Category: born-again Jew

Peace in a Discordant World

Friday, February 21, 2014

“These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 KJV).

While there is turmoil outside, there need not be any inside.

Trouble—such is the lot of sinners in a fallen creation. Job spoke firsthand, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not” (Job 14:1,2). A human’s earthly life is ever so brief, and sin makes it ever so complicated.

In the context of today’s Scripture, our Lord Jesus is preparing His apostles to bear the worst life experience they have known. They do not understand it yet, but they will soon witness horrific events—Messiah’s arrest, torture, and death by crucifixion. Their King will perish, and their whole world will be destroyed. In the verse preceding today’s Scripture, Jesus says, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” (verse 32). Not too far into the future, all of Jesus’ followers will abandon Him, terrified of the Roman and Jewish governments.

Today’s Scripture is actually the conclusion of Jesus’ departing words to His Jewish believers (He started in John 14:1: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me”). He also told them, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Israel’s Little Flock would have difficult days ahead, but, “in Christ,” they would have God’s peace. Likewise, in this world filled with grief, uncertainty, and suffering, “the God of hope [will] fill you with all joy and peace in believing [God’s Word to you, Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon], that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13). 🙂

Final Arrangements #2

Saturday, December 14, 2013

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12 KJV).

When all of life is over, all of life has just begun, so when all of life is over, be sure you have the Son!

In verse 11, we read, “And this is the record [testimony], that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” Unbroken fellowship with the God of heaven is in His Son, Jesus Christ, who defined “life eternal” as knowing God the Father and the Son (Himself), whom the Father sent (John 17:3). The “life” of today’s Scripture is not living in general (even non-Christians are alive!), but “eternal life.” Furthermore, “eternal life” is not simply living forever, but living forever fellowshipping with God and His Son Jesus Christ! Fascinatingly, the Apostle John wrote that he and all the other Jewish believers who saw Jesus living in His physical body (His earthly ministry) literally saw God’s life, and they also partook of that eternal life (1 John 1:1-3)!

When one places faith in and relies exclusively on the death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for his or her sins, one receives eternal life now (rather than dying and getting it in heaven). One enjoys this eternal life by studying God’s Word rightly divided, discovering Him and what He is doing.

James likened the human life to “a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (4:14). Our physical bodies exist for “a little time,” and then they “perish” (2 Corinthians 4:16). However, our inner man (soul and spirit) will live forever—believers dwelling in God’s presence (Psalm 23:6; Ephesians 2:6,7 cf. Ephesians 3:21) and lost people dwelling in torments in God’s absence (Isaiah 66:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 14:9-11).

This life will end one day, but the next life will begin: we will continue to exist as a soul and a spirit. May we trust Jesus Christ alone as Saviour now, that we may have eternal life now, and not experience life in eternity apart from God’s life, for that godless life is no “life” at all!

The “Our Father” Prayer in HD #6

Saturday, November 23, 2013

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13 KJV).

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

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” This fifth and final petition does not involve a daily temptation we all face. Remember, God does not force anyone to sin, and He does not lead anyone to sin: sin is the result of a bad thought in the mind of the one committing the sinful deed. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13,14).

Actually, the “temptation” in this petition (today’s Scripture) refers to the seven-year Tribulation, when Israel’s believing remnant will be tested, tried—persecuted and greatly pressured into following Satan’s policy of evil. Specifically, Israel’s little flock of believers will be imprisoned and executed for refusing to follow the antichrist and his satanic religion (Psalm 10:1-18; Daniel 7:19-25; Revelation 13:15; et al.); this is the “evil” (world system) of today’s Scripture from which believing Israel wants to be delivered. The way these Jews “overcome” the antichrist and Satan is to die for Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:16-28; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 20:4; et al.). See also Psalm 37:1-40.

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.” Absent from the modern English perversions and their underlying corrupt Greek manuscripts, this doxology is found in the majority of Greek New Testament manuscripts and it belongs in the Bible text just as the King James translators’ inclusion affirms. God, in His great power, will deliver Israel’s believing remnant from the Tribulation’s horrors and deception, and He will resurrect them and bring them into His earthly kingdom (which Jesus Christ will establish at His Second Coming, after those seven years), thereby glorifying God forever (Revelation 11:15-17).

“Amen.” Hebrew for “so be it.”

Let us now summarize the “Our Father” Prayer….

The “Our Father” Prayer in HD #4

Thursday, November 21, 2013

“Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 KJV).

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

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Although God raining down manna (bread) for Israel to eat is very well known, the prophetic aspect is seldom realized: God will feed Israel again with manna during the seven-year Tribulation. The following Scriptures have a dual application—they are history and prophecy.

The following Scriptures have a dual application—they are history and prophecy. “Feed thy people with thy rod,… as in the days of old. According to the days of [Israel’s] coming out of the land of Egypt…” (Micah 7:14,15). The psalmist recounted God giving manna to stubborn, ungrateful Israel under Moses’s leadership (Psalm 78:19,20): “Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?” The psalmist David wrote, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies” (Psalm 23:5).

When the Jews in the area of Judaea hear the news of the antichrist desecrating the temple in Jerusalem, God through the Scriptures will instruct them to flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15-22; Mark 13:14-20). Their evacuation is urgent, and they are not to waste time gathering their material possessions. These Jews will escape into the wilderness, lacking food, shelter, and extra clothes. God will miraculously provide for them, just as He did for Israel in Moses’s day.

Revelation 12:6 supplements: “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” God will take care of this believing remnant of Israel for the last three-and-one-half years of the Tribulation (the 1,260 days referenced). As Jesus Christ taught, Israel’s believing remnant will literally rely on God for their daily food; thus, their third petition is, “Give us this day, our daily bread,” reminding themselves that He will meet all their physical needs as He promised (Matthew 6:24-34; Luke 12:22-32).

Let us continue dissecting the “Our Father” Prayer….

Of the Light, Not of the Night

Monday, October 14, 2013

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:1,2 KJV).

Why do you suppose Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night?

Today’s Scripture, excerpted from the Bible’s most recognized passage, involves a Pharisee asking Jesus questions to which he should already know the answers. Nicodemus is a religious leader who studied the Old Testament Scriptures, and yet he is totally ignorant of the spiritual rebirth that Israel needs because of her biological link to Adam (the Old Testament prophets discussed this “heart circumcision” in Deuteronomy 10:16, Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 31:33, et cetera).

Space prevents an in-depth discussion of John chapter 3, but here, we want to briefly discuss why Nicodemus has come to Jesus “by night” (today’s Scripture). John 7:50 confirms, “he that came to Jesus by night.” Nicodemus is sneaking about at nighttime, lest his colleagues see him talking with Jesus. He knows that if he is seen in public in broad daylight speaking with Jesus Christ, he will lose his reputation, livelihood, income, everything.

John 12:42,43 are an excellent commentary as to how the Pharisees treated those who confessed Jesus as Messiah: “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Sadly, like Nicodemus, many church leaders today “creep about in shadows,” too fearful to publicly stand up for God’s truth. They avoid embracing a “King James only” position, lest they be considered “unscholarly.” They withhold the fact that Paul’s epistles are written to and about us, lest they be called “unorthodox.” They dare not speak about the sins of the world, lest they be deemed “unloving.”

Saints, may we boldly stand in God’s grace to us in Jesus Christ, unapologetically preaching Him from God’s Word, the King James Bible, rightly divided! 🙂

Where Was God? #5

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

One of the most common questions ever asked….

The psalmist, like many today, wonders and inquires of God’s whereabouts in times of trouble. Actually, Psalm 10 is a prayer of imprecation: it is the prayer of a believing Jew living during the (future) seven-year Tribulation, a prayer in which that believer is beseeching the Lord Jesus Christ to appear and judge the wicked who are severely oppressing and mercilessly executing His people, to avenge the deaths of His believing remnant in Israel.

Actually, the Apostle John, centuries later, elaborated: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Revelation 6:9-11).

Notice, in the future, the souls of the slain Tribulation saints will be in heaven, begging the Lord to no longer delay in avenging their deaths. Now we understand why the psalmist, still alive on earth, says what he does in today’s Scripture. Jesus Christ cannot come back and judge the earth in His righteous indignation until Satan’s evil world system has fully run its course.

Concerning us in this the Dispensation of Grace, Christ’s delay is advantageous to lost people. Jesus Christ Himself is truly the only hope planet earth has. Before He pours out His wrath and rids the world of Satan’s influence, He will continue to be “longsuffering” so people can escape that impending wrath by faith in Him (2 Peter 3:3-9,15,16). Jesus Christ is purposefully tarrying.

Until Jesus Christ returns to make every wrong right, God offers us a wealth of resources in Christ to cope….

Who Is a Saint? #5

Friday, August 30, 2013

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV).

Behold, the identity that we Christians have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

In religion, “saints” are nothing more than intercessors who influence God to grant us favors. In Scripture, they are something else entirely. God—yea, God alone—creates saints through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork (today’s Scripture). Saints are not for our selfish desires: they are for God to use to glorify His Son Jesus Christ forever and ever and ever.

Among other things, Jesus Christ is our “sanctification” (today’s Scripture). The writer of the book of Hebrews, when describing Israel’s salvation, used the same terminology the Apostle Paul utilized to refer to us, the Church the Body of Christ. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:10,14; cf. Hebrews 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 1).

Just as God will separate (sanctify) these believing Jews from the unsaved descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (like He separated Aaron and his sons from the common Israeli bloodline for service in the Levitical priesthood), so He has separated us from the ordinary human race. Just as He will redeem Israel from her sins and Satanic bondage using Jesus Christ’s shed blood (via the New Covenant; Hebrews 8:8-13), so He has bought us out of that slave market of sin and death (redemption; today’s Scripture).

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). In Christ, we have a new nature: we are a new type of mankind, the Church the Body of Christ, the “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). All saints are equal in Jesus Christ—all Christians are in one body.

When God saved us, He not only delivered us from His wrath in everlasting hellfire, but He made us “saints” in Jesus Christ (today’s Scripture) to use us for His glory forever….

Work Not Forgotten

Saturday, August 10, 2013

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10 KJV).

Our forgotten Christian service is not at all forgotten of God.

Have you ever done something nice for somebody who was unappreciative? Maybe that person even forgot your kindness. You spent much time and energy, and yet it seems like it was “all for naught.” Perhaps you have cooked for the sick, visited the lonely, helped the disabled, or prayed for the hurting, but that was so many years ago that neither you nor they remember it.

Today’s Scripture addresses Israel’s believing remnant enduring intense persecution during the seven-year Tribulation. These Jewish kingdom believers (Hebrews 6:9) have labored to help other suffering Messianic Jews, and the author of the book of Hebrews cheers up these weary souls by reminding them that Jesus Christ is not unfair: He will reward them when He returns to earth at His Second Coming, just as He will punish the unbelievers in His righteous wrath (Luke 12:31-44; Luke 19:12-27; Hebrews 6:4-8; Hebrews 6:9-12).

Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” God is witness to all good works and all evil deeds—every place, every time, every one.

When the Lord Jesus will come to take us, the Church which is His Body, He will bring us Christians into heaven (the “rapture”). We Christians will then be rewarded for our Christian service—how much sound Bible doctrine we believed and allowed to transform our souls and lives (1 Corinthians 3:9-15; 1 Corinthians 4:4,5; 2 Corinthians 5:9,10) and how much we suffered for Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:12). This level of maturity will then determine what position of government we will occupy in the heavenly places, so we can practice that doctrine there for all eternity to the glory of Jesus Christ! 🙂

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #6

Monday, July 29, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Peter, writing to Israel’s believing remnant enduring the (future) seven-year Tribulation, consoles them during that time of great trouble and testing. He reminds them of the “appearing of Jesus Christ” (verse 7)—Christ’s Second Coming to conclude that Tribulation.

The Apostle Peter continues (today’s Scripture with its context): “[Jesus Christ] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:8-11).

Isaiah the prophet wrote 700 B.C.: “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 59:20–60:3).

Believing Israel is to be patient during that awful Tribulation! Her Messiah is coming and they are to be mindful of that glorious coming kingdom He is bringing. They will be saved, to also participate in His glory….

A Wise Theologian

Monday, July 8, 2013

“And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:38,39 KJV).

No theologian has since spoken wiser words….

In the context of today’s Scripture, we find Israel’s one-year extension almost near its end. For three years, Jesus Christ preached to the nation, and most Jews ignored the gospel of the kingdom that He was their Messiah-King. When they crucified Him, He resurrected and He left earth as a royal exile. Before He returned to heaven, He commissioned His apostles to continue His work on earth: convert Israel. For one year, Israel’s believing remnant, particularly the 12 apostles, offered Israel a renewed opportunity of repentance, to accept Jesus as Messiah-King. This one-year period is documented in Acts chapters 1 through 7, the context of today’s Scripture.

Israel’s apostles are arrested and thrown in prison, but an angel comes and miraculously releases them (Acts 5:17-20). As the apostles begin preaching Jesus Christ again in the Temple, their escape is discovered, and Israel’s religious leaders have them re-captured and brought before the Sanhedrin, a religious-political governing body in Israel (verses 21-28). Once the apostles preached before them, the council members are convicted by God’s Word, and want to kill the apostles (verses 29-33).

Gamaliel, a rabbi (teacher) of the Mosaic Law, a theologian in the council, cautions his colleagues not to carry out any punishment rashly (verses 34-38)—interestingly, Gamaliel is the teacher of who would later become the Apostle Paul (Acts 22:3)! Gamaliel then relates to the council two instances of how man’s plans are ruined (Acts 5:36,37), arguing if the apostles are undertaking a work of human origin, it will dissolve, but if the apostles are doing the work of the God of the Bible, the council had better take heed, for they will be accountable to God Himself for punishing His servants and rejecting His work (today’s Scripture)!

If only more of today’s theologians agreed with and followed Gamaliel’s advice!