SOME KNOWN TRUTHS FROM GOD'S WORD

SOME KNOWN TRUTHS FROM GOD'S WORD

1. God has spoken to man, and the Bible is His word, given to 
    make us wise unto salvation.  II Timothy 3: 15-17, Hebrews 
    4: 12, II Peter 1: 20-21

2. God is Lord and King over His world; He rules all  things for His 
     glory, displaying His perfections in all that He does in order that 
     men and angels may worship and adore Him.   Isaiah 60: 21,
     Psalms 50: 1-3,  Deut. 32: 1-4...
    http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2015/01/god-is-sovereign.html

3. God  is Savior,  active  in sovereign   love through  the Lord Jesus 
    Christ to rescue believers from the guilt and power of sin, to adopt 
    them as his children and bless them accordingly.  1 John 3: 1-2

4. God is triune; there are within the  Godhead, three persons,  the 
    Father, the Son and the Spirit;   and the work of  salvation is one 
    in which three act together, the Father purposing redemption, the 
    Son securing it and the Spirit applying it. I John 3: 23-24, I John 4: 
    1-4,13

5.  Godliness means responding to God’s revelation in trust and obe-
     dience, faith and worship, prayer and praise, sub-mission and ser-
     vice.  Life is seen and lived in  the light of God’s word.  This  and
     nothing else is true religion.  1 John 3: 2-3, click on link...
http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2012/09/religion-gets-bad-rap.html

6.  God created the heavens and the earth and all that dwell on the 
     earth.  By the power of  His  Word He spoke all about which we 
     know and the things about which we do not know into existence .   
     Genesis 1

donporter,sr edited 11.24.14, 3.29.17

THREE YEARS IN ARABIA

Three Years in Arabia...(Acts 9:1-19 & Galatians 1: 11- 2: 2)
       
     Just after the conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road to damas-
cus,  and the restoration of  his sight,  he is known to have spent three 
years  in Arabia.  This was three years away from  the influence of the 
 apostles, church leaders, and others,  regarding his faith  in the Lord. 
It must  have been  during this time  the Lord  framed  Paul’s  view of 
his  newly found faith in Christ.  At the time of  his re-entry into life in 
Jerusalem and church  leaders,  it was not long before he experienced 
controversy over  the basic doctrines of  the church  and  their  role in  
the life of believing  gentiles.   It  seems the apostles were having diffi-
culty  knowing just what should be expected of  gentile, or non-Jewish,
 believers.  The  Apostle  Peter  was  confused on  the issue, displaying
it in, apparent, hypocritical behavior.  The Apostle Paul, with superior 
knowledge of Judaism and his stint in the desert, faced him down.  He
did  not get his  doctrine from  committee,  but  directly from the Lord.
He was actually shown things not  to  be communicated to others.  He, 
along with  Dr. Luke,  is also responsible for much of  the Scripture in 
the  New Testament.  No one else,  it seems,  was  authoritative  as he. 
His secret may well  have been in thinking of  himself  as  “least of  the 
Apostles,”  and his three years in Arabia alone with God.

       Today, most men who preach the gospel have spent a great deal
of time in school learning their profession and how best to present a
coherent and interesting sermon.  Is it possible their doctrine or per-
sonal  belief system is  highly influenced by the same professors who
teach,  Greek,  Hebrew homiletics and  other necessary subjects for
Pastor/Teachers?   Would  it not be best for  men who  are called of
God to get away on their own with the Lord to learn doctrine rather
than learn it from a committee?   If  a young man is called into voca-
tional service of  our Lord,  and soon after begins to attend a univer-
sity or  Bible College,  is he not at risk of  just parroting what he has
learned from professors rather than getting into God’s Word, alone,
finding treasure from the Lord?  The same may be true of individual
“pew sitters” who take in 2-3 sermons or Bible studies per week and
fail to act as the Church of Berea in the New Testament who studied
the  Scripture to  determine  if the teaching were true and consistent
with known truth, the Old Testament.  

  The danger in becoming one who studies God’s Word alone is, one 
may become overly critical of  preaching or Bible teachers and alie-
nate  himself  from  the congregation.  The plus side is for that one, 
who is learning Scriptural principle on his own, to become a teacher 
of  the best and that can only come directly from  personal study of 
the Scripture,  prayer and leadership of  the Spirit of Christ.  Much 
Bible teaching today seems to be a product of the flesh rather than 
Spirit. ( We do not judge)  How do we know this?  It  is self evident 
because of the controversy and disagreement on doctrine from our 
Spiritual leaders.   If each were  “...led by the Spirit,”  there would  
not be the jealousy, envy and strife that plagues us as evangelicals 
today.   Another way of  putting  it;  if men would spend time alone 
with God, when they came together there would be a cohesive,  or
humble spirit that would lead to agreement. This seems a paradox, 
but since there would be a common source for the doctrine,  would 
it not be consistent?  There is one another element.  As one spends 
time with Deity,  he  comes away with a humility  born of  spending 
time with one infinitely greater than him/herself.  Possibly most of 
our strife is born of an inadequate view of our Lord or is it possible 
we do not even know God, and have only a second hand knowledge 
of Him drawn from the study of others,  not our own? donporter,sr         

9.27.12  ed. 11.24.14

GOD'S WORD ON DILIGENCE II Peter 1: 5-7

            
   "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to 
     your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 
   and to knowledge temperance; and to tempe-
    rance, patience; and to patience godliness; 
    and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to  
       brotherly kindness, charity. 

       (Diligence:  Steady, earnest, energetic 
         application that perseveres.)

   When we think of diligence, we consider the 
long haul, rather than a short run.  It is quite 
easy in  the short run, to  be successful in the
important  areas of  life.  It is another matter, 
altogether, over life as a whole. This requires 
a  totally different  mindset  from  short  term 
thinking.  First,  we must determine or define
what we mean by success to the child of God.
It  is nothing  short of  pleasing our  Lord in
every area  of  life.  God is  more  concerned
with our  becoming mature,  Spiritually, than
our personal  accomplishment.  It is more of
being than  the doing.  It is not  that one who
is successful  in pleasing  our Lord  does not
accomplish, even great things.            

   On  the contrary, it  is quite impossible that
one who  pleases  Him,  would fail  to achieve
His will.  The fruit of the Spirit will be evident
in that one's life,  and the fruit of  the Spirit is
nothing  less than;  love,  joy, peace, patience,
(longsuffering)  kindness,  goodness,  faithful-
ness,  gentleness, and self-control.  We do not
have a schedule for meeting intangible  goals. 
It's a new direction for life.  These qualities of
the one  who is controlled and emplowered by
the Spirit of God, in Jesus Christ, will accom-
plish the will of God.  Could we ask for more?
See Galatians 5: 22,  for "Fruit of the Spirit,"
and  Galatians 5:19-21, "Works of the flesh." 

  According to more than one author, or Bible
scholar, there are specific areas of growth for
one to undertake, intentionally, to develop the
quality of "diligence," as a character trait.

    First, we must name the areas of  life which
evidently need growth, develop a plan and fol-
low through,"diligently."  We name objectives; 
aspirations for patience, an openess to others, 
to be more considerate and sensitive to the lea-
dership of the Holy Spirit.  

   Other goals might include developing Spiri-
tual gifts such as Evangelism, Teaching, Prea-
ching or Counselling.  It  is critical  for one to
find in God's Word and prayer, gifts our Lord
desires for us and to seek the gift that might be 
primary.  See Romans 12: 1-3:

 

  I beseech you therefore, bretheren by the
  mercies of  God,  that  you  present  your 
  bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable
 to God, which is your reasonable service.

   And do not be conformed to this world, 
   but be transformed by the  renewing of
  your mind, that you may prove  what  is
    that good and acceptable will  of God.

  For I say, through the grace given to me
   to everyone who is  among  you, not to
   think of  himself more  highly than he
   ought to think,  but to think soberly, as
  God has dealt to each one  a measure of
   faith.  Romans 12: 1-3  (NKJV)
  
 Along with this brief introduction is a warning
to refuse to become smug or proud if one deve-
lops in any area above our peers.  When one is
deceived by  pride,  he understands  nothing of
this life he is priviledged to live in the power of
our Lord Jesus Christ.  The Lord God receives
any  glory that  might  come our  way.  The use 
of any gift  from  God must be  integrated  into 
Kingdom endeavors, and can never be used for 
personal enrichment or self agrandizement.

 All of this is brought into the life of a Child of
God  as  he saturates  himself  in  God's Word,
and  "prays without  ceasing"  for  the  Lord's 
leadership and blessing.  If we are diligent on 
our own,  in the flesh,  we accomplish nothing,
and we  may have  "...taken  the  name  of  the 
Lord in vain."  Exodus 20:7 If we are diligent 
in these two areas, prayer and study of Scrip-
ture,  we will see answers to our  prayers and  
fulfillment of His will in our lives. If we fail in 
these two areas, we accomplish nothing.  Who 
gets  glory in that?  And what is  our  primary  
responsibility?  We must glorify the Lord God, 
in Jesus Christ, by life or death;  in joy or suf-
fering.

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they 
    make you that ye shall neither be barren nor                 
    unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
    Christ. 
 But he that lacketh these things is blind and 
   cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he 
   was purged from his old sins."  1 Peter 1:8-9

                    donporter,sr   9.26.12, ed. 11.24.16

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. . . . . . . . . Psalm 46: 10

"Be Still and Know that I Am God"                               Psalm 46: 10-11
                         (Scripture quoted from kjv, and nkjy)       
    The world system in which we live and serve  the Lord, has stan-
dards we as Children of God cannot afford  to adopt.  Achievement 
for self  promotion,  hyper-activity,  etc.  seems  the rule of  the day. 
The path to success is through a kind of high energy,  frenetic pace 
along a road that  goes nowhere.  This worldly lifestyle has permea-
ted  some local churches and  denominations.  Activity seems to  be  
the  most significant  part of  the service, worship, and praise in the 
church.  Everything  seems to be centered on  moving,  shaking and 
making  a difference by our actions.  There  is a neglected  factor in 
our  relationship with  the Lord God;  that  is stillness,  the quieting 
of  our spirits and overt  activity.  Psalms have  much to  say on this 
subject.

       Let's  begin with a  memorable  passage on “stillness,”  Psalm 46:
10-11. Here the Psalmist, following verses 1-9, which are full of color-
ful descriptions of the mighty works of the Lord, shows  our response.  
In all this earth moving, mountains being carried into the sea, waters 
roaring,  mountains  shaking,  our  response is  to  be  still.   “Be  still,  
and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be 
exalted on the earth.  The lord of  hosts is with  us;  The God of Jacob 
is our  refuge.”  Since our God is in  control of  the cataclysm,  we are 
safe and all  is well with  His world  since God  is  “with us and  is our  
refuge.”  Being still, shows one to be confident in his Lord, not depen-
dent upon his own effort for security.  

     From here  let's consider several  passages  on “stillness” in Psalms. 
In Psalm 4:4-5 we find, “Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your
heart on your bed, and be still. Selah, Offer the sacrifices of righteous-
ness, and put your trust in the Lord.”  Again we  see a trying situation. 
The Psalmist considers our  rightful  response to anger  when  he says,
“Be  angry and  sin not.”  We  can  be still  in  the situation,  since  the
Lord God is  in control.  We trust in Him;  not in our solutions to injus-
tice.

    Even in the Psalm 23,  verse 2,  when still waters are mentioned,  it 
refers to still waters in our soul.   In  Psalm 76: 8 we find in the midst
of  the Lord's  awesome display of  power over men and the elements,  
the earth became still out of fear.  Then, in Psalm 139:18 the Child of  
God is “still” with his Father, aware the only refuge he has; is his Hea-
venly Father.  In Psalm 8: 2, God’s Word shows His enemies to be still 
because of  the strength He has put into the mouths of  babes and nur-
sing infants.

     Finally, in Psalm 83: 1, the Child of God makes  requests of his hea-
venly Father. Relying on the work of the Father, the Child of God says, 
“Do not  keep silent,  O God!  Do not hold  your peace.  And do  not be 
still, O God!  For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who 
hate You have lifted up their head...”  Here we find God’s Child leaving
off works on  his own behalf, trusting God  for protection, trusting the 
Lord God to defend  His name.  Here,  is pictured a man entering  into
into the rest  promised the Children of God,  and has relinquished con-
trol of his life to the Lord.  The child is still, but the Lord  God is never 
still; always active on his (on our) behalf.  

    Is it possible one of the greatest faults of the church today is that of
“much ado about very little,” and a failure to be still as we get to know 
our  Lord.  If we fail to get our marching orders  before we go to battle 
with a prepared enemy, there will  be no great success and the church 
will be divided, going after this teacher and that philosopher or theolo-
gian. Our only hope of being an effective force in this world, is the pre-
sence of  the Holy Spirit in  the quiet place and moving as a unit in His
power.  If we do not wait on the Lord’s  “still small voice,”  we will con-
tend in spiritual conflict with weapons of the flesh. How do we get our
marching orders or armor  if we will not  “Be still, and know that I am 
God;” Psalm 46: 10

(Many years ago my wife, Judith, was hospitalized for some time for
a serious condition.  She was quite low, but she received a call, in her
room, from one who was a close personal friend in another state.  The
friend,  spoke  a brief greeting, then quoted the Scripture passage
from Psalms 46: 10.  This made a positive change in Judith's outlook.
We never determined just how she knew Judith was in the hospital, 
nor how she could call directly to the room.  This couple had moved 
from Fayetteville, NC, where we had known them and we had lost 
touch.  Judith still has a strong reverence for this Scripture...

("God still works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.")

See the link...

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2013/02/holy-spirit-basics-acts-1-2.html
  
                                                                                           donporter  9.26.12

"HAS IT COME TO THIS?" LUKE 18: 7-8

“Has It Come to This?”                           Luke 18: 7-8                    9.25.12

“The absence of spiritual  devotion today is an omen and  a portent.  
The  modern church is all  but  contemptuous of  the  sober virtues-- 
meekness, modesty, humility, quietness, obedience, self effacement, 
patience. To be accepted now, religion must be  in the popular mood.  
Consequently, much religious activity reeks  with pride, display, self-
assertion, self-promotion, love of gain and devotion to the trivial plea-
sures.”                                                  (the late) A. W. Tozer, 2003

If we agree with the quote above, from this Godly, well-respected 
Bible authority, the church and consequently,  the world  is in a pre-
carious state.  We have become or are  becoming  the fulfillment of  
our Lord’s  words in Luke. “And shall God not avenge His own elect 
who cry out day and night to Him, though  He bears long  with them?  
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the 
Son of  Man comes, will  he really find faith on the earth?”  
                                                                                         (Luke 18:7-8)   

Given the condition of the visible Church of God (The apparent body 
of  Christ) in  the West today we must concur,  however  reluctantly, 
with Brother Tozer.  He has given a realistic word picture of the rea-
lity  in which we live  every day.  There is  little evidence of  a return   
to Scriptural principle in that body.  There is always hope that there 
are the  quiet saints who have not bowed the knee to   Post  Modern  
shrines  of   “Higher  Biblical  Criticism,”   Darwinian   Evolutionary  
"thought,"   Freudian-ism,  and  humanistic  philosophy.   It  seems, 
however;   the leaders or  noisemakers in  evangelical and main line
denominations are  sold out  to an  unscriptural  world view  and are
taking cue from that kind of "thinking."

Getting back to Tozer’s list, we find “virtue” of  any sort to be out of 

favor and  the virtues mentioned  are especially  difficult  to identify.  
Let’s  take  one of  these  virtues,  to  define and  dissect.  The word 
modesty is never used in polite/any circles today.  Webster  has  it’s 
meaning as; 
“1.  Freedom from conceit or vanity.   2.  Propriety  in dress,  speech 
or conduct.”  An aside here; my wife’s late mother, Aileen K. Suther-
land,  was the best  example of one who personified this virtue.  She,  
although a gifted student and teacher of Scripture with   wide know-
ledge  of  Bible  Prophecy,  was  humble,   quiet  at  the  proper  time, 
self  effaced  and  patient.  Her  meekness  was  befitting    a  Pastor’s 
wife of over 60 years but this did not keep her from being witty when  
appropriate and fun loving.  She seemed always to say the right thing 
at the right time.  There was a  steel  resolve about  her  seen rarely in  
of  our  time.  So,  modesty  is not a sentence to  a  colorless,  tasteless 
existence,  but a platform  from which to serve our  Lord  in a manner 
of life above reproach.

How then,  do we arrive at the point where faith in God is no lon-
ger  extant  on  earth?  The lack of  the virtues listed by Tozer  is an 
indicator, or barometer of the Spiritual condition of the local and uni-
versal church.   While it is true not all  members of any local body of  
believers may,  of a certain,  be born again,  it  is also true;  spurious   
converts would be uncomfortable in a setting were  most of  the pari-
shioners  Spirit-filled believers.  If we take this one step  further, we 
might ask if a goodly number are not of  the spurious  sort.   In Mat-
thew 7:20,  He  said,  “...by  their  fruit  you will  know them...”  Our 
Lord put more emphasis on our walk and way of life than on profes-
sions  or claims of Godliness.  James  says,  "Yea,  a man  may  say,
Thou  hast faith  and I  have works:  show me  thy faith  without  thy
works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.   (James 2: 18)  
We may never assume one has faith if his works and manner of life 
are  not consistent with his or  her profession of  faith in  Christ.  In 
the epistle  to the  Hebrews  we  read in 11: 6, “...without  faith  it is  
impossible  to  please  Him.”  (the Father)  We  also  read in  James, 
“...faith  without  works  is  dead...”   (James 1:  20)  Works,  in  this 
instance, is putting  legs to your  faith by doing the work of our Lord
Jesus Christ and  following  His manner of life.  Study His life...

(I must mention here for all of us to refuse to "judge" others on any
basis.  We can see a life and realize something is not right, without
committing the act of "verbally" judging that one.  Keep your con-
demnation to your self, and use God's Word to judge yourself.)
 See Matthew 7: 1-2,  James 4: 11
 

    "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the          
 Father is this; to visit the widows and orphans in 
    their affliction and to keep himself unspotted 
 from the world."  James 1:27

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2012/10/salt-and-light.html


     donporter,sr                  9.25.12      (edited 9.26.15, 11.25.16, 3.24.17)

BIBLE WORDS DEFINED

    In order to understand  Scripture, one must understand/define
    the words and how they are used in context of the Bible.

ATONEMENT,   to cover,  restore purity & innocence.  (Hebrews 10:14)

APOSTASY,  an abandonment of what one has professed; a total 
departure from one's faith.  This word does not appear in Scripture. 


FAITH,  expectation in hope and belief without hard evidence,
              because we consider the one who promised to be just, 
              able and faithful.  (Hebrews 11:1)  

GRACE, beauty, gratitude, benefit given, precious, and well favored.
"God's unmerited favor" to those who have placed their faith in Jesus
 Christ, God's Son.  (Rom 3:23-24)

GOSPEL,  good news announced in advance.  Specifically, the good 
news of the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension of Jesus Christ, 
His intercession with the father on  behalf  and  expectation of  His  
imminent return for His bride (church).  That which must be believed 
for the Salvation of our souls.  (1 Corinthians 15: 1-5)

HOLINESS, the state of piety, reverence, purity and truly religious,
                      a gift from our Lord, unearned.
                    (2 Corinthians 7: 1, Romans 12: 1,  Hebrews 12: 14) 

HOPE,   confidence, or expectation of future good, not in evidence. 
(akin to faith) (Eph. 2: 12, Rom 15:4,  2 Corinthians 1:7)

JUDGE,  to take time to decide as a in “trial” or court. 
 (Rom 2: 15-16, Acts 17:30-31)

JUSTIFICATION,  vindication by statute or decision.  Fair, honest,
 square. (Romans 5: 1,2 & 9)

MERCY,  to favor with kindness and compassion.  (Matthew  9:12-13)

PROPHESY,  (Preach,) to foretell events from a vision or Divine 
                 inspiration;  Proclaim the Word of God. (1 Corinthians 14: 1)

REDEEM:  to ransom, obtain release.  (Galatians 4: 4-6)  

REGENERATION, (new birth)  restoration to Eternal life, as in
                       the  Atonement.  (Matthew 19:22-28, Titus 3:5)

REPROBATE,  failing the test, worthless, having spurned  the  truth,
                           following  the  lie.  (Romans 1:28, Titus 1:9-16)

REDEMPTION,  ransom paid in full.  (Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:7,
                           Ephesians 4:30)

REPENT, REPENTANCE, to confess sin, (wrong, error) and turn from  
 (the)  sin to God in faith. (essential for Salvation)  (Acts 17:26-31)

RESURRECTION,  bodily return from death/the grave to life.
                                  (John 11:24-26)

RIGHTEOUSNESS, to be made right, to justify, equity.  (John 16: 8-11)

SALVATION,  rescue to safety; deliverance from eternal  death/
                          punishment. (Acts 4:9-12, Romans 10:8-10)

SPIRITUAL,  having to do with the Lord God, not of this world or the
                        flesh. (not of the body)  (1 Corinthians 15: 35-50)

SANCTIFICATION,  the state of having been made clean, purified and
                        set apart for a purpose.  (1 Thess. 4:3, II Thess. 2:13)

WORSHIP, adore, revere, to prostrate (bow) oneself voluntarily. 
                    (leads  to  piety)  Joshua 5:13-15, appearance of the
                     pre-incarnate Christ.   (John 4:19-24)

Since I do not consider myself a scholar or very knowledgeable about
these matters I have carefully consulted every printed resource avail-
able to me to obtain these definitions.  If one is less than clear, let me
know and I will clarify it with your help.  Words are important.

                      donporter                  5.30.17

WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE? MICAH 6:8

 WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE?               MICAH 6:8          9.25.03

     There are places in the Word of God where the Lord states clearly 
in plain terms  just what he expects of  a people who would be called 
Children of God.  Two such places, one in the Old Testament and the 
other in  the  New,  are so similar they  bear  close scrutiny.  First, in 
Micah 6: 8 after listing the sins of His people, not the sins of the hea-
then, the Word simply states three principles:  
      “...to do justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”  
As we give serious consideration to these three dicta, we find them to 
be comprehensive beyond our first impression.  As we compare them 
to  the  principles in  the book of  James  in  the  New Testament they 
become even more compelling.  In James 1: 27 instruction is  concise.   
“Pure religion and  undefiled before  God  and the Father  is this:  to 
visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself 
unspotted from the world."

     While it is unwise to reduce principles from  the Word  of  God to a 
mere creed or set of values and instructions,  we  find clues  and com-
mandments standing out as water-marks or criteria by which one may 
live.  These  criteria,  while none is  definitive  enough to stand  alone, 
when  taken as a whole give us  dynamic  instruction on how  we  may 
represent God on this earth .  It is foolish for a mortal  to  attempt the 
cataloging of these instructions or create a written creed and call any 
work he may compile from  the Word a comprehensive  guide for the 
Child of God,  nor  definitive by any  measure.  The Word of  God,  it-
self, is our guide and each one must  become a student of  that Word; 
thereby  gleaning from  the whole,  the manner of  life into  which the 
Holy Spirit has called us.  Since the Word of God is living,  (Hebrews 
4:12) it speaks to each of us as individuals,  yet never conflicts with a 
message given to  another seeker.  For  this  reason,  a believer  must, 
individually, privately, develop his/her relationship with Jesus Christ,
not relying on another for  interpretation.  One exception  that comes 
to mind is when one initially receives Christ as Savior,  and as  a babe 
in Christ looks to mentors, Pastor-Teachers and  the like for  disciple-
ship in the elementary principles of Salvation.  From there, as a matu-
ring believer, he may  begin to  present  the gospel  to others,  making 
disciples, as a part of the process of his Sanctification and the goal of 
having Christ formed perfectly within... (Spiritual maturity) 
                                                                                        Galatians 4: 19

      Since our Lord has a way of summarizing the law in terse phrases,
we  look to those brief  statements to determine how  to relate to Him 
and our fellows.  The first phrase in Micah  is  “...to do justly...”  This 
may be understood to mean we are to be God-like in our dealings with 
others.  We are always to do the right thing, be to others as we would 
they  would  be to us,  honest and open in  all  our  dealings;  as in the 
“Golden  Rule.” (One suggestion is  to never  deprecate anyone.)   We
are to "love mercy."  This sounds like  the  instruction in  the letter of
James concerning orphans and widows as we show mercy to the help-
 less or without  resources.  Finally the injunction,  “...to walk humbly
with thy God,”   is so far reaching as  to be all inclusive instruction on 
being a dynamic Child of God.  Without an humble walk with God, we 
cannot call ourselves  His children.  This is also  related to “...keeping 
oneself unspotted  from the world.”  To walk  “humbly” with God will  
require us to  live above  reproach in this sinful world.  Can this work
without our walking in fellowship with Him?

     We  could continue to comment on the Golden rule as being a light 
shed on  the Law, the commandments.  Christ also called the greatest,   
“Love God ..., Love your neighbor...” as further enlightenment on how 
to  fulfill the law and prophets, showing us how to live.


     There is one further thought that comes with this kind of approach 
to Bible study.  Some, who call themselves Christian, believe and say;
we do not  need to be students of  the Old Testament;  New Testament 
supersedes it  in their eyes.  Clearly,  we neglect study of  the Old Tes-
tament to our peril.  In the law,  the prophets, the  history of the Jews, 
and wisdom literature of  the Old Testament  there  are details of  how
our salvation  has been  accomplished through centuries, and  instruc-
tions for righteous living.  The New Testament is rather broad at times 
where  the Old Testament is specific and  although both agree in every 
area, there are things in each,  giving understanding of the other. Just
one of many reasons we must be students of  both Old and New Testa-
ments.   It is one book, not two separate books.  (II Timothy  3:16-17)
3:16-17, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for  doctrine,  for reproof,  for correction,  for instruction  in righteous-
ness,  that the man of  God may be perfect,  throughly furnished  unto 
all good works."  (Perfect, meaning mature or complete)
      When we disregard the Old Testament we have no “...school 
       master to bring us to grace...”  as in Galaltians 3:24.

Scripture taken from the kjv.  donporter,sr          9.24.12   ed. 11.18.14

BUSINESS AS USUAL?

         BUSINESS AS USUAL:  Are We Missing the Mark?

Is there anyone who would not agree with the premise; "The church 
or those of  us, who make  up the "apparent" Body of  Christ in  this 
world today, does not seem passionate about our  mission"?  We are 
caught up  in "busy  work,” having  little time  for weightier  matters
of our faith.  

In my lifetime of  76 years,  there  has never been a time when we got 
it right.  Many times, those who name the name of Christ seem to pre-
fer fellowship  (meaning eating together)  over prayer,  Bible study or
witnessing.  We give  lip service to  helping  poor  and  disadvantaged
folks, while spending most resources on creature comforts. Providing 
well  furnished  classrooms, and  sanctuaries  is  more important than 
sacrificing comfort,  to  create  opportunities of  service to benefit the
needy.

 If I, flawed and unworthy, have these concerns, how must our Lord 
view our failure to get outside four walls of  the meeting  house to get  
our "hands dirty"  meeting  needs  in  the community?   (Having  said 
that,  I  recognize some  local  assemblies do have a  heart for the lost,
poor and needy and there are resources directed to these causes.)

    As I see it, the most pressing need in our community and all those I 
know about,  is for the Children of God to  present Him in all  His full-
ness, power,  majesty and terror.  It's good to  give our children God's
love and love for each other and all mankind,  but there is more to the
message and  is not adequate for  one who would  become like  Christ. 
 Is this message enough for a seeker who has lost His way?  How then 
should we present the message of  Christ to a  lost, dying world, who is
unaware  of it’s  hopeless  condition?  Does one who is still in the flesh 
understand  the importance of  that  message?  What is needed by one 
who wants more than  a watered  down message that cannot change a 
life,  is the message of  our God's  disposition toward sin and  sinners. 
We must understand God hates sin, but will forgive the sinner.  Since 
our lord is Holy and will not countenance sin, He will  judge it.  If  the 
sinner  persists  in  His  sin,  without the redemption  provided  by the 
"Lamb  slain  from the  foundation of  the world," God will  judge him.
We must  deliver  these from  falling  into the  hands of  an angry God.  
If  we fail to confront those we know with the claims of Christ on their 
lives,  and the  remedy, their blood will  be required at our  hands.  As 
we present Christ in His fullness, power, glory and  terror to  those we
know,  they will  be  receptive to  this  Savior in  repentance of sins, or
their blood will be on their own heads and we will be blameless.

     If we, as a local church, are  involved in anything that fails to pro-
mote the Kingdom of God and the accurate presentation of Christ in 
our communities and around the world, it should be scrapped. There 
must be an appraisal of  all  activities of  the  local  church in light of 
this  principle.  It  might  be  a good  idea  for  me to appraise  my life
in light of Scripture, before presenting  my ideas to any fellowship of 
believers...                                                                          
                                                              donporter   9.21.12, edited 11.25.16

 

DECLARED RIGHTEOUS (RIGHT)

  Declared “Righteous,” not “Perfect”

(Matthew 5: 48,  Ephesians 4: 12-13)  In  these  passages,
perfect  “Kaliyl” (Aramaic-the language of  Jesus) means
mature, complete, lacking nothing in your care for others
as  the  Lord God cares  for His  creation.  In no way does
this passage imply sinless perfection.

1. The vehicle for  this  “perfection”  is  the grace of  God  in
    Jesus Christ,  afforded His children because of  their faith
    in  Jesus Christ and  the Word  of God.  The  means is not 
    faith, but grace.  The only qualification is childlike faith or 
    dependence and  trust  in Christ,  His work and His Word;
    resulting in the believer following through on that faith.
 
2. Since  God’s grace is  the vehicle or means,  and  faith in 
    God is the only qualification, what is the true link to God 
    the Father in  the life of  the  believer?   (One of the most 
    important  principles we  can discuss)  Christ,  His  Spirit,
    takes up residence within the heart, soul,  mind and spirit
    of that believer.  When Scripture says in Matthew 22: 36-
    40, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?
    Jesus said  to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with
    all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
    This is the first and great commandment.  And the second
    is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On
    these two commandments hang all the law and the pro-
    phets."   All of  the  believer's  life is  wrapped  up  in  this  
    great command.  Since man is incapable, on his own, to live 
    this command,  Christ  must be  the one  who empower the  
    believer through  His indwelling  presence.  When Christ,  
    God the Son, does this,  He brings with Him  the ability to 
    “...love your  neighbor...”  See passage on "rest," Hebrews 
    3:7-14, (10) As we enter into the “rest” provided  as  Christ 
    takes residence within,  we cease  “the works, of flesh.” and
    Christ takes up His work within.  We no longer  work, but
    Christ does it  all.  (Any good we might do  is “in Christ.”
    Questionable “works” are  our reversions to  the “flesh.”
     In us,  Christ produces the fruit of the Spirit,  not  works.
     A vine produces grapes by being a vine, not by working.

**************************************************

“Slipping of the believer” (Reversion to flesh)
1. When we take our eyes off Christ and focus on anything;
    self, the world, men’s opinion, the “Law,” we begin to
    serve self in the flesh. (Used to be called “backsliding”)
2. When we undertake to do anything (no matter how high
    sounding or good,) that is not the expressed “will of God,”
    as outlined in the Word of God, we have slipped into the
    “works of the flesh.”  (Iniquity)
3. Anything we do that is SIN, as described in God’s Word,
    is a work of the flesh and slipping.
4. When we know something should be done and fail to do it,
    it is sin, or slipping.

“Restoration of the Believer”
1. 1 John 1: 7-10
"...if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth
us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive our-
selves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 
all unrighteousness."
2. Return to Matthew 6 : 33  (Our Lord was referring to all the
things needful for an individual to live a life that honurs Him, 
when he said;
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things shall be added unto you." kjv

“Back to basic doctrine of justification”  Being made right
with the Lord God.”    Read Romans 5:  1-10
1.Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
8.But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ Died for us.

*See "Justification" October 14, 2013...
http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2013/10/justification-romans-5.html

                                                           donporter  9.20.12, edited 2.12.18

THE GATES OF HELL...

The Gates of Hell...         (Matthew 16:18)          August 4, 2003

             Revisited on 4.23.14, 11.25.14, 2.05.15

(This post might be read in conjunction with today's post dealing
  with the subject of  "Walking in the Spirit."  Similar theme)

https://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2012/09/walk-in-spirit-romans-8.html

Just 2 days ago as I was  riding along in  my truck listening to a 
radio  preacher/Bible  teacher,  it  occurred to  me  that  individual
church members and the church, as a body, have something in com-
mon.  Neither is perfect.   It had never occurred  to me  that  either
was perfect, but thinking of both in the same sentence as imperfect
puts issues of the Church of Jesus Christ in a  different  light than I
had previously  considered.  Through the  process of  sanctification,
our Lord has  promised to  perfect  His Church into a perfect Bride.
Through this same process  He has promised to  perfect each  belie-
ver as part of that Church or bride.  At this  present time, however;
the bride and each individual member is anything but perfect.  Why
then, does it shock us,  when we  see the  church  as a  body making
mistakes and even  participating in sinful practices?   Should  we be
surprised when we  find individual church members  lives  failing to
measure up to  the standards expressed in  God’s Word?  Just what
should we expect of the Church, universal, local and individual?

First,  we must be aware that our  assumptions about the life of 
a Child of God and of  the Church of  which he or she is a member,
must  be  reappraised.  We  know our Lord  holds a  standard,  His
Word,  as the criteria we  must use  to measure ourselves.  Since we
are each,  members of His body and  readily  confess  imperfections
in our  behavior  and attitudes,  we must be careful in our appraisal
of others and the Church of  Christ.  (This is not about a denomina-
tional name) As we begin to consider what we should expect of indi-
vidual believers and the Church as a whole our inspection must start 
within.  Jesus did  say something about removing a beam from one’s 
eye before being able to help a brother with his vision.  
                                                                                 (Matthew 7: 1-5)

In the past as I regarded other members of the Church and the
operation of  local assemblies,  the burden seemed  to be on them
to prove something to me.  As I began to look at the organization
and individuals in it through the lens of my own sometimes shabby
life, the burden of proof shifted.  If one individual were to live a life
as did Jesus Christ, what would be the result?  When we realize the
imperfections in the operation of the Church,  local and  universal,
are merely reflections of imperfections each of us may exhibit, we
must put blame where it belongs.  The fault is mine and mine alone.
Since I am typical, no better or worse, of the Children of God as I
see them, there is going to be no change for the better until I begin
to follow Him.  There are no short cuts available to me.  If you or I
were to become fine teachers or ministers of this Gospel of Jesus
Christ it would change nothing.  If we could speak with “tongues of
men and angels...”  it would change nothing.  Things in  the Church
of Jesus Christ will only  improve as you and I exhibit a loving, hum-
ble  spirit  among our  brothers and  sisters within  and the  "world"
without. 

     We become Christ to them as we allow Jesus Christ to  live his 
life through us in a consistent Spirit filled life offering no condem-
nation  for brothers and  sisters who are,  as we are,  imperfect.   I 
admit my  primary failure has  been my  unstated  but firmly  held 
conviction  that my sins  were not as  great as  those  I observed in 
my brothers and sisters within the Body of Christ. (Church)

  What a shame... Until I am willing to forgive others of  their fail-
ures as I  forgive  myself,  there can be no change in my life and I 
cannot  become positive in the church local or  universal.  Admit-
tedly, there are lifestyles that cannot be countenanced among the 
followers of  Christ,  church members.  Fellowship  with members
involved in open sin must be limited  by individual  members and 
at  times the  whole assembly.  This  discipline is  always  redemp-
tive as we recall that each of us have feet of clay.
  “And now abides faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these 
is  love.”   (NKJV)  (Love;  a selfless care and concern of others
that is available only through the indwelling Spirit of God.) 

   Against  this kind of life,  the "Gates of Hell" will  not prevail,
or stand.                                             

 donporter   9.19.12

"WALKING IN THE SPIRIT" ROMANS 8

                  “WALKING IN THE SPIRIT”                        9.19.12
                                                 Romans 8: 1-17                                                                                                                                                          
         "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are
       in Christ Jesus*....For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ hath
           made me free from the law of sin and death.  * ...That the
        righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
                after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  Vs. 1a, 2 and 4

To walk with Christ, we must live by 2 Corinthians  5: 7.  “For we walk 
by faith, not by sight.”  How can one walk “in  the Spirit” if  his walk is 
not of faith. No one sees the Spirit. He does not speak in audible tones.
Feelings are  fleeting and  completely  unreliable.   Our other senses, of
touch,  taste and smell,  irrelevant.   Following Christ,  imperfectly,  we 
learn to walk by faith in His Word.  We become adept with experience, 
since  we do not follow human  wisdom and reason.   We must  rely on
our faith in the Lord God and His grace, as revealed in His Word.  
   “But without faith it is impossible to please Him...”  (Hebrews 11: 6a)

    What then does it  mean to walk “in the  Spirit?”)  When one is born 
again  by exercising  faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and believing he has
delivered us from the  kingdom of  this world into His eternal kingdom, 
he  is given Spiritual life.  Until that time we had only the dimension of 
the flesh,  living with a  vague sense of  unease that something was mis-
sing and were without God or hope in this world.  We were not seeking 
a relationship with our  creator,  but  thankfully he  is always seeking a 
relationship with His creation and is full of  mercy,  grace and  pardon.   
In  Galatians 5: 15-20,  we  are  instructed  to be  filled  with the  Spirit. 
(vs. 18  "Be  not drunk with  wine  wherein is excess,  but be  filled with 
the Spirit."  Without Christ,  we had no hope.  Knowing  there must be
more,  we  looked  for  it  in  "all  the wrong  places" and  wrong ways.   
It is clear we  were  not yet  filled with  the Spirit of God.  Since we are 
instructed in Scripture to be filled with the Spirit,  we must ask for the
filling with  the command  in mind and pray as in I John 5:14-15.

   To me born again is a once for all experience; being filled with the
   Spirit is a daily thing.  (Be ye being filled with the Spirit)

 "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
   thing according to His will he heareth us, and if we know that he 
   hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions 
   that we desired of him."  1 John 5: 14-15 kjv

 The Lord God will answer in the affirmative the prayer of a believer 
who prays  according to  the knowledge of  His will and  asks in faith. 
The knowledge  comes from  a commitment to  Scripture,  our  guide.  
We  are  instructed  to walk in  the Spirit  in  Galatians 5: 18 and  25.  
Walking in the Spirit, put simply,  is following Jesus Christ, living  as 
He lived on the earth and doing so with the expectation, hope that he 
is mindful of us, as unworthy as we are.  It is also conducted with the 
awareness of the presence of  the Spirit of  God within.  "For as many 
as are  led by the Spirit of  God,  these are the sons of  God." Romans 
8: 14  So,  if one is not filled with the Spirit, he is not led by the Spirit 
and is not a son.  This is critical... 

The basic principal of walking “in the Spirit” may be simple, but wor-
king it out in life is anything but.  God’s Word, the Bible, is essential in 
this endeavor.  Our assurance in this matter comes from facts asserted
in the Word of God, Holy Scripture.  To know the "Word of God," is 
to know Jesus Christ as a "personal" Savior.  "The Word was made flesh
and we beheld His glory.  The glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth." This was written by the Apostle John, pertaining 
pertaining to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ personifies
the "Word of God," and cannot be separated from that Word...  

*Scofield Study Bible indicates last 10 words in Romans 8:1 to be inter-
polated, therefore we have  quoted only the first  part of the verse, and
quoted all of verse 2 and 4.  Verse 4 contains the omitted part in full.   
                          donporter,sr         9.19.12, edited 11.25.14, 3.25.17