A New Voice of Freedom

Podcast 143, Acts, “Pt 7 B, Ch 7”Again, Stephen makes a comparison between Moses delivering the Children of Israel from Egypt and Christ delivering the Children of Israel from sin.” It was the children of Israel that caused Moses to flee into the desert for 40 years. It was Christ who went into the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted of the Devil. It was Christ who was crucified by the Jews because he openly declared that he was the God of the Old Testament, that he was the fulfillment of prophecy. Rather than shy away from his mission, Stephen boldly accuses the mob of crucifying Christ and of falsely accusing him of blasphemy. He is condemning the mob and they know it. Acts 7:35-36This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.Just as Moses delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, Christ came to deliver the Jews from apostasy. Just as their forefathers rejected Christ and killed the prophets, they rejected Christ and killed him. Notice the boldness of Stephen’s words. Acts 7:37-39This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.Stephen condemns the Israelites for idol worship.Acts 7:40-44Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.Stephen makes it clear that nothing has changed. Acts 7:45-50Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?Stephen also makes it clear that it was Jesus whom the Children of Israel rejected and it was Jesus whom the Jews crucified. Acts 7:51-53Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.Who can read the story of Stephen without seeing someone with the heart of a lion. On the other hand, notice the response of the mob.Acts 7:54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.They are like mad dogs. Stephen, on the other hand, ignores the snarling mob. He looks up into heaven. Acts 7:55-56But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.Because they don’t have the Holy Ghost they clap their hands over their ears shutting out all truth and then charge at him like angry bulls. Acts 7:57-58Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.Stephen, on the other hand, the only one who was calm, does not take his eyes off heaven. Even as they are casting stones, Stephen calls upon God.Acts 7:59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.Then in his final Act, Stephen in a Christlike Prayer, echoes the words of Christ himself while dying on the cross. Acts 7:60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.The soft phrase, “He fell asleep” shows that amidst the chaos and horror, Stephen was as calm as a baby closing its eyes in sleep. Meanwhile the angry mob is still gnashing their teeth. The story of Stephen the martyr is the story of Christianity. Christ said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Is it any wonder that at his martyrdom he saw Christ. John wrote.1 John 3:2Beloved, 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.Was not Stephen like him?  But there is something else that we are taught in the story of the Stoning of Stephen. We are taught of the power of the Holy Ghost. In the absence of Christ, without the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Christianity could not have survived the persecution. Let’s review the words of Stephen.Acts 7:49-56Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.The Holy Ghost appeared to witness the baptism of Jesus. The Holy Ghost descended upon the multitude at the day of Pentecost.Acts 2:2-4And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.Christ said,John 16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.Without the gift of the Holy Ghost, Christianity is but a word. Without the gift of the Holy Ghost a Christian is but a name. But lest we think he must come with “cloven tongues like as of fire” let us remember the profound words of Elijah.1 Kings 19:11-12And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.It was that still small voice that the mob lacked. Without it, upon hearing Stephen testify of the Savior, rather than hearken to the truth they ‘gnashed on him with their teeth.’ Whereas, Steven, upon his death, “being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.”

Podcast 142, Acts, “Pt 7 A, Ch 7”In the Stoning of Stephen, we have the story of the persecution of early Christians. Several things make this story interesting. (1) It is the first martyrdom of modern Christianity. (2) We get a powerful insight into the wicked hearts of those who oppose Christianity. (3) Stephen, though he knows they are going to stone him, gives a precise and comprehensive argument for Christ beginning with Abraham. (4) We are introduced to Paul, then called Saul, A Pharisee who concurs with the killers. They lay their coats at Paul’s feat.  And (5) Stephen has a vision of Christ which parallels the vision that Paul will later have of Christ. Here Paul is fighting against Christianity. A short time later Paul becomes one of the great champions of Christianity. It is accepted tradition, but not explicitly recorded, that Paul himself became a martyr probably by the orders of Nero. Steven’s martyrdom begins with a simple question by his killers.Acts 7:1Then said the high priest, Are these things so?Considering the circumstances, Stephen’s answer is astonishingly calm and well thought through, as if, rather than facing death, he was in a synagogue leading a discussion.Acts 7:2-7And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. All those present, particularly Paul, a learned Pharisee, would have perfectly understood and agreed with Stephen’s words. Following the Abrahamic Covenant, Stephen continues with the law of circumcision and the division into twelve tribes.Act 7:8And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.Nothing in Stephen’s remarks would inflame them against him. Stephen continues with the story of Joseph being sold into Egypt. Acts 7:9-10And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.One could perhaps ask why is Stephen giving a history lesson to scholars waiting to kill him, yet who are more prepared than he in the law of Moses? First of all, it is quite ingenious, for he is undermining their cause and demonstrating their hypocrisy. It isn’t that they have forgotten the history, it is that they have forgotten that Christ, the one whom they crucified, is the Jehovah of the Old Testament, whom they pretend to worship. He is the one who made the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Stephen calmly continues his history lesson. Acts 7: 11-16Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.Still there is no contention from the mob for Stephen has said nothing contrary to their beliefs. Hundreds of years pass in the Jewish history as Stephen reminds them of the story of Moses. Moses is unquestionably one of the most unique characters in the Old Testament. He was born a Jew but raised as an Egyptian Prince. The story ties back into the Abrahamic CovenantActs 7:17-22But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months: And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.Again, the mob is pacified. Moses is their law giver and hero. Though a prince of Egypt, Moses never forgot his roots. He was a man of destiny.Acts 7:22-28And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?Suddenly the story of Stephen becomes ominous. The mob who rejected Christ and crucified him is about to stone Stephen. Christ came as their deliverer and they crucified him. They have the same spirit as the Israelite who rejected Moses as their deliverer. It is clear that Stephen knew exactly what he was doing in recounting the history of the Jews. He is condemning his accusers. It is not likely that the learned mob did not understand Stephen’s implied accusation. Let’s return to Acts Chapter six and review the people who make up the mob.Acts 6:9-13Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. The Mob immediately change and grow very angry.Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:The council was comprised of Chief Priests, Sadducees, Elders, and Scribes. The mob was also comprised of Greek-speaking Jews who were once slaves to the Romans but now free men. They were not so-called ‘rebel-rousers.’ They were educated, independent Jews who lived in a broad area. The growing sect of Christians posed a threat. They have the spirit of Satan for they “set up false witnesses.” They aren’t searching for truth. They are seeking for justification to stone Stephen by using the Mosaic Law.Unabashed, Stephen continues his narrative. Acts 7:29-34Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.Stephen is boldly bearing witness of Jesus Christ for he is ‘The God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” The mob is now inflamed.Please join us next time as we continue the remarkable story of the Stoning of Stephen. 

Podcast 141, Acts, “Pt 6, Ch 6”These are the early stages of the church, and we begin to see a division of labor. Acts 6:1-4And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.Much later, Paul explains why the offices in the church are necessary. First Paul calls for worthiness, humility, meekness, and unity in service. In other words, one office, though different, is not greater than another; neither are the officers greater than those whom they serve.Ephesians 4:1-6I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.We are all given grace regardless of our callings or positions or service or station in life.Ephesians 4:7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.Then Paul explains why the offices in the church are essential.Ephesians 4:11-16And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.One could spend much time on such profound doctrine but let me emphasize the core. First, Christ is the center: “For the edifying of the body of Christ.” Next Paul calls for a unity of the faith: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith.” In other words, those offices are necessary until all Christians come to a unity of the faith. That is one of the primary purposes of the offices in the church, to bring the world into a unity of faith. Next, the purpose is to help us to know Christ: “and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” The reason is simple. We must come “unto a perfect man.” In Matthew 5:48, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” And who is our model? “Unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” The entire purpose of the church is to make us more Christlike. Paul emphasized that the head of the church is not the officers no matter how high their calling. The head is Jesus Christ: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Notice the qualifications for those who are called to serve. The qualifications are not power, wealth, position, fame, or personality or education.  It was faith in Jesus Christ.Acts 6:5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas.A procedure was set up. To understand the importance of that procedure let’s go back earlier to one of the great events in the divine order of the church. Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.The key words is ‘keys.’  They are keys of the priesthood. The House of God is a house of order. We see this at work in the calling of Stephen and the other six in their priesthood offices of caring for the poor. Acts 6:6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.We are taught of the importance of the ‘laying on of hands’ by those who are in authority. That brings Paul’s words back to our minds, “till we all come in the unity of the faith.” Whereas we all must set about, of our own freewill, doing good to others and serving our fellowman, but in the church there must be order. And this is what we see above. For example, the Greek converts had an issue with the Hebrew converts. Rather than internal strife, they immediately went to the apostles who held those keys. Notice how they solved the problem; using their high office, they ordained seven men, by the laying on of hands, to carry out the work. And this is the procedure ‘till we all come into a unity of the faith.’The church continues to grow rapidly.Acts 6:7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.We know that John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, was beheaded, being the first martyr who was a witness for Christ, of the New Testament. Following the organization of the church by Jesus Christ, Stephen is generally acknowledge as the first martyr of Christianity. His story has inspired every Christian. In Acts, Chapter 6, we receive the introduction.Acts 6:8-9And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.  Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.Those who are disputing with Stephen are not local. They cover a wide geographical area, some in a 1500 mile radius. Paul, who witnessed the martyrdom of Stephen is from Cilicia, 400 miles away. Jerusalem has clearly become a crossroads in the Middle East. But here is an interesting observation:Acts 6:10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.Why then didn’t they believe Stephen if his arguments were so compelling? Why did it turn to hatred and violence rather than to conversion like so many others? Again, the answer is the same. They did not have the spirit of the Holy Ghost. They had the spirit of SatanJames 3:14–16But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.So they justify their anger by persuading themselves that they are defending God. Acts 6:11-12Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,We know they are being led by Satan because Satan is not only the father of contention, he is also the father of lies. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.That precisely describes the mob,Acts 6:13-14And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.Yet in the midst of their false accusation, when they looked upon Stephen they saw an angel-like being.Acts 6:15And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.That, of course, will come back to haunt them in the day of judgment for then they will have to face the truth. I recall the words of Claudius in Shakespeare’s Hamlet who is guilty of his brother’s death, King Hamlet. In trying to pray for forgiveness Claudius says, In the corrupted currents of this worldOffence's gilded hand may shove by justice,And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itselfBuys out the law: but 'tis not so above;There is no shuffling, there the action liesIn his true nature; and we ourselves compell'd,Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults,To give in evidence.They should also have heeded the words of Gamaliel.Acts 5:38-39And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Podcast 140, Acts, “Pt 5, Ch 5”Probably many would agree that the story of Ananias and Saphhira recorded in Acts Chapter 5 is emotionally very difficult. After all, they gave part of the profit of the Land to the Lord; therefore, what is it that we must carry away from that story? First, let’s read the story together unbroken:Acts 5:1-11But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.To help us understand the sad story of Ananias and Sapphira, let’s consider the Widow’s Mite.Mark 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.In modern money perhaps it is hard to calculate how much a farthing is. The copper mite was the smallest coin minted. Until a short time ago that would be equivalent to our penny, but that may not be accurate. Our penny has now gone the way of the Russian kopek. It is no longer minted. In addition, though the mite was an insignificant amount to someone who earned a denarius, which was equal to 128 mites which was a day’s wage, for the widow it was all she had. The Savior said, Mark 12:43–44:Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.Therefore, the amount that Ananias and Sapphira paid, regardless of how large, was not relevant. It is not about money. It is about violating covenants and lying to the Holy Ghost. Luke records Peter’s words, “why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” The land was their own. Even the price of the land was their own. It would have been better if they had declared the value of the land and kept the entire value for themselves. They, of course, would have lost the blessings of sacrifice, but it would not have been at the cost of their lives. They could have repented or not repented, and the apostles would have done nothing, In Peter’s words.  Acts 5:4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.The point is that Peter did not kill Anania and Sapphira. It was an act of God. They had entered a covenant with God who promised them eternal life with him. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is the story of the Children of Israel. In Isaiah 25, we read of the destruction of the wicked in the last days. The prophecy in Isaiah is about death of millions of people. Isaiah gives the reason for their destruction. Isaiah 24:5-6The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.It was no different with Ananias and Sapphira than with the millions who shall be slain prior to the Millennium. The Old Testament is about the rise and fall of civilizations. Because of righteousness they rose. Because of wickedness they fell. The House of Israel is at the center. How does that differ from the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Acts 5 quickly moves from the story of Ananias to the story of the level of faith and miracles of the early saints and the rapid growth of the church.Acts 3:12-16And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.But to further illustrate that only by the power of the Holy Ghost can one receive revelation and only by the power of the Holy Ghost can one recognize a miracle, the priests and Sadducees witnessed the miracles but rejected them as not being from God and thus fought against the apostles, falsely imprisoning them. This, however, only increased the membership of the church and also gave immortality to one Gamaliel, a Pharisee and doctor of the law, who became the only voice of reason among the Pharisees and Sadducees. The first response of the Pharisees and Sadducees to the miracles they witnessed was anger. Acts 5:17-8Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.The prison couldn’t hold the apostles. Acts 5:19-25But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.First, this is one of the many references to angels in the Holy Bible. Angels from the beginning have been part of the Lord’s plan. They were on earth from the beginning, and we have every reason to believe that they are as active today as they ever were. A belief in the ministry of angels is inherent in Christianity.  Next, rather than recognizing the miracle, the Pharisees and Sadducees remained intent on stopping the Christian movement. However, the apostles are fearless in the face of the officers. Acts 5:26-33Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.Why did people act so differently when witnessing miracles? Some accepted the words of the apostles. Some rejected the words of the apostles. The answer is the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Those who had the Holy Ghost in their hearts responded to the miracles with faith. Those who did not have the Holy Ghost in their hearts respondedwith anger. To even hear of the Holy Ghost cut them to the heart causing them to want to murder the innocent apostles. Satan is behind all contention.James 3:14–16But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Podcast 139, Acts, “Pt 4, Ch 4”In this brief chapter we have an epic struggle between good and evil. On the one hand we have people in power who want to silence the apostles. The three groups who are organized against the apostles are all high religious leaders: The Captain of the Temple, The Priests, and the Sadducees. Acts 4:1-3And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.It is curious that there are those who think they are serving God but are really fighting against God and serving Satan. Those people in high authority in religion are grieved that the apostles are teaching about Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the World. Jesus is Jehovah of the Old Testament whom the Captain of the Temple, the Priests, and the Sadducees think they worship.Those ecclesiastical leaders all have vested interest. The Sadducees, for example, did not believe in the resurrection of the dead which was being taught by Peter and John. Whereas the Priests and the Captain (or commander) of the temple still held to the Mosaic law of animal sacrifice and the other priestly offices established by Moses that had been fulfilled by the ultimate sacrifice which was Jesus Christ himself. They were protecting tradition, not defending God. The office of the priesthood is not in question. It is the old practices of the priests that is challenged. Remember there were no prophets between Malachi of the Old Testament and John the Baptist of the New Testament, a period of 400 years. When Christ came the traditions of the Jews had been established not by the prophets but by the priests whom Isaiah said, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” They did not want to lose their power and authority and perhaps their means of making a living. Remember they had turned the Temple into a money-making enterprise which infuriated the Savior. In addition, the Jewish Christians no longer believed in animal sacrifice, thus that threated the priest’s office and high standing among the people.They had also witnessed the miracles and could not deny them, but rather than believing in Christ, they arrested Peter and John without cause to intimidate them into giving up their ministry. They do not want the gospel of Jesus Christ to spread. They have the same spirit of those who crucified Christ. The problem was that through the preaching of Peter and John, thousands were converted.Acts 4:4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.The question they ask Peter and John is rather strange since they must already know the answer. It is as if, now that Christ is dead, he no longer matters. Acts 4:5-7And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”Now we come to the primary theme of Acts 4. The very power they are inquiring of is the power which is now given to Peter, the Power of the Holy Ghost. It is through the power of the Holy Ghost that Peter bears witness of the holy mission of Jesus Christ and it is through that same power that others are converted. It shows that the priests do not have the Holy Ghost.Acts 4:8-12Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.The image Peter uses would have been known very well by The Captain of the Temple, the Priests, and the Sadducees for it is from the Old Testament. Psalm 118:22–23 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.Other references would have been equally familiar to the priestly leaders. Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.Isaiah 28:16Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.The priests are condemned by their own law. Nonetheless, they are more interested in protecting their own power and positions.Acts 4:13-18Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.Again, it is with the power of the Holy Ghost that Peter and John speak.Acts 4:19-20But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.We learn this great lesson. It is only through the power of the Holy Ghost that the apostles speak, but it is also only through the power of the Holy Ghost that we can know that what they say is true. The priests heard the same words of Peter and John, but without the Holy Ghost, they could not know those words were true. It is rather astonishing that the wicked priests saw the same miracle as the thousands who were converted but ignored it to protect their own interests. Acts 4:21-22So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.The miracle had just the opposite effect on those who allowed the Holy Ghost in their hearts.Acts 4:23-30And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.It brings to mind the words of Gamaliel to the disbelieving Jews which we find in the next chapter. Acts 5:38-39And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.One of the greatest things we can do is to live worthy to have the Holy Ghost dwell in our hearts because then when we hear the truth we shall recognize it immediately and accept it. That is the only difference between those who were converted to Christ and those, who saw the same miracle, but were not converted to Christ. It is so easy due to all our own biases, our own traditions, and our own frame of reference to block new truth because it is not in harmony with our old traditions. Acts 4:31-33And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.The early saints banded together and had all things common. 

Podcast 138, Acts, “Pt 3, Ch 3”The apostles have come a long way since they were called to the ministry. In Matthew 4 we read the famous line of the Lord in his initial calling to Peter and Andrew. Matthew 4:18–19And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.We see the fulfillment of the above prophecy in the story of the healing of the man lame from birth by Peter which reflects the miracles of the Master when he was with them. Could those two humble fishermen have even dreamed that someday they would be performing miracles in the Savior’s name? Acts 3:1-8Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.The story of the healing of the lame man is rich with doctrine. For example, only through faith and only in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth could Peter heal the lame man. In the story Peter elevates Christ to his rightful position and takes no credit unto himself. The boldness of Peter is also a long ways away from his humbling denial of Christ after Christ’s arrest. Not the least of the lessons we learn is in the desires of the lame man. All he expected from Peter, a chosen servant of Jesus Christ, was a small coin. The coins were either copper, bronze, silver, or gold. The most the lame man expected was probably a copper coin, the smallest at that, comparable perhaps to the widow’s ‘mite.’ Rather than money, however, Peter gave him his life, a life he never knew, having been crippled from birth. The miracle of his healing defies medical knowledge, perhaps even of our own day. It is no wonder that those who witnessed the healing were astonished.Acts 3:9-11And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.Peter quickly responds to this marvelous teaching moment. Notice how Peter immediately turns the thoughts of the people to Christ, the very being whom they so recently crucified.Acts 3:12-15And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.Notice the titles Peter assigns to Christ: “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob”; the “God of our fathers”; “Jesus”; the “Holy One and the just”; the “Prince of life.” Peter made sure they knew that Jesus was the Jehovah of the Old Testament. He condemns the Jews for choosing the murderer Barabas, letting him go free, and condemning The Holy One and the Just to be crucified on the cross, when even the Roman governor, Pontius Pilot, wanted to free Jesus. Peter also teaches one of the greatest doctrines of Christianity, “whom God hath raised from the dead.” It was the Father who raise Christ from the dead. Then Peter establishes the primary role of the apostles—special witnesses of Jesus Christ: “whereof we are witnesses.”But Peter teaches another doctrine central to Christianity. Acts 3:16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.6 RONNotice that it is not the faith of Christ but the faith in Christ. One must be tempted to say, “But God is omnipotent! How can that be.” It would destroy everything if God took away the agency of man. He died to preserve our agency. It is the faith the lame man had in the power of Christ that led to his being healed. That is a very hard lesson to learn. Even the apostles who were with Christ daily had to earn their faith. Even Christ could not perform miracles where people had no faith.Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.How many times did Christ say, ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole?”Again, Peter teaches the mission of Christ while he was on earth. Peter doesn’t ask them to take his word. He does it by referring to the Old Testament prophets. The audience would have been familiar with the ancient prophets.Acts 3:17-18And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.Then Peter declares his mission.Acts 3:19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;With that call to repentance, Peter teaches another doctrine that Christ taught and his apostles and prophets taught—that message is that Christ will return to the earth. Peter calls it “the times of refreshing.” In other words, the true Gospel will be restored, and all false doctrine shall be done away. With clarity Peter taught. Acts 3:20-22And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.The dictionary defines restitution as “restoring something that was lost, taken, damaged, or wrongfully withheld, making compensation for a wrong, restoration of all things to their proper or intended state.” Synonyms are restoration, recovery, reinstatement, renewal, reconstitution, reestablishment, revival, replacement, return.Paul tells us of the apostasy that shall occur.2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;It is because in the latter days people do not love the truth.2 Thessalonians 2:8-12And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.Again, as we see above, Peter appeals to the ancient prophets. Peter also refers to the destruction of the wicked in the last days, before Christ returns.Acts 3: 23-24And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.Then Peter reminds the Jews that they were the first to be chosen, that they were the children of the prophets, that they were the covenant people, that it was through their lineage that Christ came to earth. Acts 3:25-36Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.Peter, a master teacher, well knew his audience On the one hand he condemns them for crucifying the Lord, but in the same vein, as Christ who on the cross said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Peter also acknowledges their ignorance, “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.”He is offering them hope through Christ if ‘they repent and become converted, that their sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.’  Peter is saying that regardless of what they have done, they can repent and come unto Christ for Christ was sent from the Father ‘to bless them and to turn them away from their iniquities.’

Podcast 137, Acts, “Pt 2 B, Ch 2”In this podcast we shall continue with Acts, Chapter 2. If you haven’t listened to Podcast 136, Acts, Pt 2, A, may we suggest that you listen to that first. We begin Part 2 by Quoting the words of Christ who quotes Isaiah the prophet. Matthew 15: 7-9Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.Peter continues, Acts 2:22-32Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.That is an incredible testimony from a man who only shortly before denied knowing the Savior not once but three times. What a difference the Holy Ghost makes! Peter again testifies of the Holy Ghost.Acts 2:33-36Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.Peter teaches the roles of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ, raised from the dead by the Father, sat on the right hand of the Father, and the Holy Ghost descended upon man. There are three separate Gods, all with very specific roles in the wonderful plan of salvation. As the Father and the Son are sitting upon their thrones, it is the Holy Ghost, who is a spirit, not a resurrected being, “appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them, And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” And everything that is done is done “by the foreknowledge of God.” Also note Peter’s words, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God (speaking of the Father) hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” If we have any doubts about whom the Father is, listen to one of the greatest and most familiar scriptures of all.John 3:16-18For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.And how do we know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We know because of the Holy Ghost. Dozens of scriptures from the New Testament bear witness of this. I refer to only one.John 14:26But 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.Peter teaches that the Holy Ghost is a gift given only through the power of the priesthood. The difference between having a prompting of the Holy Ghost and having the Gift of the Holy Ghost is that the Holy Spirit may speak to one’s heart through prayer, but the Gift of the Holy Ghost means that the Holy Spirit remains and dwells in their heart. Peter said, Acts 2:37-40Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.Remember when we spoke earlier of the body being a temple.1 Corinthians 6:19–20What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”Paul also taught, 1 Corinthians 3:16–17Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”And of course, as with the outpouring of the Spirit, the Christian celebration of the Day of Pentecost was blessed with thousands of souls being baptized into the church. On the Day of Pentecost all the apostles were present.  One gets the impression that from that point on missionary work accelerated in the church.Acts 2:41-47Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.One may also assume, I suppose, that persecution, which has always been a serious threat, also accelerated. As with Christ, the church he established also posed a threat to the Pharisees and Sadducees as well as to the authority of Rome. But from that cauldron, we still received the New Testament though many of the apostles and other faithful saints became martyrs. 

Podcast 136, Acts, “Pt 2 A, Ch 2”Acts, Chapter 2, occurs on the ‘Day of Pentecost.’ The Day of Pentecost was an ancient Jewish feast commanded in the Law of Moses. “Pentecost” comes from the Greek, meaning “fiftieth.” The Pentecost was observed fifty days from the Passover and the offering of the firstfruits. In the Old Testament it was also called “The feast of Weeks,” “The Feast of Harvest,” and “The Day of the Firstfruits.” It was associated with the wheat harvest. Exodus 34:22And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.Because of the festival, faithful Jews gathered from all over.Deuteronomy 16:16Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles...That is why we read in Acts,Acts 2:1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.Christians, of course, see the Day of Pentecost differently because of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:2-4And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.We also think of the Holy Ghost as the ‘still small voice” as recorded by Elijah at Mount Horeb.1 Kings 19:11-12And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”The Pentecostal experience, described so beautifully by Luke, was shared with the entire world for our edification to teach us of the power and importance and necessity of the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Lord omnipotent may manifest himself through the power of the Holy Ghost in such a way and such as time as the above, but only when he deems it appropriate. However, as the Lord taught Elijah, most of us experience the Holy Ghost, not by strong winds or earthquake or fire but by that “still small voice,” what we also call “the promptings of the spirit.” We may call upon the Lord anytime, and we have the right, even a spiritual responsibility, to listen to the promptings of the spirit.It is a gift that not only must we be worthy of, but we must also learn how to use. How many have felt a prompting of the Holy Ghost but didn’t act upon it only to regret it later? On the other hand, how many have heard the whisperings of the spirit and did act upon it and were greatly blessed. It is entirely associated with faith in Christ. We may spend a lifetime learning how to listen to the promptings of the spirit, but it is a lifetime well spent.How do we distinguish the prompting of the Holy Ghost with intuition, insight, inspiration, revelation, epiphany, intimation, inkling, hunch, instinct, presentiment, premonition, perception, discernment, perspicacity, apprehension, realization, enlightenment, insight, genius, prompting, impression, impulse, prescience. In many instances, perhaps they are all one, but only righteousness can be associated with the Holy Ghost. Every thought is not a prompting of the Holy Ghost. We are very complex, dual beings. We have both an immortal spirit and a physical body. We often confuse the temporal with the spiritual. The brain is a case in point. We often give credit to the brain when we should give credit to our own spirit. The physical body is but an extension of the spirit. All life, all conscious thought, all freewill, all inspiration, all logic, etc. come from the spirit, not the physical Body. The Holy Ghost speaks only to the spirit, not to the brain. In fact, speaking of logic, it is not the brain that thinks. It is the spirit that thinks. Intelligence is in the spirit, not in the body, The body is a biological machine that serves the spirit. We get in trouble with the Lord when we let the physical appetites, also called ‘the natural man,’ take over. The brain is nothing without the spirit. When the spirit leaves, the body dies. At death the brain stops but the spirit, which forgets nothing, does not. The spirit lives on forever. Death is merely an illusion of terminality. Life and intelligence and consciousness never die because the spirit never dies. Death is nothing but the separation of the spirit from the body. If you could see the spirit of a loved one at their passing, it would look exactly like their body. If you saw with your spiritual eyes rather than your physical, you would see that they are still very much alive, having the same mind, the same intelligence, the same personality, the same smile, the same affections, the same sense of humor, the same love, etc. We should be very careful who we become in our earthly life for we carry that same spirit with us when we die. One thing will change at death. The wicked will not be able to mingle with the righteous as they do on earth. At death there will be a great division of spirits. The righteous have nothing to fear at death nor will they ever have to fear again.The Holy Ghost speaks only to the spirit. The purpose of the body is to give us a physical experience of sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and feel. The physical body, an extension of the spirit, is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave to our spirit. The Holy Ghost is another. The resurrection is another. And eternal life with him still another. One cannot choose not to be resurrected, though through wickedness one may postpone their resurrection and one may diminish the light and intelligence and glory and happiness reserved for the righteous. However, one can choose not to have the Holy Ghost, not to live in Paradise, and not to have eternal life with God.The body is so important that Christ died to bring about the resurrection from the dead to all of us so that we may have our physical bodies forever. Many are familiar with the lines from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”[1]In answer to the question above, “How do we tell the difference between the promptings of the Holy Ghost and one’s own personal thoughts?” The simple answer is that only one’s spirit can detect the spirit of the Holy Ghost. It is an act of faith. We have the ability to discern good from evil, God from Satan, the whisperings of the Holy Ghost from the logic of our own mind. Faith in Christ is the first stepGod has given us many gifts of the spirit that we must cultivate as referenced elsewhere in the scriptures. We have all observed those gifts in others, perhaps to our own envying. God is the source of all Good. He is the father of us all and he gave those gifts so that all humanity may be blessed. Look at the advancement in science, communication, medicine, and technology. Look at the great writers, musicians, singers, painters, builders, etc. All those gifts are from God. The person who gives God credit for their gifts is more fortunate than those who think they are doing it by themselves.  On the Day of Pentecost, we observe gifts of the spirit. Because of the Jewish Festival people had come to Jerusalem from far distances. The strange thing, however, is that so many from various nations, spoke with the gift of tongues, some were given the gift of speaking in tongues and others the gift of interpreting different tongues. The experience was far different from people simply jabbering in their own native tongue. The difference was everyone understood each other. That is what the gift of tongues is. Acts 3:5-13And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.Speaking of ‘gifts of the spirit,’ Paul lists the following:1 Corinthians 12:8-10For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Podcast 135, Acts, “Pt 1, Ch 1”The “Acts of the Apostles” is written by Luke, the Physician, to Theophilus. Luke also addresses “The Gospel of Luke” to Theophilus. Nothing is really known about Theophilus, but his name in Greek means “beloved of God.” That is very high praise.  Please allow me a literary license merely for practical purposes. I think first that we must assume that Theophilus is a real person, certainly well known to Luke. We may logically assume that Theophilus is a member of the church already familiar with Christ. But let’s take one very small leap of the imagination and assume that Theophilus, like most at that time, was a new member of the Church and Luke is instructing him about church doctrine. It is clear that the writings of Luke were written to not only Theophilus but to the whole church. Therefore, let us play the role of Theophilus and read The Book of Acts as a new member of the Church of the Firstborn, eager to learn more of the fascinating story of Jesus of Nazareth, the Redeemer of the World. In other words, assume the letters are written especially to you.The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,[1]We already know from the Gospel of Luke what an inspired writer Luke is and how well versed he is in the Life of Jesus. Though not an apostle, he has a close relationship to the apostles, particularly with Paul. Paul refers to him as “Luke, the beloved physician…” He was also close to other eyewitnesses. Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;[2]In Chapter 1 of Acts, Luke establishes his purpose very clearly. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:[3]We learn that after the resurrection of Christ, he continued to teach the apostles for 40 days. In this chapter Luke clearly establishes the special role of the apostles, their importance to the church, and the necessity of their continuance. What did Christ teach during those 40 Days? Luke tells us: “speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Some Christians may be a little hasty about assuming the ‘Kingdom of God’ is in heaven. Luke makes it plain that he is speaking of the ‘Kingdom of God’ on earth, meaning the church led by the twelve apostles.  The Church of the Firstborn is the Kingdom of God on Earth. The New Jerusalem John saw coming down from heaven is the Kingdom of God in heaven. Eventually they join. The purpose of the church is to prepare the saints for the Second Coming of the Messiah. When Christ returns the Second Time, the Kingdom of God in Heaven will join the Kingdom of God on Earth. That will be a glorious day. No wicked will survive the Second Coming of Christ.  As we examine Acts, Chapter 1, let’s note particularly the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God on earth. I have divided Acts, Chapter 1, into eight attributes, just in this chapter alone, of the Kingdom of God on earth. Truthfully, though many things describe the kingdom of God in heaven, we can examine the entire New Testament under the light of ‘things pertaining to the kingdom of God on earth.’ One of the names of Christ is “Immanuel” which means “God is with us.” That is an important concept to keep in mind. What did Christ do when he left?  Luke tells us.And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.[4]Because of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we still have ‘God with us.’ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.[5]Paul teaches, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”[6]Luke continues, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.[7]One, the Holy Ghost is a source of power. Two, only through the Holy Ghost can one be a witness of Christ. In the above we also learn one of the important “things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” It is this: The apostles are special witnesses of Christ. That is also later emphasized in Acts, Chapter 1. We also learn another thing ‘pertaining to the kingdom of God on earth.’ First, let me footnote that the phrase “kingdom of God” appears about 70 times in the New Testament and the phrase “kingdom of heaven” appears about 32 times. That alone establishes their importance.  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.[8]From that we learn of the Second Coming of Christ in the latter days. The latter days is now. No one knows when, but the signs of the times are given plainly by John in the Book of Revelation. Previous podcasts have covered the entire Book of Revelation as well as The Gospel of Matthew, The Epistles of James, The Epistles of Peter, The Epistles of John, The Book of Hebrews, and The Book of Isaiah. Luke continues to teach us of “things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.[9][1] Acts 1:1[2] Luke 1:2[3] Acts 1:2-3[4] Acts 1:4-7[5] John 16:7[6] 1 Corinthians 6:19-20[7] Acts 1:8[8] Acts 1:9-16[9] Acts 1:12-20[10] Acts 1:21-26

Podcast 134, Hebrews, “Pt 13 B, Ch 13”In the last podcast we ended with Injunction 6 of Hebrews 13. In this podcast we shall discuss Injunctions 7-12.Injunction 7Hebrews 13:13-16 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.The author presents another of the great teachings of Christ. I refer to the phrase, “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”The New Jerusalem is one of the favorite images in the Holy Bible. Naturally we think of the Millennium which brings in mind Isaiah. One must read the entire book of Isaiah to get his full vision, so I shall refer only to an earlier chapter. Isaiah 2:2-5And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.A companion book to Isaiah is The Book of Revelation by John. The following is only a taste.Revelation 21:1-4And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.Injunction 8:Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.Injunction 8 is the only one repeated in Hebrews 13. The repetition is found in Injunction 5.Hebrews 13:7-8Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.Let’s compare the two:Injunction 5: Remember them which have the rule over you.Injunction 8: Obey them that have the rule over you.  Injunction 5: Who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.Injunction 8: And submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, Injunction 5: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.Injunction 8: As they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Together, Injunction 5 and Injunction 8 complete the concept. Paul asks us to remember those who rule over us, and to obey those who rule over us. And then he gives the following reasons,  (1) They have spoken the word of God. (2) We must trust in their faith considering the end or purpose of their conversation.(3) We must summit ourselves for they watch for our souls,(4)  Jesus Christ is he same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.(5) They that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for us. The special calling of the apostles and prophets then is to watch over our souls, to reveal the word of God, to witness of Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and to be judges who must account to God who placed them as our rulers. Injunction 9Hebrews 13:18-20 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,Prayer is a central part of worship. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, asks the saints to pray for the leaders. He asserts his worthiness of their prayers, that he has a clear conscience in all things willing to live honestly. In other words, Paul lives the word as well as teaches the word. It was the evil rulers that brought the Children of Israel down. Many times the Lord chastised the wickedness of the rulers.Jeremiah 23:1–2Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.Injunction 10Hebrews 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.Such a rich passage. It contains five concepts: (1) Become perfect in every good work. (2) Do the will of God. (3) Do that which is well pleasing in his sight. (4) It is through faith In Jesus Christ, & (5) Glory will be in Christ for ever and ever.Perfection, of course, is not possible in this life, but notice how these passages refer to a process of becoming. He said, “make you perfect.” We cannot do that ourselves. It is Christ alone who can make us perfect. Paul gives us guidelines: do the will of God, do that which is well pleasing in his sight. That is in our power. Leave perfection to Christ. He will do the rest. Injunction 11Hebrews 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few wordsHe uses the verb “suffer” more like patience. Be patient in “the word of exhortation.” He is referring again to his injunction to obey the words of the apostles and prophets.Injunction 12Hebrews 13:23-25 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all. Amen.He is speaking, of course, of brotherly love which was the first injunction, “Let brotherly love continue.” But he ends with a blessing, “Grace be with you all.” And we all must seek the grace of Christ which is the central message of Chapter 13 as summed up in Injunction 5, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Podcast 133, Hebrews, “Pt 13 A, Ch 13”Though Hebrews is traditionally attributed to Paul, the authorship is still controversial. I claim no scholarship in this or any other area and rely entirely upon others for historical content. I follow the KJV which begins with, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.” I am entirely responsible for my own interpretations. It appears, however, in Chapter 13, Timothy is involved in this chapter, either in delivering it or writing it. I shall not make a distinction.In the final letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 13, we are given 12 injunctions as a kind of summing up. One of the overriding themes of Hebrews is to encourage the Jewish Christians to press forward and endure in the faith. Injunction 1Hebrews 13:1Let brotherly love continue.This, of course, is at the core of Christian doctrine. What Christian cannot quote the following commandment of Christ. John 13:34–35A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.Let’s also consider what is often referred to as the Two Great Commandments. Matthew 22:37–40 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.There is no commandment repeated more often by Jesus than love or its variations. The Savior alone uses the word love or its variation about 60 times. As we saw above, he refers to love as “A New Commandment.” It replaces the Mosaic Law of ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”Exodus 21:23–25 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.Injunction 2Hebrews 13: 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.Christians believe in angels. The word angel, singular or plural, appears approximately 290 times in the KGV of the Holy Bible. They may be referred to as heavenly messengers, servants of God, ministering spirits, archangel (Michael), heavenly beings, watcher, holy one.  Though the term “guardian angel” is not mentioned, descriptions of angels who watch over us do appear. For example.  Matthew 18:10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.Psalm 91:11–12For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?“Heirs of salvation” refer to all, Jew or Gentile, who come unto Christ, obey his laws, and endure to the end. Hebrews 13:3Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.That, of course, reflects the concept of brotherly love and echoes the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount. It also establishes the importance of Marriage and the law of chastityInjunction 49 LINDAHebrews 13:4 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.I suppose many of us struggle with the concept of “being content with what we have.” What we have is almost never enough. Even advertisers promote covetousness in the way they package their products. They are able to create desires that didn’t even exist before. Advertisers depend upon selling new and better products, the latest technology. There is even a term that describes a method used to force us to buy new products. It is called “designed obsolescence.” Things are made to wear out. It is implicit in another term we are all familiar with, “limited warranty.” The phrase “keeping up with the Joneses” is familiar to all. We are fighting a system that we ourselves promote. It is as if Paul saw our day.  The promise, however, that “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” gives us all unlimited hope.Injunction 5Hebrews 13:5-6Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.Though clearly the audience is experienced in the gospel; nevertheless, this is still first generation Christians. The audience, being Hebrews, would be steeped in the traditions of the Mosaic Law. Traditions are very hard to let go, particularly if their family and friends still hold to them. Here the Hebrews, including all Christians, are encouraged to follow the words of the apostles and prophets. In other words, “them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God,” meaning the New Testament. The end of the injunction contains profound doctrine, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.” That is one of the most comforting scriptures. The author is talking to a group steeped in tradition and also steeped in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are being taught that the God of the New Testament is also the God of the Old Testament. Though the old law has been fulfilled in Christ, Christ himself didn’t change. He was the Jehovah of the Old Testament. Injunction 6Hebrews 13:9-12 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.Animal sacrifice was done away with Christ who was the final sacrifice. He was the sacrificial lamb. Here we get an insight of the struggles the new saints are facing. Strange doctrines are creeping in. Using the Gospel of Christ as the shell some want to slip in their own philosophy. They are not content with the simpleness of the teachings of Jesus. They want mystery. They want to introduce the philosophies of man. Remember Paul’s experience on Mars Hill. Acts 17:18-22Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.Apostasy in the church began very early. The apostles were constantly fighting against false doctrine, false teachers, ignorance, and apostasy. That was one of the major roles of the Apostles to keep out false doctrine. As we read the Apostles Creed, the Athanasian Creed, and the Nicene Creed, we see the struggles in the early church to define doctrine. And then fifteen hundred years after Christ, Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation which was an attempt to return back to the Bible, but even the Protestant Reformation splintered into many Christian denomination. For example, today we have over thirteen major denominations and over 45000 minor Christian denominations, meaning those with fewer numbers, We also have the writings of Eusebius of Caesarea, often called the ‘Father of Church History,” writing about 300 years after Christ who gives us great insight into early Church History and conflicts over doctrine.Christ established only one church through his apostles sometime referred to in the Holy Bible as The Church of the Firstborn. Fortunately for Christians and all other religious denominations, we have freedom of religion in America and can choose for ourselves. We should never, ever give up that right or infringe on the rights of others to worship as they please as long as it is in the boundaries of just laws that respect the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Attacks against Christianity and the Jews in America today is reaching an appalling intensity and is being winked at by people in high places. That is a serious sign that our liberties are being chiseled away.

Podcast 132, Hebrews, “Pt 12, Ch 12”We shall approach Hebrews 12 by dividing it into five themes.1.     Theme 1 Patience (verse 1)2.     Theme 2 Look to Jesus (verses 2-4)3.     Theme 3 Despise not the Chastening of the Lord (verses 5-13)4.     Theme 4 Follow Peace, Holiness, Diligence, & Chastity (verses 14-17)5.     Theme 5 God is a Consuming Fire (Verses 18-29)Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,Patience can also be substituted for endurance. Paul compares life to a race. One of the requirements for entering the Kingdom of Heaven is to endure to the end. In John’s letters to the seven churches, the refrain, “to him that overcometh” precedes all blessings. The following verses are familiar to Christians. Psalm 27:14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.Psalm 37:34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land...Isaiah 40:31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.The overriding theme of both Old and New Testaments is Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. And Jehovah is the Christ of the New Testament. At the baptism of Jesus and on the Mount of Transfiguration, The Father bears witness of his Son. At the baptism of Jesus, we have all three members of the Godhead: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Matthew records, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”   That is one of the greatest moments in the history of the World. Paul, an apostle and personal witness to the resurrected Lord, exhorts us to look to Jesus.Hebrews 12:2-4Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.Notice that twice Paul refers to Christ as one who ‘endured the cross’ and one who “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.’ He reminds us that unlike Christ we haven’t ‘yet resisted unto blood.’ Christ shed his blood in Gethsemane where, suffering for our sins, he bled from every pore as describe by Luke the physician. Christ also shed his blood when the crown of thorns was pressed upon his head. Christ shed his blood under the lashes of a whip while carrying the cross. And Christ shed his blood on the cross at Calvary. Christ is both the author or creator of our faith and the finisher of our faith. By finisher he is referring to the final judgment where he perfects those who endured to the end. In heaven there will be faith no longer for it shall be supplanted by pure knowledge. In other words the ‘trial of our faith’ is finished.Next Paul admonishes us to accept the chastening of the Lord.Hebrews 12:5-13And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.Notice the beautiful doctrines taught above:·      Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.·      He scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.·      If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons·      God is the Father of spirits.·      We might be partakers of his holiness.·      Chastisement produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness. ·      We should make our paths straight.To partake of his holiness, we must ourselves be holy. That is why we must look unto Christ. To make our paths straight, we must follow peace, holiness, and virtue.Hebrews 12:14-17Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.Our final judge is Christ. The only way Christ will allow us into the presence of the Father is if we keep his commandments.John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.Grace is not guaranteed. Paul tells us that we may “fail of the grace of God.” Grace is conditional. Paul gives some of those conditions: ·      Follow peace with all men·      Follow holiness·      Look diligently lest any man shall fail of grace·      Do not allow any bitterness to trouble us·      Do not commit fornication·      Do not take the Lord’s name in vaneThat, of course, is not a definitive list for we are told to follow every word that procedeth out of the mouth of God. But Paul is teaching the principle that we must earn grace. As James teaches, “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.”Next Paul teaches us of the differences between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. Hebrews 12:18-21For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) In the above Paul is speaking of Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, was a sacred mountain. Only the sanctified could endure the presence if the Lord, but even the sanctified were restrained by boundaries. Exodus 19:10-13And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.On Mount Sinai the Lord “descended upon it in fire.” It was like the “smoke of a furnace.” If the people even gazed upon it they would perish. Exodus 19:16-21And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.On the one hand the Children of Israel, who were under the Mosaic Law, could not even approach Mount Sinai. On the other hand, the Lord gives the saints of the New Testament,  an open invitation to come to Mount Zion. That is the great difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Podcast 131, Hebrews, “Pt 11 B, Ch 11”In Part 11 B, we continue with Paul’s examples on faith. Let us repeat Paul’s definition of Faith.Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.In the examples, Paul provides evidence of faith drawing from the great patriarchs of the past. Here we shall begin with Patriarch 5: Abraham.Hebrews 11:8-19By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.Noah became a second Adam and his wife a second Eve. Another covenant was given to Abraham that also affected the entire earth. Genesis 12:1-3Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.There is another uniqueness about the Abrahamic covenant.Genesis 17:4-7As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.It was through the seed of Abraham that Christ would be born, and it was through the seed of Abraham that we have the Old and New Testaments. It was also through the seed of Abraham that we have the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. And it was also through the seed of Abraham that through Christ we are able to return back to the presence of God. Before Christ, the chosen people referred only to the literal seed of Abraham. After Christ the chosen people referred only to those, whether Jew or Gentile, who accepted Christ as their Savior. When Christ returns, the world will be divided between the just and the unjust. The wicked shall be destroyed and only the righteous shall survive into the Millennium.  The first destruction of the earth was by water. The second destruction of the earth will be by fire. Only the righteous seed of Abraham will survive, whether Jew or Gentile.Galatians 3:29:And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.Patriarch 6: IsaacHebrews 11:20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.The Abrahamic covenant continued through his son Isaac.Genesis 17:19Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”And as we see, Isaac blessed Jacob and thus through the seed of Abraham the everlasting covenant continued. The unifying principle, however, is faith in Christ. Patriarchs 7 & 8: Jacob and JosephHebrews 11:21-22By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.The sons of Joseph were Ephraim and Manassah. Both received equal portions of the patriarchal inheritance. Consequently, the twelve tribes are traditionally listed as: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Joseph’s name is not listed, but obviously he is represented by his two sons. The tribe of Levi did not inherit land, but after the split many remained in the area of Jerusalem where the temple was. They were the priestly cast.Patriarch 9: MosesHebrews 11:23-31By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.Moses was of humble origin but was raised among Egyptian royalty. Paul emphasizes both the faith of Moses’s parents in defying the king and the faith Moses had in turning his back on his Egyptian privileges and identifying with slaves. He put service to God above the riches of Egypt. In addition, he had the faith to enter Pharaoh’s court and challenge his authority, demanding that he let the Children of Israel leave. In the story of Moses, we learn the power of faith when confronted even with a man as powerful as the Pharaoh of Egypt, whose very command could mean death. In addition, the faith of Moses gave him power over the elements.Other Patriarchs of the House of Israel.Hebrews 11:32-40And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, and David were all famous warriors who won battles against impossible odds. Samuel was a great prophet whose life was dedicated to the Lord from his youth. Paul lists examples of faith of those above and other prophets who among other things subdued kingdoms, stopped the mouths of lions, waxed valiant in fight, accepted being tortured rather than deliverance, endured mockings, scourgings, stoning, death, imprisonment, deprivation, torment, isolation, yet remained true. Paul mentioned one prophet being “sawn asunder.” Perhaps that is an allusion to Isaiah, who by tradition, was cut in half by the orders of the wicked king Manassah. Paul’s examples illustrate the power of faith to overcome any obstacle no matter how large. We must also consider that many showed their faith through suffering. In other words, they were not delivered from their trials but through their suffering were made perfect in faith. True faith is to accept the will of the Lord rather than demand our own desires, even if the will of the Lord is to claim our lives or the lives of a loved one. 

Podcast 130, Hebrews, “Pt 11 A, Ch 11”Faith is the first principle of the gospel yet it is for some of us elusive and enigmatic.  The question always remains, ‘What is faith?’ & ‘How does one build faith?’ Paul’s one-line definition of faith is one of the best there is.Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Paul introduces two concepts to help us understand faith: substance and evidence. Some synonyms for ‘substance’ are matter, material, element, compound, essence, nature, being, reality, core, heart, quintessence, content, import, value. That is important because Paul takes faith from the abstract to the concrete. Faith is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is tangible. I love the word ‘quintessence.’ Originally quintessence referred to the fifth element or fifth essence after earth, air, fire, and water. Dictionary defines quintessence as “The essential nature or a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.” Related words are embodiment, epitome, ideal, distillation, and perfection. Granted that faith, being the ideal is still a little elusive, but the concept that it is a substance, a tangible commodity means that we can recognize it when we see it. That is why Paul devotes the entire chapter to giving examples.The second concept of faith is “evidence.” Some synonyms for evidence are proof, confirmation, verification, corroboration, substantiation, validation, authentication, documentation, sign, justification, data, facts, authority. However, faith is the ‘substance of things hoped for’ and the ‘evidence of things not seen.’ Hope is associated with desire, expectation, trust, promise, prospect, belief, expectation, trust and ambition.  ‘Substance’ becomes evidence, but evidence of what? —evidence of the unseen world, the invisible, the hidden, or concealed. That is the magic of his definition. Faith connects the unseen world to the seen world. It makes the insubstantial substantial. Paul presents his evidence through examples from the lives of ancient prophets and others of Biblical importance. Through his examples, Paul allows us to see faith in action. Paul makes faith an action word. If we consider faith as active and not passive, as a verb and not a noun, we better understand its meaning. In other words, it makes faith more accessible. It involves us in the process. It doesn’t merely describe something God will do for us while we sit around. It describes something that God will with us when we set things in motion. We don’t sit around thinking about faith. We are up and doing. It is action that galvanizes faith. Among other things, galvanized means to shock, to excite, to inspire, to stimulate into action.  It is through action that faith flourishes. Some refer to faith as ‘stepping into the dark.’ Faith works best in uncertainty. That connects faith with courage, fortitude, resolution, and steadfastness. Faith precedes hope. In fact, faith is the substance of hope. Hope cannot come without faith.  Think of faith as the journey and hope as the destination. Or think of faith as the cause and hope as the consequence. Without faith, hope is nebulous and uncertain. Hope cannot exist without faith. Faith and hope are compound words. For example, sun plus light equals ‘sunlight.’ Take away the sun and you take away light. Take away faith and you take away hope. Just as the sun is the substance of light, faith is the substance of hope. Think of faith as a journey—say a journey searching for a city in the dark. Now think of hope as the glow of light you see in the distance that indicates that the city you are looking for is just over the hill. Without the journey you could not have the hope of finding the city. Without the glow of light, you can’t know where the city is. Faith brings you to hope and hope brings you to the destination which ultimately is the eternal city where God dwells. Let me introduce a grand paradox. There are certain other elements that faith requires. Some are patience, endurance, perseverance, courage, strength, determination, refusal to quit. Enemies to faith are fear, sloth, doubt, hesitation, indecision, apprehension, dread, and anxiety. Distraction is also a great enemy to faith. Here is the paradox: On the one hand, if those obstacles did not exist, faith would not be necessary. Faith thrives in uncertainty. Consider uncertainty as a blessing. The greater the uncertainty the greater the faith required to move forward. The greater the obstacle the stronger your faith grows as you press forward. Without the obstacles you could not develop faith. It may appear ironic, but the obstacles themselves define the faith necessary to move forward. It becomes an issue of problem solving. Uncertainty defines the problem. Faith defines the solution. Laws are involved in all challenges. Look for the law that unlocks the mystery. Once you discover the law, you may repeat the process for the same results and faith is no longer necessary. You move on to other obstacles. But sometimes nothing is as it seems. Fear creates illusion of failure, and logic itself becomes the obstacle. For example, what if the obstacle—say the enemy—is truly stronger than you. A small army faces a bigger army, and logic says you can’t win. That puts faith on another level. If you have right on your side, then you will have God on your side. Without God you would lose, but with God the odds turn in your favor very quickly. Paul proves that principle with his many examples. Therefore, when considering faith, we must separate what we mean. There are three levels of faith. There is faith in self. There is faith in others. And there is faith in God. Sometimes faith in self is all we need because God has already endowed us with all the gifts necessary to accomplish the task. Sometimes we must rely upon others for we cannot accomplish the task alone. Sometimes we must rely upon the Lord for he alone can help us. All three are noble endeavors. The greatest faith of all comes when we do it ourselves but give God the credit. When we reach that level we truly have hope of eternal life with God. We must never forget that God is the father of our spirits. God created us. God has given everyone special gifts. God gave us our potential. To recognize his hands in all things is the ultimate gift of Faith.Now, with that in mind, let’s consider the examples Paul gives of Faith. I shall divide them into Patriarchs, each Patriarch expanding our understanding of faith. Patriarch One: The EldersHebrews 11:2-3For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.How else except through prophets do we know that ‘worlds were framed by the word of God.’ Of course, we learn that through Genesis.  Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.It is essential that we remember that God is the creator of all things. If we believe that there is nothing that God cannot do, that he is omniscient and omnipotent, that he is our loving Father in heaven who created us—that makes faith in him much easier.Patriarch Two: AbelHebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.Keeping the ordinances of God is an act of faith required for our salvation. Ordinance means “to arrange, regulate, or put in order.” Christian ordinances refer to practices such as baptism, partaking of the sacrament, laying on of hand for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Never underestimate the divine power of holy symbols. Partaking the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, for example, symbolizes the full atonement of Jesus Christ, that he gave his body and shed his blood for us, and we take the sacrament in remembrance of him. Patriarch Three: EnochHebrews 11:5-6By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.The Biblical account of Enoch is scarce. In addition to Paul above, we have Genesis.Genesis 5:22-24And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.In addition, we have Jude.Jude :14-15And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Podcast 129, Hebrews, “Pt 10, Ch 10”One of Paul’s great gifts is in explaining the law. Being a former Pharisee, he was strictly educated in the law of Moses. Paul is a transitional prophet because he lives in transitional times. The Lord has moved from the First, or Old Testament, to the Second, or New Testament. The First Testament has been fulfilled, and the sacrifice of animals has ended. The First Testament did not lead to perfection because it was administered by imperfect people on animals that had no power of forgiving sins. It was a symbol only. The entire purpose of the First Testament was to lead people to Christ who did have the power to forgive sins. In the beginning statement of Chapter 10 Paul said, Hebrews 10:1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.The end goal is perfection. One statement made by our Savior Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount summarizes his entire mission. Let’s turn to Matthew 5.Matthew 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.That is not an idle statement. That is why Christ came to earth to atone for our sins. Remember from our earlier reading of Paul—for perfection to come we must have two things. As stated above, first we must have the Second or New Testament. And as stated below, we must have the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Melchizedek Priesthood and the Second or New Testament are inseparable. Hebrews 7:11-12If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.Paul explains the difference.Hebrews 7:15-17And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.Notice the emphasis on the phrases “the power of an endless life” and “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Animal Sacrifice came to an end in Christ. Animal sacrifice could neither perfect nor offer endless life. It was after the “law of carnal commandments” only.  Notice Paul’s words,Hebrews 7:18-22For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.Only through the Melchisedec Priesthood can we ‘draw night unto God.’ Perfection does not come in this life. It can only come in the next for it is of “endless duration.” Only by living in the presence of the Father can one be “made perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect.” Christ made it very clear. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”Paul further explains why the Levitical Priesthood cannot perfect us.Hebrews 10:2-8For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;Isaiah taught that same principle hundreds of years before Paul. Isaiah fully understood the mission of Jesus Christ and the necessity of his atoning sacrifice. In the very beginning of his ministry he said,Isaiah 1:16-18Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.Isaiah teaches that when Christ forgives, he will not remember our sins. Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”Jeremiah, who also knew Christ, taught the same principle. He also is speaking of the New Testament, or “New Covenant.”Jeremiah 31:33-34But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.Paul had Jeremiah in mind when he wrote, Hebrews 10: 9-22Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.Christ symbolizes the veil of the temple. Remember the image in the New Testament after Christ was crucified. Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Podcast 128, Hebrews, “Pt 9, Ch 9”The purpose of the Book of Hebrews is to teach us who Christ is and what exactly he has done for our salvation and exaltation. In the opening chapter we read,Hebrews 1:1-5God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?In Chapter 1 above we learn that Christ is The Son of God, the heir of all things, the express image of the Father, the atoning one who purged our sins. He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. In Chapters 2-6 we learn that·      He suffered temptation that he might be able to succor them that are tempted. ·      He was the captain of our salvation made perfect through suffering ·      He was the apostle and high priest of our profession3·      Being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. ·      He was called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. In Chapter 7 we also learned the differences between the Levitical Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood. In Chapters 8 & 9 we learn the difference between the First Testament and the Second Testament, also called the Old Testament and the New Testament.  We also learn that perfection can only come both from the Melchizedek Priesthood and the New Testament. For example, let’s review what Paul has said about perfection in the first 9 chapters:1.     Hebrews 2:10 “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”2.     Hebrews 5:9 “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”3.     Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection...”4.     Hebrews 7:11 “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood... what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec...?”5.     Hebrews 7:19 “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”6.     Hebrews 9:9 “...in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;”Chapter 9 is divided into 4 parts. Part 1 consists of verses 1-10; Part 2 consists of verses 11-17; Part 3 consists of verses 18-23; and Part 4 consists of verses 24-28. Parts 1 & 3 address the First Testament, also referred to as the Old Testament. Parts 2 & 4 address the Second Testament, also referred to as the New Testament. There is as much difference between the First testament and the Second Testament as there is between the Levitical (also called Aaronic) Priesthood and the Melchisedec Priesthood. The Levitical Priesthood is the heart of the First Testament. The Melchisedec Priesthood is the heart of the Second or New Testament. Only through the Melchisedec Priesthood and the New Testament can we become perfect. Part I Hebrews 9:1-10Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.Notice the limitation of the First Testament, “Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience” That reminds us of Hebrews 7:11 “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood…what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec…?” Everything before Christ was symbolic of Christ but was not Christ himself. He had to be the final sacrifice. There could be no stand-in. In Part I we learn that the high priest alone was allowed into the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifice. But being imperfect he also had to offer sacrifice for himself. It is merely symbolic. Let’s contrast Part 1 with Part 2, where Christ himself is the High Priest with no substitute. Part 2 Hebrews 9:11-17But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.Notice the emphasis from the above on the following concepts: “more perfect tabernacle,” “eternal redemption for us,” purge your conscience from dead works,” “new testament,” “eternal inheritance.” Christ is “an high priest of good things to come.” The First Testament, meaning the Law of Moses and animal sacrifice, is done away in Christ because it could not bring about perfection. Christ had to offer himself as the final sacrifice. Let’s turn to Part 3, in which Paul continues his discussion of the Levitical Priesthood.Part 3 Hebrews 9:18-23Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.The purpose of the First Testament was to prepare the Children of Israel for the coming of Christ. But they were “patterns of things” and not the things themselves. It was necessary that “the heavenly things themselves “should have “better sacrifices than these.”In Part 4 Paul explains the necessity of Christ himself being the only true sacrifice. Part 4 Hebrews 9:24-28For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Podcast 127, Hebrews, “Pt 8, Ch 8”Of the 12 chapters in the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 9 speak of High Priests, Chapter 7 being the pivotal chapter. Chapter 8 opens with the following declaration. Hebrews 8:1-3Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.The Holy Priesthood is the power to act in God’s Name—and that name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Remember his words to Peter, Matthew 16:15-19He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Those keys are priesthood keys. That power is priesthood power, and as we learned from Hebrews 7, it is called the Melchisedec Priesthood. Paul said of Christ, Hebrews 7:21-24(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.It is the everlasting nature of the atonement of Christ, an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, that should always be at the forefront of our minds.  Paul distinguishes between Christ as high priest and man as high priest, speaking of the Aaronic Priesthood. Hebrews 8:4-5For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.The high priests of the Levitical or Aaronic Priesthood were but “the example and shadow of heavenly things.” Only Christ, the High Priest, sits “on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.”Christ gives us a more excellent way.Hebrews 8:6But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.When Christ came to the earth, he fulfilled the covenant of Moses; therefore, it was fulfilled and replaced with a new and everlasting covenant of a higher order. Hebrews 8:7-10For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:It is helpful here to review the Sermon on the Mount for it reveals the essence of that new covenant. For sake of economy, I shall just include the unsurpassing Beatitudes.Matthew 5:3-12Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.That is a long way from ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ And as anyone can tell you who strives to live those laws, they are not always easy. I remember a delightful old comic strip called ‘Wilberforce.’ The father, red-faced and on fire with anger, was chasing his son. His wife said something to the effect, ‘Give him another chance.” The father answers, “What if he doesn’t do it again?” He, of course, represented the natural man whose righteous indignation often turns into revenge. Christ is trying to perfect us. Christ never sinned. We cannot reach that standard. That is why Christ gave us the law of mercy. Christ achieved perfection by the things he suffered, and he commanded us, Matthew 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Of course, that is not possible in this life; however, if we strive to keep the commandments and endure to the end in this life, Christ, through his atoning sacrifice, can make us perfect through the resurrection in the next life.Christ promises the faithful.Hebrews 8:11-13And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Podcast 126, Hebrews, “Pt 7, Ch 7”It is difficult to find a more profound explanation of the priesthood than in Hebrews Chapter 7. Clearly there are two priesthoods, a lessor priesthood and a greater priesthood. The lessor priesthood is the Levitical or Aaronic Priesthood. The greater priesthood is the Melchisedec Priesthood. Priesthood is the power to act in God’s name. To have that Priesthood one must be ordained of God “as was Aaron.” Paul teaches the dramatic difference between the two. First, he teaches of the higher or Melchisedec Priesthood.Hebrews 7:1-4For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.We first read of Abraham meeting Melchizedek in Genesis 14.Genesis 14:18-20And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.In the stories of Jews and Christians, has there ever been a more important meeting, King David adds further insight. Psalm 110:4The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. So far we learn that Melchisedec is King of Salem, Priest of the Most Hight God, & King of Righteousness. We also learn that Melchisedec was greater than Abraham for Melchisedec blessed Abraham and Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec. Melchisedec has Christ like qualities, but he is not Christ. Paul said, “but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Melchisedec is a High Priest to Christ, and as David teaches, Christ will be a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. In fact, the longevity of that priesthood is a primary theme of Hebrews 7. Hebrews 7:3 “But made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually”; 7:17 “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec”; 7: 24 “Because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood”; 7:27 “who is consecrated for evermore.”It is the Melchisedec Priesthood, however, that is “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.”  And David teaches us that Christ is a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Paul echoes the words of David.Hebrews 7:22-28By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.In other words, Christ is the power of the priesthood. He continueth forever. He is able to save all that come unto him, Christ gives his priesthood to man. For example, it was Christ who gave that priesthood to Melchizedek and it was Melchizedek who gave that priesthood to Abraham for Abraham receives all the oaths and covenants or all the promises. Christ also gave that priesthood to Peter and the Apostles. It is through that same Priesthood that bind the oaths and covenants of God. The Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood did not have that power, but the Melchizedek Priesthood did for it is everlasting.Hebrews 7:18-21For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)To understand what those oaths and covenants are, let’s return to the Old Testament. Genesis 12:1-3Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.In other words, if we are to be blessed thorough the Melchizedek Priesthood, we must be of the seed of Abraham, not by birthright only as were the House of Jacob but by righteousness through obedience to the laws of Christ. who is the embodiment of the everlasting priesthood. Anyone who comes unto Christ via his Holy Priesthood, may inherit the blessings of Christ. The scope of the blessing to Abraham and his seed, including the Gentiles who become his adopted seed, is difficult to comprehend.Genesis 13:14-16And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.Genesis 15:5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.The covenant with Abraham is not an earthly covenant only. As we read in Genesis 13: “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” That is not an idle promise. It is an eternal covenant. In Genesis we readGenesis 17:7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.The Promised Land then covers not only real estate on earth but also real estate in heaven; otherwise, it would not be everlasting. The Levitical Priesthood does not contain that oath or covenant or promise. Only through the Melchizedek Priesthood can it be obtained. Another thing that separates the Aaronic Priesthood from the Melchizedek Priesthood is the difference in law. Law, the greatest gift of God, is often overlooked causing some to erroneously see God as arbitrary. God is a God of law and order, or he would not be God. Every blessing, every miracle, every prophecy, every ordinance, every commandment, every covenant—in fact everything that God does, he does according to law. It simplifies things for us. Obey the law and you get the predicated blessings. Disobey the law and you get the predicated cursings. There is one law of the Levitical or Aaronic Priesthood and a higher law for the Melchizedek Priesthood. Let’s see what Paul says of the Aaronic Priesthood.Hebrews 7:5-10And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.We learn in the above that the Melchisedec Priesthood was first, the Aaronic Priesthood second. The Melchisedec Priesthood is greater, the Aaronic Priesthood is lessor. This is emphasized by Paul.Hebrews 7:11-14If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Podcast 125, Hebrews, “Pt 6, Ch 6”Paul sets an incredibly high standard for us to follow:Hebrews 6:1-2Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. In the above Paul establishes the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel.·      Repentance from our sins·      Faith in Christ·      Baptism·      Laying on of hand for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.·      The Resurrection from the Dead·      The Eternal JudgmentThose are essential to salvation. Without them we cannot enter the presence of God, but they are the foundation of our worship.  To Paul tThe first principles and ordinances are where we begin. They are not where we end. Paul admonishes us to “go on unto perfection.”Christ said, Matthew 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.That appears to be an impossible task; however, through Christ it can be done. Paul added, Hebrews 6:3And this will we do, if God permit.Christ alone is the key. Paul called Christ, “the author and finisher of our faith.”Hebrews 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.We must be made perfect or we cannot enter the presence of the Father and the Son.6 LINDARevelation 21:27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.David, who his whole life, wanted to build a temple to God, said,Psalm 24:3-4Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.Isaiah added,Isaiah 35:8-10And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.Paul sets the standard of judgment.Hebrews 6:4-8For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.Paul is not talking of those who fall into sin and repent. Remember Paul put repentance first on the list. He is talking about those who have had the gift of the Holy Ghost and then turned their backs on the church and fight against it. Those are the ones “which beareth thorns and briers.”  I suspect Paul is alluding to those who once belonged to the Church of Christ and then turned against it and began persecuting the Christians who remained faithful. Paul then turns his attention to the faithful members of the church.Hebrews 6:9-11But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:Paul is encouraging the saints to endure to the end. Hope, considered one of the three theological virtues, refers to hope in eternal life.  Hope is the central theme in Hebrews 6 as you shall see in the following: Hebrews 6:12-19That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;First, Paul admonishes us not to be slothful. As every Christian knows, Sloth is one of the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, Greed, Lust, Evy, Gluttony, Wrath, & Sloth. The opposing virtues are Humility, Charity, Chastity, Gratitude, Temperance, Patience, & Diligence. Paul is urging us to diligence through faith and patience and endurance. That is how we inherit the promises. What are the promises? He of course is talking about the Abrahamic Covenant and one of the greatest promises is eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Those who keep their covenants, those who patiently endure shall be “heirs of promise.” Notice the preeminence of hope, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, but sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” To go through the veil in the temple symbolizes entering into the Holy of Holies or the presence of God. The temple is preeminent in the writings of both Isaiah and John the Revelator. As with Isaiah and John, Christ is also the center in the writings of Paul.  Hebrews 6:20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.12 RONIn the Holy Bible the High Priest, a descendant of Aaron, was the only one allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. In Hebrews 5, Paul described his role “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” That of course was symbolic of Christ. In the King James Translation, the Book of Hebrews has 11 chapters. Books, or chapters, in the New Testament are often referred to as epistles. Those are all terms used in translation. It is probably closer to the original if we read the entire Book of Hebrews as one long epistle. The chapters are tied together by internal parallelism. It is my opinion that the books were not written over a long period of time with years in between, but were written as a whole in a relative brief time. The authors or prophets and apostles clearly had the beginning, middle, and end in mind before they wrote their book, The evidence is in the text. They are so tightly written. Just as a small example, let’s take the first six chapters of Hebrews and tie them to Hebrews 6:20 above. Notice how the previous chapters bring the theme of Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek, into focus. Paul wants us to keep Christ as the focus of Hebrews.  Linda and I shall read them alternately.Hebrews 1:1-5 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?Hebrews 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. 

Podcast 124, Hebrews, “Pt 5, Ch 5”Hebrews Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4 prepare us for Hebrews Chapter 5. Christ is the central theme of Hebrews. Paul wants us to know who Christ is and why he is necessary for our salvation.Hebrews, Chapter 5, is divided into three distinct partsPart I is comprised of verses 1-4. It forms a chiasm, or single unit much like a paragraph. It follows the parallel pattern of ABBA. Paul refers to the role of High Priest of the tribe of Levi who offered sacrifices for the Children of Israel. It is a type of Christ, and the role of High Priest was to remind the Children of Israel that Jesus Christ would offer himself as the ultimate sacrifice. However, unlike Christ, the surrogate High Priest is not perfect. For example, Paul said, “for that he himself is compassed with infirmity.” For that reason, the surrogate High Priest “ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.” In other words, he is a substitute High Priest. The true High Priest, as Paul teaches, is Christ who never sinned. For example, the animal being sacrificed had to be without blemish for the lamb also was a symbol of Christ. Being sinless, Christ, unlike the surrogate High Priest, did not have to offer sacrifice for his own sins. It was for us alone that he died. He alone among all mankind is without blemish.A         For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: B         Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. B         And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. A         And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.In Part I Paul teaches us that a priesthood holder must be called of God, as was Aaron. For example, listen as I read verses 1 & 4 together as if they were connected or juxtaposed:“For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”See how they fit together as hand in glove. It is as if Paul meant us to read those two verses together, yet they are interrupted by verses 2 & 3 which are also natural companions. “Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.” In ancient Israel the priesthood was held by the tribe of Levi. One cannot ordain himself to the priesthood. The priesthood is the authority to act for God and therefore must be called of God.Part II is comprised of verses 5-10. It follows the same Chiastic pattern: ABBA. A.        So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. B         Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; B         Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  A         Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Again, listen as I read verses 5, 6, & 10 together. Notice how natural it sounds, ““So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”Does that not also echo verse 4 of the first chiasm, “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”Just as man must be called of Christ to be a high priest to act in his name. Christ had to be called of the Father to act in the Father’s name.  In Hebrews 1 we are told.Hebrews 1:1-5 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?It was necessary for Christ, the creator of the earth, to come to earth and set the example for us, Hebrews 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.Paul makes it clear that the Priesthood is a heavenly calling. Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;What sets Christ apart is that he is the only High Priest who remained sinless; therefore, he alone could atone with his own blood for our sins. The High Priests who presided in the temple had to choose animals that were without spot or blemish. Both High Priest and animal were symbolic of Christ. Christ alone is our High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” In other words, he will always be our God, our Christ, our Savior, and our Redeemer forever. He never loses that title. Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.Even Christ, the Son of God, learned obedience through suffering. Probably the bulk of our prayers is to plead with the Lord to help us or our family and friends to avoid suffering. Sickness, accident, disease, entropy, and death are the common lot of mankind, and we all suffer. Christ gives meaning to suffering. Suffering is polarizing. Some turn away from God because of their suffering; some turn toward God because of their suffering. Some become defiant and blame God for our suffering. Some become humble and obedient and turn suffering into greater faith, trusting God. The words of Paul above have given many comfort, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” The suffering of Christ contributed to his perfection. The challenge to each of us is, how do we turn our suffering into our perfection? Does it bring us closer to Christ, or does it drive us away from Christ? That is one of the greatest challenges of mankind, how we handle suffering. “Thy will be done” is not an easy law to live. On the one hand, self inflicted suffering is a fool’s errand and has no redeeming value; on the other hand, suffering is the lot of all mankind.  That is the reason Christ became our savior. In Gethsemane Christ was suffering such agony that he asked the Father that the cup be removed, yet immediately Christ said, “Thy will be done.” God the Father did not remove the cup. He allowed his only Begotten Son to Suffer that he may become the savior of all of his other children. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, Christ is the only Savior of the World. It was only through his perfection that he had the power to redeem us and deliver us from our suffering. Most of us know only two well that suffering is not always relieved through prayer, faith, technology, medicine, doctors, hospitals etc. In my own personal life, I had two daughters who were healed of cancer. I attribute their healing to the powers of prayer, the powers of modern medicine, technology, to the skills of good doctors and of the access to modern hospitals. In addition to that, of course, is the powers of the human body to heal itself, but most of all I attribute it to the power of God our creator who gave us those things. On the other hand, I lost my wife of 35 years and the mother of six daughters to cancer a mere three weeks after she was diagnosed. She had our prayers. She had modern medicine, technology, doctors and hospitals and strong faith, yet she was taken.  And we must all face the fact that at one time or another, though the scale is nothing compared to the suffering Christ endured for us, God, our Father, may not remove the cup from us. My two daughters lived through cancer. My wife died of cancer. Blessed be the name of God. Someday it will all be clear but perhaps not in this life.

Podcast 123, Hebrews, “Pt 4, Ch 4”Hebrews, Chapter 4, is an extension of Hebrews, Chapter 3, and it is valuable to read them together. In fact, they form a perfect chiasm. Let’s compare verses 1-2 of Chapter 4 with verses 18-19 of Chapter 3.Hebrews 4:1-2Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.Hebrew 18-19And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.That, of course, is not coincidental. Paul clearly intends or us to consider them together. It also establishes the primary theme of chapters 3 & 4. That theme is simply this: Only the faithful shall inherit the Kingdom of God and enter into his rest. In Chapter 3 we are told that perseverance is a primary criterion.Hebrews 3:6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.Faith, which is the first principle of the gospel, is always a key ingredient. Faith is the gateway to miracles. Faith is the gateway to hope of eternal life. Faith is the gateway to entering into God’s rest: “But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” It reminds us of the parable of the Sower.Matthew 13:3-8And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.The lack of faith prevents people from entering into the rest of the Lord.Hebrews 4:3-6For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:God cannot force anyone into heaven. It must be a choice. Previously Paul said,Hebrews 3:10-11Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.Paul hearkens back to the words of the Psalmist David.Hebrews 4:7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Psalm 95:7-11)Let’s turn to David and get his own words. Psalm 95: 7-11For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.That same concept was reinforced by Paul in the previous chapter. Notice the added information, should I say exhortation?Hebrews 3: 8-24Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;Again, Paul emphasizes that we must endure to the end. But particularly notice the phrase, “They do always err in their heart.” Why didn’t he say, “They err in judgment?” or “They err in knowledge?” or “They err in wisdom?” and so forth? It is simply this: The Holy Ghost dwells in our heart and not in our head. Because of their lack of faith, they did not listen to the still small voice of the Holy Ghost. Paul said, Hebrews 3:7-9Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.Paul gives the same admonition that the Children of Israel in the wilderness had.Hebrews 4:8-11For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.The tactics of Satan never really change. In the above we have the witness of Moses, the witness of David, and the witness of Paul. From Moses to David is about 450 years; From David to Paul is about 1005 years, but nothing changed. The doctrines are the same. The criteria for entering into the rest of the Kingdom of God are the same.Hebrews 4:12-13For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.It is no coincidence that the beginning of Hebrews 4 is the same as the ending of Hebrews 3, nor is it a coincidence that the ending of Hebrews 4 is the same as the beginning of Hebrews 3.Hebrews 4:14-16Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Hebrews 3:1-2Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.The above is one of tremendous hope. Christ was sinless; therefore, he has the power to save us from our sins if we remain faithful and endure to the end. He was without sin, but we are not, yet he is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” For that reason, we may “come boldly unto the throne of grace.” Is that not one of the most comforting images in the Holy Scriptures, “to come boldly unto the throne of grace?” Not the “throne of justice,” where the wicked and unrepentant go, but to “the throne of grace.” But it is not without a price, and in Hebrews 3 & 4 Paul tells us that price. We must have faith in Christ, and we must endure to the end. That doesn’t mean that we are perfect. It means that “to come boldly unto the throne of grace,” we must continue to strive to become perfect unto the end so that he can bring us into his rest. By being sinless, Christ satisfied the requirement of the law of Justice. He paid the price for our sins. In return we must have faith in Christ. We show that faith by our works, by our continually striving to overcome our sins, our faults, and our weaknesses. One of us had to be perfect. Since none of us qualify, it had to be Christ. It is his perfection that we believe in, but we must believe in it enough to never give up, to never quit striving for perfection, and to never staying down when we fall. Sometimes faith is the ability to climb out of the hole believing that the arm of Christ is always outstretched. No one understood that better than Paul.

Podcast 122, Hebrews, “Pt 3, Ch 3” Christ is given many names in the Holy Scriptures. Each name is significant for they reveal who Christ is. He is a very difficult person to define considering his role in the Kingdom of God. Isaiah gave us many titles of Christ: Immanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, The Rod out of the Stem of Jesse, A Light to the Gentiles, The Servant of the Lord, The Holy One of Israel, The Mighty One of Jacob, A Precious Corner Stone, A Sure Foundation, The Shepherd, The Lamb, A Man of Sorrows, The Lord our Redeemer.John also gave us many titles of Christ.Only Begotten Son, Only Begotten of the Father, Son of God, The Light of the World, The Holy One of God, The Lamb of God, The Saviour of the World, The Bread of Life, The Living Bread, The Resurrection and the Life, Jesus Christ, The King of Israel, King of Kings, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The Alpha and Omega, The Almighty, Bright and Morning Star, The Light of the World. In Hebrews 3 Paul gives us another title.Hebrews 3:1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;Such a nice use of “our profession.” What is our profession? Our profession is to know Christ. In the Intercessory Prayer we learn: John 27:3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.Isaiah referred to Christ as “The Servant of the Lord” which certainly elevates the word servant. As in all things, Christ is the perfect model of all that is good. Hebrews 3:2-4Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. We learn from the above that Christ is creator of all things. There is an additional image that is beautiful to consider, and that is the idea that we are the house that Christ is building if we allow it. First look at the above images of house. ·      he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. ·      every house is builded by some man; ·      he that built all things is God. That fits well with the image of Jesus as a carpenter, but what Christ builds, he builds for eternity. I suppose that we should all ask: ‘When referring to us, what kind of house is he building?’ Immediately the temple image comes to mind. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.One purpose of the temple God builds is to house the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost cannot dwell in unclean temples. In Isaiah 52:11we read, “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” There is a grave penalty if we are not worthy of the Holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 3:16–17Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.Considering what Paul said in verse one, speaking of Christ, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” the following expands the importance of that statement,Ephesians 2:19–22Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.The implications of the analogy go beyond the scope of this moment for it would take pages to explore its full import; therefore, let me conclude with the following image of another temple. In effect, the following is what Christ is really striving to do in building our temple.Revelation 21:22-27And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.Christ teaches, Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.This is what Christ meant when he said, Matthew 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Such perfection cannot be reached in this life. That can occur only after the resurrection and final judgment where Christ purifies all those who inherit the Kingdom of God.However, that is the temple Christ is building, the one where we shall “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father.” In another place we read, 1 John 3:2 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.We can never see him as he is until he perfects us. It is so easy to underestimate the scale of what Christ has done for us and is wanting to do for us if we let him. Keep in mind that the building does not end until after the resurrection. We can only do that which is allotted us on this earth. One thing we can do is to strive to keep the commandments. Because of agency, as with all miracles, Christ cannot and will not build us to become like him without our faith. What does he expect of us? Paul clearly answers that question.Hebrews 3:5-6And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.But we must listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.Hebrews 3:7-11Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)As we must all learn the hard way, the Holy Ghost speaks in a whisper. 1 Kings 19:11–13 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.Paul warms us of the cunning of Satan. Hebrews 3:12-13Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.Peter also cautions us,1 Peter 5:8–9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.Paul emphasizes that we must endure to the end. Hebrews 3:14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;It is common for the apostles and prophets to refer to Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. They often refer not only to the spectacular miracles but also to the stubbornness of the House of Israel in not enduring to the end.Hebrews 3: 15-17While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?Paul compares those who did not enter into the Promised Land to those who shall not enter into the Kingdom of God.Hebrews 3:18-19And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Podcast 121, Hebrews, “Pt 2, Ch 21”It is wonderful how all the apostles and prophets testify of Christ, yet they still have a singular voice. For example, we recognize the writings of David or Isaiah or John or Paul.Paul’s life changed forever when, on the road to Damascus to persecute the Church organized by Christ, he received a personal vision of Christ. Upon the instant, from tormenting the saints, he became a converted Christian, and from that point on he used that same enthusiasm that drove him to persecute the church to build and strengthen the church. He was formerly a Pharisee and Old Testament scholar. Before he used his knowledge as an excuse the destroy the church; now he uses that same knowledge to prove that Jesus is the looked for Messiah. Paul is a teacher, and he uses every opportunity to teach of Christ and of his commandments and doctrine. For example,Hebrews 2:1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.He is admonishing us to give greater heed to the words of the prophets that we may avoid slipping into apostasy and be drawn away from the faith. If that was true in his day, it is doubly true in ours where Christianity is once again under attack, and even people in high government positions are doing everything they can to remove Christ from government, even from America by attacking the icons, traditions, and laws of Christian churches. Some wish to remove The Ten Commandments from court houses. That is not a small thing since our laws are based on the Ten Commandments: thou shalt not kill, though shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, though shalt not commit adultery. Those same antichrists wish to remove the cross, the Bible, the Christmas Creche, even the name of God from government buildings and coins. They wish to take away the motto “In God we trust.” They want to take “One Nation under God” from our pledge of allegiance. Some even censor sermons that go against popular movements. On a national level we are letting the things of God slip from our traditions. Christians are even being penalized in schools, in government, in social media, and even in the workplace for being Christian. Paul is asking Christians to stand for Christianity. Hebrews 2:2-3For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;Paul is speaking of the law of justice when he said, “and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward.” Two of the greatest laws of the gospel are The Law of Justice and the Law of Mercy. The law of justice is absolute and irrevocable. God must be just or he would cease to be God. It is because of the nature of the law of justice that the law of mercy was necessary. Without the law of mercy, justice would condemn us all forever which means that we would live forever outside the presence of God and become subjects of Satan. Paul is teaching of the atonement of Christ.Hebrews 3:4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?Signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost are only possible because of Christ’s atonement. Paul understood the atonement of Christ because he was, by his own admission, on the road to perdition by assenting to the murder of Steven and by persecuting and imprisoning Christians merely for their belief in Christ. He was saved by Christ himself from continuing down that dreadful road. Paul, a learned man, even before his conversion believed in the coming Messiah, though he didn’t accept Jesus as that true Messiah until he received that miraculous witness. Unlike the Sadducees, Paul also believed in the resurrection. Pharisees were not priests. They were teachers and they strictly obeyed the law. After his conversion he used that same knowledge to prove that Jesus was the true Messiah. He quotes David. Hebrews 3:5-8For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.Let’s consider the original statement by the Psalmist, David.Psalm 8:3-6When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:I don’t remember when I first learned the story of David and Goliath or the stories of David killing a lion and a bear with his sling. Those stories seem to simply be inherited, but I do remember when I first read the Book of Psalms. I was ten years old. Every night, sitting by a fire in an old farmhouse deep in the woods of Cherokee County, South Carolina, I read a Psalm while my family watched our black and white TVI started with Genesis. It was winter when I got to the Psalms. I read all 150 of them. I wish I could say it was a wonderful experience and I was somehow visited by angels and was transported. If there were any angels in the room, they were very quiet, perhaps watching TV. For me it was a dreadful experience. I didn’t understand anything and I dreaded reading the Bible. Nonetheless, I felt compelled to read the Bible, certainly not by my parents nor by my church nor by any individual. It came from within, I started reading the Bible when I was Ten years old and finished when I was a teenager. I read from Genesis to Revelation.   Fortunately for me I didn’t abandon my quest. Though I got nothing out of it as a teenager, I remained attracted to the King James Bible my entire life. I learned to love not only the stories but also the beautiful poetry, among which David was the best.In examining Psalm 8:3-6, one finds it has a double meaning. There are two questions, not just one. The first question is, “What is man that thou art mindful of him?” The second question is, “What is the son of man, that thou visitest him?” The first man refers to mankind. It reflects back to the story of creation.Genesis 1:26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.The second man, called “son of man” is Jesus Christ. It is of Christ he is speaking when he said, “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:”Paul teaches us.Hebrews 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; “that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

Podcast 120, Hebrews, “Pt 1, Ch 1”Paul was one of the most fascinating apostles of the early church. He began as an enemy to the church. He said he was, “An Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee.” A Pharisee was devoted to the Law of Moses and strictly observed religious traditions. They believed in the doctrine of the resurrection, the existence of angels, the coming of the Messiah, and the final judgment. Nicodemus was also a Pharisee as was Gamaliel. Paul was noted for consenting to the stoning of Steven and for making “havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women and committing them to prison.”His conversion to the church was spectacular.  Acts 9:1-5And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.Paul’s testimony to King Agrippa has become a classic.Acts 26:13-18At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.Paul became an apostle and special witness of Christ and one of the greatest missionaries the church has ever known. He is famous for his letters to the Saints. In the following Podcasts we shall examine Paul’s letters to the Hebrews. Some of the greatest doctrines of the Church come from the letters of Paul.Hebrews 1:1-2God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;Paul validates the prophets of the past whom, as a Pharisee, he would have studied carefully. He interestingly refers to his time as “these last days.” As we shall see in the writings of Paul, he also spoke of “these last days” as referring to the Second Coming of Christ. In the above he affirms that Christ is the creator of “the worlds.” It is not logical that Paul is merely referring to our solar system. He specifically used the term “worlds.” Clearly that refers not only to our solar system but to many other solar systems and galaxies with inhabited planets. The next important doctrine of Christianity is the idea that Christ is the “appointed heir of all things.” The principle of inheritance is important in Christianity. From whom did he inherit those things? The answer can only be from the Father. Christ obeyed the Father in all things. It is only logical to accept the doctrine that the Father is the Father and Christ is the only Begotten Son or the law of inheritance doesn’t make any sense. Both at the baptism of Christ and on the Mount of Transfiguration the voice of the Father was heard by witnesses saying, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The principle of inheritance is a family thing. It has another reason for being very special to Christians. Romans 8:16–17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.The Seed of Abraham expands to include all those who have faith in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, and all who are worthy shall inherit the promises of Abraham.Galatians 3:26-29For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.Paul, having seen the resurrected Lord in vision, speaks of a heavenly inheritance,Hebrews 1:3-4Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Podcast 119, Jude, Pt B In Jude, Pt A, We discussed Jude verses 1-6 which included the War in Heaven and our First Estate. In this podcast we discuss Lucifer being cast out of heaven and continue with Jude verses 7-25.Revelation 14:12-15How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.Lucifer and his angels are the ones who did not keep their first estate. That makes earth the Second Estate. Those of us who came to earth to gain a body kept our first estate. That means we were on the side of Michael. We stood for Christ and rejected Lucifer. We were all Christians before we were born, and we are all born with the Spirit of Christ, for he is the life. We are now in our Second Estate. Those of us who remain true to Christ on earth and endure to the end will be those who keep their Second Estate. Where we live in our Third Estate will be determined on how well we keep our Second Estate. Jude defines those who do not keep their Second Estate.Jude 1:7-9Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.Sodom and Gomorrah symbolize the world just as Egypt and Babylon symbolize the world. Those who follow the natural man will not live with Christ in their Third Estate. Jude further said, Jude 1:10-13But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.Again, mankind is compared to stars. We choose whom we will follow for the battle against Satan is now raging on earth as it once raged in heaven. Those stars who fought against Lucifer and his angels in heaven, he is trying to win over on earth. He failed to persuade them to follow him in their First Estate. Now he wants them to follow him in their Second Estate. The war against Lucifer really didn’t end. It just continued on earth. We have more than one witness.Jude 1:14-15And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.Enoch is a fascinating prophet. The Bible speaks very little of Enoch, but what the Bible does reveal is inspiring. Genesis 5:18-24And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.“For God took him” means that he did not die but was translated. Paul speaks of the translation of Enoch.Hebrews 11:5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.The other prophet that we know who was translated was Elijah. 2 Kings 2:11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.We know he was translated for he appears on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses and Jesus. Matthew 17:1-3And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Elijah. Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, speaking of the last days, prophesies of the coming of Elijah before Christ returns.”Malachi 4:1-6For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.Jewish traditions take the words of Malachi very seriously. During the Passover meal they set out an additional cup wine to symbolize the return of Elijah. In addition, at the end of the ceremonial meal, the front door is opened in hope of his return.  During the brit milah (circumcision) an empty ceremonial chair is prepared called “The Chair of Elijah.” Elijah serves as a witness that Israel continues to keep God’s covenant with Abraham. Elijah is associated with the last days, with “the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” His purpose is to warn the wicked, encourage repentance, restore Israel, and prepare the world for God’s kingdom.Christians also have a strong tradition concerning the return of Elijah.Luke 1:16-17And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.Many Christians take the prophecy of Malachi literally. For example, turning “the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” means restoring family relationships. To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the prophecy of Malachi refers to genealogy work which means temple work for the dead. The Doctrine and Covenants records that Elijah returned to the earth in the Kirkland temple and restored the keys of the gathering of Israel.Doctrine and Covenants 110:11-16After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come— To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse— Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.Ancient Catholic theology also has a strong tradition regarding the return of Elijah. Early Catholic fathers took literally Malachi’s words as well as the words in Matthew 17Matthew 17:11And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. In Ecclesiasticus, a book accepted by the early Catholic Fathers, written by a Jewish scribe living in Jerusalem, a reference similar to Malachi speaks of the return of Elijah.Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.Jude is also speaking of the last days when he compared our times with Sodom and Gomorrah.

Podcast 118, Jude, Pt AJude (also called Judah or Judas) introduces himself as the brother of James (also known as James the Just). Jude 1:1-2Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.It is assumed that they were the brothers of Jesus. Matthew 13:55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?We have only one epistle of Jude, but his scope is very broad. He begins with exhorting us to earnestly contend for the faith.” Following that, He alludes to the War in Heaven where Michael and his angels fought against Lucifer and his angels. He alludes to Sodom and Gomorrah a symbol, like Egypt and Babylon, of the destruction of the world in the last days. He alludes to Enoch, a great post diluvian prophet, and he alludes to mockers in the last days just prior to Christ’s Second Coming. So effectively Jude covers from the premortal existence to the end of the world as we know it.Therefore, let’s take each concept in turn to share Jude’s grand vision. I have divided the podcast into parts A & B. This is Part A, verses 1-6.Jude 1:3-5Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.Jude reminds the saints of how Christ delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt. He also reminded them of the curse that fell upon those Children of Israel who did not remember the Savior. In addition, he reminds them that Satan is working overtime in the early church to destroy the faith. There have always been those, under the influence of Satan, who want to destroy Christ and his church. One can tell by the urgent language of Jude that the problem is very severe. Jude is asking the saints to stand firm and defend the faith. Notice how serious the matter is, “turning the grace of God into lasciviousness.” Does that not sound more like the behavior of those who worship idols than those who worship Christ? Lasciviousness was part of idol worship. Satan also influenced them to deny Christ. In other words, to deny their own testimony. James introduces a very interesting term that perhaps some of us tend to overlook.Jude 1:6And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.What does James mean by “first estate? And what angels did not keep their first estate. To understand Jude, we must review the War in Heaven. For that let’s first go to John the Revelator.In vision John also saw the early apostasy in the church.Revelation 12:1-2And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.The twelve stars are the twelve apostles. The woman clothed with the sun is an allusion to Christ. “Being with child” is a reference to the birth of the church. “Pain to be delivered’ refers to the persecution of the church from the day it was organized.  It becomes clear as we continue. Revelation 12:3-4And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.“The angels which kept not their first estate” refers to Lucifer and those angels who followed him. Our First Estate is our premortal life with God as spirits in heaven. Those who fought with Lucifer did not keep their First Estate. Those who fought against Lucifer did keep their First Estate. What is the Second Estate? That would be life on earth. This is our Second Estate and once again we are at war with Satan and his Angels. Those who kept their first estate came to earth to gain a body. Those who keep their Second Estate shall return to heaven to live forever with Christ.John refers to the fact that Lucifer, who became Satan, was cast out of heaven and continued his war against Christ on earth. Just as he tried to tempt Christ in the wilderness, he tried to destroy the true church of Christ on earth. The crown of twelve stars, referring to the twelve apostles, differs from the ‘seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns” upon Satan’s head. That speaks of great power, but it is a diabolical power. “His tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven.” “Stars” refers to spirit children of God in heaven, or the First Estate, before the earth was created. We were all among those stars. We too lived in heaven as spirit children of God before coming to earth. That was our First Estate.A third part of those stars followed the dragon, which is Lucifer who rebelled against God and Christ. None of those kept their First Estate. Those who followed Lucifer and did not keep their First Estate were cast out of heaven with him. The rest of those stars, beginning with Adam and Eve, who kept their First Estate chose to follow Christ, to come to earth and to gain a physical body, and to prove themselves worthy to return to heaven to live with Christ forever.  Satan continues that war that he started in heaven on earth as stated above, “and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child (the church) as soon as it was born.” That is what Jude is talking about. John the Revelator continues,Revelation 12:5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.The man child is Christ. The “rod of iron” is the word of God. It was Christ who was caught up unto God, and to his throne, but the church remained on earth led by the apostles.  Lucifer, now called Satan, immediately attempted to destroy the church. He begins by trying to destroy the Christ child before he could begin his ministry.Revelation 12:6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.We know that Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to escape the evil Herod who wanted to murder the Christ Child. Herod, as with many who are led by Satan, was unaware that he was under the power of Satan. Herod was a politician who wanted to maintain his throne. John harkens back to Lucifer and the War in Heaven.Revelation 12:7-9And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.Michael, of course, is the archangel who led the battle against Lucifer in the War in Heaven and the rebelling angels who followed him. As stated earlier, Lucifer and all those who followed him were once “stars” in heaven. They were children of God just as all the other spirits in heaven were children of God; however, they rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven thus being forever denied the privilege of obtaining a body of flesh and bones. They will forever remain spirits. That is part of their curse. One of the greatest gifts God has ever given to us is a physical body. One of the next greatest gifts will be a resurrected body that will never taste death. Satan and his angels are the only ones who will never experience physical birth, physical death, and physical resurrection. Jude spoke of the days of Christ, but he also spoke of the days just preceding the Second Coming of Christ. The writing of Jude is definitely meant for our day, and Jude’s prophesy is coming to pass. We are living in the last days. Satan is working overtime. In heaven Lucifer was defeated because of the power of Christ. Those who followed Michael were doing so in the name of Christ whom they knew even in the premortal existence would come to earth and save them from their sins. The plan of salvation did not begin on earth with the birth of Christ. The plan of salvation began in the spirit world in heaven. Job understood that. 

Podcast 117, 3 John, “Pt 7, Ch 1”John addresses his third epistle ato Gaius. Such letters are valuable for not only do they teach doctrine, but they also make the first church a living church, comprised of real people. On the world stage Gaius is not important. He is given no title in the church, yet he is praised for his faith and his hospitality toward the other saints. We get the feeling of a close-knit community of saints who depend upon each other. We also get the feeling of the apostles who, at the risk of their own lives and freedom, travel about strengthening the church.The scriptures speak of great men and women of the Lord for our benefit and learning, but they also speak of the ordinary saints who matter a great deal not only to the Lord but to the other saints. Christ was champion of those whom the world did not recognize.·      The woman at the well.·      Fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James, and John ·      Tax collector, Matthew.·      Mary Magdalene, possessed by devils·      Lazarus·      Blind Bartimaeus ·      Jairus’ daughter·      Anonymous souls such as the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, blind men of Jerico, paralytic lowered through the roof, invalid of Bethesda, woman with an issue of blood. Centurion’s servant, man with the withered hand, woman bent double, man with Dropsy, the Ten Lepers. We don’t really know who Gaius was, but John’s epistle gave him immortality3 John 1:1The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.Gaius is apparently well known among the saints of that era, but we know nothing about him except the epitaph that John gives him. He is another name on a tombstone with a foot note whose example teaches us how to be a better Christian.3 John 1:2-3Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.Perhaps that is what we should take away from the Epistle to Gaius, his example. Because the truth is in him, because he walks in the truth, his soul prospers. A very brief but poignant message to all saints. We need to ‘walk in the truth.’ Where have we heard that message before?  It was in John’s last Epistle to “the elect lady” who is also anonymous.2 John 1:1-6The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.Isn’t that all that God asks of us, that we “walk after his commandments.” We don’t measure our faith by our leaders. We measure our leaders by our faith in the commandments of God. We do not walk after man. We walk after God. Leaders change. God doesn’t. The Word doesn’t. The Ten Commandments, The Sermon on the Mount, The Two Great Commandments, the words of Prophets and Apostles—if they were true then, they are true now. They do not vary from the written word. Policies change. Programs change. Administrative decisions change. Common sense must find its way into Christianity. We should never shut the mouth of God. But the old commandments never change. Notice John’s greatest joy.3 John 1:4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.When John uses the phrase “my children,” he is speaking of members of Christ’s church. We are all children of God.Romans 8:16-17The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.Apparently Gaius is well known for his charity.3 John 1:5-6Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:That adds to the meaning of walking in the truth. We must also walk in faith. One can only imagine how important hospitality was in those trying times. Gaius receives the saints into his home. There is a great story in the Old Testament of the Shunammite woman who created a bedroom in her home for the Prophet Elisha to use whenever he traveled through. 2 Kings 4:8–10And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither."Enormous blessings fell upon that good Samaritan. She was childless. Elisha blessed her that for her hospitality she would have a child even in her old age. That same child died and Elisha restored the child to life. It parallels the story of the widow who gave her last meal to Elijah, depriving herself and her son who were about to die of the famine. As a blessing the barrel of meal and cruse of oil never diminished until the famine was abated. Elijah also restored her son to life.John admonishes the saints that they should be like Gaius.3 John 1:5-6Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.We learn then to walk in truth, to walk in faith, and to help others to walk in faith and truth. John condemns those who don’t.3 John 1:9-11I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.In addition to the above, we must follow that which is good. The doctrine of “He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God” is very important to John. John in his first Epistle wrote: 1 John 3:2Beloved, 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.Only those who are like Christ will see Christ as he is. Those who are not like Christ will not be able to comprehend his glory nor will they be able to feel the fullness of his joy. Paul spoke of three degrees of glory, or three heavens. The lowest was compared to the brightness of the stars, the second was compared to the brightness of the moon, and the third, or highest, was compared to the brightness of the Sun. Paul did not give a name to the lowest. He called the second degree of glory, the Terrestrial Glory, and the third degree of glory the Celestial Glory. The Father and Son, of course, occupy the highest degree of Glory or the Celestial Kingdom. I think it is interesting that not only is the brightness of light associated with each kingdom of glory—that which is compared to the brighteness of the sun—but also the fulness of joy is associated with each kingdom of glory. We can only have a fulness of joy in the highest or celestial degree.How do the following words connect: love, light, truth, law, life, and joy. We know how they connect. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” “The way” is to follow the law. The law refers to the commandments. That is the way John wants us to walk. Love? Well John tells us that God is love. Paul equates charity with pure love and pure love is of Christ. Christ, of course, is the key. Everything is governed by law. Light and truth are governed law and law is governed by Christ. John also praises Demetrius. He is another anonymous saint—that is to the world—but not to John or to the early church. The rest of us can relate to the elect lady, to Gaius, and to Demetrius, for most of us live anonymously and die anonymously, but not to God. John ends his epistle with the praise of Demetrius and with a blessing to Gaius and by default to all those like Gaius and Demetrius. In the final verses, John also gives us an admonition to reach out to other saints.Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Podcast 116, 2 John, “Pt 6, Ch 1”The Second Epistle of John has but one Chapter. 2 John 1:1The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;The Elder is surely John himself. We’ll let scholars fruitlessly debate the identity of ‘the elect lady’ whether it is referring to a specific mother and her children or whether it is referring to the church. In the absence of clarifying information, I prefer the literal interpretation. The surest explanation, however, is that John is addressing his letter to all members of the true church for he is warning against false teachers which are creeping in. From the beginning the apostles have had to fight against false teachers, false prophets, and antichrists. Notice John’s emphasis, “whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.”Truth is primary. The purpose of the apostles is to keep the doctrine pure. There is security only if we keep our eyes always on the prophets and apostles. Those are the standards of judgement. John adds. 2 John 1:2For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.John is speaking of Christ ‘which dwelleth in us forever.’2 John 1:3Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.John’s message really doesn’t vary. Only “in truth and love” can we know the Savior. I love returning to the following verse given to us earlier by John.1 John 3:2Beloved, 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.That is a very tall order, to be like Christ when he returns to the earth. That cannot be, however, except through ‘truth and love.’ Let’s rehearse some of the highlights of each of the five preceding chapters from John’s first epistle. John doesn’t vary from his message.1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.1 John 2:3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John 3:8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.John 4:7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 5:1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. One thing that sets Christ apart from all of mankind is that he obeyed the Father perfectly in everything. That is why he alone can be the Savior of the World. He was sinless. He was nonpareil. 2 John 1:4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.We must never take our eyes off the words of Christ given in the Intercessory Prayer.John 17:3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.Only through the Son can we know the Father, and only through knowing the Father and the Son can we have eternal life with the Father and the Son. In the Book of Revelation, John says those servants who serve God shall see his face.Revelation 22:3-5And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.Let me point out one obvious lesson from above. Regardless of our status on earth, regardless of birth, of position, of importance, of wealth, of intelligence, of education, of power, we all have the same chance for eternal life with God where all shall see his face, where all shall have his name in their foreheads, where all shall receive the light of Christ, and where all shall reign with him for ever and ever. The only thing that really matters on earth is that we keep the commandments of God. Everything else is administrative. Everyone on this planet has different gifts given of God. It is what we do with those gifts that matter. We are all familiar with the parable of the talents.  When asked what was the greatest commandment, Christ said, Matthew 22:36-39Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.One does not have to have a position of authority to obey those two commandments. No other apostle takes that more literally than John or teaches that principle more frequently than John.2 John 1:5And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.John does not leave it in the abstract. He refines the meaning. 2 John 1:6And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.What does John mean by “ye should walk in it”? The military term is ‘boots on the ground.’ He means for it to be part of our daily walk, our daily lives. We should take that love with us wherever we go, to church, to the grocery store, while driving in heavy traffic, in our homes, even when our children are unruly; in other words we should take that love in all of our walks of life.John warns against antichrists.2 John 1:7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.John is the only biblical writer to use the term ‘antichrist.’ He defines what he means in his epistles. 1 John 2:18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.1 John 2:22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son"1 John 4:3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.The prefix ‘anti’ is from the Greek meaning against, opposed to, in place of, instead of, or in opposition to. Romantic writers appear to create a monster called ‘Antichrist.’  Remember one of the beasts appeared as a lamb. There is a growing feeling of antichrist even in America day. Christianity is under attack. The Jews, as if the Holocaust meant nothing, are again coming under attack. Hate, violence, and contention are on the rise. Anything that goes against the teaches of Jesus Christ is antichrist. John places the responsibility of our souls squarely upon our shoulders, meaning that we choose whether or not to obey the commandments of Christ.2 John 1:8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.He further emphasizes our responsibility.2 John 1:9-11Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.How fortunate we are to have the letters of John and of Peter and of Paul, but the apostles were also busy mingling with the Saints and teaching them in person. Such open exposure cost them their lives.2 John 1:12-13Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.It is easy to overlook the incredible courage of the early saints in the face of certain death. The early martyrs received their eternal reward from God.Revelation 20:4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.It is very poignant to observe that while John is commanding the saints to love one another, they are surrounded by people who want to kill them. Those were very perilous times for the Saints, yet the doctrines of Christ never changed. Christ said, Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.It is not unreasonable to assume that we too who live in the last days may face the same opposition, but the doctrine doesn’t change. John’s message, which was delivered to him by Christ himself, is the same for us as for the saints in former times. 

Podcast 115, 1st John, “Pt 5, Ch 5”Anyone who reads John is immediately struck by the richness of his doctrine. You cannot be in a hurry for every word, phrase, or clause matters. Because of its richness, it is helpful to divide his epistles into concepts. Once one understands the concepts, then it is easier to tie them together for each epistle must also be considered as a whole. His masterpiece, The Book of Revelation is the perfect model. The theme of Godly Love dominates Chapter 5 as it does other chapters of John. I have divided Chapter 5 into Six Concepts. Concept One: Keep the Commandments of God.1 John 5:1-3Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.A favorite Christian phrase is “born again.” John tells us that faith in Christ is to be “born again” or “born of God.” If we love God by nature we must love the children of God. We show our love by keeping the commandments. John teaches that “his commandments are not grievous.”  Synonyms for grievous are acute, harsh, intense, extreme, distressing, agonizing, burdensome. Christ said it so beautifully. Matthew 11:28-30Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.Concept II: Must be Born of God1 John 5:4-5For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?To be ‘born of God’ means to overcome the natural man. In our world we must fight against the cunning of Satan, the craftiness of man, and our own fallen natures. Babylon, which means the world, and the natural man are equated. We are often told, come out of Babylon, or refrain from the lusts of the flesh: Isaiah 48:20"Go ye forth of Babylon…”Isaiah 52:11"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord."Revelation 18:4"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."Concept Three: Three Witnesses1 John 5:6-10This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.The Law of Witnesses is very important. Paul wrote2 Corinthians 13:1"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."Above John said, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost.” At Christ’s baptism, we have manifested the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. On the Mount of Transfiguration, we have Christ with Moses and Elijah, and the Father saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.” It was also witnessed by Peter, James, and John. Above John presents three other witnesses: “the Spirit, and the water, and the blood.” Does that not remind us of partaking of the Sacrament or the Lord’s Supper. We also learn that we are witnesses of God if we believe on the Son of God. In other words, our own faith is a witness. Those of us who have faith in Christ have pretty good company. Concept Four: Eternal Life1 John 5:11-15And 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. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.There is an enormous difference between living forever and having eternal life. Satan and his angels will live forever. We all have immortal spirits that shall never taste death. In addition, all resurrected beings shall live forever, but not all resurrected beings shall live with God forever. Living forever is not eternal life. Eternal life refers only to living forever with God in his kingdom. Anything less is a form of damnation. Damnation is not hell. Hell is eternal fire. Damnation is eternal restriction on progression. Eternal progression is synonymous with Eternal Life. To have progression curtailed in any way poses a restriction on our capacity for joy. A fulness of joy can only be obtained in the presence of Christ for he is the source of all Joy. Paul, who was caught up in the third heaven, speaks of three degrees of glory:1 Corinthians 15:40-42There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:Those are all levels of heaven. That means there are three different levels of Joy. To have a fullness of joy one must live in the celestial glory where God and Christ dwell. The other two kingdoms of glory will have joy unspeakable and no sorrow, but they cannot have a fullness of Joy because Christ will not be living there with them. Only where Christ is can there be a fullness of joy. Only where the Father and the Son dwell can we have eternal life with God. Those who have the concept of only one heaven and one hell are ignoring Paul’s words. On a practical level, what would be the cut off? Would a just God split hairs. Would a merciful God allow such a thing? I don’t think so. Would the law of justice and the law of mercy allow such a thing. Can God ever be arbitrary and still be God? God must always be just, or he would not be God, but God is also a merciful God and he will do everything to give as much joy to as many people as will permit him. He cannot, however, go against their agency for he died that we might all have agency. Christ offers everyone born on this earth eternal life, but he can grant it only to those who accept his conditions; otherwise, he would violate their agency. His commandments are the conditions. Concept V: All Sin is Violation of Law 1 John 5:16-19If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.Without law there would be no sin. Sin does not exist in abstractions. God does not arbitrarily say this is good and that is evil. God gives us law. His laws are absolute. Until law is given sin does not exist. All sin is violation of law. The straight and narrow way is to obey law. The greatest quest in life is to search for truth. There are temporal truths, the laws of nature, and there are spiritual truths, the laws of God. God is the author of all law, whether natural or spiritual, and all laws are necessary for life. Every rational being knows how important the laws of nature are. Natural laws deal with natural life. Spiritual laws deal with eternal life. If we ignore natural laws we are often dealt with very quickly for nature is not very forgiving. Natural laws deal with mortal time. Spiritual laws deal with eternal time. This is a probationary state to see if we will obey spiritual laws. Natural laws cause temporal death; only the violation of spiritual laws cause spiritual death. The body can die but the spirit cannot. That means that the spirit is not subject to death. Spiritual death means that we are cut off from the presence of God. The entire purpose of all spiritual laws is not to punish us, but to bring us back into the presence of God. That is only possible because Christ died for our sins. That introduced the principles of repentance and forgiveness and grace and mercy which are always available to everyone all the time we are on this earth. Concept VI: Christ is the True God1 John 5:20-21And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Podcast 114, 1st John, “Pt 4, Ch 4”It is most probable that every Christian has at one or more times quoted verses from 1 John 4. The following verses are familiar to everyone:·      Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God.·      God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.·      There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.·      We love him, because he first loved us.It is John who gave us John 3:16, what is likely the most quoted scripture in the Holy Bible: The Savior is talking to Nicodemus.John 3:16-17For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.John is often called, ‘John the Beloved.’ He is also referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” No disciple spoke of love more. John clearly understood that the very nature of God is love. 1 John 3:8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.John taught that we are the offspring of God and that we must become like our Father. 1 John 3:2Beloved, 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.I shall divide 1 John 4 into six section. Section 1 comprises:1 John 4:1-3Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.John wants us to see the world as he sees the world. There are two great forces, good vs evil or God vs Satan. There is Christ and antichrist. All good comes from God and all evil comes from Satan. If that seems oversimplistic, imagine stepping off the world and looking down to earth, say from the moon. There is light and dark. It is the law of opposites. There is temporal light and spiritual light, temporal darkness and spiritual darkness.The only reason we have temporal life is because we have temporal light and temporal darkness. The only reason we have spiritual light and spiritual darkness is because we are enticed by Christ to do good and we are enticed by Satan to do evil. Without that catalyst we would be spiritually senseless. Until Satan entered the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were unaware of their nakedness. They knew neither good nor evil, joy nor sorrow, love nor hate. Christ allowed Satan to tempt Adam and Eve just as he allows Satan to tempt us to give us agency, to give us a choice between good and evil. Genesis teaches, “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” It could be acquired no other way. The fall was necessary. In the above John is teaching us how to discern between the spirit of God and the spirit of the Devil. The formula is quite simple. That which preaches of Christ is of God. That which denies Christ is of Satan. Section 2 comprises:1 John 4:4-6Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.Again, John is teaching us how to discern the spirit of truth from the spirit of error. We are prone to think of antichrist as some hideous monster with the number 666 across his forehead. Remember the second beast was like a lamb. Antichrist is very subtle and appears in many disguises. The spirit of antichrist is any person or philosophy or movement that teaches there is no Christ. That is why Satan and his angels are sons of perdition. They know who Christ is, yet rebelled against him. If you recall Christ would not allow the evil spirits to testify of him. He did not need their testimony. Only through the Holy Ghost can one truly know that Jesus is the Christ. Section 3 comprises:1 John 4:7-11Beloved, let us love one another: 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. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.Those three words, “God is love,” define Christ comprehensively. Love is his very essence. What other reason would he have to sacrifice his life, being entirely sinless, for our sins? It was only his love that motivated him to die for us. He didn’t need power praise or glory or honor. He was already God. Before he even came to earth, he was omnipotent and omniscient, yet he condescended to come to earth, having a veil drawn over his mind just as we have a veil drawn over our minds. We are told that Christ grew from grace to grace. He had the full earthly experience. In fact, his temptations, his suffering, his agonies were greater than ours, yet he never sinned. In the wilderness, he could have given in to Satan. Those temptations were not staged. They were as real as our temptations; otherwise, he could not have empathy for us. He had to understand our temptations, our weaknesses, our sicknesses, our doubts, our fears to become the perfect judge that he is. It was Paul who said, Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.John teaches us the second great commandment, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”Section 4 comprises:1 John 4:12-14No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. What did John mean when he said, “No man hath seen God at any time?” John, himself, was a man and he saw the resurrected Lord.Revelation 1:13-17And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:We know that Paul also saw the risen Lord as he traveled on the road to Damascus. Christ also, in his resurrected state, appeared to Mary Magdalene and to the eleven apostles and to many hundreds of people. We must assume then than John is speaking of the natural man who has only natural eyes. Some saw the resurrected Lord and didn’t recognize him because they saw him with their natural eyes. Christ can only be seen with spiritual eyes. Those who see Christ must also have the spirit of Christ. Those who have been honored by a vision of Christ are blessed. Most of us, however, see him only with the spiritual eyes of faith. Still, we know of his existence though we have never seen him in vision. We too are equally blessed. Remember his words of Christ to Thomas. John 20:29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.Still, we are very grateful for those like John who were privileged to see the Savior and give us their firsthand descriptions. Nonetheless, the spirit is just as strong in those who see him only with the eye of faith. Section 5 comprises:1 John 4:15-17Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

Podcast 113, 1st John, “Pt 3, Ch 3”A concept of the gospel that is perhaps sometimes understated is our personal relationship with our Father in Heaven. John addresses that issue.1 John 3:1Behold, 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.Some almost want to deny the Father’s existence but the early apostles believed firmly in the separate existence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. For example, at the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, we have all three of the Holy Trinity Present as separate beings. Matthew 3:13-17Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.There are unmistakably three persons: (1) Jesus, being baptized by John. (2) The Spirit of God or Holy Ghost descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. The Holy Ghost is not a dove. The Holy Ghost is a spirit that descended like a dove. (3) The Father, a voice from heaven, bore witness of his Son, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” We have innumerable instances where the Son prays to the Father. He was not praying to himself. In the wilderness, he declared that he must do the will of the Father. On the cross Christ cries to the Father, “Why has thou forsaken me?”  To deny the separate existence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, one would have to deny many scriptures. In addition, the Savior said that he must leave so that the Holy Ghost could come. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one in purpose just as we must become one in purpose, but they are not three persons in one. To deny the personal existence of the Father creates problems with one of the greatest moments in the apostleship of Peter, James, and John—the Mount of Transfiguration.   Matthew 17: 1-9And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.It is clear that Peter, James and John believed in three separate beings. Whose voice did they hear? It was not the voice of Jesus or Moses or Elijah. It was the voice of the Father who was also present but hidden by a cloud. They were terrified. Jesus had to comfort them. There are so many instances from Genesis to Revelation that have no other explanation but to say that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings. In the Garden of Eden we are told,  Genesis 3:22And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:The pronoun “us” is plural, but one of the most poignant moments in the life of Christ occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane when he asks the Father to remove the cup from him. Matthew 26:39-44And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.It is not logical to think he was praying to himself when he said, “O my Father.” Three times he prayed to the Father, but only once did he ask him to remove the cup. All three times he made it clear that regardless he would bow to the Father’s will. In the first prayer he said, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” In the next two prayers he said, “Thy will be done.” It is an absurd contradiction to think he is talking to himself. It makes a mockery of one of the most sacred moments in Christ’s life. He was praying to his Father and our Father. In Jesus’s own words, following his resurrection, he says to Mary Magdalene.John 20:17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.It is clear that John believes that the Father and Son were two separate beings.1 John 3:2Beloved, 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.There are many scriptures that say that the Father and Son are one in purpose just as the scriptures ask us to be one in purpose, but nowhere do the scriptures teach that they are not separate beings. That concept was not taught until several hundred years after the resurrection of Christ after the apostles were killed. The concept of three in one was rejected by the early church. It did not become formal doctrine until the First Council of Nicaea, formerly referred to as the Nicene Creed as opposed to the earlier Apostle’s Creed and the Athanasian Creed. Let me quote the beginning of the Apostle’s Creed.I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;He descended into hell;The third day he rose again from the dead;He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.I believe in the Holy Ghost;The Apostle’s Creed clearly establishes that the church at that time believe that there were three separate beings of the Godhead. The Nicene Creed, which contradicted the Apostle’s Creed was not written until 325 A.D which originated at the First Council of Nicaea. It is safer and more logical to stay with the Holy Bible, the written word, rather than accept someone else’s interpretation of the written word. Constantine, certainly a great man in Christian history, was a politician, not a prophet and not an apostle. He did not have the authority to change the doctrine of the Holy Bible and contradict the early apostles such as Peter, James, and John.John also taught us the nature of law and its relationship to sin. To John sin is not an arbitrary ethical opinion. Sin is violation of law. Without law there would be no sin.1 John 3:3-4And 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.Laws were organized by God. Sin does not self-exist. Without law there is no sin. Violation of law is the only sin. Law brings order; lawlessness brings chaos. God is a God of law and order. To live outside of law is to live outside of God. When Adam fell a law was broken. That law was so powerful that it brought sin and death into the world. Man was cut off from God forever. He suffered both a temporal death and a spiritual death. That is why the atonement of Christ was necessary. Without his atonement, we could never again enter into the presence of the Father and we could never rise from the dead. That would have put us in the power of Satan forever. Even those who do not believe in Christ have a debt to Christ that they can never repay. Among those debts is the resurrection which is free to all of the descendants of Adam and Eve.

Podcast 112, 1st John, “Pt 2, Ch 2”John had a unique voice and a unique calling. Is there a book comparable to The Book of Revelation? In the first chapter of Revelation, John records a vision of the Resurrected Lord that once seen cannot be unseen. Revelation 1:13-16And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.John was so overwhelmed that he fell as dead. Revelation 1:17-18And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.John is given a special assignment. Revelation 1:19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;The Lord, of course, is referring to the special Book of Revelation which comprises 22 of some of the most fascinating chapters in the Holy Bible. John, like the other apostles, is a special witness of Christ. That appears to be his primary assignment.1 John 2:1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:John has much in common with Isaiah who also saw Christ in Vision about 700 years prior to the birth of Christ.Isaiah 6:1-3In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.6 RONLike the other prophets and apostles John focuses on the special mission of Jesus Christ. 7 LINDA1 John 2:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.7 RONThe dictionary defines propitiation as ‘the act of appeasing or satisfying,’ ‘a sacrifice that removes guilt and turns away divine wrath,’ reconciliation between God and man through the atonement.’  Synonyms for propitiation are atonement, expiation, reconciliation, redemption, ransom, sin offering, and peace offering.  Notice that his atoning sacrifice was not just for the chosen. It was “for the sins of the whole world.” Christ is the only God and the only Savior of the world. No one shall be allowed into the kingdom of God except those who accept Jesus as Lord. Ultimately everyone, whether in this life or the next, will know that Jesus is the living Christ, the Son of the living God who holds the keys of death and hell. Christ alone will judge the entire world, one individual at a time, for their works.Those who know Christ in this life, regardless of what religion they espouse or what Christian denomination they belong to, will be only those who keep his commandments. 1 John 2:3-6And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.If we accept the concept that Christ is creator and God of the whole world, we must also consider that he is no respecter of persons, that he loves all of his children and wants all of them to return to his kingdom and to live with him. That suggests that God will find a way to teach his gospel even where it is least expected. All truth, regardless of the earthly source, eventually leads to Jesus Christ. All lies eventually lead to Satan. The safest path is the path to truth. Everyone at birth has the spirit of Christ for they just came from their Father in heaven. All little children are saved by Christ for they are not accountable for their sins. It is incumbent, however, on those who reach the age of accountability that they devote their lives to seeking truth. Satan is the father of lies. He will attempt to pervert all truth. That is his primary job. What else can he do? He has no truth in him. He has no power of creation. In fact, he has no power at all except that which we give him or that which God allows.   Listen to the words of John.1 John 2:7-10Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.Is that not a universal truth. No matter where in the world or from whose lips that truth is taught, it originated with God. If we obey that commandment it will eventually lead us back to Christ. John adds, 1 John 2:11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.Contention is of the devil, and where there is contention, there the devil is in his element. They are his and don’t know it. John, who just said that Christ “is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world,” is now turning his attention to those who have accepted Christ in this life.1 John 2:12-14I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.Now John turns his attention back to the entire world for he is speaking universally. 1 John 2:15-17Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.Can you see the difference? More is expected of those who have more. Christ will be merciful to those who died without the law, but those who have the law will be judged by the law. To whom much is given, much is expected. But everyone knows intuitively good from evil. One doesn’t have to have the Ten Commandments to know that murder, stealing, lying, coveting, envying, and cheating are evil. It is inherent from birth because of the Spirit of Christ that is in everyone at birth. All babies are born pure. They may be bore into a world of sin but they are not born sinful. Sin is taught by man influenced by the father of lies. John now is talking to members of Christ’s church. 1 John 2:18-20Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.Synonyms for unction are anointing, blessing, inspiration, spiritual power, and divine influence. John is speaking of those who accepted Christ and then apostatized from the church. They sin willfully. John continues,  1 John 2:21-24I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.Those who have never known Christ cannot be antichrist in the strictest sense of the word. Even if they are against Christians, having never known Christ, they are not against Christ for he is foreign to them. Only those who have known Christ intimately and then deny him can become sons of perdition. On the other hand, if punishment is harsh, look at the opposite reward for remaining faithful to Christ. 1 John 2:25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Podcast 111, 1st John, “Pt 1, Ch 1”Many, I suppose, agree that the apostle John, also known as John the Beloved and John the Revelator, is, like Isaiah, one of the most unique writers in the Holy Bible. It is fitting that the Holy Bible begins with Genesis, the Story of the Creation of the World, and ends with Revelation, the Story of the End of the World. Moses, one of the most unique individuals the world has ever known, wrote the first five books of the Bible. John wrote the last book of the Bible along with the Gospel of John and the epistles of John. Another unique thing that links Moses and John is the question of their death. The Bible records Moses death but not his burial site, yet we have the marvelous story of the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew 17:1-5And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.We know that Elias, known as Elijah, was taken up into heaven without tasting death. In other words, he was transfigured as Christ was transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration. It also appears that Moses was transfigured. He could not have been resurrected because Christ was the first fruits of the resurrection. No one could be resurrected until after Christ was resurrected. Then there is a unique story about John for neither his death nor burial are recorded. His final fate has always been an enigma. Following Christ’s resurrection, Peter has the following dialogue with the Savior.John 32:20-23Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?The Bible gives no account of his death. A transfigured body is not a resurrected body. To be resurrected everyone must first die, even Elijah, at some point. A transfigured body is temporary. A resurrected body is forever. The Book of Revelation, his magnum opus or his last and greatest work, was written while he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. There is no record of his death. John’s own prophetic and profound writing sets him apart. One finds things in the writing of John that one doesn’t find elsewhere. Even his gospel stands out among the other three gospels. This book covers the three epistles of John:  1st John, 2nd John, and 3rd John. John, who was with Christ from the beginning, gives us tremendous insight into the life and teachings of Christ. He is a true witness of Christ who understood the mission of Christ very clearly.1 John 1:1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;“That which was from the beginning” is not referring to Christ’s birth on earth. It refers to the origin of Christ himself as the only begotten Son of God who is without beginning of days or end of years. He was with the Father in the Beginning with the unique assignment to save the world. Of all the scriptures ever written none are greater than the following:John 3:11-17Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.John understood what Nicodemus the Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews and a member of the Sanhedrin, did not understand. He knew the living Christ.1 John 1:2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)John emphasizes that by accepting Christ we have a relationship both with the Father and with the Son.1 John 1:3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.In the two verses above John makes a clear distinction between the Father and the Son. He also makes that distinction in the Book of Revelation. It was John who saw the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven after the cleansing of the earth by fire.Revelation 21:1-5And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.In fact, when John saw in vision, the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, he saw both the Father and the Son.Revelation 22:1-3And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:John is speaking of two thrones: (1) The Throne of God, meaning the Throne of the Father, and (2) The Throne of the Lamb, meaning The Throne of the Son. Both will live and reign on this earth in its celestial state. Only those who are saved through the blood of Christ shall inherit this earth. Paul also speaks of our relationship to both the Father and the Son. Romans 8:16-17The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.We shall be heirs of God, meaning the Father, and joint-heirs with Christ, meaning the Son. Why aren’t we “joint-heirs” with the Father. It is because the Father, who is the law of justice, could not bestow upon us that gift because of the fall of man. It was only the atonement of Christ that made it possible. The only way we can be heirs with the Father is if we become joint-heirs with the Son. Without the Son we could never return to the presence of the Father.  In the Book of Revelation we read,Revelation 21:6-7And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.“What would it be like to “inherit all things”? John explains it.1 John 1:4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.No mortal on this earth can possibly comprehend what it will be like to live in the presence of both the Father and the Son and have a fullness of joy. John tries to explain it to us. 1 John 1:5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.Christianity gives us these terms: light vs darkness, good vs evil, God vs Satan. Who can imagine a world with no darkness. John saw it in vision while on the Isle of Patmos.Revelation 22:5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.We understand light and darkness, of course, when speaking of day and night. Many of us, perhaps, have visited deep caverns where they turn out all lights putting you in total darkness. We are told that extended periods in absolute darkness may cause disorientation, sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, and possible hallucinations. We are light oriented. Our bodies need vitamin D. We need day and night cycles. 

Podcast 110, 2nd Peter, “Pt 8, Ch 3”It is accepted that Peter was the Chief Apostle. Peter was present at all the great miracles. It was to Peter whom the Lord said,Matthew 16:19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Peter bears witness of earlier prophets. 2 Peter 3:1-2This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:One thing is clear from the Holy Bible, true prophets and apostles bear testimony of the words of other true prophets and apostles. It is according to the law of witnesses.Matthew 18:16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.Christ himself quoted from the ancient prophets.Matthew 12:39-41But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.Ironically, of course, it was Christ who revealed those words to his prophets. By quoting his prophets, he is validating his own words. Christ quoted many prophets: Isaiah, Daniel, Jonah, Moses, Eljah, Elisha, and David. The prophet he quoted most frequently was Isaiah. Matthew 13:13-15Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.Like the prophet Isaiah, Peter prophesies of the last days. 2 Peter 3:3-4Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.We are all living in the last days and can see the fulfilment of Peter’s prophecy. Peter says they are “willfully ignorant.” He compares our day to the period during Noah’s flood.2 Peter 3:4-6And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:The Lord promised that the world would never again end in a flood; however, rather than a flood, it would end in fire.2 Peter 3:7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.Then Peter offers a unique doctrine regarding the Lord’s time.2 Peter 3: 8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.That suggests that the Lord lives on a planet with a different time zone than ours. For example, our time is governed by our own solar system. The earth is 24,000 miles around. It spins 1000 miles an hour; therefore, our day is 24 hours long. The moon circles the earth in approximately 30 days; therefore our month is approximately 30 days long. Our earth circles the sun in 365 days; therefore, our year is 365 days long.  Time is relative to our solar system. The same is true with the Lord. His time is marked by the revolutions of the planetary system in which he lives. It is unique, but it explains an enigma in the Creation story. In Genesis we read:Genesis 2:15-17And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.After eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam did not die within twenty-four hours. Adam lived over nine hundred years but less than a thousand which fulfilled the prophesy. According to the Lord’s time, Adam died in the day that he ate the forbidden fruit.Of course that introduces another paradox. Adam, before he ate the forbidden fruit, was not subject to time as we understand it for he was immortal. Only after he ate the forbidden fruit was he subject to death. On earth it is entropy that gives time its arrow. We measure our birthdate and our death date. God is immortal; therefore, time as we understand it has no real hold on him. He may live on a planet that measures time by its revolutions, but he lives in an eternal state that is timeless, a concept that we cannot comprehend.However, it has one tremendous effect on us. Prophecies do not usually deal with calendar dates. The fact is that no one knows when Christ shall come to earth the Second Time. Many, according to Peter’s prophecy doubt the Second Coming of Christ.According to Peter it is out of mercy that Christ delays his coming.  We live in a state of probation. We are given a chance to repent of our sins and come to Christ.2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.Isaiah warned us:Isaiah 55:6-7Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.We are warned that the Lord will come at an unexpected hour.2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.Peter is not the only prophet who prophesied that the earth would melt with fervent heat. Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, made a similar prophecy.Malachi 4:1-3For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.There are other verses that refer to the world ending in fire.Matthew 13:40-43As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.Peter, however, is not trying to frighten us. He is trying to get us to repent and prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord. 2 Peter 3:11-14Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.A “new heaven and a new earth” are often spoken of Isaiah 65:17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.Revelation 21:1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.We must always recall John 3:16-17. Christ wants to save the world, not condemn it. John 3:16-17For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.Peter speaks of that same sentiment. 2 Peter 3:15-16And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;&

Podcast 109, 2nd Peter, “Pt 7, Ch 2”One of the roles or responsibilities of the quorum of the twelve apostles is to keep the doctrine pure. Even as early as the days of Peter, false teachers began to emerge in the church and to lead the people astray. 2nd Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.False teachers have always been a curse to truths taught by the true prophets. Even in the days of Isaiah, we readIsaiah 9:15-16The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.It is incumbent upon all of us to look to Christ, the Bishop of our Souls, to keep us on the straight and narrow path. Even when Christ walked among the apostles he taught,Matthew 7:15"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."And those false prophets and false teachers will find success among some members of the church.2nd Peter 2:2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.We, of course, know the true way.John 14:5Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."Peter teaches us how to discern the good from the evil. 2nd Peter 2:3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. He warns against those who “make merchandise” of religion. In Micah we read.Micah 3:9-11Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and like Isaiah his prophecies were both for Judah and Ephraim, both past and present. Like Isaiah Micah prophesied of the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem.Micah 5:2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah... out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.Peter makes an interesting analogy. He uses three images: (1) He refers back to the war in heaven in which Lucifer and his followers were cast out. (2) He refers to the flood of Noah. and (3) He refers to Sodom and Gomorrah.2nd Peter 2:4-7For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:Peter’s powerful warning is not just for his day but for all time. Peter is speaking of the law of justice. Angels that rebelled against God were cast out. The entire world, save Noah and his family, was destroyed. The entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah save Lot and part of his family were destroyed. In other words, none of the wicked are exempt from the justice of God except those who repent or those like Lot who live righteously among wicked people.2nd Peter 2:8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)We learn from that that grace is for those who seek grace. Grace, though always freely and generously available to everyone on this earth, is not imposed upon anyone against their will or that would take away their agency. However, those who seek grace will freely receive it; those who do not seek it must answer to justice. 2nd Peter 2:9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:Peter defines those who are reserved unto the day of judgment to be punished.2nd Peter 2:10-16But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.Peter continues to describe the nature of those false teachers that we may avoid their lies.2nd Peter 2:17-18These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.Peter hits on target those of our own day who promise liberty but deliver only captivity.2nd Peter 2:19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.One must only listen to the news to see clearly that he is not only prophesying of his day but of our day as well. How many today are promising liberty but delivering communism and socialism; promising freedom but taking away the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion; promising liberty but are destroying the balance of power, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights; promising liberty but are robbing the rich to give to the poor, using tax payer money to bribe for votes, condemning the innocent and protecting thieves, murderers, child molesters, kidnappers, drug dealers, rapists, human traffickers, destroying the lives of innocent children by urging sex changes, denying gender, denying God, denying morality, denying the Ten Commandments, attacking Christians and Jews, punishing the righteous and letting the wicked go free?  Again Peter saw our day. Our nation was founded on Christian values, yet now all Christian symbols are being removed from government property, including the halls of congress. Even after 250 years of freedom, “the latter is worse than the beginning.” As Peter so brilliantly said,2 Peter 2:20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.Peter is a true prophet of our day. He further warns.2nd Peter 2:21-22For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.We must understand that all true scripture and the words of all true prophets was meant to be applied to one’s own present, to one’s own self, to one’s own time and circumstances. If scripture applies only to the past, it is of historic value only. The purpose of true prophets is to be a warning for all times and all places and all peoples. Truth stands regardless of temporal circumstances, regardless of culture, governments, beliefs, languages, religions, or traditions.  As we should be wary of wolves in sheep’s clothing so should we be wary of those who promise liberty but are of themselves servants of corruption. If we allow them to trample on our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, our Declaration of Independence, our liberty, they not only destroy themselves but they will also bring us into bondage.

Podcast 108, 1st Peter, “Pt 6, Ch 1”Peter, introducing himself by his given name and by the name that Christ assigned him upon their first meeting, addresses his second epistle to the new converts of the church, both Jew and Gentile.2 Peter 1:1Simon 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 Saviour Jesus Christ:What is very significant about the introduction is that there is no more of the ambiguity that existed in the early days as Simon and all the other apostles were discovering who Christ was and who they were and what their role was in his kingdom on earth. Throughout Christ’s ministry he taught the apostles that he would die and be resurrected and they would take over his ministry. Even following the Savior’s death, there was some question about his resurrection. Christ had to prove that he was the resurrected Lord. Upon appearing to his apostles, Christ said, Luke 24:39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.There are many levels of faith. The twelve apostles were in the presence of Christ, taught directly by Christ. They witnessed Christ healing the sick, raising the dead, restoring sight to the blind. Now Christ is no longer with them to speak for himself. The next generation of converts have only the apostle’s words as well as those others who saw Christ after his resurrection that Christ was truly the resurrected Lord.  What faith today does it take to believe a missionary who has never seen the Lord?Christ addresses that issue to Thomas who refused to believe unless he sees the risen Lord.John 20:29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.Peter also addresses that issue to new converts.1 Peter 1:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.In a beautiful definition of Faith, Paul captures the heart of what faith is.Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Faith and Hope are closely tied together in Paul’s definition. Synonyms for substance are essence, nature, core, heart, reality, being, character, and fundamental nature. We think of substance as matter, material, composition. It is ironic to put substance as “things hoped for.” Substance suggests reality, certainty, assurance. Hope, however, suggests expectation, anticipation, aspiration, and desire. In other words, Paul is saying that faith gives reality to hope. Faith brings hope out of the stage of ‘wishful thinking’ and makes it a reality. Without faith one cannot have hope. Faith then is an action word. Faith puts into motion that which makes hope become a reality. The sheer genius of Paul’s definition is how he connects reality to faith and hope. He says faith is evidence. Evidence is a stronger word that substance. Evidence means proof. Synonyms are verification, confirmation, documentation, validation, and substantiation. Evidence is used in court. To Paul it makes the invisible world visible.  Even if one hasn’t seen Christ one can know that he exists through faith. The difference, however, between religious evidence and court evidence is that religious evidence is not transferable. For example, one can know with certainty that Christ exists because one has evidence. But for another to have that evidence transferred to them, they too must exercise faith. Why is that so? First of all, it is by the design of the Almighty God. We were not sent to earth to validate that which can be seen with the naked eye. The Bible shows very little interest in science. What we call science is wonderful. It is essential to physical life, but it is not essential to salvation and exaltation. We were sent to earth to gain faith. Science, as essential as it is to life, does not give us power in the spiritual realm. Faith alone gives us power in the spiritual realm. God is omniscient and omnipotent, not because he understands science. He is omniscient and omnipotent because he understands law, both temporal and spiritual. The resurrection, for example, was not brought about by temporal laws. There are no temporal laws on our planet or in the universe that can bring about a resurrection. There are no temporal laws that can give us eternal life. God uses temporal laws all the time. He is the author of temporal laws, but temporal laws are secondary in God’s kingdom, not primary. Temporal laws may provide us physical comfort, but temporal laws cannot save us. Christ alone can do that because he was obedient to all of Father’s commandments. First he overcame sin. Then he overcame death. Only by overcoming sin could he overcome death. We all sin; therefore, we do not have the power within ourselves to overcome sin. Christ, who was sinless, does; therefore, Christ can forgive us for our sins. That is the effect of grace, and grace is spiritual not temporal.Peter put it best.   2nd Peter 1:2-4Grace 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.Where can you find such language as that in science? Peter wants us to be “partakers of the divine nature.” That is extra-terrestrial. That cannot be found on this earth. That can only be found in Christ, our resurrected Lord. We are children of God. Our spirits are in the image and likeness of our Father in heaven. We have a divine nature; however, because of the fall, we suffered both a temporal death—the separation of the body from the spirit—and a spiritual death—the separation of our spirit from God. The only reason Christ came to earth and submitted himself to the laws of man was to atone for our sins, not his, to satisfy the law of justice, which he never broke, and through his grace bring us back into the presence of God. Without the atonement of Jesus Christ that divine nature would mean nothing because without Christ, we would be forever tied to this earth, subject to Satan’s power. Peter, a hands-on prophet tells us how to be partakers of the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:5-8And 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.Most Christians are familiar with Paul’s exquisite definition of charity. 1st Corinthians 13:1-13Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.To be partakers of the divine nature, Peter urges us to make our calling and election sure.2nd Peter 1:9-10But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:“Calling” means foreordination. All of us who came to earth to gain a body were foreordained to return to God. We were foreordained, not predestined, because of agency. To have full agency we had to leave the presence of God and prove our faith to him. We did not have to come to earth. We chose to come to earth. In Job we read,Job 38:4-7Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Podcast 107, 1st Peter, “Pt 5, Ch 5”How different the world is because of the letters of the first apostles. It gives a personal approach to religion.  Peter, a humble fisherman, once was named Simon. When called by the Savior to be a disciple, Simon’s name was changed to Cephas or Peter, meaning rock. He was given the keys of the kingdom that whatsoever he bound on earth would be bound in heaven. What does it mean to be bound on earth and in heaven? It is referring to covenants, for example, such covenants as the marriage covenant. It is a form of sealing such as husband and wife, parents and children. God sees everything from an eternal perspective.  In Christian terms it means the circle does not have to be broken, that families may be together forever. Initially Adam and Eve were married by God which became the model for all marriages. For example, we find it in the Abrahamic CovenentGenesis 17:4-9As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.It is an everlasting covenant. That same Priesthood given to Abraham was given to Peter. Along with the other apostles Peter was a personal witness of Jesus Christ.But that covenant is far reaching. Consider the Parable of the Ten Virgins, only five of whom are allowed into the marriage feast. Those who are allowed are bound forever with Christ in his Kingdom. Those who are not allowed do not have an eternal covenant with God. God is a forever God. He lives in eternity. Christ died for us that we may return to his presence and there remain forever.1 Peter 5:1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:The role of an apostle is to be a witness of Christ to the world. Peter is not only a personal witness of Christ, he is also a teacher. For Peter’s words, as with all the apostles, to be meaningful, we must consider his letter written directly to us, with his signature. 1st Peter 5:2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;That invitation has never been rescinded. It is the role of all Christians to “feed the flock of God.” God has given all of his children special gifts of the spirit and the Lord expects us to use those gifts in service to our fellow man.Romans 12:3-6For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;Like Peter, Paul also teaches humility and love.Romans 12:9-18Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.The Lord has distributed his gifts to all men and women throughout the world, and he expects us to use those gifts in service to our fellow man regardless of race, color, culture, creed, or country. Again, we look to Paul1st Corinthians 12: 4-11Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.One can see by the list above that those gifts are manifested in many different ways. For example, what would we do if there were not men and women who have the gifts of healing. That does not refer only to miraculous healing. That refers to doctors, nurses, scientists, and all others who find ways to heal people. It refers to those who invent technologies that preserve life and discover healing herbs or develop healing medicines. How many diseases have been conquered? How many today are working on cures for cancer, diabetes, and a myriad of other infirmities of mankind? I am old enough to remember the first polio shot. I remember the first heart transplant. Are those not gifts of healing. Notice that “the same God which worketh all in all.” All gifts of healing, regardless of who gets the credit, are gifts from God. Happy is the day when we all learn that simple lesson. Everything good comes from God. Everything evil comes from Satan. We are all provincial. We see our own back yard. The whole world is God’s domain. In the following Paul is speaking of the Church established by Christ.1 Corinthians 12:12-13For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.He is speaking of a church that is now teaching the gentiles. But let’s also step back and consider not just the Church Christ established but the entire world, for God is father of us all. We are one to him. His domain is the world, not just Christians. Every person born on this earth is a child of God. Read the following in that context.1 Corinthians 12:14-26For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.If it is true for the world, it is an even a greater burden among Christians to treat all as equal, not just other Christians. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Podcast 106, 1st Peter, “Pt 4, Ch 4”Becoming a follower of Christ has a great price. We naturally assume that all good comes from God and all evil comes from Satan. That is true. For agency to exist we must be enticed by one or the other. It is the law of opposition. That is the only reason that Satan is permitted to live on the earth. Agency is primary to progression. It is one of the greatest gifts of God. It is why earth was created. It is why we came to the earth from the world of spirits living in immortality with God and were given a physical body. That too increased our agency for the flesh suffers temptations that the spirit does not.1st Peter 4:1Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;During the war in heaven the choice was very simple. Those who accepted Christ followed Michael, the archangel. Those who rejected Christ followed Lucifer and his angels. The battle was massive for a third part of the hosts of heaven sided with Lucifer. Lucifer’s goal was very simple. He wanted to overthrow Christ and become God.Isaiah 14:12-14How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.The war in heaven was also seen in vision by John the Revelator.Revelation 12:3-4And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.Satan is on earth now and his primary target is to destroy those who follow Christ and take away their agency. That was his primary target in heaven.Revelation 12:7-9And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.That same battle continues on earth today. As in heaven so on earth we are given two choices, to follow Christ or to follow Satan. Satan is very cunning. One can divide the tactics of Satan into three classes. The first tactic is the same as he used in heaven. It is cunning. Satan is known as the father of lies, and it was through lies that he persuaded a third part of the hosts of heaven to follow him. They lost the war in heaven, and they were all cast down to the earth with him. He continues those lies today. On earth, however, one thing changed dramatically. In heaven we were only spirits. We did not have a body of flesh and bones; therefore, we were not tempted by things of the flesh. Satan and his angels have never had a body and never will have a body. That is why they want to possess our bodies. Some even went into the bodies of swine. Satan kept his cunning. He is still the father of lies, but he increased his tactics. In addition to his cunning, his lies, and his deceit, he now appeals to the natural man, the lusts of the flesh. He wants us to think that the flesh is everything and we should all eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. It is perhaps his most effective tool, but he has a third tactic. It is a repetition of the one he used in heaven. In heaven Lucifer recruited the other spirits to follow him. And they became his disciples. A third part of heaven followed him and became sons of perdition like himself. On earth, however, he recruits the spirits of those who refused to follow him in heaven. He recruits fallen man. Many in the flesh who fought with Michael against Lucifer in heaven have become soldiers in the army of Satan on earth. Therefore, we have a third enemy. Enemy one is the Cunning of Satan. Enemy two is the Natural Man. Enemy Three is the Craftiness of Man, or, in other words, the craftiness of those who came to earth and gained a body. In heaven they followed Michael. That is why they earned the right to come to earth and gain a body. However, on earth, they follow Satan, most unknowingly. The subtlety is that in heaven those spirits who followed Lucifer knew who their master was. They rejected Christ and worshiped Lucifer. Those in the flesh who follow Satan do not always recognize their masters. Often they follow Satan thinking they are serving God. It is devious. It is subtle. It is deadly. Peter tells us.1st Peter 5: 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:Following Satan thinking we are following God is perhaps the most cunning of all his tricks. Peter teaches us to overcome the natural man.1st Peter 4:2-4That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:It was Peter who introduced another concept that perhaps many Christians have overlooked. God is in heaven. He is omniscient. He sees all, both the living and the dead. He is concerned for all, both the living and the dead. For example, we learn from 1st Peter Chapter Three that those who drowned in the flood were taught by Christ after death in the spirit world during the time between his death and the resurrection.1st Peter 3:18-20For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.In Chapter Four Peter again addresses the issue of the dead.1st Peter 4:5-6Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.In the above Peter tells us why Christ taught the spirits of those who were dead: “that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” That tells us that everyone who comes to this earth will be taught of Christ whether in this life or the next. Christ is the savior and redeemer of the entire world from Adam to the last man and woman on earth. He is the Christ. Those who are not taught the gospel of Christ on earth will be taught the gospel of Christ in the spirit world so that the judgment will be fair. Christ does not hold people accountable for laws they were never taught on earth. The mercy and grace of Christ covers everything. God is both just and merciful. Nevertheless, everyone of Adam and Eve’s posterity, before they meet Christ at the judgment bar, will have heard of Christ whether on earth or in the world of the spirits of the dead. That is part of the law of agency. We must all choose for ourselves whom we will follow, Christ or Satan.After teaching that gospel principle, Peter turns his attention to the living.1st Peter 4:7-10But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.Christ expects those who know the gospel to preach the gospel to others. We are all, who know Christ, stewards of the manifold grace of God. Notice the faith God has in the members of his church.1st Peter 4:11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.It was Peter who said that the trials of our faith were as gold. He continues that theme. 1 Peter 4:12-14Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Podcast 105, 1st Peter, “Pt 3, Ch 3Perhaps few verses have been more abused and more misunderstood than those found in Chapter 3 of First Peter. For example, 1st Peter 3:1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;Many husbands misinterpret the phrase, “be in subjection to your own husbands” as meaning that the husband has power over the wife. They have simply ignored everything else Peter said as well as other apostles and prophets. This is written to the wives, not to the husbands, but notice the wording, “be in subjection to your own husbands.” It is an admonition against adultery. For one thing he is commanding the wife to only have sexual relations with her husband just as the husbands are commanded to only have sexual relations with their wives. Adultery is condemned in the Ten Commandments. Infidelity and the destruction of the home can bring down not only the home but also a nation. He is also talking to wives whose faith is stronger than their husbands. “If any obey not the word,” is speaking of the husbands who do not follow the words of Christ. Peter’s advice is that the only way the wife can win her husband to Christ is” by good conversation.” It means, in addition to their language of patience they also win by the language of love taught by the Savior. They are encouraged to be an example to their husbands. Peter is talking about marriage between husband and wife which can only endure through harmony not contention. Peter continues,1st Peter 3:2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.“Chaste conversation” means fidelity to the marriage covenant. “Coupled with fear” means fear of God. “Fear of God” refers to keeping the commandments of God. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were married by God. That is the Christian standard, that husbands and wives love each other, remain faithful to each other and faithful to God. That is the model God established for bringing children into the world. God is teaching the ideal where children have the role model of both father and mother. We know in our world that the ideal is not always attainable, but that never lessens the importance of the ideal. Though we must often adjust to the circumstances, we must always strive toward the ideal. God is merciful to those single parents who heroically raise their children alone. God never condemns that which is beyond our control. My second wife, who was abandoned by her first husband at the birth of their seventh child, raised all of her children entirely alone without any child support and limited education. She went on to get her bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees while raising seven children. My first wife died of cancer. My children were grown, save one. When Linda and I married our families merged, giving us 13 children which grew to 45 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, and growing. She often speaks of the miracles she experienced when circumstances appeared intolerable.Peter speaks of the wearing of apparel in a very interesting way. He is really speaking of false pride.1st Peter 3:3-6Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.Peter is not attacking expensive clothing. He is addressing priorities. If our rich apparel comes between us and God then it becomes a detriment to our spiritual growth. It becomes a distraction to the more important things of life. To Peter the important things of life are spiritual. “Let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible.” It is the idea of who is master. We cannot serve both God and Mammon. Peter refers to the chaste women of the past who put their trust in God. That is very ancient doctrine. In proverbs we read,Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."The author of Proverbs is King Solomon, perhaps the wealthiest man on earth at that time. Solomon was not condemned for being wealthy neither was Abraham. Peter is not Politically Correct. He believes in the unity of marriage but acknowledges differences between men and women. 1st Peter 3:7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.Peter acknowledges that men are physically stronger than women, nothing more. We know where he would stand in allowing men in women’s sports as if they were biologically equal. When he speaks of “knowledge,” he is speaking of scientific knowledge, of biological and natural differences, not intellectual, spiritual, or moral differences. In fact, he acknowledges the perfect equality of men and women before God. He said, “as being heirs together of the grace of life.” Together means perfect equality in heaven as it should be on earth. The grace of Christ is offered equally to all of us. Salvation is offered equally to all of us. Our standing with God is offered equally in all of us. There is no respecter of persons and no inequality with God. Those who use their physical or circumstantial strength to bully others will answer to God for their misbehavior. The victims on earth will be the conquerors in heaven for Christ will always take the side of the innocent. Peter admonishes us to be of one mind with our spouses.1st Peter 3:8-11Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.That is a formula for a perfect marriage and a formula for a perfect and peaceful society. That is what it will be like in the Millennium. The only thing that separates us in the eyes of God is the level of righteousness. 1st Peter 3:12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.“Them” has no gender. One can hear the words of Christ in the words of Peter.1st Peter 3:13-17And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.Peter clearly defines the role of Christ, our Savior.1st Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:The entire purpose of Christ was to bring us to God. Christ died for our sins so that we may once again live in the presence of God the Father. John makes it very clear that Both Christ and the Father shall dwell together in heaven. In speaking of Heaven, John said,Revelation 22:2-5In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? Perhaps if would help if you imagined the ideal family life on earth. Paul said, 1st Corinthians 11:11-12Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.To God the relationship between husband and wife was meant to be eternal. In the next verse of 1st Peter, Peter says a very puzzling thing.1st Peter 3:19-20By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Podcast 104, 1st Peter, “Pt 2, Ch 2”Peter occupies a special place among the apostles. His name was Simon but Christ gave him the name of Cephas which means stone. John 1:42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.The Greek equivalent is Petros, which also means rock or stone. Therefore, he is generally known as Peter. There is another scripture dealing with the name of Peter that is easy to misunderstand. It is a famous scripture.Matthew 16:13-17When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.Peter was often the first to act and the first to speak. He was the first to get out of the boat and walk on water. Here he is the first to acknowledge Christ as the Son of the living God. Jesus blesses Peter for his answer and then teaches Peter and the other apostles an important doctrine of Christianity. He said, “for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus is speaking of revelation. Only through revelation can anyone know Christ. Paul tells us:Galatians 1:11-12But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.The following synonyms are given for ‘revelation’: divine communication, inspiration, prophecy, heavenly message, vision, oracle, disclosure of truth, communication, enlightenment, awakening, etc. Some things can only come through revelation. A testimony of Christ is one of those things. Even though Peter was in the presence of Christ, still he only knew that Jesus was the Christ through revelation. Christ is teaching that principle to Peter and to the other Apostles. Christ continues.Matthew 16:18-20And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.Jesus is playing on the work ‘rock.’ As stated, it was Jesus who gave Peter the name ‘Cephas’ or rock, but Peter is not the rock upon which the church is built. Christ is. 1 Peter 2:1-5Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.Christ, not Peter, is the ‘living stone.” 1 Peter 2:6-7Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,All Christians agree that Christ is the ‘chief corner stone, elect, precious.” Those who believe in Christ, not Peter, ‘shall not be confounded.” It is Christ who is precious. It is Christ who is ‘the stone which the builders disallowed.’ It is Christ, not Peter, who is “made the head of the corner.” It is Christ also who is a ‘stone of stumbling.’1 Peter 2:8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.Therefore, when Christ said to Peter, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,” he was not referring to Peter. He was speaking of himself. Christ is the rock, and only through revelation can we know that Christ is the chief corner stone. Christ must always remain the central figure.  That is powerfully emphasized in Peter’s own words.1 Peter 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:It was Christ who calls us ‘out of darkness into his marvelous light.’ Also, note the phrase, “But ye are a chosen generation.” That would have been offensive to the Jews for they saw themselves as The Chosen Generation. The title is the same but now it does not refer only to the Jews. It refers only to the followers of Christ whether Jew or Gentile. Another change that would have been very offensive to the Jews is “royal priesthood.” Before only the literal seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob held the royal priesthood. Now it was also to be given to all followers of Christ. Once only Israel was the holy nation. Now only followers of Christ are ‘the holy nation.’ Those who belong to the holy nation are called out of darkness into his marvelous light. Peter continues.1 Peter 2:10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.In time past they were not the people of God but now they are. Who are the people of God? Once it was only the literal seed of Abraham. Now it is only the followers of Christ regardless of their genealogical tree. That is why they are called a ‘peculiar people.’ Before they had not obtained mercy, but now they had. The mantle of the priesthood has shifted from physical blood line to spiritual blood line, from lineage to faith, from the law of Moses to revelation of Christ. But to become members of that ‘chosen generation,’ that ‘royal priesthood,’ that ‘peculiar people,’ there is a price to pay. They must become pure.1 Peter 2: 11-16Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.Gentiles now are defined as those who do not belong to the Church of the Firstborn. Members of Christ’s church are the elect, the chosen ones. They now have a higher law to live than the strict Mosaic law. In the words of Paul, Ephesians 2:15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;For example, The Ten Commandments, repeated by Christ, never grow old or wear out or become outdated. They remain firm, but the Sermon on the Mount presented a higher law. The Ten Commandments condemned adultery. The Sermon on the Mount condemned lust, the prelude to adultery. The two great commandments of love the Lord and love our neighbor, superseded the Ten Commandments with the knowledge that if we lived the Royal law, we would naturally live the Ten Commandments or the Law of Liberty. Peter teaches the higher law.1 Peter 2:17-21Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:That requires more than the Mosaic Law required. Rather than an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, it is to ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Which are the harder commandments to obey, The Mosaic Law, or the New Gospel of Jesus Christ? 

Podcast 103, 1st Peter, “Pt 1, Ch 1”When we think of the four gospels, we naturally think of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John. When we think of the leadership of the apostles, we naturally think first of Peter and then of James and John, for they were singled out. It was to Peter whom Christ gives the keys of the priesthood.Matthew 16:18–19And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Only Christ can give the keys for only Christ holds the keys.Revelation 1:18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.Revelation 3:7These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.In his opening statement, Peter establishes himself as an apostle of Christ. He is writing his Epistle to the new converts of the church.1 Peter 1:1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,Notice the doctrines taught in his opening statement for they are applicable to all Christians:1 Peter 1:2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.Elect means ‘chosen’ or ‘picked out.’ The children of Israel were referred to as God’s elect.Isaiah 41:8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.Isaiah 45:4For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect.The title of elect has now been transferred to those who become members of Christ’s true church. Peter refers to members of Christ’s church as the elect. Paul also refers to members of Christ’s church as the elect.Colossians 3:12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved...That is a very significant and bold assertion. Peter speaks of making our “calling and election” sure.2 Peter 1:10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:It isn’t enough just to be a baptized member of Christ’s church. One must also have one’s calling and election sure. One way to look at that is the principle of “enduring to the end” which is a very common theme in the Holy Bible. In the Book of Revelation, the promises to the Seven Churches were all dependent upon those who endured to the end. The phrase to each church was, “to him that overcometh.”Peter also speaks of the “foreknowledge of God.” We often attribute the following three attributes to Christ: omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, all powerful, all knowing, and all present. He knows the past, the present, and the future. An attribute of the ‘elect’ is ‘sanctification of the spirit.’ Paul taught,2 Thessalonians 2:13God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:Sanctification means to be made holy. Synonyms are holiness, consecration, purification, dedication, devotion, spiritual refinement, spiritual cleansing, Godliness. Peter offers two primary conditions of sanctification. First obedience. God cannot sanctify us if we do not strive to obey all of his commandments. To be made holy means to be made free of sin. That, leads to the second criteria: “sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Only through Christ can we be made holy. Only through Christ can we be purified and cleansed of our sins. It is not a one-time event. Enduring to the end means daily repentance, daily striving, daily prayer. Peter, in his apostolic position, says “Grace unto you,” meaning the grace of Christ which can cleanse us, and “peace, be multiplied,” meaning peace of conscience and soul.Peter, as an apostle, bears witness of Christ. 1 Peter 1:3-5Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.In Peter’s words, it is God the Father who raised Christ from the dead. Now Christ has given us the promise of eternal life with Christ to those elect who endure to the end. Notice the eternal nature of the images above: “lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”; “inheritance incorruptible”; “that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”; and “kept by the power of God.” But first, to have our calling and election sure, we must “endure” the trials of mortality.1 Peter 1:6-7Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:Job, the symbol of enduring the trial of his faith, observed. Job 23:10That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire...Speaking through Isaiah the Lord said, Isaiah 48:10I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.In Malachi we read,Malachi 3:2-3But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.As with Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, Peter also speaks of end-time. That is what he meant when he said, “might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. That refers to the Second Coming of Christ. The apostles lived and communicated with the Savior on a daily basis; however, until the Savior comes again, we must accept him by faith.1 Peter 1:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:It is the end game that we must consider. It is the endgame that makes the trial of our faith worth it.1 Peter 1:9-12Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.As we read Peter, we need to keep the word “elect” in our minds because it comes with a great price. It is not a passive phrase. One may lose his or her election through disobedience. Peter cautions.  1 Peter 1:13-16Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.“Hope to the end” means to ‘endure to the end.’ To ‘gird up our loins’ means to ‘tighten our belt’ ‘to fortify ourselves against opposition,’ ‘to be resolute.’ To be “sober” is to be of sound mind and sense and judgment. Notice that grace comes at the end, at the final judgment, where we are cleansed from all sin so that we can be with Christ in his kingdom, so that we can be invited to the ‘wedding feast.’ Of the ten virgins, only the five wise were allowed into the wedding feast. The other five were good, but they were unprepared. They didn’t endure. They ran out of oil. We must be holy ‘in all manner of conversation.’ That means in our daily lives, in our business dealings, in our communication with our fellow travelers. We can never let our guard down. That is why we must ‘pass the time of our sojourning here in fear.’ Peter teaches us to pray to the Father. We must pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. That is the order of prayer.1 Peter 1:17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:We are saved by grace but judged for our works. Those who think that works do not matter 

Podcast 102, James, “Pt 5, Ch 5”Chapter 5 is divided into two parts. Part I, verses 1-6, condemns the rich. Part II, verses 7-20, calls upon the saints to be patient. There is always a subtext. For example, on the one hand, the Lord condemns the rich who get their riches by fraudulent means or who selfishly hoard their riches and withhold their help from the poor. On the other hand, the Lord does not permit the poor or needy to blame others for their own behavior. The Lord insists that we take charge of our own lives, our own behavior. There is a beautiful scripture in which Christ is called, “The bishop of our souls.”1 Peter 2:25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.Bishop means overseer, guardian, superintendent, watcher, protector. Christ is The Good Shepherd and He is “our guardian and protector; however, the sword has two edges. We too must be our soul’s own guardian, superintendent, watcher, and protector. We too must become ‘Bishop of Our Souls.’ One virtue that James suggests is patience. Things do not always go as planned. We must look to Christ.The rich become an easy target, and we often blame our ills on the rich. Some use government as a thief to steal from the rich and give to the poor, all under the name of charity. Such governments have been given the name of Socialism, Marxism, and Communism; however there are other forms of government that pretend capitalism but lean toward the principle of taking from the rich and giving to the poor: The terms are populism, social democracy, redistribution of wealth, welfare programs, healthcare, land reform, wealth taxes, debt forgiveness, subsidies, relief programs. Only the scale differs.As stated earlier, there are four forms of freedom. 1.     Freewill, which refers to the spirit of freedom. Freewill is something that governments cannot touch for it deals with one’s inner self, one’s consciousness, one’s desires, one’s immortal intelligence, one’s divinity. Will cannot be created or destroyed. It burns with an eternal flame. The will is set free only through the laws of God. Will cannot be touched by the laws of man. There is a phrase, “to break one’s spirit’ which may suggest the destruction of freewill, but that is misleading. Freewill may be forfeited but it cannot be taken. It is who we are, and it never dies. 2.     Agency, which refers to a rational choice between good and evil, depends upon the enticements of Christ vs the enticements of Satan. Without spiritual opposition there can be no agency. Agency, too, is spiritual. It is of God, not of man.3.     Freedom, which refers to our ability to live in a fallen world, depends entirely upon natural law. We have freedom only by obeying natural laws. We may have freedom of flight only because we understand the restricting powers of gravity and the other laws of nature that allow us to overpower gravity.  Without natural law, we would have no freedom. 4.     Liberty, which rests entirely with government, is usually mistaken for the other three. The laws of God determine freewill, agency, and freedom, for God is the author of both temporal laws and spiritual laws. The laws of man determine liberty. Three primary laws of heaven are freewill, agency, and freedom, all governed by the laws of God. No government should rob us of freewill, agency, or freedom. Any attempt to do so is of Satan. Christ died to protect our agency, but God allows us to create our own governments. If we choose totalitarianism, Fascism, Socialism, Communism, Czarism, Kings, tyrants, monarch, sovereigns, potentates, supreme ruler, Caesar, Kaiser, dictator, autocrat, emperor, we become our own worst enemy. The idea that the rich should be forced to support the poor is not of God. If they give to the poor, they must do it of their own freewill. That is the message of James.James 5:1-6Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.James is not saying that because some rich are wicked, we have the right to steal from them. James is talking directly to the rich. They will be condemned by God if they hoard their wealth. It is not money that is condemned. It is the love of money that is condemned1 Timothy 6:10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ declares,Matthew 6:24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Those who seek wealth to do good do not fall under condemnation, even if they also thoroughly enjoy the rewards of their own wealth. Conscience, not government, should be their guide. Those who steal, whether from the rich or from the poor, violate the commandment of God so clearly stated in the Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt not steal.” All thieves must answer to God for their own conscience. The rich should be held accountable only to God, not to man or to government. Being wealthy does not obligate anyone to help the poor. Being Christian does. It was Paul who said, 1 Corinthians 10:29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?The second half of James 5, though it does not directly address the poor; nevertheless, it addresses all who suffer whether from poverty of wealth or poverty of health or poverty of the good things of the world.James 5:7-8Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.I love the following counsel found in Malachi.Malachi 3:13-18Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.We are not to grudge others for their success. Again, we must be Bishop of our Souls.James 5:9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.Among the principles of the gospel one stands taller than the others, not because in and of itself it is a virtue but because it gurantees that we observe all the other principles of the Gospel. James 5:10-11Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.Enduring to the end is essential. For that we must develop patience. They are synonymous.  “We count them happy which endure.” That is the practical voice of James we hear throughout the Epistle of James.He counsels us to be precise in our language. We must mean what we say and perform what we promise. We must remain firm in our resolve. We must be Bishop of our Souls.James 5:12But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.Again, notice his practical counsel.James 5:13Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.James believes in the power of prayer. He believes in the power of healing. The ancient elders through their priesthood anointed the sick with holy oil and through their faith they were healed. James 5:14-15Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.James counsels’ daily repentance and frequent prayer. He believed in the power of prayer.

Podcast 101, James, “Pt 4, Ch 4”A writer once said words to the effect, ‘Write not to be understood, but that ye be not misunderstood.’ It is paradoxical but to the point. James was such a writer. Another writer was asked, “What are the three greatest principles of writing? He reportedly answered, “clarity, clarity, clarity.” Again, James is equal to the task. Consider:James 4:1-3From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.Do you ever wonder the source of temptation. A popular comedian made the following common phrase even more popular, “The devil made me do it.” In other words, he blamed everything on the devil as if somehow, the devil, not him, was responsible for his behavior. The devil himself loves such a doctrine. He is perfectly willing to take the blame for our behavior for it keeps us from repenting. However, temptation must have a catalyst. The only reason we have agency, for example, is because we are enticed to do good by Christ and enticed to do evil by Satan. Until Lucifer entered the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were never tempted to eat of the forbidden fruit. One would naturally be tempted to say, “Remove Satan from the earth and all would be well.” We are told that Satan will be bound for a thousand years. We call it The Millennium. Christians consider it a utopia, paradise, ideal society, heaven on earth. Can one know the good without knowing the evil. Can one know joy without knowing sorrow? Christianity, perhaps, is the most paradoxical religion on earth for it is filled with attractive opposites. The fall brought about the natural man which introduced lust. The fall also allowed Satan to enter the world which introduced cunning. Satan has many names: the destroyer, the tempter, the adversary, serpent, dragon, the wicked one, liar, enemy,  There is a third source of temptation. It is from man himself who adopts the wiles of the devil to deceive others for personal gain. But agency still exists. The three groups above will go to their own place, but we will stand alone at the judgment bar. They will not be there to take the blame. When confronted, Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent, but all three were held equally accountable by God, and each had to pay his or her own price. Notice that in the above James declared, “come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members.”  We can all relate to the internal turmoil that boils within each of us. James points out the futility of giving in to the lusts of the flesh. For clarity, lust does not simply refer to sexual desire. Lust symbolizes burning desire, whatever the object may be: sex, money, power, fame, position, prestige, control, etc.Wants define themselves for they usually come in attractive packages, but few things can be more important than to define our desire. Desires are not always so transparent. We usually don’t mind confessing our wants, but often, due to hidden and forbidden feelings, we camouflage our desires. We like to dress our desires in respectable clothing for we are ashamed. That is, I think, what James meant when he said, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”James gives us a clear way to define our desires. James 4:4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.Why would we ask amiss? Perhaps we ask amiss because we are ashamed of our desires. James gives us the key to recognize unrighteous desires, “that we may consume it upon our lusts.” Our motives are not pure. They are selfish. In a way we try to fool God which is impossible. James adds,James 4:5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?Envy violates the 10th Commandment. Exodus 20:17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.But, as always, when a prophet condemns, through the spirit of the Lord, they offer the remedy. James 4:6-8But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.James continues,James 4:9-12Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?Remember what James called The Perfect Law of Liberty:James 1:25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.So many see Christianity as restrictive. The entire purpose of Christianity is to make us free. In Jesus’s own words. John 8:31-32Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."In the preamble to the Ten Commandments, which James calls, “The Law of Liberty” Jehovah states the following:Exodus 20:1-2And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.Egypt, the house of bondage, is often referred to as the world in the same sense that Babylon is referred to as the world. Christ taught that we should be ‘in the world but not of the world.’ The world offers both a temporal bondage and a spiritual bondage. The Jews were slaves to the Egyptians; however, even when they escaped Egypt they tried to take Egypt with them by adopting their gods. Christ was the only truly free person to ever live on the earth because he obeyed the Father in all things. Satan had no power over Christ. In addition, Christ is eternally free. He is omnipotent and omniscient, and he wants all of us to become like him. Like Isaiah and like Solomon, James teaches us of the temporal nature of mortality. 

Podcast 100, James, “Pt 3, Ch 3”In typical hands-on fashion, James looks at the practical side of the new Religion that comes to be known world-wide as Christianity. Christianity is a hands-on religion that translates into everyday life. In Chapter 3, James addresses the issue of language. Even in the early days of a new religion that would change the world, it was known that every spoken language in the world would be affected by Christianity. For example, before ascending into heaven, the resurrected Christ, who now had been given all power by the Father, gave instructions that the eleven remaining disciples should gather in Galilee unto a mountain. Matthew, in the concluding statement of his Gospel, records Jesus’s instructions:.Matthew 28:19-20Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.Christianity was no longer simply a provincial religion. It was destined to take its place among the other great religions of the world. In the above Christ concluded his remarks by saying, “And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” That is an allusion to his Second Coming which will be preceded by a day of wrath for Babylon, or the wicked of the world. The wicked shall all be destroyed before the Millennium begins. Only the righteous, regardless of religion, culture, or language, shall live during the Millennium. During the Millennium everyone shall live in peace, or they shall not live at all. Some Christians, perhaps, shall be disappointed that God meant it when he said that he was no respecter of persons. He loves all his children. He does not judge others for the laws they do not have. He holds us all accountable only for the laws we have been taught. Christians of all people should understand that principle for only Christians have John 3:16-17. Christ is the only God of this world. The Millennium shall be a day of teaching, not a day of contention. Even among the wild beasts there shall be no enmity. The Millennium is certainly a form of judgment, not between religion and religion but between the righteous and the wicked. Perhaps many shall be disappointed that even atheists who are righteous shall enjoy millennial status. Righteousness is determined not by orthodoxy but by adherence to law. At birth everyone, regardless of race, religion, or culture, has the spirit of Christ which is the spirit of truth, and everyone has the potential to discern between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral. It is referred to as conscience. Some allow conscience to be “seared with a hot iron,” but most know that murder, rape, robbery, adultery, lying, cheating, stealing, brutality, deceit, hate, envy, and slavery, etc. are evil. We call it civilization. Only the civilized shall live during the millennial reign of Christ. All the rest shall be destroyed.Furthermore, all good religions or philosophies will be represented in the Millennium, but only the righteous of those religions or philosophies will survive the Second Coming of Christ and be allowed to live in the Millennium. A primary goal of God is to protect man’s agency, that he may choose for himself whom he will serve, and it is expected of all earthly governments to do the same. Lucifer was cast out of heaven because he tried to take away man’s agency. And any government that tries to destroy man’s agency is of Satan.As with the other New Testament writers, James’ message transcends traditions, languages, cultures, and governments. It speaks to the individual, teaching them how to live among men in any language, culture, or religion. Verse 1 of James 3 is provocative.James 3:1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.How can a Christian be “many masters?” And why is that offensive to the Lord. James answers the question for us.James 3:2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.Though the counsel applies to everyone, James is directing his words to new converts. We become many masters through language. James said that if we can bridle our tongue, we can bridle the whole body and therefore become the perfect man. Such a simple concept yet with far reaching consequences. How does one offend in word? Perhaps all, at one time or another, have received an unjust and angry ‘tongue lashing.’ The tongue is often the angry whip with which oppressors berate the underlings.  Unfortunately, many people are beaten down by harsh, violent, crude, and threatening language, by unbridled criticism, uncontrolled anger, by curses, by tongue lashings, by foul and indecent language, by verbal abuse, undeserved threats, snide remarks, searing criticism couched in subtle words. Roaring language is more danger than a bellowing beast. How many can face a roaring lion but fear a loud and lying tongue. Beware of a contentious tongue. In Dante’s Fifth Circle, Dante places the wrathful, those consumed by anger, rage, and hostility, in the River Styx, the boundary between the world of the living and the realm of the dead. The river Styx suggests hatred, abhorrence, and detestation. James, though probably unknowingly, compares an angry tongue to the river Phlegethon, the river of fire, which suggests destructive passion and wrath.James 3:3-6Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.It is good to govern a horse with a bit. It is good to govern a ship with a helm, but it is greater to govern one’s own tongue. In war a landmine can shred the body. In peace a contentious tongue can shred the soul.  Notice how the astute James doubles back on his imagery. In his opening statement he said, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.” In the above he said, if a man offends in word he “defileth the whole body.” But it is even more far reaching, It sets on fire “the course of nature.” A flaming tongue is like a forest fire that creates its own bellows to fan the flames. Foul words feed anger till it grows hotter and hotter, thus overwhelming the original intent. Rather than a means to an end, it becomes the end itself. Anger begets anger. How many small fires set to burn a contained area soon burn out of control. Such it is with anger fed by the fuel of burning words. A fire out of control does not care what it burns or whom it destroys. It becomes the dragon. How many sit in prison today having done a foul murder because they did not control their fiery tongue? Our freeways have given it a name. It is called ‘road rage.’ Language is often used like a whip to control others, to beat them down into submission. They withhold their fists while they, like Claudio who poured poison into his brother, King Hamlet’s ear, thus killing him. So it is with those who kill the spirit through language. Parents may kill the heart of a child, husbands or wives the tender heart of their spouse, masters may kill the spirit of a servant, keeping them in submission through fear. How many use anger as a chain to keep others in bondage? James 3:8-9But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.Notice the wisdom of his counsel.7 LINDAJames 3:10-13Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.7 RON What greater advice in controlling the tongue can James give us than, “Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom?”There are three great evils in this world: The Cunning of Satan. The Craftiness of Man. The Natural Man. All are enemies to God. Notice where James places the source of strife.James 3:14-15But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.An evil tongue serves all three masters—the craftiness of man, which is earthly; the natural man, which is sensual; and Satan, which is devilish.An unbridled tongue comes with a host of demons. James 3:16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.“Every evil work” is a very broad term. James counsels us to look to God. James 3:17-18But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

In the creation story found in Genesis, among the many truths taught by Moses, one truth seems to have slipped through the cracks. It is simply this. We are all children of God, born of the same father, brothers and sisters all, equal in the heart of God. We all have the same earthly father, Adam, and the same earthly mother, Eve. That simply means that we were brothers and sisters in heaven in the spirit and brothers and sisters on earth in the flesh. Let’s review the story of the creation of mankind.And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.James understood that universal truth.My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:Christ taught the same principle many times. We think of the widow’s mite. We think of his care for the poor. We think of his emphasis on the one that he captures in the following commandment.And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.James teaches the same principal that the Master taught.Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?[4]In fact, James considers this the greatest law of the Gospel. He even gives it a name. He calls it The Royal Law.If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.What then is The Royal Law. We look to the Savior for the answer. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.What is better known as the Two Great Commandments, James calls The Royal Law. We have another version of the Royal Law. It is found in the Ten Commandments. For example, notice that Number One of the Royal Law is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Of the Ten Commandments, the first five address the Royal Law or what Christ called The First Great Commandment.Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.Doesn’t that satisfy the requirement of the First Great Commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” I include the fifth commandment in the First Great Commandment because by honoring our earthly parents we also honor our heavenly parents.The last five of the Ten Commandments teaches us the Second Great Commandment, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”  Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.[8]Doesn’t the last five commandments show love for our neighbor.  In fact, James makes it clear that he considers the Royal Law to include the Ten Commandments. But James does a peculiar thing. He also distinguishes the Ten Commandments, which are part of the Royal Law, by giving them a special name. He calls the Ten Commandments, “The Law of Liberty.”For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.He calls the Ten Commandments “The Law of Liberty for good reason. Notice Moses preamble to the Ten commandments.And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.James was a hands-on preacher. He did not have his head in the clouds. He believed in a very practical religion. For example, James teaches that if we want mercy we must show mercy.For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.Christ first taught that principle using a parable.Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.James lifted his voice in defense of the necessity of works. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Podcast 98 Epistle of James, “Pt 1, Ch 1”In Christian tradition, James is generally believed to be James the Just, brother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and a leader in the early church. His writings bring a practicality to Christianity. He does not remain in the abstract but envisions a practical religion modeled after the works of the Savior as well as his teachings. Curious beings that we are, we like to know more about the early writers. We want to eulogize them. We want to show them as perfect. We want to put them above the rest of us.  James introduces himself merely as a humble servant. Perhaps that is sufficient.James 1:1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.His idea is that we should not only listen to what Christ said, but strive to live as Christ lived, a servant of mankind. The following verse summarizes James’ philosophy.James 2:18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.He was not without temptation. In fact, he teaches us how to deal with temptation.James 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;[3]He sees temptation as a trial of our faith, as an opportunity to increase in virtue. Among the top virtues is patience.James 1:3-4Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.Paul teaches that patience leads to Hope. Christians often consider Faith, Hope, and Charity to be the highest achievement of man. They are known simply as The Three Theological Virtues.  Paul teaches. Romans 5:3-4And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.It was Peter who said:1 Peter 1:6-7Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:[5]These teachings came out of enormous suffering, All had witnessed the persecution and death of Jesus Christ. Tradition has it that most of the apostles were killed, some in gruesome ways. It is believed that thousands were murdered because of their faith. John refers to it as a time of “great tribulation.”Revelation 7:13-14And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.[6]Words matter. Take, for example, the following words: wisdom, knowledge, information, facts, truth, understanding, awareness, learning, comprehension, insight, perception, erudition, scholarship, etc.Synonym means “same-name” word. But they aren’t the same. Wisdom is greater than scholarship. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. It implies sound judgment, discernment, discretion, sagacity, sapience, prudence. Both God and Satan have knowledge. Only God has wisdom. James said the following:James 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Podcast 97 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 12, Ch 12”Understandably the final chapter in Ecclesiastes is a summing up. Characteristically Solomon boils down everything leaving to the end what is most important. I think we may properly assume that Ecclesiastes was written when King Solomon was old and knew that he was about to die. He gave us many clues. Consider the following statements given early on:Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.Ecclesiastes 2:4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:Ecclesiastes 2:11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.Ecclesiastes 2:18Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.Ecclesiastes 2:23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.If the above is not convincing that he is waiting to die, perhaps the opening statement of the final chapter is.Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;Solomon is old. He has lost pleasure in life. He poignantly recognizes the vanity of earthly pleasures. One is reminded of William Wordsworth’s beautiful poem, Ode, Intimations of Immortality.There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, The earth, and every common sight, To me did seem Apparelled in celestial light, The glory and the freshness of a dream. It is not now as it hath been of yore;— Turn wheresoe'er I may, By night or day, The things which I have seen I now can see no more.Solomon also laments those lost times.Ecclesiastes 12:2-6While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.“Because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets” refers to death. King Solomon continues:Ecclesiastes 12:7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.Is that not another way of saying, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” Solomon gives his familiar refrain.Ecclesiastes 12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.Words often have two values. One is connotative. The other is denotative. The connotative value refers to the emotional overtones, to the feelings the word conveys. The denotative refers to the dictionary definition. It is cold and abstract usually consisting of a name, a class, and a differentia. Without connotation, there would be no poetry; without denotation, there would be no sense. The connotation appeals to the emotions. The denotation appeals to the mind. The word vanity has many connotations, mostly negative as suggested by common synonyms:

Podcast 96 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 11, Ch 11”The first verse of Ecclesiastes is such a common axiom in every Christian vocabulary, it is likely that most have forgotten its origin.Ecclesiastes 11:1Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.What is it that keeps such a phrase alive. We hear it in other ways, “What goes around comes around.” “That which ye sow, so shall ye reap.” “It will come back to bite you.” “Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you.” The variations are, perhaps, multitudinous because everyone who has experienced life knows instinctively that it is true. We live on a spinning planet in a spinning universe. Everything circles something. The moon circles the earth. The earth circles the sun. Our solar system circles the galaxy at about 500,000 miles per hour. One cycle takes from 225 to 250 million years. What does our Milky Way Galaxy galaxy circle and where does it end? The point is everything returns. Consider the water cycle. From evaporation and transpiration to condensation to precipitation, water returns. It is quite possible that we have swallowed the same molecules of water many times, and those same molecules could have been consumed by every other living being since Adam. Think of it in a broader scale. We are children of God, of noble birthright. We once lived with our Father in heaven and every good Christian’s goal is to return to the presence of God the Father and God the Son. Each of us is a universe. A Jewish proverbs says that if you kill a man, you kill a nation. Regardless of what scientists concoct or atheist’s claim, we all descended from Adam and Eve. We are all brothers and sisters, equal in the eyes of God who is no respecter of persons. That which we do has eternal significance. Sometimes small things have the greatest consequences. “Cast your bread upon the waters” has great spiritual significance. Christ is the ‘bread of life.’ Bethlehem, where Christ was born, means House of Bread. When we eat the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, we take bread to remind us that he gave his body for us. That which is Christ centered will last. If we follow his laws and obey his commandments, after many days, we shall find Christ. In 1st John we read the following:1 John 3:2Beloved, 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.”We live in a world of uncertainty; therefore, we must rely upon God, creator of all.Ecclesiastes 11:2-5Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.Solomon counsels us to sow our seed. When one sows seed he scatters it broadly, generally in prepared soil, hoping it will grow.Ecclesiastes 11:6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.Sowing the seed both morning and evening significantly increases probability. We should also take joy in sowing our seed.Ecclesiastes 11:7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:Of course, plants need sunlight, but Solomon is not talking about merely temporal seeds or temporal light. He is talking about spiritual seeds and spiritual light. In Isaiah we read.Isaiah 2:5O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.In typical Antithetical Parallelism, so common in in the Bible, Solomon plays light against darkness. Ecclesiastes 11:8But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.Among other things vanity refers to the temporary nature of things. It refers to putting our trust in things that have no lasting value. That is why we must walk in the light of the Lord. Perhaps that is the primary theme of Ecclesiastes which begins with the famous opening of Ecclesiastes:

Podcast 95 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 10, Ch 10”One of the things that makes Ecclesiastes so interesting is that King Solomon, also known as The Preacher, is speaking from vast knowledge and experience as a political and spiritual leader. Perhaps everyone would agree that King Solomon is larger than life: the wealthiest man, the most powerful man, the wisest man, the most famous man, the greatest king, but not without faults. He speaks from experience. His great name is synonymous with wisdom; therefore, he speaks much of the importance of wisdom. Notice he is not talking about intelligence which is so praised today. He is talking about understanding with the heart not just the mind. Cleverness is abundant, but wisdom is rare. Cleverness is often camouflaged as wisdom. Its synonyms are bright, intelligent, brilliant, smart, etc. Such virtues have hurled many into stardom, success, wealth, fame, and power only to see them fall because they lacked wisdom. The graveyard of history is cluttered with clever people who brought about their own destruction as well as the destruction of others. As Solomon said,Ecclesiastes 10:1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.A clever person, without wisdom, may become a fool.Ecclesiastes 10:2-3A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.Cleverness camouflages foolishness and pulls many under its spell. Time always lifts the curtain and reveals the fool; sometimes, however, it is too late. The damage is done and one has allowed a fool to make a fool of himself. That is a common story of life. It takes wisdom to recognize a fool before one falls into his own trap. King Solomon warns us against fools.Ecclesiastes 10:4-8If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.How many have fallen for Ponzi schemes or pyramid schemes. I am in my eighties. In my lifetime I have never seen so many clever schemes set out to defraud us of our money. AI, the internet, social media, texting, etc. have introduced a new level of fraud, so exquisitely camouflaged that it appears legitimate. All of them have been based on fear and threats. What was once called “surfing the internet” has now bred a new breed—a breed of trollers whose dangling and jagged hooks are set to snag the unwary and relieve them of their freedom and their fortune. Perhaps Solomon saw our day.Ecclesiastes 10:9-11Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.Ultimately the fool is revealed, but not always before he has destroyed a lot of lives.Ecclesiastes 10:12-13The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.I like the phrase “mischievous madness.” That well describes our day. Solomon is not just telling us to be wise. He is telling us that we must discern between the wiseman and the fool. The following is one earmark of a fool.Ecclesiastes 10:14-15A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

Podcast 94 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 9, Ch 9”To King Solomon the world is a precarious place. The world is not fair. The world is not equitable. The world does not discriminate. That theme appears to dominate Chapter 9. Perhaps Solomon’s most often quoted words, found in Ecclesiastes 9, are “Time and chance happeneth to them all.” It is proverbial. It is provocative. It is true to life. We live in a world governed by time and chance. We must come to terms with coincidence. Coincidence is one of the greatest stumbling blocks to Christianity for the simple reason that every miracle can be attributed to chance. It is an argument that is irrefutable. All miracles begin with faith. All miracles are only recognized through faith. Faith precedes the miracle. Faith in Christ brings about the miracle. And faith in Christ sustains our belief that a miracle occurred.There is a logical fallacy logicians call ‘post hoc ergo propter hoc’ which means ‘after the fact therefore because of the fact. The argument is that just because an event precedes the effect, the event did not cause the effect. It is a necessary precaution because it prevents us from ‘jumping to conclusions.’ On the other hand, it is a double edged sword. Skepticism may cause us to deny the miracle. For example, the skeptic would say, just because you prayed doesn’t mean that God brought about a miracle. They may argue that prayer and the miracle were merely coincidental. Atheists insist that creation is accidental, that all things, even the creation of man, came about through coincidence, accident. The philosopher Bertrand Russell said, “Man is nothing but an accidental collocation of atoms.” Christians cannot prove that God created the world. It is an act of faith. Another reality is that wicked people prosper in a wicked world. If one equates success by the accumulation of wealth, then the wicked are probably more likely to be considered some of the most successful. Still Solomon declares that the righteous are in the hands of God.Ecclesiastes 9:1For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.Notice how deceitful the eyes can be, “No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.” To see the hand of God, one must use a different standard of judgment. One must have faith. We live in a complicated world which prompted the following very discouraging observation. Ecclesiastes 9:2All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.That is why faith is required to see the hand of God. Faith is required to even see the hand of the devil for if the devil is not real then neither is God. Malachi understood that. He understood that logic has its limitations in discerning divine truth. Malachi 3:13-18Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.