Imputed Righteousness (part 1)

 

Part 1  Imputed Righteousness

There are many in the Christian faith today who believe they are covered in the imputed righteousness of Jesus and that somehow God no longer sees them when they sin. All the meanwhile God sees them exactly as they are. Nothing is hid from His Omniscient eye but all things are exposed to Him.  Many call themselves Christian who believe they are right with God while they choose to continue in their sin. Read that carefully. I said they CHOOSE TO REMAIN in sin. They will use excuses to comfort themselves by saying things like, "I am righteous before God in my position with Christ even though I am unrighteous in my practice." Or in modern terms you could say, "I am allowed to continue in my adulterous affair, I am allowed to continue in my homosexual affair, I am allowed to continue getting drunk with my friends on weekends, or I am allowed to continue prostituting my body for extra cash because God has forgiven all my sins so I can live as I am." No, no, and no! The apostle John refuted this whole idea when he said this, "Little children, let no man deceive you. He that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous 1John 3:7. (operative word, does). He that DOES ethical conduct. 

Be patient with me. This will become more clear as you move along.

So the idea that you can be righteous in your position in Christ while you purposely remain unrighteous in your practice according to the Apostle John is a deception. Jesus did not sacrifice His own life so that believers could just CONTINUE TO PRACTICE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (sin). Jesus died so that we could practice righteousness. As the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 8:3, "God sending His own Son, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." So Jesus Christ came that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us." He came and through His Spirit within us HAS GIVEN US THE SAME POWER Jesus had to avoid, walk away from, and overcome sinning when we walk in the Spirit. Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. We can overcome the desire to commit and continue in any particular sin through the Holy Spirit if we are truly born again and have truly yielded our lives to the Lord.

Long ago backsliders in Israel were saying this according to Ezekiel 8:12, "The Lord sees us not." And backsliders in the Church today are saying the exact same thing. I have heard people say, "When God looks at me, He doesn't see me. He doesn't see my sin, He sees the righteousness of Christ instead. What I am doing (inferring a continuation) is covered and forgiven." This type of talk/belief ought to be shocking to hear coming from any follower of Christ, and yet, its common place in the Church. Have you heard this said before? Are you one that believes that way of thinking also? This is theological nonsense, which is blatant denial of Gods Omniscience, and is refuted all throughout the Bible. Did Jesus die for your sins and excuse them when you accepted Him as Lord of your Savior? Yes. Does Jesus forgive me after I'm saved and fall into temptation if I'm sorry, repent, and ask forgiveness? Absolutely! It's when you continue to sin habitually when you know better because you don't want to give up a sin or vice that you enjoy. In reality, you are denying the power of the Holy Spirit because regardless of Jesus sacrifice, you/we still have free will to obey or not to obey, to walk in the Spirit or to walk after the flesh. The Lord considers all our works, all our doings (Psalm 33:13-15). "For the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). And another, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13). 

Jesus Christ did not come to mock God or lie about God or to take away His Omniscience. God is not some idiot in the sky who doesn't know what His creation is doing. But when God spoke to the churches in Revelation, He didn't say, 'I look at you and see the perfect, imputed righteousness of Christ, He said, "I know your works. Be zealous therefore and repent." Why would these church goers need to repent? Because though being church-goers, they were living in sin. Those who are unwilling to repent of and turn away from their sins are fooling themselves believing God doesn't even see their sins. These people are deceived believing Christ has done all so they need to do nothing. If that were true, why are we instructed to WALK IN THE SPIRIT and we will not fulfill the lusts of our flesh, or said in another way, bring sin to fruition? The "theology" doctrine of 'imputed righteousness' has been dangerously distorted in our day. Let's stop kidding ourselves. Yes, we become the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus, but how can we be considered righteous when we choose to purposely remain in sin and refuse to repent? Again, I'm referring to the professing "Christian" who willfully, repeatedly, and habitually sins because they  think it is hidden from Gods eyes? (end of part 1)

Imputed Righteousness (part 2)

 

Part 2 Imputed Righteousness

In the book of Revelation when God was speaking to the 7 churches, He never once said, 'I see you and I see the perfect righteousness of Christ' OR 'when I look upon you I see the imputed righteousness of Jesus.' Rather, He said, "I know thy works." He wanted those folks to be zealous (enthusiastic) to repent (show remorse or deep regret) for their sin. God in His mercy was extending more patience though church goers were still found sinning ..."I have somewhat against you." He warned each and every one of those churches! Therefore, those in the Church shouldn't comfort themselves in their obstinance, bullheadedness, or stubbornness to repent from their comfortable sin, or comfort themselves in their sin by appealing to imputed righteousness, they should simply repent! But many are trying to replace repentance into holiness with the imputed righteousness of Christ. Jesus speaking, "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."  The Scribes and the Pharisees were under the law of Moses, Christians are under the law of Christ and that law of Christ is even more strict than that of the 10 commandments. 

Example:

Old law: You shall not commit adultery

New Testament law: Whosoever even looks upon a women to lust after her has committed adultery already in his heart. How much harder is the second one? Jesus was saying (in context) unless we become pure in heart and obedient in heart we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 

Obedience still plays an important roll in our Christian journey. You don't get saved and then continue life as you once lived especially when God has given you Holy Spirit power at your disposal to walk in newness of life. Again, I'm addressing rebellious, habitual, disobedience, not occasionally falling into sin in a moment of weakness. A Christian man may see a woman pass by where he momentarily lusts after her, maybe even imagining them in bed in his mind in great detail, but then realizes his bad thought, repents, and avoids any more visuals by redirecting his mind somewhere else. Remember my blog on forgiveness. WHAT WE THINK IS WHAT THE BODY WILL DO.  That is a lot different from that same Christian man having that same thought and then purposely pursuing and acting upon his thought with the intention of fulfilling his lust with that woman. Then either before or after he fulfills his sin, excuses his behavior as an acceptable "mistake" (rather than sin) because, well ..."God knows I'm a man and have my needs. Besides, He made me this way, right? So it's not my fault. I am excused because Jesus died for my sins." So in purposeful disobedience he continues this behavior each and every time he is enticed without ever asking the Lord for help, without ever making an effort to walk in righteousness, without ever repenting, without ever being sorry, but instead uses "imputed righteousness" as a free ticket to deliberately and willfully continue living the sin he loves. 

If we repent and believe we are justified by Gods grace and mercy through the atonement of Jesus. We are imputed righteous THROUGH Christ but we do not receive the imputed righteousness OF Christ. That distinction is properly understood when we have a biblical understanding of what imputed righteousness actually is. When a person is imputed righteousness, it simply means their sins are forgiven, they are now thought of as righteous, they are esteemed as righteousness, counted as righteous, reckoned as righteous, considered as righteous...and treated as if they were always righteous, treated as if they were never unrighteous, regarded as righteous and treated as if they were always law abiding citizens. Understand?

This is very important, the word "imputed" does not mean transferred! It's an error to think so because in Romans 2:26 it says when an uncircumcised man is imputed as circumcised that would mean that someone else's circumcision transferred to them, but the obvious meaning of this passage is, even though they are uncircumcised they are treated, regarded, and thought of as if they were circumcised. And in the same way when we are imputed righteous it doesn't mean someone else's righteousness is transferred to us, but even though we have lived un-righteously, we are regarded, treated, and thought of as if we had always been righteous. Again, we do not receive the imputed righteousness OF Christ but rather THROUGH Christ. Biblical imputed righteousness THROUGH Christ is nothing more than forgiveness when your sins are not held against you, " But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also described the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputed righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Romans 4:5-8) 

Biblical imputed righteousness according to the inspired psalmist, David, and the inspired apostle, John, is when iniquities are forgiven and our sins are covered! Plain and simple. You see, the righteousness of God is the unmerited forgiveness that we receive from Him through the atonement. This of course only occurs when we have a living and obedient faith! When we actually TURN FROM OUR SINS and forsake our wickedness. God only forgives our sins when we repent of our sins. We should be recognizing our sin and repenting/turning from our sin. God only pardons our wickedness when we acknowledge and TURN AWAY from our wickedness. So in closing, no man is imputed righteous, or no man is forgiven WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO PRACTICE UNRIGHEOUSNESS AND WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO INTENTIONALLY LIVE IN SIN. So to say we are imputed by the righteousness of Christ while we are not sorrowful for our sins and continue in them, is to greatly misunderstand what the Bible  teaches regarding imputed righteousness and reveals how as Christians, in reality without change, are naked and exposed before God and in danger of His final judgement. He warned, "I have somewhat against you." It's time to do some inventory Church!

Until He Comes.

-Pat-

DAMAGED (the struggle)

What has happened to you that you cannot forget? Something so unfair, so hurtful, so harrowing, so undeserving, that the memories play relentlessly over and over in your mind? Every experience in life forms memories whether good or bad. They are stored like gigabytes on a hard drive. Those memories affect our feelings, our relationships, our actions and reactions even later into adulthood. Because I worked in the field of mental health I witnessed more than 70% of our patients in the psychiatrist office because of some kind of trauma. They were trauma's that had caused an inability to pardon or acquit the alcoholic parent, the sexual abuser, the dad who abandoned his family, the injustice and offenses at the hands of somebody they trusted, etc. 

For so many, letting go of something traumatic is not easy. Many are chained by the belief, once wronged always wronged which inevitably leads to a chronic distrust. Then in turn can affect how you view yourself and all the relationships in your life! You might find you frequently doubt other people will come through on their obligations, or you may be afraid of getting too close to others or feel suspicious when someone is kind to you. This can continue for years until you realize things aren't becoming good, healthy, or right with the passage of time. Your struggling with crippling emotions such as fighting depression, anger, and low self-worth continue even though the incident(s) that caused the hurt have long passed. You're damaged!

Years of denial, covering up, anti-anxiety medications and therapy have not worked. Now what?

**Your mind yearns to forget. You want to forget. There is no defiance there. 

** Your body agrees if only the mind can get it fixed because the body will follow the mind. What we think we do. 

** Your emotions which you cannot see, touch or hear, have been so wounded so that you cannot seem to move past what has happened to you. DAMAGED.

But even in all this, we must realize according to the gospel we must release those who have harmed us (Matthew 18:21-22; Matthew 6:14-15; Colossians 3:13) but not only because Jesus instructed us but because the pain hurts us not them! When you hold onto unforgiveness, it holds a power over you that controls your ability to heal inwardly. It's important to understand that you can forgive someone, thus freeing yourself, without resuming contact. Depending on the circumstances, you may even need to avoid contact.

Now the question becomes how do we acquit and absolve our abusers? There is a way. A scriptural, sound evangelical, biblical way!   The starting point for healing damaged emotions?...truly, freely accept God's Love and Grace for yourself. It is not earned. You can never do enough to deserve it. You are worthy of God's love and acceptance. Through Jesus Christ, God showed that He understands our suffering. Through Christ, we are loved just the way we are ... damaged. Maybe you feel God does not hear you. You keep striving for acceptance from God and others. But you can never get the acceptance or affirmation you so desperately think you need. I have been healed of everything that I struggled with by coming to Jesus and being saved by Him. I only realized that this cure came through being born-again (John 3:3), and that through the Bible I am helped, encouraged, and am led to sustain this wonderful newness of life. Being born again taught me what love is, what it requires, and thus I was able to completely forgive and pardon my abuser. 

Final thoughts. Seek The One who heals and makes people completely whole. You must seek, no one can do it for you. By His grace He did it for me, He is willing to do it for you too...if you would only ask. I sought out answers by reading the King James Bible...the truth is contained therein. Be saved! Find out about the gospel of your salvation (about Jesus' death, burial and resurrection) Personally, I never knew any of this when I cried out to Him to help me when I had just had enough of living. But He responded and brought me to understand more through the Bible and through the testimonies of many like me who are now saved. Your life will never be the same again. Mine has changed beyond my wildest dreams...finally I am happy!! I pray that you find this joy too.

 Until He Comes,

-Pat-

GRACE

In Christianity we are saved by grace and not by works. What does that mean, saved by grace? First of all, let's establish what it isn't. Most religions of the world base their beliefs on "achieving" or "earning" higher levels as a progressive means or pathway to reach heaven. In other words, the main vehicle to attain heaven is themselves or self reliance. Either they earn their salvation through achievements or strict adherence to certain traditions, believe they can obtain salvation through accomplishing certain levels or degrees of enlightenment until they reach Nirvana, others strive to accomplish man-made goals of goodness set for themselves, and still others believe they reincarnate over and over until they reach liberation through ethical living by meditation or other spiritual practices. 

Religions are a type of theology. They are doctrines that teach salvation is gained through changed behavior, good behavior, good deeds, or benevolence. But true Christianity is a belief that only through Christ and a relationship with Him do we receive salvation as a free gift. We don't earn anything by good behavior, ethical living, achievements, reaching goals, meditative states, or good works.

Christianity is different because of one important thing: GRACE! A grace freely given which is not earned! 

After a person becomes a believer by believing in the sacrifice of Jesus dying on a cross on their behalf, they have been saved and former sins completely forgiven and absolved. They hold the truth that Jesus was the a pure, unspotted, sacrificial lamb whose blood was free of sin and therefore worthy to be offered as our stand-in, our advocate, our propitiation, leading to an unearned and undeserved salvation because of love. We cannot earn heaven through goodness or right living because we are not perfect nor can we obtain perfection in the sense of accomplished goals for "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. We know we are sinners saved by grace. And though saved, we will still fall into sin now and again because we are human with a fallen nature. A key note to true Christianity is, we won’t stay there!

If we slip up, we have the Holy Spirit at work in our lives which makes us actually want to obey God and walk worthy of our calling. A true Christian will always feel led to acknowledge and confess their sin through prayer, then get back up and keep pressing forward. Even so, because of God's grace we are absolved of 'slip-up's. Christians will immediately confess slip-up's/sins not because they think they will be lost if they don’t, but because they want to please the Lord. Christians will avoid sin and make efforts to avoid it through the holy Spirit within them. Isn't that how you feel? I certainly do. My love for God drives me to obey. I want to obey! I feel awful when I disappoint Him. In reality, it is not fear or a set of rules that keep me in line. Fear does not keep me in line. LOVE DOES!  And that because of His grace toward me.

When we follow Jesus, we understand that we owe all to Him and so out of our love for Him and being forever grateful, we also desire to love others as ourselves. We know we are not saved by meditation, adhering to a set of rules, working toward achieving Nirvana, or any self-means.  Rather, we are saved by grace to do "works" as explained in Ephesians 2:10. Those works meaning we seek to do good works in the CHARACTER OF CHRIST for God’s glory, but even still it is not those works that saves us. It’s not our own agenda anymore. We have the joy of living an obedient life and because of Gods love bestowed on us, it's easier. Remember how it felt when you gained victory over some sin in your life, whatever it was? You were set free and there was joy in that! That joy is found in obedience. God takes pleasure when He sees His children living a godly (although, not perfect) life. The Grace that set us free when we came to Christ is the same Grace that literally assists us from even wanting to commit or remain in sin. Sin literally becomes an abhorrence to us. Sin is detestable and disgusting. As believers, it’s not that we’re suddenly sinless, but we discover, looking back over time, do realize we do sin less and that brings joy. It's amazing how the Holy Spirit works! Obedience sets us free to live a joy-filled life, but it’s not a blind obedience or obedience because we dread the circumstances. Obedience flows naturally out of a Spirit-led believer.

Love can show up in simply little things like opening doors for people, letting someone else go first at a four-way stop, and it allows others to speak first not interrupting while they’re talking. It's the little things that begin to blossom in your life which is spiritual fruit! Now this is important because this is how Christianity changes you. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5:22-23). Grace infiltrates the life of a believer to produce a life of good "works" (which is the named spiritual fruit- Galatians 5:22-23 above) that naturally flow out of a generous, tenderized heart, leading to obedience that comes from Gods power in helping us. We participate with God in a shared relationship. Christianity is a relationship with God. Philippians 2:13 says, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” 

When someone says they are saved, yet produce no fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), James says that person’s faith is dead. He is saying, godly fruits are the evidence that your faith is real, so in a sense, obedience is the evidence that our faith is genuine. The definition of earthly works where a person has to strive in some physical way to EARN heaven is r-e-l-i-g-i-o-n. But the definition of works spoken of in the Bible which is evident in the life of a true Christian (and who's salvation is not earned) flow freely from them by God's grace. James connects faith and works by writing, “as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26). A person can say they are saved, but if their only production/fruit is bad, then the root is also bad and the whole tree is then useless. Not every person who claims they are a Christian are CHRISTIAN! There is bad fruit among us. If anyone claims to be saved, yet their behavior shows no change, then that prsons faith is dead or, it’s not real. We can’t see the root of a tree or a person, but we can see the fruit, or a lack thereof!  Likewise, we cannot see the roots of a tree but we can identify the tree by the fruit that hangs from its limbs IE: whether it's apple, lemon, grapefruit, pear, peach, etc! Some believers require more time to bear fruit than others just as in nature a peach tree matures faster than an apple tree and peaches will bloom out before apples ever will. Jesus, in speaking of false prophets, said, “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt 7:16). Recognize them who? The character and behavior of a true believer as opposed to a countrfeit - a person in word only. Look at this scripture, “every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt 7:17-20).

I want to end this blog with a perfect illustration of God's grace I read recently:  

FIRST. Let's say that I go over to your house and I steal your bike. You catch me and I go to jail. That is justice. I got what I deserve.

SECOND. I go to your house and steal your bike. You catch me but you set me free. That is mercy. I did not get what I deserved. 

THIRD. I go to your house and steal your bike. You catch me, but you set me free AND you give me the bike! I got what I did not deserve. So in justice, we get what we deserve.  In mercy, we don't get what we deserve. In grace, we get what we do not deserve. GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DO NOT DESERVE FROM GOD.  We do not deserve forgiveness of our sins, but He gives it to us through Jesus. We do not deserve to go to heaven, but we are able to do that through Jesus.  So to be saved by grace means that the judgment due to us because of our sins against God (lying, stealing, adultery, fornication, coveting, lusts, hatred, etc.) will not befall us. THAT IS FORGIVENESS! That is the Grace of God without earning it!  Maybe you can use this illustration for other friends or family members that do not realize how glorious and wonderful God's grace really is!  

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

 

FORGIVENESS

 

We live in a world where hurt and pain are inevitable. We’ve all experienced wounds from others whether intentional or unintentional that have left us feeling broken, bitter, and betrayed. But as followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard. In Colossians 3:13, the Apostle Paul reminds us of the transformative power of forgiveness, both for ourselves and for others. How we can move from hurt to healing? 

Have you ever stepped on a nail? If you have, you know how painful it is. You have two choices, either leave it in which means you're going to have pain all the time, especially when you step down on that foot, and if you do it will probably get infected. The infection will get worse and gangrene can set in. Then you'll need your foot amputated! If you don't do something you about that you will die from the infection. Your second choice is, you can go through the brief pain of extraction and begin the process of healing. When it comes to our physical life, our physical health, our physical well-being, our physical wounds, what we are to do is so clear. Simple. Yet when it comes to our spiritual and emotional wounds, when we 'step on a nail' spiritually or emotionally, we so often let it fester. And it leads to things like anger, bitterness, hatred, and it prevents the healing process. It poisons our soul and threatens our faith.

There is a compelling story in scripture on forgiveness from Matthew chapter 18:21-35 where Peter is asking Jesus some questions on forgiveness. Jesus answers him and then expounds on it to make it more clear. See if you can relate to it or fit into the story of what Jesus is explaining. You need to read it in the Bible for yourself but I will break it down.

A man was so far in debt, a debt he could not pay, that he begged for his life. He pleaded not because he was called out but because he was sorry about the debt he had caused the king. In the scripture he pleads for mercy and promises he'll pay back all that he owes, and although he can't, he is sincere! The king sees his humility and heartfelt sincerity and forgives him. The entire debt was then moved from the mans account and placed on the kings account!  That kind of generosity, that kind of forgiveness is amazing. The man is debt free. As it goes, the free man goes into the city happy and relieved that the burden has been lifted off his shoulders. As he is walking he sees someone who owes him 100 silver coins. A significant amount, no doubt about it, but a drop in the hat compared to 10,000 bags of gold he owed the king.  So the man sees this guy who owes him 100 silver coins and goes up to him and immediately forgives him.

 .. ah, no. That's not what he did!  He goes up to the man and shouts, "Pay up!" The debtor pleads for mercy. He is sincere. He humbles himself begging and crying that he'll pay the debt but that he just needs a little time. But the guy insist he be paid what is owed. So the man who owed the king 10,000 bags of gold is now insisting, without mercy, for the guy who owes 100 silver coins be thrown into prison until he can pay the debt. What would you think if you were there? What would you think if you were able to see all of this and this man being forgiven a debt of 10,000 bags of gold but then you see this same man go out and not forgive the man with 100 silver coins? Well, those who were present at the time were appalled! They were outraged, and they went back to the king and reported what they had witnessed. After hearing this the king brings back that servant. The king is angry. 

The king speaks, "'What's with you? I forgave your debt of 10,000 bags of gold and you didn't forgive someone who owes you 100 silver coins?? Okay. I'm reinstating your debt. I'm giving you back all the 10,000 bags of gold. It's yours. Yours until you pay it off." But the man will never be able to pay it off. He will die in prison. Did you know unforgiveness is a sin? The Good book tells us "The wages of sin is death" <spiritual death>.  So, where do YOU fit into the story? I'll give you a hint. You're not the king. You and I on our own owe the King 10,000 bags of gold. That's our debt. SO MUCH. It's a debt we can't even begin to repay. Truth is, even just one cent, just one, we can't even repay. Let's go back. Not a year, not a month, but just last week. Did you sin at all? Self righteousness? Shaming? Judging? Pettiness? Pride? Gossip? Impatience? Cursing? Swearing? Lust? Laziness? Or maybe something else?

Because of our sinful nature here is the hard truth, sin for you and me has become a way of life. Scriptures says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). ALL OF US, no matter who we are, have a deep and desperate need of forgiveness. Forgiveness for a debt we cannot repay. Forgiveness matters because sin creates a separation between us and God. How else might you fit into this story? We all fit into this story with the same God. People have hurt us either intentionally or unintentionally. We've been broken. We're hurt. We're wounded. Maybe as a child you were neglected, abandoned, or sexually abused. Maybe you were called a name on the playground and it stuck. Maybe you were humiliated by a teacher in front of the class (that would be me). Maybe a friend betrayed you, a spouse, a family member. Maybe someone ruined your name by giving you bad financial advice. Maybe someone committed a crime and pointed at you as the guilty party. We've all been hurt in little or big ways. What will make a difference is what will we do with that wound. We can hold onto it, and we'll be edgy, angry, have trust issues and we definitely won't heal. OR, we can forgive the debtor and the debt thus begin the process of healing.

Why us it so difficult to forgive? I know it's difficult because I had several deep deep wounds no person should ever have had to deal with in childhood. It is so difficult to forgive because we don't feel forgiven and because we don't feel forgiven, we feel we must somehow earn it, do some good works, prove we're not bad, prove our goodness, because we have to be pleasing in order to be accepted. Many will not agree with that sentence but in reality that is exactly how we are living our lives. Because we think we have to earn our forgiveness, we are making sure other people are earning our forgiveness too.  Another grave mistake we make is that we don't believe our sin is that costly. We use excuses like, "My mistake(s), my sins are not that good but hey, they aren't that bad either. I'M NOT THAT BAD. I mean, I can appreciate forgiveness, but what this other person did to me is so much bigger and I just can't let that go. Who in their right mind could forgive that?" Ever feel that way? It's so hard for us to forgive because we don't see the intrinsic value of a person. We live in a me- me- me self world today. Just look at all the posted selfies online!

There are consequences to the lack of forgiveness. Lack of forgiveness is a sin. It not only creates a separation between US AND THE ONE WHO SINNED AGAINST US, but also a separation between us and God. If I'm holding onto that sin, I CAN'T HOLD ONTO GOD. When we refuse to forgive it robs us of joy and contentment, leaving us angry and bitter causing our good emotions to be frozen. 

Do you need to forgive someone? Who comes up in your mind? Someone who annoys you? Disagrees with you? Someone who betrayed you?  A person who literally turned your life upside down? Sometimes the person you need to forgive most is you! The Holy Spirit moved Paul to write these words in Colossians 3:13, "Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Often there is a stronghold, a tension preventing you, isn't there? There's this fight in you to keep hating someone, to detest what they did to you, to loathe their very presence. It's hard to get past it. I know, I struggled with it for years against my abuser and also extreme bullying by a teacher and 4 of his star students. Which finally brings me to this question, What do you think will give you the power to forgive? THE GREATEST MOTIVATION FOR FORGIVENESS IS CHRISTS' LOVE!

Jesus did not accidently step on a nail. The nails were perfectly driven through his feet. And not only were nails driven through his feet, they were driven through his hands. When Jesus was mocked, spit on, humiliated, laughed at, whipped, stripped naked, denied water, pierced through while being crucified on a cross what did He do? He cried out to God, "Father FORGIVE THEM, they don't realize what they are doing." The key to forgiveness is realizing that when JESUS WENT TO THAT CROSS 2000 YEARS AGO He paid for all of your sins with His love. And He paid for all the sins of the people against you in full with His love. You don't need to hold on. You don't need to be angry. You don't need to be bitter. You're free. Free from your own sin and free to forgive others who have wronged you. Forgiveness is at the very heart of Christianity. It's why Jesus came. REDEMPTION. He bought back our souls with His life. He paid our debt in full.  Gods plan of salvation was/is restoring us to a right relationship with God. Forgiveness is the grace between God and us and against God and others. By embracing the power of forgiveness, as exemplified by the Lord’s forgiveness towards us we discover the grace that moves us from hurt to healing.

Until He comes,

-Pat-

Don't Tell Me What To Do

 

Why is it people hate to hear there are rules to follow and much more when they are expected to adhere to them?

The rebellious side of human nature will often buck at the idea of having to follow rules. For many of us they are off-putting. Such as:

No parking

No smoking

No swimming

No dogs allowed

No open containers

No one under 21

The 'no this' and 'no that' can be annoying especially if the 'do nots' and 'shall nots' are based on religion. And I might add, exclusively if we believe the do not's require obedience to laws we are unable keep in the first place! Take for instance, Christianity.  What is the purpose of having a set of laws like the 10 commandments if they are impossible to keep? Who hasn't taken something that wasn't theirs? Who hasn't coveted another persons possession? Who has dishonored their parents? Who is guilty of not loving  their neighbor as themselves? Who has not loved God with all their heart, soul, and strength? And then add to that, if we offend in one command we're guilty of all of them (James 2:10). What is the purpose of law if they are impossible to keep?? 

The Bible teaches the purpose of the law was to point out sin so we would recognize it, avoid it, and realize we need a solution! If there wasn't a rule saying, "DANGER. DO NOT SWIM HERE" how would you know the waters were unsafe maybe due to an algae bloom, alligators, or a flesh-eating bacteria? Without THIS warning, you would be apt to jump right in. Likewise, the Bible warns of certain sins. If there wasn't a law saying, "Thou shalt not steal" how would you ever know to avoid doing it or realize it as something that is lawfully and morally wrong? The law is a teacher, a guide, and its objective is to make us realize we have all committed infractions and fallen short of where we need to be in a spiritual sense.  Because of our sins we lack purity. We lack righteousness. We lack goodness. We lack integrity, etc. We lack whatever is necessary to make it into heaven where holiness dwells. And no matter what we do or offer, whether our own goodness, kindness, sacrifice, or otherwise, it isn't enough to exonerate us from the attached consequences associated with sin. This is what the blood sacrifice of Christ is for—and it is why mankind needs a Savior. We will never get to heaven without our advocate Jesus as our propitiation. "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).

Consider the prison systems. Convicted criminals are sometimes pardoned or their sentences are commuted. Others are released from prison early. Are these people pardoned and released with the idea that they can re-enter society and repeat the EXACT SAME CRIMES that put them in prison?? Of course not! The very idea is absurd. The police would simply re-arrest them and incarcerate them again—probably with a stronger sentence! How is it then, that Christians can believe that the judgment of God somehow requires less justice with His Law than do physical, civil authorities with theirs? Hmm? 

It insults God to suggest that He would give His Son for people’s sins, only to see them continue in the very things that required Christ’s death! Read that again.  That doesn't even make sense. To believe the deception that forgiveness, through Christ’s blood, permits born-again Christians to freely break the law is hypocrisy. It not only insults God but the intelligence of His Master Plan. So, I will repeat Paul and say, "shall we then continue in sin that grace may abound?" The Apostle Paul replies with a resounding “God forbid” (Romans 6:2). To desire to continue in sin shows a misunderstanding of this abundant grace and a contempt for Jesus' sacrifice. Either we believe what God says is true or we don't.

Consider this scripture carefully: “What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?…Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone…I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils [demons] also believe, and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? See you how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?…You see then, how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (vs. 14, 17-22, 24). The answer to Paul’s rhetorical question is obvious. We cannot. Finally, notice how the Bible asks, “Do we then make void the law through faith?” It answers its own question. “GOD FORBID: yes, we ESTABLISH THE LAW” (Rom. 3:31). The ministers of this world may permit people to break God’s Law—usually because they want their congregation to pay them a salary—but GOD FORBIDS law-breaking!

It's as straight forward as this: like the demons, many people do believe God exists. However, most of these same people do not tremble at the existence of God enough to obey what He asks—which even demons do!  Look at John's words 1 John 5:3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." Paul also taught that God’s Law is:

Holy, just, good and spiritual (Romans. 7:12, 14). 

It endures forever (Psalm. 111:7-8) 

It is perfect (Psalm. 19:7). 

James calls the Ten Commandments “the royal law…of liberty” (James. 2:8-12). 

Christ said it will never be done away (Matthew. 5:17-19).

Deceiving impostors teach that Christians must focus on “just having love,” while ignoring plain scriptures like Romans 13:10, which says, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Also see I John 5:1-3.) 

No wonder the apostle John said that any who claim to “know Him [Christ], and keeps not the commandments, is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him” (I John 2:4). Strong words! I have known many people who claimed to know Christ but did not keep the commandments. Their "faith" without the works of obedience was dead. We now see how God views them. It takes faith in Christ for any Christian to be able to keep God’s Law. One gift is that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to help achieve obedience. Recall that Christ said that He could of His own self do “nothing,” and that the Father did the works in Him. The Holy Spirit will complete the work in you as you walk in servitude to the one who set you free from sins grasp.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

BUDDHISM TRUTH

 

Many people have embraced Buddhism with its promise of enlightenment through exercises of meditation. In fact, two of my social media contacts are Buddhist, another is Hindu. Each hold their personal reasons for rejecting traditional forms of Christianity. The hope is to find peace, tranquility, and enlightenment (nirvana) in Buddhism or other Eastern religions. And though Buddhist meditation may cause feelings of calm, the bottom line is it is a false "religion." Using the records of the Bible, here is why:

1. Buddhists have a false view of God:

The original 'Buddha' taught that there are gods (plural) but these are just spirits on the same path towards so- called enlightenment.  Some branches of Buddhism worship the Buddha as a god, others do not. The Bible says that there is one true God. All other gods are false. No other God exists except the true God.  For example the Lord God says 'I am the first and I am the last and beside me there is no God' (Isa. 44:6). Jesus said, 'This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent' (John 17:3).  The Bible also says: 'We know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God but one' (1 Cor. 8:4) and 'the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God' (1 Cor. 10:20). All who worship different gods (or even themselves) as well as or instead of the one true God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, are lost.  That includes all Buddhists. Those words may seem harsh but they ARE NOT MY WORDS OR MY PERSONAL JUDGEMEMT, I am simply repeating GODS INSTRUCTIONAL WORDS from 2,000+ years ago. You want guidance? You want enlightenment? Then you must follow the One True God.

2. Buddhists have a wrong view of Jesus Christ: Buddhists believe that Jesus was merely a man, some would say he was a man who reached a high level of enlightenment but that he was a mere man nonetheless. The Bible teaches that to have a false view of Christ is fatal.  'He that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him' (John 3:36). That is so clear! 'If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins' (John 8:24).  That is so clear! 'And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life' (1 John 5:11-12). That is so clear! 'Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God' (2 John 9). That is so clear! Anybody who denies the Person (that He was God and true, sinless man), the Doctrine and the Work of Christ is lost. That includes all Buddhists.  Gods words are very clear here.

3. Buddhists have a false way of salvation! Buddhism teaches that man has to work in order to find salvation from suffering. He does this by following the 'noble truths': Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Awareness, Right Meditation. That's exactly why Jesus came, because man is incapable of achieving perfection in these areas.

This is just the proud error that man has believed  since the beginning: self-salvation.  

The Buddhist does not believe that he is a sinner and needs to be saved from the guilt, punishment and pollution of sin. Buddhists do not have a correct view of sin: the transgression of the holy law of God.  Buddhists have no understanding of original sin: that all people are born totally flawed, in sin, because they sinned 'in Adam'.  They believe that man is basically good and can achieve enlightenment by his own efforts. However, all the supposed good works man does are eloquently described in Scripture as 'dung' (Phil. 3:8) and 'filthy rags' (Isaiah 64:9). The Christian does not want to be found in his own righteousness, but to be found in Christ.  Paul (who was a Pharisee before his conversion) says this: 'But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and I do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith'(Phil 3:7-9). 

*** When God saves a person, all glory must go to Him.  No sinner can boast in God's presence that he attained salvation in any sense by his own efforts as a Buddhist does.  Any sinner who believes that salvation is by works is lost, no matter how sincere and outwardly nice he is.  That includes all Buddhists. 

4. Peace is to be found in Christ alone. Peace comes from having one's sins forgiven in the blood of Jesus Christ.  When a sinner knows, really knows, that he has eternal life, trusting that Jesus Christ bore the curse and guilt of his sins, he has peace.  How can a Buddhist have peace?  He never knows if he has done enough to achieve salvation!! Think about that. It's why he strives on his own merit everyday HOPING HE'S DOING ENOUGH OR HAS DONE ENOUGH but even then he doubts because in reality, he has never (or ever will) reach Nirvana. If he had no doubt, he would cease trying to reach Nirvana! He can never tell if on his death he will cease to exist (which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism!), come back as a worse or better form of life, or awake in hell. What a torment that is! (The child of God knows peace: 'I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety' (Ps. 4:8); 'Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them'(Ps. 119:165). Christ is called the 'Prince of Peace' (Isa. 9:6); and 'the chastisement of our peace was upon Him' (Isa. 53:5), meaning that the punishment which brought peace to sinners was upon Him. Only by satisfying God's justice on the cross could Christ make peace for sinners with God. However, to the wicked 'there is no peace' (Isa. 57:21) because they 'have not known the way of peace' (Rom. 3:17). To His followers Christ says, 'Peace I give unto you' (John 14:27). Many of the Epistles start with the greeting of peace (Rom. 1:7 etc.).  The fruit of the Spirit is peace (Gal. 5:22). Christ's work brings peace: 'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Rom. 5:1).  'For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us'(Eph. 2:14). He 'made peace through the blood of his cross' (Col. 1:20). All who reject the peace-making Atonement of Christ on the cross are lost, including all Buddhists. The scriptures are infinitely clear.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

ARE YOU A VIRGIN?

 The Parable of the Ten Virgins from the book of Matthew (25: 1-13) is a reminder to be prepared for the unexpected second coming of Jesus Christ.  In the parable there were 5 WISE virgins who were prepared and ready for Christ’s return. The other 5 virgins were FOOLISH because they did not prepare themselves for Christs' return and as a result, found themselves shut out of God’s Kingdom. NOTE: Each of these 10 virgins were anticipating the Lord’s return; none were atheists or non-believers, yet 5 were shut of the heaven. Why? Why were 50% of them rejected? My 2 questions today are: What exactly does it mean to be prepared and ready? And, if you are a believer, in which set of virgins would you place yourself? Wise or unwise? Let's look at Matthew 25: 1-13 first.

[Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.]

The ten virgins in the parable represent Christians not non-believers. Jesus is speaking to those who made the confession in their lives to follow Him! What is the spiritual reference to virgins? "Virgins" in this context pursue only Jesus, not other religions, beliefs, or doctrine. They are devoted and engaged only to Him. Virgins are not tainted.  They have not committed spiritual adultery by giving themselves to those things but have given themselves solely to Him = virgins in the spiritual sense. Note also that all 10 virgins had fallen asleep waiting for Jesus who tarried long until they heard the cry "the Bridegroom is coming." They were then AWAKENED (called) and went forth to meet Him. Five of the virgins had plenty of oil in their lamps to keep burning and shinning their light until He came after tarrying for so long. But the other five virgins lacked enough oil to keep their light shinning so their lamps went out. We distinctly have 2 sets of Christians Jesus is making reference to in this parable! Let's break it down:

1) It's obvious Jesus is represented as the Bridegroom.

2) Five wise virgins (devoted Christians) were prepared for His return. They are true and faithful to Him and sincere in their walk. They  have plenty of oil which kept their lamps burning.

3) Five unwise virgins (Christians in word only) were not prepared for His return. They did no have enough oil to keep their lamps burning. They are, in fact, hypocrites. They 'agree' in word with what the Bible teaches and even accept the Gospel as being truth, but don't practice what they preach (hypocrites). They attempt to live the Christian life but without the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep them going. They have never really put their trust in Christ and they have never nurtured the Holy Spirit which would have enabled them to walk the walk and live out their faith. They may know “about Jesus,” but they do not have a personal relationship “with Jesus.” As a result, there is no change or real evidence of Jesus Christ in their lives. They continue to live for the pleasures and treasures of this world and not for the kingdom of heaven so their faith became stagnant. There is no oil in their lamps because over time what was once there through a so-called conversion is now gone because their oil was neglected in exchange for worldly things and now they are empty. Until Jesus returns for Hs Church, they will not have the strength or endurance to withstand the trials and temptations that face those who belong to Christ because they do not have the Holy Spirit to enable them to do so.

4. Oil represents the Holy Spirit. It is the power that sanctifies, or sets apart a person from the rest of the world, or from hypocrites. It represents the essence of God being in and throughout a true Christians' life.

5. Lamps are the vessel which carry light. Our souls are vessels which produce spiritual Light that shines more and more until the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18)

6. The call at MIDNIGHT in this parable represents when things are dark as in dark and gloomy, disastrous, and uncertain. It is not referring to a literal hour because how could Jesus come at midnight when in other parts of the world it is still morning?  Midnight, therefore, infers dubious times, uncertain times, problematic times, hard times, troubled times, disastrous times, even catastrophic. We are headed that way even now. A midnight inference means dark without light. When the world has removed Jesus, the bible, religion, when you can no longer pray or worship God openly or be silenced or cut off for your belief in Jesus things will be very dark.

The key to understanding this parable is not the lamp or the wick, but the oil. Five virgins had enough oil and five of them did not. Without the Holy Spirit, we may have a perfectly good lamp, but no oil to keep it burning. Some people respond to the Gospel and have the correct understanding of the Gospel, but they only have an intellectual assent to it. It has no affect on their lives, no change is evident because they haven’t committed themselves to it even though they label themselves "Christian." This is not enough to save them. Even the demons know who Jesus is, but they are not saved!  Sincere Christians are the wise virgins and the foolish ones are hypocrites who think they are saved but never sought Christ to have a personal, sincere, relationship with Him.. Hypocrites profess their love of God and show many outward signs of being faithful to Christ, but the truth is only found within. We might try to fool one another or even ourselves into thinking we’re living for Christ, but God is never fooled. And why wouldn't the wise virgins share their oil?? Because a wise virgin cannot give the Holy Spirit to another person. I cannot give the Holy Spirit to anyone, nor can they get to heaven on my coat tails. True conversion is evident. How? The love of Christ constrains them to live no longer to themselves, but to Him that died for them.

God sees if we have a bitter or hollow heart. He knows if our words and actions are for show. 

Time will run out for each of us one day. Don’t be caught off guard and unprepared. Pave your way now with a heart, mind, and soul aligned to God before your time runs out. Your eternal resting place depends on it. The virgins anticipated the groom to come earlier than he did. So it is with us and Christ. Our idea of perfect timing sometimes differs from His idea of perfect timing and we can grow weary "waiting." But we must always be prepared by walking in faith, reading His Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to chastise, change, transform, and conform us. Trust that His timing is truly perfect. In His timing, we’re often called to wait. Don’t let the waiting time lull you into a false sense of having endless time. Don’t be fooled that you can wait and still be prepared when it matters, because you don’t know when that time will be. We must prepare our hearts and souls for the long haul. That includes developing a personal relationship with the Lord, discerning His will for our lives, leading where He follows, and loving one another. None of these things can happen the moment we realize our time on Earth is ending. Lead your life as if the end is today, but be prepared to wait. DON'T BE THE ONE TO HEAR, "Lord, lord, open to us!’ And then He says, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you" (Matthew 25:10-12). Think of that!! Jesus said He did not know 5 of the virgins. He didn't say "I kind of know you" OR "I used to know you" OR "At one time I knew you." No, He said I DON'T KNOW YOU" Some version say, "I NEVER knew you!" What a sad outcome for not being prepared and vigilant! Make sure you have oil in your lamps to keep burning until you hear the cry that will call you up to Him."

Until He Comes

-Pat-

Jesus WAS God In The Flesh

 

It is in Christ Jesus that God was and is manifested to all of mankind. Jesus said, "When you have seen me, you have seen the Father, for I am in the Father and the Father in me." Jesus and God are one in the same. How can that be you ask? Well, to be perfectly honest, Paul concurs regarding this great mystery ... God IN CHRIST, that GOD Himself became a man that we might know Him. He openly spoke of this as a "mystery." The mystery is God manifested in the flesh (Jesus). Paul said it in Colossians 2: 2-3. "My purpose is that they (every believer and follower in Jesus) may be encouraged in heart and unite in love, so that they may have the full riches of COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

This "mystery" had at one time been hidden but now is revealed in our time to Gods people. Jesus spoke about it. He called it the mystery of the kingdom of God in Mark 4:11 as He revealed Himself to His disciples. Did you know if I counted correctly, Paul used the word mystery about 21 times in the books he wrote? Each time, it involved a declaration of spiritual truth which of course was revealed by God through divine inspiration. But for us now, after His disciples are long gone, has been revealed by the Spirit in God's written Word! Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:14) so He still continues to reveal Himself through the written Word of the Bible to this day! The mystery of God is the consummation of all God's plan in bringing His Kingdom in Christ to fulfillment (Ephesians 1: 9-10, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Revelation 10:7). At the time of Christ (Biblical history) this was not clear though the "mystery" stood in bodily form before the disciples! This mystery is now disclosed to the Lord's Church (Colossians1:25-26) through the testimony the disciples'  in writing, all of which point to Christ and represent the final disclosure of God's Word to mankind. 

There is NO UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S WORD apart from a personal relationship with His son, Jesus (Matthew 12:50, John 14:23, 2 John 1:6).  CHRIST IS THE MYSTERY IN THOSE WHO BELIEVE- as is the mystery of "Christ in you the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). A key to having the "full riches of complete understanding (Colossians 2:2) is to be born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10),

The Bible reveals the heart of the gospel: the mystery of true godliness, what it means, and how you arrive there. The bottom line is, YOU cannot get there by anything you do, say, perform, or wish for. We, on our own volition, cannot please God by our perceived goodness; WE MUST depend on Christ (2 Corinthians 3:5) for salvation. Jesus was/is our perfect example of what pleases God, and thus our example of how to live. And since as humans with a fallen nature, we cannot be this perfect model on our own. We need Christ as our intercessor because we will fail and do fail outside of Christ. When a person accepts and believes the sacrifice Jesus made by dying for our sins, He gives every person the power to overcome the temptation to sin as He overcame sin. "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I  overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Jesus gives us His same power not to give into temptation. It is, therefore, possible to live a life pleasing to God through the power of Jesus Christ. It is why you need that personal relationship with Him. Yes, it is a mystery alright!

God has truly revealed His complete Word to His followers (Colossians 1:26) who have "heard and learned" the gospel (John 6:45, also refer to Romans 10:17 and John 3:16-18), because it was they who fathom "the glorious riches of this mystery" (Colossians 1:27). Simply, "the mystery of God is God's plan of salvation through Jesus. Why? Because you and I would never have been able to comprehend the way to eternal life without the coming of Jesus, His death and resurrection. 

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

The Righteous Will Scarcely Be Saved

1 PETER 4: 18-19 "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" When you read this verse, do you ask yourself something like, "What? What does it mean "if" the righteous are barely saved? How can that be? I thought Jesus saves the repentant sinner, period. How can we be barely saved?" Answer: It is not that we are "not quite saved or barely saved" as the verse to some may seem to be implying, because we are certainly saved; but it is because of the great danger and difficulties we encounter and go through that we are scarcely saved. Let me expound.

We were by nature children of wrath, dead in trespasses and sins, with no power or wish to turn to God. But through grace we have been led by the Holy Spirit to see our danger and to seek Christ; a change of heart has been wrought in us by the Spirit of God; we have become a new creatures in Christ Jesus and have passed from death unto life. But difficulties are not over. Snares and temptations lie in our path; and our hearts, though renewed by grace, is by no means free from sin. We find the Christian life to be no smooth and easy course—but a race, a strife, a warfare, from first to last; and often has each of us to mourn over his own slip-up's and shortcomings. And we experience trials of another kind too—losses, sorrows, afflictions; for God does not leave His children un-chastised! The chastisements He sends are proofs of love, rather than of anger—and sometimes seem to fall heaviest on the best Christians. I have been chastised on many occasions and by it have understood, learned, and matured further in the spirit changing little by little, from glory to glory, as I become more like Him.

Therefore, it is through danger and difficulty, temptation and trial—that the Christian is saved. Many a rough place must we pass; many a battle must we fight; many a sorrow must we bear—before our course be done. We ARE saved, but "scarcely saved." See? Tried and harassed we may be—but not lost. Worn, tempted, and persecuted—but not cast away. God's love and faithfulness are engaged for our salvation. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone pluck them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and my Father are one" (John 10:27-30).

But now comes a solemn question: If the righteous is scarcely saved—then what will become of the unrighteous? I'm not asking personally, it is the Bible that puts this question about the unrighteous person. The words are these: "If the righteous one is scarcely saved—then where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:18). They are in fact the words of God, though written by the apostle Peter. They are God's words to you if you are among the ungodly and the sinners—God's solemn question to your soul. A question, but a question without an answer: The answer is left to you.

"The ungodly and the sinner." Why are there two words instead of one? On purpose, it would seem, to take in sinners of all sorts—the hardened transgressor, the man who lives in habitual sin, the bold wicked man—the weak and wavering man, the light and careless, the worldly, the empty professor of faith —all who are living without God in the world, all who are not washed in the blood of Christ and renewed by the Spirit. It is quite plain that the apostle means here all who are not righteous; he puts the righteous on one side, and the ungodly and the sinner on the other side; and on one side or the other, he means to take in everybody. It is just the same as if he had said, "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall all the rest appear?"

Now, ask yourself  honestly whether you are among the righteous. The question is not whether you are better or worse than your neighbors; that has nothing to do with it—but are you righteous? Does salvation apply to you? Are you converted? Do you believe with the heart? Are you seeking daily to live to God? If not, then this question about the ungodly and the sinner is for you. Perhaps you do not like either of these words. You do not pretend to be righteous—yet you are not so bad, you think, as those who are called ungodly or sinners.

Then, I ask you, if neither righteous nor ungodly—what are you? Put your finger on that word in the Bible which describes you. You cannot. There is nothing in the Bible between righteous and unrighteous, godly and ungodly, reconciled and unreconciled. And if you are not righteous in God's sight, then before Him—whatever you may be in your own eyes or in the eyes of the world—before Him, you are ungodly or sinful. I urge you—weigh this well. And now to the question itself, "Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" This question must not be taken by itself; it hangs upon what has gone before about the righteous: "If the righteous one is scarcely saved—then where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

The full meaning is this. Seeing that even the righteous man is scarcely saved, that his dangers and difficulties are great; that he finds it necessary to "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11), to "press toward the mark" (Philippians 3:14), to "strive to enter through the narrow gate" (Luke 13:24), and that, though saved to the uttermost by Jesus Christ—yet it is as one is rescued from the water or the flames—seeing all this, what will become of the wicked? Shall the righteous be scarcely saved—and you so easily? Shall he reach Heaven by so rough a road—and you by one so smooth? Shall he go in by the straight gate and the narrow way—and shall you choose the broad gate and the wide road, and yet find it leads you at last to the same happy place? Shall he take up his cross and follow Christ—and shall you follow nothing but your own will, and yet win Christ in the end? Never repenting, never turning, never believing—and yet saved? Finding without seeking; not running the race, and yet winning the prize; wearing a crown, though never having taken up your cross? Impossible! Reason says so—conscience says so, and, as plainly as words can speak, God Himself has said so. Have you never read of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:30), of the sheep and the goats, of the right hand and the left (Matthew 25:33)? 

Do you remember what the Bible says about a broad road and a narrow road, a straight gate and a wide gate and about the places to which they lead? Here are Jesus' own words: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). The righteous and the wicked are traveling different roads—and will come to different ends. It is true, they are mixed now, as plants growing in one field are mixed; but it won't always be so. A great separation day is coming, when every plant which God has not planted shall be rooted up (Matthew 25:13); and all refuges of lies shall be swept away (Isaiah 28:17), and the true sheep of Christ from every quarter shall be gathered together into one fold, into which no mere pretender shall ever come. To that great day, this question itself seems to point, "Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Appear when? Why, on that very day when the Lord Jesus shall appear in His glory, and the saints who slept shall appear with Him, and His waiting people on earth shall appear with joy to meet Him. Then, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Appear they must, somewhere. They cannot hide themselves. "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him" (Revelation 1:7).

Oh, unbeliever, where will you appear, and how will you feel then? In vain will you call upon the mountains and rocks to fall on you, and hide you "from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!" (Revelation 6:16). You must come forth—you cannot escape from that all-seeing eye—you must meet the Judge. Where will you appear? I leave the question to your conscience. "If the righteous one is scarcely saved—then where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Look on to that great day—so sure to come and coming so swiftly! Look to it as if it has already come—imagine yourself even now before the throne; imagine that, just as you are, you are suddenly called to stand there. Where do you appear? What do you feel? Which side are you placed on? What words do you hear? How does it fare with your soul? Can you think of this—and yet continue in sin and still put off coming to Christ?  His word cannot fail. Not one true believer shall be lost. "He is also able to save to the uttermost, those who come to God through Him" (Hebrews 7:25)—and He will save them with an everlasting salvation.

Turn from sin and the world. 

Leave the broad road and begin to walk in the narrow way. 

It is a safe way, though narrow—the only safe way; and happy, though rough. 

However, it is not always rough; it has many green spots, many pleasant places; and even when rough, One is with us in it, to help and cheer us by His presence.

I urge the undecided, set out on the narrow road without delay! Too much time has been lost already—lose no more. No longer run the risk of appearing among the ungodly and the sinners at His coming—flee to Christ at once; be instant and urgent at the mercy seat; pray for the Holy Spirit, for light, pardon, grace, and strength; you may be reckoned among the righteous even now, and be saved in the day of the Lord! Light is growing dimmer, Time is growing shorter. Jesus is coming to gather His righteous.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-