Sin cannot separate the christian from God. When a person is saved they are justified from all things.
Thats not just sins of the past thats ALL sins.
Acts 13v39: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
The Justification of the sinner does not only refer to things that are past. Justification is a state that the sinner in brought into in which he is forever righteous before God.
Do who can bring a new charge against a man that is justified? No-one...
Rom 8v33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?
And the answer is?
It is God that justifieth.
Because God has justified the sinner no charge can ever be brought against his because God has declared him righteous in Christ.
Rom 8v34: Who is he that condemneth?
Who can condemn the christian?
No-one - WHY?
Rom 8v34 It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
That is why Rom 8 started with the phrase - There is therefore now NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
But surely you say something must be able to separate the Christian from God?
Well we have established that it cannot be sin. So Paul goes on to list the things that might do it...
35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36: As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Is this the teaching of Christ?
Yes of course it is.
John 5v24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
The word condemnation means to face judgment to be condemned. How Can God condemn a man who he has declared Justified?
Impossible.
Steve
10/01/2010
07/01/2010
The Seven congregations of Asia
Right at the beginning we have a clue as to who John is addressing his letters. He says ‘unto the angel of the Church’. The word angel means ‘the messenger’. Now NT churches do not have a single minister, let alone ‘an angel’. However the Jewish congregations that accepted Christ as the Messiah had a Chief Rabbi who led each service and he was referred to as the ‘Angelous’ the messenger. He was the presiding Rabbi. He was one of a group of overseers of the Jewish believers, v9. It is to this leader that the letters are addressed. He is representative of the elders and the whole congregation. John’s ministry is still focused on the Jewish congregations of Asia, where his ministry was based.
John writes these letters as the Prophet of God to these Jews.
(The Jews had what is called 'The leadership complex'. What this means is that when God has something to say he says it to the Religious leaders (and political if there are any) and they are expected to respond appropriately on behalf of the people that they lead. We see this in the ministry of John Christ and the Apostles and we see it here. Often when Jews are asked about why they reject Christ they will say if Jesus was the Messiah then why did the Elders reject him in his day. They trust their leaders and always assume that they do right. John addresses himself to the Leaders of each Jewish/Christian congregation. He addresses issues such as their righteous works, Their relation to the synagogue of Satan and the issue of false Jews who say they are Jews but are not. And the call is consistently in the context of The Gospel of the Kingdom i.e. Repentance and a return to the God of their fathers)
His first letter is to the congregation of Ephesus. Christ commends them for their works, labour and patience and for their hatred of the Nicolaitians. However they have left their first love (himself) and therefore he calls on them to repent and return unto the Lord and ‘do the works’ in other words keep the Mosaic law because they are Jews after all. If they do not repent then the Lord will remove the candlestick. This is the token of his presence. The promise Christ gives is ‘The Tree of life’ in the Paradise of God – In the Kingdom.
To the Smyrna congregation Christ says, I know your works, tribulation and poverty (Yet they are rich towards God) He says l know the Blaspheme of those who claim to be Jews but are the synagogue of Satan! He gives specific encouragement in tribulation to those who will be imprisoned for their faith in Christ. And he promises eternal life in the Kingdom.
To the Pergamos congregation he writes that he knows their works and the evil of the place they inhabit. He even calls it Satan’s seat. However there are a few things he holds against them. They allow those who follow Balaam who caused Israel to Sin. And how that they encourage abominations causing the judgment of God to come. He commends them for their hatred of the Nicolaitians. However he tells them to repent of judgment will come. None of these terms could ever be spoken to a NT Church.
To the Thyatira Jewish congregation he writes I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. These he commends, but he warns them of allowing a prophetess Jezebel to teach and draw men into the gross sins of fornication and Idolatry. Christ himself has warned her and yet she has not repented so He will act in severe judgment and destroy her and her offspring. Those who overcome will share with Christ his rule over the Nations in the Kingdom.
All these messages were strongly Jewish in flavour and addressed to the Jewish synagogues of Asia Minor (Turkey).
To the congregation at Sardis. Christ says, I know thy works. He says this every time and is saying I know all that you do which is commendable. He says you have a name that you are alive but you are dead spiritually. He says be careful because the congregation is ready to pass away. As always the call to Israel is a call to repentance and a return to the Lord and righteous living before God. Those who are righteous will escape the judgment of God of death.
To the Philadelphian congregation Christ says, I have the key of David. I.e.The total authority of the King. He can open and shut and no man can overcome it. He says, l know thy works etc He commends them for their strength even though it is little and their determination to keep to Christ’s word. Again they are plagued by those who are false Jews. He promises to keep them safe in the time of tribulation which will come upon the whole earth. Those who overcome will be granted a position as a pillar in the temple of the Kingdom. Those who overcome will have the name of God and Jerusalem and the New Name.
To the Laodicean congregation Christ says, He knows their spiritual state. They are not hot or cold. They are self-willed self-sufficient and self-satisfied. They say they are rich, yet they are actually poor. They say they see everything, yet they are blind. If ever there were a description of the LORD’s dealings with Israel it is in these words – ‘As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent’. To those who overcome, he promises to sit with him in the glorious Kingdom ruling with him.
Steve
John writes these letters as the Prophet of God to these Jews.
(The Jews had what is called 'The leadership complex'. What this means is that when God has something to say he says it to the Religious leaders (and political if there are any) and they are expected to respond appropriately on behalf of the people that they lead. We see this in the ministry of John Christ and the Apostles and we see it here. Often when Jews are asked about why they reject Christ they will say if Jesus was the Messiah then why did the Elders reject him in his day. They trust their leaders and always assume that they do right. John addresses himself to the Leaders of each Jewish/Christian congregation. He addresses issues such as their righteous works, Their relation to the synagogue of Satan and the issue of false Jews who say they are Jews but are not. And the call is consistently in the context of The Gospel of the Kingdom i.e. Repentance and a return to the God of their fathers)
His first letter is to the congregation of Ephesus. Christ commends them for their works, labour and patience and for their hatred of the Nicolaitians. However they have left their first love (himself) and therefore he calls on them to repent and return unto the Lord and ‘do the works’ in other words keep the Mosaic law because they are Jews after all. If they do not repent then the Lord will remove the candlestick. This is the token of his presence. The promise Christ gives is ‘The Tree of life’ in the Paradise of God – In the Kingdom.
To the Smyrna congregation Christ says, I know your works, tribulation and poverty (Yet they are rich towards God) He says l know the Blaspheme of those who claim to be Jews but are the synagogue of Satan! He gives specific encouragement in tribulation to those who will be imprisoned for their faith in Christ. And he promises eternal life in the Kingdom.
To the Pergamos congregation he writes that he knows their works and the evil of the place they inhabit. He even calls it Satan’s seat. However there are a few things he holds against them. They allow those who follow Balaam who caused Israel to Sin. And how that they encourage abominations causing the judgment of God to come. He commends them for their hatred of the Nicolaitians. However he tells them to repent of judgment will come. None of these terms could ever be spoken to a NT Church.
To the Thyatira Jewish congregation he writes I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. These he commends, but he warns them of allowing a prophetess Jezebel to teach and draw men into the gross sins of fornication and Idolatry. Christ himself has warned her and yet she has not repented so He will act in severe judgment and destroy her and her offspring. Those who overcome will share with Christ his rule over the Nations in the Kingdom.
All these messages were strongly Jewish in flavour and addressed to the Jewish synagogues of Asia Minor (Turkey).
To the congregation at Sardis. Christ says, I know thy works. He says this every time and is saying I know all that you do which is commendable. He says you have a name that you are alive but you are dead spiritually. He says be careful because the congregation is ready to pass away. As always the call to Israel is a call to repentance and a return to the Lord and righteous living before God. Those who are righteous will escape the judgment of God of death.
To the Philadelphian congregation Christ says, I have the key of David. I.e.The total authority of the King. He can open and shut and no man can overcome it. He says, l know thy works etc He commends them for their strength even though it is little and their determination to keep to Christ’s word. Again they are plagued by those who are false Jews. He promises to keep them safe in the time of tribulation which will come upon the whole earth. Those who overcome will be granted a position as a pillar in the temple of the Kingdom. Those who overcome will have the name of God and Jerusalem and the New Name.
To the Laodicean congregation Christ says, He knows their spiritual state. They are not hot or cold. They are self-willed self-sufficient and self-satisfied. They say they are rich, yet they are actually poor. They say they see everything, yet they are blind. If ever there were a description of the LORD’s dealings with Israel it is in these words – ‘As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent’. To those who overcome, he promises to sit with him in the glorious Kingdom ruling with him.
Steve
02/01/2010
Why does James say that we should call for and elder of the church if we get sick?
The period from the resurrection to the destruction of Jerusalem was a transitional period.
Firstly the Same message the Gospel of the Kingdom was still being preached from synagogue to synagogue right throughout the Roman world. God had spoken through John and through Christ calling Israel to restoration of their covenantal obligations under the Mosaic Law.
Secondly there slowly developed a second thread. The Gospel of the Grace of God to the Gentiles in which was he would bless them outside the Mosaic Covenant. There was a very big push to bring the new Gentile Believers in Christ into Judaism by Circumcision and Law observance. (This was just one of the battles Paul faced and his most lethal) This came to a head in Acts 15. Where the apostles agreed than Gentile believers were not required to convert to Judaism nor were they bound by the Mosaic law. This was an important event in the life of Christianity. Christianity broke free from Judaism. However, That’s not the whole story yet.
The third aspect of this transitional period is that While some Jews ceased to keep the Mosaic law. And that was ok. And Gentiles were not required to keep the Mosaic Law And that was ok too. What about whole Jewish communities some of whom accepted Christ as the Messiah. Well they were allowed to remain Jewish/Christians. In other words in family life, Social life, religious life and in commerce they stayed faithful to Judaism. However not because Judaism saved them. It didn’t, Faith in Christ has saved them. But remaining outwardly a Jew meant that the Jewish families remained in tact. and Jewish life and commerce continued as normal. So we get for example people who still eat Kosher. Not because this brings Gods favour - it doesn’t. but because to do the contrary would break apart ordinary Jewish life.
Fourthly, The Apostles ministry was directed primarily at the Jewish Nation they were continuing the work that Christ had begun. and for 40 years From the beginning of John's ministry at Jordan right up to 70AD the message that Israel is to repent and return to the Lord still went out to this unfaithful nation. However in AD 69 the Legions moved in and the following year the Temple was destroyed and 1,100,000 Jews are killed in Jerusalem. Israel had had an opportunity to hear the call to repentance for 40 years and they had rejected their Messiah and his apostles.
Now while these apostles were going from synagogue to synagogue they could easily be silenced with on word. 'You are unrighteous'. In other words that do not keep the Mosaic Law. This would silence then in a moment and render their message of no value. Therefore Paul Timothy Silas Barnabas Had to be careful not to break the Mosaic Law. WHY? So that they could be saved? NO they were already saved. Was it because it was their duty as a christian? NO they as christians were not obliged to keep the law. They were free from the law completely. So why did Paul the greatest preacher of freedom from the Law keep it? - So that he might keep open the channels to the Jews to whom he was to preach the gospel of the kingdom. [1]
Have you fallen asleep yet? I hope not.
These Jewish/Christians were in a majority in some places. Now the second half of the NT contains a number of NT letters written to christians who also happened to be Jews too. They were saved good enough yet they still lived within Judaism and therefore they lived under the blessings and curses of the Mosaic Law. These NT letters written to Jewish/christians are... Hebrews, James, 1/2 Peter, 1/2/3 John, Jude, Revelation.
They all address christians - but Jewish christians. They all speak in terms of Law. Their emphasis is 'live righteously'.
So coming back to James.
James writes to Jews some of whom had got sick because God always disciplines Israel with sickness when they sin. And what is the cure? The cure is not with the doctors but with the Rabbis. They come to the sick. Teach them to repent of their sin and anoint them with oil symbol of the restoration of spiritual life and they get well.
This has no parallel in the Church today.
Steve
[1] 1 Corinthians 9: 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
Firstly the Same message the Gospel of the Kingdom was still being preached from synagogue to synagogue right throughout the Roman world. God had spoken through John and through Christ calling Israel to restoration of their covenantal obligations under the Mosaic Law.
Secondly there slowly developed a second thread. The Gospel of the Grace of God to the Gentiles in which was he would bless them outside the Mosaic Covenant. There was a very big push to bring the new Gentile Believers in Christ into Judaism by Circumcision and Law observance. (This was just one of the battles Paul faced and his most lethal) This came to a head in Acts 15. Where the apostles agreed than Gentile believers were not required to convert to Judaism nor were they bound by the Mosaic law. This was an important event in the life of Christianity. Christianity broke free from Judaism. However, That’s not the whole story yet.
The third aspect of this transitional period is that While some Jews ceased to keep the Mosaic law. And that was ok. And Gentiles were not required to keep the Mosaic Law And that was ok too. What about whole Jewish communities some of whom accepted Christ as the Messiah. Well they were allowed to remain Jewish/Christians. In other words in family life, Social life, religious life and in commerce they stayed faithful to Judaism. However not because Judaism saved them. It didn’t, Faith in Christ has saved them. But remaining outwardly a Jew meant that the Jewish families remained in tact. and Jewish life and commerce continued as normal. So we get for example people who still eat Kosher. Not because this brings Gods favour - it doesn’t. but because to do the contrary would break apart ordinary Jewish life.
Fourthly, The Apostles ministry was directed primarily at the Jewish Nation they were continuing the work that Christ had begun. and for 40 years From the beginning of John's ministry at Jordan right up to 70AD the message that Israel is to repent and return to the Lord still went out to this unfaithful nation. However in AD 69 the Legions moved in and the following year the Temple was destroyed and 1,100,000 Jews are killed in Jerusalem. Israel had had an opportunity to hear the call to repentance for 40 years and they had rejected their Messiah and his apostles.
Now while these apostles were going from synagogue to synagogue they could easily be silenced with on word. 'You are unrighteous'. In other words that do not keep the Mosaic Law. This would silence then in a moment and render their message of no value. Therefore Paul Timothy Silas Barnabas Had to be careful not to break the Mosaic Law. WHY? So that they could be saved? NO they were already saved. Was it because it was their duty as a christian? NO they as christians were not obliged to keep the law. They were free from the law completely. So why did Paul the greatest preacher of freedom from the Law keep it? - So that he might keep open the channels to the Jews to whom he was to preach the gospel of the kingdom. [1]
Have you fallen asleep yet? I hope not.
These Jewish/Christians were in a majority in some places. Now the second half of the NT contains a number of NT letters written to christians who also happened to be Jews too. They were saved good enough yet they still lived within Judaism and therefore they lived under the blessings and curses of the Mosaic Law. These NT letters written to Jewish/christians are... Hebrews, James, 1/2 Peter, 1/2/3 John, Jude, Revelation.
They all address christians - but Jewish christians. They all speak in terms of Law. Their emphasis is 'live righteously'.
So coming back to James.
James writes to Jews some of whom had got sick because God always disciplines Israel with sickness when they sin. And what is the cure? The cure is not with the doctors but with the Rabbis. They come to the sick. Teach them to repent of their sin and anoint them with oil symbol of the restoration of spiritual life and they get well.
This has no parallel in the Church today.
Steve
[1] 1 Corinthians 9: 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
How do l life the Christian life?
John says he writes so that the believers might become overcomers.
How does the Christian overcome the world?
4: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
The Christian is saved by Faith in Christ
The Christian lives by Faith
The Christian overcomes the Flesh by Faith
The Christian overcomes the world by Faith
The Christian overcomes Satan by Faith
Steve
How does the Christian overcome the world?
4: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
The Christian is saved by Faith in Christ
The Christian lives by Faith
The Christian overcomes the Flesh by Faith
The Christian overcomes the world by Faith
The Christian overcomes Satan by Faith
Steve
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