Tag Archives: glen-jackman

Discernment and Thinking, Forgiveness Frees Us To Love

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

On the 7th-day Sabbath when Jesus entered into the synagogue, he acted on the opportunity he had there, of doing some good toward the people whom he came to redeem. It was providential that He would practice what He preached confirming legal truth with a miracle of grace: “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:12)

The patient’s hand was withered, disabling him from doing craftsmen’s work to earn a living. Today at a civic level we understand the value of assisting a man with charity when truly in need.

shutterstock_98508314

Those present were unkind, downright merciless to the disabled man, likewise to Christ the Great Physician. The design: if Christ cured him now on the sabbath day, they would accuse him as a Sabbath breaker. This is about as unreasonable as to oppose a medic, physician or surgeon while helping some accident victim – or anybody in physical misery, where you can offer them healing in the body.

By a word, Christ asked the man to stand forth (v. 3). How much of an effect did this have on the audience I wonder? Perhaps now the spectators seeing the state of the man, will be moved with compassion avoiding shamefacedness while calling his cure a crime. Appealing to their own consciences, one might allow God’s Spirit to move. All witnessing could reckon with the truth of the matter.

The law of Christ speaks itself, resounding the New Covenant by echoing the divine principles given through Moses, by the Rock that followed Him. The lawmaker spoke. Jesus asked a question that would penetrate to the motive of  their selfish disapproval to the core, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.” (Mark 3:4) The contrast is clear in the question implying: “is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, as I design to do, or to do evil, as you design to do? What is better, to save a life or to kill a man?”

Our main takeaway is that we need to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our heart via our conscience to see and acknowledge the designs of mercy that the Father puts in place for His spiritually or physically disabled children who turn to trust Him and acknowledge the Son of God’s ongoing work on earth. And He has common grace for all men including the many refugees in crisis today.

Church Assembly, Holy Spirit

Fellow citizens with God

“In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22 ESV)

The simplicity of this verse alerts and encourages every Christian that we have the presence of the living God with us. Let us reawaken to the reality of our placement in the church of Christ on earth.

The body of believers, the church, has been joined together and continues to grow in Grace together. Each part of the building, each believer, fits perfectly into the building, all the pieces being aligned with the cornerstone, Jesus Christ.

The building’s purpose is also described: it is a holy temple for the Lord. The church becomes a holy temple because of the presence of the holy God. The word used for “temple” here refers to what was the inner sanctuary (the Most Holy Place) in the Jewish Temple. The union of God with people, and the unity of previously alienated people with one another, could only occur through Christ: “all things were created through him and for him” – all creative powers and energy and mind flow “from him and through him and to him…to him be glory forever” (Colossians 1:16; Romans 11:36)

Being part of the universal church of believers (aside from doctrine or creed), I am part of this temple wherein God dwells via His Spirit. All believers are “members of the household of God”. Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us yield to the Holy Spirit as the great unifier of His people as we praise and worship Him daily for all of His benefits. We are indwelt by the Living God!

“For through him we all have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Vss 18-19)

Uncategorized

Biblical Principles oppose Moral Relativism

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 NIV)

In our current culture, we have seen a huge shift away from biblical values – a shift which we are witnessing as the laws of the land rapidly change in Canada and the USA, as determined by the courts making decisions based on relativism offering more choices to groups who demand change. Often these changes begin in the USA and are soon seen in Canada.

The definition of a Relativist: Someone who holds that nothing is simply good, but only good for someone or from a distinct point of view, holds a relativist view of goodness. Concise Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy

In the early days of the church after Christ was resurrected, Peter declared to the spiritual leaders “We must obey God rather than men” despite strict orders from the Jewish Council. They said, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (vs. 39)

I began reading the late Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer in the late 70s and found his Christian philosophy encouraging. History is repeating itself as Francis A. Schaeffer contended. We are moving deeper into biblical lawlessness. Philosophy has separated the influence of divine revelation, as found in the Bible, from man-made relativism. Schaeffer used Raphael’s painting of “The School of Athens” (c. 1510), a copy of which hangs in my home, to illustrate the separation.

School of Athens
Symbolically the painting depicts two viewpoints, one looking upward toward God, the other viewing the lower academic sources as guidance developed by man. In Europe, this gravitation toward one or the other direction took divergent paths – the Reformation (God) and the Renaissance (man). Schaeffer traced moral relativism back to the Roman Empire. Pilate caved into the Jewish leaders when they accused Pilate of not being a friend of Caesar. Of the Christians Schaeffer wrote:

They worshiped Jesus as God, and they worshiped the infinite-personal God only. The Caesars would not tolerate this worshiping of the one God only. It was counted as treason. Thus, their worship became a threat to the unity of the state during the third century and during the reign of Diocletian (284– 305), when people of the higher classes began to become Christians in larger numbers. 1

We see this occurring in society now when Christian views are advocated, if they either are opposing or disagreeing with the choices of any relative practice of a group condoned by the courts and widely popular with the masses.

As Christians, we need to be cautious not to be seduced into the world’s viewpoint which is a distinctly opposite philosophy of life. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition” (Colossians 2:8) Behind the worldview lies a philosophy contrary to the laws of God and Jesus Christ.

The Loss of Christian Principles
Christian principles are based on laws which are based on the love of God. We have seen many of them ruined, as the courts have now taken away the collective inalienable right to the freedoms the people have had. The court’s rulings bypass any legislative basis of wider representation of the people. In the courts and in North America, the once cherished principles are evidently lost perhaps forever in many areas, replaced by these:

  • Prayerlessness in the public schools
  • Abortion
  • Gay marriage
  • Assisted suicide

The above stated new rights are based on the deceptive principles of the world and are not biblical. Isn’t it hypocritical that the US courts disallow prayer in the school when the founding fathers’ reverent practice of opening Congress with prayer is still carried on with a presiding Christian minister?

Here is a quote from an academic address to American students. You will see that religion is viewed as unacademic, despite the fact that the many great universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in England began as Christian schools with a theological Christian focus.

This is an American public school, and American public schools were created to make better Americans. If you wish to affirm an ethnic, racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity, race and non-American nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America, one of its three central values — E pluribus unum, “from many, one.” And this school will be guided by America ‘s values. This includes all after-school clubs. I will not authorize clubs that divide students based on any identities. This includes race, language, religion, sexual orientation or whatever else may become in vogue in a society divided by political correctness. 2

Apostle Paul noted regarding those not led by the Spirit of God: “When we were children, we were slaves to the principles of this world” (Galatians 4:3) Peter warned that that this conflict will continue: “Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute” (2 Peter 2:2) Peter warns of the impending judgement of God based on rampant lawlessness:

“…if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. (2 Peter 2:6-10 NIV)

In Sodom before this judgement, sexual immorality abounded. “Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion”. (Jude 1:7) The lawless townsmen thought they could knock down Lots’ door to bring his guests out to gang rape (sodomize) them in the town square. Does this sound like something you might hear in the news today? The judgment began right there. The angels confronted them. They were all blinded, and the angels led Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah before the rain of fire that destroyed the towns. Jesus warned us that just before His second advent the state of man’s lawlessness will be similar:

“Just as it happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17: 29-29)

Schaeffer contended that Christians are to blame for not speaking up when the issues were developing. This may or may not be true in part. What is true today, is that all Christians need to be aware of relative humanism as the most profound catalyst in a society moving man to the Final Judgement, which will occur at the second advent of Jesus Christ in power and great glory.

We are witnessing more animosity from the relativists. Jesus warned of this: “Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.” (John 15:19-21 NLT) The apostle Paul’s warning makes sense today: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy…”

1 Schaeffer, Francis A. How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture (Crossway)

2 A Speech every American High School Principal should give. (Dennis Prager)

Uncategorized

Why love often misses the mark

“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”  (Matthew 24:12 ESV)

Jesus taught that just prior to His return as judge over mankind in power and great glory with all His angels, that every form of law based on the Word of God would be abandoned. (see Matthew ch. 24)

This would result in a breakdown of love in the framework of relationships, the most important being marriage, within the family. This shift in viewpoint in law has to do with the shift in Biblical values occurring in the world. Erich Fromm explains in the Art of Loving that our viewpoint of loving others is directly related to our view of Loving God:

“the disintegration of the love of God has reached the same proportions as the disintegration of the love of man.” 1

Family is the one place where we can learn to love and grow, according to the principles of faith.

Fromm further points out that there “is a regression to an idolatrous concept of God, and a transformation of the love of God into a relationship fitting an alienated character structure.” An an idolatrous concept of God is easy to see in the world we live in. Witness the movies centering on hero worship and those based on Mythology such as Thor. Disney has made the myth its primary income model. They have purchased Marvel and Star Wars – the last movie The Force Awakens has earned well over 1 billion dollars in the first week, setting a record at the box office.

As people do not understand nor have Biblical principles or faith, they become anxious, finding themselves without an aim except the one to move ahead without principles or filters as to what they hold as life-shaping values and purpose. Fromm, one of the world’s renowned psychologists indicates a problem with personal growth without faith in God.

“they continue to remain children, to hope for father or mother to come to their help when help is needed.” 1

It is very important that husband and wife work together to raise the consciousness of the need to follow the Lord, and the need to refer to His Bible daily to be led by the insight and power of the Holy Spirit. Joshua made it clear that a choice must be made at all costs if he was to lead the families of Israel into the promised land:

“if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 15:15 ESV)

1 Fromm, Erich (The Art of Loving) Open Road Media.

See The importance of who we marry

Discernment and Thinking, Holy Spirit, Wisdom & Knowledge

Only the Holy Spirt teaches the Wisdom of God

“no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit” (1 Cor 2:11-13 ESV)

We will be looking at scripture written by the apostle Paul. I had the privilege of tracking his journey in Greece. I spent two days in Corinth photographing the old ruins of the ancient city. I met other Christians on a similar journey at the inn where I was staying. One thing all Christians have in common is the ability to perceive that Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and earth. They also understand that they have come into a universal family of God that joins them via His Spirit and the Bible.

Corinth-Greeceb - smallweb

The gospel—God’s wisdom—is foolishness to those that do not have the Holy Spirit. “Where is the one who is wise?” and further  “Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Cor 1: 20 ESV)

Here the apostle Paul is simply saying that without the Holy Spirit a man cannot perceive wisdom or guidance for the scriptures:

“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe…but we preach Christ crucified…to those who are called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men”. (1 Cor 1: 21-25 ESV)

The gospel message, by its very simplicity, appears foolish to those who think themselves wise by human standards. Paul was a brilliant scholar. He could have overwhelmed his audiences with arguments, statistics, and brilliant ideas. Though he may have risen in intellectual assent on the stage, he would not be motivating saving faith.

Faith that depends on clever arguments and debate will eventually be undermined if another logical argument or more influential teacher comes along. Faith grounded in the power of the Holy Spirit, however, cannot be undermined. The simple message of Jesus Christ, who had been crucified for the world’s sins is a simple, direct message that moves men’s hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit (2:4).

Preachers and teachers of the Word of God do not depend on using wise and persuasive writing or preaching to change people’s hearts. That happens only by the work of the Holy Spirit. The power of a person’s conversion occurs not because of any teacher or the preacher but through the Holy Spirit when the hearer allows Christ into His mind via the Holy Spirit by opening up ones’ heart to God’s transforming power.

A simple message dependent upon the Holy Spirit’s power for its effectiveness is what helps people see their own sinfulness, rebellion and stubbornness when standing against or ignoring the guidance of God via the Holy Spirit about His Son’s death on the cross to engage a process of reconciliation.

There are many brands of human wisdom in the world which distract from the core message to simply trust the power of God for our salvation. The Gospel message of Christ is not like teaching philosophy, not dependent on models of behaviour or demographic scores of what nationality or US state is the happiest, social media algorithms, marketing metrics, scientific theory or debating speculative notions, for these never saved anyone. The kind of wisdom that belongs to this world offers nothing. It only offers  “a regression to an idolatrous concept of God, and a transformation of the love of God into a relationship fitting an alienated character structure”. Thus, the teacher of God’s wisdom, unlike worldly wisdom is not taught in order to impress anyone.

Because of the Holy Spirit’s guidance, believers can grasp this secret wisdom of God, referring to God’s offer of salvation to all people made available through Jesus’ death on the cross. This plan was “secret” because only through God’s wisdom and the insight given by his Spirit can people begin to comprehend it. Attempting to understand this plan with human wisdom and through philosophical discussions will take people nowhere. Only God, through the Holy Spirit, can reveal it (2:10).

“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:13-14)

You may ask who is the Holy Spirit? God is three persons in one—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God became a man in Jesus so that Jesus could die for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead to offer salvation to all people through spiritual renewal and rebirth. When Jesus ascended into heaven, his physical presence left the earth, but he promised to send the Holy Spirit so that his spiritual presence would still be among mankind (see Luke 24:49). The Holy Spirit first became available to the disciples after the Resurrection on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

Only the Spirit can reveal to believers God’s profound nature and wonderful plan, especially that formerly hidden mystery that is now revealed—salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Just as a person cannot penetrate another person’s thought processes, so “no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit” (2 Cor 2:11) The only way to know God is to know his Holy Spirit, to have him in one’s life. The only way to obtain the Holy Spirit is to accept, by faith, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The Holy Spirit is a distinct person, yet one in essence and function with God the Father.

 

 

Decision Making and Guidance, Discernment and Thinking, Spirit Led Leadership Today

The importance of who we marry

“…swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” (Genesis 24:1-9 ESV)

The story of Isaac and Rebekah
This is the story of a man seeking a bride for his son after his beloved mother Sarah had died. The story begins when Isaac’s father Abraham instructs his trusted servant to find a wife for his son, not from the inhabitants of Canaan where they lived, but from his native land, from people he knew were living closer to his God. This was so important to Abraham that he had his servant swear on it.

Abraham had been promised major blessings by God if he led his children also to walk with God and serve Him. This blessing was to be for all his children for all future generations. Bottom line, Abraham must “command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD”. He must also position future generations to follow the Lord.

“Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18: 18-19 ESV)

Abraham wants to make sure that he is arranging success for his son Isaac according to the promise of the Lord – and this includes future generations. We can see two important tactics that can lead to better futures for our children:

1. Protecting their Social Life That they are not allowed to mix socially with or marry those who do not follow the Lord – who have entirely the opposite interests and friends, and
2. Marry in the Lord The apostle Paul’s advice to marry “only in the Lord”— is counsel that should govern the conduct of all Christians (see 1 Cor. 7:39) and it not to be fluffed off when faced with social decisions. Parents are to govern the social connections of the children, especially regarding marriage.

The Bible teaches that Christian children need some guidance by their fathers to find a godly woman or man suitable to develop a future life with, where their children will also be taught to follow the Lord as fist priority. Future generations and their children will also be taught to follow the Lord as fist priority. Husbands and wives must collaborate to lead the family for Christ.

What if they children do not follow this counsel? Perhaps the children rebelled, or there was not Christian leadership agreement in their home when growing up. If they have married outside of the Lord, the hope now would be that both the husband and the wife (the children once married) both find and renew a relationship with the Lord and His Word. God’s love is patient and cannot be exhausted. “The Lord…is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

Abraham’s concern for God’s promise for Isaac and his children  All children born into Christian homes have a higher purpose when they are born. The narrative moves to God allowing Sarah to become pregnant after being without child into her old age.

“Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.” (Genesis 21:1-3 NIV)

Often, no explanation is given as to why God commands certain ways of living, but there is a principle that we reap what we sow. The seeds that we sow or allow to be sown into our children’s’ lives will eventually be harvested. In fact reaping is a farming law: we reap the same that we sow, more than we sow, later than we sow. If our children are exposed to others who drink unto drunkenness, share pornography (a pandemic among teenagers), have friends who commit adultery, or who disdain Christianity, it follows that this is the crop that you will see harvested in your own children’s lives. I can’t emphasize this biblical principle more: Whatever we sow we’ll reap, what we sow, more than we sow, later than we sow. We have the privilege to water and plant and God causes the increase (1 Cor 3:6-9).  And if we don’t water and plant good seed, nothing good grows.

Abraham’s desire that Isaac inter-marry with a woman who was not native to Canaan where he lived appears to be a further expression of the notion of the two lines of blessing and curse seen in Genesis 9:25–27: “Cursed be Canaan!” but “Blessed be the LORD the God…” Truly the downside of not following Jesus Christ as Lord is the final curse of eternal death. The blessing is eternal life as Jesus promised: ““I am telling you the truth: those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me, have eternal life. They will not be judged, but have already passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24 GNT) The inhabitants of Canaan were considered to be under a divine curse for their sinful lives (see Genesis 15:16). The seed of Abraham was to be kept separate from the seed of Canaan.

The servant in search for Isaac’s bride The account of the servants success was accomplished because he achieved finding Rebekah as a wife for Isaac prayerfully by faith. The lesson here is that if our intent is to follow God’s will and marry in the faith of Jesus Christ God will lead the way until it is achieved to His glory. The servant of Abraham had success by faith and praised God for finding Rebekah for Isaac. “Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out…”

“When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,” and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master’s son.’ “Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’” (Genesis 24:42-45 ESV)

God understands everything to do with love and how it is only able to be nurtured in full in the context of loving God first. (see The Manifesto of God’s Love)

Love & Grace, New Covenant

Loving your Muslim neighbour

There has been a lot of hatred and fear expressed toward Muslims since the Paris attacks reminding the world all too clearly of the twin towers on 9/11. The rhetoric goes something like this: “I’d bomb the hell out of them and take their oil.” Donald Trump

For a minute, at least, I confess that I too thought as I am sure many did, “yeah, that makes total sense Donald”. Then I was convicted by the Spirit of our Lord Jesus with these words, “love your enemies” (see the beatitudes in Matthew ch. 5). I still complained, “How could this be Lord? They are killing Christians, beheading them. What will this world be like for my grandchildren?”

I woke the following morning with a totally revised viewpoint. I realized I must blog this and clear out my mind, allow Jesus to entirely renew my viewpoint. My cousin John, a teacher who taught and speaks often of a wonderful Muslim girl now a young woman. He always took the Lord’s own viewpoint, as did his father regarding racism and the love of God for all. 1

I need to discipline myself to love others, and not base my viewpoint on fear. Rather I need to reach out to share the good news of Jesus, as we see in this video posted on Facebook by my Christian friends. This Muslim woman accepted Jesus on the premise of his view on loving all men. It added the much-needed dimension as I write now. Wow, I hope you can see the truth that fear destroys peace, and just creates confusion in our lives. Love is the answer. 2

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

 1 John, my much-loved cousin who always visited my mother over the years, though he may not profess Jesus, advocates for loving all men by quoting the scriptures of Jesus to me. Thanks, John. I am grateful.

2 See also; The Manifesto of God’s Love 

Atonement of Christ, Love & Grace, New Covenant, Salvation

Grace: The Motivation for Accepting Jesus

“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.” (Rom. 3:25 NIV)

In God’s great exchange, God charged our sin to Christ and credited Christ’s righteousness to us. This swap is referred to as Justification – meaning that in our standing before God by faith in Christ, we are righteous in His sight – the opposite state of being condemned for our sin.

To begin to understand the love that God has for sinners, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son. The boy went from home and lived a wasted life full of sin. The father, when he saw his son heading towards home ran and fell on his neck and kissed him, and further demanded a feast be prepared for his lost son now returned. This represented the love that the father in heaven has for each person who has gone their own way of the world.

We are no more righteous in our daily experience than Christ was sinful in His daily experience. When we trust in Jesus by faith, God regards us as entirely righteous. How can this be? God the Father credits the righteousness of Christ to us as we put our trust by faith in Jesus.

Looking at this personally: He died on the cross for you just as if you’d never sinned. Justification by faith in Christ offers us this exchange.  Here’s how it works. When God charges our sins to Christ, they are no longer ours. He has removed them from us “as far as the east is from the west” (see Psalm 103: 12) and remembers them no more (see Hebrews 8: 12).

The penalty for our sin was paid at the cross, and this is actualized by our acceptance of this gift – by our faith when we say “Father in Heaven, I believe, and I accept your gift of forgiveness of sin for me – I am grateful for what my Lord Jesus did for me on the cross”.

There is a sense of guilt for sin once we see the aim of the gospel – that it  is the good news of God’s plan our reconciliation and salvation from the curse of sin. By faith, I see that my sin is indeed covered by accepting Christ’s gift offered to me. Theologically Christ is our substitutionary ransom. Others may term his death as “propitiatory”. Propitious means bringing a favourable result by Christ’s atonement for our sin. In a nutshell, we are saved from the wrath of God towards the ungodly which will occur at the last Judgment. We are now saved by faith when we put our trust in Jesus Christ. We are now actually accounted as righteous and reconciled through Christ as a son or daughter of God.

Individually, a divine transaction occurs – I exchange my sin, for the gift of Christ’s righteousness offered to all men at the cross – men and women who accept this gift of grace. Two points are important to understand.

  1. God is infinitely holy. Grace and forgiveness are inaccessible without Christ.  Without Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross, we can never approach God as our Father in heaven. God is holy and hates the sin that has become a part of mankind. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (see Rom. 3:23) Our Lord’s Prayer alludes to His holiness: “Our Father in Heaven…Hallowed be thy name.”
  2. God alone is the source of righteousness. By our accepting the gift of Christ’s lived-out righteousness by faith, God’s justice is satisfied. His penalty for sin – death – was exhausted on His Son at the cross. Christ’s death achieved reconciliation for all who call upon Him. The faith of Jesus attributes to you. This viewpoint that God takes of you, though a sinner, as righteous in Christ, is now accessible to you once you confess your sin and accept His gift of salvation.

We stand before Him just as if we’d never sinned, and just as if we’d always obeyed. What Jesus was in His life, we are in our standing before God because Jesus was our representative in both His life and death. His righteousness is imputed to us – viewed by the Father as own our own righteousness. This justification was offered by the death of Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38-39 NIV)

Apostle Paul’s view was that by faith “I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Phil. 3: 8b-9 ESV) It’s very clear: “through faith in Christ” we are gifted “the righteousness from God that depends on faith”.

The idea of Christ as our representative man when incarnated, which Paul makes clear is indeed an offer to be viewed by God, no longer as a sinner, but as a righteous person in good standing with Him. Thus we can approach a holy God daily by faith. For years, the church has found the study of Righteousness by Faith an encouraging topic. Note how Paul denoted Christ as a man, a representative man. This is very important to see. Adam, our forefather was our first representative man, representing sin and unrighteousness for the human race when he disobeyed God. Adams death passed unto all men.

Comparatively, Jesus represents us as forgiven for our sins, and righteous by faith in Him, as our last representative man. The new life we find in Jesus Christ passes unto all men who are saved by faith.

“As by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5: 19 ESV)

The first many who were made sinners refers to the entire human race (except, of course, Jesus). The second many refers to all who are united to Christ by faith. Paul is not teaching a universal salvation of all humankind.

Let me illustrate. I know men who work hard at their physical jobs – they can get sweaty with grimy hands and clothes. They shower before dining with their family or play with their children or hug their wife. They don’t just put on clean clothes first! God does this to you. He washes you clean in the blood of His Son and then He clothes you in His perfect righteousness. The old hymn expresses the trust we have in Jesus. “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.” His love activates our love. 

Essentially love for Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sin offered to us, is the primary motivation for accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to a righteous life in Christ, and His love and the power of the Holy Spirit lead us in our quest for holiness.

Other related reading: The Manifesto of God’s Love

Uncategorized

God’s Herbal Gift of Healing: The Cancer Cure Coverup

Recently I had the opportunity to view Ty Bollinger’s series on The Truth About Cancer. I was shocked to find out how many cures for cancer there are, and how the medical systems in North America lobby to make it difficult for doctors pioneering in this field, if they are using natural healing methods. You may or may not know that the large pharmaceutical companies together are a multi-billion dollar collaborative movement that control cancer treatment to secure their own profitability at the expense of our health.

Millions of dollars are spent monthly lobbying heads of government bodies. They have a revolving door with the government health agencies, legal bodies such as the FDA in the USA, and with our medical practitioners. Big Parma as they are nefariously termed, are constantly setting appointments to sit before our doctors, including oncologists who specialize in governing the protocol to administer chemo and radiation therapies.

In my mind, we should be free to try these natural and alternative cures without being blocked by the interests of Big Pharma. I want to take a moment to share a couple of episodes via YouTube.

The Bible makes frequent reference to the plant/vegetable kingdom. Our blessed Saviour drew beautiful illustrations from plants. For example, he calls upon us to consider the lilies of the field. Plants, like the other works of our Creator, are worthy of study when we view them in connection with Scripture.

The cures for cancer often utilize a mixture of herbs, as well as curative strategies which are much safer than chemotherapy or radiation, which harm the immune system – weakening our own bodies healing system. Here are two of the videos. If you have a problem viewing them let me know.

Episode 1: The True History of Chemotherapy & Big Pharma

Episode 2: Cancer Facts and Fictions, Breast Cancer, Hormones, Skin Cancer & Essential Oils

A list of the plants mentioned in the Bible:

All of these trees, plants and herbs are mentioned in the Bible.

ALMOND-TREE (Amygdalus communis; Prunus amygdalus)
BOX-TREE (Boxus sempervirens)
BAY-TREE (Laurus nobilis)
CEDAR-TREE OF LEBANON (Cedrus Libani)
HEATH-TREE—SAVIN (Juniperus Sabina)
CINNAMON-TREE AND CASSIA-TREE (Cinnamomum zeylanicum; and C. Cassia)
FIR-TREE (Cupressus sempervirens)
FIG-TREE (Ficus Carica)
HYSSOP (Capparis spinosa; Caper plant and its variety, Capparis ægyptiaca)
ASPEN, OR TREMBLING POPLAR (Populus tremula)
OAK-TREE (Quercus Ægilops)
MUSTARD-TREE (Salvadora persica; Sinapis nigra)
MYRTLE-TREE (Myrtus communis)
OLIVE-TREE (Olea europæa)
OIL-TREE (Elæagnus angustifolia)
PALM-TREE (Phœnix dactylifera)
POMEGRANATE-TREE (Punica Granatum)
SHITTAH-TREE (Acacia Seyal)
SYCOMORE-TREE (Ficus sycomorus)
TEIL-TREE, OR TEREBINTH-TREE (Pistacia Terebinthus)
HUSK-TREE (Ceratonia Siliqua)
PLANE-TREE (Platanus orientalis)
NUTS (Juglans regia; Pistacia vera)
VINE (Vitis vinifera)
WILLOW-TREE (Salix babylonica)
CAMPHIRE (Lawsonia inermis)
ALMUG OR ALGUM TREE (Santalum album; Pterocarpus santalinus)
ALOES-TREE, OR LION-ALOES TREE (Aquilaria Agallochum)
ASH-TREE
EBONY-TREE (Diospyros ebenus)
JUNIPER-BUSH (Genista monosperma)
POPLAR (Populus alba)
MYRRH-TREE (Balsamodendron Myrrha)
ESHEL (Tamarix orientalis)
THYINE-WOOD (Xylon thyinum)
APPLE-TREE (Pyrus malus)
THORNS AND BRIERS AND BRAMBLES
LOT, OR LADANUM (Cistus creticus)
STACTE (Nataf)
PINE-TREE (Tidhar)
ANISE OR DILL (Peucedanum graveolens; Anethon)
BEANS (Vicia faba; Pol; Cyamos; Faba vulgaris)
SWEET CANE (Andropogon calamus-aromaticus)
CORIANDER (Coriandrum sativum)
CORN
CUMMIN (Cuminum cyminum)
FITCHES (Nigella sativa)
FLAX (Linum usitatissimum)
FRANKINCENSE (Boswellia thurifera)
GALBANUM (Polylophium officinale)
WILD GOURD (Citrullus colocynthis)
HEMP (Cannabis sativa)
SAFFRON (Crocus sativus)
LENTILES (Ervum lens)
RUE (Ruta graveolens)
MINT (Mentha sylvestris)
ROSE (Narcissus taxetta)
MILLET (Panicum miliaceum)
TARES (Lolium temulentum)
LILY—OLD TESTAMENT (Nymphæa lotus)
LILY—NEW TESTAMENT (Anemone coronaria)
MELON (Cucumis melo)
NETTLE (Urtica urens)
GARLIC (Allium sativum)
GRASS
LEEK (Allium porrum)
ONION (Allium cepa)
WHEAT (Triticum sativum; var. compositum)
SPELT (Triticum spelta)
BARLEY (Hordeum distichon)
COCKLE (Baoshah)
GOURD (Ricinus communis; Cucurbita pepo)
CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus)
BULRUSH AND RUSH (Papyrus antiquorum)
SPIKENARD (Nardostachys jatamansi)
COTTON (Gossypium herbaceum)
REED (Arundo donax)
FLAG (Cyperus esculentus)
DOVE’S DUNG (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
MANDRAKE (Atropa mandragora; Mandragora officinalis)
THISTLE (Tribulus terrestris)
HEMLOCK
WORMWOOD
BITTER HERBS

Cited from: Balfour, J. H. (1885). The Plants of the Bible (pp. vii–viii). London; Edinburgh; New York: T. Nelson and Sons.