January 30, 2019

Hypocrisy and forthrightness by Gary Rose



The graphic compares two definitions. They are correct if considered individually, but to me, collectively they define hypocrisy. A person whose heart is in the tune with God’s wishes will endeavor to be the same publicly and privately. Jesus has some very strong words to those whose lives are in need of changing...

Matthew 23 ( World English Bible )
 13  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (emphasis added for bold and underlined words)For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

  
14  “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.   15  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna as yourselves. 

  
16  Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’   17  You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?   18  ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’  19  You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?   20  He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.   21  He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who was living in it.   22  He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.

  
23  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.   24  You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! 

  
25  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. 26  You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.

  
27  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.   28  Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

  
29  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,   30  and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’   31  Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets.   32  Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.   33  You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna   34  Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;   35  that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.   36  Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. 


Hypocrites, blind guides, blind fools, serpents and offspring of vipers- some pretty harsh words. Jesus simply spoke his mind and condemned them because they deserved it. Frankly, I wonder if I could be so straightforward with anyone. For that matter, I can not even remember even one Christian saying such things to anyone. Non-Christians, yes; Christians, no.

I wonder, have we somehow lost the forthrightness Jesus shows? Or, is this our cultural way of doing things? You decide.

Bottom line:
Determine to follow God consistently, wherever you are!

Bible Reading January 30 and 31 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading  January 30 and 31

World  English  Bible

Jan. 30
Genesis 30

Gen 30:1 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I will die."
Gen 30:2 Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in God's place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"
Gen 30:3 She said, "Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her."
Gen 30:4 She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
Gen 30:5 Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.
Gen 30:6 Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son." Therefore called she his name Dan.
Gen 30:7 Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son.
Gen 30:8 Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed." She named him Naphtali.
Gen 30:9 When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
Gen 30:10 Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a son.
Gen 30:11 Leah said, "How fortunate!" She named him Gad.
Gen 30:12 Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a second son.
Gen 30:13 Leah said, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy." She named him Asher.
Gen 30:14 Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."
Gen 30:15 She said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes, also?" Rachel said, "Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes."
Gen 30:16 Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, "You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with my son's mandrakes." He lay with her that night.
Gen 30:17 God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.
Gen 30:18 Leah said, "God has given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband." She named him Issachar.
Gen 30:19 Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob.
Gen 30:20 Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons." She named him Zebulun.
Gen 30:21 Afterwards, she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah.
Gen 30:22 God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb.
Gen 30:23 She conceived, bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach."
Gen 30:24 She named him Joseph, saying, "May Yahweh add another son to me."
Gen 30:25 It happened, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country.
Gen 30:26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service with which I have served you."
Gen 30:27 Laban said to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me for your sake."
Gen 30:28 He said, "Appoint me your wages, and I will give it."
Gen 30:29 He said to him, "You know how I have served you, and how your livestock have fared with me.
Gen 30:30 For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?"
Gen 30:31 He said, "What shall I give you?" Jacob said, "You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it.
Gen 30:32 I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire.
Gen 30:33 So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be counted stolen."
Gen 30:34 Laban said, "Behold, I desire it to be according to your word."
Gen 30:35 That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
Gen 30:36 He set three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
Gen 30:37 Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
Gen 30:38 He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink. They conceived when they came to drink.
Gen 30:39 The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.
Gen 30:40 Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in the flock of Laban: and he put his own droves apart, and didn't put them into Laban's flock.
Gen 30:41 It happened, whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods;
Gen 30:42 but when the flock were feeble, he didn't put them in. So the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.
Gen 30:43 The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Jan. 31
Genesis 31

Gen 31:1 He heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father's. From that which was our father's, has he gotten all this wealth."
Gen 31:2 Jacob saw the expression on Laban's face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
Gen 31:3 Yahweh said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you."
Gen 31:4 Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,
Gen 31:5 and said to them, "I see the expression on your father's face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.
Gen 31:6 You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.
Gen 31:7 Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn't allow him to hurt me.
Gen 31:8 If he said this, 'The speckled will be your wages,' then all the flock bore speckled. If he said this, 'The streaked will be your wages,' then all the flock bore streaked.
Gen 31:9 Thus God has taken away your father's livestock, and given them to me.
Gen 31:10 It happened during mating season that I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
Gen 31:11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I am.'
Gen 31:12 He said, 'Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you.
Gen 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.' "
Gen 31:14 Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
Gen 31:15 Aren't we accounted by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also quite devoured our money.
Gen 31:16 For all the riches which God has taken away from our father, that is ours and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do."
Gen 31:17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels,
Gen 31:18 and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.
Gen 31:19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's.
Gen 31:20 Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn't tell him that he was running away.
Gen 31:21 So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.
Gen 31:22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
Gen 31:23 He took his relatives with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.
Gen 31:24 God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Take heed to yourself that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad."
Gen 31:25 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead.
Gen 31:26 Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword?
Gen 31:27 Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp;
Gen 31:28 and didn't allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now have you done foolishly.
Gen 31:29 It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Take heed to yourself that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad.'
Gen 31:30 Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father's house, but why have you stolen my gods?"
Gen 31:31 Jacob answered Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I said, 'Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.'
Gen 31:32 Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it." For Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen them.
Gen 31:33 Laban went into Jacob's tent, into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn't find them. He went out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
Gen 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel's saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt about all the tent, but didn't find them.
Gen 31:35 She said to her father, "Don't let my lord be angry that I can't rise up before you; for the manner of women is on me." He searched, but didn't find the teraphim.
Gen 31:36 Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, "What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued after me?
Gen 31:37 Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two.
Gen 31:38 These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven't eaten the rams of your flocks.
Gen 31:39 That which was torn of animals, I didn't bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
Gen 31:40 This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes.
Gen 31:41 These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
Gen 31:42 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."
Gen 31:43 Laban answered Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do this day to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?
Gen 31:44 Now come, let us make a covenant, you and I; and let it be for a witness between me and you."
Gen 31:45 Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
Gen 31:46 Jacob said to his relatives, "Gather stones." They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap.
Gen 31:47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
Gen 31:48 Laban said, "This heap is witness between me and you this day." Therefore it was named Galeed
Gen 31:49 and Mizpah, for he said, "Yahweh watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.
Gen 31:50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, no man is with us; behold, God is witness between me and you."
Gen 31:51 Laban said to Jacob, "See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you.
Gen 31:52 May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.
Gen 31:53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac.
Gen 31:54 Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain.

Gen 31:55 Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.

Jan. 29, 30
Matthew 15

Mat 15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
Mat 15:2 "Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread."
Mat 15:3 He answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
Mat 15:5 But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,"
Mat 15:6 he shall not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
Mat 15:7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 'These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.' "
Mat 15:10 He summoned the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand.
Mat 15:11 That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
Mat 15:12 Then the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?"
Mat 15:13 But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.
Mat 15:14 Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Mat 15:15 Peter answered him, "Explain the parable to us."
Mat 15:16 So Jesus said, "Do you also still not understand?
Mat 15:17 Don't you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?
Mat 15:18 But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the man."
Mat 15:21 Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
Mat 15:22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely demonized!"
Mat 15:23 But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries after us."
Mat 15:24 But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Mat 15:25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."
Mat 15:26 But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
Mat 15:27 But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Mat 15:29 Jesus departed there, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there.
Mat 15:30 Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
Mat 15:31 so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, injured whole, lame walking, and blind seeing-and they glorified the God of Israel.
Mat 15:32 Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way."
Mat 15:33 The disciples said to him, "Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?"
Mat 15:34 Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."
Mat 15:35 He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;
Mat 15:36 and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
Mat 15:37 They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
Mat 15:38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
Mat 15:39 Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.

Jan. 31
Matthew 16

Mat 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
Mat 16:2 But he answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'
Mat 16:3 In the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times!
Mat 16:4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah." He left them, and departed.
Mat 16:5 The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread.
Mat 16:6 Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Mat 16:7 They reasoned among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread."
Mat 16:8 Jesus, perceiving it, said, "Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, 'because you have brought no bread?'
Mat 16:9 Don't you yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
Mat 16:10 Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
Mat 16:11 How is it that you don't perceive that I didn't speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Mat 16:12 Then they understood that he didn't tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Mat 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
Mat 16:14 They said, "Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
Mat 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Mat 16:17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven."
Mat 16:20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he is Jesus the Christ.
Mat 16:21 From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
Mat 16:22 Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you."
Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men."
Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
Mat 16:26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.
Mat 16:28 Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom." 

Chapter 9 FAITH AND OBEDIENCE by CA Feenstra

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Feenstra/C/A/1931/ch09.html

Chapter 9
FAITH AND OBEDIENCE
Man's words
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. — Westminster shorter catechism, Creeds of Christendom, Philip Schaff, page 676.
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, what is the whole duty of man?
"This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13
"And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." I Sam. 15:22
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Matt. 17:5
"He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36
"He (Jesus) became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation." Heb. 5:9
Man's words
Heidelburg Catechism

Q.21 What is true faith?
A. True faith is not only a sure knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also a firm confidence which the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel, that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.

Q.22 What, then, is necessary for a Christian to believe?
A. All that is promised us in the gospel, which the articles of our catholic and undoubted Christian faith teach us in a summary.
Q.23 What are these articles?
A. (The Apostle's Creed)
Q.59 But what does it profit you now that you believe all this (The Apostle's Creed)?
A. That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir to eternal life.
Q.60 How are you righteous before God?
A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; that is, though my conscience accuse me that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil, yet God, without any merit of mine, of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never had nor committed any sin, and myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for me; if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.
Q.61 Why do you say that you are righteous only by faith?
A. Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God, and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only.
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, are we saved "through faith" only, OR are we saved "through" many other necessary things?
1. "Through the tender mercy of our God"Lk. 1:78 AV
2. "Through the righteousness of God"II Pet. 1:1 AV
3. "Through grace"Acts 15:11
4. "Through our Lord Jesus Christ"I Cor. 15:57
5. "Through the offering of the body of Jesus"Heb. 10:10
6. "Through his (Jesus') blood"Eph. 1:7
7. "Through (Jesus') death"Col. 1:22
8. "Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"I Pet. 1:21
9. "Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"Rom. 3:24
10. "Through his (Jesus') name"Acts 10:43
11. "Through the truth"John 17:17, 19 AV
12. "Through the knowledge of Jesus"II Pet. 2:20
13. "Through the word (of Jesus)"John 15:3 AV
14. "Through their (the disciples') word"John 17:20
15. "Through the gospel"I Cor. 4:15
16. "Through the foolishness of the preaching"I Cor. 1:21
17. "Through ... belief of the truth"II Thess. 2:13 AV
18. "Through faith"Eph. 2:8
19. "Through the washing of regeneration (baptism)"Titus 3:5
20. "Through the ... renewing of the Holy Spirit"Titus 3:5
21. "Through sanctification of the Spirit"II Thess. 2:13 AV
22. "Through many tribulations"Acts 14:22
23. "Through patience"Heb. 6:12
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that Abraham was justified by faith?
"For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness." Rom. 4:3
"To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness." Rom. 4:9
"Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness." Gal. 3:6
"By faith Abraham..." Heb. 11:8, 9, 17
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, was Abraham justified by "faith only", OR was he justified by a faith that actively obeyed God's commands?
"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith." James 2:20-24
"Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee...
So Abram went, as Jehovah had spoken unto him." Gen. 12:1, 4
"In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Gen. 26:4-5
"And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice." Gen. 22:15-18
"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise ... By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called." Heb. 11:8-9, 17-18
* * *
Q. Although man cannot earn his salvation by doing works, does GOD'S WORD teach that it is possible for man to obey God?
"Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him." Gen. 7:5
"In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou (Abraham) hast obeyed my voice." Gen. 22:18
"Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Gen. 26:5
"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah." Hag. 1:12
"They turned aside quickly out of the way wherein their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Jehovah." Judg. 2:17
"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed..." Heb. 11:8
Q. Although man cannot earn his salvation by doing works, does GOD'S WORD teach that God expects man to obey Him?
"Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him." Deut. 13:4
"Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes." Deut. 27:10
"See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil ... I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed; to love Jehovah thy God, to obey his voice, and to cleave unto him; for he is thy life, and the length of thy days." Deut. 30:15, 19-20
"This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it." Isa. 1:18-20
"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you." Jer. 7:23 AV
"And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God." Jer. 11:3-4 AV
"But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD." Jer. 12:17 AV
"If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17
"If ye love me, ye will keep my (Jesus') commandments. ... He that hath my (Jesus') commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ... Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word." John 14:15, 21, 23
"And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his (Jesus') commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his (Jesus') commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected." I John 2:3-5
Q. Where in all of GOD'S WORD is it taught that man is born so totally depraved that he cannot obey God?
Where in GOD'S WORD is it taught that man is born so totally depraved that he cannot obey the command of Jesus to believe and to be baptized for the remission of his sins?
Q. Is Calvinism's "faith only" true, OR does GOD'S WORD show that the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 demonstrated their faith by an active obedience to God's commands?
"By faith Abel offered ... a sacrifice"Heb. 11:4
"By faith Noah ... prepared an ark"Heb. 11:7
"By faith Abraham ... obeyed"Heb. 11:8
"By faith he (Abraham) became a sojourner"Heb. 11:9
"By faith Abraham ... offered up Isaac"Heb. 11:17
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau"Heb. 11:20
"By faith Jacob ... blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped"Heb. 11:22
"By faith Moses ... was hid three months by his parents"Heb. 11:23
"By faith Moses ... refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter"Heb. 11:24
"By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt"Heb. 11:27
"By faith he (Moses) kept the passover"Heb. 11:27
"By faith they (Israel) passed through the Red sea"Heb. 11:29
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about seven days"Heb. 11:30
"By faith Rahab ... perished not ... having received the spies with peace"Heb. 11:31
Q. Is Calvinism's "faith only" true, OR does GOD'S WORD show saving faith and obedience to be equals?
"Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God." Zeph. 3:1-2
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose trust Jehovah is ... I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Jer. 17:7, 10
"Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. ... Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. ... For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead." James 2:17, 24, 26
"He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36
"And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren." Acts 14:1-2
"And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts 6:7
"By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace." Heb. 11:31
"And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient? And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief." Heb. 3:17-19
"Peter, ... to the elect
... who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth..." I Pet. 1:1, 21-22
"Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake." Rom. 1:4-5
"Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ... is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith." Rom. 16:25-26
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ... And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Acts 2:38, 5:32
"In flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed." II Thess. 1:7-10
Belief and ObedienceContrasted withUnbelief and Disobedience
"Believeth on the Son"John 3:36"Obeyeth not the Son"
"Believeth and is baptized"Mark 16:16"Disbelieveth"
"Jews and Greeks believed"Acts 14:1-2"Jews ... were disobedient"
"Them that believed"II Thess. 1:8-10"Them that obey not the gospel"
"The house of God"
"The righteous"
I Pet. 4:17-18"Them that obey not the gospel"
"The ungodly and sinner"
"Every one ... that heareth these words of mine (Jesus), and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man"Matt. 7:24-26"Every one that heareth these words of mine (Jesus), and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man"
"Them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor"Rom. 2:7-8"Them that ... obey not the truth"
"Ye became obedient from the heart to that form (pattern) of teaching (baptism Rom. 6:3-6) whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness"Rom. 6:17-18"Ye were the servants of sin"
"He saved us through the washing of regeneration" "That they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works"Titus 3:3-8"For ye also once were ... disobedient"
Q. GOD'S WORD teaches that man can only be saved because of the love and grace of God, but does GOD'S WORD also teach that man himself must show his faith by an active obedience?
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matt. 16:24
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:4
"And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls." Acts 2:40-41
"Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." II Cor. 7:1
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure." Phil. 2:12-13
"Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble." II Pet. 1:10
"Keep yourselves in the love of God..." Jude 21
"Keep thyself pure." I Tim. 5:22
Q. If man can be saved by "faith only", why are the demons who confess Christ, and believe, and tremble, not also saved?
"And crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not. For he (Jesus) said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man." Mark 5:7-8
"And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God." Mark 3:11
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" James 2:19-20 AV
* * *
Q. Is Calvinism's "faith only" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that we can only be saved by a faith which obeys Jesus?
"Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. ... Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. ... For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead." James 2:17, 24, 26
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. ... He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:16, 36
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." Mark 16:15-16
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ... And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Acts 2:38, 5:32
"For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory." Eph. 2:8-9
"Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." Titus 3:5
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5
"He (Jesus) became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation..." Heb. 5:9
"Jesus ... said...
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." John 12:44, 48-49
Q. Is Calvinism's "faith only" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that God will punish those who do not obey the gospel of His Son?
"Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. To him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you. And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people." Acts 3:22-23
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Matt. 17:5
"He that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36
"But unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish." Rom. 2:8-9
"See that ye refuse not him (Jesus) that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him (Jesus) that warneth from heaven." Heb. 12:25
"For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?" I Pet. 4:17
"At the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might." II Thess. 1:7-9

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