Scapegoat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZoKX5-q2x4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opgFgY4rnU4





http://www.shalom.org.uk/sidra/documents/documents/YomKippur5.htm

Lev 16:6 “Aaron will present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household. 7 Next he will take the two goats and place them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other for an uninhabitable place,[b][c] 9 he is to present the goat chosen by lot for the Lord and sacrifice it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot for an uninhabitable place is to be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement with it by sending it into the wilderness for an uninhabitable place.

11 “When Aaron presents the bull for his sin offering and makes atonement for himself and his household, he will slaughter the bull for his sin offering. 12 Then he is to take a firepan full of blazing coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, so that the cloud of incense covers the mercy seat that is over the testimony, or else he will die.14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger against the east side of the mercy seat; then he will sprinkle some of the blood with his finger before the mercy seat seven times.

15 “When he slaughters the male goat for the people’s sin offering and brings its blood inside the curtain, he will do the same with its blood as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. 16 He will make atonement for the most holy place in this way for all their sins because of the Israelites’ impurities and rebellious acts. He will do the same for the tent of meeting that remains among them, because it is surrounded by their impurities. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the most holy place until he leaves after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel. 18 Then he will go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on the horns on all sides of the altar. 19 He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse and set it apart from the Israelites’ impurities.

20 “When he has finished making atonement for the most holy place, the tent of meeting, and the altar, he is to present the live male goat. 21 Aaron will lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the Israelites’ iniquities and rebellious acts—all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the man appointed for the task.[d] 22 The goat will carry all their iniquities into a desolate land, and the man will release it there.

The desolate land to which the goat would be released might be by the Dead Sea, as pictured in the famous painting above. The idea was that the goat bearing the sins of the people would die. The wages of sin is death.

All the sacrifices of Leviticus are pictures of the offering of Jesus the Messiah.  He is the Passover Lamb.  He is the firstfruits resurrected on the day after the first Sabbath following the Passover.  He is the Scapegoat, bearing the sins of the people on that terrible hill outside the city.  

Isaiah 53:4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,
and he carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion,

crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
6 We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished him
for[c] the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
and like a sheep silent before her shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment;
and who considered his fate?[d]
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.

Yes, while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.  We are blessed who believe and accept His love for us.  

John 3 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Jesus and Nicodemus

3 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

10 “Are you a teacher[b] of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascendedinto heaven except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man.[c]

14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may[d]have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way:[e] He gave[f]his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZoKX5-q2x4

Near the Cross

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5C9FfVA-OI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpVCeHRkWcY



Near the Cross
by Randolph Gonce, April 13, 2019

Jesus, keep me near the cross.  
Let me hang my head in shame, 
as I remember You bore my blame 
upon that tree on Calvary.

And may I clearly see
the love that You have for me
by hanging on that cruel tree
at Calvary.

Help me change my mind from sin,
longing deeply from within,
for a new life that began
at Calvary.

Plunged me in the fountain free,
being fully immersed in Thee,
so that my sins did flee; 
fully cleansed at Calvary.

Immersed in water in Your name,
your promises to claim,
by fully trusting in Your aim
at Calvary.

Help me walk with You each day,
bearing my cross upon the way,
knowing I must suffer too,
with You at Calvary.

On that day when You return,
the temporary things will burn,
and all who trust in You will see,
glorification from Calvary.

And we will live eternally
by the river of life that flows, 
giving life to all He knows,
by His blood at Calvary.

Jesus made peace by His sacrifice for sins upon the cross.  The wages of sin is death.  Sin separates us from God.  All have sinned and missed the mark of righteousness. A sufficient sacrifice was required to pay the price for the sins of all human kind.  Read Isaiah 53 and Psalms 22.

The sacrifice of Jesus is pictured by the Passover Lamb, the Scapegoat, and the ram that took Isaac's place on the altar.  See  https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html

Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Yes, the gospel is a bloody message. Those who do not believe are offended by it. But for all who believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, it is a glorious message. It speaks of God's love for us. It opens the door to righteousness to all who truly believe and trust in Him.

Philippians 2 English Standard Version (ESV)


Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Yes, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. When He comes in His glory, the temporary things will melt. And those who trust in Him will be glorified and be caught up to meet Him in the air.. 1 Thes 4.

Gal 6:14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

As I take up my cross daily, and follow Jesus, seeking to please Him, I am strengthened by His Holy Spirit, Who reminds me of what I have learned from the Holy Scriptures. He gives me strength and encouragement. He gives me hope centered in the resurrection. Jesus was taken down from the cross, buried, and rose from the grave early Sunday morning, and moved my vision to the open grave. His resurrection gives hope of eternal life to all who truly trust in Him.

https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/jesus-in-hades.html

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGq0J9IGmxQ

Bonafide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QekPh9XfhM0&list=PLPhb5GPf3Rfc944An2iDh_kTHkrKhoCED&index=23&t=0s


adjective: bonafide
1. genuine; real.
"only bona fide members of the company are allowed to use the logo"

synonyms: authentic, genuine, real, true, actual, sterling, sound, legal, legitimate, lawful, valid, unadulterated, unalloyed, proper, straight, fair and square.

So who is a genuine follower of our Lord Jesus Christ?  Who is a legal, legitimate, lawful believer? Who is a bonafide Christian?

Jesus taught that not all who claim him are genuine.  Some do not even know Him. Some are not legit.

Entering the Kingdom

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

Actions determine and manifest reality.  Claiming to be genuine must be made real by what we do.  James, bother of Jesus, speaks clearly about what is a demonstration of true fidelity.  What we do and who we care for shows if we are truly following Jesus.

James 1 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Greeting

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:

To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad.

Greetings.

Trials and Maturity

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, 10 but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.

12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Bonafide faith in Jesus shows itself in action.  What we say is not as real as what we do.  People hear what we say, and they see what we do.  Seeing is believing, we like to say in Crow Creek Valley.  But John said that those who have not seen, and yet believe the message of the Apostles, are bonafide. 

Thomas Sees and Believes

24 But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”

28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

The Purpose of This Gospel

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The genuine follower of Jesus has life in His name.  The words of Jesus and the Apostles were written down and delivered to us so that we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah.  As Apostle Paul said, God chose the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. 19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

The bonafide message emphasizes giving up self and trusting life in the Son.  Paul explains the message clearly. 

1 Corinthians 15 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Resurrection Essential to the Gospel

15 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

A message by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message.  The same message preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost.  

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Call to Repentance

37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

Those who accepted the message were baptized.  Immersed in water.  Why?  Because it was what Jesus had commanded. 

The Great Commission

Matt 28:16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Great Commission

Mark 16:14 Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. 15 Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Submitting to the true message with real obedient faith produces genuine Christians.  There is no faith alone, only obedient faith, because Jesus asks us to do something specific to make things bonafide.  It is simple.  Submission of our will by doing something that is not humanly rational shows our trust. 

https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlq7hjZazPY&list=PLPhb5GPf3Rfc944An2iDh_kTHkrKhoCED&index=34&t=0s

T'he Blessing of Giving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZoKX5-q2x4

Advocates of socialism often use disparity in wealth to justify wanting to increase taxes on the rich, so as to have more government programs for the poor. 

When Israel was established in 1948, socialism was the preferred economic model, and a national water company and national electric company were established. The Kibbutz movement was community socialism, a natural inclination for those who had lived with communism in Russia.

But socialism has lost its luster in Israel.  A recent poll of the people of Israel revealed that socialism is no longer loved so much there. 

https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-poll-majority-says-free-enterprise-and-less-red-tape-key-to-prosperity

And using income disparity to condemn our economic system seems to be prompted by covetousness.  Which probably explains why the proponents of socialism and communism in the 19th Century were mostly atheists and agnostics, and supporters of naturally evolving systems based on human philosophy.  The desire to take from the wealthy and redistribute wealth seems to go against the 10th Commandment. 

Ex 20:17 Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Abraham was wealthy, but he used his wealth as a blessing to others.  David was wealthy, and used his wealth to prepare for the building of the temple at Jerusalem.  History is replete with records of rich people who were a blessing because they were able to give for good works.

Apostle Paul taught us to focus on giving instead of receiving. He worked with his own hands in the common labor of tent makings to support himself so as to not be dependent on others. He had the right, as a religious teacher, to be supported by those he taught, but he preferred to provide for himself.  Paul's attitude is what believers should emulate today.

Acts 20:32 “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me. 35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Yes, Jesus turned the world upside down. Physical wealth is not the object of life, but a blessed life by faith in Jesus gives us comfort and hope.

1 Thessalonians 4 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Call to Sanctification

4:1 Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing—do this even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. 6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. 8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Loving and Working

9 About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, 11 to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.

So focusing on how much wealth someone else has compared to me and my friends seems to be a wrong inclination.  If I believe the words of Jesus, "it is more blessed to give than to receive", then I am surely not concerned about how much money some rich people have.  As I have opportunity, I will teach them the blessing of giving. 


God and Possessions

Mat 6:19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

The Cure for Anxiety

25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Redistribution of wealth will do nothing to bring joy and peace into people's lives. Only faith in Jesus Christ will produce a fulfilled life. Everything else is frustration; futile, falsified, fruitless, fitful, failure.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbAsH4a3T_g&list=PLPhb5GPf3Rfc944An2iDh_kTHkrKhoCED&index=9&t=0s

Meet the Lord in the Air

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycz4s2xwDhc

No one gets out of here alive, unless Jesus returns before we die, and we can meet Him in the air, in our transformed glorious bodies. 

Or, as I recently informed a Jewish friend who is facing open heart bypass surgery, the only folks that leave this world alive are those who have faith in Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah.

I am praying for successful surgery, but even more that he might come to have faith in Jesus the Christ. 

When a person's only hope is for this life, as the joys of this life pinch down with old age and ill health, hope fades. But for believers, our hope of eternal glory in Jesus becomes more and more the center of our being.  

But it should always be like that, that our real hope is in Jesus and our eternal relationship in Him. This way, in all circumstances, we are comforted by knowing Jesus. 

As Paul wrote to the believers at Thessalonica, 

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

1 Thessalonians 4 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,[e] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.


And so we will always be with the Lord! We are encouraged by these words. Those who are dead will be raised, and those who are alive will be changed and caught up to meet Him in the air.

So how do we prepare for Jesus' coming?  By living sanctified lives that are pleasing to God.  There is no place in scripture that teaches we should be uncaring about righteousness, that we should be cheer leaders for diversity and sexual immorality.  We are taught to practice and teach self control, putting off the works of the flesh, and putting on the attitudes and actions taught by God.  

1 Thessalonians 4 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Call to Sanctification

4 Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing—do this even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you knows how to control his own body[b] in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. 6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. 8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Loving and Working

9 About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, 11 to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.

No, Bernie, it is not the responsibility of the secular state to provide my needs. I am supposed to work with my own hands so that I can be a helpful and productive person.

Socialism managed by atheistic secular humanist governments has never worked for long in the history of mankind.  Our young people need to study history. 

https://www.hoover.org/research/two-failures

The most blessed people in the history of the world are those who follow Jesus, and work with their own hands to help each other.

I remember well how my mother helped those in our community.  We (her seven children) wore used clothing, went bare footed in the summer, but mother used what we had to help others. 

No, I do not have white guilt.  I have traveled the world visiting people who were taught the good news about Jesus by folks who came from the Western Christian Evangelical cultures. They came not to rob, but to give their lives in testimony about Jesus so that others could have eternal life. 

They taught people to work and live responsible lives so that they could be blessed in this life, and have the hope of eternal life. 

But I have regret for all the people of all races who have left their faith in Jesus, and are now dabbling in Paganism, atheistic humanism, post Christian confusion. and other isms. 

Writing a blog that may be read by fifty people is not getting the job done. How can we effectively communicate faith in Jesus Christ?

By living a productive life, helping others, and speaking the truth in love. 

As Jesus promised, John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QekPh9XfhM0&list=PLPhb5GPf3Rfc944An2iDh_kTHkrKhoCED&index=23&t=0s

Salt and Light

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLaob2knjJY

Believers Are Salt and Light

Mat 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Salt preserves goodness, and kills the bad stuff. Bacteria and mold that will rot and ruin (that desired to be preserved) is destroyed by salt. But the value of the salt is determined by the ability and purpose to kill the corrupting influence (mold and bacteria).

The value of our spiritual salt will be measured by how we help preserve righteous principles in our lives, and by how we work to destroy those false ideas that corrupt our society.

If we stop standing against unrighteousness, we have lost our salt.


Mat 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Light reveals truth. Darkness covers up what is there. Darkness in matters of spiritual reality causes doubt. Those who walk in darkness are destined to stumble and fall.

We are to speak the truth in love. We are to shine the light of God upon what is there before us.

God's Word is truth. Jesus is the light of the world. We are to show the influence of Jesus in our lives.

But the promoters of modern morality, the purveyors of post Christian ethics, seem to be obsessed with shouting approval of sexual perversions that are clearly condemned in Scripture, even with the death penalty by stoning.

These modern muddlers of morality, the promoters of diversity and gender confusion, say that those who condemn homosexuality practice are haters, and not true followers of Jesus. Jesus, they say, loves sinners, and wants everyone to be accepted as they are.

But where is the salt and light in approving of things clearly condemned in Scripture?

Jesus is very clear about His position on the Law. The Law is righteous and just, as Paul shows in Romans chapter 7.

Christ Fulfills the Law

Mat 5:17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter[c] or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is clearly a strong proponent of righteousness.  Psalms 119 is your homework assignment. God's principles of righteousness are eternal. Murder, stealing, and sexual immorality are still violations of God's righteousness.  Jesus does not approve of sin, but died on the cross to save sinners. 

He calls all who believe in Him to repentance, a change of heart and direction.  Yes, He died for sinners, but He rose again to give us new life in Him. That new life gives up the practice of sin.


Murder Begins in the Heart

Mat 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire. 23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.  

Jesus condemns sexual immorality.  He clearly teaches that we are not to be led by our feelings, but to control our feelings. How we feel does not determine who we are. We are taught by Jesus to practice self control.. 

Adultery Begins in the Heart

Mat 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.[k] 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

This is very radical teaching about the practice of self control. Our feelings are not to rule our lives. But our knowledge of what God wants us to be is to mold and shape our lives, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Apostle Paul spoke directly about the problem of sexual immorality, which was a great problem in the Pagan context of life in Corinth.  Pagan worship encourages the practice of homosexuality. 

As Paul said, 1Cor 6:9 "Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males,[b] 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Some of you used to be like this, but you were washed. Yes, Jesus died for sinners, and He calls us to new life in Him.  We are not to be ruled by our feelings, but by our knowledge and relationship to Him. 

Paul spoke clearly to the believers at Rome, Rom 1:16

The Righteous Will Live by Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

The Guilt of the Gentile World

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
From Idolatry to Depravity

26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. 32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

Yes, you who applaud others who practice such things.  Let all of you who march under the rainbow flag please realize that sexual immorality rots society.  Sexual immorality is about feelings, not about salt and light.  Come out of the darkness and be salt and light. 

Yes, Jesus loves you, and wants you to follow Him.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN69t3MaD00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-TPLE_9e2g

Christian Warfare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDkHNYSdYBg

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1211-spiritual-warfare-is-real-difficult-and-dangerous

We demolish arguments.  This part of the Christian Warfare comes easily to me, as I grew up in a family fully committed to discussion and argument.  It seemed to fit when I named my blog The Battle. I want to battle for truth and righteousness. But the rules for spiritual battle call for us to be kind, and meek and gentle.  This goes against human nature.  Battle usually involves violence, death, and destruction.  But we do not wage war according to the flesh.

Scriptures from Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
2 Cor 10:3 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against every false idea and the powers of evil.  Presently we are confronted with a concept that being kind to evil doers, while disregarding the rule of law, is what God wants.  We are judged un-Christian if we speak in support of personal responsibility, and in support of the sanctity of human life. 

Apostle Paul warned against irresponsible behavior. He said that those who refused to work should also not eat. This is in direct conflict with Bernie Sanders' "to each according to their need, and from each according to their ability."

Also there is nothing in scripture that suggests we should hand off our personal responsibility, to care for the poor, to the State Government, to forcefully take from the rich and give to the poor, after the elite ruling class takes their cut. 

I visited Russia at the end of the USSR, and saw with my own eyes the hopelessness of the people who stood in long lines to collect their allotment of bread.  This was a common saying regards the communist system; "We pretend to work, and the government pretends to pay us."

Now our young people are being led down the primrose path of trusting human reasoning for their well being.  Yes, Satan told Eve, "you will be wise like God, knowing good and evil."

And the secular humanist  atheist movement is teaching that it is up to us humans to work out our future without regard to what the Bible teaches us.  They are so conflicted that they do not know the difference between a man and a woman, and they want to give every boy a chance to be a girl. 

Apostle Paul warns against such behavior, writing to the believers at Thessaloniki.

Warning against Irresponsible Behavior

2 Thes 3:6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; 8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies.12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves. 13 But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good.

Yes, we are fighting against the powers of Satan, against his lies that exalt mankind and fight against God's righteousness. We must use the full armor that God provides to stand against this present evil. 

We must use truth, what the Bible teaches about personal responsibility, willing to work with our hands to provide for our family and others, respecting the rights of others to have personal property, and not covetous of the wealthy. we must be honest with each other.

We must demonstrate righteousness, loving our neighbor as ourself, and respecting the value of laws given by God and recorded in the Bible.  Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

We must be prepared to speak to all about Jesus, our only hope of salvation.  There is no other path to salvation.  Diversity is not our goal, but unity in Jesus is our desire. 

We must have faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that He gives eternal life to all who trust in Him.  Our faith in Jesus will keep us going. 

The helmet of salvation gives us the strength to persist, knowing that our eternal hope is secure. Trusting in God is our protection.

And the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, is our weapon. Not my opinion, not my faction, but what Jesus and the Apostles taught and was recorded in the Bible. On this I will take my stand, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the only hope of salvation.  Pray that I may be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

And praying, praying at all times in the Spirit. And remembering, it is not our will, but His will that we ask for. We know that He hears the prayers of His children. 

Christian Warfare

Eph 6:10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Don't worry about anything!  How I need that instruction.  My natural inclination is alpha male, I want to be in charge. But there is so much that I cannot know about present circumstances, even if I use Google search, that I must content myself with doing those things that are my responsibility, and trusting that God will work things out in His own time. 

How does God allow us free will, and yet accomplish His purpose?  He is God.  We need to do our best to do what He tells us to do. And rejoice that we belong to Him.

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Think about good things, do the right things, and the God of peace will be with you.  This is a battle that Jesus will surely win. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPIbpXuVIzg