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* I want to show you in the next few scriptures what Jesus says about those who persist in sin. * If we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much more punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has despised the Spirit of grace? For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. from Hebrews chapter 10 *
There are certain men ordained to condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into unbridled lust, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put in your remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those that did not believe. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: they are clouds without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withered, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration to gain advantage. Remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These are those who separate themselves, sensual, the Spirit not having. excerpts from Jude *
Truly, Truly, I [Jesus] say to you, whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abides not in the house forever: but the Son abides forever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and you do that which you have seen with your father. The Jews answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God, this did not Abraham. You do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word. You are out of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me? He that is out of God hears God's words. You therefore do not hear them, because you are not out of God. Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Say we not rightly that you are a Samaritan, and has a demon? Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and you do dishonor me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges. Truly, Truly, I say to you, if a man keeps my words, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews to him, Now we know that you have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, if a man keeps my words, he shall never taste of death. Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom do you make yourself to be? Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing, it is my Father that honors me; of whom you say, that he is your God. Yet you have not known him. But I know him and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like you. But I know him and keep his words. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad. Then said the Jews to him, You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. Then they took up stones to cast at him, but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. from John chapter 8 *
The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished, chiefly those that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. These are presumptuous, self-willed…they speak evil of the things that they do not understand; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in their own deceits while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery, and not ceasing from sin. They have exercised their heart with covetous practices; cursed children who have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the blackest of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean, having escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. excerpts from 2 Peter chapter 2 *
A note from the author: I want to show you an overview of the gospel, both the salvation for believers and the judgment against the ungodly. The next 7 pages fit together into this single topic. It may feel at first as if I am mixing together different ideas as I draw from old and new testament scriptures. Stay with me, and I’ll connect them together in the next author note. *
I [Paul] am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is [also] revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not good; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. The judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinks you this, O man, that judges them which do such things, and does the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God? Or despises you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? By your hardness and impenitent heart you treasure up to yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, for there is no respect of persons with God. excerpts from Romans chapters 1 and 2 *
And they came to John the Baptist, and said to him, Rabbi, he [Jesus] that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bore witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that comes from above is above all. He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth. He that comes from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony. He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives not the Spirit by measure to him. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. from John chapter 3 *
David writes, Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. from Psalm 50
The Lord tries the righteous, but the wicked and him that loves violence his soul hates. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. from Psalm 11
Thy hand shall find out all your enemies, thy right hand shall find out those that hate you. You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger, the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit you shall destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. from Psalm 21
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride, and for cursing and lying which they speak. Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be, and let them know that God rules in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. from Psalm 59
David writes, My soul is among lions, and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent. Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth. … sweep them away. The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Truly there is a reward for the righteous: truly he is a God that judges in the earth. from Psalms 57 and 58 *
… in the end of this world, the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. from Matthew chapter 13 *
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I [Jesus] know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the kidneys and hearts: and I will give to every one of you according to your works. from Revelation chapter 2 *
A note from the author: I use to think the world is in darkness, we are waiting for Jesus to arrive, and then God will make all things right. These scriptures changed my perspective. They show there is an overlapping of kingdom life and God’s wrath occurring now on earth. John chapter 3 says, He that believes on the Son has everlasting life, he that believes not the Son, the wrath of God abides on him. Do you see this is also another have now worded scripture? David says in the Psalms, I lie among men that are set on fire. On the earth today there are ungodly men doing wickedness and experiencing God’s wrath. There are also righteous sons of God, doing righteous deeds, experiencing God’s blessing of everlasting life. Jesus is ruling over the heavens and the earth, giving to each one of us now according to our works. What you experience on earth depends on the quality of your daily interactions with Jesus. When we seek God, we find him, we live in the light doing righteous deeds. When we reject God, we live in darkness doing evil and suffering God’s wrath. Both outcomes are occurring simultaneously now on earth. *
A note from the author: In the beginning there was one kingdom on earth. God made the heavens and the earth. And God created Adam and Eve to rule over the earth. The kingdom of God ruled through mankind. After Adam sinned, Adam no longer served God. Adam now served satan. There was still only one kingdom on earth, but now it was a kingdom of darkness. The ruler of the world was now the deceiver, the one called the devil, satan. God loved us and determined to set us free. God sent Jesus into the world, into the darkness. Jesus, the son of God, was born a king. There were now two kingdoms on earth at the same time. The kingdom of God, a kingdom of light, ruled over by Jesus, and the kingdom of darkness, the world, ruled over by satan. Jesus forgave sins. Jesus undid the bonds satan put on people causing physical infirmities. Jesus cast out demons dwelling in people. Jesus showed us the kingdom of God rules over satan. Then Jesus went to the cross and died for us. When man sinned, satan had legal rule over us, for we obeyed him. Satan could kill us if he chose for we were his servants. This is how death followed sin into the world. But Jesus had no sin and had never served satan. When satan, working through unbelieving men, kills Jesus on the cross, satan murders an innocent man. God, who is a righteous judge, immediately judges satan a murderer and casts him out as ruler of the world. Jesus, knowing what was coming, says on his way to the cross, now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. Jesus understood what would happen at the cross. satan did not, or else he would never have murdered Jesus. God raises Jesus out of the dead. God glorifies his son. Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection and says, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, go therefore and make disciples… There is now, once again, only one kingdom on earth. But now it is the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Light. Jesus says, Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. from Luke chapter 12
And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who is, and was, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and has reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. from revelation chapter 11 *
continue reading Jesus : the Truth and the Life
JESUS : THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
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