me encourage you to do so from the Authorized Version (KJV). See Proverbs 4:4 and Psalms 119. Index cards are a great way to do such.
“In This Present World” – Holiness Now Or Then?
If we do not possess His grace “in this present world,” evidenced by our denial of ungodliness and holy living here and now, then how can we deceive ourselves into thinking we are truly His? If not now, the then (eternity) is surely eternal damnation. According to God’s Word, without holiness, no person will be with Jesus Christ in eternity (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:8, 27). Think with me for a moment of how many people who are at this very instant, residents of the domain of the damned – hell. What is their unalterable and horrible future? These eternal souls will shortly be cast into the lake or ocean of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). Why? These people were given the choice and willfully and deliberately chose in their brief earthly life to make something else more important than the LORD and doing His will (Exod. 20:3; Matt. 7:21; Eph. 5:3-6; 1 Jn. 5:21). Pretty simple, yet the consequence is forever fixed – They have reached the point of no return. Hell’s eternal occupants who have gone before us to damnation will, after a million years of excruciating and conscious torment, have not one less second to spend there.
Is it worth it? Is living apart from life-giving fellowship with Jesus in this short life worth eternity in torment? Is justifying instead of crucifying the sins of the body worth spending eternity in the prison of fire? Jesus told us we must abruptly cut off the hand and pluck out the eye that causes us to offend the one true and holy God with our sin, that we might be in Heaven (Mk. 9:42-50). Ready or not – Jesus is Coming!
The Fruit of True Grace: Grace that is not taught with responsibility and the fear of the LORD is not Biblical grace at all. Be not deceived! (Tit. 2:11-14) According to Titus 2:11-12, true grace produces a specific fruit. God’s grace is active. When it truly abides in a person, it has specific earmarks of its possession while “grace” without this fruit is shown to be no saving grace at all. This is a sham that so many today have been taught. It is the bill of goods that is being sold from pulpits across America every week.
Comprehensive grace includes the fear of God which alters the lifestyle and causes the recipient to live a holy life. The adherent is led into intimate fellowship with Christ and from living in habitual sin that would disqualify him from the prize of eternal life. The good news is that there is the precious blood of the Savior available at the “throne of grace” to grant us all a fresh start! This believer, who is less than the least of all saints, has had enormous reason to rejoice in that he has fallen short so many times, only to be drawn back in by the LORD to receive mercy and grace afresh! This priceless grace, purchased with the blood of Christ, is available at all times to those who are born again. We therefore have no excuse to have any sin remaining on our account (Heb. 4:14-16; 1 Jn. 1:7, 9). We are blessed to have EVERY sin washed away in His holy blood as we simply go before His precious throne of grace and cry out in repentance and receive His priceless mercy which we do not deserve yet was merited by Christ’s blood. This truth makes me want to shout for joy!
What a rich blessing it is that God’s grace empowers the believer to fulfill what its Author demands. Through the apostle Paul the Holy Ghost tells us that “sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14)
PRAYER: LORD Jesus thank You for Your saving grace which enables me to experience relationship with You and live completely pleasing in Your holy sight in all things. Right this moment I denounce all dissimulation and self-deception, lies, and excuses. LORD I beg You to make my heart pure LORD Jesus! Thank You that sin shall not have dominion over my life as I obey You in the daily crucified life, as I remain in fellowship with You, forsaking all thoughts and deeds that offend You. Your grace is sufficient to bring about Your perfect will which is holiness. In the name of Jesus, amen.
No honest Bible student reads the whole of Scripture and comes out with the idea that he’s OSAS. No, such a doctrine is taught by men who lure in their un-repentant prey with ear-tickling promises. “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” (2 Peter 2:18) Instead of preaching the original Gospel message by calling their audiences to repentance and live a holy, cross-bearing life, they assure them in their sins, just like the false prophets Jeremiah cited (Jeremiah 23:17). This is exactly why those wolves who teach this lie of the ages have such lucrative “church” businesses. They’ve gotten rich peddling Satan’s first lie and are fulfilling prophecy as they lead many to damnation (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
The OSAS believer is vested in his own flesh which he serves instead of Christ and so he doesn’t care how many Scriptures contradict the lie he loves – because he refuses to truly repent and bring forth fruit consistent with that authentic repentance. Instead of overcoming all sin he wallows in it, justifying that which God condemns because he’s self-deceived with this antinomian (lawless) lie.
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Abiding
The Book of 2 Peter Narrated [podcast]
Chapter 1
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost
Chapter 2
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Chapter 3
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 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. 10 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.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 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? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
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