TheosGuy

My Position in Christ

• I have been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Jesus Christ. (Col 1:13)
• I currently possess redemption, the forgiveness of sin, through the blood of Jesus. (Col 1:14)
• I have died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)
• I was purchased by God at a price. (1 Cor 6:20)
• I now belong to Christ and therefore belong to God. (1 Cor 3:23)
• I was chosen in Christ before the creation of the world, to be reckoned as holy and blameless before Him. (Eph. 1:4)
• I have been made alive with Christ and sit with Him in the heavenly places. (Eph. 2:5-6)
• I am God’s child. (John 1:12)
• I am Christ’s friend. (John 15:15)
• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Eph 2:6)
• I am a citizen of heaven. (Phil 3:20)
• I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18)

Regarding Sin

• I am free from the power of sin, and am now a slave to righteousness. (Rom 6:7-8, 11, 14, 18)
• I have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. (Gal 3:13)
• I am free from condemnation. (Rom 8:1-2)

• No works that I do will or can justify me. (Rom 3:20)
• I am justified. (Rom 5:1)
• I am saved by the grace of God through faith. (Eph 2:8-9)
• I am able to find God’s grace and mercy in time of need. (Heb 4:16)

I Am Complete in Christ

• I am in Christ, and am therefore complete in Him, because He is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. (Col. 2:9-10)
• I have access to the mind of Christ so that He may instruct me. (1 Cor 2:16)
• Through Christ, I have overcome the world. (1 John 4:4)

My Hope is in the Character of God

• I will wait upon the Lord for His lovingkindness never ceases; His compassion never fails; He is good to those who wait for Him. (Lam 3:22-25)
• I will obey Him, for the Lord’s commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
• I am safe for He will never abandon me. (Heb 13:5)
• The Lord is faithful. He will strengthen me and protect me from the enemy. (2 Thess. 3:3)
• I look forward to His glorious coming. He is preparing a place for me and will come again to receive me unto Himself. (John 14:1-3, 1 Thess 4:17-18)
• I am confident that the good work that the Lord has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil 1:6)

Tags: Christ, Faith, Salvation

The Greek verb used in relation to salvation is used in past (perfect), present and future tenses in the Greek (as well as aorist and imperfect).

Tags: Faith, Salvation

With respect to the Greek words agape and phileo, which are translated love in the English, note the following:

• Phileo doesn’t denote a lesser love except contextually
• Agape doesn’t denote divine love except contextually

I have heard many sermons stating that the word agape means God’s divine love and phileo is human brotherly love. But that is not true, as stated. It is only if the context requires it. Here are some examples that show where it is NOT true.

• God the Father phileo the Son—John 5:20. Thus phileo can be used to denote God’s divine love. I wouldn’t think that the Father loves the Son with a human brotherly love.
• Father phileo us and the Son—John 16:27
• Jesus phileo John—John 20:2. God the Son, loved the Apostle John, and it uses the term phileo. I am sure that God the Son loved with a divine love.
• God phileo, human agape—Pro 8:17 “I (God) phileo those who (humans) love agapeo me…”
• The adulteress in Hosea 3 is committing a physical act of adultery, and it is described in the LXX as using a form of agapeo.
  

  “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Go again, love [1] a woman who is loved by a lover [1] and is committing adultery, just like the love [1] of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love [2] the raisin cakes of the pagans.'”—Hosea 3:1

  [1] root=agapeo [2] root=phileo

• Agape as sexual—2 Sam 13:4; Songs 2:5-7:6
• Phileo as sexual — Prov 7:18

Thayers lexicon makes the following disctinction between the two Greek words:

• Agape – love based in choice; admiration, esteem, veneration; commanded in Mat 5:44;
• Phileo – love based in emotion

Tags: Christ, God, Living, Theology

Some Scriptures regarding the human tongue and its use.

(Proverbs 10:18-22 NKJV) Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom. The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

(Proverbs 15:1 NKJV) A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

(Proverbs 17:27-28 NKJV) He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

(James 1:19 NKJV) So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

(James 3:2, 6 NKJV) ²For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

(Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 NKJV) The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?

(Colossians 3:16 NKJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Tags: Living

I have heard people say quite a bit that they just wish they knew what the will of God was for their life. Well here are some Scripture references that will tell us!

(Col 1:9 NKJV) For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

(Heb 11:6 NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

(Rom 12:1-2 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(Pro 3:5-6 NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

(1 Chr 28:9 NKJV) As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

(Mat 6:33 NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

(Gal 1:4 NKJV) who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

(1Th 4:3 NKJV) For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

(1Pe 2:15-16 NKJV) For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men–as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

Tags: God, Living

Scripture tell us that the laborer is worth a reasonable wage.

And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. (Luke 10:7 KJV)

Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; (Jeremiah 22:13 KJV)

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:5 KJV)

For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. (Philippians 4:16 NKJV)

Tags: Living

Here are some Scriptures that deal with a believer and debt. Let’s review them first and then I will give some thoughts on how to interpret.

Do Not Borrow:

(Romans 13:8 NKJV) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

(Proverbs 22:7 NKJV) The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.

(Deuteronomy 15:6 NKJV) For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

(Deuteronomy 28:12 NKJV) The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Do Not Be a Surety:

(Proverbs 6:1 NKJV) My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

(Proverbs 17:18 NKJV) A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.

(Proverbs 22:26-27 NKJV) Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?

When looking at these Scripture, what is the definition of debt? If this is a strict admonition against borrowing money, then why are there rules (e.g., Exodus 22:25) for lending money to God’s people? In addition, in Psalm 37:21 it tells us that the wicked are those who borrow and do not repay. So what about those who borrow and do repay? It would seem that they are not categorized in with the wicked. Also, Psalm 37:26 it says that the merciful lend. But would we be merciful to lend if borrowing were strictly prohibited? So I believe we must be careful in our interpretation and application of these Scriptures.

Let’s take a quick look at the Hebrew word, lavah, which is translated borrow and lend. It appears to have a connotation of one who is joined with another. In fact that is one of the translated English words of lavah. In Gesenius’s Lexicon it also gives a sense of a debt where repayment would result in being put into slavery. Indentured slavery was a common practice in that time. Where a creditor took a debtor on as a slave until the account was paid.

It would be easy to say that since that isn’t a practice today then it doesn’t apply. But I would not go that far. I know many people who are so much in debt that they are not free. Their debtors are ever present on their mind. They are not free to spend time with their families because they have to work two or three jobs to pay the bills. Now I commend them for being honorable and repaying the debt (c.f., Psalm 37:21). However, it does seem that their creditors reign over them (c.f., Proverbs 22:7 and Deuteronomy 15:6.

I believe the admonition to not borrow is a good one. In the context that I see in the Scriptures, I would make a distinction between borrowing and financing. What does that mean? Well I would say that you have borrowed when there is no asset of sufficient quick sale value to pay the debt. And you have financed something when the underlying quick sale value of the asset is greater than the loan. So if I go buy a new $20,000 automobile and borrow $20,000 for the purchase, then that is borrowing. Why? Because as soon as I drive it off the lot, it becomes a used car and is now worth several thousand dollars less (let’s say $17,000). So if for some reason I lose my job and cannot pay the monthly payments and they come and repossess the car, I will still owe several thousand dollars.

However, if I only took out a loan of $10,000 to buy the car and put $10,000 down, then in the above circumstances, I will probably be able to make a quick sale of the car more than the underlying loan. This is the theory behind the down payment on the purchase of a house. You put 20% down, as your investment into the house. In a stable economy, you would think you could sell the house for more than your underlying mortgage. Of course, at the time I write this (June 2009) in Orange County, California, there are a lot of people who are upside down on their houses, due to the poor economy and the crash in real estate value.

So to summarize, I think we can see the great wisdom in the Scriptures telling us to not borrow money.

Tags: Living

At least three books are maintained before God. Revelation 20:12 says “books” which is plural (i.e., at least two) plus the Book of Life. What are the books?

• The Book of Life and the book of deeds. The name “Book of Life” is given in Scripture and is used herin as the title of the book. The “books” that are not the “Book of Life” are not given a specific title or name. However, the dead are judged out of things written in the books, and it is implied from the text that their works are contained therein (at least one or some of them).

(Revelation 20:12 KJV) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

• This could be another reference to the book(s) of deeds. Matthew Henry also brings forth the idea that these books may also include a book of standards (laws) by which the people are judged.

(Daniel 7:10 KJV) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

• Book of Remembrance seems to be a book listing the occurrences of when God’s people spoke about the LORD.

(Malachi 3:16 NKJV) Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.

Tags: Bibliology, Living

Here are some admonitions from God’s Word about not adding anything to it.

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deu 4:2 NKJV)

Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. (Deu 12:32 NKJV)

Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Pro 30:6 NKJV)

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. (Rev 22:18-19 NKJV)

Tags: Bibliology

Here are some Scriptures that tell us about what happens when we do not come to the LORD in prayer!

• They were deceived by the Gibeonites.

Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. (Joshua 9:14 NKJV)

• Praying for God’s people is God’s will. To stop praying for them is sin.

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. (1 Samuel 12:23 NKJV)

• To pray to false gods is to say that the One True God does not exist!

Then he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” (2 Kings 1:16 NKJV)

• To seek spiritual guidance from demonic forces rather the God can result in dire consequences.

So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. (1 Chronicles 10:13-14 NKJV)

• If we do not seek God in our daily living, it too can have dire consequences. David did not consult the LORD on the proper method to transport the Ark of the Covenant. As a result, Uzza died trying to “save” the Ark from falling (1 Chronicles 13:7-14).

For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order. (1 Chronicles 15:13 NKJV)

• The Apostles were unable to cast out a demon because it required prayer and fasting.

So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29 NKJV)

Tags: Prayer