Monday, July 21, 2025
Believers are the Salt of the Earth
Salt cures, disinfects, stings in a wound, preserves food and adds flavor in just the right amounts.
Trusting in Christ Instead of People
All we have to do is want Him to do the changing! We are to edify one another not attend churches full of ritual and expectations of others.
Many people who attend formalized hierarchy style "churches" often never grow past infancy in their walk with God because instead of relying on God to grow and change them, they are always looking to emulate people around them.
When we are always looking horizontally for affirmation and acceptance from people we will miss the wonderful lessons God has for us from trusting in Him.
As long as someone seeks to be seen as perfect and accepted by what they perceive as authority, they will never rely solely on Christ. Sadly, people have expectations of us that God never gave and they make rules for others, having never been told by God to make those rules.
We must learn to talk to God as we would a friend standing next to us, only He is inside of us. We must be willing to be corrected by the instruction from God's Word, so we will see the lessons in each circumstance of life.
We need to stop asking God to fulfill us the way we wish and ask Him to bring what is His best for us. I have never learned great lessons when things were easy; the lessons were learned from having to struggle through trials.
I have also never learned by following someone else's idea of spirituality. The times I was pressured to be what others wanted me to be, I only felt stressed, judged, and ultimately rejected when I asked the question, "why", rule makers really hate that question because often their reasons were not Biblical, and a part of them knew it.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 "…20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt, 21 but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil."
Philippians 1:9-10 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, / so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,"
You will not find any scriptures that command us to follow men, or church system.
2 Corinthians 13:5
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?"
Most people will not examine themselves. In my experience, when questioned about their salvation in the mildest terms, they display anger and frustration and usually answer with statements such as; "I go to such and such church." I have a hard time believing anyone who thinks they are a Christian by attending a church gathering knows the gospel and was changed by Christ into a new creation.
The very least that we should hear from a newborn Christian is something like this: "Christ changed me and now I am born again."
God commanded us to challenge those who think they are saved but have no fruit of the Holy Spirit in them.
2 Corinthians 5:6 "5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless you actually fail the test? 6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test."
The test to see if we are in the faith is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is the evidence that Christ lives in us.
James 1:23-24
"For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
1 John 3:24
"Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us."
There are many people who think they are saved by attending a Christian church gathering, but have never been born again.
Matthew 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’"
Don't be the person who spends their entire life in superficial gatherings, trusting in the pastor or others, only to hear at the end of your life, "I never knew you."
Many people who attend formalized hierarchy style "churches" often never grow past infancy in their walk with God because instead of relying on God to grow and change them, they are always looking to emulate people around them.
When we are always looking horizontally for affirmation and acceptance from people we will miss the wonderful lessons God has for us from trusting in Him.
As long as someone seeks to be seen as perfect and accepted by what they perceive as authority, they will never rely solely on Christ. Sadly, people have expectations of us that God never gave and they make rules for others, having never been told by God to make those rules.
We must learn to talk to God as we would a friend standing next to us, only He is inside of us. We must be willing to be corrected by the instruction from God's Word, so we will see the lessons in each circumstance of life.
We need to stop asking God to fulfill us the way we wish and ask Him to bring what is His best for us. I have never learned great lessons when things were easy; the lessons were learned from having to struggle through trials.
I have also never learned by following someone else's idea of spirituality. The times I was pressured to be what others wanted me to be, I only felt stressed, judged, and ultimately rejected when I asked the question, "why", rule makers really hate that question because often their reasons were not Biblical, and a part of them knew it.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 "…20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt, 21 but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil."
Philippians 1:9-10 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, / so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,"
You will not find any scriptures that command us to follow men, or church system.
2 Corinthians 13:5
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?"
Most people will not examine themselves. In my experience, when questioned about their salvation in the mildest terms, they display anger and frustration and usually answer with statements such as; "I go to such and such church." I have a hard time believing anyone who thinks they are a Christian by attending a church gathering knows the gospel and was changed by Christ into a new creation.
The very least that we should hear from a newborn Christian is something like this: "Christ changed me and now I am born again."
God commanded us to challenge those who think they are saved but have no fruit of the Holy Spirit in them.
2 Corinthians 5:6 "5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless you actually fail the test? 6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test."
The test to see if we are in the faith is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is the evidence that Christ lives in us.
James 1:23-24
"For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
1 John 3:24
"Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us."
There are many people who think they are saved by attending a Christian church gathering, but have never been born again.
Matthew 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’"
Don't be the person who spends their entire life in superficial gatherings, trusting in the pastor or others, only to hear at the end of your life, "I never knew you."
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Some People Never Learn or Change, They Need Christ
Until they surrender their heart, mind, and spirit unto the Lordship of Jesus. Then and only then will they see themselves as they really are. And then they will say Lord I surrender All, change me, make me, mold me into the man/woman You See me to be. Until that day of brokenness comes they will be undone, empty, void of being complete In You Jesus.
Evidence and Working of the Holy Spirit
The evidence of the Holy Spirit is in the fruit, which leads to a holy life. The fruits are the character qualities of Christ that can be seen by other believers without evidence of works.
,
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
We know when we meet someone who is loving, kind, joyful, and peaceful, it exudes from them, one can see it but through Spiritual eyes.
Authentically born-again believers can also see with Spiritual eyes when this fruit is absent from someone who claims to be a Christian.
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
The Fruit of the Spirit is listed in Galatians 5:22-23, quoted above.
Love is the first fruit, and it will be easily seen by all, even if unbelievers deny it to avoid facing their own demons. Also, those who want to hate believers will criticize our good deeds and kind acts as rude because of their need to deny what Christ has done in us. They are dedicated to misunderstanding us.
Love is what drives all the other fruits of the Spirit; when that is absent, then so are the rest of the fruits. Unbelievers can fake love to appear spiritual, but the lack of fruit will be evident.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth."
When someone is rude as a lifestyle, regularly demeaning and mocking others, while gossip is a common trait, we know we have met an unbeliever.
We need not worry about evaluating everyone we see to make sure they are telling the truth. We can treat those who claim to be Christians as brothers and sisters until we observe a consistent and continual lack of fruit; then we can share the gospel with them once again. Their reaction to us will give us a clue. All of this must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit and for the good of the person who doesn't realize they may not be saved. We need not decide who is saved or who is not, but when we see the fruit or lack of it, we can do what we are led by the Holy Spirit to do and leave the results to Christ.
Our attitude must always be one of love toward those who are perishing. Love warns people to save them. And, we must have an attitude of love toward believers who might be sinning. The purpose of our interchanges with brothers and sisters in sin must be kindness to bring them back to obedience. We must never go to them in anger to reduce them to rubble to control them. Our job is not to make another person like us or to obey us; we are merely messengers, our goal is the restoration of the one who has sinned.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new [a]creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. it is not love to just hang out being friendly while never speaking boldly to them. That kind of love is selfish love, hoping our friendliness will make them like us.
No one can change themselves into a new creation; only Christ can do that when the person repents, admits their sinful nature, and desires to be changed by Him.
Ephesians 2:9-10 "…9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."
Our purpose in this life is to encourage and edify the believers to be bold for Christ and to lead the unsaved to Christ so that He will change them into a new creation, making them a child of God.
The only way we can be bold for Christ is to lose our obsession with being liked by people. We know some people will become angry when we share the gospel, some will hear and disregard, and some will listen and receive. We do not always get to see the results of our boldness with the gospel, but it is not our job to keep tally; it is our job to obey and share, leaving all the results up to God.
When we take our eyes off the possible reactions of human beings and keep them on Christ, we will be unhindered in our walk and more dependent on the Holy Spirit.
Keep looking up, soon we will be going home, either in death or the rapture.
,
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
We know when we meet someone who is loving, kind, joyful, and peaceful, it exudes from them, one can see it but through Spiritual eyes.
Authentically born-again believers can also see with Spiritual eyes when this fruit is absent from someone who claims to be a Christian.
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
The Fruit of the Spirit is listed in Galatians 5:22-23, quoted above.
Love is the first fruit, and it will be easily seen by all, even if unbelievers deny it to avoid facing their own demons. Also, those who want to hate believers will criticize our good deeds and kind acts as rude because of their need to deny what Christ has done in us. They are dedicated to misunderstanding us.
Love is what drives all the other fruits of the Spirit; when that is absent, then so are the rest of the fruits. Unbelievers can fake love to appear spiritual, but the lack of fruit will be evident.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth."
When someone is rude as a lifestyle, regularly demeaning and mocking others, while gossip is a common trait, we know we have met an unbeliever.
We need not worry about evaluating everyone we see to make sure they are telling the truth. We can treat those who claim to be Christians as brothers and sisters until we observe a consistent and continual lack of fruit; then we can share the gospel with them once again. Their reaction to us will give us a clue. All of this must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit and for the good of the person who doesn't realize they may not be saved. We need not decide who is saved or who is not, but when we see the fruit or lack of it, we can do what we are led by the Holy Spirit to do and leave the results to Christ.
Our attitude must always be one of love toward those who are perishing. Love warns people to save them. And, we must have an attitude of love toward believers who might be sinning. The purpose of our interchanges with brothers and sisters in sin must be kindness to bring them back to obedience. We must never go to them in anger to reduce them to rubble to control them. Our job is not to make another person like us or to obey us; we are merely messengers, our goal is the restoration of the one who has sinned.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new [a]creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. it is not love to just hang out being friendly while never speaking boldly to them. That kind of love is selfish love, hoping our friendliness will make them like us.
No one can change themselves into a new creation; only Christ can do that when the person repents, admits their sinful nature, and desires to be changed by Him.
Ephesians 2:9-10 "…9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."
Our purpose in this life is to encourage and edify the believers to be bold for Christ and to lead the unsaved to Christ so that He will change them into a new creation, making them a child of God.
The only way we can be bold for Christ is to lose our obsession with being liked by people. We know some people will become angry when we share the gospel, some will hear and disregard, and some will listen and receive. We do not always get to see the results of our boldness with the gospel, but it is not our job to keep tally; it is our job to obey and share, leaving all the results up to God.
When we take our eyes off the possible reactions of human beings and keep them on Christ, we will be unhindered in our walk and more dependent on the Holy Spirit.
Keep looking up, soon we will be going home, either in death or the rapture.
Friday, July 18, 2025
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Who are those who never Grow or Change?
"Until they surrender their heart, mind, and spirit unto the Lordship of Jesus. Then and only then will they see themselves as they really are. And then they will say Lord I surrender All, change me, make me, mold me into the man/woman You See me to be. Until that day of brokenness comes they will be undone, empty, void of being complete In You Jesus." Karen Puff Rosenkrantz
Inspect the Fruit do not Judge the Destination
When we have been changed into a new creation by Christ in response to our trusting in Him, our entire way of thinking is changed, which changes our responses to life and obedience to Him.
Those who have no evidence of a changed attitude can pretend through changing how they appear on the outside, but still be full of dead men's bones.
Matthew 23:27 "
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness."
Many people attending church gatherings today have resolved to "do" the right thing in their own flesh, but have not trusted in Christ to change their hearts.
Judas walked with the apostles and with Jesus Christ but the apostles didn't know he was full of dead men's bones, a walking, talking liar from hell.
We can walk with someone all our lives and see no fruit of the Spirit in them, even though they are living humanly righteous lives, impressing many people. Only those who are discerning will see they are false believers, but not perfectly, because we are reluctant to believe they are lost because of what we see on the outside.
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
What is the fruit? Here it is! Not good works but the outcome will be walking in obedience to Christ with good works that He compels us to walk.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
In these last days, it is good to challenge others to evaluate themselves to see if they are in the faith. We need not judge whether or not they are going to heaven or hell, but we can warn them the fruit does not look good.
Those who have no evidence of a changed attitude can pretend through changing how they appear on the outside, but still be full of dead men's bones.
Matthew 23:27 "
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness."
Many people attending church gatherings today have resolved to "do" the right thing in their own flesh, but have not trusted in Christ to change their hearts.
Judas walked with the apostles and with Jesus Christ but the apostles didn't know he was full of dead men's bones, a walking, talking liar from hell.
We can walk with someone all our lives and see no fruit of the Spirit in them, even though they are living humanly righteous lives, impressing many people. Only those who are discerning will see they are false believers, but not perfectly, because we are reluctant to believe they are lost because of what we see on the outside.
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
What is the fruit? Here it is! Not good works but the outcome will be walking in obedience to Christ with good works that He compels us to walk.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
In these last days, it is good to challenge others to evaluate themselves to see if they are in the faith. We need not judge whether or not they are going to heaven or hell, but we can warn them the fruit does not look good.
The Christlike Life is Always Confessing and Being Cleansed
I have met many Christians who love knowing the Bible, but not because they love wisdom. It's because they love the praise of men for knowing it; often, they do not follow what they say they know. They fight against correction according to the word. They even add to and subtract from the Bible to fit what they wish to believe, which elevates themselves. They never listen to rebuke or admonishment to evaluate themselves.
These people say, "We should love others" but lacking humility, they treat certain people as inferior to them as they attempt to appear special. They play favorites to gain followers.
These people violate more of the scripture than they obey when it comes to gossip and false doctrine. They seek to know the Bible to be elevated, not to understand and become wise. Self reflection is not important to them in fact is frightens them. The loss of admiration they think will occur if they admit their flaws and failures prevents them from growing and changing.
These people do not steal, commit adultery or are openly violent, but they are mean and rude as they use covert actions to ruin the reputations of others, flaunt their own perceived talents and personal thoughts that do not come from the Word of God. They quote scriptures out of context, altering God's intended meaning to fit their own desired interpretation.
1 John 3:9 "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God."
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
There are many people within the church gatherings who bring contentions and strife to the lives of others regularly, and are highly pompous and self-exalting. Without love, they attempt to dominate others and judge small matters that are none of their business, nor are they sin.
These people camp on the small matters while neglecting the things that really matter.
Matthew 23:23 "
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others."
Sadly, those who walk a false path interpret matters in terms of their own desired beliefs about others rather than what is true. Their sense of control leads them to find fault where there is no fault. They blame others for their own troubles that they cause.
These are those who would rage and lie against us and blame us for telling them they are raging and lying. We are the bad ones for exposing their sin and the story relayed to others is conveyed that we were the trouble makers.
The world is full of those who care more about being seen as special without the desire to be changed by Christ.
The only way to be changed by Christ is to confess our sins and desire for Him to change us. We ought to be confessing and changing throughout our lives. Seeking Christ in all things is the only way to progress in holiness.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
We do not do any favors to ourselves or others by coddling the sin that dwells in us or them. God's love in us is always looking for improvement and cleansing. If we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will tell the truth with humility and kindness to restore them and ourselves to righteousness.
May we continually be evaluating ourselves, self-reflecting to improve our walk with Christ. Continual cleansing is a blessing and brings greater joy.
These people say, "We should love others" but lacking humility, they treat certain people as inferior to them as they attempt to appear special. They play favorites to gain followers.
These people violate more of the scripture than they obey when it comes to gossip and false doctrine. They seek to know the Bible to be elevated, not to understand and become wise. Self reflection is not important to them in fact is frightens them. The loss of admiration they think will occur if they admit their flaws and failures prevents them from growing and changing.
These people do not steal, commit adultery or are openly violent, but they are mean and rude as they use covert actions to ruin the reputations of others, flaunt their own perceived talents and personal thoughts that do not come from the Word of God. They quote scriptures out of context, altering God's intended meaning to fit their own desired interpretation.
1 John 3:9 "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God."
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
There are many people within the church gatherings who bring contentions and strife to the lives of others regularly, and are highly pompous and self-exalting. Without love, they attempt to dominate others and judge small matters that are none of their business, nor are they sin.
These people camp on the small matters while neglecting the things that really matter.
Matthew 23:23 "
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others."
Sadly, those who walk a false path interpret matters in terms of their own desired beliefs about others rather than what is true. Their sense of control leads them to find fault where there is no fault. They blame others for their own troubles that they cause.
These are those who would rage and lie against us and blame us for telling them they are raging and lying. We are the bad ones for exposing their sin and the story relayed to others is conveyed that we were the trouble makers.
The world is full of those who care more about being seen as special without the desire to be changed by Christ.
The only way to be changed by Christ is to confess our sins and desire for Him to change us. We ought to be confessing and changing throughout our lives. Seeking Christ in all things is the only way to progress in holiness.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
We do not do any favors to ourselves or others by coddling the sin that dwells in us or them. God's love in us is always looking for improvement and cleansing. If we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will tell the truth with humility and kindness to restore them and ourselves to righteousness.
May we continually be evaluating ourselves, self-reflecting to improve our walk with Christ. Continual cleansing is a blessing and brings greater joy.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
They Choose To Believe What They Want
It is amazing how people can deceive themselves by ruminating on something they want to believe in spite of all the evidence presented to them.
We always have a choice to ask God for the truth. Those who do not ask God or ask Him expecting Him to say what they want will not be able to think clearly to hear the truth when it waltzes right in front of them.
The only way to discover the truth is to be willing to ask God and eliminate from our thinking anything that we have heard or was taught that was not truth.
Most people choose to believe what they like or are familiar with rather than the Bible.
In fact most people are so dedicated to their own ideas they interpret the Bible in terms of those ideas instead of believing what God actually said.
Our culture has misinterpreted the Bible in many ways to maintain their comfort level. The truth isn't all that important to them, only that they believe what they want.
Sadly too many decisions to believe what they want are based on the pressure of others in the culture who do not follow the Bible.
Choose any cliche we hear often these days from Christians, and something will be wrong with it. Christians have taken their mantras from the secular community and attempted to make them fit the Bible. It is astounding how many people believe something is Biblical but it is not anywhere in the Bible.
I would be interested in some cliches you have heard that people think are Biblical but are not.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;"
We always have a choice to ask God for the truth. Those who do not ask God or ask Him expecting Him to say what they want will not be able to think clearly to hear the truth when it waltzes right in front of them.
The only way to discover the truth is to be willing to ask God and eliminate from our thinking anything that we have heard or was taught that was not truth.
Most people choose to believe what they like or are familiar with rather than the Bible.
In fact most people are so dedicated to their own ideas they interpret the Bible in terms of those ideas instead of believing what God actually said.
Our culture has misinterpreted the Bible in many ways to maintain their comfort level. The truth isn't all that important to them, only that they believe what they want.
Sadly too many decisions to believe what they want are based on the pressure of others in the culture who do not follow the Bible.
Choose any cliche we hear often these days from Christians, and something will be wrong with it. Christians have taken their mantras from the secular community and attempted to make them fit the Bible. It is astounding how many people believe something is Biblical but it is not anywhere in the Bible.
I would be interested in some cliches you have heard that people think are Biblical but are not.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;"
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Not Total Depravity without a Choice
Unsaved people can genuinely care about others. The rich man in hell was begging God to warn his brothers who had not yet died. There must have been some sense of care for his brothers.
Mankind is desperately wicked, but they are not totally depraved as some would say. If someone were totally deprave, they would not have even a smidgen of caring for anyone.
We were made in the image of God and have many of the inklings of morality and love, even though they have been perverted by the fall of man; they are not completely absent.
Mankind knows right from wrong often, even doing the right things at times. The difference between the believer and the non-believer is that the believer knows how to interpret that sense of right from wrong with the mind of Christ, and the unbeliever relies on themselves to understand.
I have known unsaved people who were deeply loving toward their children, caring about what happens to them. A totally depraved person wouldn't have even a smidge of love for anyone.
I do not believe God made us "totally depraved" without the ability to make choices for good or for evil. He gave us the knowledge of what is good and what is evil; it is our choices about those things that tell us about ourselves.
Genesis 2:17 "But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Before the first couple ate from the tree forbidden to them, they did not know evil. After they partook, they then saw the difference between good and evil, they knew both, and were then required to choose. Mankind chose disobedience to God in the garden, but through the knowledge of Christ can choose Him instead of their own way.
It would make no sense to send someone to hell who didn't know he was sinful. Every human being knows about themselves, but makes a choice to go their own way or to trust in Christ to be changed by Him into a new creation.
We cannot change ourselves, but we can choose who we wish to follow and desire to be changed by Christ.
Mankind is desperately wicked, but they are not totally depraved as some would say. If someone were totally deprave, they would not have even a smidgen of caring for anyone.
We were made in the image of God and have many of the inklings of morality and love, even though they have been perverted by the fall of man; they are not completely absent.
Mankind knows right from wrong often, even doing the right things at times. The difference between the believer and the non-believer is that the believer knows how to interpret that sense of right from wrong with the mind of Christ, and the unbeliever relies on themselves to understand.
I have known unsaved people who were deeply loving toward their children, caring about what happens to them. A totally depraved person wouldn't have even a smidge of love for anyone.
I do not believe God made us "totally depraved" without the ability to make choices for good or for evil. He gave us the knowledge of what is good and what is evil; it is our choices about those things that tell us about ourselves.
Genesis 2:17 "But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Before the first couple ate from the tree forbidden to them, they did not know evil. After they partook, they then saw the difference between good and evil, they knew both, and were then required to choose. Mankind chose disobedience to God in the garden, but through the knowledge of Christ can choose Him instead of their own way.
It would make no sense to send someone to hell who didn't know he was sinful. Every human being knows about themselves, but makes a choice to go their own way or to trust in Christ to be changed by Him into a new creation.
We cannot change ourselves, but we can choose who we wish to follow and desire to be changed by Christ.
Many are Weary but Keep Going Anyway
On another thread, some ladies were lamenting all the things they were seeing in the world today that is evil and frustrating. They described themselves as weary of all of it and I get that. One lady declared that she is going to post less because she was weary of the news. Here was my response to it:
"I don't watch or listen to news, my husband does, and I just ignore it because we are living in the days of great deception; nothing we hear or see can be trusted.
Only Christ and His Word can be trusted. I suggest that you post more things than before, but nothing of the world or politics, or news. Post about Jesus Christ if all you can do is write His Words, He will begin to give you more as you study Him.
I am not weary because I don't focus on the world or the events, I focus on prophecy and Christ, this brings me continual joy."
I am ready to go home because the world has nothing for me here except whatever God wants me to do yet. When my calling is complete, I am ready to go home.
"I don't watch or listen to news, my husband does, and I just ignore it because we are living in the days of great deception; nothing we hear or see can be trusted.
Only Christ and His Word can be trusted. I suggest that you post more things than before, but nothing of the world or politics, or news. Post about Jesus Christ if all you can do is write His Words, He will begin to give you more as you study Him.
I am not weary because I don't focus on the world or the events, I focus on prophecy and Christ, this brings me continual joy."
I am ready to go home because the world has nothing for me here except whatever God wants me to do yet. When my calling is complete, I am ready to go home.
Kind Deeds Done in the Flesh or in the Holy Spirit?
Unbelievers do kind acts to make themselves feel good and often to make someone else appreciate them. These sound like good reasons until we compare them with the principles of Christ.
Born-again believers do good deeds because they know it glorifies God, and because they are the right thing to do for the sake of the others they serve.
There is a significant difference in the motivations between unsaved people and born-again individuals. One is self-focused and self-glorifying, while the other is God-centered and other-centered.
When our focus is Christ and pleasing Him, we will not operate with manipulation and self-pleasure. We will be acutely aware of what pleases God and walk in His principles for His purposes.
And, yes, it is manipulation to do good deeds so that others will like or appreciate us. One woman once told me she did good deeds to someone who was angry at her to heap hot coals of kindness, as though she was the one heaping the coals.
When God said in Romans 12:20 "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.” He was not telling us to do the heaping of coals on purpose to cause guilt in someone else. He was telling us to be what we should be, the loving person directed by God, and that may heap hot coals.
If someone is attempting to heap the coals of guilt on someone, they are operating from the flesh. It is not love; it is to further aggravate a person so they will be frustrated more than they were before. Perhaps the one who continues to aggravate the one ignoring them is really attempting to draw the frustrated one back into more conflict, refusing to allow the other person to be in control of their own life without the narcissist.
Narcissists hate when they have been denied access to those who have been wearied of the foolishness of the narcissist and have walked away in independence of them.
When someone is sending a strong message that they no longer want anything to do with us, we are to give them what they want and leave them alone. Continuing to bother them with greetings and gifts is manipulation to control their reactions.
This is a classic example of how many people twist the scriptures to justify their mean and rude vengeful behavior.
Those who are proud of themselves for "heaping hot coals" are usually the ones who started the whole mess and want it to keep going.
When we have genuine love and kindness toward those who have harmed us we do not do it to manipulate. We do it because it is the right thing to do and out of love. Boasting about heaping hot coals on someone shows an attitude of flippancy and revenge.
Those who want to heap the hot coals for the purpose of self-elevation are operating from a heart of control, the need to be the final word, pretending they are happy while the other person is sad. They have to keep the other person sad continually; this is the objective of those who want to play God and appear to be the innocent party.
I detest this kind of pompous misuse of scripture, and so does God.
May we seek Christ for the proper use of Scripture that we not end up dishonoring HIm through twisted Scripture and wicked actions disguised as kindness.
The more pretenders come into the church gatherings, the worse this problem of Scripture twisting is going to grow. We must know God's Word, pray for wisdom, and model it as led by the Holy Spirit.
Born-again believers do good deeds because they know it glorifies God, and because they are the right thing to do for the sake of the others they serve.
There is a significant difference in the motivations between unsaved people and born-again individuals. One is self-focused and self-glorifying, while the other is God-centered and other-centered.
When our focus is Christ and pleasing Him, we will not operate with manipulation and self-pleasure. We will be acutely aware of what pleases God and walk in His principles for His purposes.
And, yes, it is manipulation to do good deeds so that others will like or appreciate us. One woman once told me she did good deeds to someone who was angry at her to heap hot coals of kindness, as though she was the one heaping the coals.
When God said in Romans 12:20 "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.” He was not telling us to do the heaping of coals on purpose to cause guilt in someone else. He was telling us to be what we should be, the loving person directed by God, and that may heap hot coals.
If someone is attempting to heap the coals of guilt on someone, they are operating from the flesh. It is not love; it is to further aggravate a person so they will be frustrated more than they were before. Perhaps the one who continues to aggravate the one ignoring them is really attempting to draw the frustrated one back into more conflict, refusing to allow the other person to be in control of their own life without the narcissist.
Narcissists hate when they have been denied access to those who have been wearied of the foolishness of the narcissist and have walked away in independence of them.
When someone is sending a strong message that they no longer want anything to do with us, we are to give them what they want and leave them alone. Continuing to bother them with greetings and gifts is manipulation to control their reactions.
This is a classic example of how many people twist the scriptures to justify their mean and rude vengeful behavior.
Those who are proud of themselves for "heaping hot coals" are usually the ones who started the whole mess and want it to keep going.
When we have genuine love and kindness toward those who have harmed us we do not do it to manipulate. We do it because it is the right thing to do and out of love. Boasting about heaping hot coals on someone shows an attitude of flippancy and revenge.
Those who want to heap the hot coals for the purpose of self-elevation are operating from a heart of control, the need to be the final word, pretending they are happy while the other person is sad. They have to keep the other person sad continually; this is the objective of those who want to play God and appear to be the innocent party.
I detest this kind of pompous misuse of scripture, and so does God.
May we seek Christ for the proper use of Scripture that we not end up dishonoring HIm through twisted Scripture and wicked actions disguised as kindness.
The more pretenders come into the church gatherings, the worse this problem of Scripture twisting is going to grow. We must know God's Word, pray for wisdom, and model it as led by the Holy Spirit.
The Error of "Soul Sleep"
For those who believe the souls of the dead remain in their bodies after death, there is this to say:
The bodies of born again believers are in the grave when they die, but their spirits are with God after the death of a born-again believer.
2 Corinthians 5:8 "
"But we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."
When Christ went into Sheol to preach to the dead saints of old, they trusted in Him and He took them out. Their spirits were there but their bodies remained in the grave.
Here's the thing, what about those saints who were burned at the stake, their bodies were ashes and they never ended up in a grave? Or those who traveled across the wilderness, died there, and their bodies went to dust? There is no mandate in the Bible on how to bury a believer in Christ.
God told the rich man in hell that there is a great chasm between hell and those who were in heaven, and no one can cross over.
Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day.
20 And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,
21 and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores.
22 Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried.
23 And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms.
24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house—
28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’
29 But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’
31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
What makes us think the dead who go to hell immediately after death would go to their designated place at death but those who died in Christ would not go to their designated home immediately after death?
The bodies of born again believers are in the grave when they die, but their spirits are with God after the death of a born-again believer.
2 Corinthians 5:8 "
"But we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."
When Christ went into Sheol to preach to the dead saints of old, they trusted in Him and He took them out. Their spirits were there but their bodies remained in the grave.
Here's the thing, what about those saints who were burned at the stake, their bodies were ashes and they never ended up in a grave? Or those who traveled across the wilderness, died there, and their bodies went to dust? There is no mandate in the Bible on how to bury a believer in Christ.
God told the rich man in hell that there is a great chasm between hell and those who were in heaven, and no one can cross over.
Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day.
20 And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,
21 and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores.
22 Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried.
23 And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms.
24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house—
28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’
29 But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’
31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
What makes us think the dead who go to hell immediately after death would go to their designated place at death but those who died in Christ would not go to their designated home immediately after death?
Monday, July 14, 2025
Who is Your Real Family
I had to laugh one day when I was told Facebook relationships were not real friends. I have had deeper and kinder experiences with believers on Facebook than I ever had in person, face to face.
Here is the reason we can develop deeper relationships with those on Facebook than with our families and church attendees: we are able to find those who are like-minded, following the same path we desire to walk, loving the same things we love, and seeking the same things we love.
In families, we have only what was given to us without our choice. We have to struggle to be ourselves in front of people who want us to be just like them. Of course God placed us in families but when we become His child He gives us a new family.
There is a saying, you will know a person by the company they keep. If we think we must remain with family just because they were endowed with the same blood that runs through our bodies, then we miss out on many life experiences that bring wonderful wisdom and human connections for a lifetime and even eternity.
Family tends to want us to think like they do, say what they say, and show approval of many things, even if we do not approve. God was clear that family would be a burden to the born-again believer who has a very different mindset than those who were their childhood companions every day.
Luke 2116 "…15 For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17And you will be hated by everyone because of My name."
The one family member who thought differently from the rest was often rejected, almost an outcast for their dissimilarity. Most people do not like challenges or corrections; they want everyone to be just like them.
There is a sense of failure in those who meet up with someone who is different. For those who are pleased with themselves, they feel a personal attack when someone comes along who is different, even if they merely live their own life differently without talking about it.
I will never forget the story a friend told me about family reaction to a decision she and her husband made that they never spoke of to other family members.
This family decided not to have a television in their home anymore because it was becoming a distraction. They removed their television without telling anyone. One day a family member who came to visit was insulted by the absence of the television, accusing the family of acting superior to the other family members. This family member actually accused them of pride and thinking they were better.
Most of us do not encounter such blatant rudeness over our own personal choices, but some people treat us differently in subtle ways for not endorsing whatever they are doing while taking a different route.
One family I knew chastised a young woman, their daughter and sister, for wanting to go to college. The rest of the family was on welfare, living with shack-up girlfriends while pressuring this young woman to do the same things they did. Even though the young woman wanted something better for her life, her family pressured and disrespected her until she finally gave up and became like them.
I encouraged the young woman to trust in Christ. She didn't at that time, but she was interested in having a different life than her family, however weak and depressed, finally giving in to her family to be accepted by them. That was many years ago, we moved away from the area, and I never found out how it all turned out for her as she became an adult with her own choices.
This is why God told us, as born-again believers, to remove ourselves, becoming separate from our bio-family and the world that tries to hinder us, to embrace our new family, which is the family of Christ.
Here is the reason we can develop deeper relationships with those on Facebook than with our families and church attendees: we are able to find those who are like-minded, following the same path we desire to walk, loving the same things we love, and seeking the same things we love.
In families, we have only what was given to us without our choice. We have to struggle to be ourselves in front of people who want us to be just like them. Of course God placed us in families but when we become His child He gives us a new family.
There is a saying, you will know a person by the company they keep. If we think we must remain with family just because they were endowed with the same blood that runs through our bodies, then we miss out on many life experiences that bring wonderful wisdom and human connections for a lifetime and even eternity.
Family tends to want us to think like they do, say what they say, and show approval of many things, even if we do not approve. God was clear that family would be a burden to the born-again believer who has a very different mindset than those who were their childhood companions every day.
Luke 2116 "…15 For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17And you will be hated by everyone because of My name."
The one family member who thought differently from the rest was often rejected, almost an outcast for their dissimilarity. Most people do not like challenges or corrections; they want everyone to be just like them.
There is a sense of failure in those who meet up with someone who is different. For those who are pleased with themselves, they feel a personal attack when someone comes along who is different, even if they merely live their own life differently without talking about it.
I will never forget the story a friend told me about family reaction to a decision she and her husband made that they never spoke of to other family members.
This family decided not to have a television in their home anymore because it was becoming a distraction. They removed their television without telling anyone. One day a family member who came to visit was insulted by the absence of the television, accusing the family of acting superior to the other family members. This family member actually accused them of pride and thinking they were better.
Most of us do not encounter such blatant rudeness over our own personal choices, but some people treat us differently in subtle ways for not endorsing whatever they are doing while taking a different route.
One family I knew chastised a young woman, their daughter and sister, for wanting to go to college. The rest of the family was on welfare, living with shack-up girlfriends while pressuring this young woman to do the same things they did. Even though the young woman wanted something better for her life, her family pressured and disrespected her until she finally gave up and became like them.
I encouraged the young woman to trust in Christ. She didn't at that time, but she was interested in having a different life than her family, however weak and depressed, finally giving in to her family to be accepted by them. That was many years ago, we moved away from the area, and I never found out how it all turned out for her as she became an adult with her own choices.
This is why God told us, as born-again believers, to remove ourselves, becoming separate from our bio-family and the world that tries to hinder us, to embrace our new family, which is the family of Christ.
Did you know that rudeness and arrogance are sins?
So many people count themselves as innocent because they didn't rob a store or rape anyone. They ruminate on all the stuff they didn't do and neglect to confess the sinful attitudes and arrogant justifications for disrespect, as though they have not sinned.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.
5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,
6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
May the Lord keep us in perfect peace as we seek Him to be changed into His likeness and character.
Here is what love looks like; anything appearing opposite of this description from God's Word is sin.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.
5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,
6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
May the Lord keep us in perfect peace as we seek Him to be changed into His likeness and character.
Intentions Matter
Anyone who comes along with the intention of reminding us of past forgiven sins is being sent by the devil. Ignore them and remove them from your life.
Those who should take center stage in your life are those who are humble enough to realize all have sinned, and when someone has repented, they are forgiven by God and free from the guilt of that sin.
Galatians 6:1-5 "6 Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
The key to a restored life for every sinner is sorrow for sin and a desire to be cleansed of it by Christ in us. Without confession of sin, there can be no cleansing or spiritual and emotional progress.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Those who are hell bent on keeping us in bondage to guilt over past forgiven sins have no place in our lives. And, often those who love to hold others' feet to the fire for past forgiven sins are those who have many unconfessed sinful habits that remain in themselves.
The reason we witness so many Christians who don't seem to grow in maturity in their walk is that they are neglecting humility, which requires acknowledgment of sin that changes our character.
Another reason for the neglect of confession of sin is that many who say they are Christians have never been born again. They have no ability to see the depth of their own sinfulness.
1 John 1:10 "10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
Psalm 32:5
"Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah"
James 5:16
"Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Those who cannot confess their sin against someone else will never confess it to God. Those who only confess it to God but not the one they harmed are not sorry enough to verbalize it to the one they harmed. This person loves only themselves. When we love others, we want to reconcile with them and carry on to a deeper relationship with them.
When a sin against someone is confessed and the offended party forgives, the relationship grows deeper than it was before. This is true of our relationship with God too!
This is why God designed confession and forgiveness as two sides of the same coin; if both are present, the relationship is restored and grows deeper.
Sadly many professing Christians today don't believe that things they say and do are sinful. They justify their sin toward others through their own concocted ideas rather than what really occurred. They make judgments about others based on what they wish to believe about them rather than what has really happened.
This is the nature of gossip, guessing and embellishing things about others that are based on nothing more than the ideas in the head of the one who wishes to harm others. Why do they wish to harm others, many reasons and the biggest one is often jealousy.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.
5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,
6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
When we know what love looks like according to the Bible we will be able to discern what it does not look like.
May authentic believers walk in the love of Christ daily no matter what others are doing and saying.
Those who should take center stage in your life are those who are humble enough to realize all have sinned, and when someone has repented, they are forgiven by God and free from the guilt of that sin.
Galatians 6:1-5 "6 Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another.
5 For each one will bear his own load."
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another.
5 For each one will bear his own load."
The key to a restored life for every sinner is sorrow for sin and a desire to be cleansed of it by Christ in us. Without confession of sin, there can be no cleansing or spiritual and emotional progress.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Those who are hell bent on keeping us in bondage to guilt over past forgiven sins have no place in our lives. And, often those who love to hold others' feet to the fire for past forgiven sins are those who have many unconfessed sinful habits that remain in themselves.
The reason we witness so many Christians who don't seem to grow in maturity in their walk is that they are neglecting humility, which requires acknowledgment of sin that changes our character.
Another reason for the neglect of confession of sin is that many who say they are Christians have never been born again. They have no ability to see the depth of their own sinfulness.
1 John 1:10 "10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
Psalm 32:5
"Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah"
James 5:16
"Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Those who cannot confess their sin against someone else will never confess it to God. Those who only confess it to God but not the one they harmed are not sorry enough to verbalize it to the one they harmed. This person loves only themselves. When we love others, we want to reconcile with them and carry on to a deeper relationship with them.
When a sin against someone is confessed and the offended party forgives, the relationship grows deeper than it was before. This is true of our relationship with God too!
This is why God designed confession and forgiveness as two sides of the same coin; if both are present, the relationship is restored and grows deeper.
Sadly many professing Christians today don't believe that things they say and do are sinful. They justify their sin toward others through their own concocted ideas rather than what really occurred. They make judgments about others based on what they wish to believe about them rather than what has really happened.
This is the nature of gossip, guessing and embellishing things about others that are based on nothing more than the ideas in the head of the one who wishes to harm others. Why do they wish to harm others, many reasons and the biggest one is often jealousy.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.
5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,
6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
When we know what love looks like according to the Bible we will be able to discern what it does not look like.
May authentic believers walk in the love of Christ daily no matter what others are doing and saying.
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