GOD's UNHURRIED WRATH

 GOD’S UNHURRIED WRATH

  In response to yesterday’s Daily Thoughts (DTs), CHRISTLIKE ANGER, Penny K. responded emphasizing an important point.

“Reading that story carefully, you will note that Christ sat down and wove himself a whip/scourge before he went down to the temple.  This indicates, to me, that his anger was a deliberate effort and not a loss of temper.   You can't weave a good scourge if you are out-of-control angry.  And we know the scourge he wove was perfect, because he was perfect.  There was no hasty weaving going on, you can bank on that!”

John [GW] 2:13-17 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 

And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”  His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” [Ps.69:9-17]

  Exercising Christlike anger sometimes requires unhurried thoughtful preparation!

EBB4

CHRISTLIKE ANGER

 CHRISTLIKE ANGER

John [CEV] 2:13-17 Not long before the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem. There he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves in the temple. He also saw moneychangers sitting at their tables. So he took some rope and made a whip. Then he chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins. Jesus said to the people who had been selling doves, "Get those doves out of here! Don't make my Father's house a marketplace." The disciples then remembered that the Scriptures say, "My love for your house burns in me like a fire." [Ps.69:9-17]

  Inmates sometimes ask for topical studies. I oblige and personally benefit. Some, suffering results of anger request my study file on anger, a commonality among scofflaws. I put the packet together, so it’s no surprise that the next day I awoke thinking further about anger.

  Sinful anger may show in many variations: distrust, sensitivities, embarrassment, justification, blame-shifting, indignation, petulance, argumentiveness, stridency, irritability, antagonism, exasperation, stubbornness, perturbance, assertiveness, aggressiveness, snarkiness, nuclear reactions, vengefulness. It can even be in a few unsuspecting ways: calmness (Cool Handed Luke represents this), passiveness, pacifism, shyness, exceptional privacy, irresponsibility, undependability, carelessness, dependability and exemplary performance, morality.

  By invitation we are to follow and emulate godliness according to The Word (Jn.1:1) and guidance from His Holy Spirit within (Jn.16:13-14).

  The Word got angry. (Jn.2:13-17)

  The Word says that we are to be angry without sinning: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” (Eph.4:26)

  But isn’t our anger always contradictory, in opposition to godly love?

  Is there a uncomplicated deciding measure? There is.

  When anger is all-about-me, it is sinfully ungodly anti-Word (James 4). To assist in comprehension, please understand that it is under two seemingly different, but equivalent subheadings: antic defense as described in the first list in paragraph 2, and composed protectionism as portrayed in the second list in paragraph 2.

  Defense and protection of what? Our vanity/pride, self-esteem; the natural “old self” unregenerate life-view. (Rom.6:6; 12:1-3; Eph.4:22-27; Col.3:8-10) Put another way, the definitive distinction is between righteous anger and self-righteous indignation.

  Let us hear and heed Paul’s address to the saints at Ephesus. (Eph.1:1)

  “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”  (ESV Eph.4:17-27)

  Thought question: For God’s child, can anger be patent lying about their redemption in Lord Jesus Christ?  EBB4

Confession: Something I get angry about is Christians involving in secular non-Biblical anger management literature and/or programs, and doing so without a serious thought to present and eternal expense. (Christian’s live in eternity now, not later.) Will such help? Yes, they will, but anything not done God’s Way is apart from Him; moral accomplishment and bearing not based in His Word, and gives honor and glory to other than Him. (1Cor.6:19-20; 2Cor.5:10; 2Tim.2:15) Anger is never a primary emotion. Ungodly anger is always a secondary emotion boiling above the heat of pride. We Christians are to study, realize, and apply anger’s remedy as found in God’s Word.  EBB4

MORMONISM: Part One

 

Source: Got Questions Ministries. All rights reserved. www.GotQuestions.org  (Used with permission so long as done so sans profit and credit is given to GotQuestions.org)

Are Mormons Christians? Are Mormons saved?
  Although Mormons profess to be Christians and say they believe the Word of God, there are many of their beliefs that contradict Christianity. In fact, Mormonism can be referred to as a cult, which can be defined as “a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of biblical truth.” Mormons say they are Christians, but because they reject foundational truths from God’s Word, they are not.
  Joseph Smith, who referred to himself as “The Prophet,” founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the mid-1800s. He claimed to have seen a vision of God the Father and God the Son, in which they denounced modern Christianity and appointed Smith to reveal and restore “true” Christianity (Articles of Faith, p. 182–185). Three years later, Smith alleged that the angel Moroni told him about some golden plates on which the Book of Mormon was written. In spite of Smith’s questionable background and proclivity toward bending the truth (see The Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism, New York, 1861; and Mormonism Unveiled, Painesville, Ohio, 1834), many believed Smith, and a new “religion” was born. Today, the members of the Mormon Church number in the millions.
  The Book of Mormon is purported to be a new revelation, one that Mormons say is part of the new covenant to Israel and “another witness” to the truth of the Bible (History of the Church 4:461, 8th Article of Faith). Aside from the many theological conflicts with the Bible and historical and archeological fact, the writing of the Book of Mormon was shrouded in mystery and false claims. For example, Joseph Smith and his associates asserted that one Professor Charles Anthon of Columbia University verified the Egyptian characters on the golden plates. However, this same professor wrote a rebuttal letter soon after, saying that he never did any such thing and had, in fact, found the characters to be a hoax. In addition, many verses in the Mormon scriptures have been changed over the years, as the church leaders attempt to cover up something embarrassing in their past and to defend themselves against criticism. These facts alone are enough to cast much doubt on the veracity of the Book of Mormon.
  One of the many areas in which Mormons fall short of saving faith is their belief that God is merely an exalted man who earned his position by good works (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345). This directly contradicts the Bible, which states that God has existed in His position as God of the universe from eternity past (Revelation 1:8; 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15–16; Psalm 102:24–27). God was never a man (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hosea 11:9) and is the holy and powerful Creator of all things (Genesis 1; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 37:16). Mormons also believe that they themselves can attain the status of gods in the afterlife through their works here on earth (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345–354). However, no man can ever become like God (1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 43:10–11; 44:6; 45:21–22), despite what the serpent told Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:5).
  Mormons also believe that Jesus was a god, but not God Himself (Mormon Doctrine, p. 547; Articles of Faith, p. 35; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 372). It is essential to Christian faith that Jesus is one with God and that He is God’s only begotten Son who became flesh (John 1:1, 14; John 3:16). Only Jesus’ oneness with God would have allowed Him to live a sinless, blameless life (Hebrews 7:26). And only Jesus Christ was able to pay the price for our sins by His death on the cross (Romans 4:25; Acts 4:12).
  Those who follow the Mormon faith also believe that they can attain heaven through works (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43; 2 Nephi 9:23–24; Alma 34:30–35; Articles of Faith, p.92). While they claim faith in Christ, they also rely on following the commandments of the Mormon Church (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p 188; Mormon Doctrine, p. 670) and practicing good works (2 Nephi 25:23; Alma 11:37) in order to achieve salvation. The Bible is very clear on this point, stating that good works can never earn the way to heaven (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5) and that faith in Jesus Christ alone is the only way to salvation (John 10:9; 11:25; 14:6; Acts 4:12). Salvation by grace is incompatible with salvation by human works (Romans 11:6).
  Sadly, many in the Mormon Church are unaware of the religion’s shady past, amended scriptures, and even the full doctrine of their church. Many Mormons who have discovered these things have left the church and come to a true saving faith in Jesus Christ. As Christians, we must treat Mormons with love and understand that they are among those deceived by Satan himself (1 Peter 5:8). Satan’s goal is to distort the truth, produce false assurance of salvation, and extend a deceptive hope of godhood (2 Corinthians 4:4).

(GotQuestions.org Editor’s note: many of the references in our articles on Mormonism are Mormon publications, such as Mormon Doctrine, Articles of Faith, Doctrines of Salvation, History of the Church, Doctrine and Covenants, and so forth. Others are from the Book of Mormon itself, e.g., books such as 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, and Alma.)

DICHOTOMIZING SEX

DICHOTOMIZING SEX

 “Sex, in the gender-fractured view, can be just recreational. It is simply a way of having fun and making each other’s body feel good. The separation of physical attraction from emotional attraction in this worldview is perilous. Separating sex from emotion reduces the mystery of sexual union to mere bodily pleasure. However, the physical union in sex reflects the unity and intimacy found in the Trinity. To reduce it to a physical act for an individual, perverts its purpose ands leads to the misuse of sex by dehumanizing both male and female. Separating sex from emotion is at the root of prostitution, sex trafficking, and the endless ways that men have degraded women by sexually exploiting them.”

  The above is an excerpt from a book I’m reading and recommend: Anchoring Your Child in God’s Truth in A GENDER-CONFUSED CULTURE; Helping Our Children Embrace Their Calling to Godly Manhood or Womanhood, by Dr. Gary Yagel.

EBB4

UNTO THE HILLS

 UNTO THE HILLS

My Help Comes from the Lord. A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (KJV Psalm 121:1-8)

  If you read today’s Scripture reference in KJV, go read it again in NIV or your favorite contemporary English version.

  We are not to look to high places (Idol worship including “Mother Nature”.) to find help!

  A friend and I have been to the beautiful hills in southeast Missouri. It is lovely foliage, especially in the spring. Yellows, pale green, orange and red. The dogwoods, redbuds and wild plum trees blooming among the other trees is a breath-taking sight.

  We repeatedly thank God for His beautiful creation, and when we had some close calls on the highways, it was God to whom we turned to for protection. I will always look to Him for help!

Leslie Nivens (12/12/1928-3/1/2020)

God can, He will. If ...

 

ETERNAL SALVATION: HE CAN; HE WILL, IF

  Eternal salvation as present spiritual possession and future physical position is something God definitely can and will do. There is however one condition we must individually personally meet; a condition that has absolutely nothing to do with personal goodness or works. (Eph.2:8-9) Jesus met and fulfilled every condition pleasing His Father. Our one condition to realize eternal life that includes real-time John 1:12 family life is the condition of acceptant compliance in agreeing with God; taking Him at His Word, trusting Him as Redeemer unto everlasting life.

  Jesus, the only begotten child of God, explained this to Nicodemus, religious leader and teacher, a learned man, member of the national council, for his benefit and all others in latter times: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. … That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again … as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. “ (ESV John chapter 3, as ever, please read in complete context in language of your preference.)

  And what exactly does this compliant trust unto eternal life mean? The word “believe” is several times in John 3, the Greek meaning: πιστεύω; pisteuō; pist-yoo'-o From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): - believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

  Yes, when it comes to eternal salvation God can and does fully accomplish . . . if we as individuals meet His condition of entrusting our spiritual well-being to Christ.

  Then let us serve Him all our remaining days this side of the grave.  EBB4

BLESSED ASSURANCE

 

BLESSED ASSURANCE IS IN GOD’S WORD

  John chapter 3 … For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. …

  Hebrews 6:16-20 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 

  God has provided all truth by and in His Word, Jesus and that which is commonly called the Bible. Living and written to guide all of mankind, though all of mankind does not accept the guidance. (Jn.6:24; 12:32; Rom.1:18-25) Sadly, this includes professing Christians that reject portions of God’s Truth through a cafeteria-like selecting.

  Among the oddest of these are those professing trust in Jesus as Savior but saying they won’t know for sure until they die. This belief is contradictory to His promise of eternal life for those trusting Him.

  “eternal” and “everlasting” are not maybe or hope-so words. They aren’t meaning possibly or probably. They define God’s salvation as unequivocally definite!

  Looking at the words God gave us and we see nothing but absolute designation: shalt, shall, will.

  And what of those that profess Christianity yet deny God’s Christ-qualified absolute promise . . . aren’t they distrustfully calling Him a liar?   EBB4