Abiding

The Holiness of God [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]

WHAT ever happened to the holiness of God?

Clearly the LORD wanted His people to know, to understand, and to always be in remembrance of – to never forget – that He is HOLY. Hence this instruction:

“And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” Exodus 28:36

Notice again how the LORD wants His beloved people to remember, to be saturated in heart and mind with the truth that He is Holy.

“Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalms 97:12

His divine holiness is beautiful.

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” 1 Chronicles 16:29

How can any preacher possibly claim to be anything but a depraved wolf in sheep’s clothing if he is not preaching the holiness of God? How? Holy/holiness appears 654 times in the Bible. The sheer repetitive fact of this attribute of the nature, the character of God is clear evidence all by itself that any preacher not preaching on it often, does not know this God who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

The fact that God’s holiness is so prevalent in His Word clearly reveals that it has been intentionally forgotten, evaded, left out, avoided, and eliminated from the message of the apostate modern church.

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11

According to Exodus 15:11, divine “holiness” is “glorious.” Holiness is not what most of us think it is. Holiness in the divine economy is something of great “beauty” and utterly refreshing (Psalms 96:9). It seems that holiness is not merely a divine attribute but rather the divine nature of the Almighty.

Are we ready to allow our LORD, who alone is “Holy, holy, holy,” to define what holiness truly is and how He brings it about in our lives? See Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8.

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?” Habakkuk 1:13

The holiness of God is not going to diminish nor go away because those who claim to be His ignore it. In fact they will collide head on in judgment with He who is Holy.

“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” Psalms 5:4

Definition. The holiness of God refers to His absolute moral purity and the absolute moral distance between God and his human creatures (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

“The holiness of God only secondarily refers to His moral purity, His righteousness of character. It primarily points to His infinite otherness. To say that God is holy is to say that He is transcendentally separate. Holiness is not one attribute among many. It is not like grace or power or knowledge or wrath. Everything about God is holy. Each attribute partakes of divine holiness.” Sam. S.

“God’s holiness means He is separate from sin. But holiness in God also means wholeness. God’s holiness is His ‘God-ness.’ It is His being God in all that it means for Him to be God. To meet God in His holiness, therefore, is to be altogether overwhelmed by the discovery that He is God, and not man.” Sinclair F.

“Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)

God is not holy because He’s loving, He’s loving because He’s holy. 654 times holiness/holy appear in His Word. Nothing compares, diminishes from, or replaces the divine holiness of God. God is who HE says He is and not who we say He is or what sinful man attempts to make the Almighty out to be. That’s why He gave us the Bible.

God is first and foremost holy. Not that we can fully understand that and yet, we are given, by His own Word, to know that this is who He is, above all else. Every other of His attributes comes forth from His holiness, His Holy divine nature.

Holiness is God’s nature and perhaps not His mere attribute. “Holy, holy, holy” is found in His Word not once but twice (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). No other attribute is shown in triplicate even once.

If you don’t think God is holy and will not put up with unholiness, sin, consider the many times in history where God severed, judged, “cut off” those of His own who rebelled, sinned. This is a mere small sampling: Genesis 3: Exodus 32; Joshua 6-7, Numbers 16, 25; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Corinthians 5; 10:1-12; Jude 1. See also the listed soul damning sins in Galatians 5:19-21 and Revelation 21:8, 27, etc.

After warning of the “ungodly men” who would turn “the (saving) grace of God into lasciviousness,” Jude lists created beings once in fellowship with the LORD and now banished for their rebellion… angels and men.

Anyone who believes they can live in sin and remain in Christ, remain Heaven bound, is utterly deceived. God’s grace, His salvation in Christ, did not change His holiness or definition of sin. Beware of grace-perverting false teachers saints (Jude 4).

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2

Anyone who thinks they are going to God’s holy Heaven with sin in their life is self-deceived. Jesus died to “take away” our sins, to remove them from our lives (John 1:29).

“Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.” Psalms 93:5

The cross is to make you holy and keep you holy! The cross separates the disciple from sin and unto the God who is Holy!

Holiness does not bring us to Jesus. Jesus brings us into holiness.

“We have not a true conception of the holiness of God when we view it as impulsive merely; it bears the sight of evil in confidence of overcoming it. To overcome evil, and turn it into penitence and faith and love, is the object of Him who is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity, when He endures the contradiction of sinners against Himself, and holds His peace in presence of unrighteousness.” Pulpit

“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” Psalms 4:3

The LORD will damn to the eternal prison of fire all who choose not be holy, that is, set apart to Him. And like Esau, some are on the verge of not being able to repent, even if they seek to.

The correct preaching of the full counsel of God’s WORD creates in us the desire to be set apart to our LORD (holy) and to cease the things, the sins that defile such purity necessary to abide in vital union with our Maker who is our Savior!

God is “Holy, holy, holy.” He’s into it and He is it, and He will have no fellowship, no union, no relationship with any of His created beings that are not holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

The absence of the preaching of the holiness of God is 100% proof of absolute apostasy in that which claims to be Christ’s church today!

The only one of His divine attributes cited in triplicate, not once, but twice is that He is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

The appearance of the Holiness of God in His Word vs. the appearance of His grace: 654 vs Grace 170 …. grace vs holiness reveals, underscores just how far off we are, how grossly we’ve perverted the original Gospel and doctrine of God. Those who refuse to include the holiness of God in their hearts, minds, doctrine, and body of truth, have perverted the image of God, have crafted and erected the image of a false god in their hearts, and are worshipping “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6-9). Ignoring His holiness will not make it go away and doing so only proves one is a self-serving, cross-less, hell bound rebel.

Also, though holiness may include wholeness, that should not be the only perspective we view it from. We are commanded by Christ to fear God who is able to cast us into hell, and to cut off the hand and pluck out the eye that causes us to sin (Luke 12:4-5; Mark 9:43-49). Repenting and confessing all sins, which defile us in His holy eyes, is essential to being with Him – now and forever (Luke 21:34-36; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-10; 21:8, etc.).

If sin doesn’t put one in jeopardy of losing his eternal soul, why did Jesus say things like this…. Luke 21:34-36; Mark 9:43-49 ….. who’s lying, today’s preachers or Jesus?

What did Jesus teach about eternal punishment? In Mark 9, Jesus repeatedly uses the term – “their worm dieth not” – “worm” here is an idiom for consciousness which He says will never end. Lost souls will suffer unending torment. Annihilation is a lie. Here Jesus is warning us to get rid of all sin lest we be cast into hell, separated eternally from He who is “Holy, holy, holy” and commanded us to “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8)

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into THE FIRE THAT NEVER SHALL BE QUENCHED: 44 Where THEIR WORM (consciousness) DIETH NOT, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into THE FIRE THAT NEVER SHALL BE QUENCHED: 46 Where THEIR WORM (conscious feelings) DIETH NOT, and THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where THEIR WORM DIETH NOT, and THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. 49 For every one shall be salted with fire (preserved in suffering), and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” Mark 9:43-49

“salted with fire” refers to preservation. This further exposes the annihilation lie. Notice how these cultists are amateurishly obvious in their selective, seductive theology as they seek to do away with the plainly stated eternal, unending divine retribution that is coming on all wicked souls. Is salt not obviously a preservative? Well, is Jesus not confirming and reiterating the rest of what He is saying here with the obvious truth that all sacrifices in hell will be salted to preserve them from being annihilated so they can be tormented consciously as a just reward for rejecting the very precious blood of Jesus? The Father didn’t send His only begotten Son to die in vain.

In light of this Mark 9 passage: Jesus, the only Savior, preached hell and commanded His people to preach hell in order to warn men to not go there. Hell is the justice of a holy God and is a vital component of the original Gospel message preached by Jesus and is a manifestation of God’s love. Only wolves in sheep’s clothing leave it out of their messages!

The Scriptures themselves define holiness many times and the necessity for it (Ezekiel 18:30; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14-17, etc.).

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

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

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

Set apart to God…. If I am set apart to Him presently, I am not living in sin (1 John 3:1-10). Thank God we are invited to come boldy to the throne of grace to obtain His mercy afresh (Hebrews 4:16) and praise Him that His compassions fail not but are new every morning, right? Lamentation 3:22-23

“DEPART FROM ME”

The “depart from me” declaration is clear proof that God has not changed and will damn the eternal souls of all who do not comply with Him – beginning with true repentance.

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: DEPART FROM ME, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:23

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, DEPART FROM ME, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41

“But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; DEPART FROM ME, all ye workers of iniquity.” Luke 13:27

False worship, false preachers…. always deny the holiness of God and make concession for sin (Jude 4). Read that sentence again please. Is this not exactly what the Holy Spirit specifically forewarned us of in Jude 3-4?

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

Sin is not characteristic of God’s people and has never nor ever will be allowed. Think biblical history – Lucifer and a third of the angels ejected from Heaven, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Noah’s flood, the rebellion of Korah where God’s own people dropped down straight into hell (Numbers 16; Jude 11), the sin of God’s people in Baal worship and with the Midianites (Numbers, 25), etc. Read the book of Jude which warns us New Testament saints to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints,” against “ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ,” who intentionally ignore, are ignorant of the many times God severed from His presence and rejected created beings of His creation due to their sin.

“Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot (sin) of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.” Deuteronomy 32:3-5

Is sin okay with God? If so, why then did He bother sending His only begotten Son to be crucified for our sins? Was it simply so He could forgive us and then we could go back to that sin, to living in sin, and still be covered?

In the Garden God told the man that if he disobeyed, if he sinned, he would die which means to die spiritually and be separated from God (Genesis 2:17). Then Satan countered with:

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die:” Genesis 3:4

There it is. This is the exact lie we know that’s being peddled today as OSAS (once saved always saved), eternal security, or the perseverance of the saints.

We know the LORD kept His Word and yet if God had not kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden when they sinned, we’d know He is:

a liar
did not keep His own Word
is no longer holy
that the wages of sin is not death
the fall of man never happened

What People is Jesus Returning for?

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ⁸And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. ⁹And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” Revelation 19:7-9a

Who is Jesus returning for? And, why then do we hear so many false prophets guaranteeing eternal security to people living in sin? The whole of Scripture testifies against this evil.

Only false prophets make people comfortable in their sins. See Jeremiah 23:17; Amos 9:10, etc.

Satan is the author of making people think God won’t cut them off when they sin against Him. See Genesis 2:17; 3:4.

Holiness in Marriage

How does the holiness of God relate to the married couple? The closer a man gets to Christ the more he will be moved to cherish and love his wife as Christ does His beloved church (Ephesians 5:25-31). Jesus gave His very life to purchase His church. The more a woman truly worships God, the more she will be conformed to the image of Christ, crucified with Him, and submitting to, loving and serving her husband as God has commanded (Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7, etc.). If you are married or wish to be – be encouraged right now to begin prayerfully reading Philippians 2:3-5 each and every morning from this day till you are with Jesus! The God-given and Bless-ed ROLE of the Man, of the Woman! God is all-wise and has a plan to BLESS! | The God Ordained Roles of Men and Women

The Truth about Holiness [podcast]

Grace vs Holiness [podcast]

The Holiness of God’s House [podcast]

TWICE Dead, Plucked up by the Roots

Abiding

5 Soul Damning Sins Named! Learning from History! [podcast]

THE 5 SINS THAT KEPT ISRAEL (God’s own covenant people) OUT OF THEIR PROMISED LAND OF BLESSINGS and will keep us out if not relinquished. Friend, please read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 with all your might. Make this text your meat.

The world seeks to romance sin but if God says it’s sin, that’s what it is. Toning down the terms changes nothing. Judgment Day is on the way.

We are fighting the good fight of faith, “striving against sin” and “more than conquerors” over sin through Jesus who loves us and bought us with His own blood! (1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:4; 13:12; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:37)

There are the 5 sins listed here that kept God’s people out of His blessings. We all need to L.I.F.T.M. up to the LORD in repentance and for His perfect forgiveness and cleansing. God the Holy Spirit warns us here through Paul’s pen (1 Cor. 10:1-13), that Israel and these sins are “examples” (vv. 6, 11) to all NT believers. God destroys those who go back on Him after knowing Him (transgressors – Ps. 68:21; 73:28; 125:5, etc.). If not ridden out of our lives, any one of these 5 sins WILL keep us out of our promised land. God is holy (Heb. 12:14). As taken in order from 1 Cor. 10:6-10, here are those 5 sins:

Lust
Idolatry
Fornication
Tempting Christ
Murmuring

This simple acronym should help us to remember these sins and remain separate from them as we grow today to know and love our Savior more fervently. “Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Committing the sin is one thing (1 John 1:8-10, right) and refusing to repent of it is yet another. Refusing to acknowledge, repent, confess, and cease is what snares the soul and ousts us from Christ (Proverbs 28:13).

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

If the Holy Spirit has quickened any offences of your heart, simply L.I.F.T.M. up to Christ the Redeemer, Forgiver, Cleanser, and Transformer of lives.

WHATEVER it takes – those who choose to get real with God will sever themselves from anything and anyone who causes them to sin. This is what Jesus says about sin and hell:

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:43-50

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

1 Corinthians 10 completely destroys the OSAS / eternal security argument.

Notice the word “OUR” in verses 6 and 11. This is directly spoken to warn NEW Testament saints that they are going to hell if they live and die in sin.

Case closed.

1 Corinthians 10:1-12

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were OUR examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also LUSTED.

7 Neither be ye IDOLATERS, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us TEMPT CHRIST, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither MURMUR ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Eternal security is a false teaching. 1 sin separated Adam and Eve from God and “The wages of sin is (still) death” because God is Holy (Rom 6:23, etc.). Moral coward counterfeits hate, despise the Gospel essential of the cross, the crucified life. They want Jesus to save them to Heaven but not from sin. These are the sin-justifying, grace-perverting “ungodly men” Jude warned us about (Jude 4).

The divine declaration that “The wages of sin is death” which means separation from God, appears throughout Scripture (Romans 6:23).

“He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.” Proverbs 19:16

Die or death always means separation.

OSAS/eternal security is a lie from hell. OSAS was Satan’s first lie and so it’s blasphemy to teach this doctrine of devils and claim it’s part of the Gospel. You are attributing Satan’s lie to the LORD Jesus. Repent now sinner. See Genesis 2:17; 3:4; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Jude 4, etc..

The concept of an un-conditional eternal security is not established in Scripture … Except for it being Satan’s first teaching, His first lie – the “Ye shall NOT surely die” lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

Eternal Security/Once saved always saved is a lie from hell.

PEACE with GOD

The Myth of Eternal Security [podcast]

“For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.” Psalms 73:27 BAD NEWS FOR CROSS-LESS COUNTERFEITS WHO HIDE BEHIND THE “ETERNAL SECURITY” SHAM: YOU WILL BE ETERNALLY SECURE WHEN AND IF YOU ARE WITH JESUS IN ETERNITY, NOT BEFORE! Can’t leave Christ after He saves you? Think again… dear one who continues to search for a way to justify your sin, for not truly repenting and laying down your life in this fleeting sinful world and overcoming (Luke 9:23-24; 14:27, 33; 17:33; 19:27; Titus 2:11-14; , etc.). All […]

Clear Proof that the Bible is the Only Sacred Holy Book on God's Planet [podcast]

There is only one holy book and name in the earth, the sacred name of Jesus Christ who is the grand subject of all of Holy Scripture (Philippians 2:9-11). God left us with His Word so we can know Him and not be deceived by the “MANY false prophets” He promised would come and deceive many just before His return (Matthew 24:11). God gave us His Word to protect us (2 Timothy 3:15-17). “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the […]

Can a Believer be Cut Off After being Saved? [podcast]

Paul reminds us Gentiles believers of how God “cut off” His own people, the Jews, when they rebelled against Him, and that He will also “cut off” any of us who do not continue in His goodness and severity (Romans 11:20-22). Any person who rejects this truth is a grace-perverting, sin-justifying fraud who has made a fake god in their own image due to the refusal to truly repent. “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches (Jews), take heed lest he also spare not […]

Abiding

“The Unalterable Basis of an Open Heaven is a Grave” [podcast]

Concerning the raising up process of the Gospel of God, T. Austin-Sparks wrote:

“The unalterable basis of an open heaven is a grave, and a crisis at which you come to an end of your own self-life. It is the crisis of real experiential identification with Christ in His death.”

Though we entered into His death upon initial salvation, accepting and experiencing that death is still a daily choice, an individual decision to be made on an ongoing basis. One’s choice to continue to persevere, following Christ as He clearly prescribed, will determine his eternal destination (Luke 9:62; 19:13; 21:19; Romans 6:16; Galatians 6:7-9).

The insidious circumventing of the cross can come in many clandestine ways that are masked with pious outer garb. Today, while refusing to utter the full counsel of the One they claim tobe representing, smiling and charismatic men stand in sheep’s clothing, promising heavenly life to those who live in sin. They only prosper due to the volitional biblical illiteracy of the masses. Ignorance of the truth is a choice with eternal consequences (Hosea 4:6; Matthew 22:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25

Of seeds, one source notes:

“Seeds do not technically ‘die’ when planted; rather, they germinate, transforming from a dormant state into an active, growing plant. While the outer shell breaks and the original form changes, the embryo inside remains alive.”

Just as nothing in hell could have held Jesus in that grave, NOTHING in hell can hold down the crucified saint! The divinely volcanic resurrection life of Christ bursting forth in the life of the crucified consenting disciple will be utterly unstoppable!

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive, raise up) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

The true disciple is always “delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:11). He has “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). He is daily putting to death “the deeds of the body” and being “raised up” by the power of the same Holy Spirit “that raised up Christ from the dead” (Romans 8:11, 13). He rejoices in “Christ Jesus” and has “no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).

“I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake … that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you” 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12.

The disciple who is dead and buried with Christ is “dead to sin” (Romans 6:2). There are tell-tale symptoms in one whose self life has not been terminated, put to death. When we justify the sinful things we do, and call those who point them out “legalistic,” it is symptomatic of a life that is not crucified with Christ. The Bible says, “Lie not against the truth” (James. 3:14). If we argue against the truth when we are shown it, we are manifesting rebellion. The “corn of wheat” must be planted and remain planted in order to bud and bring forth new life. The one whose life is laid down does not make excuses when he realizes that he harbors sin. No, instead he rejoices to be yet more sanctified and dwelling in the place of blessing and holiness with the One He delights to please and serve.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, I am crucified with You. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God. Here and now I lay my life in Your holy hands, this moment. Please use me now and here forward in the Father’s business of the Great Commission as we eagerly look for Your soon return. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God’s Little Pet Disciple?

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 GOD will remove His presence from you in a heartbeat if you allow pride (James 4:6-10). Memorize and live 1 Corinthians 10:12 now. —- As the LORD told Esther, so He tells you and I – “If you will not DO what He told you to do, I will replace you!” We are to serve God on His terms, not ours – or, He will replace us with someone who will. We need Him – He doesn’t need us – and, we are not irreplaceable! – “For IF thou altogether holdest […]

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 […]

Judgment to Come Necessitates the Crucified Life [podcast]

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 In light of “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2), the apostle speaks here of his preparation for it. Paul knew that eternal damnation awaited him if he dared not keep under his body, to crucify the deeds of the body to “bring it into subjection” by the daily crucified life. Keeping under our bodies speaks of a continual essential. Keeping under means subduing the old man by crucifying it daily. “For […]

Abiding

Faith with Humility: When Love Replaces Judgment [podcast]

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6

Recently I ran across a sobering title for a video by a pastor. It read:

“They have the gospel backwards: Why are Christians so mean?”

Have you memorized Matthew 5:44 in the King James Bible?

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10

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

“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:14

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

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The Cardinal Characteristic of Knowing God [podcast]

The word “love” appears 311 times in God’s Word. It’s one thing to know the Bible. It’s another thing to know the God of the Bible. “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 This is why He created you – to know Him. “And this is life eternal (the whole purpose for it), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 The disciple has nothing more important […]

To Walk in Love is of the Highest Priority to the LORD [podcast]

If we die without His love we will not be with Him above. Jesus loved us and all His enemies, even under to death – for our, for the redemption of the world. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth (displayed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 Our promised we, His people, will be persecuted […]