Predestination - Freewill:

Truth and Error:  
There’s a lot of misconceptions that get people to the point of blaming God for all the evil that happens in the world. First of all, I John 1:5 says that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. When God’s Word says” no darkness” that should be enough but to emphasis the point “at all” is added. People getting killed is darkness; murder is darkness. Hebrews 2:14 says the devil has the power of death. So, why does God always get the blame.
 Well, people say, “If God is all powerful and all knowing how can He allow this to happen.” True, God is all powerful and all knowing. But, when God gave other beings freedom of will He limited His interaction with man. When he gave free will, the potential to make wrong decisions and do the wrong thing becomes available. Why freewill? Because, God wanted fellowship. God is love. His desire is not only to love but to have that love to experience and share with others. You can’t program someone to love. Love can only be had when an individual by his freedom of will decides to love. So, in order for Him to have fellowship with others, who could love Him in return, He had to give us freedom of will. Consequently, God has no hands with which to show His love but our hands.
 Also, people don’t realize that the devil is the god of this world. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them. Adam originally had God-given dominion of the world. But, in Luke 4:5 & 6 it says the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said, “All this power will I give you, and the glory of them; for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” Well, who delivered it to him It wasn’t God. God gave it to Adam. Adam delivered it to him. That’s how cataclysmic Adam’s sin was. Now, the devil has control of the powers that be in this world. Except for those who are saved - because it says we were bought back with a price. Bought back from who? The power of Satan and all his devil spirits. Jesus Christ paid the price and the devil has no more dominion over us.
 Another point, because of freedom of will God can do nothing unless His Word is believed. When an individual sees a promise in God’s Word and believes, God has to bring it to pass. He has to keep His Word. God will never deny His Word. But, without believing His hands are tied because of freedom of will. He can’t control you or possess you. You have to believe. Isaiah 55:17 says, “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.” Believe that and God will bring it to pass. Romans 8:31 says, “If God be for us who can be against us.” That’s where our believing has to be.
 God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. God wants the very best for us. The devil has the power of death and has dominion of the world. So, let’s take that dominion away by believing God’s Word and enabling God’s power to be evident in our lives.
 Never blame God! God is light and in Him is NO darkness AT ALL. None. Job lost all his children and his business in one day. After that, he had boils from head to toe for approximately 6 months. Yet, he never charged God foolishly. God is all good and the devil is all bad.  
God gets the blame when people die. They say God took them. Hebrews 2:14 says the devil has the power of death.  
When bad happens to a person. They say God is testing them. James 1:13 says God cannot be tempted neither does He tempt any man. To test someone is to tempt them to do evil. If He were testing people that would be darkness.  
People get sick and they say it's God's will. III John 2 says God wishes above all things that we be in health and prosper. Why did Jesus go around healing every one. I haven't seen one record where he made someone sick. If it was God's will to get sick then we ought to do God's will and do our best to get sick. Get's silly when you think about it logically.  
When people start thinking God is doing these things many times they turn away from God. Romans 2:4 says the goodness of God leads men to repentance. It's the devil that does these things and he's tricked people into blaming God for it. Stop letting the devil win and start seeing how good, loving and merciful our God really is. When you do this you will be like Job and never charge God foolishly. Your love for God will flourish!!!
 The decisions we make determine our successes and our failures. If we fail, it is our fault, not Gods.
 If the god of this world can get us to just accept defeat because we think it was meant to be, then he wins and we lose.
 Here is the Word of God! Take it or leave it, yet please choose wisely:  
Believing UNTO salvation! 
  Romans 10:9,10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved [sōzō]. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  
Confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts are decisions we make. Without believing and confessing as stipulated in Romans 10:9, we would not receive the gift of holy spirit, we would not be clothed with power from on high. 
The receiving of the gift of holy spirit is entirely conditional on us carrying out the instruction given in Romans 10:9. When we confess with our mouths Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we are saved (Greek sōzō), made whole, referring to once again being complete, being whole, with body, soul and spirit. Does God force us to believe? No. God never forces anyone to do anything. He gave us freedom of will and it is up to us whether we choose to believe God and his word or not.  
There are a number of important keys to the word's interpretation, and one of them is that a scripture must be in harmony with all the other scriptures relating to the same subject. If we have many clear verses on a subject and one apparently contradictory verse, do we ignore the many clear verses and focus solely on the unclear verse? Not if we are interested in an honest handling of the word of God, we don't. Here are a few scriptures that clearly teach that God is no respecter of persons.  
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.  
Ephesians 6:9 ...neither is there respect of persons with him.  
1 Timothy 2:3,4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  
Without labouring the point, God isn't fussy about whom he chooses.  
In short, predestination as it is understood today destroys people. It gives people excuses for their failures. Instead of taking responsibility for their failed marriages, businesses, families, health, and everything else in their lives, they come up with all sorts of excuses and blame it all on God. It was predestined and they had nothing to do with it. Folks are taught they have no control, that everything is meant to be. So they blame their failed marriages on God, they blame their failed businesses on God, they blame their failed health on God, because it was all meant to be. Put your noses into this dogshit of predestination and take a good sniff. It is a stinking lie. 
Sure, God will light our path so we can see where we are going, but we have control of our own lives and over which paths we walk. The decisions we make determine our successes and our failures. If we fail, it is our fault, not Gods. God never made a failure. When the devil attacks, he likes nothing more than to watch people lie down and die. That is why he weakens us with such lies. He doesn't like it when people stand up and fight back, it defeats his purposes. If he can get us to just accept defeat because we think it was meant to be, then he wins and we lose.  
This lie has the power to destroy entire races and civilisations. Your life is yours to live so be careful with what you think was meant to be. We all grow up in the devil's world and grow up exposed to his filthy language, but that's no excuse for your thoughts to be contrary to God's word. Put your televisions and newspapers and religious mythology aside, open your bibles again and put your hearts into the word.  
Romans 10:17 So then faith [believing] cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  
Be watchful, because predestination is the language of extinction.  
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Aside from the new birth; freewill is the greatest thing that God has ever given! The adversary's ministry is to blind, first and foremost; then it is all downhill from there. That opens one up to many lies; the counterfeit, unto many sorrows and regrets. This is how the adversary cleverly tricked Adam and Eve. It all started with doubt after they ignorantly engage with the damned bird! By the way folk; spiritually dead, yet NOT brain dead, hopefully now!! Take it or leave it, yet please choose wisely: Ephesians 1:13 in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Predestination: 
 God knows ahead of time who is going to believe His Word. Therefore, God calls them according to His eternal purpose (to have a family). God knew ahead of time (foreknowledge) that you and I would believe. Consequently, God predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son. Predestination is a very misunderstood concept. God does not pre-arrange what you and I are going to do!!! God pre-arranged or predestinated that which HE was going to do as a result of our believing. God decided (according to HIS purpose) that HE WOULD GIVE US holy spirit making us His children. Predestination in the Word of God is God deciding ahead of time what He is going to do - not what we are going to do. Again, God does not pre-arrange what you and I are going to do!!!
 In the beginning, as we have stated, God decided to "allow" or "permit" the possibility of evil in order to make possible an unforced response of genuine goodness and love. If something contrary to His will happens, it is because God cannot at that moment stop it without going against His own nature. How could that be? We believe there are three very good reasons. First, because although He is the most powerful One in the war, His righteous nature requires Him to act justly toward His formidable foe, the Devil. Second, He cannot usurp anyone's personal freedom of will. Third, His justice requires Him to allow people to experience the consequences of disobedience.
 Lucifer has NO rights to God's word, hence he is trespassing in promoting his junk of counterfeit lies, using the script of God, to administer the darkness, masquerading as if to be light. We need to tell him to get your own fucking word, and promote, your own fucking word, therefore. Again, NO trespassing, sure!

Good and Evil, Never Blame God!

The Idiom of Permission

By Phillip Varady Sr.

There is a basic premise that the bible teaches that must be observed: God is good and He is good always. This doctrine may not have been plainly stated in the Old Testament but the abundance of God's love and mercy were never in question.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

The word 'no' in the above verse is the Greek word oudemia which has the force of 'no, not even one, or, no, not at all'. Used in another place it emphasizes the absoluteness of the exclusion.

Acts 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

Verse 44 of this chapter confirms that they all were saved. Therefore if we accept this concept as a biblical truth we must also accept that God is not capable of evil nor is He a source of it, nor is it a means that He employs to bring His will to fruition. We must also accept that God will always be thus, that there never was a time nor will there ever be a time that this is not the nature of God.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

The word used in the Greek for variableness is from the root parallassein from which also the English word parallax derives. Parallax is the apparent displacement or change in position of an object when viewed from different points. God says that He will never change no matter how He is observed. The shadow of turning is similar to the practice that aerial photographers use, knowing that if they photograph objects on the ground near midday they will cast the least shadow, thus revealing the fewest details of its size and shape. As the Earth rotates a larger shadow begins to form because the relative position of the object and the sun has changed. God says that He does not change; His position, His love for us, is always the same without even a hint or shadow of difference. Then, as if to disprove this basic premise, the Word of God gives us this verse to ponder:

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

E.W. Bullinger in his Companion Bible states that the conjugation used for the verb create 'requires the rendering "bring about"'. Even so, there is an apparent contradiction which some resolve using the following:

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The argument is often made that we mere mortals cannot comprehend the ways of God and that when tragedy occurs in our lives there is probably some good reason that God brought it about although at the moment we remain ignorant of the future blessing. If this is so then the evil that we think we are experiencing is actually a blessing; we need only to wait to see how God makes lemonade out of lemons. This teaching contradicts the Word of God and anything that may be experientially known of God. It is a blatant lie promoted by the Devil because the underlying premise is that 'It's God's will that we suffer.' It must be remembered that, referring back to Isaiah 45:7, darkness is the absence of light and evil is the absence of good.

2 Corinthians 6:18 And (I) will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Would any sane parent inflict pain and sickness on their children? Would they kill them because of disobedience? There is no opportunity for a future blessing if the tragedy is death; and death itself cannot be the blessing because God calls it an enemy:

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

When language is twisted to make it mean its opposite, the bible uses the word 'froward' which is little used today but has the connotation of being an habitual type of disobedience through opposition. God declares that He does not use this type of language.

Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

A warning is given which addresses this subject directly. There is no foundation on which one may base the argument that evil may somehow be a means to good after all has been said and done.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

The apostle Peter writing of his fellow apostle Paul's epistles says this:

2 Peter 3:16-17 in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [twist, distort], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. ¹⁷ Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

If we thus eliminate the solution to the contradiction that evil is really good, we are left with two choices: God either lied when He said that He is good always or there is a misunderstanding on our part of the true meaning of the language used. The answer is that God uses figures of speech to heighten the meaning of certain scripture to catch our eye and to make a deeper impression of the lesson that He would have us learn from it. One such figure is an idiom, which is defined by Merriam-Webster's Tenth Edition of the Collegiate Dictionary: 'an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself grammatically, or in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements.' In this case it is called the 'idiom of permission.' In the work that has become a standard for biblical students "Figures of Speech Used in the Bible" by E. W. Bullinger, this explanation is given: 'Active verbs were used by the Hebrews to express, not the doing of the thing, but the permission of the thing which the agent is said to do.' He offers a very good example:

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not (i.e., suffer us not to be led) into temptation . . .

Another example which is not included in this work occurs in the book of Deuteronomy. It is extraordinary for its severity.

Deuteronomy 28:14-15 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. ¹⁵ But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

What follows for the next forty-three verses is every ill that ever befell mankind, and God claims to be the cause of every one of them. Verse 61 is especially direct.

Deuteronomy 28:61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

The application of the idiom in verse 61 above would have it read thus: '…them will the LORD allow your adversary, the Devil to bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed by him.' This result would of course be dependant on the condition given, namely, 'if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God,' The lesson that God is instilling in His people is this: obey and prosper or disobey and suffer.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Another way of showing the source of evil can be seen in the historical books of the Old Testament. The four books of Kings (I & II Samuel and I & II Kings) were written from man's point of view. The books I & II Chronicles were written from God's point of view. When an event appears in both, a true picture may be drawn from the use of this idiom.

2 Samuel 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Several reasons may be given to explain why God claims to be the author of both good and evil. If He had revealed the true source of evil He would have had to mention the Devil in hundreds if not thousands of verses. The pagan concept of appeasing gods from whom they feared destruction was known in Israel because they were surrounded by such practices. Israel had an appalling reputation for 'whoring after' the gods and customs of their neighbors and would have sought to placate the Devil to avoid the evil that he brought. In effect this would have raised the status of the Devil and given him grandeur that was undeserved. His name would have been often mentioned in spite of God's command to the contrary.

Exodus 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Without a full explanation of the Devil and his methods the knowledge of his existence would not have been a blessing to Israel. Without the knowledge of how to deal with and defeat him, Israel would have become fearful, thus playing into the Devil's hand. It was not until Jesus Christ that this information was fully revealed.

Luke 10:21-24 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. ²² All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. ²³ And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: ²⁴ For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

How exciting and wondrous it must have been for the twelve to hear Jesus Christ tell them what was now revealed.

Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. ² And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

There are very few examples of the use of the idiom of permission in the gospels or the epistles because the truth was being revealed as to the true nature of the Devil and the unfathomable goodness of God. In all of his teachings Jesus Christ never attributed evil, death or sickness to God the Father yet to this day many people, including Christians, still want to cling to the doctrine that whatever happens is because God wills it. They continue to put a spin on tragedy in an attempt to make it a blessing and they still believe that God is making them a better Christian, person, husband or wife, father or mother, ad nauseam. There is no ambiguity in the following verses; the Word is plain.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Hebrews 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

God had long ago declared that we had to make a choice. If we turn away from God we remove ourselves from His blessings and in the absence of blessing is the curse of death in all its degrees.

Deuteronomy 30:15-19 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; ¹⁶ In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. ¹⁷ But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; ¹⁸ I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. ¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

It was never God's intention or desire to bring harm to us but as the above verses show the choice is ours. God cannot violate our choice, our free will.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: ² But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Years ago when the home that we lived in was heated by a wood stove, I taught a lesson to every one of my grandchildren before they were old enough to be allowed to roam around the house unattended. I would open the cast iron doors and show them the pretty flames. Then I would close the stove and, holding the child securely, bring one of their hands closer and closer to the stove until it became uncomfortable. When the child drew back its hand I would warn it saying 'Hot!' and 'Don't touch!'. Only once in fifteen years did any one of them ever touch the stove. That child came to me for help and even at that tender age had enough sense not to blame me for the pain that it was experiencing. When I reminded the child that I had warned about touching the stove, the reply was 'I know Grandpa, I forgot. I'm sorry.' I did my best to ease the pain and to comfort the child. God is a better father than I am. Verse 20 below is another example of the idiom of permission.

Isaiah 30:18-21 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. ¹⁹ For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. ²⁰ And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: ²¹ And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

The bible teaches that there are consequences when we act contrary to God's will but it is obvious once we understand the idiom of permission that it is unscriptural and improper to assign the pain and suffering to our loving heavenly Father.

Further insight:
 Spiritual Integrity (copy link to your search bar to view)
 https://walkingbythespirit.com/walkingbythespirit/life03.html

How Will Believers Be Present With The Lord?

The Church and Israel are two distinct groups with whom God has a divine plan. The church is a mystery, unrevealed in the Old Testament. This present mystery age intervenes within the program of God for Israel because of Israel’s rejection of the Messiah at His first advent. This mystery program must be completed before God can resume His program with Israel and bring it to completion. These considerations all arise from the literal method of interpretation. Other rapture views deny or weaken the dispensational distinction by placing the Church in the Tribulation which is otherwise noted as “the time of Jacob’s trouble [the Tribulation].”
I Thessalonians Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians has much to say about the issue at hand. The most popular passage, of course, is found in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. The event described here includes a return of Christ in the air (not to the earth as the Second Coming is described in Zechariah 14:1-5 and Revelation 19:11-21), a resurrection of the dead in Christ, a rapture of living believers, and a reunion with those who have died in Christ. Paul penned these verses in order to clarify a misunderstanding that the Thessalonians embraced concerning the relationship between the resurrection and the saints who were asleep in Christ to the rapture. The question is this: Does the death of a believer before the Lord comes cause him to lose all hope of sharing in the glorious reign of Christ? Paul’s answer is a reassuring affirmation that the living at the time of the rapture have no advantage over those believers who have died. Those who sleep will be raised to reign with those who remain. Both groups will share in the kingdom. If Paul and the Thessalonians were speaking of a rapture at the end of the Tribulation, it seems illogical that they would sorrow over believers who were fortunate enough to die and miss the horrible judgments that await these last years.

Paul anticipated, “to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.”? 2Cor 5:8. Does this say that to be absent from the body is to be immediately with the Lord? No. The time between death and the out-resurrection will seem, to those who die, to pass in an instant. For this reason Paul could covet death knowing that from his perspective the next thing He would know is being with Christ. In the context Paul speaks of three states: 1. Clothed in the body 2. Unclothed 3. Clothed with our Heavenly body. Paul did not want to be “unclothed” (dead) but clothed in the Heavenly body. When will we be clothed in our immortal body? Paul taught “that this mortal will “PUT ON (be clothed with) immortality” when the dead rise at the Second Coming (1Cor 51-55). How do the dead in Christ get to be present with the Lord? By the out-resurrection (1Thess 16-17). Indeed, the Apostle Paul was anticipating the return of Christ in his lifetime, as do we now. Now:
The rapture, which is pre-trib, is not technically a resurrection, for all, in the group, born again believers, are not dead, as some remain alive, therefore the word of God refers to this as an out-resurrection, as only some are resurrected, of that group! no rapture/gathering together mentioned in O.T./ Gospels/ Revelation, sure:
THE GENEVA BIBLE AND SIX PRIOR BIBLES BEFORE KING JAMES USED THE WORD " A DEPARTING" OR "DEPARTURE" INSTEAD OF A "FALLING AWAY" IN 2 THESSALONIANS 2:3.
Greek - "he apostasia" means THE Departure - from the circumference of a circle, directed outward, away from the circle.
NOTE "A DEPARTING"COMES FIRST, "AND THAT THAT MAN OF SIN WILL BE DISCLOSED". DON'T FORGET IT ALSO SAYS “NOW YOU KNOW WHAT WITH HOLDITH" AND "HE WHO LETS SHALL LET TILL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY." WHAT OR WHO DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY? IT MAKES ALSO MAKES NO SENSE THAT PAUL WOULD TELL A VERY NEW AND SMALL CHURCH IN THESSALONIA, THAT A SIGN OF BEGINNING OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION WOULD BE A FALLING AWAY FROM THE CHURCH WHEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MANY CHRISTIANS THERE TO FALL AWAY. ALSO HE WAS REFERRING TO SOMETHING HE HAD TOLD THEM ABOUT BEFORE. WHAT HAD HE PREVIOUSLY TOLD THEM? 1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE HE TOLD THEM ABOUT “A DEPARTING OR DEPARTURE” THEN A FALLING AWAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT PAUL DID NOT DESCRIBE “A GREAT FALLING AWAY” AT ALL AND ACTUALLY SAID IN 1TIMOTHY 4:1 THAT ONLY “SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH” 1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; SO ALTHOUGH HE BELIEVED EVEN THEN, THE TIMES WERE EVIL, HE DID NOT EXPECT A GREAT FALLING AWAY OF BELIEVERS BUT THAT THE EVIL WOULD GET WORSE. 2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. AND TO THE CORINTHIANS PAUL SAID THIS: 1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
OTHER TRANSLATIONS THAT USED DEPARTING OR DEPARTURE. The first seven English translations of apostasia all rendered the noun as either " departure" or " departing." They are: the Wycliffe Bible (1384); Tyndale Bible (1526); Coverdale Bible (1535); Cranmer Bible (1539); Breeches Bible (1576); Beza Bible (1583); Geneva Bible (1608).
Bible study to bless the saints of the "Body of Christ".
Be sure to look at all of the verses in this study.
The Body of Christ will not go through Israel’s tribulation. To begin with, Israel and the Body of Christ are not the same. Neither are God’s plans for them. God’s plan for Israel concerns Christ returning to earth in a spectacular event called the Revelation – to inaugurate His Kingdom in Jerusalem (Matt. 24-25; Rev. 19-20. This plan was “spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21; see Luke 1:70). God’s plan for the Body of Christ is completely different. It concerns our heavenly inheritance, not an earthly kingdom. Jesus revealed this program to Paul only as a mystery “kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25; see Eph. 3:3-9). In that it began as a mystery, it will likewise disappear in a mystery called the Rapture; an any moment event whereby Jesus returns for us in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17), snatches us from earth, and takes us back to Heaven with Him as He promised (John 14:2-3) – when “the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25). Then comes “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7; see Dan. 12:1; Zeph. 1:15) – aka tribulation. The tribulation - as it is most commonly known (Moses: Deut. 4:30; Jesus: Matt. 24:21, 29; John: Rev. 7:14) - is part of God’s earthly program for Israel. It is also called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Zeph. 1:15), Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:26-27), and “the hour of temptation” (Rev. 3:10. It has no bearing on the mystery Body of Christ, which will be gone before it begins. From the beginning it was prophesied to Israel (Deut. 4:30), and thus is primarily for Israel (Jer. 30-31; Dan. 12:1, Zeph. 1:15; Matt. 24:21, 29). Its purpose is to punish sin and sinners (Jer. 30-31; Zeph. 1; Joel; Rev. 6-19), and prepare earth and Israel for the Revelation of the Messiah and the Jewish (Millennial) Kingdom promised to David in perpetuity through Covenant (2 Sam. 7:8-16), and sealed with an oath (Psa. 89:3-4, 20-37; see Luke 1:31-33). While the prophets revealed the tribulation as a horrific but integral component in the Day of the Lord (Isa. 2:12, etc ), it was Daniel’s prophecy where its duration was revealed as the final week of seven years in his seventy week prophecy for Israel (Dan. 9:24-27; see Rev. 11:2-3; 12:14). To wit, while we can easily find Israel and the anti-Semitic Gentile nations on earth during “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Zeph. 1:15), the heavenly Body of Christ - which has been promised deliverance from this divine punishment (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; 2 Thess. 2:5-7;) - is conspicuously absent (Rev. 2-19). There isn’t a prophecy or a single verse anywhere in the Bible conclusively identifying the Body of Christ on earth during Israel’s tribulation without pulling from context and redefining the words “saints” and “elect” - which in Daniel, the Olivet Discourse, and Revelation specifically refer to Israel. In lieu of these factors and others we are convinced that the Body of Christ will not go through Israel’s tribulation!
 We know that death still has a sting, that the corruptible has not yet put on incorruption and that the mortal has not yet put on immortality.  But we also know that our enemy death will be destroyed and that the dead in Christ shall rise and we who are alive shall be changed and that we will meet  our lord in the air and forever be with him.  What a glorious day that will be!

What Cost? - Priceless!

 Priceless:

We've had a brief and sobering glimpse into how much the devil values us, which isn't very much. Now, what about God? How much does God value us? Just as it is difficult to comprehend the evil of the devil, it is equally difficult to comprehend the goodness of God and just how much we mean to him. When man fell in Genesis and became just body and soul, spiritually dead in the devil's new world order, God did not leave man there. He could have, but he didn't. Rather, he loved us so much he came up with a plan to get us out of the mess we had made for ourselves. That plan was Jesus Christ, a man who put his hand up and volunteered to die in our place.

Romans 3:21-24
But now [since the day of Pentecost] the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

It is through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus that we are justified freely by God's grace. Redemption refers to the price that was paid to buy us back from the devil. Here is a dictionary definition of redeem.

1. To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.

Man at one time belonged to God, but when man fell, man became the devil's subjects, we were citizens in the world of which he was its god. To get us back, God had to redeem us, a price had to be paid. That price was paid in blood.

Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

We lost the spirit when man fell back in Genesis and became just body and soul. Jesus Christ was the price that was paid to redeem us, to buy us back from that state of death. God paid for us with his own son. He gave his only son to the devil, to die the most horrendous death ever experienced by any human being in the history of the world so that we could be redeemed. That was the price that had to be paid, and God paid it.

Romans 5:6-8
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God paid a price beyond anything we could imagine or comprehend. Does that give us value? Very much so. How much are we worth to God? He paid a very high price for us. That price was his son Jesus Christ, who died in our place. Man was a three-part being back in Genesis, but as a consequence of his disobedience man lost his spirit and became just body and soul. Since the day of Pentecost, because of the work Jesus Christ accomplished, because of the price that was paid, it is once again available for man to be a three part being of body, soul, and spirit.

Now, how do we determine value? What gives something worth? What makes something valuable? One thing that determines value is cost, how much you would be willing to pay for something.

Are your children valuable? Oh yes, but can you put a price on them? Is there a price tag you can stick on children? Would we sell our children? Would we sell them for a million bucks? 10 million? 100 million? What about for the world? Of course not. Some things in life are beyond value, beyond price, you cannot buy them, they are not for sale. Children are priceless.

Value, then, varies greatly, but generally speaking, how much you would be willing to spend on something would determine its value. If something is beyond price, if you cannot put a price on it, it is priceless. So, how valuable are we? Not very much to the devil, but what about God?

1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

We were bought with a price. What price? What price did God pay for us? How much did God pay to redeem us from the god of this world? How much does he value us? God took the one thing he had that was priceless, beyond value, his son, and that was the price he paid for us. If how much we are willing to pay for something determines its value, how much then are we worth? If you're not sure how much you're worth, take a look at the price tag on you.

God paid for us with his own son. He gave his only child to the devil to die the most horrendous and tortuous death ever experienced by any human being in the history of the world so that we could be raised from the dead and have eternal life.

Are we valuable? How valuable are your children to you? To God, we are priceless. Of all God has, we are his most valuable possessions.

Romans 8:37-39
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

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.

Do you think there is anything that can take us away from God? Do you think there is a price God would sell us for? We are priceless, beyond value, beyond cost. There is no price that can separate us from this love of God. There is nothing the devil can do to take us away from God.

Knowing all this, we now have choices to make here. Are we going to believe the world's opinion of our value, or God's? See, that depends on us. If we spend our whole time watching television, playing computer games, watching movies, and reading newspapers and magazines, our perceptions of our own worth are going to reflect the god of this world's opinion of our worth, which isn't very much. However, if we keep our hearts and minds in God's word, our perceptions of our own worth will reflect our true value.

The world looks out at the universe, shows us how big it is, and tells us we amount to nothing. The bible looks out at the universe, shows us how big it is, and tells us that we are the only reason it is there. One viewpoint is a lie, while the other is the truth. What we look at is what we will believe and become.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

A glass is a mirror. As we look into the bible, we see the glory of God reflected from its pages and if we keep our focus there, we will be changed into that same image. If we hold our minds in the world, then that's what we will reflect in our hearts and lives. Where we keep our thoughts is up to us. It's a choice we make.

God paid a high price for us. Jesus Christ was the price that was paid to redeem us from death so we could freely enjoy eternal life. Do you know what eternal life really is? It is being born again of God's seed and becoming his child.

1 Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

This isn't make believe, this isn't Aesop's fables, this isn't a myth or a fairy tale, this is the truth - we literally are born of God's seed, incorruptible seed. We are his children, he did pay that price for us, and he did redeem us from the devil and death.

Galatians 4:6,7
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Now, to give you a little more sense of your worth, here's a thought that once saved my life. Before the day of Pentecost, from Genesis to the day of Pentecost, God had no guarantee that anyone would believe his word and be born again. Sure, he has foreknowledge and he knew we would, but he had no guarantee of that. What if God knew in his foreknowledge that you would be the only person to ever be born again, that you would be the only one to ever believe his word? Would God have still paid that price just for you? He paid the price without any guarantee of anything, before anyone was ever born again, so yes, you really are that precious to God, that priceless. He paid that price just for you.

God paid a price so high for us that it's beyond human comprehension. Eternal life may be free to us, but trust me, it cost God everything. To the god of this world we are worthless, but to God we are priceless. Which God are you going to serve?

It is PAID for, so - Get Over It!

Get Over it!

Jesus Christ took care of everything we've ever done wrong in the past, and most folks are okay with that once they realise just how much it cost God and how much it cost Jesus Christ to accomplish it. However, folks often struggle to comprehend that Jesus Christ not only paid for the sins we've done in the past, but he also fully paid for all the sins we've not even committed yet.

Colossians 2:13,14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Jesus Christ died for us, and we are righteous because of what he did, not because of anything we've ever done or ever will do. We didn't earn the gift of holy spirit, it was something God wanted us to have and it was his good pleasure to give it. The price he paid was his only son.

This was all done by God's mercy and grace, because he loved us and it was his good pleasure to do it for us. Does it follow then that he did it so he could beat us up all the time and make us sick? That garbage is certainly spouted from pulpits all over the world, but it is not the truth. God may not go to church or hang out in any religion, but devil spirits surely do.

We are righteous and we are justified, there is nothing of which we are guilty. God took all my sins, placed them on Jesus Christ, and he took them to the grave with him. He died in my place. If all my sins were put on Jesus Christ and died with him, are they any longer on me? No, they are not, and that's why I have the righteousness of God.

Romans 3:22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

At the moment we are born again, everything stacked against us, all the sins we've ever done are washed away. God didn't just take those old sins of ours and lock them away in a closet, or brush them under the carpet out of view, they just no longer exist. All of our sins literally died with Jesus Christ and they are gone forever. That is why God isn't looking for fault so he can punish us. This is illustrated succinctly in Psalm 103.

Psalm 103:8-10 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Listen to how kind the language is here. The point is, God isn't mad at us. Verse 10 has an amazing figure of speech in it - it contains two sentences that say exactly the same thing in two different ways. God said the same thing twice to emphasise and to establish the point that he does not deal with us after our sins nor reward us according to our iniquities. So he can't be watching us with a critical eye so he can whack us over the head then, can he?

The god who looks for any reason to whack us is better known as the devil, the god of this world, Lucifer, and it is he who controls all world religion. A temple is a place where men go to worship. If God doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, who then are folks worshipping when they go to church if it isn't God? Any religion, church, organisation, or ministry that is controlled by central governing bodies of men is a temple made with hands, it is a broken cistern constructed by men. Psalm 103 continues.

Psalm 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear [respect, reverence] him.

How high is the heaven above the earth? How high is the universe? Have you ever tried to fathom the depth of the universe? The distances involved are so staggering they are beyond human comprehension. That's how great God's mercy is to us. It is staggering, beyond human comprehension. Mercy is the withholding of merited judgement. In other words, we deserved punishment but God withheld it. God does not want to beat us up for our sins. His mercy is staggering, beyond human comprehension.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Interesting that this verse says east and west and not north and south. If you go far enough north and cross the pole, you will start going south. If you continue south and cross the other pole, you will start going north again. Unlike north and south, east and west never meet. It is a physical impossibility for east and west to meet. You are either going east or you are going west. If you are going east, you are travelling away from west. If you stop and go west, you are now heading away from east. There is infinity between them. That is how far we have been removed from all the sin, all the mistakes and bad things we've ever done. You see, it isn't that God simply hides his eyes from our sins and pretends not to see them, they really do not exist anymore. Jesus Christ was the price it cost to get rid of them for us. We have been freed from sin and the power of death. Yes, that even includes you if you're a jesuit and you read this class and get born again. God's mercy is staggering.

To clarify and illuminate this point, let's examine how God dealt with sin in the old testament. One way of dealing with sin back then was with animal sacrifices. The animals were sacrificed and their blood made atonement for Israel's sin. Before we go any further, however, let's make it clear that animal sacrifice was not God's idea, it was man's idea.

Jeremiah 7:22For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

See, God commanded nothing regarding killing animals as sacrifices. It wasn't in his heart, it wasn't something he wanted. He spoke nothing about sacrificing animals. The next verse tells us what God wanted.

Jeremiah 7:23But 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.

Rather than animal sacrifices, God wanted his people to simply live in fellowship with him and enjoy a good life.

Jeremiah 7:24But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

You see, rather than obey God, the Israelites wanted animal sacrifices, just like all the devil worshipping heathen around them. They wanted to stick knives in animals and spurt blood everywhere, just like the pagans and druids they lived among. They wanted to be like everyone else. God therefore had no choice but to put up with their garbage, and because they insisted on killing animals he was forced to give them a few guidelines on how best to go about it. Listen to Samuel's words when he confronted Saul.

1 Samuel 15:22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Solomon put animal sacrifice into its proper context in Proverbs.

Proverbs 21:2,3Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

The point is, sacrificing animals was not God's idea. Sacrificing animals was merely a symbolic gesture as he endured man's stubborn, evil ways. Talk about patience, grace, and mercy?

You can see this same human demand for bullshit when Israel demanded Samuel find them a king. They wanted a king like all the other nations, so they bitched to Samuel about not having one and told him to sort it out. Samuel was not amused, and neither was God. The Jones syndrome goes back a long way.

1 Samuel 8:4-9,22Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

Was it God's idea to give them a king? No, it wasn't. Whose idea was it? It was man's idea. God warned them about the nature of their king, but they refused to listen and demanded God give them a king. So God gave them one.

Was it God's idea to have animal sacrifices in the old testament? No, it wasn't. Whose idea was it? It was man's idea. Man wanted to stick knives in animals to ease his guilt, and demanded God accept these sacrifices. That's why animal sacrifices became a way of life in the old testament. It wasn't because God wanted it, but because people wanted it. God then later used these sacrifices as illustrations to teach us about the Lord Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed to redeem us from death.

Hebrews 9:11,12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Our redemption wasn't bought by the blood of animals. It was Jesus Christ's own blood that paid the price. He died in our place and it was his death that paid for the sin problem for all mankind. The root problem has now been dealt with. There is no longer a sin problem. It's dealt with. We are righteous now, we have the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 9:13,14 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

In the old testament, animals dealt with Israel's sin problem, but it was only symbolic, a stop gap measure that only temporarily put a lid on the garbage bin. What Hebrews is saying is, that if a few scabby animal sacrifices can symbolically deal with sin, what about the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ? How much greater a sacrifice was he compared to an animal? How much better a job did he do?

Hebrews 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

In the old testament they had to sacrifice animals every year. They sinned, they sacrificed animals, they were clean again, they sinned, they sacrificed animals, they were clean again - it went on and on and on. The point is, sacrificing animals was not a permanent solution to the sin problem. However, Jesus Christ was. See the difference here? Jesus Christ didn't keep offering himself periodically as a sacrifice, over and over and over again, he did it once, and that obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

His sacrifice took care of the sin problem once and for all.

Hebrews 9:27,28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

His sacrifice took care of the sin problem because he was a perfect sacrifice. That's why we are righteous now. Not because of our own works but because of what was done on our behalf. The blood of animals was just a temporary measure, a symbolic gesture God was forced to endure because man demanded it.

Now that Jesus Christ has dealt with the sin problem permanently, there is no more need for sacrifices, animal or otherwise. The problem has been dealt with.

Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

The law and the sacrifices could not make people perfect. They just couldn't. They simply could not take care of the sin and death problem that Adam and Eve's disobedience introduced.

Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

If old testament sacrifices of animals made people perfect, wouldn't they then have stopped sacrificing animals because it was no longer required? See the logic here? But animal sacrifices didn't make people perfect, which is why they kept sacrificing more animals to alleviate their guilt.

Hebrews 10:3,4 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

It just was not possible to deal with the sin problem by sacrificing animals. It was a man who caused the problem in the first place and it would take a man to solve it. Someone had to pay the price for Adam's disobedience, and that someone was Jesus Christ. However, in contrast to the death of animals, Jesus Christ's death did a perfect job.

Hebrews 10:12,14-17 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Whereof the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion - holy spirit] also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

God will remember our iniquities no more because they no longer exist. That's why when God forgives, he forgets and never brings it up again. There is nothing to remember because there is nothing there. It's as far away as the east is from the west.

Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission [aphesis] of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Remission and forgiveness are from compound words meaning simply to send away. Aphesis is from apōtheomai, apo, away from, and ōtheō or ōthō, to shove. So apōtheomai means to push off, figuratively to reject: to cast away, to put away from, to thrust away from. This is the background of aphesis and another closely related word which is also translated forgiveness at times, aphiēmi. Now that sin has been sent away, dismissed, thrust away, there is no more need for animal or human sacrifices because there is no longer a sin problem. We are righteous because of the sacrifice that was made on our behalf by Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

The holiest refers to the inner sanctuary of the temple, the holy of holies as it was called. That was where God dwelt, where he lived among his people before the day of Pentecost. God no longer dwells, he no longer lives, he no longer resides in temples made with hands, or any place of worship which is constructed, governed and controlled by men. Since the day of Pentecost we now have direct access to God through the gift of holy spirit. We can go directly to God anytime we wish and request an audience. Not only that, but he will grant us that audience every time. Our father has time for his children.

Hebrews 10:20-22 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

And having an high priest over the house of God;

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith [pistis - believing], having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The sin problem no longer exists. We are sanctified, set apart because we are redeemed, because we are justified, and because we are righteous. God has forgiven us and there is nothing of which we are guilty. We are holy and without blame before him in love.

Okay, so how come my mind doesn't always agree with that? How come my mind continually reminds me of all the terrible things I've done? How come my heart seems to enjoy condemning me and making me feel guilty? This is the guts of the whole thing - it's called the renewed mind. We have to train our minds to think what the word says, and that's damned hard work at times. We have to decide between our feelings or what the word says. It's a choice we make to believe one way or the other.

Accepting forgiveness when we don't deserve it seems to be difficult for earthlings. God understands this and so did Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus Christ once told a story to help us understand forgiveness. It's wrongly known as the parable of the prodigal son. The point of the parable isn't the attitude of the son, but the forgiveness of his father.

Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

Jesus Christ did not have a problem with people. He was quite happy teaching the word to publicans and sinners, so God must have been quite happy with that too as Jesus Christ always did his Father's will. Unfortunately, the religious church leaders didn't approve of this. Much the same today isn't it? Why aren't the jesuits out lovingly preaching their gospel to publicans and sinners instead of continually coming up with new ways to exterminate them? Well, I guess you know the answer to that by now.

Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Oh, how awful. Jesus was eating with bad people. Notice these religious pricks didn't take this up with Jesus either, but muttered behind his back.

Luke 15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

Remember, Jesus had been accused of eating with sinners as if it were a crime, so the people he was eating with would have been hurt by these unjust and cruel words from the mouths of the jesuits of that day. Those people were there to hear God's word, and the devil used those religious creatures to try to prevent the word from being taught. Jesus Christ had to deal with this, so this parable although spoken to the scribes and Pharisees was not for their benefit, but for the people with him. He told this story to illustrate that God didn't have a problem forgiving people, regardless of their past. He told this story to counteract the cruel words of the religious leaders who did not want God's people to hear the truth. You will not find God in temples made with hands.

Luke 15:11,12 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

The son asked for his share of the inheritance which was legally and rightfully his. The parable also says that the father divided unto them his living. In other words, he gave both his sons their inheritance.

Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Most of us know what riotous living is. I wasted quite a few years of my life in riotous living, so this parable computes for me.

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

His money ran out, as it does when you live riotously. If you've never been hungry, this probably won't hit your heart as poignantly as someone who has been in great need. Unless people come back to God's word again, they're going to find out what great need is pretty soon.

Luke 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

The worst job in the world to an Israelite was feeding pigs. Swineherds were not paid, and they had to eat the swill fed to the pigs to keep themselves alive. This son's situation had changed somewhat.

Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

Makes you wonder where all his friends went, doesn't it? Where were all the friends who helped him drink away his inheritance? Where were all his mates now that he was eating swill with the pigs? Probably going to church every week, listening to the scribes and pharisees spout their bullshit about sinners, or going to secret masonic meetings to discuss how best to package pig swill and put it on supermarket shelves to make more money. I'm not cynical, this is how the world works, this is what is going on.

Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

The pig swill wasn't even sufficient to keep him alive.

Luke 15:18,19 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

So he made the decision to go home. Not sure what he might have expected, but he had nowhere else to go except to face death.

Luke 15:20-22 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

Signet rings were used to stamp wax seals. The ring meant he could buy stuff and use the signet ring like we use a credit card. Did his father tell him to fuck off? No, God isn't mad at us for what we've done in the past, that's the point of this parable. God's mercy is staggering.

Luke 15:23,24 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

When we are born again and receive the gift of holy spirit, our past life is dealt with. Everything we've done wrong is gone - we have a clean sheet, a fresh start in life because we receive the righteousness of God. Jesus Christ paid the price so we could have the righteousness of God. God does not have a problem with anyone's past, regardless of what they've done.

Okay, we've pretty much established that we are righteous when we receive the gift of holy spirit, but what about all the sins we do after that point? Sure, I've been forgiven for my past, I'm born again, I have the righteousness of God, so I go out and get drunk. What now? Understanding this difference is to understand the difference between our standing and our state.

Our standing in the household of God is one of a son or daughter, as children, and that never fluctuates. We have eternal life. Always remember, you cannot corrupt the gift of holy spirit. You can sure mess up your life in the body and soul category, but you can't corrupt the gift of holy spirit. It is eternal life, and even if you get drunk, that spirit is still incorruptible, you still have the righteousness of God. That's why we must renew our minds. What use is it having the righteousness of God if we're out getting drunk all the time? Unless we renew our minds and live the word, we won't ever be able to enjoy the benefits of the gift of holy spirit because the renewed mind is the key to power. However, regardless of whether or not we renew our minds, we still have the righteousness of God, we still have the gift of holy spirit, we are still God's children.

Our state, however, is dependent on enjoying fellowship with God. Although we are his children, it doesn't necessarily follow that we are going to walk by the spirit and enjoy his company. Jesus Christ redeemed us, yes, and when we confess Jesus as lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, from that moment on we have eternal life. But what if we don't renew our minds? What if we just continue living riotously? What if we ignore the bible and keep our minds in the world's television? Will your life benefit from the promises in God's word? No, your life will not change at all because you will still be grunting in the world's pig swill. Why? It's not God's fault. It's up to you to renew your mind and turn on the power. God made the gift of holy spirit available, and he gave us his word to teach us how to manifest it. Now it's up to us to learn that word, renew our minds and use it to turn on the spiritual power. That's what makes the difference in life. It isn't religious ceremony or ritual, it isn't going to church every week, it isn't about how much money you give to charities, it isn't about how wide your inane smiles are, it's about turning on the power.

Now let's take this a step further. Let's assume we are renewing our minds, that we are learning God's word, and that we are doing our best to live it. Guess what, you're still going to mess up from time to time. You're still going to make mistakes on a regular basis. When our children grow up, are they perfect? No, of course not - every parent knows that - but do parents expect their children to be perfect? Hardly. Well, God is a parent, and just like any parent, he knows his children are going to break his word from time to time. That's just life. Jesus Christ was perfect, that's why he was the perfect sacrifice, that's why he was able to redeem us, but we're not perfect. We're perfect spiritually, yes, but we still have an old man to contend with that we must put off. This is a process, not a one time event. Just as parents love their children despite all their mistakes, so God loves his children, despite all their mistakes.

Psalm 103:8,10,13 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

This word pity as used in the King James is one of those words that means something different today than it did in 1611 when it was written. Fathers today don't pity their children, they care for them and love them, understanding their frailties. That's what the word pity meant when it was written all those centuries ago. A similar fact is relevant with the word fear. In 1611, the word fear in this context meant awe, reverence and respect.

Forgiveness has always been available. Even Adam and Eve were forgiven and went on to live productive lives, albeit without that spirit that had been created within them. Forgiveness has always been available, and the word must be understood in that light. It doesn't matter to God where a person has been, or what they've done in the past, he's only interested in where they are now and where they want to be tomorrow. Religious people, like those pharisees and scribes, are cold and hard, self seeking and self righteous, turning people away from the truth. They are vipers and scorpions, whited sepulchres full of dead men's bones. Do not expect to find God in temples made with hands filled with those creatures.

Eternal life is a free gift, but continuing in fellowship with God after that point is dependant on our walk. That's what determines our state. Our standing is as children, and that will never change, but our state fluctuates. Regardless of our state, we will always still have the righteousness of God.

The key to power is the renewed mind. If I don't know I'm righteous, and I mess up, feel guilty and run out and get drunk, I'm going to suffer consequences because I'm missing the mark. I'm still righteous, but I won't enjoy the benefits of that righteousness, and my fellowship with God will suffer dramatically. However, if instead of running out to get drunk when I mess up, I go to God's word, read about my sonship rights, read about how Jesus Christ paid for that mistake I just made, and decide to renew my mind and get over it and move on in life, now I'm starting to get somewhere spiritually. That's why the renewed mind is the key to power. It isn't about being faultless, it's about keeping God's word in our minds despite our old man nature. It isn't about how few times we fall down, it's about how quickly we get up again after we fall. A faithful man isn't someone who only falls down once a year but stays down for weeks in condemnation, it's someone who falls down many times every week but who jumps right back up again and carries on knowing he has the righteousness of God. We put the old man off by renewing our minds, and put on the new man by turning on the power in the gift of holy spirit.

Psalm 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Sonship is our standing as children of God, but fellowship is our state, our personal relationship with him. We can be children of God, but not be in fellowship with him. That doesn't mean God doesn't love us, it means we're out swilling it with the pigs. To get back in fellowship, we have to decide to leave the world's troughs and return to God. The devil doesn't want that though, which is why he uses masons to dress up his pig swill in such attractive packaging. The masons get lots of money out of it while the rest of us suffer.

2 Corinthians 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

1 John 2:15-17Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Although we're perfect spiritually, God doesn't expect us to be perfect physically. He knows our human capabilities and shortcomings. What parent doesn't understand that their children are not perfect? We're all human. God knows that and he made provision for it.

1 John 1:3,4That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

What is the context here? What is this section of scripture talking about? Fellowship! What God is revealing here by revelation is how we can enjoy fellowship with him, and with his son Jesus Christ, that our joy may be full. This isn't talking about getting born again, it's talking about fellowship after we're born again. This isn't dealing with our standing as sons of God, it's dealing with our state.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God is light and in him is no darkness at all. None. Not a bit. Not even a little shadow. He's just light. Have you ever seen darkness inside light? Darkness can't exist where there is light.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

If we're out swilling it with pigs, it's our own fault. That son wasn't forced into a life of riotous living, and nor are we. We have the freedom of will to choose which life we're going to live, the way of life or the way of death. Regardless of which life we choose, we are still righteous if we are born again, but what about our standing, what about our fellowship, what about the quality of our lives?

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

When we walk according to the word, we're in fellowship with God, and that's where the beauty and richness in life resides.

1 John 1:8,9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This section of scripture isn't talking about getting born again, being made whole, receiving eternal life, this is talking about fellowship. The context is fellowship. Confessing sins is not how you get born again, it's how to get back into fellowship after you've been born again. See the difference? You can't have fellowship with God if you're not born again and don't have the gift of holy spirit. You have to have spirit before you can have fellowship. How can a child have fellowship with a parent if they've not yet been born? So, we get born again, we receive the spirit, we become children of God and then we can begin to develop our fellowship with our father.

This verse says we need to confess our sins, but remember this is not talking about getting born again. This is so important to recognise. If you are forty years old when you are born again, how the heck are you going to remember all the sins you've ever done in your life? That's impossible. But I can sure remember the one I did this morning. When we are born again, all our past sins are taken care of, so this confession of sins isn't about being born again, it's about maintaining fellowship. This isn't talking about our sonship, it's talking about our state, our fellowship.

Forgiveness, or remission of sin is what we receive when we are born again, when we receive the gift of holy spirit. That takes care of every single thing we've done in the past. At the time of the new birth, we receive the righteousness of God and that will never change. However, although we are righteous and have eternal life, our fellowship with God may be less than satisfactory. We are sons, but we can sure still live riotously and swill it with the pigs down on animal farm. Every time we come back to God, he is willing and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We return to God by leaving the world's pig swill and renewing our minds.

It's not difficult to figure this out. For example, let's say our mind, or some religious dickhead, or even one of our friends or family brings up something from the past we'd rather forget. Okay, we have some work to do. Either we listen to the world and what it thinks of us, or we listen to the word and believe what God thinks of us. This is all part of the renewed mind.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The renewed mind is the key to this whole thing. The renewed mind is the key to power. It is the key to unlocking all the spiritual power resident within us. We have to retrain our minds to think a new way.

God says we're his children, while our minds, our friends and our families may tell us otherwise. So we have to train our minds until we think of ourselves as the word says. We are God's children. That's the truth, but sometimes we won't feel like it. Does it matter what we feel like? No, the word is truth, not what we feel like. If we think less of ourselves than what the word says, we replace those thoughts with the word. We memorise scriptures like Ephesians 1:3 and 4, and we replace our old man thoughts with what God thinks. That's renewing the mind.

Ephesians 1:3,4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

I am righteous. Jesus Christ redeemed me, and I received remission of sins. I have the righteousness of God and I don't give a damn what anyone thinks of me to the contrary, not my family, not my friends, not anyone. When it comes to the word I don't have any friends unless they are helping me to think and live the word's way. God has declared me not guilty, and that's why I have peace with God.

Romans 5:1Therefore being justified by faith [pistis - believing], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

See, God isn't mad at us. We have peace with God. He's not upset with us, he's not pissed off with all the garbage in our past. Our garbage was paid for and dumped as far away from us as the east is from the west. We have been declared not guilty, and now we have peace with God. He isn't mad at us for anything, and will never be mad at us for anything in the future. When we make mistakes, we simply recognise the error (confess our sins), rectify the problem so it doesn't happen again, and move on in perfect fellowship with our father, God, who is always faithful and just to forgive us.

So, to sum up, get over it!

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