A dear sister shared the question below that has been on my mind for some time now. It made no sense that Jesus Christ shed all His blood to merely cover up our sin to hide it. Here were some of my thoughts and the original post by Sister Karen that might explain things.
1 Peter 4:8-9 " 8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.…"
So many passages these days are taken out of context to modify the meaning God had for us.
They say; "love covers sin" therefore they conclude that the blood of Jesus covers sin. Its completely out of context and the Bible does not say this.
Love includes discipline and instruction, if we love we can help others avoid sin or confess to be cleansed of it.
When we read 1 Peter 4:1-11, it explains the phrase "love covers a multitude of sin", in context we see that Jesus Christ paid the price for sin that we would not have to live in it any longer.
1 Peter 4:1-2 "4 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."
Karen Puff Rosenkrantz
The blood of Jesus "covers sin".
Why do people keep using unbiblical terms?
The blood of Jesus does not cover our sin, it cleanses us from it.
~ Michael Cruz
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Changed By Christ
If we have repented, that is "changed our mind" about our sin, it will lead to the actions that reflect our inner heart.
When we have changed our mind, knowing sin is exceedingly sinful then it causes us to turn from it. If there is no turning then there has been no change of mind. Repentance is not something one says, it is a change in the heart that results in actions.
Those that say they have repented but nothing changed in their attitude or actions then the repentance was merely lip service having no power over their character.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”
The power over our character is Christ if we have repented. If we have only lip service then it is the devil whose power is over our character and remains until the change of mind occurs.
Matthew 1:21
21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
It is Christ Who saves people from their sins, they do not save themselves.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
What is the change of mind? That change in our mind is the desire to changed into a new creation by Christ. We begin to hate the sin we used to love and love the righteousness of God. However, in this change we realize we have no power of our own to change our own heart, we must ask Christ to do it.
When Christ makes someone into a new creation they stay that new creation. When Christ removes the desire to sin from our heart it is gone for good. If we do sin we hate it. We seek Christ for cleansing and go back to obedience.
The confusion today is that so many people claim to be Christians but have not changed after deciding to be a Christian they still love their sin and add greater pride to the mix of wrong attitudes. The pride that makes them believe everything they say and do is right even when it defies the Word of God simply because they think of themselves as special.
Anyone who comes to Christ in their own merit believing because they made this choice they are personally special cannot be born again. It is through the brokenness over sin that creates the humility necessary to approach Christ for salvation.
Psalm 51:16-17 "…16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. "
Those who fight against the truths of the Bible very likely were never repentant. Many people want to be seen as Christian and as good people but have no desire to honor and obey God.
When self is on the throne there is no faith in Christ. Everything depends on manipulating others to believe the false persona of perfection. Boasting is a big part of the nuances of pretenders. They are deeply invested in subtle insincerity of counterfeit Christianity.
Impressing people is the highest goal of the pretender, this is why they are so full of anger and rage when someone exposes their false doctrine.
When we know that we had to come in humility and brokenness to Christ to be cleansed by Him we have no delusions that we are good or special. Only Christ is good and He must be the One to change us.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
If we are attempting to walk through this life in our own power depending on our illusions about ourselves we cannot be born again. God will not change anyone who wants to depend upon themselves.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Remember, only Christ can make you into a new creation. He is the One Who works in us after we have changed our mind to be against the sin that dwells in us.
When we have changed our mind, knowing sin is exceedingly sinful then it causes us to turn from it. If there is no turning then there has been no change of mind. Repentance is not something one says, it is a change in the heart that results in actions.
Those that say they have repented but nothing changed in their attitude or actions then the repentance was merely lip service having no power over their character.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”
The power over our character is Christ if we have repented. If we have only lip service then it is the devil whose power is over our character and remains until the change of mind occurs.
Matthew 1:21
21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
It is Christ Who saves people from their sins, they do not save themselves.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
What is the change of mind? That change in our mind is the desire to changed into a new creation by Christ. We begin to hate the sin we used to love and love the righteousness of God. However, in this change we realize we have no power of our own to change our own heart, we must ask Christ to do it.
When Christ makes someone into a new creation they stay that new creation. When Christ removes the desire to sin from our heart it is gone for good. If we do sin we hate it. We seek Christ for cleansing and go back to obedience.
The confusion today is that so many people claim to be Christians but have not changed after deciding to be a Christian they still love their sin and add greater pride to the mix of wrong attitudes. The pride that makes them believe everything they say and do is right even when it defies the Word of God simply because they think of themselves as special.
Anyone who comes to Christ in their own merit believing because they made this choice they are personally special cannot be born again. It is through the brokenness over sin that creates the humility necessary to approach Christ for salvation.
Psalm 51:16-17 "…16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. "
Those who fight against the truths of the Bible very likely were never repentant. Many people want to be seen as Christian and as good people but have no desire to honor and obey God.
When self is on the throne there is no faith in Christ. Everything depends on manipulating others to believe the false persona of perfection. Boasting is a big part of the nuances of pretenders. They are deeply invested in subtle insincerity of counterfeit Christianity.
Impressing people is the highest goal of the pretender, this is why they are so full of anger and rage when someone exposes their false doctrine.
When we know that we had to come in humility and brokenness to Christ to be cleansed by Him we have no delusions that we are good or special. Only Christ is good and He must be the One to change us.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
If we are attempting to walk through this life in our own power depending on our illusions about ourselves we cannot be born again. God will not change anyone who wants to depend upon themselves.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Remember, only Christ can make you into a new creation. He is the One Who works in us after we have changed our mind to be against the sin that dwells in us.
Monday, November 25, 2019
A Test of a Person's Character
A test to know if someone is saved or not is God's test. He said; "you shall know them by their fruit." Fruit is not works, it is character qualities of the person. "love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, self control, are the fruit of the Spirit.
When we have Christ living in us we can see this fruit or lack of it. We can connect with someone's Spirit of God in them without either one saying a word or doing anything.
If there is a check in our Spirit when we meet someone, a sort of disconnect as though there is no Spiritual connection at all, then we are probably in the presence of a non-believer.
Remember that John the Baptist was in Elizabeth's womb and lept at the presence of Christ in Mary's womb. John sensed the joy of being in the presence of Christ even though he was not yet born. We can sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in those who are our fellow brothers and sisters.
Have you ever met someone for the first time and sensed an immediate connection? Or have you met someone for the first time and had the sense that something was not right? How about being in the presence of someone you don't know but have a sense of evil that you want to run from.
If we have the sense of walking on egg shells with someone we meet for the first time its likely that our spirits do not connect, we are of different spirits. Ours is the Spirit of Christ and theirs is the spirit of the world.
The spirit of the world is very uncomfortable around the Spirit of Christ. They think there is something wrong with us, when they can't figure something out about us they make it up. The spirit of the world hates the Spirit of Christ in us.
1 Corinthians 2:11-13 "…11 For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.…"
When we have Christ living in us we can see this fruit or lack of it. We can connect with someone's Spirit of God in them without either one saying a word or doing anything.
If there is a check in our Spirit when we meet someone, a sort of disconnect as though there is no Spiritual connection at all, then we are probably in the presence of a non-believer.
Remember that John the Baptist was in Elizabeth's womb and lept at the presence of Christ in Mary's womb. John sensed the joy of being in the presence of Christ even though he was not yet born. We can sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in those who are our fellow brothers and sisters.
Have you ever met someone for the first time and sensed an immediate connection? Or have you met someone for the first time and had the sense that something was not right? How about being in the presence of someone you don't know but have a sense of evil that you want to run from.
If we have the sense of walking on egg shells with someone we meet for the first time its likely that our spirits do not connect, we are of different spirits. Ours is the Spirit of Christ and theirs is the spirit of the world.
The spirit of the world is very uncomfortable around the Spirit of Christ. They think there is something wrong with us, when they can't figure something out about us they make it up. The spirit of the world hates the Spirit of Christ in us.
1 Corinthians 2:11-13 "…11 For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.…"
How to Gain Wisdom
Do You Want to be Seen as Wise or do You Want to Actually BE Wise?
Do not remain in the presence of trouble makers! We know who they are, they are always looking for reasons to cause drama, usually through lies and manipulation.
Often the trouble maker defends those who are lawless while chastising those who are walking circumspectly. You will know them by their lack of fruit of the Spirit as well as their continual divisiveness. They bring false doctrine and claim it is the truth even in the face of much scripture given to them to prove the truth. They will even claim you didn't provide any scripture when you know you did.
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."
They often fight against the truth and lie against those who bring the truth. They are never happy unless they are turning one person against another.
Titus 3:9-11 "9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.…"
The tactics of these people are to cause frustration hoping we will act badly toward them. If we act badly toward them they will feel justified in their angst toward us. The best way to deal with these individuals is to ignore their personal attacks while removing yourself.
These people will pretend to be your friend to extract information out of you, only to pass it on to others with a negative bent that you never shared.
Embellishment is a usual tactic of those who intend to turn others against you. In order to do this they must add their own interpretation of events and discussion. The end result of these encounters with divisive people is others fighting against one another when there was no need for any of it.
Ephesians 5:6-7 "…6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. "
John 3:6
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Ephesians 2:1-10
"2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
Romans 1:32
"and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
In these last days the churches are full of those who are divisive. They are easy to recognize, they bring in false doctrine, lean heavily on what the secular culture teaches and attack others personally rather than staying on the subject.
As soon as you see the phrases, "you shouldn't judge", or "you are stubborn" as well as other phrases to impugn your character you know you have met a divisive person. They never discuss the facts or the scripture but will attack our character to divert the attention away from truth.
Proverbs 18:2-3
"2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn."
Proverbs 1:5-7
"5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction."
If you want to learn to be wise read the Bible, pray for understanding, believe what God says and then obey it.
Often the trouble maker defends those who are lawless while chastising those who are walking circumspectly. You will know them by their lack of fruit of the Spirit as well as their continual divisiveness. They bring false doctrine and claim it is the truth even in the face of much scripture given to them to prove the truth. They will even claim you didn't provide any scripture when you know you did.
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."
They often fight against the truth and lie against those who bring the truth. They are never happy unless they are turning one person against another.
Titus 3:9-11 "9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.…"
The tactics of these people are to cause frustration hoping we will act badly toward them. If we act badly toward them they will feel justified in their angst toward us. The best way to deal with these individuals is to ignore their personal attacks while removing yourself.
These people will pretend to be your friend to extract information out of you, only to pass it on to others with a negative bent that you never shared.
Embellishment is a usual tactic of those who intend to turn others against you. In order to do this they must add their own interpretation of events and discussion. The end result of these encounters with divisive people is others fighting against one another when there was no need for any of it.
Ephesians 5:6-7 "…6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. "
John 3:6
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Ephesians 2:1-10
"2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
Romans 1:32
"and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
In these last days the churches are full of those who are divisive. They are easy to recognize, they bring in false doctrine, lean heavily on what the secular culture teaches and attack others personally rather than staying on the subject.
As soon as you see the phrases, "you shouldn't judge", or "you are stubborn" as well as other phrases to impugn your character you know you have met a divisive person. They never discuss the facts or the scripture but will attack our character to divert the attention away from truth.
Proverbs 18:2-3
"2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn."
Proverbs 1:5-7
"5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction."
If you want to learn to be wise read the Bible, pray for understanding, believe what God says and then obey it.
Drive Away the Apostates with Truth
I had a friend of my daughter pursuing me to chastise me for some of my posts claiming they were wrong. I gave her lots of scripture to prove my points and she came back to me to say that I was stubborn and rebellious for not believing her. This woman has been in sin a long time, attending an apostate church that celebrates Halloween, prays to the dead and allows shack ups in their gatherings without discipline. But I am rebellious? She also throws in the "don't judge" and for good measure "we are under the blood, so sin is not a problem."
You see why we have a problem in our culture, more of the Bible is being violated than obeyed. Attacking born again believers is acceptable to these apostate types. And, to top it all off they throw up to you all the people you know who are their friends. As though their plan is to gossip against us turning our acquaintances against us.
Notice one thing, they cannot be satisfied attacking us they must get others to attack us too.
I laugh at this because it is not only childish they don't understand that none of their mean spirited attacks or threats of turning others against us will change what we believe. It will only serve to help us know who are really with us and who are not. This helps us as it weeds out those who are superficial and arrogant friends.
Those who come against us don't understand that we don't need people, we love those who are with us and believe what we believe, but we have no need of lots of friends around us to validate us. We have Christ, He is all we need and then He brings those to come along side that can encourage us in His ways as we also encourage them.
Those who preach a false gospel ought to hate our presence and eventually become born again or go away, that's up to God.
Justifying sin because of grace is sin, devilish and a false gospel.
Trudi Gretsinger said the following:
Have you my friends died to sins and now living for righteousness?
When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.......
You see why we have a problem in our culture, more of the Bible is being violated than obeyed. Attacking born again believers is acceptable to these apostate types. And, to top it all off they throw up to you all the people you know who are their friends. As though their plan is to gossip against us turning our acquaintances against us.
Notice one thing, they cannot be satisfied attacking us they must get others to attack us too.
I laugh at this because it is not only childish they don't understand that none of their mean spirited attacks or threats of turning others against us will change what we believe. It will only serve to help us know who are really with us and who are not. This helps us as it weeds out those who are superficial and arrogant friends.
Those who come against us don't understand that we don't need people, we love those who are with us and believe what we believe, but we have no need of lots of friends around us to validate us. We have Christ, He is all we need and then He brings those to come along side that can encourage us in His ways as we also encourage them.
Those who preach a false gospel ought to hate our presence and eventually become born again or go away, that's up to God.
Justifying sin because of grace is sin, devilish and a false gospel.
Trudi Gretsinger said the following:
Have you my friends died to sins and now living for righteousness?
When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.......
Seek Christ Alone!
Seek Christ for your calling and then obey Him when He speaks in your heart.
Do not allow anyone to intimidate you into ignoring your calling. No one but Christ can tell you what He wants you to do.
There will be those who think they know for you what God has called you to, they do not, it is only Christ in you Who knows what He has for you. He will never violate His own word, but He will often be against the cultural and human traditions devised by man.
Bottom line: Seek Christ thorough prayer and His Word for His design on your lives. Then remove from your life those who attempt to thwart what God is doing.
Ephesians 4:11-13 "…11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.…"
Do not allow anyone to intimidate you into ignoring your calling. No one but Christ can tell you what He wants you to do.
There will be those who think they know for you what God has called you to, they do not, it is only Christ in you Who knows what He has for you. He will never violate His own word, but He will often be against the cultural and human traditions devised by man.
Bottom line: Seek Christ thorough prayer and His Word for His design on your lives. Then remove from your life those who attempt to thwart what God is doing.
Ephesians 4:11-13 "…11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.…"
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