From Jim McGuiggan... GOD HELP US

GOD HELP US

Luke 22:3-4, “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot…and Judas went…and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.”

What are we to make of this? Well, there are a lot of things we could “make of it”.

We can rightly say that Satan can “enter” people. Of course we’d still have to work out what that meant. What does “enter” mean in a text like this? Does Satan himself enter people? Does Satan literally “enter” people? Does he go inside their bodies? Or if it’s their minds he enters how does he “enter” a mind? Does he melt into the brain tissue or something like that? Should we conclude from this text that Satan can “enter” anybody at any time? Can he force his way in or must he be invited, so to speak? Once he has “entered” can he make people think and do things? These are all interesting questions but Luke 22:3-4 shows no interest in them. If Luke 22:3-4 shows no interest in them whatever, it’s safe to conclude we shouldn’t go to Luke 22 looking for answers to them. Luke must have another agenda!

What are we to make of the text? We can rightly say that the text shows us treachery so that we can renounce it and pursue honourable loyalty and we can rightly say the text is the fulfilment of scripture (see Psalm 41:9 and John 13:18). Of course that generates numerous questions about what “fulfilment” means and so in what sense Psalm 41:9 is “prophecy”. Again, this is a rich area and these are good questions but it’s John 13:18 and not Luke 22:3-4 that speaks of fulfilled scripture and points us to Psalm 41:9. As far as we can tell from the words of the text Luke has no interest in Psalm 41:9.

You understand it’s perfectly proper for us to say Judas “fulfilled scripture” in doing what he did but the real question before us at this moment is this: is that what Luke wants us to see? It was the immediate purpose of John 13:18 to let us see that Judas fulfilled scripture but we know that only because the text tells us that. It simply won’t do to say, “Luke 22:3-4 wants us to know that scripture has been fulfilled” and when someone asks us how we know, we prove it by going to John 13:18. If our listener says, “I wasn’t asking about John 13:18” it doesn’t make things better if we say, “Everyone knows Judas did that.” Everyone knows Jesus was born of a virgin but is that what Luke 22:3-4 wants us to see?

It’s certainly proper to “draw a lesson” or “infer a truth” from a text that’s written for a purpose other than the one we have in mind. What’s not acceptable is to say this: “The truth I’m offering is what this text means for us to see” when in fact we don’t know that. If we want Luke’s 22:3-4 to be heard we must allow Luke (as much as we’re able) to make his own point. It may be fine that we don’t want to make Luke’s point but if it’s John’s point we want to make we ought to go to John 13:18.

If we read Luke 22:3-4 and don’t let him make his point and instead we silence Luke by putting John’s words in his mouth we miss out on truth—truth that we might desperately need. To “homogenise” scripture like this is not only a poor way to listen to the Bible, in many ways it is not listening to the Bible at all.
I confess I’m not sure what Luke wants us to see in 22:3-4 but that only means I should do my homework and listen to other experienced people who work with Luke’s writings. If we were able to determine the central purposes of Luke in writing to Theophilus that would give us a better chance to understand how each section worked. I say a “better chance” for knowing Luke’s central purpose(s) is no guarantee that we’ll know how each section or verse fits into it.

Certainly Luke insists throughout his two books (Luke and Acts) that the reign of God was publicly exhibited in Jesus Christ who had come to proclaim God’s faithfulness to his promises in rescuing his people and in bringing salvation to the world (see for example, Luke 1:67-79; 4:14-21 and 24:47 and elsewhere through the book).

But if that was so how did it happen, Theophilus might have thought, that the leaders of his own people rejected him? Did they know some things that made rejecting Jesus the right thing to do? Luke 22:3-4 would answer such a question. The leaders in 22:1-2 want to “get rid of Jesus” (see 20:20) and one of his friends gave them a perfect opportunity. Yes, but how do you explain Judas’ behaviour? It wasn’t just a friend turning on a friend; it wasn’t just Judas against Christ. Luke brands Judas’ behaviour as satanic. Two worlds collided that night in that upper room. His betrayal of Jesus epitomized and expressed the world-spirit that stands opposed to the reign of God. Friends had betrayed friends down the centuries (a psalmist laments on his own pain—Psalm 41:9) but Luke makes it clear that what happened that night in that upper room was bigger than it looked. Theophilus is to understand that the opposition to Jesus was satanic in character and not just personal or even national political expediency (compare John 11:50) and much less was it of God or a matter of integrity.

Now, I don’t know that that’s what Luke wanted us to focus on in that text but that’s my guess. Supposing for a moment that it's true, then we won’t read the text as a protest against personal disloyalty or ingratitude; we won’t read the text expecting to learn that Satan “enters” people sometimes—we’d see that Luke takes that for granted but that his purpose goes beyond that.

Whatever we do with Luke 22:3-4, as much as we’re able we need to allow Luke to make his point rather than ours—his point within his over-arching purpose which we look for in the book as a whole.

If we don’t, we may end up with a million “answers” on moral issues but completely ignorant of what the biblical texts are saying. Preachers will fill their sermons with texts that are never allowed to speak and because there’s a host of verses quoted or alluded to they’ll be tempted to think, “Now that’s Bible preaching.” Others will toss in a couple of verses, nod at them and go their merry moralising way one. more. time.

God help us!

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

Is the Kingdom Yet to be Established? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1088

Is the Kingdom Yet to be Established?

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

The average American is aware of the periodic claim that “the end is near.” When Y2K was approaching, outcries of doom, global disruption, and Armageddon were widespread. Hal Lindsey achieved nationwide attention over thirty years ago with his national bestseller, The Late Great Planet Earth (1970). A more recent repackaging of the dispensational brand of premillennialism is the popular Left Behind book series (see “The Official…,” 2003). Every so often, a religious figure captures national attention by announcing the impending return of Jesus—even to the point of setting a date—only to fade into the anonymity and obscurity from which he arose when his claim falls flat, but having achieved his “fifteen minutes of fame” (see Whisenant and Brewer, 1989). The sensationalism sells well, and tweaks the curiosity of large numbers of people. Incredibly, this pattern has been repeating itself—literally for centuries!
One feature of the premillennial dispensationalist’s claim is that the kingdom is yet future, and that Jesus is not reigning now, but will commence His reign in His kingdom when He returns in the future to establish it in Jerusalem. However, several passages cannot be harmonized with such a view. First, the Bible teaches that the kingdom exists now, and has existed since A.D. 30. While Jesus was on Earth, He went to Galilee, “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15, emp. added). He also stated: “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9:1). In fact, Jesus “has delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). To insist that the kingdom is yet to be established is to fail to recognize that the Bible plainly declares that the kingdom already exists on Earth.
Second, the words “kingdom,” “Israel,” and “church” all refer to the same group of people—i.e., the saved, Christians, the church of Christ, or spiritual Israel. Jesus predicted that He would build His “church” and give to Peter the keys of the “kingdom” (Matthew 16:18-19). Jesus did not build one institution and then give Peter the keys to a different institution. Paul told the Galatian Christians: “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. …and if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:7,29; cf. 6:16). He told Christians in Rome: “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart” (Romans 2:28-29). Spiritual Israel is the church of Christ—that is, the kingdom.
Third, Jesus is reigning now in heaven, and has been since His ascension around A.D. 30. Peter explained that Jesus “has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him” (1 Peter 3:22). Daniel predicted over four centuries prior to its fulfillment: “One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14). This prophecy was fulfilled at the ascension of Christ: “while they watched, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Jesus returned to heaven where He was given rule over His kingdom (Hebrews 10:12). When He returns a second time, it will not be to reign on Earth. Rather, “[t]hen comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet” (1 Corinthians 15:24-25).
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter announced to the gathered crowd that Jesus was reigning at that moment over His kingdom: “God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection of the Christ.… This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God...” (Acts 2:30-33). Paul made the same point in his letter to the church of Christ in Ephesus: “He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet” (Ephesians 1:20-22). I repeat: the Bible repeatedly affirms that Jesus is reigning and ruling now over His kingdom.
Fourth, Jesus completed His work on Earth and, consequently, has no reason to return to the Earth to do any additional work. He explained to the disciples: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34, emp. added). Shortly before His departure from the Earth, He prayed to the Father: “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You gave Me to do” (John 17:4).
Dispensationalists say that Jesus came with the intention to be King, and to set up an earthly kingdom, but that the Jews unexpectedly rejected Him. However, this claim is in direct conflict with the facts. On one occasion, after Jesus fed thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two fish—a feat that would constitute a tremendous advantage should war with Rome be forthcoming—John noted that “when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to a mountain by Himself alone” (6:15). Here was the perfect opportunity for Jesus to become the physical king that the dispensationalists insist He intended to become. But He refused! Why? He gave the reason to Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). The dispensational claim that Jesus is coming back to be a king on Earth on a physical throne is the very thing first-century Jews tried to get Him to do—but which He refused to do.
Premillennialists also maintain that the modern nation of Israel is the recipient of various promises made in Scripture, and that it plays a prominent and continuing role in God’s scheme of things. This contention has had a profound impact upon U.S. foreign policy, and in the way people around the world—especially in the Middle East—perceive America. It must surely be a shock for many people to learn that the Bible depicts no such favored status. All people stand on level ground at the foot of the cross of Christ. God is no respecter of persons, and makes no distinctions between people on the basis of ethnicity (Acts 10:34-35; Romans 2:11,28-29; Galatians 3:28). The promises that were made to physical Israel in the Old Testament were fulfilled long ago.
For example, God announced to Abraham that He would give to his descendents (the Israelites) the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1; 15:7). This promise was fulfilled when Israel took possession of Palestine in the fifteenth century B.C. (Joshua 21:43-45; 2 Chronicles 9:26). What so many people today fail to recognize is that Israelites’ retaining the land was contingent upon their continued obedience (Leviticus 18:24-28; Joshua 23:14-16; 1 Kings 9:3-7). The complete and final forfeiture of physical Israel took place in A.D. 70. The reestablishment of national Israel, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple (i.e., the national promises of Deuteronomy 30 and Zechariah 12-14) were literally fulfilled in the returning remnant after the Babylonian captivity (Nehemiah 1:8-10; Isaiah 10:22; Jeremiah 23:3; Ezra 3:1-11).
Many of the Old Testament prophecies that predicted the return of the Jews after captivity were laced with predictions of the coming of Christ to the Earth to bring ultimate redemption. Hence, the national promises were spiritually fulfilled in the church of Christ, wherein both Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ. For example, premillennialists are fond of calling attention to the concluding prophetic remarks of Amos: “ ‘On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’ says the Lord who does this thing” (Amos 9:11-12). They insist that the fulfillment of this prophecy is yet future. They say the Temple, which was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans (Matthew 23:37-24:35), will be rebuilt on the Temple platform in Jerusalem (a site currently occupied by the third most holy shrine of Islam—the Dome of the Rock). They say that Jesus will return, set up His millennial kingdom, and reign on a literal throne for a thousand years, incorporating the Gentiles, in addition to the nation of Israel, into His kingdom. On the face of it, this prophecy certainly possesses terminology that fits the millennial interpretation placed upon it.
However, two Bible passages correct this interpretation, and settle the question as to the proper application of Amos’ prophecy. The first is the great messianic prophecy uttered by the prophet Nathan to King David regarding David’s future lineage and royal dynasty (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Nathan declared that God would establish and sustain the Davidic dynasty. Even though he also noted that a permanent form of the Tabernacle (that God refused to allow David to build—2 Samuel 7:1-7) would be built by David’s son (i.e., Solomon), God, Himself, would build David a house (i.e., a dynasty, a kingly lineage). It is this lineage to which Amos referred—not a physical temple building.
The second passage that clarifies Amos’ prophecy is the account of the Jerusalem “conference” (Acts 15). Following Peter’s report regarding Gentile inclusion in the kingdom, James offered the following confirmatory comment: “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written” (Acts 15:13-15). James then quoted Amos 9:11-12. In other words, on that most auspicious occasion, James noted two significant facts that had come to pass precisely as predicted by Amos: (1) after the downfall of the Jewish kingdom, the Davidic dynasty had been reinstated in the person of Christ—the “Son of David” (Matthew 22:42)—Who, at His ascension, had been enthroned in heaven, thereby “rebuilding the tabernacle of David that had fallen down”; and (2) with the conversion of the first Gentiles in Acts 10, as reported on this occasion by Peter, the “residue of men,” or the non-Jewish segment of humanity, was now “seeking the Lord.”
In light of James’ inspired application of it to the integrated church of the first century, the Amos prophecy, like all others in the Old Testament that premillennialists wish to apply to the future, finds ultimate and final climax in the momentous advent of the Christian religion on the planet. The premillennial treatment of prophecy is, in the final analysis, a demeaning and trivializing of the significance of the Gospel, the church of Christ, and the Christian religion as the final revelation from God to mankind. The kingdom is not future; it is here now. All accountable persons would do well to conform themselves to the preconditions that enable Jesus to add them to His kingdom (Acts 2:38,47; 8:12-13,36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:30-34; 18:8; 19:5: 22:16).

REFERENCES

Lindsey, Hal (1970), The Late Great Planet Earth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan).
“The Official Left Behind Series Site,” (2003), [On-line], URL: http://www.leftbehind.com.
Whisenant, Edgar and Greg Brewer (1989), The Final Shout Rapture 1989 Report (Nashville, TN: World Bible Society).

From Mark Copeland... He Has Done All Things Well (Mark 7:31-37)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                 He Has Done All Things Well (7:31-37)

INTRODUCTION

1. I would like for you to ask yourself:  What has Jesus done for
   you...?
   a. Anything?
   b. Something?

2. If Jesus has done anything for you, how would you describe it...?
   a. More than you expected?
   b. Less than you expected?

[If less than expected, keep it mind as we begin reading in Mk 7:31
about Jesus healing a deaf mute...]

I. THE NARRATIVE

   A. THE JOURNEY TO THE SEA OF GALILEE...
      1. Jesus left the region of Tyre and Sidon - Mk 7:31
         a. Where he had healed the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician
            woman
         b. A woman blessed for her faith - Mk 7:24-30
      2. He traveled through the region of Decapolis - Mk 7:31
         a. So called after ten cities in the area, mostly SE of the Sea
            of Galilee
         b. Damascus, Raphana, Hippos, Abila [or Canatha], Gadara,
            Scythopolis, Pella, Dion, Gerasa, and Philadelphia [Amman]
         c. Predominately Gentile and Hellenistic in their culture
         d. Where the man healed of legions of demons proclaimed Christ
            - Mk 5:20
      3. Matthew's gospel adds a few details - Mt 15:29-31
         a. Jesus went to a mountain and sat down
         b. Many lame, blind, mute and maimed were brought and healed
         c. The multitude marveled and glorified the God of Israel
            (these are likely Gentiles)

   B. JESUS HEALS A DEAF MUTE...
      1. People bring a deaf mute to Jesus and beg Him to heal him - Mk 7:32
      2. Aside from the multitude, Jesus begins the healing - Mk 7:33-34
         a. Putting His fingers in the deaf mute's ears, spitting, and
            touching his tongue
         b. Looking to heaven, sighing, and saying "Ephphatha" (Aramaic
            for "Be opened")
      3. The healing is instantaneous - Mk 7:35
         a. His ears are opened
         b. He begins to speak plainly

   C. JESUS' REQUEST AND THE CROWD'S RESPONSE...
      1. He commanded them to tell no one, but they widely proclaim it
         - Mk 7:36; cf. Mk 1:44-45
      2. They are astonished, saying "He has done all things well" - Mk 7:37

[This is a detailed and rather unusual account of one of Jesus' miracles
of healing.  The response of the crowd is also worthy of note.  Allow me
therefore to offer...]

II. SOME OBSERVATIONS

   A. REGARDING THE HEALING...
      1. Jesus may have been using sign language to explain what He was
         doing
      2. The fingers in the ears - "Something will be done for your
         ears...and I will do it."
      3. The touch of the tongue - "Something will be done for your
         tongue...and I will do it."
      4. The spit - His intention was to heal, as saliva was thought to
         have medicinal properties
      5. The look to heaven - indicating His help came from above
      6. The sigh - the sympathizing Jesus, taking the man's condition
         to heart - cf. Isa 53:4
      -- William Hendriksen (Baker's New Testament Commentary)

   B. REGARDING THE DECLARATION...
      1. "He has done all things well"
         a. He astonished those who saw His miracles - Mk 7:37
         b. He astonished those who heard His teachings - Mk 1:22; 6:2
         c. This is before His amazing death, resurrection, and
            ascension to heaven!
      2. Has Jesus done all things well for you?
         a. Given you rest for your soul? - Mt 11:28-30
         b. Saved you from you sins? - Mk 16:15-16
         c. Given you the peace the world cannot give? - Jn 14:27
      3. If not, why not?
         a. Could it be for lack of faith? - cf. Mk 6:5-6
         b. Could it be your heart is restricted? - cf. 2Co 6:11-13
            1) The Corinthians restricted themselves from receiving
               Paul's love
            2) Might we be guilty of doing the same in receiving Jesus'
               love and power?
      4. As God has often asked His people:
         a. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" - Gen 18:14
         a. "Has the Lord's arm been shortened?" - Num 11:23
         b. "Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?" - Isa 50:2
         c. "Or have I no power to deliver?" - Isa 50:2
         d. "Is the Spirit of the LORD restricted?" - Mic 2:7
      -- Think about these things, if your spiritual life is vapid!

CONCLUSION

1. Jesus has certainly done all things well...
   a. "He changed sunset into sunrise." - Clement of Alexandria
   b. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..." - 2Co 5:17

2. But has He done all things well for you...?
   a. If your spiritual life is insipid, remember His words to the
      Laodiceans - Re 3:14-22
   b. It is most likely you have not been following Jesus as fervently
      as you should

   "What good is having someone who can walk on water if you don't
   follow in his footsteps?" - Author Unknown

Jesus, who has done all things well, stands ready to open your eyes to
see the beauty of His salvation, to open your mouth to proclaim the
glory of His redemption...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... From the beginning...

The Mountains of Creation:    http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap051111.html

The Pillars of Creation:   http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap100328.html

I awoke this day, thinking of God's creation; of the nature, power and majesty of the one who could do such things. Words can not express the wonder of it all (which is exactly how these pictures make me feel)!!! And then my thoughts turned to the Scriptures- how that Jesus spoke of matters pertaining to the beginning of things quite frequently and he did it to establish authority. With this in mind, please read the following....
 
 Matthew Chapter 19 (WEB)
 1 When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.  2 Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.  3 Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 

  4  He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,   5  and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’   6  So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.” 

  7  They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?” 

  8  He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.   9  I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.” 

  10  His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.” 

  11  But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.   12  For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.” 

Matthew Chapter 22 (WEB)
23  On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him,  24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.’  25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no seed left his wife to his brother.  26 In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died.  28 In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.” 

  29  But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.   30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.   31  But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,   32  ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”


John Chapter 8 (WEB)
 34  Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.   35  A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.   36  If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.   37  I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.   38  I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.” 

  39  They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” 

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.   40  But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this.   41  You do the works of your father.” 

They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.” 

  42  Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.   43  Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.   44  You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.


John, chapter 1 (WEB)
 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 The same was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.  4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome  it.  6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.  7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.  8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.  9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 

  10  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.  11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.  12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:  13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.  15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”  16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.  17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. 


1 John, Chapter 1 (WEB)
1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life  2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);  3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  4 And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
Jesus knew what he was talking about and we should listen to HIM (sounds a bit like Matthew, chapter 17, doesn't it???) !!! Therefore, since Jesus not only knew about things from the beginning, was part of that creation, (chapters 1 and two of Genesis) and kept pointing back to the beginning to establish authority for understanding truth- so should we!!!!!

I really love the following...

Jude (WEB)
 3  Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 

What I think is unimportant, but what the scriptures teach is everything. Truth: There is ONE GOD, ONE TRUTH, ONE AUTHORITY, ONE WAY (Hebrews 1:1-4)!!!  Go back to the beginning, do things God's way and do NOT GO BEYOND THE SCRIPTURES, FOR IT IS THE ONLY SAFE THING TO DO!!!  

Remember Jeremiah Chapter 6...

 16  Thus says Yahweh, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.