07/26/23 JUST SO YOU KNOW

07/26/23 JUST SO YOU KNOW

Through the years I have preached about a multitude of situations, issues, doctrines. My preaching and teaching is drawn from my spiritual training and leadership of the Holy Spirit and godly believers, studies (primarily Scripture) personal experiences (primarily salvation and Christian ministry), ministry experiences (primarily preaching the Bible and addressing problems, questions and needs in the lives of Christians and sinners), observations (the people and society around me), current events and history.

Most of the subjects that I have addressed have been part of my on life or my pastoral life.
I have preached on subjects that I knew were part of other peoples lives

and

I have preached on subjects, with which I had no personal experience or connection.
Obviously, the older I got and the longer I preached, the more of life I became aware through experience, observation and reading.

As with other gospel preachers, people (mistakenly) have thought I knew secret things about them or they thought I was preaching at them when in fact, I was not. When people try to figure out who the preacher is "preaching at," they are ignoring the Holy Spirit, Who is actually speaking them about their own needs.

My preaching comes from a mixture of reasons.
Some of my preaching focuses on specific sins or circumstances, therefore some of my preaching is applicable to certain people.
Some of my preaching focuses on exposing false doctrines.
Some of my preaching is focused on the blessings, the fruit, the victories of God available to believers.
Some of my preaching is very definite, and personal to specific individuals because only God and the individual knows how it applies to the person.

My proclamation is both "scatter gunned" and "targeted." In other words, I send my message out to the general public (because everyone needs what I say) and I sometimes aim my message with certain problems and people in mind.

Three of the principles, which guide my preaching, teaching and counseling, are need, truth and love, therefore I preach the truth in love.

(notice the sections I designated with an asterisk *)
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, *pastors and teachers;
12 For the *perfecting of the saints, for the *work of the ministry, for the *edifying of the body of Christ:
*13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth *be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But *speaking the truth in love, *may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

07/26/23 PASTOR/PARISHIONER CHECKLIST

07/26/23 PASTOR/PARISHIONER CHECKLIST

If your pastor is not...
Leading you into victory, light, growth, conformity to the image of Jesus, by exposing your frailties, weaknesses, errors, and your sins;

If your pastor is not...
Teaching you Biblical doctrine and equipping you to withstand false doctrine;
and
If he is not...
Reproving (better understood as, "convicting," and "rebuking," and "refuting," and "persuading," and "confronting," and "presenting evidence") concerning believer's errors, deception, misdirection, sin, in both thought and practice;
Then your pastor is not doing his job and,

If you ARE NOT...
Submitting to Biblical teaching of doctrine,
and if you ARE NOT...
Submitting to Biblical reproof and rebuking of your thoughts and actions,
Then you are not following Christ.

If your pastor is not...
Correcting (leading from darkness to light, from error to truth, from human, earthly, carnal, devilish wisdom to Divine wisdom, which conforms the believer to the likeness of Christ and conformity with the New Testament standard of holiness of life,)
Then your pastor is not a Biblical pastor.

If your pastor...
Is not training you in righteousness;
Is not leading you out of self oriented, and self serving beliefs and living, then you do not have a Biblical pastor.

If you think that your limited view of salvation is greater than the ongoing preaching, teaching and counseling of Scripture, which comes from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, then you are already blinded and headed for total darkness. 

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
God has appointed pastors to perfect believers in the faith.

If you don't think you need to be changed, led into greater light, delivered from the remains of worldliness and humanistic influences and continuously equipped to resist and reject the powers of darkness, then you are already a deceived slave of Satan. 

2 Timothy 3:17
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

If your pastor is doing his job and you are rejecting his leadership, his teaching, his example, his call for you to grow in grace and knowledge, then you are in opposition to the revealed plan of God for preparing believers and His church for spiritual worship, service and battle.

Though the following words were given to Paul, they apply to all of God's called, chosen, anointed and sent ministers of the Gospel. 

Colossians 1:25-29
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Also, we find these words in the book of Hebrews. Remember, these words are as inspired, authoritative and applicable to us as is John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8. 

Hebrews 13:7
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 

Hebrews 13:19
19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
If your pastor is not doing his job, then you probably need to find a new pastor... NOW.
If you are not submitting to Biblical directives and leadership, then you need to repent... NOW.

07/25/23 TRUTH IN RHYMING VERSE

07/25/23 TRUTH IN RHYMING VERSE

When corrections apply,
Walk in the light.
Don't bat an eye,
Just do what's right 

When you hear God's Word,
And it strikes fire,
Accept what you heard,
Don't be a denier.

Don't blame God's preacher,
For your failure and strife,
Follow God's teacher,
To a victorious life.

07/24/23 THEY JUST WON'T LISTEN

07/24/23 THEY JUST WON'T LISTEN

If you have ever tried to reach and help a loved one who has a destructive addiction (alcohol, drugs, pornography, self abuse, illicit relationships), but they reject, refuse your counsel, your outreach of love, your offer of support and help; or if you have warned a loved one who is living in a make believe world, which will eventuate in their ruin, but they continue in the destructive activity, errant way, confused thinking, and you cannot get them to see or abandon their errant way; or if you have a loved one who is facing a terrible medical malady but they are not willing to take the available steps to avoid the inevitable; then you may understand the heartache of a pastor who tries to pull folks back from the fires of destruction.

It is heart breaking when loved ones choose to take a path of destruction, when they refuse to take the way of deliverance. Sometimes they do not believe that their way is dangerous or they do not believe that the way of deliverance is valid. They have swallowed a lie and they will not turn from it.

If you have experienced any of these scenarios, then you may understand what it means when a pastor cannot reach people with the light of the gospel and the power of God's word and His Holy Spirit.

I remember when my son and I pulled up behind another car at an intersection, which teed onto a highway. While we were waiting for a tractor trailer to pass by, the car in front of us inexplicably pulled into the path of the Semi.

The truck was barreling down the highway, with no way to stop or miss the small car. The truck t-boned the car at full speed. The car driver could do nothing, the trucker could do nothing and we could do nothing but watch (and of course we prayed). But we could do nothing that would cause the collision to not take place. (Miraculously, God protected the driver, who flew about in his car, knocked out of his shoes, while the car basically flew a few hundred feet down the highway). Except for the intervention of God, the consequences were inevitable.

If you have ever watched a love one deliberately pull in front of a disaster which could have been avoided, something that you could have saved them from, but they would not listen, then you have an idea of what it means to be a pastor, offering God's deliverance from total disaster to people who will not listen.

07/24/23 NOT ME

07/24/23 NOT ME

There are people who say they like and want their preacher to proclaim Bible truth, but they change their viewpoint when the preaching or teaching or counsel addresses the problems in their own lives. I have run into this problem since I became a pastor in 1969.

I remember a song that says, "Everybody Else But Me." That seems to be the theme song of self oriented, self serving, self pleasing people.

The lyrics of the song are really great, but the person who wrote the song has reconstructed his belief system to deny Biblical truths. But regardless of his present beliefs, what the song says is true about so many folks.

Everybody Else But Me
Don Francisco

Way back there in Jesus' time; the Pharisees walked so proud
They thought that they had the way to God; they prayed their prayers out loud
But Jesus said they had hell to pay; for the pretense and the games they'd play
I'm glad that's not like us today;
we wouldn't act like that

Everybody else but me, Everybody else but me
He was talking to the hypocrite and pharisee
Everybody else but me

I went to church one day last month, the preacher he preached real good
Talked about 'true' commitment; New Testament brotherhood
Talked about watching the things we say; the gossip that can wound and slay
I sure wish Joe had been there that day;
cause he really needed to hear it

When Jesus made disciples; he told them what they had to do
He said take up your cross and follow me; deny yourself and you'll be free
But he ment those guys back in Galilee; that was just for them back then

Everybody else but me; everybody else but me
He was talking to those people back in Galilee
Anybody else but me

07/24/23 PERSONAL CONTINUUM

07/24/23 PERSONAL CONTINUUM

People need to receive the word of God as a healing agent, not as a torture device. Sometimes the loving, true, searching, healing, saving word of God brings pain, but though the work of redemption hurts for a while, it delivers and heals forever.

Sometimes a person should leave a "church" in order to find Biblical doctrine and spiritual edification. Too often people move from one church to another for carnal or misdirected reasons.

In the past, do you know what the advantage was for "New Church" to require Brother or Sister "Transfer" to get their "Old Church" to send a letter (document) recognizing (recommending) Transfer's moving from "Old Church" to "New Church?"

The communication between churches and pastors gave evidence that "Transfer" had actually made a profession of faith and had taken steps of obedience to Biblical directives, church authority, discipleship and unity with other believers in "Old Church," which would also verify the intention of "Transfer." I did not understand the value of this principle as a young pastor, because I mistakenly thought "letters of transfer" had to do strictly with denominational or organizational alignment.

Sadly, discontented people will leave churches for a variety of unworthy reasons, based on personal preferences or resistance to Biblical standards and authority. Those people carry their discontent wherever they go. "New Church" should consider the history of "Transfer's" church relationships because the well being of "Transfer" depends on him or her submitting to Biblical truth and leadership, and the well-being of the parishioners at "New Church" will be in jeopardy if a discontented church hopper is received with open arms.

As I said, sometimes there are Biblical or logistical reasons (major change in location because of occupation or health needs) for a person to move to another church. But discontent and refusal to accept Biblical doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness is the devil's way of destroying individuals, families and churches.

Churches and pastors should not try to control the minutia of peoples lives. However, churches and pastors have the right and the obligation to require Biblical behavior and relationships in the local body.

It is a disservice to "New Church" and to "Transfer" when "Transfer" comes with disruptive baggage. Even if "Transfer" is able to fit into "New Church," they are still the loser if they do not learn Biblical truth and behavior.

Everyone suffers when "Transfer" moves from church to church for carnal, selfish, unbiblical reasons. God sets the standards for individuals and churches. Loving and Biblical counsel is not a fun thing to go through, but it is required for everyone and for all churches, which are seeking to follow God's directives and minister faithfully to the local body.

A loving pastor and loving church does not want to lose anyone, even the discontented person. No loving pastor or church wants discontented folks to go to another church, without facing and solving their discontent.

I have believed and shared these truth for a long time, but America has moved from the "Me Generation," of the eighties, to the "Millennials," which was called the "Me Me Me Generation," by Time Magazine, ten years ago.

Secularism and Humanism has contributed to the narcissism of of today's young people. Anti-family, anti-Bible, anti-authority influences are now shaping the leadership of Education, Politics and "Churches."

07/22/23 IMPORTANT

07/22/23 IMPORTANT

I encourage you to watch a movie on YouTube, "None Shall Escape." 

Watch it as a family. Require your children (12 years and up) to watch it with you.

It has happened before, time and again.

It is happening around the world, now, at different stages.

The same preparations for godless takeover and oppression is now taking place.

It is verifiable history, and

It is the prophesied future for our own homeland.

But I know what will happen. Folks will shake their heads, click their tongues, laugh at my "hysteria" and march their families into destruction.

07/22/23 STUDY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS

07/22/23 STUDY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS

Here are four good reasons people want to learn Biblical truth.

I will give them in no special order. Though they are each different, they should all be part of a person's search for truth. Each of the four is the flip side of one of the other four reasons. (#s 1 and 2 are the flip side of each other and #s 3 and 4 are the flip side of each other). People hope that studying the Bible will meet their need and lead them to their goal.

#1 People want to learn the truth of God because they want to be saved from wickedness in their lives. They not only realize they have sinned, they know that sin has power over them and they want to be delivered from the shame, the guilt, the power of evil.

#2 People want to know God's word because they want to be in a right relationship with God, they want to please God in this present evil world, they want to live life as life was meant to be lived.

#3 People want to learn the word of God because they want to spend eternity with God, they want to go to heaven.

#4 People want to study the Bible because they do not want to spend eternity in torment, they do not want to suffer eternal punishment.

I am afraid that some folks who started studying the Bible for any of these reasons eventually settled for studying the Bible simply as a pursuit knowledge, information, religion or as a philosophical principle.

We should study God's word in order to escape eternal torment in the lake of fie; in order to live forever in the presence of God; in order to find deliverance from the corruption of sin; in order to be conformed to the image of Christ, and in order to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus and to be conformed to the image of Jesus and in order to be equipped for the evangelizing of the unsaved.

Do you study the Bible for the right reasons?

Are you hungering and thirsting for God's truth, which will lead you out of temptation and into spiritual victory?

07/22/23 THE CONDEMNED REJECT THE TRUTH

07/22/23 THE CONDEMNED REJECT THE TRUTH

Narcissistic people take preaching, counsel and uncomfortable Biblical truths as personal attacks, therefore there is never a good time to address toxic attitudes, venomous speech, abusive behavior. The very thing they need is rejected and the messenger of God is despised and blasphemed. The messenger may be a parent, a sibling, an offspring, a spouse, a pastor, a Christian friend. After all, who knows us better than those who are closest to us? God may use an unclean vessel or even a donkey. It does not matter to the person who is saturated with self and deception, they will reject truth from everywhere.

However, God directs us to be faithful in proclamation of His word, in season and out of season; in other words, tell the truth in love, even when it is "not a good time." Not only will God's messenger be hated, but God's word will be hated, and ultimately God will be hated.

Telling the truth in love will often drive the self absorbed and obstinate person further from God, His truth and His messenger, as we see in the example of Pharaoh when he was confronted by Moses. As with Pharaoh, the consequences of rejection impact many more live than just the offended one. Still, truth must be held onto and it must be proclaimed. It must be offered to the lost, regardless of what they will do with that truth.

Here is Divine truth, through Apostolic teaching to a pastor, concerning leadership of believers.

PLEASE READ and HEED. (notice places marked with an asterisk *. 

2 Timothy 3:14-17 and 4:1-5
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 *Preach the word; be instant *in season, *out of season; *reprove, *rebuke, *exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 *For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; *but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 *And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, *and shall be turned unto fables.
5 *But watch thou in all things, *endure afflictions, *do the work of an evangelist, *make full proof of thy ministry.

07/21/23 DON'T SWALLOW THE SWILL

07/21/23 DON'T SWALLOW THE SWILL

Just so you know, in spite of what your translation says or seems to say and in spite of what your preacher/teacher may be telling you:

Jesus did not fear the cross,
He did not seek to escape death on the cross,
He did not become actual sin,
He did not forfeit or lose His Deity or cease to be the Son of God,
He did not suffer the indignities and suffering that was handed out by Satan and demons in torment,
He was not born again through the resurrection,
And you are not little gods, you never were little gods and you will never be little gods.

Don't swallow the lies, lies, lies.

If you are being taught that these things are Biblical, you need a different teacher, preacher. These kinds of lies are diminishing the nature, dignity, immutability, glory and salvific work of Jesus, and each error opens up a new can of corruption and deception.

Do not choose spiritual leaders based on a few particular doctrines. You need to know that your pastor is consistent with all essential beliefs of the Bible.

Don't settle for "good enough," especially if you have new or younger believers in your family. To play this game is playing Russian Roulette (with a fully loaded gun) with eternal souls at stake.

And of course, if you are interested in my understanding of these issues, please get in touch with me. But be aware, I don't argue for argument sake.

07/20/23 CHOOSE TRUTH

07/20/23 CHOOSE TRUTH

Normal concern for attaining and maintaining excellence includes conformity to established standards, accepting correction and direction, seeking and receiving counsel, submission to legitimate authority, commitment to make needed changes, a positive attitude concerning other people.

These principles, in conjunction with faith and submission to God, are obligatory for those who want to be all that God wants them to be.
Salvation includes and requires denying self and following Jesus.
Anything less is a false religion and hypocrisy, regardless of how it is packaged, promoted and presented.

Don't fear loving and Biblical counsel.
Fear the absence of loving and Biblical counsel.

Read and heed God's word.
Be thoroughly familiar with what God has said in the book of Proverbs.

Seek and procure the best spiritual atmosphere for your children.
You only get one shot at training them in God's truth early.
God does not give you multiplied blessings for you to pick and choose how to use them.
God gives you everything you need for life and godliness, He does not offer options. It is yours to receive it is not yours to cherry pick to please your own agenda.
Align your agenda with God's agenda, align your desires with God's desires, align your mission with God's mission.
Die to self and live solely for God.

07/19/23 A WALK IN THE GARDEN

07/19/23 A WALK IN THE GARDEN

The Christian walk is not a walk in the park.
The Christian walk is a walk in The Garden.

But it is not always a walk in the flower garden.

Jesus showed us what a walk in The Garden was like when He battled Darkness; when He almost died; when He was on the verge of fulfilling His eternal plan of salvation on the cross and rising from the dead.

King David referred to this kind of walk; "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."

As we stand on the mountaintop of victory, we see God's call to continue in victory. We catch a glimpse of the next mountaintop, which requires us to descend from our lofty and exhilarating experience, to battle the denizens of darkness, death and destruction. We may suffer pain, disappointment, extreme loss, and possibly personal defeat, but we must walk by faith, we must trust God, we must be faithful to His call, we must deny ourselves and follow Him fully.

Remember, God does not send us into the battle alone, He does not send us in order to destroy us, and He does not send us without a reason.

Regardless the trial, if we keep our eyes on Jesus He will never leave or forsake us. And even if we falter and fail, God is ready, willing and able to restore our joy, peace, love and victory.

For those who follow, even through times of terrible testing, there is another mountaintop awaiting us. Even our final victory comes as we pass through life's greatest trial.

We don't live for the mountaintop experiences, we live for the Lord, and He is greater than the mountaintops. Valleys and mountains come and go, but Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever; He changes not.

07/18/23 IT IS WHAT GOD SAYS

07/18/23 IT IS WHAT GOD SAYS

Here is a simple question, with a simple answer.

According to the Bible...
Q. Can a Christian live his life in such a way that he fulfills the law of God?
A. Yes.

Notice, I am not saying everyone or just anyone can keep the law of God.
Notice also, I am not indicating that the keeping of the law of God earns or merits salvation.
Notice again, I am not suggesting that anyone has kept the law of God throughout their entire life or that a person who has been converted cannot disobey the law of God.
Notice too, I am not saying that we are subject to the sacrificial, dietary, civil and ceremonial laws of Israel.
And especially notice, I am not saying that failing to keep the law of God must end in separation from God forever.

Of course I am saying all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death.
I am saying that those who have not kept the law of God (all of us) can be saved, reconciled to God by trusting in the death, resurrection and salvation of Christ.
I am saying that those who are saved (by grace, through faith in Christ) are saved from sin and sinning as they walk in faith, walk in the light of Christ, walk in the Spirit.
I am saying that being born of God enables us to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength and those who love Him will keep the law of God and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
I am saying what God says in His word. 

John 14:23-24
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 

John 15:10-14
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 

Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

1 John 2:3-6
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

1 John 5:2-5
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
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?

07/18/23 SOUND DOCTRINE LEADS TO GODLY LIVING

07/18/23 SOUND DOCTRINE LEADS TO GODLY LIVING

LET TRUTH TRANSFORM YOU AND CONFORM YOU

I address Biblical doctrines (teachings) as much as I do because our lives are guided by what we actually believe.
I present God in the light of His moral traits, because that is what determines God's actions, which in turn determines our lives.
I focus on doctrines, truths that transform our lives, more than I focus on ideas, which have no bearing on our behavior.

GOD IS
God is holy (righteous, pure), we are called to be holy (righteous, pure).
God is love and loving, we are called to love and be loving.
God is just, we are called to be just.
God is merciful, we are called to be merciful.
God is kind, we are called to be kind.
God is patient, we should be patient.
God is true and honest, we should be true and honest.
God is forgiving, we should be forgiving.
God is faithful, we should be faithful.
God is compassionate, we should be compassionate.
God is gracious and giving, we should be gracious and giving.

GOD IS ALSO
God is also wise, we should trust His Word and His Spirit.
God is also sovereign, we should be submissive and obedient.
God is eternal, we should be eternally minded rather than temporally minded.
God is also Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we should be familial and social beings.
God is also One, we should worship and serve only Him.
God is also Creator, Sustainer, we can and should depend on Him.

ATTENDING PASSAGES
I realize the following list of passages is long, BUT they are well worth considering, in relationship to this post. Don't skim the passages. Take time to absorb the great truths. All of them. 

Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

1 Timothy 1:3-11
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 

2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

Titus 1:7-9
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 

Titus 2:1-15
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
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.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
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.

07/18/23 BASICS OF SANCTIFICATION

07/18/23 BASICS OF SANCTIFICATION

(Definition:
Sanctification is to be made holy and to be separated from sin and separated to God.)

God has provided for faithful believers to be Sanctified Entirely, in a moment, in this present world (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24), which is, "the sanctification (the holiness) without which no man shall see the LORD," (Hebrews 12:14).

Entire Sanctification (the gracious, miraculous, instantaneous, purifying of the believers heart from the sinful nature), comes after Justification, which includes Initial Sanctification (the cleansing of the convert's conscience and behavior).

The word, "Entire," indicates something more than Initial, but does not preclude or replace growth in grace, which takes place in the believer from the time of conversion until the believer goes to be with the LORD.

Initial Sanctification happens concurrently with our Justification (delivering from "sins" i.e. sinful actions and guilt), and Entire Sanctification (delivering from "Sin" as an inherent condition, a.k.a. The Old Man, the Carnal Mind, the Flesh, Double Mindedness, Sinful Nature, Adamic Nature), happens subsequently to conversion, and both Initial and Entire Sanctification are miraculous and instantaneous Divine works of salvation.

Initial Sanctification and Entire Sanctification, as crises experiences, are entered into suddenly, which is not the same as what happens with "Progressive Sanctification."

"Progressive Sanctification," is the ongoing process of growth in grace and knowledge and submission, beginning at conversion and continuing through the lifetime of the believer.

Entire Sanctification is not the believers Glorification, which takes place at the resurrection or at the time of the rapture when
our earthly life is over.