Forgiveness Under What Conditions?

We do not forgive for our own sake! But for the sake of the sinning Brother!

We do not forgive until there is repentance. Christ does not forgive those who are not, and we are not to do so either. 

Our world has taught us to forgive even if someone else is not sorry and continues to sin.  That is not Biblical, I see no scripture that states this, “for our own sake.”

When we forgive before a person is ready to be sorry, then we short circuit God's provision for brokenness over sin. 

One cannot be changed until they can agree and confess that they have sinned.  When we do not require confession of sin, we leave an unrepentant person comfortable with sinning, believing that he can sin all he wants and nothing will be required of him. 

He doesn't change under this dilution. Relationships cannot be restored until there is sorrow over sin.  The purpose of confession and repentance is to rebuild a broken bridge.  If only half the bridge is built, forgiveness, then there cannot be a restored relationship, half of the bridge is missing. 

We are called to bless those who curse us, but we are also told to shun those who claim to be believers but will not confess their sin. 

The purpose of shunning is to show a person their sinfulness to bring them to repentance.  There is a important process laid out in God's Word that restores relationships, if that process is not followed, then we go around God's way of discipline for restoration, to the human method of helping others to continue in their sin.

Matthew 18:15-17

¹⁵ “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’^[a] 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

Galatians 6:1

“6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

Titus 3:10-11

^“10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

2 Thessalonians 3:15

^“15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

1 Timothy 5:20

“20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”

Romans 16:17

“17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”

Titus 1:9

^“9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14

^“14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”

The Light of Christ Dwells in Believers

Darkness is nothing, it is merely the absence of light. We can measure light, but darkness cannot be measured, because it is nothing. Light is what exposes what is in the darkness.

Those who are not born again, and die in that condition, having rejected Christ will live in eternal darkness.

Notice that we are gloomier on days that are gray and overcast, when we are in sadness. Notice too that we are happier, on days that are bright and sunny, the light and warmth of the sun, brings us out of our sadness. We were created to enjoy light.

Christ is the light of the world and when we are in Christ, when He has changed us into a new creation and dwells in us, then the darkness of the world cannot take away our joy. The Light of Christ lives in us.

Those who do not have Christ are often manipulated by the dark and gloomy weather, as though it controls them. Their sadness is deeper and even overpowering, because there is no light in them to overpower the darkness of the world.

Remembering that darkness is merely the absence of light helps us to see that we have no power against the darkness when we are in a lost state. It is Christ in believers who have power over the darkness, to continue on in faith and hope when the light is gone in the world, we have the Light of Christ, that dwells in us.

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."

1 John 1:7 “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

If we have trusted Christ we are His light.

Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that 2 they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

We can sense the darkness in another soul, since the Light of Christ is dwelling in us, The Light of Christ exposes the darkness.

There is a spiritual darkness that looms over those who do not know Christ, it is evident to those with discernment, those who walk in the Light of Christ. Often we have a sense of foreboding when in the presence of the unsaved. We don’t always know what we are sensing, but the darkness in them is evidenced by the Light in believers.

This knowledge and sense of darkness should lead us to witness to those who are in darkness and on their way to hell. Knowing what is looming ahead for them,. if they do not trust Christ, should motivate us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He gives clear direction to share the good news.

Prayer Works?

In these last days of apostasy, I am hearing non-believers express that prayer is just speaking into the air, what you want, and the words cause things to happen. It is a new age teaching that our words have power.

This is the reason I don't like the phrase, often used by Christians, "prayer works." 

When I hear phrases like this I go back to the word to see if there is any validity to them.  And, sometimes I look at who is using these phrases.

When the secular world, who do not love Christ, are using the same phrases  that believers use, I get concerned that the words that are spoken were so generic that even the secular world can be happy with them.

We live in an age when the theology in the churches has been so diluted to placate the non-believer, that it lacks the power of Christ to convict or train properly.

Pagan religions can live with the phrase "prayer works."  Even the secular schools are teaching children to just speak something and that alone can make it happen. If the children can have a positive attitude, they can get anything they want.

Words do not have power, they are just words.  We can say anything we like, but if we do not put feet to our words, they are meaningless.  As believers our words have no power, it is only Christ Who has the power to hear our words and answer our requests, according to His will.

The "Power of Positive Thinking" is a book written by Norman Vincent Peale, an heretic that believed in  the power of ones own mind to make things happen.  It is the worship of self, in the worse way. 

When we like to think all we have to do is say something, and it comes true, we are indulging in Shamanism and other forms of paganism. 

If satan can get us to believe we are the power over our own destiny through our words, then he has created an idol in our mind. 

God is not a puppet, prayer is not the vehicle through which we command God, and it matters very much who we pray too. Praying into the air is nothing, praying to ourselves is nothing and praying to false gods is nothing. 

Prayer only works if we pray to the One True God, and if what we pray is in His Will. And so we should be saying instead, "God works when we pray, but only if we pray in His Will, and, the only way to know His Will is to read His Word."

James 4:3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

To believe in positive confession is a form of divination. We must evaluate everything we say and especially anything that is popular, very likely brings wrong thinking.

Luke 6:46 ""Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"

1 Corinthians 10:14 "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."

Calvin was an Heretic!

I spoke to a very nice lady this last week who mentioned that she went to church a few miles up the road from us, in the hills.

I thought it might be good to go and sit in the back. Perhaps, it might be a church that we could attend on a regular basis.

The first ten minutes of the sermon was all about John Calvin, all his virtues and the books he has written. In those ten minutes Christ was not mentioned, only Calvin.

I reasoned that there would be no excuse for me to sit through this foolishness one minute longer. I knew which way it was all going to go when the writer, former Catholic and Christian killer, Calvin, was the main event. I got up, slipped out quietly, again, left with the belief that there is no church in this area that has not been corrupted by this nonsense.

Calvin did not die on the cross for my sins, he even persecuted true believers for their faith. I am astonished at so many people who ignore the fact that Calvin murdered God's people. He left the Catholic church only to take many of it's doctrines with him. Infant baptism being one of the them, that is practiced in the Catholic church. Calvin was an heretic, that resisted the truths of God in favor of his own opinions and those doctrines that he loved in the Catholic church.

When will be stop upholding men and uphold Christ only? Calvinism is a part of the deception and catalysts, moving us toward the last days one world religion. It is a return to Catholicism. Why can those who claim to be believers not see this?

The god of Calvin is not the God of the Bible. It is a false god, whose character does not match with the character of Christ.

The devil is very cleaver, he got the believers out of the Catholic church for centuries, and now has deceived many believers, to return to a form of Catholicism through the teachings of Calvin. 

It is only a matter of time that future generations will return to Catholicism, through the common denominator, Calvin, in both organizations, the Catholic church and the Reform movement of the Protestant church.

Calvin loved Augustine, a Catholic bishop who murdered believers. Augustine was full fledged Catholic, sold out completely to his church. Many of Calvin's writings were praise for Augustine.

Many people in the "Reform" church love Calvin and Augustine. These are huge red flags. If anyone wants to heed this warning and research the lives of these Catholic patriarchs, they should read writings that are not praising them, but looking at their doctrines critically.

The writings we see in the Reform movement do not look at the evil side of Calvin, but they pick and choose those things they like and hide the things that should be exposed.

It is my belief, based on what I have seen for myself, that Calvinism is a doctrine embraced by those who desire to be intellectually superior to others. There is arrogance associated with this movement.

May the Lord open the eyes of those who want to know the truth. The next time anyone is tempted to follow a man, perhaps they should remember Who died for them, Christ Jesus!

Obligatory Gifts Do Not Please God

Another facebook friend today posted a comment that she was watching the movie "Fireproof." I liked that movie for a number of reasons, but what struck me most was, that husband attempts to do what he should in his fleshly in an obligatory fashion, he brings dead looking flowers. After he has repented and really wants to please his wife, the next flowers he brings are lush and beautiful. His gift each time reflected his inner heart.

I see this in the account of Cain and Able too, the gift reflects the real us. When we give a gift because we are expected to, it is dead and lifeless, lacking luster and grace.

When we give a gift from the depth of love that is in our heart, the gift will reflect that.

It isn't about the size of the gift or its expense that can be seen, it is the love with which it is presented. Those who give obligatory gifts to be able to say they did it, will not leave the residue of godly kindness and love.

I would rather not receive a gift if it is going to be because someone felt obligated. God is like that too. The Catholic "holy day of obligation", which they call their Sunday's and other designated holy days, is an abomination to God.

Jeremiah 29:13
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart."

When we love the Lord, our desires will line up with His will. God does not give us desires that do not honor Him, nor does He just give us what we want. God is more concerned with our holiness than our happiness.

He often gives us things we do not deserve to show us His kindness toward us. However, He will not give us what we want if it is going to conflict with His Will.

If we are delighted in Him, then we will want His perfect will, our desires will be godly ones, not superficial things as though we are children just wanting our toys.

We forget that, often I beg God for something I want, even things that seem to be good and right, but God does not always give them to me, because His plan is different from my desires.

We have to trust Him for each day, knowing He will give us our needs, but not always our wants. Sometimes, in this prosperous country we forget what real needs are and think that wants are needs. Many things that are available to us are not needs.

Perhaps if we praise the Lord everyday for what He has already given us, we won't have time to whine about what we think we want and don't have.

James 4:3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

May our gifts to God be a broken and contrite heart desiring to be changed by Him, happy at whatever He decides to give us. He already have us the greatest gift any one can, that of eternal life at no cost to ourselves except to receive it.

Ephesians 2:8
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"

Only Christ Can Take Away Sin

The penalty for sin was death, we all deserve that. The only solution to our dilemma was that a perfect Sacrifice take that penalty for us. There was only one perfect Lamb that could be offered and that was Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

He is the perfect Lamb of God.

John 1:29
"29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Christ takes away the sin in us, not our human effort, on any level, not before salvation and not after it.

To think that we, the wicked and sinful people that we are, could keep salvation after we become born again, through our own human efforts is nothing less than silliness.

If our dying could not wipe away our sin what makes us think that not dying, but merely human effort could? A sinful creature cannot take away his own sinfulness.

Isaiah 64:6
"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

When we become born again our spirit is changed into a new creation, but we still reside in this body of death. We have to continually prayerfully fight against the flesh, asking God to continue to cleanse us until He takes us home.

Romans 7:24
"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?"

1 John 1:10 (Written to Believers) "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Those who think they can walk in perfection after they have been born again, lack faith in what Christ told us. The more they try to be good in their flesh the further from the Lord they will become. Arrogance reigns in their hearts, humility cannot reside in the same body with arrogance.

It is Christ Who offered himself, no human being could do what He did.

God Hates Holy Days of OBLIGATION

There is a vast difference between doing something to please God or doing the same thing to glorify self.

Two people can do the exact same activity, one will be pleasing to God and the other will not.

This was the case of the account of Cain and Able.

Hebrews 11:4 "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh."

Cain did his sacrifice to God in a minimal way, His desire to was do his obligation, while Able wanted to please God.

Romans 8:7 "because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,"