Lucifer and his system, places a burden on your heart; and he wants you to come to the scriptures thinking "what does God want from me?' Is that why you have been avoiding the Bible lately? Maybe, you need to come with a new attitude; "what does God has for me today!" What are the blessings that He has for me?' Why is that? Because the scriptures are about Jesus. And Jesus said that He came to give us life abundantly. The Law came by Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH by Jesus Christ.(John 1:17) So even when you read the Old Testament, you have to see Jesus in them. The whole Bible speaks about Jesus and what He did. If you read the Bible and all you see is condemnation, you are not reading the Gospel. There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ. On the road to Emmaus, after Jesus died and was risen, he appeared to two disciples. Luke 24:25-27
"25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
They then invited him to eat with them. After Jesus broke bread, then they knew him. But they said this in verse 33:" And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” When you see Jesus through the scriptures, your heart will get excited. The Holy Spirit that dwells in you will confirm the word in your heart. You will feel like, I knew this was it. Why? Because Jesus took all the yoke; and gave us his yoke, and His yoke is easy. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy. So whenever you hear a preaching or teaching, and you don't have the peace of God, or the joy of the Lord, beware of the serpent. He tries to imitate God, and will use the scriptures; but he will place a heavy burden in your heart.
What can refine you better? God, or suffering? God's way of refining us is through his word! You wanna do it the other way, via suffering, God will change things for your good yes, because he loves you. But thats not his first option for you. Oh and by the way, not everybody gets refined when they go through suffering. You can have two siblings, having been through hell in the family, yet, one will turn out refined, and the other in a a worse shape. So suffering doesn't necessarily refines. But God's word will surely refine anyone.
Where does it say in the scriptures that we are refine by fire? And what fire?
Abraham, Romans 12:1-3 says we are conformed by the renewing of our minds.
As i mentioned above, the word says in 2 Timothy 3:16 that the scripture is good for doctrine, for instruction; for correction.....this actually covers everything. Its not for sanctification only. Moreover, we are sanctified also by Jesus' work on the cross.
But the word says we don't need anything to be added unto us. Anything we need for life and godliness has already been given. Anything means everything; that includes "being refined".
There is no scripture in the whole Bible that says we are refine by fire.
Humanly speaking, we do learn from mistakes, yes. But mistakes are not the only tool to learn from. You can learn from other people's errors. If you've seen someone fall into a pit; all you need is avoid that pit.
There is however scripture that says our work will be tested by fire. Thats not the same thing.
How about the scriptues in 1 John 4:17 where it says:
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
Does Jesus needs to be refined? No way! And the scripture says that "AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD".
So my friend Abraham; tribulations and trials may come. But God is not the one ordaining them as a "tool to refine us". These things were a result of man's failure from God's presence. They will be here till the second coming. But with the coming of Jesus the first time, he equiped us to be able to withstand any affliction from the enemy.
Just think of God as a loving father. Would you do that to your children? Would you afflict your children with cancer, diabetes, poverty, or kill their brothers, .....for the sake of refining them? If you do that, I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO CALL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO TAKE YOUR CHILDREN AWAY FROM YOU. That is abuse. And God the father is alot better than us.
And i doubt that you will do that to your children, even if you have prior knowledge that this will make them strong. Some people do die of sicknesses by the way. I don't see what they can learn after they die.
Isn't the Bible clear as to the source of all that? The Bible says the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. That is the enemy's job. And my GOD IS NOT A PARTNER-IN CRIME WITH LUCIFER!
So maybe you ask the question, why does God allow that then?
God is not allowing that. He gave a solution to the problem, and then gave us every tool we need to fight the enemy. Literally, every tool we need. Why would you still want to blame God for it. He says "submit to God, RESIST the enemy, and he will flee" James 4:7.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. James 1:13
God does not tempt anyone. If you think this is contradicting the story of Job, thats your problem. It is not contradicting. The next verse after that says;
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
That scripture says that we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires. Job 3:25 says: "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me."
It is very obvious that Job had this fear in his heart that he will lose his children and wealth. That is why he said that. Go read that scripture again. Despite the fact that God has blessed him, in his heart he had fear. He didn't trust God to protect him. This shows that his own desires drew him to that temptations. Jesus said that "as a man thinks, so is he". If you have fear in your heart, that is who you are. Sooner or later your mouth will speak your heart. And just as the scriptures say "from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". Whatever you say, comes from your heart. And we know the scriptures says "that we have the power of life and death in our mouth". The thing that you fear in your heart, will soon become the word of your mouth, and that will soon become your REALITY. That is exactly what happened to Job.
And if you continue thinking that God is the one allowing the suffering in your life; you may soon develope fear in your heart. and if you are not careful, that will become the word of your mouth! As a man thinks, so is he!
It starts eating away faith from your heart. On the one hand, you think God is a good God. And on the other hand, you think that HE MAY DO TO YOU AS HE DID TO JOB.
THAT IS A FAITH KILLER. Thats what Jesus faced when a father of a child who had epilepsy came to him. Mark 9:14-32.
You know the story. But look at verse 23:
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,[a] all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
It is POSSIBLE TO HAVE FAITH AND UNBELIEF AT THE SAME TIME. Thats exactly what this father confessed to Jesus. This normally happens when someone suffers for a long time and there is no cure. They may see God healing other people, but they don't see it. So they believe God can do it, but not for me. If you continue reading that chapter of Mark 9, Jesus tells the disciples "this type does not come out without prayer and fasting. Normally people interpret that to mean "this type of evil spirit". But thats not what Jesus meant. Read that again. If the name of Jesus cannot cast away an evil spirit, NO AMOUNT OF PRAYER OR FASTING WILL. Jesus was speaking about unbelief. The spirit of unbelief. If you go to the original Greek, it is very clear and obvious. But if you look at the context of that chapter, Jesus was speaking to the man about his unbelief. Prayer and fasting does not affect God; it only affect us. It cures our unbelief. Because as far as God is concerned, He has provided the answer already. But the question is, DO WE BELIEVE?
This seems like I've detoured into another subject. But it is all interrelated. The father of the boy said that his son has had this condition from childhood. The longer you suffer without victory, the harder it is to belief. And specially when we see other people having victory. While we wait for years and years. Your mind will start overcoming your spirit, and tells you, God doesn't love you enough. And that will CERTAINLY LEAD TO UNBELIEF. You will still have faith; but your faith will say""SOME DAY, WHEN JESUS COMES BACK, THERE WILL BE NO MORE TEARS'. But now, i've gotta endure this pain. That is not scripture. There is no scripture that says that. This is just human philosophy. But the choice is yours: YOU EITHER CHOOSE WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS, OR CHOOSE HUMAN PHILOSOPHY?
" But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man." Jesus (Matt 15:18)
Therefore, I can confidently say "You are a sum of the things you have spoken in your life." Everything that happens in your life, is a result of the things you have spoken, or things that have bee...n spoken about you; whether its your family, your friends, community, and infact generalizations or prejudices that you allow to shape your thinking.
We have a direct hand in the things that happen to us. But God has given us the choice. He fore-warned us. The scripture tells us that we have the power of life and death in our tongues.
So when you hear on TV "that this is the season for flu", and you just accept it; you will soon be sick with flu. You allowed the message being spoken upon your life "that is flu season" - as if everybody is expected to get sick. That is a tongue risen against you. Sometimes you hear statistics, and you start repeating them; they say Black people are more likely to have blood pressure. Now while this is a statement base on some studies, you don't have to have blood pressure. Isaiah 54:17 says: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."
The scripture says every tongue that rises against you in judgement "YOU SHALL CONDEMN". God is not going to condemn it for you. God has done His part. He says in James 4:7 "submit to God, RESIST THE DEVIL, and he will flee". God won't resist the devil for you. And neither will he condemn the spoken word against you.
THAT IS YOUR DOMAIN. You condemn EVERY WORD SPOKEN AGAINST YOU.
Yes. Even your own words. Sometimes you may find yourself speaking against your self negatively. You can't always control what other people say about you. But you can control what you say. Start speaking favorably about your self. SAY I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST. SAY I AM BLESSED. SAY I HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE BECAUSE I AM IN CHRIST. Believe me you, the things you say will soon catch up with you. They may not this year; maybe not next year; BUT SOON OR LATER, YOU WILL START REAPING THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY. And when that happens, don't blame God, or the devil. I believe sometimes the devil takes notes from us. The way we mess up our lives, it gives the devil ideas on how to use them on others. BUT MY FRIENDS, "THIS IS OUR HERITAGE" the scripture says. Did you know that the scripture says that "the inhabitants(of Zion) shall not say I am sick" (Isaiah 33:24)
Actually read from verse 20: Isaiah 33:20-24:
20Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
21But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
22For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.
23Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
24And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
How beautiful. Look upon Zion the city of our gatherings/feasts(its a picture of the church) a quite habitation. Then verse 24 says, "the inhabitants of zion" shall not say I am sick. This is our heritage. This is a reality. We belong to a kingdom which was establish with words. God said "let there be......and it was". And we are created in his likeness. Ephesians 4:24 says "put on the new man which after God is created in true holiness and righteousness". Your new man, is identical to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our older brother. We are the fruits of God, born of God. I don't think God sits in Heaven and thinks that He might get sick. And if He is our source, we should not SPEAK EVIL BY SAYING THAT HE TEMPTS US. You know why are stressed this point. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, Moses sent out spies to check out the land. Ten people came back with bad news. But Joshua and Caleb came with the better report. The scripture said that the ten people brought an EVIL REPORT: Can you believe that. When you bring report of unbelief, the Bible calls it AN EVIL REPORT;
Numbers 13:32:
"32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature."
And because of that, THE WHOLE GENERATION WASN'T ALLOWED TO ENTER THE LAND OF PROMISE. Because of the words of their mouth. You see what words can do?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Is struggling part of our penance?
br />We do struggle yes. But God didn't ordain that to teach us. God wasn't the one who embeded struggle as part of our journey. It all started in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. That was a result of man chosing to perform inorder to be like God. Let me explain what I mean. The Bible says in Genesis that God created man in His image. Man was made like God. They didn't have to do anything to be in God's presence. The only qualification was to be simply "man".
But as we all know, the devil came and deceived Eve; he told her you will be like God if you eat from this fruit. Now this is very important. We only focus on the part where they disobeyed God and ate the fruit which resulted in the "great fall". And that is true. But read the 3rd chapter of Genesis again. The way the devil presented this idea was very subtle. Remember the very first verse of chapter three says that the devil was very cunning. But to have a clear idea of what I'm trying to say, lets go Isaiah 14:12-18
12 “ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[b] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
16 “ Those who see you will gaze at you,
And consider you, saying:
‘ Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness
And destroyed its cities,
Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
18 “ All the kings of the nations,
Lucifer was an Angel of God. But he wanted to be like God. From the verses above, we see that he wanted to exalt himself above the throne of God. And for that reason, he was kicked off of heaven. Now with that picture in mind, lets go back to the garden of Eden; imagine Lucifer who was angel in the presence of God; he envied God, and wanted to be like God, but for that, he was kicked out. And here in the garden of Eden, he saw that God has created man from the dust, yet in God's image; that is, like God. Can you imagine what went on in his mind? He was kicked out for trying to be like God, and now God made man from the dust, and God said that man is according to His image. I'm sure the devil thought to himself, I'm going to mess up this "thing called man". So he stepped into the scene and told Eve, if you EAT THIS FRUIT, you will BE LIKE God!
Before this time, there has never been any system for mankind to perform inorder to be like God. Mankind was like God, Period. Man didn't need to do anything at all. They were in the presence of God whenever they want. There were no conditions. But Lucifer decieved Eve and told her, you will be like God when you EAT THIS FRUIT. Once they ate the fruit, they implemented a system of WORKS. They were sent out from God's presence, and moreover, they now have to perform some rituals or works, inorder to please God. And of course they disobeyed God, which was sin.
While sin became the obstacle, the result of sin also introduced a new system; the burden was now place upon mankind to perform inorder come to God. Because man chose to perform, God introduced the Law. The Ten Commandmends say "thou shall not ..... if you observe the whole law, the burden is being placed upon mankind. You shall not do this; you shall do this; you shall not.....etc. Now there are conditions in dealing with God. But mind you, this was not God's original plan for mankind. This has to be observed because man rejected God's original plan and chose to perform/works.
As a result, all the religions of the world(with the exception of Christianity) all require some form of performance. The Bible called this system, "THE BABYLON SYSTEM". Thats why in Isaiah 14 it says Babylon felled when Lucifer was cast out. You can read the whole chapter 14 of Isaiah, and Ezekiel 28.
Lucifer came and introduce this "babylon system" of works to mankind.
But God wasn't done yet. God had another plan. God is a good God. He gave mankind free will from the very beginning. Because of man's choice in the garden of Eden, he didn't interfere with man. But becaues he gave His word, he is Just and Faithful, He wouldnt take His word back. So while Lucifer deceived mankind and took man's authority, God allowed him to reign because it was man who gave away the authority.
So God decided that to take the dominion back, He had to become man.
The bible says, "the word became flesh and dwelled amongst us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1:14.
Jesus Christ took the form of man, and like man, under the law of Moses he obeyed and fulfilled the whole law. He did this of course representing the whole of humanity. Just like Adam in the garden of Eden represented us, Jesus also represented us in the garden of Gethsemane. He came under the babylon system, fulfilled the whole requirement of the system, and the removed the system far away from us. Matthew 5;17 -18 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Jesus said in those verses, that he did not come to destroy the law, but rather to fulfill it. Now what does that mean? In verse 17 he says he came to fulfill. vs 18 heaven and earth will not pass till it is fulfilled. Now my question to you is this; did Jesus fulfill the law? If he fulfilled it, is there need now for it? Do we still have to come to God through that system? The scriptures say "without faith it is impossible to please God".
So you can keep the whole law, but without faith, its all junk.
But the problem today is this; the church is trying to bring back the "babylon system" . We place certain conditions, God won't bless you unless you come to church (i'm not suggesting we shouldn't go to church); or if you don't pay your tithes, God won't bless you; or God make you sick if you don't pay tithes; then you end up paying the tithes anyway via the hospital bill, or car problems.....or you will not grow spiritually unless if you go through fire.....you fill in the blanks. There are many outrageous things being taught today in the church that is in essence returning us to the system of works.
I understand we learn from tribulations. But that is not the only way to learn. And tribulations will come, oh yes they will. But God is not the author of tribulations. Every good gift comes from above. Trials, tribulations and struggle resulted from man's disobedience. God is a good God. Jesus portrayed the Father's heart in many of his parables. In one instance he said, who among you will give their son snake, when they ask for bread? Then he said, "if you mankind are so kind, how much more then God". Yet, we attribute sickness, death, accidents to God. The insurance companies call huricanes and tornadoes, "acts of God". Where did they get that from? From the church!
I'm not done yet with this topic! I still have plenty to add. But I am going to stop here. You may add your comments.
In addition to that, the scriptues say in 2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
All of scripture is given.....is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
If we need instruction, behold the scriptures; Do we need correction, the scriptures; Are we struggling, the scriptures. In fact, everything that we need for life and godliness, has ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO US. We don't need MORE POWER, MORE GLORY, MORE REVELATION, MORE OF JESUS, MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Every power in heaven and on earth has already been given to us. If there is a need somewhere, the supply for it has been provided 2000 years ago. We need to look within where God the Holy Spirit dwells. Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit:
"13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."
I don't see why we have to suffer in order to learn. We do suffer however as a consequence of the fallen nature. But it doesn't have keep us under.
Am I saying that our bodies are already glorified? No way.
When we depend on our selves, our own efforts, our own brain, we falter. But when we stand on scripture and believe, then we can overcome. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
"6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c]
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”[e] But we have the mind of Christ.
It says that "eye has not seen nor ear heard, the things......but checkout verse 10:
"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit." So these things that eye has not seen, it says that God has revealed them to us. How? The Spirit of God who knows the things of God, dwells in us, therefore that same Spirit will reveal them to us. IT DOESN'T SAY WE HAVE TO FAST. NOR DOES IT SAY WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS LIKE JOB. It simply says God reveals them to us. Now what is the qualification? Faith. Faith is the vehicle that makes these precious promises real. Its not blind faith. It is faith based on the word of God Himself. By faith the patriochs did mighty things for God - Hebrews 11.
Let me make a point here, before I am misunderstood. I am in no way, shape or form advocating absence from church, or not giving offerings, or fasting.
We don't do these things to earn favor, or approval from God. We do these things to keep ourselves engaged in the word. If you are in Christ, you are already "accepted in the beloved" as it says in Ephesians. That means you are highly favored, and that is not because you come to church, or because you pay tithes, or pray. You are accepted independent of your works. I need to go to church to hear the word and to fellowship with other believers. It make me stay on the word. And as a result, I stay my mind on the integrity of what Jesus has already done for me. When I stay my mind on the word of God, grace and peace is multiplied unto me(2Pet 1:2) So the works that I do, I do them for my own sake, to keep me in the grace. I labor to enter into the rest of God. It sounds like contradiction isn't it? But thats what the scripture says in Hebrews 4:11. We labor to enter into the rest of God. What does that mean?
When we come to Christ, our spirit man is the part that becomes the "NEW CREATION". Man is spirit, soul and body. So, your spirit is created after God in true holiness and righteousness(Ephesians 4:24) But your mind, your ego, your feelings are in the soulish realm. Your mind still thinks the same way. Your mind still hates Monday morning when you have to go to work. Your mind still says I am from Dinka, Maadi, Nuer, Shilluk, Nuba, American, Arab, Ethiopian etc....Your mind is still wrapped up in the "babylon system". Oh what a dilemma! Who can save me from this, my condition. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak - does that ring a bell? The spirit is on one end, and the flesh is on the other, and the soul is in the middle. Whoever sways the mind its way wins. If your soul listens to your 5 senses more, then whatever your body tells you goes. But if we, by the power of the Holy spirit, renew our minds with the word of God, then the spirit man wins. Romans 12:1-3. We have to renew our minds. That is where the struggle is. We struggle to renew our minds. We struggle to stay our minds in the word of God; when we do that, we enter THE REST OF GOD. Because God has already taken care of the rest. We don't need to pay anything for it. All we need is faith, and then renew our minds to stay in the word, in His grace by faith; when we do that, we are seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO US. Amen!
The scriptures speak of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation. We don't read the Bible to know what is required of us. We are'nt suppose to read the Bible to know what does God want from us. Thats the wrong spirit to read the scriptures. But we read it to know what God has already done for us. Thats what the Gospel is. The Gospel is called so, because it is GOOD NEWS. What is the good news? The good news is ....." For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Verse 6 says "and the government will be upon His shoulder. What does that mean? I had mentioned previously that burden was place upon man to proof himself worthy when Adam and Eve chose to EAT INORDER TO BE LIKE GOD. The government was place on man. The king of Babylon, deceived mankind, and he has been oppressing man. But that has changed. A day has come where God has given us rest. Jesus said very clearly: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." This day of rest, was spoken about in Isaiah 14:3-11. It says:
3 It shall come to pass in the day the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say:
“ How the oppressor has ceased,
The golden[a] city ceased!
5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,
The scepter of the rulers;
6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke,
He who ruled the nations in anger,
Is persecuted and no one hinders.
7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
They break forth into singing.
8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you,
And the cedars of Lebanon,
Saying, ‘Since you were cut down,
No woodsman has come up against us.’
9 “ Hell from beneath is excited about you,
To meet you at your coming;
It stirs up the dead for you,
All the chief ones of the earth;
It has raised up from their thrones
All the kings of the nations.
10 They all shall speak and say to you:
‘ Have you also become as weak as we?
Have you become like us?
11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
And the sound of your stringed instruments;
The maggot is spread under you,
And worms cover you.’
Oh, isn't this wonderful? The enemy, Lucifer "struck the people with continual stroke:" Isn't that how it feels. When trouble after trouble after trouble bothers you. And we say it is God testing our faith. No way. This king of Babylon, with his torture, IS DEFEATED. The only reason we still suffer is ignorance." My people perish for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. The king of Babylon is defeated. He was defeated by the "Son of Man; wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.
The government is no longer upon our shoulders; God took care of that. Isaiah 14:24-25 says:
24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying,
“ Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass,
And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:
25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land,
And on My mountains tread him underfoot.
Then his yoke shall be removed from them,
And his burden removed from their shoulders.
Look at the last part of verse 25; And his burden removed from their shoulder. It is still speaking about Lucifer. If you agree with that, why don't you say this with me: "I declare that I am free from his burden. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am born of God. I am a new creation. I overcome the world, the babylon system, and the flesh." Amen.
Yesterday at 8:52pm · Delete Post
But as we all know, the devil came and deceived Eve; he told her you will be like God if you eat from this fruit. Now this is very important. We only focus on the part where they disobeyed God and ate the fruit which resulted in the "great fall". And that is true. But read the 3rd chapter of Genesis again. The way the devil presented this idea was very subtle. Remember the very first verse of chapter three says that the devil was very cunning. But to have a clear idea of what I'm trying to say, lets go Isaiah 14:12-18
12 “ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[b] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
16 “ Those who see you will gaze at you,
And consider you, saying:
‘ Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness
And destroyed its cities,
Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
18 “ All the kings of the nations,
Lucifer was an Angel of God. But he wanted to be like God. From the verses above, we see that he wanted to exalt himself above the throne of God. And for that reason, he was kicked off of heaven. Now with that picture in mind, lets go back to the garden of Eden; imagine Lucifer who was angel in the presence of God; he envied God, and wanted to be like God, but for that, he was kicked out. And here in the garden of Eden, he saw that God has created man from the dust, yet in God's image; that is, like God. Can you imagine what went on in his mind? He was kicked out for trying to be like God, and now God made man from the dust, and God said that man is according to His image. I'm sure the devil thought to himself, I'm going to mess up this "thing called man". So he stepped into the scene and told Eve, if you EAT THIS FRUIT, you will BE LIKE God!
Before this time, there has never been any system for mankind to perform inorder to be like God. Mankind was like God, Period. Man didn't need to do anything at all. They were in the presence of God whenever they want. There were no conditions. But Lucifer decieved Eve and told her, you will be like God when you EAT THIS FRUIT. Once they ate the fruit, they implemented a system of WORKS. They were sent out from God's presence, and moreover, they now have to perform some rituals or works, inorder to please God. And of course they disobeyed God, which was sin.
While sin became the obstacle, the result of sin also introduced a new system; the burden was now place upon mankind to perform inorder come to God. Because man chose to perform, God introduced the Law. The Ten Commandmends say "thou shall not ..... if you observe the whole law, the burden is being placed upon mankind. You shall not do this; you shall do this; you shall not.....etc. Now there are conditions in dealing with God. But mind you, this was not God's original plan for mankind. This has to be observed because man rejected God's original plan and chose to perform/works.
As a result, all the religions of the world(with the exception of Christianity) all require some form of performance. The Bible called this system, "THE BABYLON SYSTEM". Thats why in Isaiah 14 it says Babylon felled when Lucifer was cast out. You can read the whole chapter 14 of Isaiah, and Ezekiel 28.
Lucifer came and introduce this "babylon system" of works to mankind.
But God wasn't done yet. God had another plan. God is a good God. He gave mankind free will from the very beginning. Because of man's choice in the garden of Eden, he didn't interfere with man. But becaues he gave His word, he is Just and Faithful, He wouldnt take His word back. So while Lucifer deceived mankind and took man's authority, God allowed him to reign because it was man who gave away the authority.
So God decided that to take the dominion back, He had to become man.
The bible says, "the word became flesh and dwelled amongst us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1:14.
Jesus Christ took the form of man, and like man, under the law of Moses he obeyed and fulfilled the whole law. He did this of course representing the whole of humanity. Just like Adam in the garden of Eden represented us, Jesus also represented us in the garden of Gethsemane. He came under the babylon system, fulfilled the whole requirement of the system, and the removed the system far away from us. Matthew 5;17 -18 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Jesus said in those verses, that he did not come to destroy the law, but rather to fulfill it. Now what does that mean? In verse 17 he says he came to fulfill. vs 18 heaven and earth will not pass till it is fulfilled. Now my question to you is this; did Jesus fulfill the law? If he fulfilled it, is there need now for it? Do we still have to come to God through that system? The scriptures say "without faith it is impossible to please God".
So you can keep the whole law, but without faith, its all junk.
But the problem today is this; the church is trying to bring back the "babylon system" . We place certain conditions, God won't bless you unless you come to church (i'm not suggesting we shouldn't go to church); or if you don't pay your tithes, God won't bless you; or God make you sick if you don't pay tithes; then you end up paying the tithes anyway via the hospital bill, or car problems.....or you will not grow spiritually unless if you go through fire.....you fill in the blanks. There are many outrageous things being taught today in the church that is in essence returning us to the system of works.
I understand we learn from tribulations. But that is not the only way to learn. And tribulations will come, oh yes they will. But God is not the author of tribulations. Every good gift comes from above. Trials, tribulations and struggle resulted from man's disobedience. God is a good God. Jesus portrayed the Father's heart in many of his parables. In one instance he said, who among you will give their son snake, when they ask for bread? Then he said, "if you mankind are so kind, how much more then God". Yet, we attribute sickness, death, accidents to God. The insurance companies call huricanes and tornadoes, "acts of God". Where did they get that from? From the church!
I'm not done yet with this topic! I still have plenty to add. But I am going to stop here. You may add your comments.
In addition to that, the scriptues say in 2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
All of scripture is given.....is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
If we need instruction, behold the scriptures; Do we need correction, the scriptures; Are we struggling, the scriptures. In fact, everything that we need for life and godliness, has ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO US. We don't need MORE POWER, MORE GLORY, MORE REVELATION, MORE OF JESUS, MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Every power in heaven and on earth has already been given to us. If there is a need somewhere, the supply for it has been provided 2000 years ago. We need to look within where God the Holy Spirit dwells. Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit:
"13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."
I don't see why we have to suffer in order to learn. We do suffer however as a consequence of the fallen nature. But it doesn't have keep us under.
Am I saying that our bodies are already glorified? No way.
When we depend on our selves, our own efforts, our own brain, we falter. But when we stand on scripture and believe, then we can overcome. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
"6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c]
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”[e] But we have the mind of Christ.
It says that "eye has not seen nor ear heard, the things......but checkout verse 10:
"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit." So these things that eye has not seen, it says that God has revealed them to us. How? The Spirit of God who knows the things of God, dwells in us, therefore that same Spirit will reveal them to us. IT DOESN'T SAY WE HAVE TO FAST. NOR DOES IT SAY WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS LIKE JOB. It simply says God reveals them to us. Now what is the qualification? Faith. Faith is the vehicle that makes these precious promises real. Its not blind faith. It is faith based on the word of God Himself. By faith the patriochs did mighty things for God - Hebrews 11.
Let me make a point here, before I am misunderstood. I am in no way, shape or form advocating absence from church, or not giving offerings, or fasting.
We don't do these things to earn favor, or approval from God. We do these things to keep ourselves engaged in the word. If you are in Christ, you are already "accepted in the beloved" as it says in Ephesians. That means you are highly favored, and that is not because you come to church, or because you pay tithes, or pray. You are accepted independent of your works. I need to go to church to hear the word and to fellowship with other believers. It make me stay on the word. And as a result, I stay my mind on the integrity of what Jesus has already done for me. When I stay my mind on the word of God, grace and peace is multiplied unto me(2Pet 1:2) So the works that I do, I do them for my own sake, to keep me in the grace. I labor to enter into the rest of God. It sounds like contradiction isn't it? But thats what the scripture says in Hebrews 4:11. We labor to enter into the rest of God. What does that mean?
When we come to Christ, our spirit man is the part that becomes the "NEW CREATION". Man is spirit, soul and body. So, your spirit is created after God in true holiness and righteousness(Ephesians 4:24) But your mind, your ego, your feelings are in the soulish realm. Your mind still thinks the same way. Your mind still hates Monday morning when you have to go to work. Your mind still says I am from Dinka, Maadi, Nuer, Shilluk, Nuba, American, Arab, Ethiopian etc....Your mind is still wrapped up in the "babylon system". Oh what a dilemma! Who can save me from this, my condition. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak - does that ring a bell? The spirit is on one end, and the flesh is on the other, and the soul is in the middle. Whoever sways the mind its way wins. If your soul listens to your 5 senses more, then whatever your body tells you goes. But if we, by the power of the Holy spirit, renew our minds with the word of God, then the spirit man wins. Romans 12:1-3. We have to renew our minds. That is where the struggle is. We struggle to renew our minds. We struggle to stay our minds in the word of God; when we do that, we enter THE REST OF GOD. Because God has already taken care of the rest. We don't need to pay anything for it. All we need is faith, and then renew our minds to stay in the word, in His grace by faith; when we do that, we are seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO US. Amen!
The scriptures speak of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation. We don't read the Bible to know what is required of us. We are'nt suppose to read the Bible to know what does God want from us. Thats the wrong spirit to read the scriptures. But we read it to know what God has already done for us. Thats what the Gospel is. The Gospel is called so, because it is GOOD NEWS. What is the good news? The good news is ....." For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Verse 6 says "and the government will be upon His shoulder. What does that mean? I had mentioned previously that burden was place upon man to proof himself worthy when Adam and Eve chose to EAT INORDER TO BE LIKE GOD. The government was place on man. The king of Babylon, deceived mankind, and he has been oppressing man. But that has changed. A day has come where God has given us rest. Jesus said very clearly: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." This day of rest, was spoken about in Isaiah 14:3-11. It says:
3 It shall come to pass in the day the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say:
“ How the oppressor has ceased,
The golden[a] city ceased!
5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,
The scepter of the rulers;
6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke,
He who ruled the nations in anger,
Is persecuted and no one hinders.
7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
They break forth into singing.
8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you,
And the cedars of Lebanon,
Saying, ‘Since you were cut down,
No woodsman has come up against us.’
9 “ Hell from beneath is excited about you,
To meet you at your coming;
It stirs up the dead for you,
All the chief ones of the earth;
It has raised up from their thrones
All the kings of the nations.
10 They all shall speak and say to you:
‘ Have you also become as weak as we?
Have you become like us?
11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
And the sound of your stringed instruments;
The maggot is spread under you,
And worms cover you.’
Oh, isn't this wonderful? The enemy, Lucifer "struck the people with continual stroke:" Isn't that how it feels. When trouble after trouble after trouble bothers you. And we say it is God testing our faith. No way. This king of Babylon, with his torture, IS DEFEATED. The only reason we still suffer is ignorance." My people perish for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. The king of Babylon is defeated. He was defeated by the "Son of Man; wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.
The government is no longer upon our shoulders; God took care of that. Isaiah 14:24-25 says:
24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying,
“ Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass,
And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:
25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land,
And on My mountains tread him underfoot.
Then his yoke shall be removed from them,
And his burden removed from their shoulders.
Look at the last part of verse 25; And his burden removed from their shoulder. It is still speaking about Lucifer. If you agree with that, why don't you say this with me: "I declare that I am free from his burden. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am born of God. I am a new creation. I overcome the world, the babylon system, and the flesh." Amen.
Yesterday at 8:52pm · Delete Post
IS GOD'S PUNISHMENT DUE?
GOD’S PUNISHMENT IS DUE, BECAUSE SIN AND ITS DOMINION SEEMS TO BE EVER INCREASING?
That’s a very broad statement, and something that’s being preached by a lot of well meaning Christians. I don't think those who preach that mean any harm, but I believe its a wrong understanding of the word of God.
I won't attempt to list all the arguments that are being used to support that.
But i will instead build the argument "WHY GOD IS NOT PUNISHING, AND WON'T PUNISH SIN, BECAUSE HE ALREADY DID".
Yes, God already punished sin in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53 clearly portrays what Jesus did; verse 4 says, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Verse 5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities......"
The word of God says that “it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed”. Isaiah 53: 10
From these verses in Isaiah, we see how God foretold what He was going to do about sin. This was way before Jesus actually became flesh. Jesus bore on his body the entire sin of the human race. Every sin that had ever been committed, and that will ever be!
I believe we all agree that God is outside time limitations. And when He decided to atone for the sins of man with the blood of His only begotten son, He paid for it in full; past, present and future. He didn't have to, but He did.
When Jesus was on the cross, the Bible says in Isaiah 53:2 "he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him". Imagine every sin, every sickness, every punishment for sin, all upon his body; cancer, leukemia, heart disease, kidney disease, malaria, leprosy, pain, all manner of sickness....every sickness and infirmity that you can think of, was all placed upon Him. That is why God forsook him on the cross, and placed upon him the fullest measure of wrath. Because he literally became sin for us, who knew no sin (Rom 5:21), and Jesus cried out loud in Mark 15:34 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
And those sins included the sins that are now being committed all over the world; murder, rape, robbery, adultery, lying, disobedience to parents, homosexuality, covetousness, back-biting, gossiping, pride, etc.
God doesn't categorize sin into big and small ones; sin is sin! If you lie, you're just the same as murdering. Mankind, on the other hand, treats sin differently. But the word of God says in James 2:10 that "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all". That is God's standard.
And God knew no man can attain to that standard, that’s why He paid the punishment for it all. There is no human being on this earth today, who can live to that standard outside of the finished work of Jesus. Jesus was the only man (Son of man) who knew no sin. He was the only man who truly pleased the Father. He was the only son of man who obeyed the Father absolutely. He fulfilled the requirement of the Law one hundred percent. And then He became sin for us. Therefore, no man will ever pay for his own sins. The only sin that will take you to hell is the sin of not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who, while He sinned not, became sin and died on the cross to pay the price for all sin.
That my friend is why the gospel is called "Good News". Luke 2:14 says "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men". What the angels were declaring was; THERE'S NOW A NEW ORDER; God is no longer at war with mankind-not that he chose the enmity. It was man who chose enmity with God by sinning. But sin is no longer an issue with God! Not because God has gone soft on sin. But because God in His mercy chose to give us grace! And He did that by paying the price Himself through Jesus. He made His son an atonement for sin ONCE AND FOR ALL! (Hebrews 10:10)
Why once and for all? Why not every year, just like the Jewish rituals? Jesus is greater than any sacrifice, because He is God.
As we read earlier in Isaiah 53, it pleased the Lord to punish him; all manner of sin was placed upon him. And it pleased the Lord because God was getting rid of sin and its’ sting. God was satisfied with the offering that was being made for sin, because it was a perfect sacrifice. It would cover all sin once and for all. So God the Father was truly satisfied and pleased that Jesus received all the punishment for sin. Christ received upon himself punishment, so that we might receive grace and acceptance, and favor. And because Christ obeyed unto death, the Father gave Him a name above all names, and made Him to be head over all principalities, powers and authorities, in this world and in the ages to come. God gave Christ Jesus, the Son of man, all authority in heaven and on earth.
I know this is not something new to you, my friend! We are now living under a new covenant of grace. We are now living at a time which God spoke of in Jeremiah 31:33. This is the time the prophets and the patriarchs have been looking forward to (Heb 11:8-10).
And Hebrews 10:16-17, which basically reiterates the prophecy in Jeremiah 33, says: "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin".
If you are a Christian, you are living at a time that the prophets and the patriarchs wish they had. What does this mean? It simply means that we have been made partakers of the divine nature. What we have, is far more greater than what all the prophets had combined. The patriarchs and all the prophets were mere men who believed God, and their faith was counted unto them as righteousness (Romans 4:3). But we on the other hand, friends, we are sons. God dealt with them according to their works, even though its actually their faith in God. But for us, we are accepted and highly favored because of Jesus. And because of who Jesus is, and what He did, we are created in the likeness of God. But not as the first man Adam in the Garden of Eden. That man sinned, and its after him that the patriarchs were created. But we however, are created after the second Adam. The second Adam never sinned; therefore, we are the righteousness of God. The second Adam is God; therefore, we share the same nature (2 Peter 3:4) As he is, so are we in the world (1 John 4:17) When you are joined to God, by believing in Jesus, you become one spirit with God (1 Corinthians 6:17). God literally, in the person of the Holy Spirit dwells in us. He dwells in us not based on our performance, or goodness, but because Jesus has perfected us. And He dwells in us and with us forever and ever. And if He dwells forever, then so is the anointing and every gift of God that he gives us. The word of God says in Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance”. If Christ dwells in you forever, how much more then His glory, anointing, power. The only reason Christ can dwell in us forever, is because when we believe in Him we "BECOME A NEW CREATION!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). We receive an incorruptible seed; 1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”. And that is who we are in our spirit man. Because we are born of God, Christ dwells in us forever. When we fall short after we’ve been born again, sin cannot penetrate our spirit man. Our spirit man is forever sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). We are no longer the same! Well, your mind is still thinks the same because you have not renewed it, or aligned it with the word of God. However, YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE!
God is having a great feast! And all are invited to come. Every body is invited. That means there is PROVISION FOR EVERY BODY. This was a parable that Jesus told (Luke 14:16-23). According to man’s traditions, Kings mostly share meals with equals, or people of nobility. And God is inviting you to a supper. It’s a great supper my friend.
God wasn't thinking only about sin when He sent Jesus to pay for sin. God had a great plan; He wanted to have sons. He wanted us to share in His glory. (2 Peter 1:3-4) And to enable us to become joint heirs, He made Jesus to be like us, so that by His death, we will be like Jesus. The gospel of John 1:14 says "And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth". Verse 16 says, "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace". When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, we receive the fulness of Jesus. We receive all that Jesus is. Everything that He is. And we know according to God’s word in Colossians 2:9, that “in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”. Verse 10 of that chapter says; “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power”.
So to conclude this (even though that’s not the end of this topic), this is God's plan for mankind. And therefore Jesus became "THE LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD". Jesus didn't pay the sins of Christians only. He didn't pay past sins only. HE PAID THE PRICE FOR ALL SIN, AND HE DID THAT ONE TIME ONLY; and that happened 2000 years ago!
No more offering for sin! No more punishment for sin! The only sin is the SIN OF NOT BELIEVING!
James Akot
Dallas, TX USA
08/17/2009
That’s a very broad statement, and something that’s being preached by a lot of well meaning Christians. I don't think those who preach that mean any harm, but I believe its a wrong understanding of the word of God.
I won't attempt to list all the arguments that are being used to support that.
But i will instead build the argument "WHY GOD IS NOT PUNISHING, AND WON'T PUNISH SIN, BECAUSE HE ALREADY DID".
Yes, God already punished sin in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53 clearly portrays what Jesus did; verse 4 says, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Verse 5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities......"
The word of God says that “it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed”. Isaiah 53: 10
From these verses in Isaiah, we see how God foretold what He was going to do about sin. This was way before Jesus actually became flesh. Jesus bore on his body the entire sin of the human race. Every sin that had ever been committed, and that will ever be!
I believe we all agree that God is outside time limitations. And when He decided to atone for the sins of man with the blood of His only begotten son, He paid for it in full; past, present and future. He didn't have to, but He did.
When Jesus was on the cross, the Bible says in Isaiah 53:2 "he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him". Imagine every sin, every sickness, every punishment for sin, all upon his body; cancer, leukemia, heart disease, kidney disease, malaria, leprosy, pain, all manner of sickness....every sickness and infirmity that you can think of, was all placed upon Him. That is why God forsook him on the cross, and placed upon him the fullest measure of wrath. Because he literally became sin for us, who knew no sin (Rom 5:21), and Jesus cried out loud in Mark 15:34 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
And those sins included the sins that are now being committed all over the world; murder, rape, robbery, adultery, lying, disobedience to parents, homosexuality, covetousness, back-biting, gossiping, pride, etc.
God doesn't categorize sin into big and small ones; sin is sin! If you lie, you're just the same as murdering. Mankind, on the other hand, treats sin differently. But the word of God says in James 2:10 that "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all". That is God's standard.
And God knew no man can attain to that standard, that’s why He paid the punishment for it all. There is no human being on this earth today, who can live to that standard outside of the finished work of Jesus. Jesus was the only man (Son of man) who knew no sin. He was the only man who truly pleased the Father. He was the only son of man who obeyed the Father absolutely. He fulfilled the requirement of the Law one hundred percent. And then He became sin for us. Therefore, no man will ever pay for his own sins. The only sin that will take you to hell is the sin of not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who, while He sinned not, became sin and died on the cross to pay the price for all sin.
That my friend is why the gospel is called "Good News". Luke 2:14 says "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men". What the angels were declaring was; THERE'S NOW A NEW ORDER; God is no longer at war with mankind-not that he chose the enmity. It was man who chose enmity with God by sinning. But sin is no longer an issue with God! Not because God has gone soft on sin. But because God in His mercy chose to give us grace! And He did that by paying the price Himself through Jesus. He made His son an atonement for sin ONCE AND FOR ALL! (Hebrews 10:10)
Why once and for all? Why not every year, just like the Jewish rituals? Jesus is greater than any sacrifice, because He is God.
As we read earlier in Isaiah 53, it pleased the Lord to punish him; all manner of sin was placed upon him. And it pleased the Lord because God was getting rid of sin and its’ sting. God was satisfied with the offering that was being made for sin, because it was a perfect sacrifice. It would cover all sin once and for all. So God the Father was truly satisfied and pleased that Jesus received all the punishment for sin. Christ received upon himself punishment, so that we might receive grace and acceptance, and favor. And because Christ obeyed unto death, the Father gave Him a name above all names, and made Him to be head over all principalities, powers and authorities, in this world and in the ages to come. God gave Christ Jesus, the Son of man, all authority in heaven and on earth.
I know this is not something new to you, my friend! We are now living under a new covenant of grace. We are now living at a time which God spoke of in Jeremiah 31:33. This is the time the prophets and the patriarchs have been looking forward to (Heb 11:8-10).
And Hebrews 10:16-17, which basically reiterates the prophecy in Jeremiah 33, says: "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin".
If you are a Christian, you are living at a time that the prophets and the patriarchs wish they had. What does this mean? It simply means that we have been made partakers of the divine nature. What we have, is far more greater than what all the prophets had combined. The patriarchs and all the prophets were mere men who believed God, and their faith was counted unto them as righteousness (Romans 4:3). But we on the other hand, friends, we are sons. God dealt with them according to their works, even though its actually their faith in God. But for us, we are accepted and highly favored because of Jesus. And because of who Jesus is, and what He did, we are created in the likeness of God. But not as the first man Adam in the Garden of Eden. That man sinned, and its after him that the patriarchs were created. But we however, are created after the second Adam. The second Adam never sinned; therefore, we are the righteousness of God. The second Adam is God; therefore, we share the same nature (2 Peter 3:4) As he is, so are we in the world (1 John 4:17) When you are joined to God, by believing in Jesus, you become one spirit with God (1 Corinthians 6:17). God literally, in the person of the Holy Spirit dwells in us. He dwells in us not based on our performance, or goodness, but because Jesus has perfected us. And He dwells in us and with us forever and ever. And if He dwells forever, then so is the anointing and every gift of God that he gives us. The word of God says in Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance”. If Christ dwells in you forever, how much more then His glory, anointing, power. The only reason Christ can dwell in us forever, is because when we believe in Him we "BECOME A NEW CREATION!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). We receive an incorruptible seed; 1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”. And that is who we are in our spirit man. Because we are born of God, Christ dwells in us forever. When we fall short after we’ve been born again, sin cannot penetrate our spirit man. Our spirit man is forever sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). We are no longer the same! Well, your mind is still thinks the same because you have not renewed it, or aligned it with the word of God. However, YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE!
God is having a great feast! And all are invited to come. Every body is invited. That means there is PROVISION FOR EVERY BODY. This was a parable that Jesus told (Luke 14:16-23). According to man’s traditions, Kings mostly share meals with equals, or people of nobility. And God is inviting you to a supper. It’s a great supper my friend.
God wasn't thinking only about sin when He sent Jesus to pay for sin. God had a great plan; He wanted to have sons. He wanted us to share in His glory. (2 Peter 1:3-4) And to enable us to become joint heirs, He made Jesus to be like us, so that by His death, we will be like Jesus. The gospel of John 1:14 says "And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth". Verse 16 says, "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace". When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, we receive the fulness of Jesus. We receive all that Jesus is. Everything that He is. And we know according to God’s word in Colossians 2:9, that “in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”. Verse 10 of that chapter says; “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power”.
So to conclude this (even though that’s not the end of this topic), this is God's plan for mankind. And therefore Jesus became "THE LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD". Jesus didn't pay the sins of Christians only. He didn't pay past sins only. HE PAID THE PRICE FOR ALL SIN, AND HE DID THAT ONE TIME ONLY; and that happened 2000 years ago!
No more offering for sin! No more punishment for sin! The only sin is the SIN OF NOT BELIEVING!
James Akot
Dallas, TX USA
08/17/2009
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