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Sin, Trespass, and the Mind

The definition of sin has become so elusive today that there are so called “sins” in many churches that cannot be found in Scripture. How do you know what a sin is? True, we see very well defined sins in Scripture such as adultery, fornication, stealing, lying, murder, etc., but what about the things that are not revealed in Scripture. Is it a sin not to give ten percent of your wages to the Church? Is it a sin for a husband to ignore his wife? What about which movies you watch, what you wear, what friends you hang out with, going to a party…, how do we know if they are sins?

“Missing the mark” as a definition of sin is very predominate in teachings today. However, there is a problem with this definition. First of all, what mark are we missing? When we start asking this question we will find that the answer is a moving target. Secondly, this definition is so generic it allows for really anything to be put in as the mark missed. The mark could be, not living up to God’s glory; having a ruined character; not abiding by God’s law; and they go on and on. Lastly, where this definition comes from is an issue. In the book of Judges the word normally translated as “sin” from the Hebrew is used to describe men who are so good with a sling that they do not miss their targets. The meaning “missing the mark” comes off of a miss understanding of how this word is used in this passage and also requires ignoring other passages of Scripture that specifically define sin. These men are so good with the sling that […]

Sin, Trespass, and the Mind2016-10-12T06:02:44-07:00

Contentment

Philippians 4: 11 – 13 Not that according to need I speak, for I, on my part, have learned in which I am, to be content. I intuitively know also to be humble. I intuitively know also to abound in all and in all I am in a state of having been initiated, both to be satisfied and to hunger, both to prosper and to lack. I am physically able to do all in Christ, the one empowering me.

 

 

 


Contentment2018-11-04T08:02:09-08:00

The Sovereignty of God and Election

The Sovereignty of God– PDF Version

In Greek Class on Thursdays – there is room to join online if you cannot make it to the church – we were discussing Romans 9:22. This quick comment is based upon our development of this passage through examining the Greek grammar and words to determine its meaning and proper application.

God elected some to salvation; does He also elect some to condemnation? Why is that God has chosen to harden some, rather than show mercy to them? Can a just God harden a man’s heart and then judge him for rejecting God?

In the book of Romans, Paul discusses the choices that God has when dealing with mankind. Since God is sovereign, He can do as He pleases with men without taking away the responsibility of man to obey His Word[1] or the liability when he does not obey. In chapter nine of Romans, Paul repeats what was stated to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will show compassion to whom I will show compassion”[2]. Whether or not God shows mercy to a person is not dependent upon if a man desires mercy or works for mercy, it is solely based upon God’s choice[3]. He is not obligated to save anyone. When God chose to call the seed of Abraham through Isaac, to show that His choice was not based upon actions of the person, but rather according to His own desires, it was told to Rebecca before the children were even born that the older would serve the younger [4]. This does not mean that man is not responsible for His actions. One cannot […]

The Sovereignty of God and Election2016-10-12T06:02:44-07:00

Defense Against Satan: The Armor from God

The Armor from God

The remaining, my brethren, be caused to be empowered in Christ and in the might of His strength. Clothe yourself with the full armor from God facing your ability to stand facing the methodologies of the slanderer. For our wrestling is not facing blood and flesh, but facing rulers, facing authorities, facing world powers of darkness of this age, facing the spiritually malignant evil in the heavens. Because of this, all of you take up the whole armor from God, in order that all of you should be enabled to stand in the malignantly evil day and having for yourself worked out all to stand. Therefore, all of you stand having girded your loins in truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having bound up the feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Over all taking up the shield of the faith, by which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the malignantly evil one. And to receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword belonging to the Spirit, which is the individual utterances from God, through all communication of worship and supplication, communicating by worship at all times in the spirit and into this same watching with all persistence and supplication concerning all the saints… Ephesians 6:10-18.

The armor from God is a mental process that we go through when under attack from Satan to protect our minds from his methods, by which he seeks to keep our minds from thinking on the things above and influence our actions. Independence from God, Disappointment, Discouragement, Bitterness, Doubt, Spiritual Cowardice, Lying, Pride, An unforgiving spirit, Stealing, Corrupt communication, Busybody, and Gossip […]

Defense Against Satan: The Armor from God2017-09-04T07:27:48-07:00

Abounding in Full Experiential Knowledge and Discernment

1Paul and Timothy, servants belonging to Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, the ones in Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons. 2Grace is to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank God upon all the remembrances of you, 4always in all my supplication on behalf of all of you, I am making, generally associated with joy, the previously mentioned supplication, 5on the basis of your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now. 6I am in a state of having been persuaded of this same thing, that the one having began in you a beneficial work will bring it to its intended end right up until the day of Jesus Christ. 7Just as it is right for me to think this concerning all of you, because I have you in my heart; in both my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, all of you being my partners of the Grace.8For God is my witness, as I long for all of you with the compassions of Christ Jesus. 9And this is my communication of worship, in order that your love yet more and more should abound in full experiential knowledge and all discernment, 10for the purpose that you approve the things that differ, in order that you all are sincere and do not cause offense unto the day of Christ, 11having been filled up concerning the fruit of righteousness, the one through Jesus Christ, unto an expression of a proper opinion and praise concerning God.

Paul’s communication with the Father is for the saints continued growth in love that will about in full experiential knowledge and discernment. He is not just asking […]

Abounding in Full Experiential Knowledge and Discernment2013-04-15T07:13:19-07:00
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