Christianity's Commandments.

Webers_Home · #31 4th July 2009, 11:11 AM

.
112) 1Cor 14:1-2 . . Follow the way of love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

NOTE: Love should be the impetus in any exercise of spiritual gifts; viz: gifts are for the benefit of others rather than one's self.

The Greek word for "desire" in that verse is zeloo (dzay-lo'-o) which is sometimes translated covet in the KJV; e.g. 1Cor 12:30 and 1Cor 14:39. Covetousness per se isn't evil in and of itself. It's what you covet that matters; e.g. another man's wife.

113) 1Cor 14:12 . . Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, seek to excel in gifts that build up the church.

114) 1Cor 14:13 . . Let one who speaks in a foreign language pray that he may interpret.

NOTE: There is nothing intrinsically sinful with praying and/or prophesying in your own native language. At least that way you and everybody else knows what you're saying instead of assaulting their ears with annoying racket. Gifts should be utilized in such a way that your church benefits. If your fellow Christians don't know what you're saying, then nobody, not even you, gets anything out of it.

115) 1Cor 14:20 . . Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be babes, but in your thinking be grown up.

NOTE: Christian infatuated with "tongues" are immature.

116) 1Cor 14:27-28 . . If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two, or at the most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret; but if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

NOTE: Tongue meetings make Christians look like an insane asylum gone amuck; and it makes Christ seem weird too. If Christians the world over would follow just that one directive in regards to tongues, it would put the Charismatics out of business in less than two week-ends.

117) 1Cor 14:29 . .Two, or three, prophets should speak, and everyone else should weigh carefully what is said.

118) 1Cor 14:30-31 . .If a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should pause. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

NOTE: that doesn't mean rank and file Christians have a right to derail a Sunday school class with their wild-eyed epiphanies. The directive is restricted to those who actually have the gift of prophecy rather than the gift of gab. But at the same time, Sunday school shouldn't be a filibuster. If somebody knows something helpful, they should be allowed to share it with the rest so that everybody (including the teacher) benefits from their savvy.

119) 1Cor 14:33-34 . . As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.

NOTE: The "law" to which Paul refers is Gen 3:16 . ."To the woman He said: Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

Women may pray and/or prophesy (1Cor 11:3-10) but they may not lead men in spiritual matters. In other words, if a woman has the gift of tongues and/or the gift of prophecy, she is permitted to exercise those gifts for the church's benefit among the women, but not among the men.

120) 1Cor 14:35 . . If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

NOTE: What's a wife to do if her husband is spiritually inept? Well, have Mr. Inept pass her question on to somebody who knows a thing or two and then get back to her.

121) 1Cor 14:37-38 . . If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

NOTE: wouldn't it be the pits if nobody in your church was spiritually gifted? You'd be like a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there and/or a passenger adrift on the open seas in a sinking ship with no captain, no helmsman, no crew, no chart, no compass, with no means of propulsion and guessing where you were and which way to go.

A good example of those kinds of churches is the one that used to be at Laodicea in Rev 3:14-22. From all appearances, the Laodicean church was a fully-functioning, full-service Christian church but The Lord wasn't even a member, let alone its shepherd. He's depicted outside banging on the door trying to get somebody's attention to let him in. Not even the pastor was right with God. The whole shebang: pastor, deacons, elders, and congregation were spiritually wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, and all the while they thought they were doing just fine!

122) 1Cor 14:39-40 . .Therefore, brethren, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a sensible, orderly fashion.

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #32 5th July 2009, 11:29 AM

.
123) 1Cor 15:33-34 . . Come to your senses and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't have the knowledge of God.

NOTE: Paul's comment is in connection with the Corinthians' ignorance of kindergarten-level stuff; especially the principles of resurrection; which are labeled elsewhere as baby food (Heb 5:11-6:3). People who need baby food are "dull of hearing"

†. 1Cor 3:1-3 . . Brethren, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly— mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

The "some of you" of 1Cor 15:34 probably refers to church managers; viz: pastors, deacons, elders, and Sunday school teachers. It's not that Corinth's rank and file pew warmers were un-teachable, it's just that their instructors were inept. That's still a problem in churches even to this day.

I once attended a Conservative Baptist church here in Oregon where the Sunday school teacher assigned to one of the adult classes was a seminary student. Part of his degree program was to teach a certain number of hours in a real church. Anyway, one morning his text was this: Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16).

Mr. Seminary Student commented that he didn't get up that morning bent upon walking in The Spirit throughout the day primarily because he didn't know how to do it.

Awestruck that my wife and I were being led in Bible study by a man speaking for God who would announce such a thing, I stood up and asked for a show of hands of anyone, or anybody, in the room who was walking in The Spirit that morning. The only response I got in return was a room full of silent, wide-eyed people who looked like a herd of deer caught in head lights. Was that a shame? Yes; doubtless!

124) 1Cor 15:56-58 . .The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is The Law; but thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing discourage you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of The Lord, because you know that your labor in The Lord isn't futile.

NOTE: Though Mother Teresa put up a very convincing front during those five decades of missionary activity in India, her private letters to spiritual counselors reveal that the poor woman was never really sure the God of the Bible even exists; and if He did exist, she was plagued with dread that He didn't particularly like her and might be quite disposed to condemn her to Hell.

I don't think I have to tell you how discouraging that would be to an ordinary person. Had Teresa not been the D-9 Caterpillar tractor that she was, I think the famous nun would have given up in India after only one year. But as anyone who knew her will vouch, Teresa wasn't a quitter; no, she was a little bulldog; and India was her dream job. But bull-doggedness and dream jobs are not what Paul is talking about in 1Cor 15:56-58; no, quite the contrary.

Just imagine if somebody had it in the back of their mind that they might give The Lord quantities of their time, talent, resources, and money in a thankless endeavor only to end up being condemned to Hell in the end. Well, Paul informed the Corinthian believers it would absolutely not happen to them.

No, Christ liberated them from those kinds of anxieties, and because of his crucifixion, their resurrection to a better life was in the bag. With that kind of knowledge bolstering somebody's confidence, they would be more than happy to spend their life repairing and/or cleaning sewer pipes for The Lord at minimum wage because that sewer-pipe Christian is on the same road to glory as the most illustrious super saint you can name. Like we used to say in Federal Civil Service when performing duties as-assigned: "It all pays the same." (cf. Mtt 20:1-16)

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #33 6th July 2009, 05:36 PM

.
125) 1Cor 16:1-3 . . Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.

NOTE: That particular directive impacts Jewish Christians. I think most Gentiles forget that Christianity originated with Jews and was propagated by Jews; ergo: Gentiles owe their salvation not to the Arabs; but to Yhvh's people.

†. John 4:22 . .You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is of the Jews.

†. Rom 15:25-28 . . Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

It would be interesting to take a poll among America's churches just to see, out of curiosity, how many have a program for assisting the State of Israel's Christian Jews; or any country's Christian Jews for that matter.

This is not something to be taken lightly. According to Mtt 25:31-46 the eternal fate of numbers of Tribulation survivors will be determined solely on the basis of their indifference to the plight of Jesus' Jewish countrymen during the antichrist's administration.

126) 1Cor 16:13a . . Be on your guard

NOTE: What's the fastest way sink a church into the abyss of liberalism? Easy: just let the pastor and his congregation be naïve, be gullible, be indifferent, be passive; and not bother to take Paul seriously. It's just a matter of time before their church will be just like the one at Laodicea.

127) 1Cor 16:13b . . Stand firm in the faith

128) 1Cor 16:13c . . Be men of courage; be strong.

129) 1Cor 16:14 . . Do everything in love.

NOTE: In order to protect their church from liberalism, believers simply have to be somewhat firm, assertive, and confrontational when the situation calls for it. If you're not sure how to do this in love, then take some time to study 1Cor 13:1-8 with a commentary and/or read How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

130) 1 Cor 16:15-18 . .You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

NOTE: In the days before the proliferation of hotels and motels like Best Western, Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson, Motel 6, Sheraton, Travelodge, Hyatt, Marriott, etc, missionaries like Paul and his associates depended pretty heavily upon the hospitality of local believers for accommodations and daily necessities. In some third-world countries, they still do.

Believers do well to follow the examples of Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus either by opening their homes to missionaries or by funding their stay in a motel. You can usually arrange this through your local church. Believers who do so "deserve recognition." That doesn’t mean they should demand recognition, but there is coming a day of evaluation for believers when they'll be fully compensated (1Cor 3:10-15).

131) 1Cor 16:20 . . Greet one another with a holy kiss.

NOTE: Kissing was a common form of greeting in the old world; and still is in the MidEast and certain parts of Europe; but here in America— a super-sized racial/cultural amalgam of customs from all over the known universe —it's wise to dispense your kisses with discretion. Some of us don't even like to be hugged, let alone bussed. A cordial nod or handshake is just as good.

The people to whom Paul referred as "one another" are fellow believers. Nobody is required to kiss unbelievers. You can be courteous to them, yes; but reserve your especially warm greetings for your siblings; viz: those who share your adoption and your confidence as per Rom 8:15-17. Remember how Joseph favored his kid brother Benjamin in the book of Genesis? That's what I'm talking about.

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #34 7th July 2009, 06:19 PM

.
132) 1Cor 16:22 . . If anyone does not love The Lord, that person is cursed.

NOTE: Ironically, there are Christians who do not believe their own beliefs. You see, if they did, then they would have no problem whatsoever in applying that law to unbelievers like Michael Jackson.

Christians of integrity should be able to look an unbeliever right in the eye— even unbelievers who are their friends and neighbors —and say, clearly and without ambiguity: "According to my religion; you are cursed."

Does a Muslim have to be a terrorist to be cursed? No; they only have to be a Muslim; same goes for Atheists, Nonreligious, Baha'i, Buddhists, Chinese Universalists, Confucianists, Jains, Kabbalah, Shintoists, Spiritists, Taoists, Zoroastrians, Jews, Mormons, Sikhs, and Hindus— they're all cursed.

How many people am I talking about? Well, according to the 2009 World Almanac, as of mid 2007, worldwide there were 7,697,000 Baha'i, 385,609,000 Buddhists, 385,621,500 Chinese Universalists, 6,444,300 Confucianists, 875,726,000 Hindus, 5,264,500 Jains, 14,956,000 Jews, 13,000,000 Mormons, 1,387,454,500 Muslims, 2,801,400 Shintoists, 22,927,500 Sikhs, 13,508,600 Spiritists, 3,404,200 Taoists, 180,800 Zoroastrians, 776,826,000 Nonreligious, and 153,465,000 Atheists.

The grand total for just the non Christian groups in that list (sans Kabbalah) is 4,054,886,300. The population of the world in 2007 was approximately 6.6 billion people. Those 4,054,886,300 people represented roughly 61% of the world; and that's not even counting all the Christians who are Christians in name only. It's my guess that the tares easily outnumber the wheat.

†. Mtt 7:22-23 . . Many will say to me in that day; Lord, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them; I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

That passage doesn't target the groups I listed above. No, it targets people calling Jesus Lord and Master, people professing to have done many wonderful works in Christ's name; viz: it targets Christians— and not just your average rank and file pew warmers, no, but rather, it targets outstanding Christians like Mother Teresa: the cream of the crop; the celebrities of the Christian world; renowned for their accomplishments, their piety, and their dedication. It is to many of them that Jesus will say; "I never knew you."

"If anyone does not love The Lord" would, of necessity, include people calling themselves Xians who are not complying with his wishes.

†. 1John 14:15 . . If you love me, keep my commandments.

†. John 14:21 . .Whoever has my commands and obeys them, is the one who loves me.

†. John 14:23 . . If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.

†. John 14:24 . . He who doesn't love me won't obey my teaching.

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #35 9th July 2009, 01:37 AM

.
133) 2Cor 2:5-10 . . If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent-not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

NOTE: The cause for Paul writing that section was somebody in the Corinthian church who was sleeping with his father's wife; apparently the man's step mother (1Cor 5:1). Modern ultra-pious Christians who pride themselves in opposing any and all forms of judging others would have said nothing to the man. But Paul commanded the Corinthians to expel him.

Some time had passed since then, and the man was apparently regretting his actions, and broken it off with his step mother, so it was time to let him back into the group. No doubt the humiliation of it all had a tremendous impact upon his attitude— probably upon the group too because at first their attitude wasn't all that good about it either.

134) 2Cor 2:9-11 . . If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven— if there was anything to forgive —I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

NOTE: Well, one of Satan's schemes is to create disharmony in church groups. Sure enough when that happens— as when one portion of the group believes in judging and discipline and the other doesn't —people start taking sides and the group will end up divided into cliques and factions; and according to the lord and master of New Testament Christianity, a house divided against itself cannot stand.

135) 2Cor 5:20 . . We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

NOTE: Why would Paul urge the church at Corinth to be reconciled to God if they were already saved and on their way to Heaven? Because it is God's wish that His own walk with Him while they're waiting for their departure; and the Corinthians were not doing very well at it.

†. 1John 1:5-6 . . This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

You know who John wrote that to? To unbelievers? No, to people who were already in possession of eternal life even before his letter arrived.

†. 1John 5:13 . . I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

God urged Abraham to be reconciled to him too.

†. Gen 17:1. . And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Yhvh appeared to Abram, and said unto him: I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

The prodigal son of Luke 15:11-24 is a good example of a son of the father who's far from him. Yes, God's own children are oftentimes off in the far country and need to come back home. It's ironic that a fully functioning Christian church like the one at Corinth was in need of reconciliation with God (cf. Rev 3:14-22). How many Christian churches are just like that today? They pride themselves in being followers of Christ, yet in their attitudes and practices, those churches are miles away from him.

136) 2Cor 6:1-2 . . As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain; for He says: In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

NOTE: The life of salvation doesn't stop when people become born-again believers as per John 3:3-11. No, they still have to finish out their earthly lives down here and it is God's wish to have a role.

†. John 15:16 . .You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that won't spoil.

†. Eph 2:10 . . For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works

I don't know how many times in the Psalms that David praised God for His providence. The cross opens to the door to providence. Yes, the cross is sufficient to get people into Heaven, but living life down here sans providence is not God's idea of an abundant life.

†. John 15:1-7 . . I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardene. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

. . I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Nobody really wants to be a yard-debris Christian, but that's what happens when they go off and walk on their own instead of walking with God.

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #36 10th July 2009, 12:00 AM

.
137) 2Cor 6:14-18 . . Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?

. . For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

NOTE: that commandment clearly forbids intermarriage between ideologies. Christians simply do not have permission to marry Atheists, Hindus, Mormons, Jews, Jains, Muslims, Agnostics, Buddhists, Baha'i, Shintoists, Sikhs, Taoists, etc. I would take that even a step further and highly recommend that Catholics not marry Protestants for the simple reason that a house divided against itself isn't united.

There's no reason to believe the commandment doesn't apply to business partnerships and politics too. So then, I would have to say that Vice President Joseph Biden, a Catholic, should not be teamed with Mr. Barack Hussein Obama; a Protestant. The two ideologies don't mix any more readily than oil and water.

However, if neither partner, whether in business, politics, or love; permits themselves to be guided by the morals and ethics of their religion of choice; then it doesn't really matter anyway. They're no different than pagans.

†. 1 Sam 15:23 . . For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

138) 2Cor 7:1 . . Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of deference to God's wishes.

NOTE: It's a pretty rare politician who defers to God's wishes. Actually, it's a pretty unusual pew warmer too. And how many good men have sold their souls for sex; like sheep to the slaughter? right from the very beginning.

†. Gen 6:1-2 . . And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Every last one of those blended marriages perished in the Flood— children and all.

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #37 11th July 2009, 01:01 AM

.
139) 2Cor 8:11-15 . . For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

NOTE: That directive is an excellent passage for debunking the so-called Faith Promise; which is a scheme for coercing church members to pledge money they don't have while hoping God's providence will somehow provide it; but that is not Paul's wish. He says to give out of what you already have, not what you don't have.

140) 2 Cor 9:6-8 . .Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

NOTE: There is a spirit that we all display at one time or another, and it's a spirit that we all benefit from. It shows itself often out in public like when we hold the door open for strangers, pick up an item someone dropped, let someone blend in ahead of us in heavy traffic, or help out with disaster relief. It's the spirit of altruism. That is: we do things for people not because we owe them anything, nor even because they deserve it. In fact they might be total strangers, and totally undeserving. But we are often kind towards others simply because we just want to do something nice for somebody.

Well, the spirits of charity and altruism are squashed when we lay a guilt trip on people or pressure them to believe they have an obligation to help out. Those are not cheerful givers, no, those are half-hearted, grudging givers and it does not please God one single bit when people give out of those kinds of motives. Nor does it please God when people hold back. God's people are not expected to give till it hurts; however; when they're miserly tight-wads, He notices.

141) 2Cor 10:7 . . If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reconsider that we belong to Christ just as much as he.

NOTE: It's amazing that any Christian's ego would be so inflated as to think themselves holier than an apostle, however, there are some people out there with a pretty strong sense of self worth who are up to it. I can just hear the sneer in their voices as they think to themselves: What's so special about him? He puts his pants on one leg at a time just like everybody else. You know what that's all about? It's about rivalry; one of the most destructive human passions there is. Rivalry got Abel murdered, and it was rivalry that got Christ crucified.

142) 2Cor 10:10-11 . . For some say: His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing. Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

NOTE: I once met a Hollywood steady-cam operator who worked on one of Michael Jackson's music videos. He told me that Jackson was somewhat retiring, shy, and quiet when he was off duty; but put him in front of a camera and he transformed into the overwhelming dynamo with whom we are all so familiar. Well, Paul may have been affable in society, but give him a pulpit and he would suck the life right out of your assumed piousity.

143) 2Cor 10:17-18 . . But, let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

NOTE: It's unfortunate that Jesus' people have reached the point where the only Bible teachers they will listen to anymore are those with a resumé of accolades like doctorate degrees, books published, and positions held; as if any of that eo ipso validates their usefulness to God's purposes. Have his people forgotten that some of the apostles were uneducated blue-collar workers, and that prophets like Amos were men of no reputation whatsoever?

†. 1Cor 1:26-29 . . Brethren, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things— and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.

Jesus himself was a carpenter, which was a craft considered at the poverty level in those days.

†. John 7:14-15 . . Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying: How does this man know letters, having never studied?

Peter was a fishermen; another profession that required no education.

†. Acts 4:13 . . Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with divinity school. I'm just saying that graduation from one doesn't eo ipso recommend somebody's spiritual competence (cf. 1Cor 12:11).

For example: I worked as a professional welder for 40 years. I spent hours of time in school preparing for my trade, including industrial electricity, welding equipment trouble shooting and repair, shop mathematics, and metallurgy. But very little of that impressed prospective employers. Before I was allowed to do any X-ray work, they tested me— not on paper, but in a dirty, smoky, noisy booth with real metals and real welding processes.

And let me tell you something; not everyone can do X-ray welding no matter how many hours of education they have under their belts. Some of the men who worked alongside me were rough, tough, crude, lewd bags of pre-chewed food dudes who maybe couldn't do algebra; but they were very competent at building ships, airplanes, pipe lines, refineries, nuclear power plants, dams, and off-shore oil drilling platforms. (cf. 1Tim 3:1-13)

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #38 11th July 2009, 10:37 PM

.
144) 2Cor 13:5 . . Examine yourselves, whether you're in the faith; test your own selves. Don't you know of your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you're all reprobates?

NOTE: Groups tend to grade themselves on a curve, utilizing proprietary standards. I don't think that's what Paul was recommending because it's quite possible to be judged a saint to a group while judged a devil to God.

†. 1Cor 4:2-5 . . It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

The Greek word for reprobates is adokimos (ad-ok'-ee-mos) which simply means: unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication, worthless

Paul isn't talking about salvation in 2Cor 13:5. No, absolutely not. One's safety from the wrath of God doesn't depend upon whether they're approved.

†. Eph 2:8-9 . . God spared you by His benevolence when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gratuity from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

†. Titus 3:5 . . Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he spared us

However, God has things for saved people to do while they live out the remainder of their lives down here on planet earth.

†. Eph 2:10 . . For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God thought out in advance for us to do.

So then, Paul is talking about a believer's usefulness to Christ.

†. John 15:16 . .You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that won't spoil.

Reprobate Christians are yard debris; which in the days before strict air quality controls, was tossed in a pile and torched.

†. John 15:1-7 . . I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardene. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

. . I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Well, one thing you could never say about Paul (though some tried) that he was yard debris. No, Mr. Paul was very fruitful; but he had some serious doubts about the Corinthians; and no wonder. They were about as dedicated to Christ as the local Elks Club. If you haven't guessed it by now, the Corinthian Christians are the New Testament's prime example of a very carnal congregation of believers. Carnal Christians are worldly; and pert near secular in their conduct.

†. 1Cor 3:1-3 . . And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #39 13th July 2009, 01:00 AM

.
145) Gal 1:8-9 . . But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

NOTE: I commented on that particular directive once already in msg #34 and I sure wish more Christians had the backbone to comply with it. They say silence is golden; yes, but sometimes it's yellow too— know what I mean?

146) Gal 5:1 . . Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

NOTE: The "yoke of bondage" about which Paul commanded is Moses' covenanted law. If that is one's chosen means for obtaining Heaven; I can easily guarantee they will not make it.

†. Rom 4:13-16 . . It was not through commandments that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live by commandments are heirs, then faith has no value and the promise is worthless because law brings retribution. But where there are no commandments; there is no transgression of commandments. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace, and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring— not only to those who are of the law; but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham.

†. Gal 5:4 . . For if you are trying to make yourselves righteous with God by keeping commandments, then you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's kindness and generosity.

†. Gal 2:21 . . I am not one of those who treats the kindness of God as meaningless. For if we could be spared by keeping commandments, then there was no need for Christ to die.

†. Gal 3:10-11 . . For as many as are of the works of the commandmens are under the curse: for it is written: Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of The Law to do them. But that no man is innocent by the commandments in the sight of God, it is evident

†. Gal 3:21-22 . . If the commandments could have given us new life, then we could have been made right with God by obeying them. But the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God's promise is to rely upon Jesus Christ.

†. Rom 3:20-24 . .Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing commandments; rather, through commandments we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from commandments, has been made known, to which Judaism and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are pronounced innocent free of charge by his kindness and generosity through the ransom that came by Christ Jesus.

Does this mean then that Christians are at liberty to be scofflaws? God forbid!

†. 1John 3:4 . .Whosoever commits sin transgresses the commandments: for sin is transgression of the commandments.

†. Rom 3:30-31 . . Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

†. Rom 6:15 . .What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? God forbid!

†. Rom 7:7 . . Are the commandments sinful? Certainly not!

†. Rom 7:12 . . The law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

†. Rom 6:12-14 . . Let not sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

†. Rom 6:19 . . For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

All I'm saying is; while it is righteous for a Christian to comply with Moses' commandments, it is thoroughly unrighteous for a Christian to adopt them as a means of obtaining Heaven.

C.L.I.F.F.
/

Webers_Home · #40 13th July 2009, 11:38 AM

.
147) Gal 5:2-3 . . Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

NOTE: The circumcision he's talking about isn't the common kind, but the ritual kind where a man converts to Judaism.

That's not only a fatal error, it's not even sensible; for if the Jews themselves have been trying, and failing, for centuries to comply with Moses' covenanted law, what hope does a new convert have of success? None.

And worse, ritual circumcision obligates a convert to comply with the Aaronic qorbonot system— a system that requires the services of a Levitical priesthood, a Temple, and an Altar. Well; Judaism hasn't had a Temple or an Altar or a Levitical priesthood since 70AD so it is impossible to comply with that portion of Judaism right now.

But even if everything were set in place, and up and running with a fully functioning priesthood; there's nothing in the Aaronic catalogue for removing the guilt of deliberate sins; which may be defined as proceeding to do something forbidden in the full knowledge that what you are about to do is wrong.

†. Num 15:27-31 . . In case it is an individual who has sinned unwittingly, he shall offer a she-goat in its first year as a sin offering. The priest shall make expiation before the Lord on behalf of the person who erred, for he sinned unwittingly, making such expiation for him that he may be forgiven. For the citizen among the Israelites and for the stranger who resides among them—you shall have one ritual for everyone who acts in error.

. . But the person, be he citizen or stranger, who acts defiantly reviles the Lord; that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has spurned the word of the Lord and violated his commandments, that person shall be cut off— he bears his guilt.

For example; Jews know lies are wrong, yet they keep on telling lies anyway don't they? Yes, of course they do; and each time they tell a lie, they are doing something they know very well is wrong; ergo: they are committing deliberate sins for which there are no atonements in the Aaronic catalogue.

†. Heb 10:26 . . If we (Hebrews) deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left

So then, since there are no Aaronic atonements to cover deliberate sins, then Jews who commit them incur a perpetual curse upon themselves.

†. Deut 27:26 . . Cursed be he who will not uphold the terms of this Law and observe them.

†. Jer 11:3-4 . . And say unto them: Thus testifies Yhvh, God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeys not the words of this covenant, which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt,

†. Gal 3:10 . . For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written: Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

There is not one single ritual or sacrifice in the Aaronic system for removing that curse; and that is what every man who converts to Judaism incurs upon himself the instant he crosses over; and he will also put himself at-risk of the awful calamities listed in Deut 28:15-68. Don't do it!

A better priesthood than Aaron's is Melchizedek's; a priest who lived in Abraham's day prior to the birth of Levi, Moses, and Aaron; and subsequently prior to the Aaronic priesthood (Gen 14:17-20).

Aaron's priesthood— along with its attendant retinue of under-priests —is the priesthood for people whose plan of salvation includes the commandments. In contrast, Melchizedek's priesthood had no connection to the commandments whatsoever; therefore, his constituents (which included Abraham) were not required to obey the commandments because they didn't become law till a few hundred years later (Gal 3:17). So then it was, and still is, impossible for a Melchizedekian priest's constituents to be cursed for breaking Moses' commandments.

†. Rom 4:15 . . Where no commandments exist; there is no transgression.

†. Rom 5:13 . . Until the commandments, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

What does this mean in practical terms?

Jesus is clearly stated to be a priest whose order is patterned after Melchizedek's.

†. Heb 5:4-6 . . So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to him, "Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee" and also "Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

†. Heb 7:11 . . Now if perfection was through the Aaronic priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the commandments), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

The answer to that question is quite simple. No flesh will be made righteous in God's sight by keeping Moses' commandments simply because no flesh can obey them consistently. Therefore, Melchizedek's priesthood is mankind's only hope of escape from retribution.

†. Heb 5:8-10 . . He became, to all those who heed him, the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

†. Heb 6:19-20 . .This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

ergo: Christians trying to earn salvation points via Moses' commandments, are mixed up with the wrong priesthood because Melchizedek's order doesn't mediate for people whose religion's plan of salvation includes Moses' commandments. They are inadvertently relying upon the now-obsolete Aaronic order rather than Melchizedek's; viz: Jesus is of no practical use to them whatsoever; and they are in very grave danger of the wrath of God.

†. Acts 13:38-41 . . Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him, all that believe are innocent of all the things from which you could not be innocent by the law of Moses.

. . Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets: Behold, you scorners, be amazed and vanish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall absolutely not trust, though one of your own peers thoroughly narrates it to you.

Where are the scorners of the past? They're gone; just like Michael Jackson is gone. As I recently watched some of his old music videos like Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, Dirty Dianna, Smooth Criminal, Leave Me Alone, Black Or White, and Scream, I was in awe of Michael's imagination, his creativity, his talent, his voice, his energy, his music, his lyrics, his choreography, and his innovative dance steps; but at the same time, I became sick to my stomach with nostalgia realizing that his era represented a stage of my own life that will never be repeated; and one day, I too, along with today's batch of modern scorners, will vanish as he did.

†. Jas 4:14-15 . .You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Poor Michael. He was all set for a 50-concert performance in London when without warning, on June 25, 2009; his ambitions were all put on terminal hold forever.

†. Ps 146:4 . . When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

C.L.I.F.F.
/