Category: forgiveness

The “Our Father” Prayer in HD #5

Friday, November 22, 2013

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12 KJV).

Eliminating the static due to religious tradition, we present to you “the official prayer of Christendom” with unparalleled clarity….

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Like the second petition of verse 10, this fourth petition also utilizes a comparison. Once Jesus Christ concludes the “Our Father” Prayer, in verses 14 and 15, He elaborates on this principle of forgiveness: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Notice how God instructed Israel to pray in her prophetic program. They were to ask God for forgiveness so they could be forgiven. In other words, their forgiveness from God depended on whether or not they forgave others. This principle is in perfect accordance with the Law, the operating system of Israel’s program. Israel’s incentive to forgive others is so that she can get forgiveness from God. This performance-based acceptance system of Law is delineated so clearly in Deuteronomy chapter 28. If Israel was to receive God’s blessings, she had to obey all of His commandments. If Israel disobeyed, she received curses and judgments. God accepted these Jews on the basis of what they did by faith (see James 2:14-26): faith was the foremost issue for Israel, but they also needed works (physical circumcision, water baptism, confession of sins, et cetera).

Contrast this with what the Apostle Paul wrote to us, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32) Colossians 2:13 supplements, “God… having forgiven you all trespasses.” In our Dispensation of Grace, God has already forgiven us because of Jesus Christ’s perfect sacrifice on Calvary, and it is on this basis of God’s grace to us in Christ that we forgive others. We are under grace, not law (Romans 6:14); we do not appeal to Israel’s legalistic doctrine, for it is not God’s will for us.

Let us conclude our dissection of the “Our Father” Prayer….

The Great Things The Lord Jesus Hath Done #7

Saturday, October 12, 2013

“And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel” (Mark 5:20 KJV).

Who is this man, and what “great things” hath the Lord Jesus done for him?

The crowd rushes to see the rumors are true—the savage is now sane, sitting at Jesus’s feet, submissive to His will and Word! They are astonished at such a transformation: “And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts” (Mark 5:15-17; cf. Luke 8:35-37).

“And when he [Jesus] was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:18,19; cf. Luke 8:37-39).

Now healed, the Gadarene symbolizes redeemed and restored Israel. When she accepts and trusts her Messiah-King Jesus at His Second Coming, He will bring her kingdom and deliver her from Satan and sin. Just as with the Gadarene, He will remove the evil spirits from the land (Zechariah 13:2). Jesus Christ will have compassion on Israel, just like with the Gadarene, and restore her unto Himself (Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 13:8,9).

Israel will have a “sound mind,” just like the Gadarene, for once the New Covenant is instituted, God will put His laws in her mind (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). She will be forgiven and clothed with God’s righteousness (Isaiah 1:18; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 10:17; 1 Peter 2:9,10). Israel will submit to God’s will. Her transformation will be just as amazing as the Gadarene’s.

And so, just like the Gadarene, Israel will go into her kingdom, liberated to proclaim to the Gentiles “the great things the Lord hath done for [her]!” 🙂

Israel, Stand Still! #12

Saturday, July 20, 2013

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10 KJV).

Israel must stand still and do nothing in order to see her God work mightily on her behalf!

Quoting Psalm 40:7,8, Hebrews 10:9-12 says: “Then said he [Jesus Christ], Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first [covenant], 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;”

God will use Jesus Christ’s shed blood offered 2,000 years ago to ratify the New Covenant at Christ’s Second Coming (just as the Old Covenant was instituted with animals’ blood in Exodus chapter 24). Quoting Isaiah 59:20,21, the Apostle Paul penned: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:26,27; cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:14-25).

Recall what Moses told Israel at the Red Sea: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day:…. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13,14).

As in Egypt, Israel cannot save herself: she is enslaved to sin and Satan, as she was captive in Egypt. As in Egypt, God sends a Deliverer for Israel: Moses led them from physical captivity and Jesus Christ will lead them from spiritual captivity. This time, they will enter the Promised Land, fully forgiven and free forever (the context of today’s Scripture)—not because of their works, but because of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary.

The whole world will see redeemed Israel glorified in her earthly kingdom, and JEHOVAH will be exalted forever!

~FINIS!~ 🙂

Reconciliation, Imputation, and Salvation #13

Saturday, June 29, 2013

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV).

Soul salvation from everlasting hellfire is the Holy Bible’s most important doctrine, so let us be particularly careful with today’s Scripture.

Let us summarize the mechanics of soul salvation:

  • SEPARATION – Sin separates man from God: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
  • GRACE – Everything God can do for you—not what you can do for God—through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
  • RECONCILIATION #1 (God’s work) – The Gospel of God’s Grace declares He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for man’s sins, to suffer His wrath against man’s wickedness: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (today’s Scripture).
  • RECONCILIATION #2 (man’s faith) – Each individual should trust Jesus Christ’s performance at Calvary as sufficient payment for his or her sins (PROPITIATION; Romans 3:25); otherwise, the individual will continue on his or her way to eternal hellfire (DAMNATION; Romans 2:8-11). “We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20b).
  • REDEMPTION and FORGIVENESS – Jesus Christ’s blood pays the price to free the Christian from sin’s power and penalty. “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7ab).
  • IMPUTATION – By faith, Jesus Christ’s righteousness is applied to the believer’s account. “But for us also, to whom it [righteousness] shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:24).
  • JUSTIFICATION – One who has trusted the Lord Jesus Christ alone as personal Saviour is now “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21b).
  • SALVATION – The Christian’s deliverance from sin, death, hell, and the lake of fire: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Let us begin to conclude this devotionals arc….

Reconciliation, Imputation, and Salvation #12

Friday, June 28, 2013

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV).

Soul salvation from everlasting hellfire is the Holy Bible’s most important doctrine, so let us be particularly careful with today’s Scripture.

“The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” (Romans 3:22). God’s righteousness is available “unto all,” but it is only “upon [imputed to] all them that believe.” “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). Jesus Christ died to save all, but only those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary, are “the children of God”—justified, “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The ascended and glorified Lord Jesus Christ first committed unto the Apostle Paul—and now to us Christians—this Gospel of Grace. When the ascended Lord Jesus Christ saved wicked Saul (Acts chapter 9), He declared: “Delivering thee from the people [Israel], 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” (Acts 26:17,18).

Jesus Christ first entrusted the “word of reconciliation” (today’s Scripture) to Paul. Acts 26:18 affirms Paul had to preach to the Gentiles so they could receive forgiveness—they did not receive forgiveness until they believed the Gospel of the Grace of God that Paul preached. Forgiveness must be imputed by faith: every verse in which Paul mentioned forgiveness, it involved God forgiving Christians, or Christians forgiving Christians—“the world” is absent from Romans 4:7; 2 Corinthians 2:7,10; 2 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 2:13; and Colossians 3:13.

Beware! “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (today’s Scripture) and forgiveness IN Christ are indeed separate issues: the heretical dogma of universalism—that all will make it to heaven eventually—is obviously unscriptural.

Now, let us begin to summarize soul salvation….

Reconciliation, Imputation, and Salvation #11

Thursday, June 27, 2013

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV).

Soul salvation from everlasting hellfire is the Holy Bible’s most important doctrine, so let us be particularly careful with today’s Scripture.

Romans 3:20-28 best explains justification: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Man cannot be made right in God’s sight (justified) through his so-called “Law-keeping,” but the Bible says, “his faith [in Jesus Christ’s righteousness] is counted [imputed] for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).

Forgiveness and righteousness are offered to all through the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork on Calvary, but those merits are of no benefit to an individual unless he or she trusts that Gospel of the Grace of God. Paul never wrote that the whole world is forgiven—“reconciled” (today’s Scripture) and “forgiven” are different. Only believers are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 2:13; Colossians 3:13). Once an individual hears that Jesus Christ offers to pay for and forgive his or her sins, that person is expected to trust it unto forgiveness and justification….

Reconciliation, Imputation, and Salvation #1

Monday, June 17, 2013

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV).

Soul salvation from everlasting hellfire is the Holy Bible’s most important doctrine, so let us be particularly careful with today’s Scripture.

There are literally tens of thousands of arguments in Christendom, disagreements involving every Bible doctrine (and so, over 38,000 denominations all claim to “use” the Bible, and all disagree too!). Soul salvation is certainly one of the major issues often confused, and it really is such a shame because the Bible was given to eschew such obfuscation! When “Christians” argue about even the basics of soul salvation, it is no wonder why unbelievers avoid so-called “Christianity” and prefer to stay on their course to hell!

For those of us who are saved, who have assurance of soul salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to learn the mechanics of soul salvation so we can effectually witness to lost people. Remember, lost people are already spiritually blinded and wandering in darkness, so they do not need someone who misunderstands the Bible to further entangle them in Satan’s snare.

For those of us who are lost, who are dead in our trespasses and sins, we need to learn the mechanics of soul salvation so we can have it as a present possession. Remember, the Bible is God’s Word to mankind, and He designed it so that it not only reveals who He is, but what He is doing—especially who He became for you and what He did for you long before you had a chance to sin!

On one hand, soul salvation is so simple, but on the other, it is a very complex event. Soul salvation is actually one giant, glorious doctrine comprised of several other Bible doctrines—including reconciliation, justification, forgiveness, imputation, sanctification, grace, redemption, propitiation, and righteousness. In the next several devotionals, we will discuss these terms, with emphasis on reconciliation and imputation (two doctrines misunderstood in light of today’s Scripture), thereby learning what God has already revealed to us in His written Word.

Twice Healed

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house” (Matthew 9:6,7 KJV).

Many today emphasize Jesus’ miracle-working power, but few ever grasp why He performed those healings….

In the context of today’s Scripture (Matthew 9:2-8), and its parallel passages of Mark 2:3-12 and Luke 5:18-26, four people carry a man who is “sick of the palsy” (paralyzed, although plagued with involuntary tremors) and bring him to Jesus Christ in order to be healed. The Lord Jesus declared, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20).

Some of Israel’s religious leaders are now irritated: “And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth” (Matthew 9:3; Mark 2:6-7a; Luke 5:21). “Who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:7b; Luke 5:21). Jesus, God manifested in human flesh, read their minds (Matthew 9:4; Mark 2:8; Luke 5:22)! Today’s Scripture (cf. Mark 2:10,11; Luke 5:24) is Jesus’ response to their disbelief. His reply affords us an opportunity to see why He healed sick people during His earthly ministry.

Jesus commanded the paralytic to arise from his bed and go to his house: the Bible says the man “immediately” jumped up and walked home (today’s Scripture; cf. Mark 2:12; Luke 5:25)!

Just as illness hinders the physical body from functioning properly, so sin disrupts the soul and spirit from doing what God designed them to do. Those crippled people the Lord Jesus Christ healed depicted Israel’s spiritual condition (impotent due to sin and laden with pagan idolatry), unable to be His vessels to the equally sinful Gentiles.

Why did Jesus heal sick physical bodies? The Jews needed a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22): “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” To prove to Israel that He could heal their souls (forgiveness). The paralytic’s healing demonstrated that Jesus Christ indeed could deliver Israel from the greatness sickness of all—sin!

The End of Job, Israel, and the LORD #4

Saturday, April 27, 2013

“So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses” (Job 42:12 KJV).

During the Tribulation period, the nation Israel will gain valuable insight from today’s Scripture….

When one trusts the Lord Jesus Christ alone as personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit takes this individual and baptizes him or her into the Church the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). He or she is no longer in Adam, but “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17): this is the new nature, the new identity, the new position the Christian has before God. Lost people even sense a change in the person, and thus, family and “friends” are no longer comfortable around the person. Every Christian has felt that division—(lost) family and “friends” now avoid them.

There is neither fame nor fortune in being a King James Bible-believing Pauline dispensationalist. If one takes a stand for Jesus Christ, and especially for His sound doctrine, family and “friends” will scatter and “depart far hence.” Yes, dear Christian brethren, we have lost the world and its approval, but we have gained much, much more valuable things. We are “known of God” (Galatians 4:9), we are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), and we are “complete in [Christ]” (Colossians 2:10). We have the Lord’s unconditional love, His grace, His forgiveness, His life—possessions that will last forever!

Just as believing Israel will suffer great loss for Jesus Christ’s sake during the Tribulation (as Job did), they will be restored even more in Christ’s earthly kingdom (as Job was; today’s Scripture). Likewise, we members of the Body of Christ, will lose family, “friends,” fame, and fortune for being Christians zealous of sound Bible doctrine, but we too will be rewarded one day—we will inherit the government of the heavenly places (Romans 8:17; Ephesians 2:6,7; 2 Timothy 2:10-12), just as believing Israel will inherit the government of the earth (Matthew 19:27-30; Revelation 3:20,21).

Beloved, like Job, let us patiently wait for “the end of the Lord….”  🙂

Saved from Hell, But Lost in Tradition #5

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

“…God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3,4 KJV).

Can someone go to heaven without ever learning dispensational Bible study?

The Gospel of the Grace of God is the solution to man’s sin problem, and salvation from hell can be found therein: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Simple faith in this Gospel alone guarantees a person that he or she has been given the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), is forgiven of all sins (Colossians 2:13), and will be “present with the Lord” in heaven upon physical death (2 Corinthians 5:8). “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).

Dispensational Bible study is the key to Bible understanding, and salvation from false teaching can be found therein: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Verses 16-18 discuss false teachers who failed to “rightly divide the word of truth.” They subsequently misled some Christians to doubt their own salvation from hell!

Paul warned Timothy of apostasy, a departure from God’s truth in order to embrace “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). He instructed Timothy regarding salvation from deception: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (verse 16). Years later, he cautioned Timothy regarding impending “perilous times”—especially false teaching (2 Timothy 3:1-13). “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (verses 14,15).

Salvation from hell is the most important Bible doctrine, but let us not forget that God wants to save us Christians from false teaching….