Learn To Love

by Leonard V Johnson

There is a famous quote that has once again made its rounds on social media sites, “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love” ~ Nelson Mandela.

Indeed, we ── as human beings ── must be taught how to love. We are born with the capacity to love. Yet, how we experience love or hate can profoundly shape us throughout our lives. 

We are told by the LORD God ── through the inspired prophet Job ── “’ Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.’” – Job 14:1.

The LORD God’s (the Elohim; the family of God) Master Plan… From the Beginning involves love. Notice what our Lord Jesus says ──

“’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’” – John 3:16-17.

We have the capacity to obtain the same character attributes as our Creator, such as goodness, creativity, and love. These attributes help us to better understand who God is and why God is. And as to why He created what He has created.

We are also told by the apostle Paul ──

“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no not one; 11) There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.’” – Romans 3:10-11.

Another quote that comes to my mind is from a book entitled The Help ── “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” To me, it emphasizes the importance of encouragement from parents to their children in helping shape their character.

YOU ARE IMPORTANT!

YOU MATTER TO THE LORD GOD!

THE LORD GOD WANTS THE VERY BEST FOR YOU – PERSONALLY! And, the LORD GOD DOES HAVE A PLAN FOR YOU – PERSONALLY!

Something that I want us, brethren, to especially think about is that our tests, trials, and tribulations happen because the LORD God loves us immensely ──

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; 12) For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.” – Proverbs 3:11-12.

Notice also the apostle Paul speaks of this ──

“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6) For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.’

7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9) Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

10) For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11) Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:5-11.

Yes. As I wrote last January, “I’ve been praying to the LORD God now for a little over a year for the removal of an evil and vile person from my family’s life. “Why?” I ask Father God and our Lord Jesus, “Have You not removed this vile man from our lives?” The answer that I finally received was not the answer I wanted.

Yes. Sometimes we have to endure long and arduous matters to help us in developing love.

Notice what the apostle Peter wrote ── here speaking that we may be partakers of the divine nature ──

“But also for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith VIRTUE, to virtue KNOWLEDGE, 6) to knowledge SELF-CONTROL, to self-control PERSEVERANCE, to perseverance GODLINESS, 7) to godliness BROTHERLY KINDNESS, and to brotherly kindness LOVE. 8) For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:5-8.

Perseverance is a sign of love.

“Love suffers long …” – 1 Corinthians 13:4.

While we may be enduring trials, tribulations, and tests, let us consider the following ──

“Delight yourself also in the LORD, … 7) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; … 9) For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.” – Psalm 37:4, 7, 9.

Yes, brethren, we will be rewarded for our perseverance.

Our perseverance in waiting patiently towards the LORD God, but also our fellow man.

Patience and Compassion

It’s not just the LORD God we are to love. We are also to love our fellow man ──

“ … ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ 29) Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30) And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31) And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’” – Mark 12:28, 29-31.

Interestingly, the scribe answered Him ──

“ … ‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33) And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’

34) Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’” – Mark 12:32, 33-34.

How do you love your neighbor ── even if your neighbor is “an evil and vile person”?

Brethren, we know that even that “evil and vile person” will be given the opportunity (the gift and blessing) from the LORD God ── someday ── to be a part of the glorious family of God.

With this firmly in our minds, we should be determined not to hurt, harm, or pronounce any curse on our neighbors. And we, of course, should never covet ANYTHING they might have. Our Lord Jesus Christ ── who truly gave His commandments to Israel, spiritually magnified His Law in the New Covenant.

As an example ── the Sixth Commandment, “’ You shall not murder.’” – Exodus 20:13.

Sadly, there was a time when I nursed my anger towards this “evil and vile person” I speak of. As spiritually magnified by our Elder Brother, Master, and Savior, this commandment not only means that we are not allowed to physically murder but we also are forbidden to hate our brother. Notice ──

“’ You have learned that our forefathers were told, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who commits murder must be brought to judgment.’ But what I tell you is this: Anyone WHO NURSES ANGER against his brother must be brought to judgment. …’” – Matthew 5:21, 22, NEB.

We are to express love toward our neighbors – cf. Matthew 5:43-48. We must always keep in mind that our neighbors will also ── in due time ── have the potential in the LORD God’s Master Plan.

Another example ── the Seventh Commandment, “’ You shall not commit adultery.’” – Exodus 20:15.

Again, not only are we commanded not to commit physical adultery, but spiritual adultery as well ── the lusting and worship of false gods. Our Lord Jesus also speaks of this ──

“’ You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28) But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.’” – Matthew 5:27-28.

Think of this ── how can one lust after their neighbor, when the LORD God will prepare them ── someday ── for the glorious family of God?

The Ten Commandments, spiritually magnified by our Lord Jesus Christ, can be divided into two groups of commandments ── love for God, and love for neighbor.

EVERY HUMAN BEING ── whether they be Jewish, Palestinian, Ukrainian, Russian, Yemenis, or Egyptian ── are our neighbors! Keeping and obeying the Commandments of God hinges on always remembering that every human being will one day have the glorious opportunity to be a member of the family of God!

Our neighbors ── even the one that might have cursed you, or hates you, or who has spitefully used you and tried to assassinate your good character ── were also created in the LORD God’s image, according to the LORD God’s likeness, and they too can become God – cf. Psalm 82:6; John 10:34.

Are you beginning to see and hear what the Spirit has to say concerning the IMPORTANCE that the LORD God places on our relationships between all human beings (the “good, bad, and the ugly”) created in the image and likeness of the LORD God? This should come front and center to our minds in how our Lord Jesus Christ dealt with His “enemies” ── the very ones that tried to repeatedly stone Him, and those that would eventually murder Him. He knew their potential upon their repentance. This too must be the underlying premise upon which we base our every thought and deed toward our neighbors. Our Lord Jesus teaches us, “’ And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.’” – Luke 6:31.

Returning again to 1st Corinthians chapter 13, the apostle Paul writes ──

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not [easily] provoked, thinks no evil; 6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7) bears all things, believes all things [that are truthful], hopes all things, endures all things.

8) Love never fails …

13) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13.

The apostle our Lord Jesus loved also spoke of love ──

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

And we, in this 21st-century world, cannot help but think of the vicious, vile, and evil Houthis, Hamas, al-Qaeda, ISIS, Hezbollah, the IRGC, and even the Tren de Aragua ── who have no love, therefore DOES NOT KNOW GOD!

9) In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [the Atonement] for our sins. 11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12) … If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13) By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. …

20) If someone says, ‘ انا احب لله !,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21) And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” – 1 John 4:7-11, 12, 20-21. □

Rejoice in Thanksgiving to God!

by Leonard V Johnson

There’s a beautiful hymnal song that comes to mind this year! It’s called “Give Thanks and Offer Praise!” It’s in our hymnal on page 41. It’s based upon Psalm 50──

“The Mighty One, God the LORD, Has spoken and called the earth From the rising sun to its going down.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth.

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.

He shall call to the heavens above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people:

‘Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’

Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge.

Selah

‘Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am, God, your God!

I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me.

I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds.

For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.

‘If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.

Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?

Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.’

But to the wicked God says: ‘What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant [even now the New Covenant] in your mouth,

Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?

When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers [even spiritual adultery; the worship of false gods and goddesses].

You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit.

You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s

son.

These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was

altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before

your eyes.

‘Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And

there be none to deliver:

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct

aright I will show the salvation of God.’

                                                                  ──Psalm 50:1-23.

O’ let us indeed praise always our LORD God – the family of God, which at this present time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! And, certainly, those of us who do rightly understand God’s Master Plan – From the Beginning, should be THANKFUL for God the Father calling us out of this present evil age! We are reminded to always offer thanksgiving and praise to the LORD God here in the Book of Psalms, as well as the inspired words of the apostle Paul ──

“Rejoice always, 17) pray without ceasing, 18) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 2 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Our Lord’s living words ── the Holy Bible ── is full of admonitions to give glory, praise, and THANKSGIVING to the LORD God! Here are a few glorious passages ──

“Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.” – Psalm 30:4.

“I will praise the name of God with a song, And I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” – Psalm 69:30.

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3) For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods.” – Psalm 95:2-3.

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5) For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” – Psalm 100:4-5.

It is the LORD God’s will that you praise God! And, it is good that you praise and thank His holy name ──

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 2) To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night.” – Psalm 92:1-2.

Notice this from the apostle Paul – again, inspired by the Mighty One, God the LORD ──

“To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3) I THANK MY GOD upon every remembrance of you, 4) always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” – Philippians 1:1, 2-3.

And I ──THANK THE LORD GOD every morning for Their lovingkindness and mercy, and every evening for Their faithfulness and forgiveness!

Let us always and forever give thanks and praise to the Mighty One, God Most High!

We have a sermon on our YouTube channel entitled “The Love of God.”

Truly, God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). The loving Master Plan ── From the Beginning will come to fruition! □

Inches Away From Destruction

This chilling graphic illustrates how close we came. 100% divine intervention. (End Wokeness/X)

THIS MORNING I saw Minister Guy LaMar's share of this graphic illustration. And it should remind all of us of just HOW CLOSE WE ALL CAME TO THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR NATION! 

Let us consider this from the Deccan Harold ─

'One inch from a potential civil war' ─ near miss in Trump shooting is also a close call for American Democracy

(‘One inch from a potential civil war’ – near miss in Trump shooting is also a close call for American democracy (deccanherald.com)

Also, let us notice this from the OTHER SIDE of the political aisle last year ─

The Threat of Civil Breakdown Is Real 

(The Threat of Civil Breakdown Is Real - POLITICO)

To "the dangers of Trump"!? It's that type of DANGEROUS rhetoric that aided such a MONSTEROUS psychopath (and I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Crooks, but your son was a possessed psychopath!) to commit what he believed in his mind to be "justice." What about the Demoncrats spouting that Trump is an "existential threat"!? Or, this one straight from the horse's mouth, "It's time to put Trump in a Bull's-Eye"!! Truly, the worst I have heard President Donald Trump say that was negative about O'Biden is "He's the worst president in American history!"

I don't know how the Demoncrats define "Bull's-Eye," but any reputable dictionary has it as "the center of a target. A shot that hits the center of a target"! 

So, both the Leftists (with their Communist and Marxist ideologies) and the Conservative Right (who, by the way, I watched parts of the 2024 RNC, and I heard a lot of talk about God, Peace, and Unity!) are concerned about a soon-coming civil war within the United States of America!

Our Lord and Savior says ─ and let me add here, and let us NEVER FORGET that our Lord Jesus is a Savior! Let us all give the honor and credit that our Lord Jesus Christ deserves and say and write His glorious, powerful, and holy name ─ Jesus the Christ! JESUS IS SAVIOR! It greatly saddens me when so-called professing Christians only say or write "Jesus." There is a great difference ─ the original disciples never addressed Him directly by the name "Jesus" alone. Even the disciple who was closest to Him, the Apostle John did not just call Him "Jesus." See: John 13:25 ─ "Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to Him, 'Lord [which means Master], who is it?'" The Apostle Peter also addressed Him as "Lord" ─ John 21:15-17. Many people may think this is insignificant and has no meaning. But I believe it has great significance in proper respect for our Lord Jesus Christ - our Savior!

Beginning with verse 3 of the Book of Matthew 24 ─

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things be? ..."

Our Lord Jesus had just been walking with them around the Temple and its adjacent buildings there in Jerusalem, and had said to them, "'Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.'" Speaking of the utter destruction of the Temple and the surrounding buildings ─ which did occur in A.D. 70! And, think of this ─ it was only 9 years before the utter destruction of the city of Pompeii.

And then, another question from the disciples - surely because they initially thought that the utter destruction of the Temple would bring His return!

" ... And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

"And Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you. 5) For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' ...'" - in other words, many would come throughout this present evil age proclaiming rightly that Jesus is the Christ ─ the Messiah. But, these many will...

" ... 'deceive many.'"

Sadly, even the deception of masking Right-Wing political rantings with Christianity!

And continuing, our Lord Jesus says ─

" 6) 'And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.'"

The first century A.D. saw several significant wars and conflicts. Here are a few notable ones:

● 58 AD - 63 AD - the Roman-Parthian War

● 66 AD - 73 AD - the First Jewish-Roman War

● 69 AD - 70 AD - the Revolt of the Batavi

And, throughout these nearly two thousand years we've seen a great many wars and heard of a great many rumors of wars! And, just in my lifetime - here are a few notable ones:

● 1969 AD - ongoing - the Communist rebellion in the Philippines

● 1972 AD - 1972 AD - the Invasion of Uganda

● 1973 AD - 1973 AD - the Yom Kippur War

● 1974 AD - 1991 AD - the Ethiopian Civil War

● 1980 AD - 1988 AD - the Iran-Iraq War

● 1990 AD - 1991 AD - the Gulf War

● 1991 AD - ongoing - the Somali Civil War

● 1992 AD - 1996 AD - the Afghan Civil War

● 2001 AD - 2021 AD - the War on Terror (ongoing)

● 2003 AD - 2011 AD - the Iraq War

● 2023 AD - ongoing - the Israel-Hamas War

● 2024 AD - ongoing - the Iran-Pakistan Border Skirmishes

And continuing, our Lord Jesus says ─

" 7) 'For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ...'" 

We believe this to be a reference to the prophesied end-time final king of the North and the final king of the South spoken of by the Prophet Daniel - cf. Daniel 11:40. A final United States of Europe and a final Islamic Confederation of States. (Be sure to read our free online booklet Prophecy Series - The Last Crusade).

" ... 'And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.'"

And then our Lord Jesus pivots in verse 9.

We do believe that this generation ─ this present evil age ─ is in the 'beginning of sorrows,' and we are witnessing throughout the world the love of a great many becoming colder because of lawlessness abounding!

The United States of America is no longer UNITED! And, I'm not just speaking politically. But more so morally and ethically. This nation (as a whole) has been worshiping politics. And, as it was during the Roman Empire, with the emperors insisting that they be worshiped as gods ── many of our great presidential leaders are being "worshiped." You may very well disagree with me - as is your God-given right - but I saw the faces, the reactions, to Barack Obama in 2007 - 2008 ── the hysteria, the crying, the overwhelming adoration. Even some called him "Savior." (Note: Jamie Foxx calls Barack Obama 'Our Lord and Savior'). Oprah Winfery refered to him as "the One." And as I saw President Trump walk out onto the stage of the 2024 RNC ── and as proud as I am of Conservative Americans, and overwhelmingly thankful to the LORD God for his safety ── I witnessed several with that same hysteria and adoration ── looking upon him as a "Messiah-like."

He is far from our Lord and Savior! Of course, those who are loudly screaming this are Leftists. Such as NPR - (A Video making the rounds online depicts Trump as a Messiah-like figure). I do believe, however, that the hand of the LORD Almighty saved President Donald Trump!!

Now had President Donald Trump actually been killed, and as the photo at the top of the page indicates - it was very close, a great many Conservative Americans would certainly be convinced that this was an international move of the 'deep state' to eliminate President Donald Trump. However, President Donald Trump did survive  ── thank Almighty God ── and those concerns are still there!

Note: U.S. Detected Potential Iranian Plot to Kill Trump 

Again, our Lord Jesus has WARNED us ─

" ... 'Every kingdom divided against itself is bought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.'" - Matthew 12:25; see also Mark 3:24-25; Luke 11:17.

Notice that our Lord Jesus Christ inspired this phrase to be written THREE TIMES! He speaks it multiple times for great emphasis! DIVISION is a very big deal.

Sadly, the utter destruction of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and her Commonwealth Nations ─ the original and therefore earliest members, Australia, Canada, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, New Zealand, and South Africa respectfully ─ is coming as the LORD God's two-fold prophecy indicates ─

"Thus he [a final European Catholic leader of a United States of Europe, a figure type of Antiochus IV Epiphanes] shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god [the worship of militaristic advancements], which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule many, and divide the land for gain." - Daniel 11:39.

Instead of division ─ national repentance is what is needed!

Again, our Lord and Savior Jesus ─

" ... 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38) This is the FIRST AND GREAT Commandment [the first FOUR of the Ten Commandments]. 39) And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' [the last SIX of the Ten Commandments] 40) On these two commandments hand all the Law and the Prophets.'" - Matthew 22:37-40.

"' But I say to you WHO HEAR: Love your enemies, ...'"

And, nowhere has our Lord Jesus said that we should allow our enemies to run over us and abuse us! No! As President Donald Trump so boldly and bravely stated as he raised his fist in defiance - we are to "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" Fight with spiritual strength, fight with moral and ethical strength, and even if need be as a last resort, fight with military strength! Loving our enemies is more akin to maintaining compassion and empathy even in difficult circumstances.

" ... 'do good to those who hate you, 28) bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.'" - Luke 6:27 - 36. 

Sadly, instead of our nation (as a whole) having true godly love, there is growing a coldness ─ a hatred, a contempt for the LORD God and anyone who keeps the commandments of God and has the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Friends, terrible tribulations ── terrible troubles ── are prophesied to soon come to an unsuspecting nation. And yes, I saw a great many people praying at the beginning of  the 2024 RNC led by Connecticut businesswoman and former U.S. Senate candidate Leora Levy. Truly what I saw of religion so far at the 2024 RNC is religious pluralism ── as in an opening Sikh prayer. I don't know who she was praying to - but it wasn't to the LORD God (the family of God; which at this present time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ)! And it was inspiring and wonderful that she spoke of Corey Comperatore, she refrenced the Holy Bible, citing Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." She prayed for Jerusalem and for "all the children of Abraham." Which are all honorable and commendable, but ── the core beliefs and practices of Sikhism, articulated by it's founder, and Guru Granth Sahib ─ Sikh scripture, is that the god they worship is Ik Onkar - meaning Oneness. Though they of the religion of Sikh has a concept of God, they do NOT know the LORD God - God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

As an example alone ── in their Mul Mantar (literally translated as Prime Utterance) their first passage in the Guru Granth Sahib says ──

There is only one God, and It is called the truth. It exists in all creation, and It has no fear, It does not hate, and It is timeless, universal and self-existent! You will come to know it through the grace of the Guru.

Page 1.

Like the god of Islam, this is not the Creator of all things! And this is no god that we are to worship!

Friends, the 'time of Jacob's trouble' is soon coming! - cf. Jeremiah 30:7. It is a time also known as 'great tribulation' spoken of by our Lord Jesus Christ - the Son of God!

National repentance to the LORD God - and if you want to be extremely closed minded and call the LORD God ── "the Hebrew God" ── so be it. But national repentance to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the very Creator of all things, will be the only way to prevent this soon-coming destruction.

Very personal repentance, however, is also needed! Your personal future can still be much brighter with the light of Christ than those of your countrymen that refuse to repent and change. Not only is our Lord Jesus Christ the only One who is the source of eternal salvation. Our Lord Jesus also offers us physical protection in the here and now to those who love Him and are faithful to Him!

God Bless.

Think About This... Fluffy Fake Religion

This is exactly what the self-professing Christians are all about. They love their fluffy fake religion and claim it to be Christian, while in reality, it’s just a lie. They DENY the REAL JESUS of the Holy Bible by making Him into an effeminate hippie! They take away the LAW of the LORD God with this bull crap of riding on emotions. This idea of “If it feels good, it’s got to be Godly” garbage!

It’s funny to me, how our peoples THINK this – because TRUE CHRISTIANS, who actually keep the LORD God’s Law, are trying to work out our own salvation with reverent fear and trembling. How stupid!

They won’t listen. Instead, they decide to judge true Christians without truly seeing or hearing. They won’t listen with logical intellectual reasoning – partly due to their short attention span to anything that is logical or intelligent.

In truth – it is by our works that we are offered our reward in the glorious soon-coming kingdom of God.

The concept of “once saved, always saved” is a foolish bunch of unbiblical garbage. God’s living word tells us that a person who endures until the end – meaning that the person overcomes until their last conscious breath – will be saved. And, what are they overcoming!? Staying in the faith! And, what does that mean!? That means they are a DOER of the Way of the LORD God. A TRUE BELIEVER IN CHRIST! One who obeys Christ Jesus!

To obey is to do something.

And, what is a FOLLOWER OF CHRIST!?

One who follows our Lord Jesus’ example!

And, what is that!?

Living by His Way – which means following and obeying the LAW OF GOD!

It’s very frustrating at times that our peoples cannot see that the LORD God’s holy and relevant Law equals the Way of God. And the Way of God equals the love of God for us. And by obeying God’s Way is obeying His Law.

“’ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.’” – John 15:10.

“’ If you love Me, keep My commandments.’” – John 14:15.

Also, our peoples greatly misinterpret what grace means.

Grace is a gift. A free gift from the LORD God! It is offered to whom Father God chooses. It is not just given to anybody for anything. It’s those to whom Father God calls out of this world – its religions and evils – and dedicate themselves to the LORD God. The holy Family of God – which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. To dedicate a complete spiritual mindset to the LORD God – which is made with action. And to accept this free gift is to make a change to self.

Our peoples do not understand this. Sin is the breaking of the LORD God’s holy and immutable Law. God the Father has called us to repent.

“’ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day [upon the blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP!].’” – John 6:44.

Repent from what!?

Sin.

And, what is sin!?

Again, it’s the breaking of the LORD God’s Law – summed up with the TEN COMMANDMENTS!

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” – 1 John 3:4.

To repent means to change. Turn from sin and turn to the LORD God’s Way.

Change what!?

Change our whole life and the way in which we are living our life of sin.

So, if you begin obeying the LORD God – Their commandments, statutes, ordinances, and judgments – you are turning from sin.

The apostle James explains – through the inspiration of the Spirit – the development of sin –

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15) Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth [the second] death.” – James 1:14-15.

What made our Lord Jesus Christ perfect!? He kept the Law of God perfectly. He gave us an example to live by. To emulate.

But sadly, mankind and the modern religiosity of so-called Christianity came up with a plethora of different ideologies and philosophies on how to get away from obeying the LORD God. Thus those people are not called children of God in this present evil age. They are of a make-believe Christianity.

Our Savior, Master, Elder Brother, and great High Priest in the heavenly realms has told us – “’ Beware of false prophets [false ministers and teachers], who come to you in sheep’s clothing [they appear and sound righteous], but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16) You will know them [and their flocks] by their fruits. …’” – Matthew 7:15, 16.

You will know their very character by observing their ways. You will know what is truly within their heart. You will see what they truly stand for.

The LORD God’s Way is obeying – which equals obeying the LORD God’s Law.

Sadly, it was the religions of Judaism and this so-called Christianity (founded by the likes of Simon Magus, and later expounded upon by Emperor Constantine the Great) that added to the Law of God, and judges people by their laws. Yet, the LORD God’s Law is crystal clear.

The love of the LORD God is shown to mankind through the Law of God – again, summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS.

The person who obeys the Law of God is showing their love towards the LORD God – the very family of God! □

A Morning Bible Study - God's Love - True Christianity

Leonard V. Johnson     About

Let’s begin this Bible Study by quoting our Lord Jesus Christ –

“ … ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, And with all your mind.’ 38) This is the first and great commandment. 39) And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’” – Matthew 22:37-40.

Here our Lord Jesus Christ simplified God’s holy, eternal, and relevant Law – summed up with the TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came to Earth to teach us how to apply God’s holy Law of love so we could live a happy and abundant life! – “ … ‘I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly’” – John 10:10.

His glorious light shall direct us toward the Way that leads to true happiness, true peace, and true security.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments [which, for mankind, is the TEN COMMANDMENTS] are not burdensome” – 1 John 5:3.

This is a glorious truth that so few understand!

It’s vitally important that we properly understand the true intent and purpose of the LORD God’s holy and immutable Law. Let us allow His living word to show us that it is the very basis of true Christianity.

1) How does God’s living word define the very nature and character of the LORD God – the family of God?

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. GOD IS LOVE, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” – 1 John 4:16.

The primary characteristic of the LORD God is love. And it is the greatest attribute that is transmitted to us by the Spirit of God – 1 Corinthians 13:13. God’s Spirit living within us imparts to our spirit His very traits! And the first and most important fruit of God’s Spirit is love.

The LORD God’s very character can be summed up in the word─ love. Truly, the LORD God’s love is an outflowing concern, of giving, serving, helping, and sharing.

God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ live in complete harmony of love – even before They created angels, and even before They created physical matter. Their love─ which is the Greek word agápē─ also regulates the conduct of all angels toward one another and toward their Creator.

2) What is God’s definition of sin?

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” - 1 John 3:4.

Lawlessness against the Government of God!

Even upon the very creation of angels the LORD God’s Law was in effect! –

“Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word” – Psalm 103:20, KJV.

Angels obey the living word of the LORD God! Again, the LORD God’s Law── the basis of the Government of God── is love. The Law of God’s Government is THE WAY OF LIFE that causes and produces peace, happiness, prosperity, and well-being. Sin is the way of life that has caused all existing evils.

Does His word clearly tell us that one of the LORD God’s anointed cherubs sinned?

Yes─ we find this in Ezekiel chapter 28.

The LORD God created the angels first, for they shouted for joy when God laid the foundations of the Earth (Job 38:4-7). The LORD God created three archangels – Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer (Luke 1:19; Jude 1:9; Dan. 10:13; 12:1; Rev. 12:7).

Note: Within God’s holy immutable COMPLETE living word─ no other archangels are mentioned. Ancient apocryphal literature (which is not part of the inspired living word of the Eternal One) contains several other names of archangels.

These archangels had special positions at God’s throne in the Third Heaven (Ezek. 28:14, 16).

Lucifer (Hêlēl (in Hebrew #1966), Lucifer in Latin) was eventually assigned to oversee the Earth, to prepare it for the arrival of mankind. A position he later came to resent.

Again, Note: Lucifer, later named Satan the Devil, did not want to continue in the beautification of the earth – preparing it for the age of man. And as I have said before - we learn from God’s living word that angels were never meant to rule the earth or the universe – “the world to come” cf. Hebrews 1:5; 2:5 and see also 1st Corinthians 6:3. He became filled with pride and jealousy – cf. Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28.

Referring to the spirit power behind Tyrus, a wicked Phoenician king, the prophet Ezekiel writes:

“ … ‘You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13) You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.’

“ ’You [Lucifer, not King Tyrus] were the anointed cherub who covers [God’s throne]; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones [in Heaven]. 15) You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity [sin] was found in you’” – Ezekiel 28:12-15.

Sin is the violation of the LORD God’s holy and immutable Law of love.

God’s living word reveals to us that Lucifer became the very first sinner. Vanity, lust, and greed were found in him. He became jealous over the prospect that humans would eventually have the opportunity to become a God! – a very member of the family of God!

Jesus Christ in John 10:30-38 – a wonderful little scene there where He’s confronting some of the local religious folks. And He quotes from the Book of Psalms, and He even says, “’ You are Gods [‘ᵉlōhîm].’” Even in the Old Testament! Psalm 82:6 – this truth is right there in black and white! But for most people in this world, it just passes them by. They have no idea what their future is. You know, in Romans 8 – you read through there – you hear phrases like, “sons of God,” and “the Spirit of sonship,” and “children of God.” You can go through Galatians 3 and hear, “children of God … heirs according to the promise.” There are many more such Scriptures – also Hebrews 2:9-11 – talking about Jesus Christ and saying, “bringing many sons into glory.” And, 1 John 3:1-2 – the people of the world do not understand what you are about to read – but many of you reading this have heard it before, and you do understand it! I just hope that we always deeply appreciate it! “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed 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 will be like the resurrected Jesus Christ!

Lucifer became jealous and envious of the Word (now known as our Lord Jesus Christ) and attempted to take control of the universe. The prophet Isaiah adds that Lucifer, in his vanity, said, “’ I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God’” – this shows that Lucifer had a dominion, a responsibility, on earth – “’ above the stars of God [angels, Rev. 1:20]; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north [the location in the upper heavenly realms of God’s throne]. 14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High [speaking here of God the Father]” – Isaiah 14:13-14.

Lucifer apparently attempted to exalt himself above God – to take control of Heaven.

As the Book of Revelation brings out, this resulted in a war in Heaven in which Lucifer – now called the Enemy, or Satan – and his angels (now demons) were cast out: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8) but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9) So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” – Revelation 12:7-9.

3) Are all TEN of the LORD God’s Law, for mankind, listed conveniently in the living word of God?

Yes─ we find them listed for us in the Books of Exodus and Deuteronomy.

“ ‘I AM the LORD your God, … 1 You shall have no other gods before Me. 2 You shall not make for yourself a carved image─ any likeness of anything … 3 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, … 4 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. … 5 Honor your father and your mother, … 6 You shall not murder. 7 You shall not commit adultery. 8 You shall not steal. 9 You shall not bear false witness … 10 You shall not covet …’” – Exodus 20:2, 3-4, 7, 8, 12, 13-15, 16, 17.

How do we know that there are exactly TEN!?

“So he [the prophet Moses] was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the TEN COMMANDMENTS” – Exodus 34:28.

His Law which existed long before Moses – the Law which tells us what is wrong and what is right – for the apostle Paul writes, “ … I would not have known sin except through the Law. …” – Romans 7:7.

4) Did our Lord Jesus Christ come to do away with God’s Law!?

No, of course not! Our Lord and Savior made a statement that even to this day the greater majority of our peoples do not understand! – or they refuse to accept as TRUTH!

“’ Do not think …’” – in other words, ‘DO NOT THINK THIS!’ “ … ‘that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets [meaning, the first five Books of the Bible, including the Books of the prophets]. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill’” – Matthew 5:17.

And, sadly, I have personally heard many a minister say that the word ‘fulfill’ means that He did it all for us and that we don’t have to do it at all. The word ‘fulfill’ actually is plēroō in Greek, meaning “to do them.” Because someone had to completely do Almighty God’s Law perfectly. And He certainly did. They had to be obeyed perfectly.

Verse 18 – “’ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away [a reference to Matthew 24:35 and Revelation 21:1], one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled.’” - Jesus elevated God’s Law to A SPIRITUAL PLANE UNDER THE NEW COVENANT.

So, by all except our Lord Jesus─ there was a spiritual inability. A spiritual lack, – that prevented God’s holy commandments to be kept perfectly. But brethren, we shouldn’t have that lack; we should have the Spirit of God in our minds and in connection with our spirit. God’s Law is spiritual. And CHRIST IN US we can truly keep and OBEY His Law in their spiritual intent.

5) What about the living Church of God!? ─ the very Church our Lord Jesus built. Does God’s living word show us that the Church would be teaching and obeying the TEN COMMANDMENTS along with other instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ!?

Friends, this glorious message of the gospel of the kingdom of God is going out to the Gentile nations, WARNING them. Yet, we don’t expect them – the majority – to receive this message gracefully. Surely, Moslems will not accept God’s glorious message. And, if one does – it’s extremely rare and a truly glorious blessing from our heavenly Father!

Indeed, our Lord Jesus has commissioned:

“’ Go therefore and make disciples [which includes teaching] of ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20) TEACHING THEM to observe all things that I have commanded you; …’” – Matthew 28:19-20.

The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches follow the admonition of Jesus when He said, “’ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” – Matthew 10:6, and of course to the potential sheep of Christ. Our mission is to teach the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God to the ‘lost sheep of Israel’ and to testify of Jesus Christ, of His forgiveness, of His atoning sacrifice, of the opportunity for all of us to have Jesus Christ as our great High Priest and to live under the promises of the New Covenant, and to someday be a part of the glorious Kingdom of God!

Now we believe that phrase, ‘lost sheep,’ has a much deeper, spiritual, and heightened meaning. Our Lord Jesus might very well have said, ‘Go to the lost Church members.’ ‘Go to those people who thought they were in a good organization, they didn’t realize their leaders were corrupt and their doctrines were impure – or highly compromised.’ ‘Go to those lost sheep!’ I think it has a double meaning! And, I personally have tried showing some people who think that they are in a good organization. Yet, sadly, their leader's true spirit is not of God. In fact, those same leaders were going to deliver me up before their council and “scourge” me in their church. It can be humbling at times the feeling of loneliness in the faith – but if one mustard seed will take root, then I have done my job.

The LORD God’s living Church today echoes the word of King David and follows God’s Law of love.

6) If we, brethren, receive, renew daily in our mind (Rom. 12:2), and exercise God’s Spirit, will the love of God enable us to ‘fulfill’─ to obey─ God’s holy and immutable Law!?

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit [which] was given to us” – Romans 5:5.

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the Law. … 10) Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law” – Romans 13:8-10.

7) 7) Is it possible to “earn” eternal salvation!?

No!

Our Lord Jesus Christ says, “ … ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, …’” – what!? “ … ‘deny himself, …’”

There was “a certain ruler [a Jew] asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” And, to point out that the commandments He speaks of are God’s and not the Sanhedrin’s, He quotes some – “ … ‘You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” The certain ruler says, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” And, surely, with 603 additional ones.

“So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell [which certainly also means "deny"] all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’” – Luke 18:18-22.

Have you denied thyself!? Have you – as Abraham did – left your ‘father’s house’!? Have you taken up your cross!? And it will be a cross if you truly follow Jesus Christ!

Now I tell you – with all the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ – this world’s “Traditional Christianity” is NOT teaching you to follow Jesus Christ today! As an example: Our Lord Jesus Christ DID NOT keep any Christmas, Easter, or even any New Year’s Eve! “O’,” you exclaim, “we want to follow the traditions of the world!” Those all originated from paganism. And, I tell you this day the majority of those calling themselves “Christian” don’t follow Him! They don’t observe the customs He did. And, they would be aghast to keep the seventh-day Sabbath along with the commanded annual feasts of the LORD – calling them ‘Jewish holidays.’

Our Lord Jesus Christ says, “ …’ follow Me!’” So, why don’t you look into your own life and then see what He did – and follow Him! Now, many think, preach, and teach that one shouldn’t teach what the apostle Paul taught. Now, let it be known – I have come across in my research a great many churches of this world downright rejecting the apostle Paul.

Friends, wake up and see the truth! And I know that will bring a lot of persecution of course. People are so prejudiced about what God’s living word actually teaches. And I ask you – is it not clear that there are, even today, two groups!?

What I mean by “groups” is that essentially, there were the true Christians – that had a direct connection to the apostles John and Philip within Asia Minor, and then there were others who were associated with the Greco-Roman confederation of churches that began to emerge even in the first century in Alexandria, Jerusalem, and in Rome.

To follow our Lord Jesus Christ in faith means to obey His commands!

However, we cannot “earn” salvation by keeping His commandments. Salvation unto eternal life is a free gift─

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 6:23.

“The wages of sin is death”! Ask yourself, “Do I agree with that!?” Do you agree with Jesus Christ!? Because, after all, He is the LIVING word of God. And, the Bible is the very same word of God in print. It’s the same word – there is no difference.

So, the wages of sin – wages being something you receive, or what you get for what you’ve done. What you have earned by what you have performed. Capiche? And if sin is what you’ve done, then God’s word says, death. But, according to all those comments on my Facebook news feed the wages of sin is eternal life, not death. It is eternal life in heaven or eternal life in hell. But have you read the rest of this verse!?

‘the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’!

Ask yourself again, “Do I agree with this!?” Do you believe that you have an immortal soul? Because if you do, then you don’t agree with God. Well, sadly, not very many people agree with God – not very many people do. Have I planted a seed in your heart and mind!? Or just completely turned you off!?

Eternal life is clearly a gift from Almighty God─ it is not something you can earn by only keeping the holy and immutable Law of God. Yet, no one will enter into the kingdom of God as a sinner. Again─

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” - 1 John 3:4.

Following and obeying the LORD God─ His law of love─ enables one to become more like God, until finally BORN AGAIN into the Spirit family at the resurrection, then possessing in full measure God’s holy, righteous, loving character – 1 John 3:9. □

Scriptural Index

Old Testament - Exodus 20:2, 3-4, 7, 8, 12, 13-15, 16, 17; 34:28; Job 38:4-7; Psalm 82:6; 103:20; Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:12-15, 16; Daniel 10:13.

New Testament - Matthew 5:17, 18; 10:6; 22:37-40; 24:35; 28:19-20; Luke 1:19; 18:18-22; John 10:10, 30-38; Romans 5:5; 6:23; 7:7; 8:14-16; 12:2; 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13; 13:13; Galatians 3:26-29; Hebrews 1:5; 2:5; 1 John 3:1-2, 9; 4:16; 5:3; Revelation 1:20; 12:7-9; 21:1. 

Personal From... 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice'

Leonard V Johnson    About

You can also listen to this article. Just click the orange play button below.

COJCOM · Personal - 'I Desire Mercy Not Sacrifice' - Audio Article

GOOD Morning Everyone! I’m coming to you again from our office here in Spring Hill, Florida, and I welcome all of our friends from around the world. Our friends in Burbank, California; Charleston, West Virginia; Manito, Illinois; Austin, Texas; over in Ireland, Surrey British Columbia; and Beijing China. Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries.

It's been a little while since I last wrote a Personal. In this Personal, I would like to talk about mercy. God will not extend mercy to those who have not extended mercy to others. If you cannot have compassion upon your fellow man, God will not have compassion upon you. This is a consistent theme of God’s living word – the Holy Bible. Over and over, the Words of Jesus Christ! The words of the Apostle Paul.

Now, an unconverted friend of mine has told me before – “I would read your articles, but they’re just too long.” Well, I apologize in advance this one will be a rather lengthy Personal.

In prayer to Father God and our Lord Jesus not long ago, I asked Them, “What should I do!?” A question in regard as to whether my wife and I should allow a very dear friend – a friend who is soon to need dialysis – to move in with us at our home for a few months while she gets back up on her feet after her landlord sold the house she was renting. And as I was there on my knees in reverence to the very Creator of all life – a single thought came to my mind. Love.

Let us recall our Lord Jesus’ words – “ … ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35) for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36) I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’” – Matthew 25:34-36.

And today our Lord Jesus Christ’s words ring loud in my mind – “’ I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’” – Matthew 9:13.

Do you know what He meant!?

It’s IMPORTANT to know!

A Record Of Each Person

Now, we’ve spoken quite a lot concerning the spirit in man – cf. Job 32:8. In our article “Do Animals Have A Spirit?” which I typed up just after the death of Mocha our tortoise-colored cat – a loving and devoted companion we had for roughly fifteen years – we devoted a whole subheading – There Is A Spirit Within Man.

This spirit in man is a spiritual record. And God placed this spirit within man for an awesome purpose. In fact, I was recently speaking about this very subject not long ago to our friend here. I spoke about the different unique characteristics that human beings have that animals do not –

● Humor – there is no other creature that is able to appreciate, create, and express humor.

● The appreciation of beauty.

● Self-consciousness – being aware of oneself. Beyond a simple recognition (as in the Mirror Test).

● The Awareness of death.

● Understanding time.

● The Complexity of language.

● Asking about the MEANING of life.

● The lack of harmony with nature.

● Free Moral Agency.

● Capacity for wisdom.

● A Desire to worship.

Truly this spirit within us provides some of the imagination and even some of the desires of God. It provides God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ with a record of our attitudes, our personality, our knowledge, and our very character – all that makes us who we are.

Now, we are very much aware of death and decay aren’t we – certainly from nothing more than the law of decay. Notice this in the Book of Romans chapter 8 –

“For the earnest expectation of the creation [meaning, ‘all created things’ including the whole universe] eagerly waits for the revealing of the [children] of God. 20) For the creation [the physical matter of the universe] was subjected to futility [meaning, vanity], not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption [its bondage to the law of decay] …” – Romans 8:19-26.

Why would God – the great Elohim, the family of God – want a record!?

Well, the answer is that God in His MASTER PLAN is going to resurrect us exactly according to the pattern of what we will have become in this life. Same personality, same attitudes, same character. The element which will survive our physical life is our very CHARACTER.

Just what is being recorded!? And just what is being recorded in your case!?

IMPORTANT questions aren’t they? Sadly, the greater majority of this present evil age so-called Christians will find themselves fulfilling a prophecy that our Lord Jesus Christ speaks of in Matthew 7:21-23 –

“’ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom [from] heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

So, notice that there were to be two groups calling Jesus ‘Lord.’ One group does the will of God the Father in heaven and the other which practices lawlessness. Our Lord Jesus is speaking of those who are identifying with Him, calling Him ‘Lord’ and ‘Master’ just like we do. So, they know that He is the Messiah! Yet, He says that He doesn’t know them. He is looking for something within them that He cannot find.

Friends, we remember and keep the weekly holy Sabbath. We keep God’s TEN COMMANDMENTS. We keep and proclaim annually the LORD God’s FEASTS. Yet, none of this proves that we are going to make it into His divine kingdom.

We are ordained servants of God, we give God-inspired Messages, we anoint the sick and witness them healed by God, and we even cast out demons! But even these things are not proof that we will make it into His divine kingdom.

Even Satan the devil’s ministers who transform themselves “into ministers of righteousness” ‘prophesy in His name, cast out demons in His name, and has done wonders in His name.’ They too have done all these things that most everyone would stamp as an approval as being – not only from God – but proof that they are going to make it into God’s kingdom.

Oh my! They have done great work – certainly! They’ve preached entertaining and inspiring sermons haven’t they!? Well, didn’t the apostles do the same – even before they officially received God’s Spirit!? – Acts 2:1-4. Didn’t Judas Iscariot!? Yes! And so did many others at that time, as they continue to do today – cf. Acts 19:13-16; Matthew 12:27.

Let’s understand something right here – your physical works are not what ensures you receive eternal life in the kingdom of God!

Recall what I addressed in our latest A Morning Bible Study –

“’ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom [from] heaven. … Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the EARTH. … Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. … Blessed ARE THE MERCIFUL.’”

Friends, these are all attitudes of mind – of character. And it is these qualities of character that are REQUIRED in an eternal BORN child of God the Father!

It’s IMPORTANT that we keep this in mind always.

What Must We Do!?

I’ve spoken of this story several times now - I was asked once by my sister-in-law why I didn’t believe in the “rapture.” And I began to slowly explain what God’s living word truly says and does not say concerning a “rapture” – along with the truth about death and what happens after death. She identifies herself as being a Baptist – she’s been baptized. But I proceeded to briefly explain what she needed to do to inherit eternal life. And I began with the very answer our Lord Jesus Christ gives us all – “’ You know the commandments.’” And even though she is being taught by her church that she is NOT required to keep God’s commandments – she certainly knows them. Nearly everyone here in the United States of America has heard of God’s Ten Commandments. I recall when I was in elementary school His commandments were on a bulletin pinned to a wall in my classroom.

“’ You know the commandments.’” – Mark 10:19.

The LORD God says to us – “’ Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and ALWAYS keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children FOREVER!’” – Deuteronomy 5:29.

How did the original New Testament Church view and understand the Law of God?

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” – Romans 7:12.

The Apostle John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” – 1 John 5:3.

And truly, our Lord Jesus Christ – which most will not quote – summed it up by saying, “ … ‘if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments’” – Matthew 19:17.

Jesus Christ and the apostles did not dismiss God’s Law. However, Counterfeit Christianity took this drastic step in the first century A.D. And the churches of this Counterfeit Christianity have blindly followed ever since!

Sadly, they blindly teach that the Old Covenant was the Ten Commandments. They maintain that Christ came to establish only grace and promises – liberty to do whatever one pleases. Law is not included in their doctrinal booklets. In their minds, these creative religionists have cleverly devised a way to “do whatever one desires” and have a clear conscience. They do not teach of Newton’s Third Law - 'every action has an equal and opposite reaction'. They blindly state, “Grace alone ‘saves’ men. And the “burden” of commandment-keeping is no longer necessary.’

Well, this satanic teaching leads one to believe that the Law of God is cruel and burdensome. They proclaim that the fault of the Old Covenant was with the Law. Read what Jesus Christ Himself says to those who follow these false understandings –

“ … ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7) And in vain they worship Me Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8) For LAYING ASIDE THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, you hold the tradition of men …’” – Mark 7:6-8.

Notice the WARNING that God inspired in the Book of Jude –

“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certainly men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness [even lasciviousness, feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire] and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” – Jude 1:3-4.

Truly, even before the ink was dry on the New Testament, ungodly men had crept into the Church of God unnoticed in an attempt to corrupt her by turning grace into LASCIVIOUSNESS! Just as the temples of Rome were.

Truly, in essence, this meant license to do what seems right in one’s own eyes, according to one’s own conscience.

The universal message from nearly every pulpit falsely tells people that Jesus Christ abolished, or “fulfilled,” His Father’s law – but your Bible says otherwise!

The Apostle Paul – under the inspiration of God’s Spirit writes – over in 1st Corinthians the 10th chapter –

Verse 1 – “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers [in other words, the children of Israel] … 3) all ate the same spiritual food, 4) and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” – showing us that Jesus Christ was indeed there!

In the Book of Matthew the 5th chapter –

Our Lord and Savior made a statement which even to this day the greater majority of our peoples do not understand!

Verse 17 – “’ Do not think …’” – in other words, ‘DO NOT THINK THIS!’ “ … ‘that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets [meaning, the first five Books of the Bible, including the Books of the prophets]. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.’”

And, sadly, I have personally heard many a minister say that the word ‘fulfill’ means that He did it all for us and that we don’t have to do it at all. That word ‘fulfill’ actually is plēroō in Greek, meaning “to do them.” Because someone had to completely do Almighty God’s Law perfectly. And He certainly did. They had to be obeyed perfectly.

Verse 18 – “’ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away [a reference to Matthew 24:35 and Revelation 21:1], one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled.’” - Jesus elevated God’s Law to A SPIRITUAL PLANE.

So, by all but our Lord Jesus, there was a spiritual inability – a spiritual lack, – that prevented God’s holy commandments to be kept perfectly. But brethren, we shouldn’t have that lack; we should have the Spirit of God in our minds and in connection with our spirit. God’s Law is spiritual. And CHRIST IN US we can truly keep and OBEY His Law in their spiritual intent.

The Attitude to Grow

Notice this question asked –

“With WHAT shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? 7) Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul [life]?” – Micah 6:6-7.

Is the LORD God going to be pleased with “burnt offerings” – meaning physical works!? Shall we find the approval of Him by our tithes and offerings!?

Here is the answer from God Himself! –

Verse 8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”

Friends, He is talking about “…’ the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.’” – Matthew 23:23-33.

He said, ‘You know, we’ve got these people that ‘strain out a gnat and swallow a camel’ - their tithing of all these little seeds. He said, ‘Yeah, you do that, but you forget the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith.’ I think about the fact that even today there are individuals who get hung up on weird little doctrines, and they forget the weightier matters of the law – judgment, mercy, and faith, to walk humbly with God.

Mercy is an essential component of our spiritual life and of our spiritual health. Deeply appreciate and respect the mercy that God has bestowed upon you! And in turn, when the opportunity opens itself, bestow mercy upon others!

Prophet Moses Understood

Moses will be in the kingdom of God – not because of anything physical he might have done, but because he “was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth. … ‘He is faithful in all My house’” – Numbers 12:3, 7.

And, as we teach – one of the great meanings of the Day of Atonement is humility – “to walk humbly with your God.”

The humble are going to ‘inherit the earth.’ – Matthew 5:5.

Now, if you would turn to 1st Peter, chapter 5 –

This is a Scripture that had a huge and profound influence on my life. And understanding these concepts has truly helped me to mature in my thinking and to gain much understanding.

Verse 5 – “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with HUMILITY, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’” – the apostle Peter is saying, ‘all of you be submissive to one another.’ It’s a cooperative enterprise. Everyone should be able to sit down at a table and – if their hearts and spirits are right – be able to offer information or suggest a change.

That’s the meaning of the Day of Atonement - internally speaking! To “be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, …”

Verse 6 – “Therefore HUMBLE yourselves under the mighty hand of God, …”– Humility.

What does that mean!? Does it mean joining a monastery and taking a vow of silence, walking around in a robe, and looking all pious!? Is this what God is talking about!?

No, humility is not what people can see – humility is what God sees. Truly becoming submissive to God, and His will, and the will of Jesus Christ.

Prophet Moses – under the instruction of Almighty God – began a theocracy - Exodus 18:13-27. To be factual – the government of ancient Israel had church and state combined – though it was physical, the administration of civil and religious statutes and ordinances was combined. The promises under the Old Covenant were material – cf. Leviticus 26:3-12. They were not converted, nor did they have God’s Holy Spirit, hence they could not understand spiritual things. They were like the majority of people today.

Moses was certainly merciful – cf. Numbers 12.

American journalist and attorney Shannon Bream writes, “In my head. I can hear – just like the ‘Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!’ complaint Jan lodges against her sister on The Brady Bunch – the two siblings sulking around: “Moses! Moses! Moses!” 1

Moses’ older sister, Prophetess Miriam, was struck with leprosy for criticizing his decision to marry an Ethiopian woman. Note: “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses BECAUSE OF THE ETHIOPIAN WOMAN WHOM HE HAD MARRIED.” – vs. 1. Most people don’t or won’t even mention this part – including Shannon Bream in her book The Women of the Bible Speak.

“’ Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’” –Miriam asks.

Would this have been your attitude!?

King David Understood

What did King David do – and he is deserving of that great title! – when he was cursed and had stones thrown at him!? Was there revenge!? Notice this –

“When King David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family #4940 of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out cursing #7043 continually as he came. 6) And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. … 10) But the king said, ‘What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses, and if the LORD has told him, ‘Curse David,’ then who shall say, ‘Why have you done #6213 so?’” 11) Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, ‘Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; #5315 how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told #559 him. 12) Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and return good #2896 to me instead of his cursing this day.’” – 2 Samuel 16:5-6, 10-12, NASB.

Would this have been your attitude!?

The Spirit of the Law

Just what is the Spirit of the Law!? Certainly, the Pharisees were strict keepers of the Law. Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ called them hypocrites because they completely missed the MOST IMPORTANT parts of God’s holy Law.

Our Lord Jesus says, “’ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin [Anise and cummin were used as spices for the flavoring of foods. This practice is still common today], and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: JUSTICE AND MERCY AND FAITH. …’” – Matthew 23:23.

So, indeed notice that the ‘weightier matters of the Law’ is good judgment, mercy, and faith!? All spiritual things!

This is why the Law – which is summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS is spiritual – “For we know that the Law [the Ten Commandments] is spiritual, …” – Romans 7:14.

In verse 1, the Apostle Paul begins by speaking of the Ten Commandments –

“Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the Law [the Ten Commandments]), that the Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?” – Romans 7:1.

But, as true Christians “my brethren, you also have become dead to the Law [meaning, we are no longer under the death penalty] through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another – to HIM WHO WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, … But now we have been delivered from the law [the Old Covenant], having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in THE NEWNESS OF THE SPIRIT [meaning, the New Covenant] and not in the oldness of the letter [the Old Covenant].” – Romans 7:4, 6.

Friends, one of the greatest things to God is mercy. Our Lord and Savior – the very Son of God – was willing to die for and at the hands of those deserving of death. Yet, in His most horrible moment, forsaken, mocked, scourged beyond recognition, spat upon, and called most vulgar names, He called out to Father God, “ ’Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’” – Luke 23:34.

Our LORD God – the very One who became Jesus Christ – was quoting His Prophet Hosea – “’ For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ ... For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’” – Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13.

The following is from my personal notes regarding this subject of forgiveness:

“Well, in prayer to Jesus Christ and God Almighty, the Spirit brought to mind, His words – “’ Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’” And I indeed agree that it is important to note that Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them,” does not mean that everyone was forgiven, unilaterally, without repentance and faith. It does mean that Jesus was willing to forgive them—forgiveness was, in fact, the reason He was on the cross. The words “Father, forgive them” show the merciful heart of God.

God’s Spirit has allowed me to see His words clearly – “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, even as God in Christ FORGAVE YOU” – Ephesians 4:31-32.

… forgiveness – on a human level – is an act of the will. Forgiveness is not granted because a person deserves to be forgiven. No one deserves to be forgiven. Forgiveness is a deliberate act of love, mercy, and grace. Forgiveness is a decision to not hold something against another person, despite what he or she has done to you.”

Have we learned what it means to have mercy!? □