State Imposed and Coerced Religions - Are Pathetic!

Hear ye, hear ye!

The power of God and the wisdom of God
versus
The impotence of gods, and the folly of gods.

"Every man must give account of himself to God, and therefore every man ought to be at liberty to serve God in a way that he can best reconcile to his conscience. If the government can answer for individuals on the day of judgment, let men be controlled by it in religious matters; otherwise, let men be free."
~~ Isaac Backus (1724-1806)

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Any state coerced and imposed religion upon a man is a bondage straight from hell; it is actually an obscene mockery and insult to any religion when it has to resort to state power to coerce and compel a man to convert, to adhere or to remain in it;  it's an assault against the liberty of conscience. Only weak and pathetic religions resort to force and coercion to impose itself on others; it is a horrible disservice to any religion if it has to resort to the despicable means of compulsion and coercion through the power of the state/government.

Let a man's own mind, heart and conscience determine for himself, through the open discourse and persuasion, to be convinced and constrained by the teachings of a religion. If a religion cannot do that to gain a man's voluntary and freewill allegiance, it is impotent and powerless.

Why would a religion be happy with adherents whose association with it is not free and voluntary but coerced? Why such shamelessness?

1 Corinthians 1 KJT 
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

John 3:3 KJT — Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

What do I think of modern secular Israel?

Some Zionist Christians asked w hat do I think of modern secular?

Not much, but I told them this:

I don't know about your view on Israel. My view is that modern secular Israel is REMOTELY related to the theocratic Israel of the Bible; it's an invention of man. What had been divinely established at the foot of Mt Sinai was ALSO divinely preserved until its abolition for good in AD 70; the biblical theocratic Israel lasted for as long as only the LORD God had intended it; when the time was fulfilled, it was forever done away with.

That said, the modern secular Jewish nation has every right to exist in peace and to defend itself, as much as any other.

Let the aggressors and warmongers on the earth perish - "for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Amen.

Matthew 26:52 KJT "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
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Cheri
Amen. Old Testament Israel and modern secular Israel are two completely separate and different things.

Joe
Brother Sing. I agree. I kindly do not go along with the occasional idea of an end-times Jewish restoration. Jesus said everything we need to know about the question in Matthew 23:39, "...Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Jesus was/is the "he that cometh in the name of the Lord." I have not heard modern Israeli people praising or believing in Jesus. Till I see that evidence, I respectfully stand with Jesus. Amen.

Wayne
Amen to Brother Joe and Brother Sing. I consider modern Israel an ally of our country, but in my opinion there is no prophesy being fulfilled by the present nation of Israel, etc.

Wayne
Another thought: I trust we are a part of spiritual Israel, being a Spiritual Jew. That's what is important and if we are a Spiritual Jew we are so by grace alone! ""For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom. 2: 28-29).

Sing F Lau
Wayne, BOTH the Jews and the Muslims fighting them have outward circumcision made by hands.

God does it all; yes, it's all by His grace alone!

The Triune God does it all... our eternal salvation is entirely by grace alone.

God does it all; yes, it's all by His grace alone!

- God the Father purposed eternal salvation for the elect before time...

- God the Son accomplished that eternal salvation for the same at the cross...

- God the Spirit applies that same eternal salvation, at God's appointed and approved time, to each elect in their native state of sin and death, effectually calling them out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation, completely fitting them for eternal glory.

- On the resurrection day, all the redeemed who have died shall be resurrected and be glorified and those still living shall be transformed and be glorified; together they shall be brought home into eternal glory in heaven. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3.

God ordained the ministry of the word for the instruction and temporal salvation of those He has freely bestowed eternal salvation in Jesus Christ.

- Some of them are outwardly called by the ministry of the word; those who are called are converted to varying degrees.

- Others are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word.

God does it all. All glory and praise to Him alone.

Amen and amen.

And they shall be all taught of God

#Taught_of_God

John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

Permit me to ask a few questions. Please assist me in rightly understanding the passage.

Thank you.

1. Who are "they" that shall be all taught of God?

2. How shall they be taught of God?

3. Is "they all" and "every man" co-extensive?

4. Is the hearing the direct result of having been taught of God?

5. Is the learning the direct result of having heard what is taught by God?

6. Is the coming unto Christ the direct effect of being taught of God?

7. What is the coming spoken of?

8. Is there a distinction in the expressions "taught of God" and "hath learned of the Father"?

9. Is a 3rd party needed for a man to be taught of God?

10. Is a 3rd party needed for a man to hear and learn of the Father?

Ask your question if you have any.

Thanks.
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Bill Taylor
1. If a man is taught of God, can the teaching be imperfect or misleading?

2. If the teaching is not imperfect or misleading, which Jesus will a man come unto? (Which version of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus?)

God speaking and man repeating His words

Words from God's own mouth reduced to words from a preacher's mouth!

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Leon
Sir, does this text say that the Scriptures is the power of God?

Mark 12:24 "And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?"

One preacher quoted this and said the Scriptures is the Power of God...

Sing
In this verse, Jesus was censuring the Sadducees (previous paragraph from verse 18-23).

They err concerning the issue they raised to trap Jesus.

Like many Christians, they were acting as smart alecks.

They err BECAUSE of two things:

- they are ignorant of the Scriptures, AND

- they are ignorant of the power of God.

No, it does not say that the Scriptures is the power of God.

Whoever thinks so needs some lessons on proper English comprehension.

Leon
Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

He quoted this scripture in another bible study; he suggested that if a person whom he is evangelizing does not believe in the gospel, then he will receive the judgment because God's word always achieves its intended purposes. Then, if like this, those who are unbelievers would want to STOP any Christians from opening their mouths to evangelize them for fear of getting the "curse". Agree?

Sing
Read Isaiah 55:11 closely and draw out (DON'T READ INTO IT) some observations, and some truths declared. Thanks.

Don't be like those who are debilitated by soundbyitis.

Leon
The word should PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it.

Does it also mean that the sending is to the intended person only for it to take effect?

Sing
Isa 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
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Q1. Whose word goes forth out of whose mouth?
- give examples of this.
Q2. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth"  - is this the same as the word that goes forth out of the mouth of the most Spirit-filled eloquent man?

Leon
Q1 it is God's word that goes forth from His mouth.
Q2 this is a DEFINITE NO

Sing
Q1. What is the intended purpose of God's word proclaimed by a preacher? Q2. Will it always accomplish that purpose?

Leon
A preacher preaches to believers/Elects. But some Elects could be stubborn and rebel against it, but they will bear the consequences n wl be chastened.

Sing
A prerequisite for sound theology and exegesis is paying attention to details.
Two things:
Firstly: A preacher preaches to all and any who are willing to hear in his work as an evangelist. He DOES NOT know whether his hearers are elect or non-elect; he does not know whether the hearers are already effectually called by God, or are still in their native state of deadness and condemnation. HE DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW!

BUT, he knows with absolute certainty, on biblical authority, that his ministry of the word is ONLY relevant to those God has already effectually called – i.e. freely justified by grace, regenerated, and adopted and given the Spirit of adoption to dwell in them.

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJT — For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 KJT — But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Secondly: An elect may not yet be conceived and/or born; if conceived and born, he is even as others who were bypassed in the election, i.e. in his native state, dead in trespasses and sins.

The preaching of the cross, the gospel of Christ, is IRRELEVANT to them. Worse than that, it is odious and foolishness to them.

An elect whom God has effectually called to grace and salvation in Jesus Christ - i.e. freely justified, regenerated, adopted, and bestowed with the Spirit of adoption to dwell in him - IS a child of God.

ONLY a child of God can be brought to faith through the preaching of the gospel. The faith worked in him by the indwelling Spirit is drawn out of him through the hearing of the word.

Romans 10:17 KJT — So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

That is INITIAL CONVERSION. The ministry of the word is for the ongoing conversion of God's children.

Some of God's children are as stubborn as mules (sorry to insult mules, but see Isa 1:3). God knows how to deal with them.

But watch out for yourself.      

I'm repeating a lot of things. It seems we are going round in circles.

When you raise a question, stick to it until you have understood the matter adequately. Asking for asking sake only gives a false idea of learning.

Leon
Is my reply to your Q1 correct? Coz u mentioned "preacher" in your reply. That's why I am not sure if I answered correctly.

Sing
Q1. Yes.
When God said, "Let there be light: and there was light."

Let a preacher repeat God's words until his face turns blue and see whether Is 55:11 will be true of him!

When Jesus cried, "Lazarus, come forth... he that was dead came forth."

Go to a cemetery and let a preacher repeat Jesus' words and see if the Is 55:11 will be true of the most eloquent and Spirit-filled preacher.

What delusion... and abuse and perversion of Scriptures when

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV — Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

What terrible SHAME for a preacher interpreting Is 55:11 like that.

1 Timothy 4:16 KJT "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."

Not a few preachers, instead of saving themselves through their faithful ministry,  they destroy BOTH themselves and those that hear them. See less

They say, "The old is better."

No man also having drunk old wine
straightway desireth new:
for he saith, The old is better.

They say, "The old is better." Do you also?

Luke 5  - KJT
36 ¶And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

The gracious Lord is so sympathetic and patient with those who have only drunk old wine; He knows it is so hard for them to even entertain the new wine. He knows that no such men will straightway desire the new nor can they; that's why it's so hard for the religious leaders to consider His teachings; they will not even give the new wine a sniff; they are addicted to and intoxicated by the old; the old is better, they insist. Even so, those who are so addicted to old wines of justification before God by their faith, gospel regeneration, etc.

No man who is so used to an error will straightway understand and convert to the truth; therefore, work patiently with him.

Lord, be patient with us; help us to be receptive to the new things Thou wilt show us. Amen.

Then opened he their understanding - Luke 24:44-53

Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the Scriptures.
Lk 24.44-53

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures
Lk 24.44-53 (study 108)

a. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke concluded his gospel account climatically. In v1-12, he has reported the empty tomb and the majestic message of the angels that the crucified Saviour is risen.

- In the next two paragraphs, v13-35, he related the appearance of the resurrected Lord himself to the men walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, and Simon Peter. Then in v36-43, Luke describes the appearance of the risen Lord to an entire group of disciples.

- Remember that the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ remained on earth for 40 days before ascending to heaven. During these 40 days, the risen Saviour appeared many times to His disciples, Acts 1:1-3.

- Acts 1:3 tells us, “To whom also he showed himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them during forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

- So it is evident that during those 40 days, the risen Lord was busy ‘opening the understanding’ of the disciples so that they might understand the Scriptures which has prophesied concerning the coming, the ministry, the suffering, the death, and the resurrection of the Messiah; and exhorting them to preach this glorious gospel of salvation in His name, beginning at Jerusalem, even to the end of the world.

- Lk 24:44-49 is a summary account of what was said to the disciples over those 40 days. These words of the risen Lord set forth several vital principles for believers in every generation. Let us consider some of them

1. The Personal Presence of the Resurrected Lord Jesus
a. No sooner had the two disciples reported their encounter with the resurrected Lord to the gathered Apostles and others with them, that Jesus Himself, in His grace and mercy and goodness to disbelieving and troubled disciples, appeared and stood in their midst, and saluted them, “Peace be unto you.” They were troubled!
- The disciples’ reaction: “But they were terrified and affrighted supposed that they had seen a spirit.”
- They should be rejoicing seeing the risen Lord BUT they were terrified and affrighted. Why? 

b. They were still doubtful concerning the risen Lord Jesus: “They supposed that they had seen a spirit.”
- They were still troubled. Doubtful thoughts still arise from their hearts. The Lord sees through all.
- He came to minister to His beloved but bewildered and troubled disciples. “Peace be unto you.” Amen.
- He demonstrated to them that He is really the resurrected Jesus: “Behold my hands and feet…” Do you see those marks made by the nails? Handle me and see for yourself.
- He reasoned with them, “… for a spirit hath not flesh and bones…” He engaged their mind to deal with their genuine concerns.
- “Have ye here any meat (food)? Why? A spirit does not eat food; only a real person eats food; what they see is the real personal resurrected Jesus. “He DID eat before them.” Do you still suppose I’m a spirit?

2. The Infallibility of the Inspired Word of God
a. Having demonstrated the reality of His resurrection, Jesus went on to remind them of what He said unto them before in His ministry. “… all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and the prophets and the psalms concerning Me.” Here the risen Lord refers to the whole of the OT Scriptures.
- The risen Lord reminded the disciples that all his preaching and teaching ministry before the crucifixion was grounded in the OT Scriptures. The whole of the OT prophesied concerning the promised Messiah.
- And all that is written in the OT must be fulfilled, they must all come to pass, and all that had happened to Jesus Christ was the fulfilment of the OT Scriptures.
- Lk 4:16-27 records for us the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry… how in Him the OT Scriptures were fulfilled. And was true throughout His whole ministry… and that was how he ended his earthly ministry, constantly appealing to the OT Scriptures which speak of Him. Lk 20:41, 22:37.
- There is explicit trust in all that has been written. There wasn’t the slightest doubt as to be their fulfilment. To Him, it is always ‘all things must be fulfilled which were written…’ There is absolute and complete trust in the infallibility of all that was written.
- And this is despite the fact that the fulfilment of all that was written meant the greatest humiliation and agony upon Himself. But even this did not deter Him.

3. The Necessity for the Illumination of the Written Word
a. The disciples were all devout Jews who read their Scriptures (OT): their parents faithfully taught them.
- See Deut 6:1-9. So the disciples were familiar with the OT Scriptures.
-  Then opened he their understanding: He not only opened their hearts, to attend to what he said, and the proofs he gave of his resurrection from the dead in a true body; but he removed the veil from the eyes of their minds, and gave them an understanding of the sacred writings, respecting this matter:
- that they might understand the Scriptures; concerning his sufferings, death, and resurrection, which they were very ignorant of before, and which were as a sealed book unto them, John 20:9 though they had been from their infancy brought up to the reading of the Scriptures, and had had the unique advantage of Christ's ministry for some years; which shows the necessity of the special illumination of the Spirit, and the influence of his grace to remove the darkness of the mind, and give the true sense of the sacred writings.
- This demonstrates that the risen Lord attached the utmost importance and necessity for His disciples to UNDERSTAND the Scriptures.
- Do you have the same mind? Are you in tune with the risen Lord?

c. “behoved”: it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something. Jesus’ life and death in the stead of His people is at the heart of His mission as Messiah: His resurrection vindicates all His life and teachings.

4. The Responsibility to Preach the Fulfilled Word
a. “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached…”
- “… should be preached in His name.”  Jesus has lived and died to save His people from their sins. The Holy Spirit applies this salvation to each one of them when God the Father effectually calls them out of their native state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.
- Salvation is freely bestowed to them dead in trespasses and sins; only those whom God has freely saved by His grace are capable of repentance and experience the forgiveness of their sins.
- The risen Lord has ordained the gospel ministry to bring the good news of His redemptive work to God’s children, that they may be gathered into the NT churches and be instructed to observe ALL THINGS whatsoever Christ has commanded us. See Mt 28:19-20. That requires repentance from God’s children.

b. To all nations
- Jesus has redeemed His people out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; not just the Jews.  Rev 5:9.

c. “Ye are witnesses of these things”:

d. The promised assistance:
- “ye be endued with power from on high…” See Mt 28:20 “even to the of world…” – of the Jewish world.

5. Return to His Father in Heaven v50-53
a. He blessed them and prepared them for their unique ministry.

b. “… carried up into heaven.” After death, Jesus went to paradise; after resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven. See John 20:17

c. The effect of Jesus’ ministry to His disciples:

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 [14/03/2025 21:21]

Dear Brethren,
The midweek bible study series on Luke's Gospel began on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2023, and concluded on Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025 with 108 studies during the period.

I wonder if the series has helped you.
What have you learned from the 108 studies?

Of the 108 studies, how many were you present?

We can go through the motion but make no progress.

Our hardworking men are already too tired... dozing off.

I have been told not a few times that I am a boring and poor communicator, sending the audience to sleep - probably a lot of truth in that.

People put little effort on giving due importance to hearing and learning the word of God; this is completely opposite of Christ's will.

Notes from the last study: 
Then opened he their understanding:
- He not only opened their hearts, to attend to what he said, and the proofs he gave of his resurrection from the dead in a true body; but he removed the veil from the eyes of their minds, and gave them an understanding of the sacred writings, respecting this matter:
- that they might understand the Scriptures; concerning his sufferings, death, and resurrection, which they were very ignorant of before, and which were as a sealed book unto them, John 20:9 though they had been from their infancy brought up to the reading of the Scriptures, and had had the unique advantage of Christ's ministry for some years; which shows the necessity of the special illumination of the Spirit, and the influence of his grace to remove the darkness of the mind, and give the true sense of the sacred writings.
- This demonstrates that the risen Lord attaches the utmost importance and necessity for His disciples to UNDERSTAND the Scriptures.
- Do you have the same mind? Are you in tune with the risen Lord?

What is the Gift in Eph 2:8?

Pray tell, what's the use of the gift of faith 
to a man spiritually dead?
Is he capable to utilizing the gift?

What does a man dead in trespasses and sins
stand in need of? 
The gift of faith or the gift of salvation?

Ephesians 2
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)...
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Which of the two memes makes sense to you?
What is the gift? Why?
Does it even matter which is which?

1. Order of salvation reiterated:
- Salvation purposed for all the elect by God in eternity

- Salvation accomplished for all the elect by Christ at the cross

- Salvation applied by the Holy Spirit to each elect personally in time (when the elect is dead in trespasses and sins)

- salvation experienced by faith in Christ

- Salvation consummated at Christ's second coming

Before the cross, salvation was applied based on what Christ would do (God has faith in His Son accomplishing the needed redemption); after the cross, salvation is applied based on what Christ has done. Salvation has only one ground/basis - the redemptive work of Christ.

In the application of salvation, an elect is effectually called out of his native state of sin, condemnation and death to that of righteousness, justification, and eternal life in Jesus Christ. These divine activities (in number and logical order) are required:

- justification of life (application of righteousness), Rom 5:18

- regeneration, the giving of life.

- adoption, and

- the giving of the Holy Spirit to dwell within the adopted.

These divine activities bring an elect into the state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ; they make an elect perfectly and completely fit for eternal glory.

The indwelling Spirit works the fruit of the Spirit in the child of God.

Gal 5:22  ¶But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Since faith is worked within a child of God, faith cannot be the gift; faith is an effect of the gift of salvation.

The gift of salvation comes from WITHOUT; the saving grace of faith is worked from WITHIN. 

These are elementary. May the Lord bless you with understanding. Amen. 

Rejoice in These - Lk 10.17-22

Rejoice in these!  Lk 10.17-22                       

a. The Lord of the Harvest appointed and sent out His 70 labourers into His harvest field. 
- They are warned that they are sent out as lambs among wolves.
- They are assured that all their needs as His labourers shall be met.
- They are given instructions as to how they are to conduct themselves as His labourers.
- They are entrusted with the necessary and needed authority for their mission, (19a).
- They are assured of their protection and safety from the enemy...

b. They obediently went forth in their mission. How long they were away, we are not told. However, we know that they were evidently pleased with their mission. v17 'Then the 70 returned with joy...' They returned with rejoicing.
- They have good reasons to be rejoicing.
- Though they were sent out into the midst of wolves, yet they discovered many sons of peace receiving them & the gospel message…all their needs were abundantly met... many miracles were performed, and 'even the demons are subject to us in Your name.'  Note the word 'even'. They were amazed; no wonder they returned rejoicing... great things were happening through them.

c. However, from the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, we know that something is not quite right concerning their rejoicing. put simply, it amounts to this: they are rejoicing in the effects.
- The Lord Jesus Christ has to remind them of the root cause or the source of these effects. The Lord Jesus points them beyond the effects, and to the Triune God... Let me direct our attention to three matters in this regard.

1. Rejoice in the Lord who has triumphed over Satan
a. The disciples rejoice saying, '... Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.'
- The Lord took delight in the joy of the disciples. However, He did more than that. He purified that joy by giving them the explanation of the amazing phenomenon experienced by them.
- The Lord said, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.' That explains why the demons are subject to them. Satan is the prince and master of all the demons and evil spirits. He is the enemy of Christ's people.
- The demons were subject to the disciples because their master Satan has been overcome by the Lord Christ Jesus.   Gen 3.15; Mt 12.27-29; Rom 16.20; Rev 20.1-3.

b. It is because the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome Satan that He has authority to give to his disciples to trample on serpents and scorpions (a figurative language referring to subordinates of Satan).  'Behold... I give you the authority... Lk 11.22; Mt 28.18-20; 2Cor 10.3-5:

c. It is because the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome Satan that He has power to overcome all the power of the enemy... and to set the captives free from all the power of the enemy. He has the power to remove spiritual death in a sinner... He has power to regenerate a spiritually dead sinner... to remove spiritual blindness and deafness, etc

d. The Lord Jesus Christ has overcome Satan that He is able to protect His disciples and all His redeemed people from all the power of the enemy... that of all He has redeemed, He shall not lose one...

2. Rejoice in the Lord who has written your name in heaven
a. The disciples are all excited and rejoicing in what they are enabled to do in the blessed name of the Saviour. This is something proper and lawful... it is always good to be useful instruments in the hands of the Lord.
- When we are channels of blessing to others, it is good reason to rejoice in the things the Lord is working through us. Let us always aim to be channels of blessings in the Lord's hand.
- However, we often forget something which is of far more importance. Something which the Lord has done for us is of infinitely more significance than what He is working through us... and something which we must never lose sight of... it is that the Lord has written our names in heaven. The significance of this transcend above all that the Lord will do through us.  He has done this amazing this for us ...

b. The truth that the names of people are written in heaven is spoken of in many places in the Scriptures. Let me refer you to some passages:
- Dan 12.1: it speaks of 'everyone who is found written in the book'.... who are they?  'sons of your people'... 'your people'... Who are God's people? Those chosen by God out of the fallen and condemned race of Adam and given to Jesus Christ to redeem... everyone of their names are found written in the book.

- Heb 12.22-23: '... the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven...' The Book of Life is the Register Book... recording all the names of the elect pe

3. Rejoice in the Lord who reveals Himself to us
a. In contrast to the disciples rejoicing, we are also given a glimpse of the Lord Jesus' rejoicing. v21.
- In what is the Lord Jesus rejoicing? Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, and lifts up His heart and voice to His Father, and says, 'I thank Thee, Father... Lord of heaven and earth....'
- God the Father is the Lord of heaven and earth - ie. the sovereign and the omnipotent ruler of His creation. The Holy Spirit led Jesus to rejoice in this truth... therefore all believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit shall also acknowledge and rejoice in the same...

b. But how could Jesus praise the Father not only for revealing to some matters touching salvation, but even concealing them from others? Yes, the Lord Jesus is praising God that He is pleased to reveal the things concerning salvation to some... and concealing them to others, that the Father does as He pleased.

- The Lord Jesus Christ is rejoicing in the sovereignty of His Father in the salvation of sinners...  God does all things according to His own good pleasure... See Rm 9.14f. He is answerable to no one... He owes no one... and He does no one any wrong... The Lord is just and righteous in all His ways...

- Salvation, properly understood, is truly by grace alone. Any saving knowledge of God is not by any human effort or cleverness or merit. No, salvation is of the Lord, from beginning to end.

- Without the new birth by the Holy Spirit we remain in spiritual deadness.

- Without the Father drawing sinners, they shall not come to the Saviour.

- Without the Saviour coming and seeking for them... they shall remain lost as ever.

- But bless the Lord - rejoice with great rejoicing... that the Lord Jesus Christ says, '... the Son wills to reveal Him, the Father.'  O what blessed truth... There is a Saviour who wills to reveal God unto sinners, that they may come to the Father through Him and be saved to the uttermost... Heb 7.25, Jn 14.6.

## O rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, who has revealed the Father to you... Blessed are the eyes which see these things concerning the glorious salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ...

The Lord of the Harvest - Luke 10.1-16

The harvest truly is great!

The Lord of the Harvest  Luke 10.1-16        

a. In 9.1-6 we read of the event of Jesus sending out the twelve disciples. Here is another account of Jesus appointing and sending out other disciples... 'appointed seventy others also.' So even though there are some similarities between the two events, there are significant differences.

- On this occasion, Jesus designated Himself as the Lord of the Harvest, and some details related to this title: the abundance of the harvest, the scarcity of labourers, the pleading with the Lord to send labourers to gather in His harvest, the mention of the sons of peace (v6), etc.

- Let us give our attention to these things, and may God bless His word to our mind and heart.

- We are all familiar with the picture of harvest. In nearly all human societies in every generation, there are activities of ploughing the fields, sowing seeds, cultivating crops, and gathering in of the harvest.

- The Lord Jesus Christ uses such a familiar picture to teach us some very important spiritual truths.

- Let us set our minds to learn some of the things the Lord has to say to us in this passage.

1. Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest
a. From the first two verses, it is quite plain that the title 'Lord of the harvest' is a self-designation of Jesus Himself. Verse 1 speaks of the Lord Jesus appointing and sending out gospel preachers. Verse 2 speaks of the 'Lord of the harvest' sending out labourers into His harvest field.

- And the rest of the paragraph only confirms that truth. Let us consider this truth a little closer: Note that the preposition 'of' in the phrase 'the Lord of the harvest' is a genitive of origin and possession.

b. Jesus is the Lord of the harvest in the sense that He is the originator of the harvest... He brought this harvest into being. Without Him, there would be no harvest to speak of. It is as a result of His redemptive activity that there is this harvest. It is because of His saving work that there is this harvest to gather in.

- Jesus is the Lord of the harvest in the sense that He is the possessor of the harvest... It is His harvest. It belongs to Him and He is the Lord of it...  He has purchased it, and He has the right and privilege and honour to appoint and send whoever He desires to be labourers in His harvest field.

## So Jesus is the originator or source of this harvest. He is also the owner of this harvest. But how did these come about? How did Jesus become the originator and possessor of the harvest?

c. The Scriptures tell us that God the Father had chosen a vast multitude out of the fallen and condemned race of Adam... and gave them unto His Son Jesus Christ, and the Lord Jesus Christ came to this world to save all those whom God the Father has elected and given to Christ.

## Without the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be no harvest to be gathered into the churches
## Bless the Lord of the harvest if you do understand and know this truth in your heart...

d. The Scriptures also tell us that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of all those whom He came to save. Jesus Christ is the Lord of the harvest He has produced by His saving work.... Lordship of Jesus Christ over His redeemed people. He is the Lord of His harvest.

- Lk 10.2: He exercises His right and authority to gather them into His barn... His kingdom.  He exercises right and authority in commanding how His labourers are to conduct themselves... how they are to be treated and respected... to declare severe judgment upon those who do not receive His messengers...

## The harvest is the Lord's harvest... not the pastors... no right to lord over the Lord's redeemed people
## How very thankful you must be that we are not the harvest to some men... no men can rule over us.

2. Jesus has a truly Great Harvest
a. Jesus said to these 70 disciples, 'The harvest truly is great.' It doesn't say, 'The harvest is great' but in a very emphatic manner... 'The harvest truly is great.' What is the Lord Jesus Christ saying to us? What is the significance of that word 'truly'? On what basis does our Lord Jesus make this astounding statement? In what sense is the harvest great... and truly is great? Let us consider what the Bible tells us:

b. Now remember we said that God chose a great multitude of sinners out of the fallen and condemned race of Adam and gave them to Jesus Christ, and for whom Jesus Christ came to save. The harvest is great because of the great multitudes of sinners Jesus Christ came to save. So, it is great in the vastness, the abundance of the number of redeemed sinners among His harvest. Rev 7.9; 19.1,6.

- But this truth was prophesied and foreshadowed at the beginning of the Bible: Gen 22.15-19... stars of the heaven... Now the NT clearly interpret this passage as referring to Christ and His harvest ... cp Gal 3.16.

- It is true that the Lord Jesus says in Mt 7.13-14 these words: '...there are few who find it.'  But the point here is the comparison between the two ways that His redeemed ones travel on.

## O great is the multitude of the redeemed people of Christ. Great is the harvest because of His saving works.

- The greatness of the harvest also consists in the fact that this harvest is made up of people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. (Rev 5.9). See this truth prophesied and promised to Abraham in Gen 12.3. 'In you ALL the families of the earth shall be blessed.' Rev 14.6... Mt 28.19

## O the greatness and the vastness and the abundance of Christ harvest... so vast as to include people of all races. Of whatever race you... as long as you are of the fallen and condemned race of Adam... Christ has come to call such as you...

- The greatness of the harvest certainly consists also in the vast diversity of all sorts and classes of people found in the harvest of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He did not come to save just a certain type of people... He came to save all sorts of people...

 Q1. “I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Comment.
Q2. Why the instruction, “carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes…”?
Q3. Concerning ‘the son of peace’ in verse 6.
- What is a ‘son of peace’?
- How does a ‘son of peace’ come to be?
- Who is there first: the son of peace or the itinerant preacher?
- Does the itinerant preacher help in bringing about a son of peace?
- Why does a son of peace treat the itinerant preacher well?

Q4. What are some of the implications of how the itinerant preachers are to discharge their work from the instructions in v9-11?

Q5. Why did Jesus say the words in v16 to the seventy?
- Do they have any application to us today?

What was Abraham's Experience? Romans 4:1

Sir, why is the Hebrew word "believed" in Gen 15:6 a hiphil?

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[May 6, 2025, 4:03 PM]

I have no idea at all. I'm hardly proficient in biblical Hebrew. I use language tools to aid me. I will just stick to the translation by competent linguists, logicians, and god-fearing men.

Gen 15
4 ¶And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 ¶And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Verses 4-5 are a two-verse paragraph.
Verse 6 is a one-verse paragraph.

The LORD made a momentous promise to Abraham, "he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir... So shall thy seed be."  Out of this SEED (singular - referring to Christ), all nations shall be blessed, and Abraham's spiritual descendants shall be as numerous as the stars in space.

Galatians 3:16 KJT — "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

Abraham believed in the Promised Seed. His faith was counted to him for righteousness - THAT IS, the LORD blessed Abraham's act of believing to experience the blessedness of his righteous standing before the LORD. This is practical/experiential/evidential justification.

Romans 4
1 ¶What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [i.e. what was Abraham's experience?]
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. [i.e works of ceremonial laws]
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [i.e. faith in Christ  versus the observation of ceremonial laws in experiential justification.]

Apostle Paul demonstrated that Abraham experienced the blessedness of his justified state through faith in Jesus Christ and NOT through the observation of some ceremonial laws as the perverse Judaizers insisted.

Too many  - both Calvinists, Arminians, and Carminians - mindlessly read v6 as the time when the righteousness of Christ was accounted to Abraham for his justification because he believed.

They see v6 as the specific time Abraham was justified by the LORD; and He justified Abraham because Abraham believed in the promised Seed.

This stupid (lacking common sense) idea NECESSARILY IMPLIES that before Gen 15:6, Abraham was still an unjustified man before God. An unjustified man is a man STILL in his native state, under condemnation and death.

Justification by Christ's righteousness is the justification of life, Romans 5:18. What do you read in Gen 12-14 - what kind of a man was Abraham?

The LORD had freely justified Abram when he was still in the Ur of the Chaldeans. That's why he could obey the Lord when he was called to leave his homeland, etc.

Genesis 12:1 KJV — Now the LORD HAD said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

Note  the word "HAD."

I hope this helps. 

Begetting and Parenting

Begetting and Parenting;
Sonship and Discipleship.
They are distinct!

Sonship: a condemned, dead, alien sinner being justified, regenerated and adopted into the family of God - is by God's free grace alone, completely monergistic; it is God's work alone, man being dead in trespasses and sins, is completely passive. It is God's free and sovereign activities of producing His children.

John 1
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Discipleship is by the deliberate choice of God's children in rendering obedience to God's will in Jesus Christ, in response to God's grace working in them. It is synergistic; God's children are actively involved. Their carelessness and negligence can lead to the shipwreck of their faith; God's children can fall from faith, and they can end up barren.

Phl 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Plagiarism and the word of God

I noticed this lovely cup with its unique meme.

There is no fear of plagiarism if you quote and repeat the word of God. Just be careful that you don't add to or subtract from it for the all-knowing Author may show His displeasure upon you; misrepresenting Him and misleading His children are no small evils.

Rightly divide the word of truth, and you shall be commended as good and faithful; otherwise, your fault in twisting and perverting the word of truth should shame you.

1 Cor 4
1 So let a man think of us as the Lord's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries. 2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.

2 Tim 2
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Job 42
7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Therefore, take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

"... ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job." Bearing false witness of the LORD God is a grievous sin.

We look for new heavens and a new earth

 2Pet 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Some questions to assist you to rightly divide the word of truth:

1. What does the adverb 'nevertheless' refer back to?
- what has been set before them?

2. Who does the pronoun 'we' refer to?

3. Concerning the promise:
- Who made the promise?
- To whom was the promise made?
- Where is the promise recorded?

4. What is 'the new heavens and a new earth' that were promised?
- Why is it 'the new heavens and a new earth' to the recipients?
- What were the old heavens and old earth?
- What happened to the old, and when?

5 What does 'look for' imply?
- Are they still looking for it?
- Or what was looked for has since arrived?

6. Why is the new said to be indwelt with righteousness?

7. What was the old indwelt with?
- How and when was it particularly manifested?

8. Why was this promise so relevant to those who looked for it?
- Why was Apostle Peter reminding themselves of this promise?

9. Now read Apostle Paul reminding the Hebrews believers of the same promise: Hebrews 12
25 ¶See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

What is Apostle Paul reminding the Jewish believers of? (Now check 2Pet 3:16).

Let me hear your thoughts if you can keep to the questions.

Thank you most kindly.
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Take a look here:
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2009/11/we-look-for-new-heavens-and-new-earth.html