Believe, trust WHO?
Exodus 19:9 Adonai said to Moshe, "See, I am coming
to you in a thick cloud, so that the people will be able to hear when I speak
with you and also to trust in you forever." (Complete Jewish Bible)
Exodus 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto
thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. (King James
Version)
Believe, trust WHO?
Every so often a verse penetrates my thick skin. Gotta believe God is
in charge of that. This verse is further amplifying what I have sensed
previously, that Moses is a truly very important person in God’s plan. He has
street cred. God made him and established him as a man of God in whom the
people should believe! I think we sometimes say “In God we trust, all others
pay cash” and are acually setting aside “all others”, even family, neighbors
and enemies to be “free” of any just obligations to them. But written in Moses’
torah is this:
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy
people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself: I am the LORD. Leviticus
19:18
Jesus says this command is like the greater greatest commandment, and
all the law and the prophets hang on it and on the greatest! So we who believe
God are obligated to begin with LOVE, we who believe, we who have faith in, we
who trust God.
And now I read: And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, I come to you in a
thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you and remain steadfast forever.
Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. Exodus 19:9 (AMPLIFIED)
They were to believe in Moses? Forever? Are we today to believe in
Moses also? Or is this now obsolete as Hebrews observes of the law given to us
from Mt. Sinai
Theologians speak of a view they call “anti-nomianism.”
Antinomianism (Greek anti, “against”; nomos, “law”),
a doctrine that faith in Christ frees the Christian from obligation to observe
the moral law as set forth in the Old Testament. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006. ©
1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)
This doctrine really does appeal to the unspiritual natural man. Life
becomes in a perverse way effortless when there is no law, and in particular no
moral law to hear and obey. BUT it also becomes full of insidious human and
satanic intentions which yield horrible and heinous criminal behaviors “as in
the days of Noah” and as in our day. [See 2Timothy 3:1] The Ten
Commandments are simply essential for eternal life! That may seem to contradict
what we have been taught, but as God cannot lie or sin we ought to be keen on
understanding the what, why, where, when and how of the law. A wonderful Bible scholar and teacher Malcolm
Hedding has called the Law of Moses the Covenant of Instruction!
Romans 5:20 But then Law came in, [only] to expand
and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition].
[AMPLIFIED]
I take exception to the expansion and increase only of the trespass. The Holiness and righteousness of God
is also “increased” in our estimation as we consider the law and our inability
as unspiritual persons to “keep it.” But truly the law does inform us of our
sins and the very serious consequences of our sins. The law defines sins and
trespasses, and it magnifies the consequences of sin.
Galatians 3:24 So that the Law
served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to
Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified
(declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith.
[AMPLIFIED]
Paul, a
Jewish man who believed God in Christ (in the Messiah), wrote Galatians to a
people who were being taught by certain Jews that to be circumcised was
necessary for God’s salvation. Paul was very forceful in showing that to be
circumcised for salvation was to obligate oneself to keeping all the law(s) for
salvation. The works of the law, of which one was circumcision, cannot save any
man who does not keep them all flawlessly. For whosoever shall keep the whole
law, and yet offend in one point, he is
guilty of all. (James 2:10)
Jesus did keep them flawlessly. As has been said, Jesus lived for us
the life we ought to live. And His death and resurrection open the Way for us
to everlasting life! But because the works of the law are an impossibility to
us as people still living in flesh and blood, are we therefore excused from
being a moral people obeying the moral law?
God in the Messiah has through our faith (trust) in Him and His GRACE
given for and to us He has saved us from. We can be sure of it, that He has
saved us from everlasting death, hell and the lake of fire. Those are the final
consequences for those who pass from this life without God’s saving grace. Circumcision
of the flesh cannot save us, or else why was Jesus crucified and raised from
the dead? He was crucified to forgive all our sins. This is good news, but what
has God saved us for? In fact we ought to ask: why was He raised from the dead?
If the shedding of His blood was the price paid for our sins, why did He rise?
I fear we do not meditate sufficiently on the amazing fact of His resurrection.
We who are
in Christ are not required by God to pay for our sins (crimes). In the “Old”
Covenant the children of Israel Israel
*Leviticus
5:1-10 If anyone sins in that he is sworn to testify and has knowledge of the
matter, either by seeing or hearing of it, but fails to report it, then he
shall bear his iniquity and willfulness.
(2) Or if anyone touches an
unclean thing, whether the carcass of an unclean wild beast or of an unclean
domestic animal or of unclean creeping things that multiply prolifically, even
if he is unaware of it, and he has become unclean, he is guilty. (3) Or
if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever kind the uncleanness may be with
which he becomes defiled, and he is unaware of it, when he does know it, then
he shall be guilty. (4) Or if anyone unthinkingly swears he will do
something, whether to do evil or good, whatever it may be that a man shall
pronounce rashly taking an oath, then, when he becomes aware of it, he shall be
guilty in either of these. [Mark 6:23.]
(5) When a man is guilty in one
of these, he shall confess the sin he has committed. (6) He
shall bring his guilt or trespass offering to the Lord for the sin which he has
committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and
the priest shall make atonement for his sin.
(7) But if he cannot afford a
lamb, then he shall bring for his guilt offering to the Lord two turtledoves or
two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt
offering. (8) He shall bring them to the priest, who shall
offer the one for the sin offering first, and wring its head from its neck, but
shall not sever it; (9) And he shall sprinkle some of the blood of
the sin offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be
drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering. (10)
And he shall prepare the second bird for a burnt offering, according to
the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin which he
has committed, and he shall be forgiven.
The longer I
live in this mortal body the more evident it is that what we call the flesh is
in total darkness. As Paul wrote “In my flesh NO good thing exists.” It is
remarkable that so close to the beginning Adam’s firstborn son Cain murdered
his brother in envy, being offended by Abel’s acceptance and his rejection. Not
being any law, did Cain have to pay for his sins? Not as the children of Israel
Moving ahead
10 generations looking on the earth “The Lord saw that the people on earth were
very wicked, that all the imaginings of their hearts were always of evil only.
The Lord regretted that he had made humankind on the earth; it grieved his heart.”
(Genesis 6:5-6) The consequence for their COMPLETE wickedness was death by
drowning. What is made clear from the very start is the principle of sowing and
reaping. “Don't delude yourselves: no
one makes a fool of God! A person reaps what he sows. Those who keep sowing in
the field of their old nature, in order to meet its demands, will eventually
reap ruin; but those who keep sowing in the field of the Spirit will reap from
the Spirit everlasting life.”
(Galatians
6:7-8)
Exodus 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto
thee in a thick cloud, that the people
may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. (King James
Version)
Why would
God want the people to believe in Moses and believe in him forever? I am sure
now that a good part of the answer to that is found in this story Jesus told.
It is a fearsome story. I believe it is a true story or else why did Jesus give
the beggar a name and why does He quote Abraham?
There was
once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But
a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man's house. He
was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. His body
was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man
died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham. The rich man
also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he
looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham,
"Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my
tongue. I'm suffering terribly in this fire." Abraham answered, "My
friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had
everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a
deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over." But
the rich man said, "Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father's home.
Let him warn my five brothers, so they won't come to this horrible place."
Abraham answered, "Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets
wrote. They should pay attention to that." Then the rich man said,
"No, that's not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them,
they would listen and turn to God." So Abraham said, "If they won't
pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even to someone who
comes back from the dead."
(Luke
16:19-31)
Earlier I
said that the Ten Commandments are simply
essential for eternal life. This story shows it to be true. Abraham SAID: "If
they won't pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even to
someone who comes back from the dead." That means that what Jesus who DID
RISE FROM THE DEAD said cannot profit or bless or be understood by those who
will not listen to Moses… or the prophets! Now I believe that is in
particularly applied to the Jewish people whom God had faithfully tutored and
instructed by Moses and the prophets. Moses was a prophet and he told the
children of Israel
Deuteronomy
18:13-19 You must be wholehearted with the Lord your God. (14)
For these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to
soothsayers and diviners; but you, the Lord your God does not allow you to do
this. (15) "The Lord will raise up for you a 1prophet like me from among
yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to
him, (16) just as when you were assembled at Horev and
requested the Lord your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of the Lord my God
any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' (17)
On that occasion the Lord said to me, 'They are right in what they are
saying. (18) I will raise up for them a prophet like you
from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his 2mouth, and he will tell them everything I order
him. (19) Whoever doesn't listen to my words, which he
will speak in my name, will have to account for himself to me.
So Abraham
said, "If they won't pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won't
listen even to someone who comes back from the dead." Luke 16:31
Abraham also
was a prophet. Genesis 20:7
J.I. Packer
said a theologian is some one who KNOWS God [John 17:3]. Theologians can get
bogged down in Biblical details. The Bible is a called “sufficient revelation.”
Perhaps a better assessment is that it is “a love letter from God to man.” But
one thing becomes very apparent with study and mediation: God did inspire the
men who wrote it and Jesus the Divine Son of God and Man IS the Author and the
Finisher of our faith in Him which saves us! Moses wanted to enter Canaan with
the children of Israel
Exodus 19:9 Adonai [The Lord] said to
Moshe [Moses], "See, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the
people will be able to hear when I speak with you and also to trust in [believe]
you forever." (Complete Jewish Bible)
Luke 16:31
…Abraham said, "If they won't pay attention to Moses and the prophets,
they won't listen even to someone who comes back from the dead."
I can only
conclude even as a gentile that knowing Moses, a prophet (and then the most
humble man on earth), and knowing his written histories, and knowing all the
prophets of God is a very valuable spiritual knowing, and essential for the
hearing of the One raised from the dead, Jesus the Lord of all and Savior of
all who trust Him. We who trust Jesus the Messiah became NEW Creation when we
first believed. Now it is incumbent on us as stewards of the saving grace of
God to avail ourselves of the 3sanctifying
grace of God. Theological hairsplitting may keep us in a state of confliction,
confusion, avoidance, inaction, and even disability whereby the power of God
lies dormant. Our duty?
Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
This will
not be accomplished well by idolaters. Idolatry is an “Old” and a “New”
Covenant sin. It is not much considered by us today. I fear it is a major
impediment to the prophetic destiny of many who call Jesus their Savior. That
destiny certainly includes sanctification, that is: the purification of soul
and spirit from all sin and uncleanness. I am “comfortable” in saying that as I
judge myself as one who is willing in spirit weak in the flesh, and too
familiar with idolatry and hypocrisy. Hypocrisy and idolatry are evidence that
one has not yet submitted to Jesus as Lord. Recently after a service the words
“SUBMIT TO GRACE” came into my mind. I believe the Lord was showing me how much
I need still to stop trying to save myself and purify myself by on my own.
Faith without works IS dead, but it is, it must be “God … working among you
both the willing and the working for what pleases him.” [Philippians 2:13]
What is somewhat
troubling is what has been called “faith in faith.” Faith alone does not save
us, God saves us by giving us faith in Him. Essentially, being “in the faith”
means being in the Messiah and the Messiah being in us. We are joined, and not
only as individuals to the Messiah, but as a corporate people, as His Body, He
being our Head; as the Bride, He being our Bridegroom.
Can we be
His witnesses? Can we give witness of Jesus to those who should be saved? [Acts
2:47] What is a witness? It is evidence. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” But you and I
are seen by men and women. How can those who see us see The Messiah in us? I
fear He will be seen in us when we obey Him. When we obey Jesus we will not be
sinning. We will be in the world and yet not of the world. We will be human but
we will be seen for our avoidance of corruption. We will be “different.” One
pastor taught us that God is holy and that means God is “different.” God made
Adam and Eve in His image, but God is (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) HOLY. We
will be seen by men as different when we are in the Messiah and the Holy Spirit
through faith, and that faith is working by love.
Ultimately
we are known for our love. “…for love is of God; and every one that loveth is
born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love.” 1John 4:7-8 and “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if
ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
David wrote:
I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is
exceeding broad. O how love I thy
law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy
commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever
with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are
my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy
precepts. (Psalm 119:96-100)
But when
Jesus arrived at the Temple
He
Paul wrote truly that the law is “good, holy and established.” But what men lacked was the spiritual power to obey the law. That power God gave from heaven on Pentecost and it was in my estimation the completion of the Messiah’s loving obedience to His Father, the giving of The Holy Spirit, Himself being and bringing the promised “power from on high.” (Acts 1:4-8) Without the Holy Spirit power enabling us can we even begin to be transformed? It is the renewing of our mind which transforms us restoring us into the likeness of God, the likeness so greatly corrupted by sin, by our sin.
Paul wrote truly that the law is “good, holy and established.” But what men lacked was the spiritual power to obey the law. That power God gave from heaven on Pentecost and it was in my estimation the completion of the Messiah’s loving obedience to His Father, the giving of The Holy Spirit, Himself being and bringing the promised “power from on high.” (Acts 1:4-8) Without the Holy Spirit power enabling us can we even begin to be transformed? It is the renewing of our mind which transforms us restoring us into the likeness of God, the likeness so greatly corrupted by sin, by our sin.
None of the
reality of God’s Spirit in a man will be seen well if that man is resisting
sanctification. And for Jews and gentiles alike, intimate knowledge of the law
and the prophets will be a distinct advantage enabling us to give evidence of
the Ones living in us: The Messiah and The Holy Spirit. Without a vision the people
perish. We must see Jesus The Messiah, even if through a glass darkly.
The law of
Moses is certainly a foundational covenant. In Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible
a wonderful illustration is given titled Seven Editions of Divine Law.
1st ~ Written on Nature Psalm 19:1
2nd ~ Written on
Conscience Romans 2:15
3rd ~ Written on Tablets of Stone
Exodus 24:12
4th ~ The Entire Scriptures Romans
15:4
5th ~ Christ the Illustrated
Edition John 1:14
6th ~ Written on the Heart Hebrews
8:10
7th ~ The Outward Christian Life:
Living Epistles 2 Corinthians 3:2,3
These are a
wonderful summary description of the Divinely given advantage men are offered
TODAY.
The writer
of Hebrews says: “IN MANY separate revelations [each of which set forth a
portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our]
forefathers in and by the prophets, [But]
in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom
He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He
created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made,
produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. He is the sole
expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance
of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's]
nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by
His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our
cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the
divine Majesty on high, [Taking a place and rank by which] He Himself
became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has
inherited is different from and more excellent than theirs.” (Hebrews 1:1-4)
And: “SINCE
ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths
that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.
For if the message given through angels [the Law spoken by them to Moses]
was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an
appropriate (just and adequate) penalty, How shall we escape [appropriate
retribution] if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great
salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever]?
For it was declared at first by the Lord [Himself], and it was confirmed
to us and proved to be real and genuine by those who personally heard [Him
speak]. [Besides this evidence] it was also established and plainly
endorsed by God, Who showed His approval of it by signs and wonders and various
miraculous manifestations of [His] power and by imparting the gifts of
the Holy Spirit [to the believers] according to His own will. For it was
not to angels that God subjected the habitable world of the future, of which we
are speaking.” (Hebrews 2:1-5)
That was
written before the New Covenant writings were assembled as we have them today.
We are distinctly advantaged spiritually beyond those of the “Old” Covenant
time, and even beyond those who have not had Bibles. God in the generosity of
His grace for sinners has truly given Himself AND every advantage possible.
Moses was a gift to the children of Israel
Simon Peter,
a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus
Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of
him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of
the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to
virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and
to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you
that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Peter 1:1-8)
Behold, what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for
sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take
away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:
whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no
man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is
righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from
the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;
for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In
this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever
doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love
one another. (1John 3:1-11)
See what
love the Father has lavished on us in letting us be called God's children! For
that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it has not
known him. (1John 3:1)
Exodus 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses,
Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak
with thee, and believe thee forever.
Now after
that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of
the kingdom of God ,
And saying, The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom
of God
Therefore,
they said to Him, "What shall we be doing so that we shall be working the
works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This
is the work of God, that you be believing [or, trusting] in Him whom
that One sent." (John 6:28-29)
When we are
united with the Messiah Yeshua [Christ Jesus], neither being circumcised nor
being uncircumcised matters; what matters is trusting faithfulness expressing
itself through love. (Galatians 5:6)
And
eternal life is this: to know you, the one true God, and him whom you sent,
Yeshua the Messiah. (John 17:3)
And this is
eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become
acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise]
to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom
You have sent. (John 17:3)
These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
(Joh
16:33)
Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there
ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Thomas
saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father,
and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been
so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath
seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the
Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the
words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth
in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the
Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I
say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall
give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the
Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in
you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while,
and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in
you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and
will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord,
how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he
will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and
make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the
word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things
have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which
is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have
said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again
unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the
Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come
to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not
talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in
me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave
me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. (John 14:1-31)
1. Meaning, a continual succession of prophets, till Christ, the end of all prophets, comes. (from the 1599 Geneva
2. A promise not only made to Christ, but to all that teach in his name, [Isa_59:21]. (from the 1599 Geneva
3. G38 ~ ἁγιασμόÏ‚ ~ hagiasmos ~ hag-ee-as-mos'
From G37; properly purification, that is, (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier: - holiness, sanctification.
Exodus 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God , And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
Therefore, they said to Him, "What shall we be doing so that we shall be working the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you be believing [or, trusting] in Him whom that One sent." (John 6:28-29)
When we are united with the Messiah Yeshua [Christ Jesus], neither being circumcised nor being uncircumcised matters; what matters is trusting faithfulness expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:6)
1John 1:1-10
The Word
that gives life was from the beginning, and this is the one our message is
about. Our ears have heard, our own eyes have seen, and our hands touched this
Word. The one who gives life appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses
to what we have seen. Now we are telling you about this eternal life that was
with the Father and appeared to us. We are telling you what we have seen and
heard, so that you may share in this
life with us. And we share in it with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
We are writing to tell you these things, because this makes us truly happy.
Jesus told us that God is light and doesn't have any darkness in him. Now we
are telling you. If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in
the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth. But if we live in the
light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son
Jesus washes all our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we are
fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our
sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. If
we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in
our hearts.
1John 2:1-29
My children,
I am writing this so that you won't sin. But if you do sin, Jesus Christ always
does the right thing, and he will speak to the Father for us. Christ is the
sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world's people. When
we obey God, we are sure that we know him. But if we claim to know him and
don't obey him, we are lying and the truth isn't in our hearts. We truly love
God only when we obey him as we should, and then we know that we belong to him.
If we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ. My dear friends, I
am not writing to give you a new commandment. It is the same one that you were
first given, and it is the message you heard. But it really is a new
commandment, and you know its true meaning, just as Christ does. You can see
the darkness fading away and the true light already shining. If we claim to be
in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark. But if we love others,
we are in the light, and we don't cause problems for them. If we hate others,
we are living and walking in the dark. We don't know where we are going,
because we can't see in the dark. Children, I am writing you, because your sins
have been forgiven in the name of Christ. Parents, I am writing you, because
you have known the one who was there from the beginning. Young people, I am
writing you, because you have defeated the evil one. Children, I am writing
you, because you have known the Father. Parents, I am writing you, because you
have known the one who was there from the beginning. Young people, I am writing
you, because you are strong. God's message is firm in your hearts, and you have
defeated the evil one. Don't love the world or anything that belongs to the
world. If you love the world, you cannot love the Father. Our foolish pride
comes from this world, and so do our selfish desires and our desire to have
everything we see. None of this comes from the Father. The world and the
desires it causes are disappearing. But if we obey God, we will live forever.
Children, this is the last hour. You heard that the enemy of Christ would
appear at this time, and many of Christ's enemies have already appeared. So we
know that the last hour is here. These people came from our own group, yet they
were not part of us. If they had been part of us, they would have stayed with
us. But they left, which proves that they did not belong to our group. Christ,
the Holy One, has blessed you, and now all of you understand. I did not need to
write you about the truth, since you already know it. You also know that liars
do not belong to the truth. And a liar is anyone who says that Jesus isn't
truly Christ. Anyone who says this is an enemy of Christ and rejects both the
Father and the Son. If we reject the Son, we reject the Father. But if we say that
we accept the Son, we have the Father. Keep thinking about the message you
first heard, and you will always be one in your heart with the Son and with the
Father. The Son has promised us eternal life. I am writing to warn you about
those people who are misleading you. But Christ has blessed you with the Holy
Spirit. Now the Spirit stays in you, and you don't need any teachers. The
Spirit is truthful and teaches you everything. So stay one in your heart with
Christ, just as the Spirit has taught you to do. Children, stay one in your
hearts with Christ. Then when he returns, we will have confidence and won't
have to hide in shame. You know that Christ always does right and that everyone
who does right is a child of God.
1John 3:1-24
Think how
much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his
children, as we truly are. But since the people of this world did not know who
Christ is, they don't know who we are. My dear friends, we are already God's
children, though what we will be hasn't yet been seen. But we do know that when
Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is.
This hope makes us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ is holy. Everyone who
sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law. You know
that Christ came to take away sins. He isn't sinful, and people who stay one in
their hearts with him won't keep on sinning. If they do keep on sinning, they
don't know Christ, and they have never seen him. Children, don't be fooled. Anyone
who does right is good, just like Christ himself. Anyone who keeps on sinning
belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came
to destroy all that he has done. God's children cannot keep on being sinful.
His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they
cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God's children from the devil's children,
because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
From the beginning you were told that we must love each other. Don't be like
Cain, who belonged to the devil and murdered his own brother. Why did he murder
him? He did it because his brother was good, and he was evil. My friends, don't
be surprised if the people of this world hate you. Our love for each other
proves that we have gone from death to life. But if you don't love each other,
you are still under the power of death. If you hate each other, you are
murderers, and we know that murderers do not have eternal life. We know what
love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That's why we must give our lives
for each other. If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need,
we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. Children,
you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about
it. When we love others, we know that we belong to the truth, and we feel at
ease in the presence of God. But even if we don't feel at ease, God is greater
than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we feel at ease in
the presence of God, we will have the courage to come near him. He will give us
whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him. God wants us to
have faith in his Son Jesus Christ and to love each other. This is also what
Jesus taught us to do. If we obey God's commandments, we will stay one in our
hearts with him, and he will stay one with us. The Spirit that he has given us
is proof that we are one with him.
1John 4:1-21
Dear
friends, don't believe everyone who claims to have the Spirit of God. Test them
all to find out if they really do come from God. Many false prophets have
already gone out into the world, and you can know which ones come from God. His
Spirit says that Jesus Christ had a truly human body. But when someone doesn't
say this about Jesus, you know that person has a spirit that doesn't come from
God and is the enemy of Christ. You knew that this enemy was coming into the
world and now is already here. Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated
these enemies. God's Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is
in the world. These enemies belong to this world, and the world listens to
them, because they speak its language. We belong to God, and everyone who knows
God will listen to us. But the people who don't know God won't listen to us.
That is how we can tell the Spirit that speaks the truth from the one that
tells lies. My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and
when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now
God's children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn't love
others has never known him. God showed his love for us when he sent his only
Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn't our love for God, but his
love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are
forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other.
No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his
love is truly in our hearts. God has given us his Spirit. That is how we know
that we are one with him, just as he is one with us. God sent his Son to be the
Savior of the world. We saw his Son and are now telling others about him. God
stays one with everyone who openly says that Jesus is the Son of God. That's
how we stay one with God and are sure that God loves us. God is love. If we
keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God, and he will
stay one with us. If we truly love others and live as Christ did in this world,
we won't be worried about the day of judgment. A real love for others will
chase those worries away. The thought of being punished is what makes us
afraid. It shows that we have not really learned to love. We love because God
loved us first. But if we say we love God and don't love each other, we are
liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don't love the people
we can see? The commandment that God has given us is: "Love God and love
each other!"
1John 5:1-21
If we believe
that Jesus is truly Christ, we are God's children. Everyone who loves the
Father will also love his children. If we love and obey God, we know that we
will love his children. We show our love for God by obeying his commandments,
and they are not hard to follow. Every child of God can defeat the world, and
our faith is what gives us this victory. No one can defeat the world without
having faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Water and blood came out from the side
of Jesus Christ. It wasn't just water, but water and blood. The Spirit tells
about this, because the Spirit is truthful. In fact, there are three who tell
about it. They are the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and they all agree. We
believe what people tell us. But we can trust what God says even more, and God
is the one who has spoken about his Son. If we have faith in God's Son, we have
believed what God has said. But if we don't believe what God has said about his
Son, it is the same as calling God a liar. God has also said that he gave us
eternal life and that this life comes to us from his Son. And so, if we have
God's Son, we have this life. But if we don't have the Son, we don't have this
life. All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you
know that you have eternal life. We are certain that God will hear our prayers
when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray,
we are sure that our prayers have already been answered. Suppose you see one of
our people commit a sin that isn't a deadly sin. You can pray, and that person
will be given eternal life. But the sin must not be one that is deadly.
Everything that is wrong is sin, but not all sins are deadly. We are sure that
God's children do not keep on sinning. God's own Son protects them, and the
devil cannot harm them. We are certain that we come from God and that the rest
of the world is under the power of the devil. We know that Jesus Christ the Son
of God has come and has shown us the true God. And because of Jesus, we now
belong to the true God who gives eternal life. Children, you must stay away
from idols.
1. Meaning, a continual succession of prophets, till
Christ, the end of all prophets, comes. (from the 1599 Geneva
2. A promise not only made to Christ, but to all that
teach in his name, [Isa_59:21]. (from the 1599 Geneva
3. G38 ~ ἁγιασμόÏ‚
~ hagiasmos ~ hag-ee-as-mos'
From G37; properly purification, that
is, (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier: -
holiness, sanctification.
Exodus 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto
thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and
believe thee forever.
Now after
that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of
the kingdom of God ,
And saying, The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom
of God
Therefore,
they said to Him, "What shall we be doing so that we shall be working the
works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This
is the work of God, that you be believing [or, trusting] in Him whom
that One sent." (John 6:28-29)
When we are
united with the Messiah Yeshua [Christ Jesus], neither being circumcised nor
being uncircumcised matters; what matters is trusting faithfulness expressing
itself through love. (Galatians 5:6)
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