03/30/23 DON'T SACRIFICE YOUR CHILDREN

03/30/23 DON'T SACRIFICE YOUR CHILDREN

Every fighting force has casualties, even in the Lord's army. Shame on those who call themselves soldiers of the cross but never put their lives on the line for the salvation of their children.

American Christianity has not only lost her children to sin and darkness, it has actually served them up on the table of sacrifice, to be violated and abused in the most horrific ways our country has ever seen.

Don't make excuses for the enemy of the cross and the predators of your children.
Don't give your children over without a fight.
Don't surrender under the threat of a godless society.
Don't sit back while they are being led to the slaughter.
Don't take sides with those who teach against the Bible or those who resist and reject Christ and His salvation.
Don't cower back while the imps of darkness stalk and abuse your children.

Most of American adults, even in the Christian community, have already lost their children and now are losing their grandchildren. Very few of the young parents of today have any idea what it means or what it takes to be a responsible parent. Very few are sacrificing themselves to rescue and lead their children away from the vile despisers of godliness.

03/30/23 THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN ANOTHER CIVIL WAR, AND WE LOST

03/30/23 THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN ANOTHER CIVIL WAR, AND WE LOST 

People talk about the coming of another civil war. We have already had another civil war, and America lost; at least Christian, conservative, traditional, common sense America lost. But it was a cold war. Not a shot was fired (at least by the oppressed). Not even a corporate whimper. There has been a lot of whining and saber rattling but no physical resistance to the overthrow of freedom, financial success, family units and family values, faith, there has been a lot of empty boasting about fearless patriotism but very little following of Christ in standing against evil. This is why we lost the cold war, the civil war. We lost our freedoms, our rights, our protection from evil, our place in the world, our families, our future.

Evil came in and overthrew what was left of order and dignity and loyalty and responsibility and truth and accountability and whatever else goes with the nation we were in the past. I am not advocating for a hot war, but there may be one in the future. Even so, the war against America has already been lost. However, if there is a hot war, it will not be a hot war (carnal weapons) for eternal values, because eternal values is a spiritual war, it is not a war of flesh and steel and blood letting, it is a war where the oppressed give their lives in sacrifice rather than take the lives of their enemies. The spiritual war will not be a national uprising (I believe that boat has already sailed), but it will be more localized and personal. Sadly, there will be few spiritual warriors who will stand firm for Jesus as the battle heats up. Most "Christians" (pastors and parishioners) could not stand up for Jesus (or even for their children) when it was easy, and as a result the present generation of children and young people were flung to the hyenas, while the Second A people and supposed warrior of the cross boasted in their fake courage and cowardly indignation, but abandoned God, His word, their families and their faith.

The opportunity to reach our society may have come to a close. We can's save the Ship of State, but we can reach those who are shipwrecked and adrift. Still, it is going to take deep commitment and self sacrifice.

03/29/23 IT TAKES WISDOM TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S PLAN

03/29/23 IT TAKES WISDOM TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S PLAN

I deal with a lot of doctrine and theology. I have applied myself to knowing the terms and concepts of various issues. Sometimes it is necessary to use extra-Biblical terminology.

However, even with Biblical terminology it is not always possible to have a coherent conversation. There must be agreed upon definitions and of course there must be historic context as well. Unhappily, definitions and meanings change from place to place and from time to time. Therefore I try to be exact in my words. In seeking clarity and consistency I often avoid extra-Biblical terminology and even with Biblical terminology I exercise great care.

Because of this problem, it makes it difficult to tell people what you believe. Even if you say you believe the Bible it can be misunderstood, since there are entire cults and false religions, which claim to believe the Bible, such as LDS, SDA, JWs, RCC. Because terminology changes so quickly and so often some words which were used to make our position clear, now make our position more confused. Such terms as "fundamental," "born again," "evangelical," "Christian," "Bible believer," "Spirit filled," "sovereignty," are now used in ways that are opposed to their original use.

This is one reason I do not get into arguments concerning the teachings of men. Even when I know what an historic person said, and even if I have evidence to support my view of what that person meant, my responsibility is not to be an advocate for that person or that movement. My responsibility is to know God's word, to believe God's word and to proclaim God's word. 

The words of God through Solomon apply here.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

03/29/23 GRACE THAT GOES BEFORE

03/29/23 GRACE THAT GOES BEFORE

Without using the term, "Prevenient Grace" (because of the confusion arising from its use or misuse), let me just refer to this subject as, "grace that goes before salvation."

I do not believe that grace before salvation needs to be or even can be saving grace. The grace that goes before salvation is the gracious work of God that makes salvation available and obtainable. A person is not saved while God is yet seeking or calling them to salvation.

However, God, in His rich grace and love and mercy reaches out to lost people and communicates whatever is essential for that person to come to a saving knowledge of Christ, before they actually believe on Christ for salvation.
This includes the plan of God from before the foundation of the world, the plan of God from the first prophecy in Genesis, the plan of God in the Jewish sacrificial system, the plan of God in the Jewish Priestly office, the plan and work of God in the Incarnation, the plan and work of God in the Crucifixion and Resurrection, the plan and work of God in His written revelation, the plan and work of God in the enlightening ministry and the convicting ministry of the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the protection, provision, proclamation and persuasion ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the unsaved, which leads to the non-believer coming to saving faith and saving grace.

Faith is essential to salvation, and God provides faith through hearing His word, which takes place by God's grace. In other words, whatever God did before our regeneration, which would lead to our salvation was "grace that went before."

God's has provided everything necessary for us to believe and receive salvation, but it still depends on our willingness to believe. Our free will, our personal decision concerning salvation is not a matter of an inherent ability to create or determine what we want, it is the God given ability to decide whether we will submit our free will and our life to God's will. It is a battle of authority, and God's authority will win. We can choose our relationship with God, but we cannot choose the consequences of our decision. Whatever our decision will determine our end result, our final destiny.

Let me remind you of this passage from Romans.
Romans 2:4-11
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
*6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:*
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
*11 For there is no respect of persons with God.*

03/28/23 MY USE OF REFERENCES

03/28/23 MY USE OF REFERENCES

I write articles (posts), which address Biblical truths. Sometimes I give a plethora of Biblical references, sometimes I give a few verses or passages and sometimes I don't give any Biblical references.

Regardless of my how much I cite Scripture, I will always be criticized by some folks. 

When I give several references it is to verify my claim and to provide a Bible study list for those who want precept upon precept.
When I do not give any references it is primarily because the statements are self evident to those who are familiar with fundamental Bible truths. Of course, if someone is interested in references, I will share them.
When I give no more than a few references it is to help those who are unfamiliar with my position to understand that I am not just spouting personal ideas.

03/28/23 THREE NATURES AND DOUBLE MINDEDNESS

03/28/23 THREE NATURES AND DOUBLE MINDEDNESS

We are born with:
Human Nature, the nature to be human...
Body, our "other awareness;" Seeing, Smelling, Hearing, Touching, Tasting.

Soul, our "self awareness," Reason, Desire, Emotion, Conscience and Will.

Spirit, our God awareness.
Our Human nature has been corrupted, polluted, tainted, weakened, because of Adam's sin, but it has not been destroyed or disabled.

We are also born with:
Sinful Nature aka Carnal Mind, The Old Man, The Evil Heart of Unbelief, The Root of Bitterness, Sin, The Flesh. This Adamic Nature was not created by God but it is a propensity of attitude toward sin, and away from God, passed on to every child of Adam, because of Adam's sin.

When we get saved we receive a New Man, New Nature, Divine Nature, created in the likeness of God.

The New Man, the Divine Nature is in opposition to the Old Man, the Adamic Nature, the Sin Nature, (this condition is referred to as being Double Minded), and a battle ensues, as the Spiritual Man (Nature) and the Fleshly Man (Nature) seeks to influence the Human Nature to submit to God.

Notice, the Bible tells us that the Double Mind is the cause of chaos and disobedience to God. We are told that God will deliver us from this Double Mindedness. 

God's deliverance does not destroy the Human Nature.
Instead,
God redeems, restores, regenerates the Human Nature.
God does not redeem, regenerate the Sin Nature.
God does not tell us to cleanse, consecrate or commit our Sinful Nature to God.

The Bible says that the Carnal Mind is not subject to the law of God and cannot be.
God's solution to the internal strife, internal war between the Old Man and the New Man, between the Carnal Mind and the Spiritual Mind, is crucifixion of the Old Man, Purification of our total inner man from all Sin.
God does not tell us to bring the Old Man into subjection or purify the Old Man.

The Old Man must die.

When we as obedient Christians desire God more than anything else we are willing to die to self, to the world and to the devil. This is when we make full surrender to God and we accept complete authority and rule of God in our lives as Christians.

Our Human Nature never ceases to exist.
Our Human Nature must be yielded to God's rule.
Our Human Nature will grow in grace and knowledge of Christ and will be conformed to the image of Jesus.
Our Human Nature will be perfected and live forever with God.

God's plan is to justify us and to purify us and to glorify us.
This will only happen to those who believe, trust and follow Jesus by faith.
There is instantaneous salvation for those who turn to Christ.
There is instantaneous purification for those who surrender fully to Christ.
There is progressive and continuous growth for those who follow Christ in their daily walk.

03/28/23 Don't blaspheme God by calling Christian good works, "evil."

03/28/23 Don't blaspheme God by calling Christian good works, "evil."

Sinning Religion categorizes "obedience to God" and "personal righteousness" as "works salvation."
The Bible categorizes obedience to God and personal righteousness as salvation that works.

The next time you hear a "Bible believer" falsely say that God does not require, enable and expect Christians to turn from evil and to do "good works," just remember what the Bible says.
(The following passages clearly state this truth. It is a lot of reading, but well worth taking the time to read, even if it take several sessions.)

*Read all of each passage, but especially notice sections between the asterisks,* (which I have added.) 

Matthew 5:13-16
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 * Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.*

John 3:18-20
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
*20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.*

Acts 9:36
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: *this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.*

2 Corinthians 5:9-10
*9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.*

2 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, *may abound to every good work:*

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
*10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.*

Ephesians 4:1-3
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye *walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,*
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:22-24
22 That ye *put off concerning the former conversation the old man,* which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye *put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.*

Philippians 2:13-15
*13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.*
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 *That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;*

Colossians 1:10
*10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;*

Colossians 3:1-17 *entire passage*
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 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.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, *and stablish you in every good word and work.*

1 Timothy 5:24-25
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
*25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.*

1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
*18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works,* ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, *that they may lay hold on eternal life.*

2 Timothy 2:21
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and *meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.*

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
*17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.* 

Titus 2:6-8
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
*7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:* in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 

Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
*12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;*
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
*14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.*
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 

Titus 3:1-8
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
*8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.* 

Titus 3:14
14 And let ours (our converts in Crete) also *learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.* 

Hebrews 10:22-24
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
*24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:* 

Hebrews 13:20-21
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
*21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;* to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

1 Peter 2:11-12
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
*12 Having your conversation (conduct, behavior, actions) honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.* 

Let me end this article with a passage from Romans.
Romans 2:4-11
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
*6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:*
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
*11 For there is no respect of persons with God.*

03/26/23 GRACE THAT IS GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN

03/26/23 GRACE THAT IS GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN

"Where sin did abound, grace did much more abound."

This is the death knell for the warped views of Calvinistic and Reformed theology concerning God's actual sovereignty and man's actual inherited corruption.

Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the whole world. No child is born without being covered by the atonement and every guilty sinner is provided for in the atonement.
There are Divine conditions, but since they are Divine, they are therefore just and merciful, attainable by God's wonderful grace, through faith.

God did not predestine humans to condemnation. God did not abandon fallen humanity because of the sin of Adam.
God did not simply enact a legal intervention for lost humanity. God's love provided actual deliverance, including forgiveness for sins committed, purification from sin inherited and empowerment over sinful temptations.

This is the Good News of salvation.

Romans 5:17-21
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Timothy 4:9-11
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach. 

1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

03/25/23 GOD'S AMAZING GRACE

03/25/23 GOD'S AMAZING GRACE

It is AMAZING GRACE.
God's grace not only provides forgiveness for our past sins, it leads us into righteousness and righteous living, it empowers us to resist temptation, it sets us free from all guilt, it purifies us from all sin.
It is not only sad that some folks deny the reality of the greatness of God's amazing grace, but because they deny and reject the work of God's amazing grace they don't have that amazing grace in their lives.
(4/15/16)

GRACE IS AMAZING
Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Grace does not simply save us from the penalty of sins committed, it empowers us to resist the temptation to sin.
Grace that does not empower believers to live a holy life, is not saving grace, it is not God's grace.

2 Corinthians 1:12
12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation (conduct, behavior) in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Grace not only saves from penalty of sin and power of sin, it saves from the pollution of sin.
Grace that that does not purify the heart is not saving grace or God's grace.

12/21/16 GOD’S MULTIFACETED GRACE
(As you read, ask God to enlighten your understanding).
When someone (even a self proclaimed elect person) tells you that it is impossible to be holy or to live a holy life...that person is speaking for himself and testifying to his own lack of grace. That person is not speaking for God.
Instead, here is God’s provision for spiritual victory...

GOD'S ABOUNDING GRACE (Ro. 5:20) NKJV
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

GOD'S ABOUNDING GIFT OF GRACE (Ro. 5:15) NKJV
15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

GOD'S ABUNDANT GRACE (Ro. 5:17) NKJV
17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

GOD'S ALL GRACE (2 Cor. 9:8 and 1 Pe. 5:10) NKJV
2 Cor. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

1 Pe. 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

GOD'S ALL SUFFICIENT GRACE (2 Co. 12:9) NKJV
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

GOD'S ATONING GRACE (He. 2:9) NKJV
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

GOD'S CHOOSABLE GRACE (Ac 13:43) NKJV
43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

GOD'S COMMON AND UNIFYING GRACE (1 Pe. 3:7) NKJV
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

GOD'S EMPOWERING AND POWERFUL GRACE (2 Tm 2:1) NKJV
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

GOD'S ENABLING GRACE (He. 2:16) NKJV
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.

GOD'S END TIMES GRACE (1 Pe. 1:13) NKJV
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

GOD'S EQUIPPING GRACE (He: 12:28) NKJV
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

GOD'S ESTABLISHING GRACE (He. 13:9) NKJV
9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

GOD'S EXCEEDING GRACE (2 Co. 9:14) NKJV
14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.

GOD'S EXCEEDING ABUNDANT GRACE (1 Tm. 1:14) NKJV
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

GOD'S EXCEEDING RICHES OF GRACE (Ep. 2:7) NKJV
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

GOD'S EXCLUSIVE GRACE (He. 12:15) NKJV
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

GOD'S FRUITFUL GRACE (Co. 1:6) NKJV
4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

GOD'S GREAT GRACE (Ac. 4:33) NKJV
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

GOD'S INCREASING GRACE (2 Pe. 3:18) NKJV
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

GOD'S JEALOUS GRACE (He 10:29) NKJV
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

GOD'S JUSTIFYING GRACE (Ti.3:7) NKJV
7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

GOD'S MANIFOLD GRACE (1 Pe. 4:10).
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

GOD'S MORE GRACE (Ja. 4:6) NKJV
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

GOD'S MUCH MORE GRACE (Ro. 5:15) NKJV
15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

GOD'S MULTIPLIED GRACE (2 Pe. 1:2) NKJV
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

GOD'S REJECTED GRACE (Ju. 1:4) NKJV
4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

GOD'S REIGNING, RIGHTEOUS GRACE (Ro. 5:21) NKJV
21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOD'S RICH GRACE (Ep. 1:7) NKJV
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 

GOD'S SAVING GRACE (Ep. 2:5) NKJV
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 

GOD'S SUBMITTING GRACE (1 Pe. 5:5) NKJV
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

GOD'S TRUE GRACE (1 Pe. 5:12) NKJV
12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 

GOD'S UNIVERSALLY OFFERED GRACE (Ti. 2:11) AND
GOD'S UTTERMOST TRANSFORMING GRACE (Ti. 2:12) NKJV
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 

GOD'S UP-BUILDING GRACE (Ac. 20:32) NKJV
32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 

GOD'S VISIBLE GRACE (Ac. 11:23) NKJV
23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

GOD'S WORKING GRACE (1 Co. 15:10) NKJV
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Whoever denies that the grace of God makes us more than conquerors is lying.
That person is telling you Satan's word.
That person is not telling you God's word.

God says,
1 John 5:3-5
(3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
(4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
(5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

03/25/23 ESPECIALLY IN DAYS TO COME

03/25/23 ESPECIALLY IN DAYS TO COME

The following QUOTE is some really good advice, especially for today and the difficult days ahead. It is time to settle down and settle in. Mutual concern and eternal values need to be recovered. There is wisdom in these words.

QUOTE
Don’t sell Grandma’s house and don’t pawn off Granddaddy’s land. They spent their whole lives paying for those assets so that your children would always own the place they call home.

03/24/23 REPOST... DLG POST Righteous and Upright: Fact or False Doctrine

03/24/23 REPOST... DLG POST Righteous and Upright: Fact or False Doctrine

08/23/20 DLG FB POST Righteous and Upright: Fact or False Doctrine.

11/18/14
TO BE RIGHTEOUS OR NOT TO BE RIGHTEOUS
I give over 130 verses, which tell us that it is possible to be "righteous" and over 40 verses, which tell us it is possible to be "upright." I only found 1 verse that seems to say that it is impossible to be "righteous" and only 2 verses that seem to say that it is impossible to be "upright." Check it out.
God's word requires us to be righteous. God's grace enables us to be righteous. This document deals with this. The position presented in this document will fly in the face of what Christians are being taught today by so-called Bible believing teachers and pastors.
When the idea of being righteous and living righteously comes up, the typical response of sinning religion is,
"The Bible says,“There is none righteous, no, not one” (Ro. 3:10)."
But they fail to add,
"The Bible also says,“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (1 Jn 3:7)."
If this is all we have of God’s revelation, we are faced with an apparent contradiction. Without any explanation, these verses seem to be mutually exclusive and diametrically opposed to one another. It appears that if one statement is true, the other statement cannot be true.

However, this is not all we have in God’s revelation. In fact, these two verses are not contradictory but complimentary; they are in total agreement. Both of these statements are true. One statement is just as truly the inspired and inerrant word of God as the other statement, therefore both statements must be embraced totally by the believer in Christ. The Romans 3:10 passage is referring to the spiritual condition of lost men, and the First John 3:7 passage is referring to the spiritual condition of saved men.

There is a segment of the Christian religion that exalts the sin of man above the grace of God. They are constantly telling us that man is born in sin (which is true) and will continue in sin until the day he dies (which is true for the unsaved). They say, "God does not want us to sin and God’s grace is sufficient to save us from all sin, but we are only human and therefore we will always sin against God as long as we are in this world and in this sinful body (flesh).” They make human sinfulness to be greater than Divine grace.

This document does not try to prove God’s deliverance from all sin. This document simply wants to prove that God’s word declares that salvation makes saved people righteous.

MY BELIEFS ON THIS SUBJECT
Let me make some statements right at the beginning, which will state my beliefs and the purpose of this article. I offer these statements because most of the people who read this article are going to accuse me of claiming “sinless perfection,” a term that is usually used by those who do not believe in the power of God to save from all sin. Those who believe in God’s full salvation seldom use the term, “sinless perfection” since it is not a Biblical term and it causes more confusion than understanding.

I state my beliefs in order to be completely open with you. My beliefs are important only if they are Biblical. If you cannot find these truths or verses in the Bible, please let me know and I will send you a list of references. After I give you a brief overview of my beliefs on this subject, I will give you a great number of verses, straight from the Bible. In fact, these verses are the reason for this document.
I believe God is the only absolutely perfect Person (Being) Who has ever existed, exists at present or ever will exist.
I believe God is inherently holy and He is the Fountainhead of holiness for all those who have been holy, either by creation (Angels and Adam), or by salvation (those saved through faith in Christ).
I believe Adam incurred a sinful nature at the time of his disobedience in the garden and has passed that sinful propensity to all of his offspring and that all humans have sinned, (except for Jesus Christ).
I believe Jesus Christ came to the world as “God in the flesh,” that is, He was fully God and fully Man, one Person with two natures (Divine and human) but he did not have Adam’s sinful nature, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of the world and was raised from the dead, physically, for our justification.
I believe Jesus came to save His people from their sins, not in their sins.
I believe if we confess our sins, then God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I believe if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with Him and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
I believe those who are trusting the grace of God, the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit can live in obedience to God.
I believe sin separates us from God or God separates us from sin.
I believe God enables believers to obey Him fully, because, where sin did abound, grace did much more abound.
I believe that believers, by the grace of God, can live without disobeying the known will of God and that God will help us with our infirmities, which are not sins, yet are weaknesses that are less than absolute perfection (He. 4:15-16).
I believe God does not require us to be absolutely perfect or angelically perfect or Adamically perfect, but He does require us to love Him with perfect love (the love of God), which is called the “law of love,” and “the royal law,” “the perfect law of liberty” and “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”
I believe, if a person loves God, then he will obey God.
I believe, if a person loves God, then he will keep God’s commands.
I believe that by the grace of God we must keep ourselves in the love of God.
I believe those who do not keep God’s commands do not love God and they are of the devil.
I believe those who commit sin are of the devil.
I believe Christians are expected to live without disobeying God and can give testimony to the power of God to save from all sin.
I am sure that there are many other points I could make, but I will move on to the article itself.

MY APPROACH IN THIS DOCUMENT
I will provide passages from the Bible, which clearly tell us that we can be righteous, through the redemptive work of Christ. I wanted to present Bible verses so that you can look at them as a group of verses; think about them and allow them to influence your faith, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. There is a lack of belief in the possibility of being righteous and living a righteous life, and I hope that these verses will help someone see the truth of God more clearly.

Sometimes people “threaten” to read the context, supposing that the context will “disprove” the Biblical doctrine of imparted and experiential righteousness. I encourage you to read the context of every passage, though that will take quite a while.

However, a complete reading of the passage will actually prove that there is such a thing as a righteous person, according to God and His word. In addition, a reading of the context will provide valuable insight into God’s saving power. After you have at least scanned the following lists of verses, PLEASE read their contexts. I even challenge you to read their contexts.

Some people say that the verses are being misinterpreted. Actually, these verses are presented without interpretation. They stand alone. It is true that some verses need to be studied in their original language and in their cultural setting and in their literary context, but the Bible is crystal clear in this area. Some truths are obvious to the open mind and they are repeated over and over again, time after time, ad infinitum (do you think you get my point). The truth that God makes us righteous and the fact that we can live righteously is stated and re-stated time and again. If God did not mean what He said, He should have said something else instead. If the translators failed to get the real meaning of the passage, they failed hundreds of times. If the Bible is wrong on personal and experiential righteousness in the believer, it is wrong about everything.

If we are going to understand the Scriptures, we need to understand the few verses (such as, “there is none righteous“) in the light of the many verses. We should understand the difficult verses in the light of the simple verses.

I only quote verses in this list, which clearly reflect God’s point of view. I do not use verses, which quote dubious sources, such as Job’s friends.
I did not include all of the words and phrases which address this issue, such as “holy,” “holiness,” “pure,” “purity,” “innocent,” “righteousness,” “righteously,” “uprightness,” “uprightly,” “right,” “good,” “saints” or “without sin,” for instance.

I did not include verses that declare that God is righteous, since that is not in dispute. However, it might be worth your while to see how many verses declare that God is righteous as compared with how many declare that there are righteous men.

I have included a list of verses that say humans are not righteous or cannot be righteous. I have been consistent in this report. If you think I failed to list all of the pertinent verses, please do it yourself and let me know what you find. I admit I could have missed some, but on the other hand, I deliberately left out many of the verses, which state that man is righteous. Remember too, these are only lists that use verses with the two specific words, “righteous” and “upright.” However, the principle holds true, regardless of the words used. God’s word acknowledges that men will be righteous, upright, holy and pure, when they are in a right relationship with God.

I have not included verses that declare the unrighteousness of specific individuals, since there is no disagreement that all men are unrighteous while in their unregenerate condition. It is not essential or helpful to list verses that support a point that is not in controversy.

There is a great danger in presenting the minority view of God (i.e. there is none righteous) as though it is the sole view of God. Actually, to deceitfully handle the word of God in such a way is wicked. The whole view is, there is none inherently righteous, no, not one and those who are in a salvific relationship with God are not only called righteous, they are righteous. For every verse that seems to say man is not righteous, there are hundreds of verses that declare man’s personal and experiential righteousness through Christ. Yet most people will laud and applaud man’s sinfulness rather than God’s glorious and great salvation.

I am eager for responses to this article, whether you like what I have written or not. If you can prove me wrong, please do. Be assured, if I do not agree with your position I will probably respond. However, the final authority is the word of God, not our opinions or the opinions of learned religionists and theologians. I know people who will say, “Doctor Hootchiebob does not agree with this point of view.” Well, Doctor Hootchiebob is wrong and God is right. “Let God be true and every man a liar.”

RIGHTEOUS, THE PASSAGES
Old Testament

Genesis 7:1
1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Genesis 18:23-26
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

Exodus 23:7-8
7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 25:1
1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

2 Samuel 4:11
11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

1 Kings 8:32
32 Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

2 Chronicles 6:23
23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

Psalms 1:5-6
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalms 5:12
12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalms 7:11
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Psalms 11:3; 5
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Psalms 14:5
5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

Psalms 31:18
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Psalms 32:11
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Psalms 33:1
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

Psalms 34:15
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Psalms 34:17
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Psalms 34:19
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalms 34:20-21
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

Psalms 37:16, 21, 25, 29, 30; 32; 39
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Psalms 52:6
6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:

Psalms 55:22
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalms 58:10-11
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Psalms 64:10
10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Psalms 68:3
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Psalms 69:28
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Psalms 72:7
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

Psalms 75:10
10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Psalms 92:12
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Psalms 94:21
21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

Psalms 97:11-12
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalms 107:42
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

Psalms 112:6
6 Surely he shall not be moved forever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

Psalms 118:15
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Psalms 118:20
20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

Psalms 125:3
3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Psalms 140:13
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalms 142:7
7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Psalms 146:8
8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

Proverbs 2:7, 20
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

Proverbs 3:32
32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

Proverbs 10:3, 11, 16, 21, 24, 25, 28, 30, 32
3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Proverbs 11:8, 10, 21, 23, 28, 30, 31
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Proverbs 12:3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 26
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Proverbs 13:5, 9, 21, 25
5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Proverbs 14:9, 19, 32
9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.
19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Proverbs 15:6, 19, 28, 29
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 18:5, 10
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Proverbs 21:12, 18, 26
12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

Proverbs 23:24
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

Proverbs 24:15
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

Proverbs 28:1, 10, 12, 28
1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Proverbs 29:2, 6, 7, 16
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

Ecclesiastes 3:17
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Isaiah 5:23
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

Jeremiah 20:12
12 But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

Ezekiel 3:20, 21
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Ezekiel 13:22
22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

Ezekiel 18:20, 24, 26
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

Ezekiel 33:12, 13, 18
12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.

New Testament

Matthew 10:41
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Matthew 13:17
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men 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.

Matthew 23:29, 35
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariah son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Matthew 25:37, 46
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Luke 1:6
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Romans 5:19
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Hebrews 11:4
14 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 Peter 3:12
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1 Peter 4:18
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

2 Peter 2:8
8 For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds

1 John 2:29
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 John 3:7
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

1 John 3:12
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Revelation 22:11
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

UPRIGHT, THE PASSAGES
Old Testament

1 Samuel 29:6
6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favor thee not.

2 Samuel 22:24, 26
24 I was also upright before him and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
26 With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.

Job 1:1, 8
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 2:3
3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Psalms 7:10
10 My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

Psalms 11:2, 7
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

Psalms 18:23, 25
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
25 With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright;

Psalms 19:13
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psalms 20:8
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

Psalms 32:11
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Psalms 33:1
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

Psalms 36:10
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

Psalms 37:14, 18, 37
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation
18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psalms 64:10
10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Psalms 94:15
15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

Psalms 97:11
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

Psalms 111:1
1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

Psalms 112:2, 4
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Psalms 125:4
4 Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

Psalms 140:13
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Proverbs 2:21
21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

Proverbs 10:29
29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 11:3, 6, 11, 20
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Proverbs 12:6
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. 

Proverbs 13:6
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Proverbs 14:11
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Proverbs 15:8
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Proverbs 16:17
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Proverbs 21:18, 29
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

Proverbs 28:10
10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

Proverbs 29:10, 27
10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

Ecclesiastes 7:29
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Song of Solomon 1:4
4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

Isaiah 26:7
7 The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

DLG note… In this case God is called “most upright” but the way of the justified person is called “uprightness.” 

SUMMARY
I GAVE YOU A LIST OF MORE THAN 130 VERSES THAT PROVES HUMANS CAN BE “RIGHTEOUS” IN THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD.
I NOW OFFER THE ONLY VERSE I KNOW ABOUT, WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “RIGHTEOUS” PERSON.
NONE RIGHTEOUS, THE PASSAGE

Romans. 3:10
10 “There is none righteous, no, not one”

DLG note… This is a true statement concerning the unsaved. Paul said that all people are in need of a Savior, because all have sinned. The context makes it perfectly clear that Paul was speaking about those who are not justified and sanctified.

Remember, this document only addresses verses that use the word “righteous.” Someone may point out that there are other words used in the Bible, when referring to sinful people. YES, there are. But if we used the verses that say man is not holy, we would need to make a list of verses that say man can be and is holy, when in a right relationship with God. This would produce other lists that are overwhelmingly numerous and clear that God does indeed make for Himself a holy, righteous, pure, obedient, good, upright people.

Someone may say, “But, there are several different Greek and Hebrew words, which are translated as, “righteous” and they do not mean what David says.”
David responds… I will be glad to do a word study with you concerning the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words. But the point is, people claim that the Bible says people cannot be righteous and then use one Bible verse to prove their point, ignoring over one hundred and thirty other verses. If we are going to use Bible words, we must use Bible words honestly. The Bible says that we can be righteous.

These verses do not contradict each other, they compliment one another and they deal with different subjects. The point is, the Bible clearly teaches that humans can be and must be personally and experientially righteous.

I GAVE YOU A LIST OF MORE THAN 40 VERSES THAT PROVES HUMANS CAN BE UPRIGHT IN THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD.
I NOW OFFER 2 VERSES THAT SEEM TO INDICATE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN UPRIGHT PERSON.
NONE UPRIGHT, THE PASSAGES 

Micah 7:2, 4
2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.

DLG note… The context clearly addresses a particular people in a particular time and place. The prophet Micah was pointing out how far reaching was Judah’s sin. The fact that the prophet looked for the “upright” man indicates that upright people had existed, but had died or been killed.

The fact that Micah said, “all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net” makes it clear that he is not referring to all men of all times and all places, since the saved do not fit this profile, nor did Micah fit this description.

Also, the prophet said that the day of visitation was going to come upon the people. This is a prophecy of judgment and deliverance. Not only will God forgive sins, He will tread underfoot the power and corruption of sin. He will forgive people of their sins committed and He will deliver them of sin indwelling (vss. 18-20).

I hope you will overlook any typographical errors or other honest mistakes. Please let me know about them and I will make the correction.

03/23/23 KNOW GOD'S BENEFITS

03/23/23 KNOW GOD'S BENEFITS

Don't let the devil rob you of your Divine opportunity.

Though sin separates a person from God, it does not relieve anyone of their responsibility to trust and obey God, neither does it rob them of their opportunity to receive Christ as their Savior.

Sin is a corrupter, but God still gives us the responsibility and opportunity to choose to do right. In fact, God has taken steps to restore us to a right relationship with Himself through the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. The first and most essential right choice we have is to choose to believe on Jesus. Don't believe those who say you cannot choose. Adam's sin did corrupt and separate the human race from God, but God did not abandon Adam or the human race. God sought Adam after Adam sinned.

Adam's sin is obviously the most destructive sin in the history of the human race, yet God sought Adam and provided reconciliation. God also offered Cain the opportunity to do right and be reconciled. Regardless of how they responded to God's offer, the offer was real and the opportunity to accept God's offer was real.
Not only have we inherited a corrupted nature from Adam, we have all chosen to sin, and sin separates us from God. God does not want any of us to be separated, therefore He gave His Son as the sacrifice that satisfies the justice of God and reconciles whoever believes and receives Christ as their Savior.

Sin separates from God, but trusting in Christ's death and resurrection reconciles us to God. We have a choice. We have a responsibility, we have an opportunity. The devil wants to rob you of your blood bought right to believe. Though sin separates us from God, it is death (the end result of sin) that irreconcilably and eternally separates us from God. In order to be reconciled, in order to be regenerated, we must believe, repent and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Read, believe and heed what God said through Paul.

(first a preview)
Romans 10:6-8
We can only be made righteous by Christ, by faith in Christ.
Saving faith comes to us through the proclamation of the gospel.

Romans 10:9-10
We must believe that Christ died for our sins and we must confess Jesus as God, as Lord.

Romans 10:11-13
Whoever believes the word of salvation by faith, and whoever calls on the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.

Romans 10:14-15
Calling on Jesus requires believing the message.
Believing the message requires hearing the message.
Hearing the message requires a messenger be sent.

Romans 1:16-17
Hearing and heeding the message of salvation by faith results in obedience to God, which is the result of faith in the word of God.

(now the passage)
Romans 10:6-17 NKJV
6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above)
7 or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

03/21/23 WE ALREADY KNOW THEY ARE IN ERROR

03/21/23 WE ALREADY KNOW THEY ARE IN ERROR

There are people who do not believe God loved the whole world redemptively, and do not believe God sent His Son to save WHOSOEVER WILL FREELY CHOOSE TO BELIEVE ON HIM. You should not listen to them explain anything in the Bible, since they don't accept the clear teaching concerning the nature of God, the plain word of God or the justice and mercy of God. And remember, they refer to their view of salvation, their systematic as the Gospel of Grace, though they believe that their god unilaterally predestined most of humanity to reprobation and damnation with no offer of salvation, because they say that Jesus did not die for everyone. If they don't have a right view of God's love, mercy, justice, atonement then their view of other Biblical truth is suspect.