7/27/20

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Every Idle Word (12:36-37) by Mark Copeland

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

Every Idle Word (12:36-37)

 INTRODUCTION 1. The standards of God are much different than those of the world - cf. Isa 55:8,9 2. A striking example of this difference pertains to one's speech... a. The world thinks lightly of certain kinds of speech (e.g., allowing profane speech in the name of free speech) b. Whereas Jesus taught us to take all speech seriously - Mt 12:36-37 3. Speech is important, for it reveals the heart of man... a. Out of the abundance of heart the mouth speaks - Mt 12:34 b. Thus speech reveals the sort of treasure stored in the heart of man - Mt 12:35 4. For this reason... a. Our very words will be taken into account on the day of judgment! b. We ought to give careful thought concerning the words we use c. It is imperative that our speech be in keeping with God's standard and
 not the world's! [In this lesson, we shall review what the Bible teaches concerning acceptable and unacceptable speech. We begin by cataloging some types of speech that are condemned in the Scriptures...] I. IDLE WORDS FOR WHICH WE SHALL BE JUDGED A. SOME OBVIOUS EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE SPEECH... 1. Using the Lord's name in vain - Exo 20:7 a. That is, without an attitude of sincere reverence b. One can be guilty of this in two ways: 1) Using the Lord's name in swearing or cursing 2) Using vain repetitions of His name c. Applies also to the name of Jesus, for His name is to be held in honor - Php 2:9-11 2. Words that are evil - cf. 1Pe 3:10 a. Lying words, or those that cause trouble among brethren - Pr 6:16-19 b. Deceitful words - Ro 16:18 c. Filthy language - Ep 5:4 B. OTHER EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE SPEECH... 1. The overuse of words - Jm 1:26; Pr 10:19; 13:3 2. Words spoken in haste - Pr 29:20; cf. Jm 1:19 3. Speaking evil of others a. Of those in authority - Exo 22:28; Jude 8 b. Of those around us - Mt 5:21-22 -- Such speech is known as reviling, and is clearly condemned- 1Co 6:9-10 4. Flattery - Ps 12:1-4; cf. Ro 16:18 5. Rash oaths - Mt 5:33-37; Jm 5:12 6. Any unwholesome word - cf. Ep 4:29 a. Including some euphemisms (An inoffensive expression substituted for one considered offensive) b. Some examples of euphemisms (darn, shoot, gosh, gee) c. What is wrong with such expressions? 1) They mean the same thing as the more offensive words 2) It is the same wrongful emotions behind the euphemism or its equivalent 3) They reflect an attitude of heart contrary to the proper spirit of Christian conduct - cf. Ep 4:31-32; Col 3:8-15 [Often our speech is one of habit...but such habits reflect "the abundance of the heart", i.e., what has been allowed to reside in the heart and reveal the true nature of our hearts when so used. As we attempt to store up "good treasure" in our heart (cf. Mt 12:35), here are...] II. SOME PRINCIPLES OF ACCEPTABLE SPEECH A. TWO BASIC GUIDELINES... 1. Our speech should lead to edification - Ep 4:29 a. That which encourages and builds up b. That which extends grace to others - cf. Col 4:6 1) E.g., words which cool down heated conversations - Pro 15:1 2) E.g., words that are a delight to those who hear -
Pro 15:4,23; 25:11
2. Our speech should be characterized with thankfulness - Ep 5: 3-4 a. An attitude becoming of saints - cf. Col 1:12; 2:7; 3:15,17;4:2 b. While murmuring and complaining is not becoming - cf. Php 2:14-15 B. SUCH SPEECH REQUIRES FORETHOUGHT... 1. The righteous will give careful thought to his speech - Pro 15:28 2. The righteous will be concerned about what comes out of his mouth a. For he knows that his speech reflects the true condition of the heart - Mt 12:34-35; 15:17-20 b. And he looks to God for help, even accepting the rebuke of others-Ps 141:3-5 CONCLUSION 1. It has been my purpose... a. To remind us of Jesus' words in Mt 12:36-37 b. To raise our awareness of how easy it is to sin in our speech c. To remind us of the graceful speech that should proceed from our mouths 2. I hope I have stimulated your thinking to give careful consideration to God's standard; may each of us possess the same desire as that expressed in the prayer of the Psalmist: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Ps 19:14)


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

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Question and Answer: Should Jesus Be Called "Yeshua"? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=5591

Question and Answer: Should Jesus Be Called "Yeshua"?

by  Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Q:

“Do you know if there’s any truth to the claim that Jesus should only be called ‘Yeshua’ or that the name ‘Jesus’ is a corruption done by pagans or occultists (it’s been claimed that KJV was influenced by freemasonry, or that it was supposed to sound like Zeus)? Additionally, what evidence is there that the NT was originally written in Greek (vs. Hebrew vs. Aramaic)?”

A:

The Hebrew word transliterated “Joshua” in our English versions of the Old Testament  (pronounced yeah-HO-shoo-ah) is equivalent to the Greek term “Jesus” (pronounced ee-ay-SOOS). Though God Himself miraculously instigated several new languages at Babel (Genesis 11), we do not know what those languages were nor do we know what single language was spoken prior to that event. God has given no indication whatsoever that Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are “sacred” languages that must be emulated. Instead, what we learn from the Bible is that God fully expected His Word to be translated into the multitude of languages that He knew would come about gradually as societies, ethnic groups, and nations developed. There is no evidence in Scripture that God assigns special reverence to, or expects verbal exclusivity for, the names “God” or “Jesus” in a particular language. The Jews refused to pronounce the divine name (approximated by English words like “Jehovah” and “Yahweh”) and so historically did not know how to pronounce it. The claims of pagans and occultists are irrelevant. One must produce the evidence from Scripture that God commands a specific spelling or pronunciation. Hispanics have the same word, “Jesus,” which they name their children, pronounced “hay-SOOS.” It has the same spelling in both English and Spanish. By the reasoning of those cited, differing pronunciations of the same word are unacceptable. Their theory shows a woeful lack of understanding regarding the functioning of human language.

Regarding the second question, there are well over 5,000 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, some dating back close to the first century. There is a mountain of evidence from historical and religious writers in the early centuries of Christianity that record the linguistic state of affairs at the time. Once again, where is the evidence that the New Testament was originally written in a language other than Koine Greek? The evidence does not exist. It is true that Jesus probably spoke Aramaic while He was on Earth. But God the Holy Spirit chose to communicate the divine will via the most common, prominent language of the day: Koine Greek. A host of Hellenistic Jews at the time spoke Greek and relied on the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint; cf. Acts 6). In fact, most of the quotes of the Old Testament found in the New Testament are from that version. When people postulate an imaginary Aramaic New Testament that lies behind the Greek New Testament that we have, they are merely speculating without solid, sufficient evidence—which they are under obligation to produce.

However, let’s suppose that those who make such claims are right, that the New Testament was originally written in Aramaic. Why did God not see to it that it was preserved and passed down to us? Answer: we must not need it! We can confidently say that we have God’s Word intact in our 21st century based on the variety of proofs that exist by which the New Testament text has been recovered/ascertained (see the DVD Has the Bible Been Corrupted? available through AP).

Question & Answer: Faith a Gift from God? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1583

Question & Answer: Faith a Gift from God?

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Q.

Does Ephesians 2:8-9 teach that faith is a gift from God?

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

A.

For centuries, various Bible commentators have differed on the precise reference of the pronoun “that” in Ephesians 2:8. Does “that” (touto) refer to faith, as many have stated (e.g., Augustine, Chrysostom, Lenski, et al.), or, does “that” refer to salvation from sin? Is faith the “gift of God,” or is this gift salvation by grace through faith?

Admittedly, from a cursory reading of the passage in Ephesians 2:8, it may appear that the relative pronoun that has faith as its grammatical antecedent. Those who advocate the view that faith itself is a gift (i.e., a miraculous imposition) from God, often point out that in this verse, “faith” is the nearest antecedent of “that” (“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God”).

However, when one examines Ephesians 2:8 in the language in which it was originally written (Greek), he learns that the pronoun that (touto) is neuter in gender, while the word faith (pistis) is feminine. Since the general rule in Greek grammar is for the gender and number of a relative pronoun to be the same as its antecedent (Mounce, 1993, p. 111), then some extenuating linguistic circumstance, special idiomatic use, or other similarly mitigating factor would need to be demonstrated to justify linking “that” to “faith.” If such reasonable justification cannot be made, then one is compelled to continue studying the passage in order to know assuredly what “that” gift of God is.

When no clear antecedent is found within a text, Greek scholar William Mounce wisely recommends that the Bible student study the context of the passage in question in order to help determine to what the relative pronoun (like “that”) is referring (1993, p. 111). The overall context of the first three chapters of Ephesians is man’s salvation found in Christ. Examine, for example, the following passages from the remainder of the book.

  • “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (1:7).
  • The heavenly “inheritance” is found in Christ (1:11).
  • After believing in, and acting upon, the good news of salvation through Christ, the Christians in Ephesus were “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (1:13).
  • Sinners are made “alive with Christ,” and are saved “by grace” (2:5).
  • Sinners are brought near to God “by the blood of Christ” (2:13).
  • Paul became a servant of Christ “according to the gift of the grace of God...by the effective working of His power” (3:7).

Not only is the theme of salvation the overall context of the first three chapters of the book of Ephesians, but the immediate context of Ephesians 2:8-9 is salvation, not faith. These two verses thoroughly document how a person is saved, not how a person believes.

  • Salvation is by grace.
  • Salvation is through faith.
  • Salvation is not of yourselves.
  • Salvation is the gift of God.
  • Salvation is not of works.

Paul was not providing an exposition on faith in his epistle to the Ephesians. Rather salvation was his focus. Faith is mentioned as the mode by which salvation is accepted. Salvation is through faith. Just as water is received into a house in twenty-first-century America through a pipeline, a sinner receives salvation through obedient faith (cf. Romans 1:5; 16:26). The main focus of Paul’s message in Ephesians 2:8-9 was salvation (i.e., the living “water that springs up into everlasting life”—cf. John 4:14), not the mode of salvation.

Admittedly, faith might be categorized as a gift from God in the broad sense in which all things come from God (e.g., the bread for which we work is an indirect gift from God—cf. Matthew 6:9-13), but faith is not a direct gift from God given to some and not to others. As Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Rome, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Faith in Christ as the Son of God is found only in those who have first heard the Word of God, and then believed (cf. John 20:31).

REFERENCES

Mounce, William D. (1993), Basics of Biblical Greek (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan).

Query from a Reader by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1696

Query from a Reader

by  Dave Miller, Ph.D.

We recently received the following e-mail from a reader of the Apologetics Press Web site who lives in California:

I came upon your website due to the referral of a Christian brother who provided me a link to your article on John Quincy Adams’ views on Islam. Loved the article and will share it with others.... When checking into your beliefs I noted the following at this link under “What We Believe:” “Salvation is by means of obedience to the Gospel system, involving faith in God and Christ, repentance from sin, confession of faith, and immersion in water for remission of past sins, coupled with a life of growing consecration and dedication.”

In all honesty, when I read Scripture I do not get that “salvation” has anything whatsoever to do with a “Gospel system” or “obedience” thereof. Surely you cannot mean that our deeds and works can make us righteous or clean in the eyes of a perfect and entirely Holy God? Moreover, we cannot follow any kind of a “system” or formula, regardless of how good it may be. Only Christ and His completed sacrifice, once for all, can save those who believe in Him, His Word and His Resurrection. I think the most simple and direct quotes on how Salvation is “achieved” (really awarded is the better and most accurate word) is from Romans 10:17 and Acts 10:34-46….

In light of these verses, why would you take the stance you do in the above noted quote from your website? Put another way, why do you believe salvation is had by any other way than as noted in the above quoted sections of Romans, Acts and any number of other examples, throughout Scripture, of persons being saved?

                                                                             P.L., Palm Desert, CA

Dear P.L.:

Thank you for your interest in our work, and your willingness to study God’s Word, and write us. You are to be commended for your desire to think through what the Bible teaches on the extremely important matter of salvation. Here are some thoughts for you to consider:

It is true that the New Testament does not use the phrase “Gospel system,” but the concept is certainly biblical, even as we speak of the “Christian system” or the “Christian religion.” In Romans, the Gospel/Grace system is contrasted with a strictly legal/law system. The point of Romans is that the Jews could not depend on their ethnic heritage (their genetic connection to Abraham with the covenant symbol of circumcision) or the Law of Moses to save them—because (1) genetic connection is fleshly and avails nothing, and (2) they did not keep the Law of Moses given to them. No one can be saved by law alone, since everyone has violated God’s law and therefore stands condemned. We needed a different approach to the sin problem, specifically, the Gospel (the good news that God inhabited human flesh in the person of His Son to atone for sin). The Gospel has law that we must obey, just like the Law of Moses, but it also has the means of ultimate atonement which the Law of Moses did not technically have (cf. Hebrews 10:4). Yes, the orchestration of that means of forgiveness is wholly God’s doing which we do not deserve. There is absolutely nothing we can do to atone for our own sin.

However, it by no means follows that there is nothing that God requires of us before He will freely cleanse us. You, yourself, agree that a person must believe. So there is something that humans must do to be saved—without assuming they earn or deserve their salvation. They must believe—an act of human effort, called a “work” in John 6:29, i.e., a work that God requires humans to perform (see Methodist lexicographer Joseph Thayer who defines “works” in John 6 as “the works required and approved by God” [1901, p. 248]). But what does it mean to believe? It is not merely a mental act of accepting Jesus (as much of Christendom incessantly maintains), since Paul defined the “faith” of Romans as an “obedient faith” (hupakoain pisteos) in 1:5 and 16:26. Romans uses forms of the word “obey” and “obedience” 10 times, and forthrightly declares that a person will be judged “according to his deeds” (2:6), and that “eternal life” will be given to “those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality,” while those who “do not obey the truth” will receive “indignation and wrath” (2:7-8). Romans 6:16 indicates that obedience precedes righteousness.

So, yes, humans must perform deeds to be pleasing to God. The point that the Bible makes regarding those deeds is that they do not earn salvation for the individual—they do not wash away sin—since only the blood of Christ can do that. Christ’s blood is the cleansing agent. But when does God apply Christ’s blood to our sin-stained spirits? Answer: when a person “obey[s] the Gospel” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). How does one obey the Gospel? Acts is the “book of conversions” that gives example after example of instances wherein people obeyed the Gospel to become Christians. Please access the free pdf book at http://www.apologeticspress.org/pdfs/e-books_pdf/wtbsatcoc.pdf and scroll to page 21 where you will see a chart that records only the explicitly stated actions that occurred in 10 cases of conversion to Christianity in the book of Acts—actions that preceded salvation.

Romans was not actually intended to detail the conditions of salvation; rather, Romans explains the grounds or basis of salvation—the blood of Christ. Nevertheless, in passing, Romans happens to mention every single one of the prerequisite conditions of salvation with which humans must comply before God will grant forgiveness as a free, undeserved gift. Romans 10:17, as you note, indicates that a person must first hear the Gospel/Word of God, which is designed to create faith within. But Romans 10:9-10 makes clear that faith is not the only prerequisite to forgiveness. Oral confession with the mouth is also enjoined. Romans 2:4 indicates that repentance is necessary before God will forgive. And Romans 6:1-4 indicates that water immersion precedes salvation, since it is the contact point for the blood of Christ which was shed in His death. We must be baptized “into His death” to contact that blood. That is the point at which sin is washed away by the blood of Christ. No wonder, then, that Ananias told Saul/Paul to “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). When does a person achieve “calling on the Lord”? When the believing, repenting, confessing person submits to water immersion (Acts 22:16). That explains why Peter declared that baptism “now saves us” (1 Peter 3:21)—in the sense that Christ’s blood saves us at the point of our baptism; and that is why that same Peter impressed upon those present in Acts 10 that the reception of Holy Spirit baptism directly from God upon the Gentiles was proof positive that Gentiles had the right to become Christians just as much as the Jews. Once their eligibility for conversion was demonstrated by that miraculous act direct from God, Peter then pressed for their obedience in the words, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized...?” (Acts 10:47). Why even bring up water at that moment if water immersion was not prerequisite to their forgiveness?

So faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are all indicated to precede remission of sin. We must obey these acts—not to atone for our sin, for only Jesus can do that—but to comply with God’s stated conditions. Those pre-conditions to salvation were authored by Him (not us), and He enjoined them upon all who wish to be saved. That is why the Hebrews writer stated forthrightly that Jesus is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9, emp. added). It is interesting that you quote Acts 10:34-35 which indicates that before a person is acceptable to Christ, that person must “fear Him and work righteousness” (vs. 35). In other words, believe and obey—actions that humans must perform in order to receive the free gift of salvation available only in Christ.

Denominationalism manifests a persistent inability and/or unwillingness to distinguish between the grounds of salvation and the conditions of salvation—the difference between Christ’s atonement and man’s obedience. Yet, the Bible from beginning to end demonstrates this distinction. Indeed, Jesus Himself said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Or as Paul expressed to the Galatians: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). The Galatians had become sons of God through faith when they were baptized in water.

REFERENCE

Thayer, J.H. (1901), A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1977 reprint).

WHOSE TRADITION ? by steve finnell


http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/03/whose-tradition-steve-finnell-whose.html

WHOSE TRADITION ?  by steve finnell

Whose traditions are taught and practiced in the contemporary Christian denominations?

The first century Christians practiced the traditions of the apostles. (Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine...NKJV)

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.(NKJV)

2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. (NKJV)

Galatians 1:11-12 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.(NKJV)

The apostles doctrine came directly from Jesus or through the Holy Spirit.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS A TRADITION OF THE APOSTLES?

1. Indulgences.

2. Absolution by a priest.

3. Christmas trees in the church building.

4. Teaching that water baptism was not essential for salvation.

5. Lent.

6. Holy Water.

7. Teaching that God has selected  certain individuals for salvation and that all others will burn in hell.

8. Making the Sign of The Cross.

9. Praying the Rosary.

10. Teaching that sprinkling and pouring was baptism.

11. Maundy Thursday.

12. The Assumption of Mary.

13. Teaching that Jesus was one of many ways to heaven.

14. Praying to the Virgin Mary and dead Popes.

15. Teaching that a single elder, preacher, or priest should be the authority in each church congregation.

16. Teaching that once a person was saved they could never be lost.

17. Teaching that the building where church members meet is a holy place.

18. Teaching that all unrepentant denominations who teach different ways to  become saved should work in unity.

19. Teaching that the Scriptures have errors.

20. Teaching that God is not smart enough to produce an accurate translation of His word.

21. Teaching that Christians need to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

22. Teaching that men can be saved like the thief on the cross.

23. Teaching that man-made creed books are equal to Scripture.

24. Teaching that saying a "Sinners Prayer" is for salvation.

25. Teaching that all men need to be forgiven for the sin Adam committed. 

How many of the, 25, are the traditions of the apostles? Answer, not one. How many are written in the Bible? Answer, none.

The Bible and the Bible alone contains the absolute truth of the traditions of the apostles.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN by B. Johnson

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Johnson/Edna/Elizabeth/1939/sin.html

THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die (2 Samuel 12:7-14).

David sinned concerning Bathsheba and Uriah. He obviously thought to cover his adultery by having Uriah killed in battle, but he was only fooling himself to think the people (especially his army) did not know what was happening. He had shamed Israel and his own name before the world.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).

Notice the Psalm that was written about nine months after David's adultery.

"For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psalms 51:16-17).

According to the Law of Moses, sin could be forgiven by animal sacrifice, but David did not seek to have his sins forgiven by any work of the Old Testament law.

Pay particular attention to what David did after he committed adultery.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions" (Psalms 51:1).

In the next few verses we can see David's heart as he pours it out before God.

"For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest" (Psalms 51:3-4).

One of the most beautiful passages in the Psalms is where David asked God to purge him and create a clean heart within him.

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalms 51:7-10).

In the Psalm as quoted in Romans, David acknowledged and confessed his sin.

"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah" (Psalms 32:5).

We see in the original passage quoted above, that God forgave David's sin.

"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die" (2 Samuel 12:13).

When David confessed his sin and asked God for forgiveness, God (through Nathan) told David that his sin was forgiven but he also told him there would be three curses which he would have to endure. Those were the consequences of his sin.

1. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house.

2. I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

3. Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

David could not hid his sin from God.

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).

We have learned that to confess and forsake sin is righteous before God.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).

David knew that God forgives, but He also takes vengeance on man's inventions. After David's confession, God forgave his sin, but note what happened because of that sin. Forgiveness is not the end of the matter.

"Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions" (Psalms 99:6-8).

God promised to shame David openly, and David accepted God's judgment as well as his punishment. Let's notice the events that lead to David's punishment being fulfilled.

The third curse took place within seven days. The child died.

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?" (2 Samuel 12:18).

The second curse pronounced upon David was that the Lord would raise up evil against him out of his own house. A man would lie with his wives in the sight of the sun. This took place several years later, but be assured that David had not forgotten the Lord's words.

"Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun" (2 Samuel 12:11).

Absalom began his treachery against David and was successful in his attempts to supplant his father.

"And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel" (2 Samuel 15:2-6).

Absalom had no sooner arrived in Hebron than he pronounced himself king.

"But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom" (2 Sam 15:10-12).

The second curse was fulfilled by Absalom after David fled Jerusalem.

"Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel" (2 Samuel 16:20-22).

The first curse that God gave to David lasted his entire lifetime. David fought with the sword the rest of his entire life. The sword did not depart from him.

"Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife" (2 Sam 12:10).

Consider these details in David's life. These are things written for our learning.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).

Let us not be weary with the Lord's correction or the Lord's vengeance, if we have sinned against Him.

Remember:

The Lord sees.
The Lord forgives when we confess and forsake our sins.
Sins have consequences, even though they are forgive.

Beth Johnson

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Anagrams, words and God by Gary Rose




The Anagram is a curious thing. Originated by the ancient Greeks, they were an attempt to find hidden or mystical meaning of words. They can take the form of commentary, definition, satire or a parody. From my perspective, what they really do is to reveal the attitude of the person making the Anagram.


For many, there are a game, a challenge or a veiled way to criticize without suffering the consequences of their actions. Although Anagrams can be humorous, they also can twist truth and do much harm.


When I think of twisting truth, I think of Satan’s attempt to influence Jesus by twisting what God had said.


Matthew 4 ( World English Bible )

3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But he answered, "“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”"Deuteronomy 8:3

5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,

6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and,

‘On their hands they will bear you up,

so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”Psalm 91:11-12

7 Jesus said to him, "“Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”"Deuteronomy 6:16

8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.

9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, "“Get behind me," * "Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”" Deuteronomy 6:13

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.


Jesus answered Satan with God’s word; he didn’t change it or misuse it in any way. All of us should do the same. What God has said, God HAS SAID and that settles it. Be very careful how you use The Word of God, for what God has said carries with it all the importance of God, HIMSELF!


The last chapter of the last book of the Bible says this…

Revelation 22 ( WEB )

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.

19 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree * of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.


Don’t change God’s word in any way, for you can’t out-think The Creator of the Universe!