Fri, Oct 29th - 6:18PM

1 JOHN CHAPTER 1 STUDY

NO SALVATION WITHOUT FAITH IN THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

The everlasting truth, brothers, and sisters is that Jesus Christ in His atoning work did exactly what God declares, everyone who believes in His Son Jesus Christ are cleansed from all sins past present and future. We are reminded that John is the same writer who declares to us in the book of Revelation: Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

No one has any authority to “plead the blood”, “apply the blood”, “pray the blood”.  The Bible teaches believers throughout scriptures, we are simply to make our prayers to God. The atoning work of Jesus is complete, we cannot, nor do we have any power or authority from God to do anything but to trust that the atoning work of His Son our saviour Jesus Christ is eternally finished and believe and trust in Him completely for what He has done for us, the washing us with His blood, the forgiveness of all sins, and making us new creatures in Him.

Perverting the truth of scripture and/or impenitently rejecting the truth of scripture is playing with fire- Rev 20:15

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

There might be some, who at this point in the study might feel panic because they know that they have done or that there are some sins in their lives even recently. Stay with the study, and this will be biblically addressed within the New Covenant of Jesus Christ as it only can be.

The Bible, again, dearly beloveds, never denies and gives many examples of Christians sinning, and in every case condemns it and never condones nor approves of any of it.  Therefore, brethren neither should we. Nor should we heed any false teachings that Christians  cannot be like Lord Jesus Christ, and have no ability to get the victory over sin, as we are taught Jesus is our example for right living: 1Pe 2:21.

Nothing can invalidate the eternal truth of God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from ALL sins. therefore, we must believe God because God grants no options. So, holy people, let those who “struggle” with sin build up their faith and come in trust to Jesus Christ, rather than as some who stumble over His eternal truth:  1Pe 2:8

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Stay tuned, saints (G40 hagios) as we look further into:

1 John 1: 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Wed, Oct 27th - 5:49PM

1 JOHN CHAPTER 1 STUDY

NO SALVATION WITHOUT FAITH IN THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

Hell is real, there is absolute no work that a mere human being can do or even contribute to God to pay for their salvation, for: Tit 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Some in error think they contribute to their salvation through their faith: Rom 12:3

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Others in error think it is through their repentance that they contribute to their own salvation: Rom 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

No doubt some make these errors in ignorance, however they will receive correction when told the truth, but the wicked never will and go to the well-deserved damnation of God for His wicked enemies.

Our acceptance and entrance into fellowship with God and all believers can only be accomplished within the eternal light of the Standard set in the sinless blood of His Son our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we are made fit, welcome, and able to participate in fellowship with Him and one another in His undimmable eternal light.

We have to keep in mind, holy brethren, that the Holy Ghost, brought in the church of Jesus Christ at Pentecost, and this bringing in was of His people is never referred to in any way or manner as any physical building: Act 2:1.  Whether on purpose or in ignorance it is terribly unfortunate and too common today, that some have made a physical building to stand for the church, when never in the entirety of the New Testament is the church referenced as a physical building, it always refers to the people of God. The people of God are the eternal church, not the buildings they meet in.

There are those false sinful teachers who can never stop sinning, holy brethren, who taunt those washed in the sinless blood of Jesus Christ as not so clean, still sinners, and that there is no such thing as sinless perfection, casting doubt on the atoning work of Jesus Christ and turning people away from grace back to the Law of Moses, which is done away in Christ.

It is the truth of scriptures alone, correctly interpreted that will protect God’s people from false teachings. These same false teachers preach the lie that Christ’s death was a substitution for us.

Jesus Christ has no substitutes, no replacements, nobody could take His place on the cross.  If Jesus Christ the perfect and only sinless sacrifice, acceptable to God had not gone to the cross to pay for our sins, God’s judgement would have fallen instantly upon all sinners and He would have destroyed all sinners, seeing that remained no further sacrifice for sinners acceptable to Him:  Heb 1:3

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Then we have false teachers teaching since Christ has gone into heaven to sit down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, He can’t hear our prayers from there so He left the Holy Spirit alone or men on earth to do His work.  

This and all blasphemous teachings denies the deity of Jesus Christ, He is both man and God the Son dwelling in heaven and in the spirit of every believer,(Col 1:27),with God the Father and sealed within by the Holy Spirit. There is no separation of the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit for all eternity: 1Jo 5:7.

Therefore, when the Bible declares Christ died for our sins, paid for our sins, took our sins it is because He alone is the only one who could.

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.

Some read1 John 1:7 and overlook the blood of Jesus and the words All sins in this verse and instead in error see the word some sins, or that the sinless blood of Jesus did not forgive the sins under the Law of Moses, so that believers have to take steps to do it:  Act 13:39

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

The Bible correctly interpreted is infallible and eternally declares the truth, we have no option acceptable to God but to believe Him, for all who impenitently reject the atoning work of Jesus Christ the Bible teaches: Heb 10:29

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.

Tue, Oct 26th - 8:18AM

JOHN CHAPTER 1 STUDY

NO SALVATION WITHOUT FAITH IN THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

Brothers and sisters, thanks always for your patience and for joining me in these studies. All biblical studies are important, and no one needs any special training to do or participate in them. But to benefit from God’s word, we must come trusting in God and be willing to receive in faith His truth of the Bible. However, without the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ, no one can be taught or come to understand the word of God, nor can they put any of it into steady practice.

Due to poor teachings or outright false teachers, some do not find any joy in 1 John 1 but wind up miserable and in ignorance turn back to the Law of Moses or some other kind of work to do to get their sins forgiven. This is not because they are bad people but arises out of their great fear of going to hell due to unconfessed sin and/or out of love for God fervently desiring to deal with their sins by various means so as to please and not offend Jesus Christ.

As we go along in this study and all studies and teachings, please let us obey God in believing and the doing of it, knowing as we are taught by God that there is no excuse for not believing Him after we are clearly shown the truth, because it is impossible for God to lie: Act 17:11

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

 2Ti 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

God, brethren, commands that all come to Him in faith believing the truth of scriptures, like a little child refusing to allow any preconceived false teachings, or our personal opinions to outweigh the everlasting truth, and therefore, turning oneself away from it: Luk 18:17

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Jesus warns all there is no believing some parts of salvation and not believing other parts of it, there is no half in and half out, it is all or nothing in God’s economy. Jesus isn’t angry over anyone being ignorant, however the ignorant will receive instruction and the wicked never will.

 1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.

 Jhn 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Since we clearly saw in the previous post, dearly beloveds, that God declares that He is absolute light, with absolutely no darkness for all eternity, we know the believer in Him is of the same light too. It is plainly taught by scripture that no believer is part light or part dark, or blended, or wavers between being light or dark:

2Co 6:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

 Eph 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 1Th 5:5

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 Co 6: 9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Sat, Oct 23rd - 12:05PM

JOHN CHAPTER 1 STUDY

NO SALVATION WITHOUT FAITH IN THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

1 John 1:5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

No darkness= absolutely not, never darkness.

 Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

So, dearly beloveds, if someone claims to be a saved sinner, it cannot be in God nor His kingdom, because the Bible clearly and absolutely declares that God has no darkness, variableness i.e., various shades, or shadow of turning in Him.

Again, John and all those with Him heard this message from the lips of Jesus Christ himself, God has no darkness. Those who deny this message, after hearing the truth either are not saved or have no understanding of the atoning work of Jesus Christ in the forgiveness of sins, nor salvation.

Keep in remembrance, saints (G40 hagios), that God, not man, has the sole eternal right to have completely set the terms for salvation, and explicitly given us the full description of Himself to all mankind of who He is, His unchanging holy nature, as well as the nature of who He alone deems His holy people.

There is not one verse in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ that states saved people remain sinners after salvation:    Rom 5:19

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

1Jo 4:15

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

 1Pe 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Some might in error allude to Jas 4:8;  1Ti 1:15, as supposedly supporting the doctrine of saved sinners, but they do not, nor do they contradict scripture in any manner whatsoever for the people of God are declared holy, and without condemnation, which God would never declare of any sinner. there can be no joy found in John outside of believing and receiving the same message that John and all those with him received of Jesus Christ.

Yes, brothers and sisters, although the Bible does point out in scriptures many instances of Christians sinning in some way, however, none of this contradicts scripture describing God’s people as holy, and absolutely does not promote the false doctrine of saved sinners, nor freedom to sin. Stay tuned as more will be revealed as we go through the study, with the understanding that there are no options to the truth of scripture, and God absolutely cannot lie. The truth is that those claiming to belong to God while still walking in darkness are liars.

love, serola

Wed, Oct 20th - 4:36PM

I JOHN CHAPTER 1 STUDY

NO SALVATION WITHOUT FAITH IN THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

Brothers and sisters, we must pause a bit here to understand, what most of us know, that there is no right understanding of 1 John, nor of the salvation of Jesus Christ outside of the New Covenant. John states clearly the message they heard from Jesus Christ was the New Covenant, not the Law of Moses.

John, holy brethren, instructs us that God has permanently set the source and everlasting Standard for all the joy of all believers’, which is the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, all of Jesus Christ. If any were with me in the previous study, you know that it cannot be found in any scripture that Jesus Christ paid any tithes to the corrupted Levitical ministry under the Mosaic Law for good reason.

The purpose of Lord Jesus coming to the Jews first was to preach the promised message given to Abraham, which was under the first covenant of grace, 430 years before the Mosaic Law was ever established and given by God:  Gal 3:17.

Jesus came to fulfill the Law. Jesus declared absolutely on the Cross that “it is finished”.  

The Law of Moses is entirely done away in Christ. No man can claim, instruct, or command that after the resurrection of Jesus Christ that men can call a building a temple through which people must enter to worship God or even say that God dwells therein, because: 1Co 3:16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Those purporting that one can worship God through entering a physical building are promoting dangerous and blasphemous lies and making the physical building nothing but a useless idol, and leading people astray from the truth.

The Bible teaches that Christians can worship God alone in private but are never to separate from worshipping with other believers:  Heb 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Jesus through His word confirms: Mat 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Brothers and sisters, we know that the Bible teaches that all who reject the New Covenant under Jesus Christ, are not saved nor can be saved unless they repent and believe.

Remember that God declared in both the Old Testament before the Law and after in the New Testament: Jer 31:34; Heb 10:17. Christians by the free gift of Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ are pardoned from all their sins forever:: Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

 Rom 7:6

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Again and again the Bible warns that all who impenitently reject  salvation exclusively from Jesus Christ under His New Covenant, remain dead in their sins, and at death when the soul is separated from the physical body, go immediately to hell to await the final judgement and final eternal punishment of the soul eternally separated from God and punished forever in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels this is the second and final death for the wicked. However, the righteous have no fear of the second death and are delivered from it through faith in Jesus Christ.

Tue, Oct 19th - 7:17PM

Mon, Oct 18th - 4:16PM

1 JOHN CHAPTER 1 STUDY

NO SALVATION WITHOUT FAITH IN THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

Brothers and sisters, let us bless the Lord Jesus at all times and forget none of His benefits from His complete work of atonement, love, truth, wisdom, and mercy. I love and appreciate all of you, and thanks for your patience, and for hanging with me in these studies. I pray for you all brethren, pray for me also dearly beloveds.

Before we can even begin this study, saints (G40 hagios), there are those who rightly preach the truth that salvation is a free gift apart from any works, who are met in error by some, with accusations of teaching a false salvation of easy believe-ism or are soft on sin.

I used to accuse those of teaching salvation is a free gift, brethren, out of ignorance, and perhaps there are some who still feel that way. However, the Bible correctly interpreted settles all questions, and roots us in the truth. I want to assure everyone that I am not soft on sin for myself or anyone else. None of us should be according to scripture.

There are some who teach that after salvation, “we still sin”, and therefore are sinners still. Some others teach that even after salvation no person achieves “sinless perfection” where they never commit any further sins after being saved, which justifies a saved person still seeing themselves as sinners.

These teachings rattle more than a few and casts doubts on the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

Are we still sinners after salvation due to sinless perfection being impossible; is that how Jesus still sees and calls us?  Is it our confessions to God for our sins that gains us forgiveness? Are we doomed if we die with unconfessed sin?

Raise your hand, holy brethren, if you ever had any questions regarding any of these issues ( I raised both of mine).

The Bible is clear, God will absolutely not accept a substitute Jesus. God will not compromise, negotiate, or excuse unrepentant unbelief. We know the ignorant will repent and receive correction but the wicked never will. There is no salvation apart from faith in the real Jesus Christ, and His atoning work for all who believe in Him.

The Bible well answers all of these questions in 1 John 1 as well as throughout the whole of scriptures.

Love, serola                                  

Fri, Oct 15th - 4:27PM

THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

Mark chapter 12 study

Thanks be to Jesus, brethren, for His eternal love, grace, and truth. Jesus is our eternal stability and strength at all times in a changing and chaotic world. We know, holy brethren, the world teaches that our feelings are all that matters. We know too that although our feelings matter to God, any that conflicts with the word of God must be quickly laid aside, for the just shall live by faith. Let us always put our trust in the everlasting Standard set by God in Jesus Christ for us to live by His teachings, living them in thought, in truth, in practice in every way.

Some feel that the poor should not be supported assuming wrongfully that most people are poor due to being too lazy to work. The Bible does not support helping able bodied people who are too lazy or refuse to work:  2Th 3:10

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

That being said, dearly beloveds, we know that due to disability from various causes some people will never be able to work, or not well enough to fully support themselves. Also some poor people who do work will at times still need help: Deu 15:11 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.  Pro 19:17.

Some people are poor due to circumstances outside of their control due to being defrauded out of their life savings, or theft of wages, which is still a huge problem today:  Mal 3:5

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

Many in our nation have recently experienced an unprecedented loss of life. Many others have suffered a loss of health, and/or catastrophic loss of economic stability from which not all will recover.

Brothers and sisters, let none of us see ourselves as  superior to, or of more value than others based on our economic status in the eyes of the Lord: Pro 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. 

Jesus Christ didn’t think much of the religious leaders. He never praised them for receiving the offerings but rebuked them. It might be surprising to some that although Jesus Christ paid taxes, we cannot find one scripture where He gave tithes to the corrupted Levitical priesthood. Jesus knew the religious leaders used most of the money to enrich themselves.

It is vain to try in error to teach the Law for grace. Jesus Christ never came to the temple to worship under the Law at any time, but to teach and bring the message of the promised New Covenant. This is what Lord Jesus had to say about the temple: Mat 12:6

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

Luk 21:6

As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 1Co 13:3

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.

Brothers and sisters, we ought to look at Lord Jesus’ approval of the poor widows giving within the context of the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ not the Mosaic Law. Jesus gives no command for all poor people to give all their living to please God, but compels us to look at the heart of this poor widow who out of love and thankfulness to God gave all she had.

 Mark 12:43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Jesus, holy people, sets the poor widow before His disciples as a good example in God’s economy, in that He values the content of the heart of the giver, rather than what is given. Again, this poor widow gave all out of love for God not the letter of the Law. However, remember He warned His disciples against the religious leaders.

In the church that is established by Jesus Christ we are not compelled to support the living of those elders of the church as the Levite priesthood under the Law. Some try to use the poor widow as an example that the New Covenant should function that way, which is not correct, as the Law is fulfilled in Christ, and every believer is a priest under the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour, and its elders serve as servants not lords.

love, serola

Tue, Oct 12th - 1:15AM

THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

Mark chapter 12 study

Brothers and sisters, give thanks and praises to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and bless His Holy Name, continually. I need the real Jesus Christ, you need the real Jesus Christ, we all absolutely need the real Jesus Christ according to scripture correctly believed, understood, and lived privately and publicly. As the Bible prophesied this world is in a handbasket on a pair of rollers skates, slipping on a banana peel headed to a certain and terrible end: Mal 4:1;  Isa 24:20; Joe 2:10;  Zep 3:8; Heb 1:11; 2Pe 3:12.

We see, dearly beloveds, the increasing instability in all nations, our own not excluded, too many children, unprotected, leaving the educational system unable to do basic reading, writing and math, but fully indoctrinated with mind filth to do things which if one taught an animal, it would lead to their arrest for the lewd and depraved treatment of the animal.

Human life has gone far beyond just being devalued, save a whale, save the planet, etc., but it is more than okay not to save a baby. We have over a half million individuals, families, and children homeless, but billions of taxpayers’ dollars are given away to foreign countries.  We have people working two jobs but still cannot afford rent on a basic one-bedroom apartment. We have a social security system being bankrupted because congress “borrows” from it and never pays it back, and also gives it freely to those who never worked to pay into it. Some people question how can some elected officials enter government paupers and come out millionaires? Crime of all kinds have gone through the roof even though the jails are full, and nobody seems to have any answers about stemming this evil tide overflowing every community, some more than others, for now.

It seems like we can barely catch our breath, holy brethren, between hearing of one horrible and terrible event after the other, or of somebody(s) snapping, losing it, going off the deep end, and doing terrible often senseless things. However, brethren, God forewarned us of all these things. Thank God we have comfort in the Holy Spirit, in us, in the everlasting truth that we are in a kingdom that absolutely can never be shaken; and we are indwelt and held by the unconquerable, immovable mighty hand of the Living God and His Saviour Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, in all these things we shall never be moved: Isa 26:3; Psa 62:6; Jhn 16:33; 2Th 2:2. God will have the last word and we need not fear what is coming:  Rom 8:37

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

So, dearly beloveds here Lord Jesus brings us into the treasury, this is right after He made a scathing condemnation of the scribes for conning poor widows out of their homes, by perverting the Law. One might think after Lord Jesus openly exposed and condemned the scribes, they would be ashamed and stop taking advantage of the poor widows. Nope-look who’s among those in line to offer money in the treasury in the following verses:

Mar 12:41

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

Some, in error, like to interpret this passage to mean that God expects even poor people to give to God. instead, the truth, brothers and sisters, is that widows were to receive a portion of the same tithes offered to the Levitical priesthood, and to be fed by Israel which was always to leave portions of their harvests and all things grown in their fields for the widows among others. When God required everyone to give special offerings, the widows among others were to be donated a portion to offer:  Deu 14:29;  Deu 26:12. 

Jesus had already condemned the scribes for perverting the Law, to steal the widows’ houses; He certainly would not justify them here for continuing to do the same thing concerning the poor widow, who they tricked out of her whole living. There is a reason for the poor widows poverty.

Sat, Oct 9th - 1:50PM

THE REAL JESUS Christ

Mark chapter 12 study

Brothers and sisters, as the Bible declares, the world continues its downward spiral, on a dangerously polluted planet. Pandemics bring mass deaths in the midst of chaos, and financial uncertainty for many. Even those who live comfortably, fear to leave their homes due to increasing crimes of every sort, much, senseless ones. The crowning blow is that what was unacceptable is now acceptable and well defended from those who refuse to accept the unacceptable. Systemic corruption and evil are rampant, while justice seems to be looking the other way. Many yearn for the return of “the good old days”, when the world was sane, clean, calm, safe, with no fears for what the morrow might bring.

Truth be told, dearly beloveds, the world has been spiraling downward since Adam, and is quickening its pace. Were it not for the restraining hand of God Christians would all have long ago been wiped from the face of the earth. How do we feel about all this? Better yet, think about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, how at the beginning of creation how perfect was the world He created, now in His earthly ministry He had to face finding everything He made corrupted. The Levitical ministry defiled, by those God had put in charge of it, and who will not receive, welcome nor esteem Him as the Owner, Redeemer and Authority of all and every soul.

The Bible tells us how Jesus felt, He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief,  Isa 53:3. Why wouldn’t he be, brethren, considering all that He found gone wrong and willfully corrupted by those whom He had made. However, the theme of this chapter is the everlasting truth, that this world is leased not owned by mankind, and that the only true Authority over it is God. Despite the rejection and unbelief, and schemes of God’s enemies to usurp His kingdom, the fact is that by the power of God Almighty’s unbeatable, unconquerable power, Jesus Christ, by His atoning work reigns forever, and it is marvelous in our sight.  

Mark 12:38And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

(Luk 20:46).

The scribes, dearly beloveds, among certain others were appointed by God to teach the people the truth and help them walk correctly before God. Instead, they perverted the Law to harm the people and steal from them, therefore deserving the greater damnation as betrayers of God and deceivers of the people, leading them away from the truth of God.

Lord Jesus will not look the other way. He explicitly calls out the misdeeds of the corrupt scribes. Wow, how corrupt and low the Levitical ministry had fallen! Jesus reveals to us that instead of loving and feeding the people the truth of the Law the scribes instead loved to feed their egos. They loved the luxury of long clothing, and having people look up to them rather than God. They had perverted the Law to where they conned widows out of their homes. According to the Law widows were to be fed and receive a portion of the Levitical tithes for their care, now we see the widows financially striped of what little they had.

The scribes cloaked their cheating of the widows with a mask of false piety in making long prayers.

Even now, brothers and sisters, we must stay on message to the truth of scripture this is the only way for all of us to avoid being taken advantage of by false teachers who are lovers of themselves rather than God.

Col 2:8

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.

Thu, Oct 7th - 8:54AM

THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

Mark chapter 12 study

Holy people, how precious is the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, High Priest, Mediator, and King. What a blessing that we can worship Him together publicly as well as enter into His presence in private communion with our offerings of the sweet perfume of praises and an abundance of love offerings to His holy name.

Let us go on into the study brethren, it is there we will always find the real Jesus Christ in the scriptures correctly interpreted, and let us continually thank God who has made us His temple in which He dwells (1Co 3:16-17).

Jesus takes us into His earthly ministry. His life is harsh, gritty, He has those who love Him, and also many enemies, and much compassion, giving His message to all whether friend or foe. His speaking of His message is not nuanced, not subtle, but explicit, exclusive, exhaustive in its meaning, even explosive and shocking, comforting some and some taking offense.

Mark 12:35And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? 36For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

37David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

The religious rulers weren’t interested in any kingdom but their own. It must not be taken lightly that God is not indifferent to His enemies- those who seek to destroy His kingdom. What Jesus spoke in Mark 12: 9 , reverberates here explicitly. However, excluding the religious leaders, many other persons present understood what Jesus had said and were very pleased by His sayings. We too also have heard the scriptures and gladly receive and understand that the Christ would be to David both Son and Lord. The Son who would inherit and sit on the throne of David his father forever, and Lord to David and all who believed as the Psalmist had prophesied:  

Psa 103:10

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Psa 103:3

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Again, dearly beloveds, let us keep in mind what most of us know that Abraham was never under the Old Covenant:  Rom 4:13

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Knowing, believing, and fully embracing the truth that the New Covenant absolutely means new, let none in error be tempted to rummage through the Mosaic Law seeking to use it to please God, nor to instruct others to walk in it, nor to seek salvation in it:

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Tue, Oct 5th - 12:28AM

THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

Mark chapter 12 study

Brothers and sisters, we who by the mercy of God in sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Saviour, should rejoice continually in the pardon and goodness of God in His unearned, unmerited, unbuyable, unrepayable, absolutely free eternal gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. Let us thank Him that He has made us a part of His forever family. Let us thank Him for the unbreakable fellowship He has given us in Him and one another. Brethren, let us pray for one another and make intercession in prayer for all men, knowing absolutely that no one can pluck us from God’s hand nor anything nor any creature can ever separate us from Him: Jhn 10:28;Rom 8:38-39.

Let us, holy people, continue on in the study in the presence of God led by our Lord Jesus Christ under the teachings of the Holy Spirit to see what God wants to teach us, and to feed our spirits, minds and hearts, for our good and His glory, as the Holy Spirit works transforming us and enabling us to walk as Jesus walked as we gaze steadfastly at His eternal truth.

Again, many know this, dearly beloveds, but let us keep in remembrance, that neither Lord Jesus nor the scribe are addressing the Law of Moses because, again, the Fathers, that is Abraham, and his seed received the promises of the New Covenant from God before the Law of Moses was ever  given and came into effect,( Gal 3:17). The Law of Moses applies to those who came out of Egypt, (Deu 5: 2The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day). Later God put all people under the Law for His purposes, feel free to study this aspect of the Mosaic Law on your own, brethren.

Lord Jesus draws us into the scriptures, He gives us a multifaceted panoramic view of His earthly ministry and the mass corruption and defilement of those who did not believe and taught that their kingdom (of mere men) would come and be established forever instead of adhering to the truth of scripture as it is declared of God thy kingdom come. (Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it).

They had the scriptures just as we do today. There is no excuse for anyone then or ever to unrepentantly turn from it, (Rom 1:20). Wiser men, brothers, and sisters, would say we humans on our own have all but destroyed ourselves and every thing we touch, it is better that we trust in God to rule us for only then shall we and ours surely live.

  Psa 22:28

For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

 Zec 14:9

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one

Psa 45:6

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

Exo 15:18

The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

Still, where there is darkness the light of Lord Jesus Christ is always so much greater, undimmable, shining the light of His everlasting gospel into the hearts of all who will receive and believe it. Jesus shows us this Scribe and the Holy Spirit teaches us that the darkness/corruptness of unbelievers could not dim the faith and hope of this scribe who believed in and waited for the promised Messiah, who would bring forth the desperately awaited Abrahamic promises: Psa 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Jer 31:34

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

What a contrast is this scribe who would not be dissuaded from his faith in the midst of great corruption of the religious rulers of his day: 

Mark 12: 32And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. 

Amen, thank God, hallelujah, brethren! We discern, the One God’s truth just as this Scribe, that the totality of our love in its entirety of every aspect of our being for God and all men is our only true acceptable offering to Him. Whole burnt offerings and sacrifices are worthless to God under this New Covenant. Nothing we give to God that is not given and done out of love for Him is acceptable nor received by Him.

Lord Jesus, saints (G40 hagios), confirms the wise answer of the scribe in His declaration to him that he is absolutely not far from the kingdom of God. The Scribe in trusting God’s word over the word of corrupt men had allowed the scriptures to do its work in Him in preparing him to receive the risen Christ at the appointed time.  1Jo 4:21

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.