PIETY OR PERFORMANCE...FAITH OR WORKS?

  In the Garden of Eden, mankind stood at the crossroads of good and evil
with a choice.  We still stand at  that crossroad  every day of  our lives and
many  times we  make  the wrong choice  as did  Eve and Adam.  The most
important  aspect of the decision is whether we  listen to truth or error, the
Lord  God or  to  Satan.   As we  reduce this  choice to it's lowest common
denominator,  we find it is whether to listen to the contemporary "wisdom"
of the world (system) or heed  the wisdom of God as  revealed in his Word.
We  have the same choice as  they of  the Garden.  God said  there are two
trees, life and death, you choose.  Satan convinced Eve to make the wrong
choice  based on  his words and  the appeal of  the fruit of  the  tree of  the
knowledge of  good and evil.  There is a difference is our circumstance, for
our choice is made with knowledge of the disaster that  followed the wrong
choice they made. We may further reduce the decision to a choice of works 
instead of faith in God and his Word.

    When ego or  pride enters the equation,  we find man would be in charge 
of his own life,  refusing to listen to the true wisdom of God, listening to the  
"wisdom" of the world. This results in the world as we see it today, groping
in darkness without light, following the path to destruction. Is there anyone 
holding the standard high or steady enough  to attract children of the world  
to a loving Father who stands ready to light their path with His wisdom?  

     In Matthew 12: 25,  Jesus says “a house divided..” cannot stand.  In some
ways, this is what we find among professing Children of God.  While it  is not
our  responsibility to try to determine just who  among us are born again, nor 
is this even possible,  we must consider the issues causing schism in Churches.  
In the past  there were issues such as baptism of  infants,  baptism by  immer-
sion, baptisimal regeneration, inerrancy of the Scripture, the  doctrine  of  the 
security of the believer and other  beliefs  separating the denominations.  The 
issue we consider  here divides the  local church  as well as  divisions between 
and within denominations.  It is not as simple as  Salvation  by faith or works. 
It is a refinement of this issue as follows:

 Is our primary responsibility to God or to His creation?  On the one hand we 
find believers acting as  though we may  get to  know God in  a personal way, 
study our  Bible and  pray without  getting our  hands dirty  serving  creation. 
On the other, we see believers,  social activists, in a  good sense,  that seem 
to believe our duty is to others.  They are caught up in the social issues such  
as poverty, education, racial equality, working to stamp out health problems 
and the like.  This is the short list, but you get the idea.  The former will,  at 
times, ignore  social  issues  in favor  of  the  “Deeper Life,”  feeling  this  is 
enough to satisfy God’s  demands. The latter, are disposed to work with peo-
ple, directly or indirectly, to get things done and at  times  neglect their walk 
with  the Lord,  worship  and what  some  might  call  Spiritual  matters.  The 
schism is not a result of the varied  gifts  dispensed by the Holy Spirit, crea-
ting  balance  in the  body, but error in  both camps.  It causes one  group to 
look on the other as misguided and is of a source outside the Spirit of God.

   The idea that we have this problem is not original with me and is treated in 
an excellent book, “The New Man for Our Times” by  Elton Trueblood.  It is 
published  by  Harper & Row in 1970.  While Dr. Trueblood gave a scholarly 
view of this problem ,  I would  take a  more  practical or  pragmatic view.  
It seems clear to me; persons who will not obey the plain teachings of Scrip-
ture are either uninformed or in disobedience.  In Southern Baptist Churches 
in the ‘50s this was called backsliding.  The Lord gave a definitive statement 
on this issue in Matthew 22: 36-40.  When asked, a trick question, “Which is 
the great commandment in the law?“   The Lord gave the 2 great commands, 
summing up the Law and Prophets.  (He could do this since He is the Author)
 “Love God with all your heart... and love your neighbor as yourself.” Since 
our issue is addressed here,  we need to  look no further in  the Scripture for 
our answer. We cannot be in obedience to God if we neglect either command.  
(Christ even said in another  place,  “How can you love God whom you  have 
not seen and not love your neighbor  whom you have seen?)  If I do not love 
our neighbor, I do not love God.  If I do not love God, it is impossible to love 
my neighbor.  Love is of God.

   Trueblood points out, that those who ignore the deeper life and fail to walk 
with the Lord,  have a  tendency  to denigrate  the Spiritual  side of life,  and 
those caught up in the Spiritual or devotional  life seem to think it is enough.  
The proponents of  a deeper  life have not  time, nor  inclination to get  their 
hands “dirty” by service to those whom God loves,  His  creation.  The issue
is; both extremes ignore a great body of truth in the Word requiring the total 
 life, worship and service.  The  extremists  have a tendency to become smug 
and proud as they compare themselves favorably with  those who do not have 
the same ethic.

     We saw this in the ‘70s with  charismatics entering into churches outside 
the Pentecostal movement.   Charismatic  believers used the gift of tongues 
as a litmus test for true Spirituality and many were divided along these lines.  
Now  there are charismatic  believers in all  known denominations and there 
seems to be an uneasy truce.  This is not apt to happen with the present day 
movement, since the divide is a chasm. If the Church does not recognize that 
we must fulfill  the great commission wholly,  we are left with new “babes” in 
Christ who will never mature, for lack of a balanced diet of faith and  works.  
James said “faith without works is dead,”  Paul states;  "Abraham believed 
God and it was counted to him for righteousness.  Note that Abraham, as did 
the other  Patriarchs,  added works to faith and  nowhere in Scripture are we 
shown a person of faith who failed to combine his faith with works.

The focus of our personal experience must be Jesus Christ.  We must acknow-
ledge who He is; God in us.  Then determine what His purpose is; “to seek and 
to save sinners.”  How did He accomplish this on the earth? He gave his life for 
sinners.  As we say, He gave His life for others, it does not refer only to  death 
on the cross.  He gave His life in service to others,  healing the sick,  restoring 
sight to the bind,  making the lame  whole as well as  seeking and  saving those 
who were separated from God. 

     His job description has not changed.  He is doing those same kinds of things 
from  the vantage point of  heaven and  is working  through His church, you and 
me, to do them. Our Lord had a close walk with his Father and a vital prayer life. 
This is from  where the strength,  wisdom and  love came for his  service and for 
ours.

We must also learn two more things:
    Where is He now and how will all of this end?  Our Lord, Jesus Christ is sitting,
and at times standing at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us 
and at the end of our lives we will stand before Him to give account for what we did 
with our lives here.  We must be doing His will here which includes the Spiritual life,
and He was known for that.  We must use the Spiritual energy from the overflow of 
that life to serve His creation,  mankind, as He  did.  He is living in and  through us.
We have few options as to the thrust of our lives if we are going to live like Him.

     Finally,  we must realize that being a Child of God never adheres to a “cookie
cutter” approach.  Every child of God,  members of His body or the church,  is as
unique as are various “parts” of the human body.  If every one were an ear, from
where would come the sense of smell.  If everyone were a mouth, etc...  You and I
cannot be the persons in the place where our Lord can make best use of us until we
understand the Scripture and become mature doing each day the things He has for
us to do.  If we fail this daily quest for excellence in everything we do, our Spiritual
maturation will be retarded as a baby who is not given balanced nutrition in order to
develop physically or mentally.  A steady diet of Bible study, prayer and obedience
to our Lord will  bring each of us to the full  stature of maturity in  Christ,  which is 
our  goal.

            “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it:
             except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain"

  Psalms 127: 1                                              edited 3.28.13     donporter  11.27.14

   

BASIC BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

Basic Bible Knowledge and Study Prerequisites;

    There  are several facts concerning God's Word, the Bible, of which 
we must be aware in order to properly understand and apply it to our 
lives.  These will  be  developed  more fully as  we  progress, but there 
are basics we must establish even to begin a study that will prove pro-
fitable.

      The first of  these "facts" is  found  in the letter  to the  Hebrews 
scattered abroad at the time of the Apostles. Hebrews  4:12-13 says, 
"For the Word of God is quick (alive) and powerful, and sharper than 
 any two-edged sword, piercing even to  the dividing  asunder of  soul 
and  spirit,  and of  the  joints  and marrow,  and is  a discerner  of the 
thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither is  there any creature that 
is not manifest in  His sight;  but all things are  naked and  open unto 
the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."  It  is clear from this pas-
sage of  the Word of  God that  the Bible  is  a living  Word.  It  never 
changes, however;  as we  read,  study and begin to draw life from it,  
the Word  looks into our hearts  and sees  what no one  else does.  It  
changes not,  but we  are changed as we read the  same  passage are  
struck by new new shades of meaning and  ethic not  previously  rea-
lized.  Different people  read  the same  passage and  although  it  is 
the same,  it speaks   to the individual  at the point of need.  We may 
spend a lifetime  studying this  book made up of 66 books,  and regu-
larly find fresh and seeming original  messages  from it depths as we 
are enlightened  by the Spirit of  God.  It is said,  "we cannot  plumb 
it's depths,  but the Word reaches into our very souls."

    Another of these facts is the pertinence or application of God's Word to 
every  individual  or  group  in  every situation.   In  2 Timothy 3:16-17  we 
read, "All  scripture  is given  by  inspiration of  God, and  is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof,  for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 
"That the man  of  God  may  be perfect, throughly  furnished  unto  every  
good work."  My understanding of  this benchmark of Scripture  is; God's 
Word applies  in every  situation.  It is directly from  God  the  Father and  
will be our guide and measure of our works,  thoughts,  and  aspirations as 
applied by  the Holy Spirit.  We must never make  attempts to be pleasing
to our Lord without guidance and knowledge found in His Word, all of it.

     Finally, if we would know the history of God's dealings with His people, 
the Jews, we will only find an understanding of  this in  God's Word.  Here 
we  learn  from  His relationship and dealings with this people,  how he will 
respond in every situation  we  may come up against.  We find  He will  not 
countenance rebellion  for very  long,  but is always quick to forgive and to
restore His  people  if  they will  only repent of  their sin and  turn  back  to 
Him with broken and contrite hearts.  Further,  we learn how he uses disci-
pline in the  lives of  His  people to bring them to  the  point of  repentance.  
His  great  love  has  spawned a righteous  jealousy  desiring  the very best 
for His creation.  He has gone to great  lengths to effect a change of  heart 
in  his people without apparent  coercion or going against an individual will. 

    Having  heard  two sides to  the question  of  the  Universal  Fatherhood 
of  God and  Brotherhood of  man  for over  50 years, I  have  a  response;  
According to the flesh, we (mankind) are all  brothers/sisters, since we are 
all of one lineage.  (Adam & Eve) In  that sense, every  man  is my brother 
and every woman my sister.  Having been regenerated  by the  Holy Spirit 
of  God, I have a  unique brotherhood with  those who have received Jesus 
Christ as  Savior, "Born  of  the Spirit  of  God."  This may be some of  the 
cause  for  contention over  the subject, but as we look at  this question pro-
perly;  there is  no  basis for disagreement.  Paul,  the Apostle  referred  to 
unbelieving  Jews  as   his  "brethren,  according  to  the  flesh."   He  then
expressed great love for them and desire for  their  reconciliation with God 
the Father in Christ Jesus.  When we, as  God's  children  through Spiritual 
birth, look at unbelievers,  there must be a felt kinship.  "There but  for the 
grace of God go I," must be our attitude.  If we take no credit for our mere
acceptance of the "free" gift of  God,  Salvation,  that removes  pride from
the equation.  

The Word of God cannot be separated from God the Father, God the 
Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  In the Gospel of John, chapter one, vs 14 
we find;  "...And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we 
beheld  His Glory, the Glory as of  the only begotten of the Father,) full 
of  grace and truth.  Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was the subject of this pas-
sage of Scripture.  He is "God of very God," and is called the Word (of 
God).  God the Father is the  author of His Word through  Christ Jesus, 
the Word, empowered or actuated by the Spirit of God.

God's Word,  the Bible,  is one book made up of  66 books or divisions, 
penned by some 40 men from all walks of life over a period of 1,600 years.  
It has been  preserved over  time in a miraculous  manner and  is unique in 
literature as  the only Word  we have  from God.  Christ is  that word  in a
person.  While the most astute among us never plumb it's depths, even the 
simplest of  us finds messages well  suited to meet our  needs;  life eternal 
through the Christ of the Bible.  PRAISE HIS NAME!!! 

An aside here;  There have, over the years,  been many translations of the
Scripture from Hebrew and Greek to modern languages used today across
this world.  Without these modern translations from  linguistic experts who
are also Godly men and women, there would be vast numbers  in our world
who would not be reached with the message of the Gospel of  Jesus Christ
from  both  divisions  of  Scripture.  Translations are  used  by missionaries
as  they communicate with persons who would never learn the original lan-
guages.  The apparent  issue has to do with man's  imperfection.  We must
conclude, then, that our Lord preserves  the vital message of Scripture for
this purpose although  passed  through the hands of  mankind who is by his
nature, flawed.  Controversy over  the various  translations seems to have
abated in recent  years and we  accept this by faith  as we are led  by God
in the Spirit.
                          

donporter     9.14.12   edited 11.28.14

WORLD TAXATION (REGISTRATION)

"...and it came to pass..."

In the recent past the UN has taken up the matter of taxation for 
everyone on  the  planet.  (“ALL THE WORLD”)   There will  be 
a census,  and everyone will  be  registered.  There  will  be a  tax 
assessed on each..

In my  Bible,  Luke 2 verse 1 and  following:  “And  it  came to pass 
in those days that a decree went out  from Caesar Augustus that all 
the world should be registered...” (for purposes of  taxation)  Consi-
dering these  remarks were made about the time of the first coming 
of  Jesus Christ... Is there anyone on  the  planet who  names Jesus 
Christ, Savior, who cannot see the similarity in these two events.  I 
believe in  “signs of the times,” and if  this is not one I have missed 
the mark.  Is this not a sign of the soon return of our Lord?

What do you think?  See links below--

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2014/08/united-nations-global-taxation-sign-of.html

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2014/10/mark-of-beast-revelation-13-16_4.html

donporter,sr

ARE YOU ALIGNED FOR BLESSING?

ALIGNED FOR BLESSING                                           Matthew 5: 1 - 12
           
We read and hear much today about the blessing of  God in the life of 
the believer.  Is this automatic, or is there a special or unique blessing 
for one who will access that blessing by his manner of life?

    When we look into Christ’s  “Sermon on  the Mount,”  we see one is
positioned for the blessing of God, is dependent upon God in faith and
mourns  his  own spiritual  state.  The child of  God who is  meek, hun-
gers  and thirsts after the righteousness of God,  is merciful;  a  peace
maker in this life, is blessed in this life and that to come.  Even a false
brother will not make one bitter if he is not earthbound. Another  qua-
lification for a child of  God to  be uniquely  blessed is  Spiritual  matu-
rity. The word translated, “perfect,”  means he is complete or mature.  
Spiritual  maturity comes to one who  is a  faithful  doer  of  the Work, 
not  just a  hearer of  the Word.  Blessing is  also  awarded one who is 
contending for the faith,  refusing to call  attention to  his  good works,
concealing  his faithful  prayer,  fasting,  (self  denial)  and  shares  his 
substance.  This person  is active  in seeking  the advancement of  the
Kingdom of God on the earth,  aware  God  has promised to supply his 
material  needs.   Therefore,  materialism  is not  a  priority.  His  faith 
is in God’s provision,  not in his own efforts.

     In addition to the “Sermon on the Mount,” Psalms  make  reference
to the blessing for which God’s children may qualify.  Although  Divine
Providence  is active  in  the  world today,  blessing all  men,  there are  
unique blessings for  those who  obey the voice of  God as revealed  in 
Holy Writ.   In the book of  Psalms,  chapter 1, one is blessed  when he 
refuses ungodly counsel,  stands against lawbreakers and is not scorn-
ful.  ( holds none in contempt)  There is also a further  blessing for one
who is known to delight in God’s law  and  meditate upon it  “both day 
and night.” This is the key to knowing  how to qualify for the blessing;  
meditating  on the "Law of  God," as  revealed in Scripture.  In  Psalm
32:  1-2,  we  quote,  “Blessed is  he  whose  transgression is forgiven. 
Blessed  is the man to whom  the Lord does not  impute iniquity, And 
in whose spirit  there is  no deceit.”  (guile)  In  Psalms, 128  there  is a 
blessing  for  the  man  who “fears  the Lord and in Psalms 132 there is 
blessing  for God’s chosen  people,  the Jews who  keep  His  covenant 
and  in chapter 133  the blessing  of  “life forevermore”  for the chosen 
of  God who dwell in unity.  (Will our Lord give His blessing on congre-
gations where  strife and bickering is evident?)

     In the Proverbs, 3: 5 -10,  there is one  that  really stands  out.  We  
are to  honor the Lord  with our possessions and we will  be blessed in  
a material  sense.  In  Malachi,  God is warning  His people  about the 
way they give to  Him,  encouraging  them to try,  trust and prove Him 
with their gifts.   He has promised to pour out  blessing,  more than we 
can receive.  This is the only Scripture,  (of  which  I am aware)  where
where one is challenged to “try” the Lord.”

      In the New Testament book of John,  chapter 20: 29  we  find those
who have  not  seen  the Christ, but  have expressed  their faith in Him 
are especially blessed. Hebrews 12: 1, “Faith is the substance of things 
hoped for, the evidence of  things  not seen...”   "the  elders received  a 
good report..." for their  faith, not  works.   We are  also positioned  for
blessing according to John 12: 23-26  when we  assume the role of  ser-
vants, and prefer others  to self.  God will not  bless a self-serving  indi-
vidual.  Reading in  the Revelation of  Jesus Christ 16: 15 and  2 Corin-
thians 5: 1-4, 10; We find  those  of  us who are  watching for  the soon 
return of  our Lord Jesus Christ to  the earth are blessed  and  clothed 
in eternity.  In James we read, "faith  without  works is dead."  
                         (How could the Lord bless a dead faith?) 

 "Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone."  James 2:17

Finally, there is something more than merely being blessed.  We must 
seek to  be a blessing.   Blessing God’s children,  and  those who  may 
not as yet,  have received Christ or had Him revealed to them.  Christ 
in you is the "... hope of glory..."  for  you and  for them  in Colossians 
1: 27.  (read 24-29)  

    "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."

The most frequently mentioned blessing in the Psalms is that we may 
bless the Lord our God.  Since our eternal destiny is wrapped in  our
relationship to Jesus Christ, this  is without question, the most impor-
tant of the blessings in which we which we are  privileged to be  invol-
ved.   In Psalms 34:1-4, a Psalm of  David, we read: 
"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my 
   mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:  the humble shall 
   hear  thereof,  and be glad.  O  magnify the Lord with me,  and let us 
   exalt  his name together.  I sought the Lord, and  He heard  me  and
   delivered me from all my fears."  Amen!    

donporter, 9.13.12, (12.16.14, 3.10.16, ed.)

"RELIGION" GETS A BAD RAP

“Religion" gets a Bad Rap            James 1: 26-27                  April 09, 2003

        "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth
           not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's
            religion is vain."
         "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."  (KJV)

1. Talk is cheap.(James 1: 21-27)
The epistle of  James, the brother of Jesus Christ, contains references 
to men attempting to live the Christ life without outward proof of faith 
in  Christ.  The central  part of our discussion  here is  in verses 26-27.  
When  one  fails to keep  control of  his  tongue,  speech,  his  heart  is  
deceived or  darkened.   As  we  see in  other  places in  the  Scripture, 
all  issues of  life emanate from the heart.  (Proverbs 4: 23) Therefore, 
if  the heart is  dark,  that one is without  true  religion.  If the heart is  
not regenerated by the indwelling  Spirit,  mankind is  trying to be reli-
gious on his own, or in the flesh. The tongue, or speech, is an outward
manifestation of the heart.  Beginning in verse 21,  we see the manifes-
tation of salvation, or heart change,  is laying aside the works of  flesh, 
such as vulgarities or illicit behavior.  This will be considered negative 
proof.  The positive proof is a meek spirit  acquired through  implanta- 
of Jesus Christ, in the soul of a man.

2.  Secondly,  A man is deceived when he hears the Word of God and 
fails to act  upon  it.  He  is an unfaithful  hearer,  not a “doer.”  If  he 
does not act  upon that Word,  it  is  taken  from  him  and  he forgets  
the Word  he heard.  (Christ is Lord of now and exists in the present.)  
If one is blessed of God he must act upon the Word of God in a timely 
manner rather than wait  for a convenient  time.  ( I have learned this 
dear lesson from experience.)  In verse 27;  a  definition of  pure reli-
gion.  True religion is evidenced in  the life of one who  follows Christ 
in service to  those who are not  blessed  as is he.  He sees  to  father-
less  and  widows  and  keeps  himself  clear of  contamination by  the  
world.  “World,” here,  refers to things that  take our focus  from  the 
Lord,  when we  become  concerned with  temporary pleasure,  rather 
than getting  joy from serving and pleasing our Lord  by seeing to the 
needs of others.  When one is a hearer or talker and not a doer of the 
good,  he is hypocritical.  One reason the word “religion” is misunder-
stood is because of  those of  us who "talk the talk" without "walking 
the walk."   
 
3. God does not practice partiality, nor should we.  (James 2:  1-7)
   Our  Lord  could  be  illustrated  by earth’s  sun.  The sun does not 
change it’s path on a given day.  The sun’s  brightness  is  consistent 
and  shines on everyone without partiality.  You and I as  God’s chil-
dren,  His representatives  here,  are to  be like the sun.  If we are to 
represent  Him to a lost and  hopeless  world,  you and  I must share 
Him impartially with those whom God sends our way; poor, wealthy, 
homely or attractive.   If we are like Him, the standards of the world 
are  not ours.  We  have adopted the standard  of  Jesus  Christ who,  
when He was on the earth, reached out to all men, but seemed to be  
more successful dealing with the unfortunate and outcast of the cul-
ture.  This simply means we should do like-wise. We reach out to all,  
but work with those who respond.  You and I do not have the ability 
to  look  upon  the  heart as  does  the  Lord.  The  lord  calls  and  He
chooses.  Ours is to go and tell, leaving the results to Him. 

4. This Scripture reminds us many times the wealthy will exploit us,
and we  must take care not to “cast  our pearls, ‘The Pearl of  Great 
Price,’ before swine,” lest they  turn on us.  This  little bit of wisdom 
simply means we must always follow  leadership of  the Spirit when 
exercising a gift of  the Spirit.  (Matthew 7: 6)  Unless our trust is in
the Lord ,  as in Proverbs 3: 5-6,  we will  fail  miserably.   If  we  are 
led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18) of God,  we are his children in His 
service.  God has a  plan for each life.  When we  fail to wait on Him 
for direction, we will be operating in the  flesh,  not  in the Spirit  of  
God and there will be grave consequences.  We will  then  be on our 
own,  casting  our  pearls  before swine,  giving  Holy things to dogs. 
The price for disobedience is dear. If we fail to wait on  the Lord for
 direction in any area of life, or if we  give preference to individuals 
or groups for reasons of the flesh, we are judges of evil thoughts or  
motives as  in James 2:4.  Then,  in 1 Corinthians 2: 13-16 we  find;  
as  Spirit  filled children of  the living  God,  we may have the mind 
of  Christ.  This simply  means we  are able  to apply,  properly,  the 
Holy Scripture in life  situations;  as did our Lord Jesus Christ;  an  
invaluable Spiritual  gift.  (The metaphor of  swine and   dogs used  
in Scripture is a Word  from God.   We must never  use  such meta-
phors to describe any  individual or group;  that would  be judging;
and forbidden in God's Word.)   The Lord God is the Judge of all.

5.  God does not want our empty talk, but our obedience.   (James 2: 
8-13)  When the tongue is unbridled, we spend our energy condemn-
ing.  We are "advised" not to judge motives,  even  our  own.  We are 
commanded to  follow our Lord.  The  law of  love  overcomes  evil  in 
our lives. Contempt for a fellow citizen is sin and is especially repug-
nant when vocalized in  judgment.  In other Scripture it says; he who
 judges shows he is guilty of the thing in which he condemns another.  
(Romans 2:1, James 2:4) If we are to be shown mercy,  we must first, 
show mercy to our fellowman.  One who judges or  condemns,  is  not 
showing mercy.   When we condemn others our underlying  motive is 
highly suspect. It is possible,  even likely our condemnation  of others 
is used as a cover for our own sin;  as  we attempt to  make  ourselves  
look   good   by  comparison.   It  is  my  observation  when  we  judge,  
scorn or condemn  another;  instead  of   improving our  image in  the 
eyes of an astute friend,  we make ourselves to  look  petty.  One who 
appears so, has a difficult time making and retaining  friends.
(Psalms 1)

CONCLUSION:  The word “religion,”  is  a  perfectly good  word;  mis-
used over the years.   It seems to  have lost  the  original  meaning  for 
all practical purposes. To be religious is to be faithful; to  be  religious 
is to  be true. To be  religious is to  fear  God.  To be  religious  is to  go 
about unselfishly,  doing good as did our  Lord Jesus Christ,  without 
partiality or hope for reward or recognition.  This is a good word, and
Proper  understanding of  this word  must be  restored  by  consistent  
preaching, teaching and practicing pure religion.  This culture can no
more  afford  to  lose  this  concept  any  more  than  we can  afford  to 
lose sight of  the many doctrines we hold dear in the faith of our Lord 
Jesus Christ,  God the Son.  There are  endangered  word  "species,"
 and words do have meanings.       

ed. 11.27.14, 8.15.16, 9.10.12   edited 8.16.16, 3.27.17                                  
 donporter,sr  

CLEAN BEFORE OUR LORD

 Clean Before the Lord,                                   October 20, 2003

                                    John 13:1-10, 15:1-4, 17:17-19   
    I have prayer in sincerity, and have heard the prayer many years 
for the cleansing of the heart. Remembering the passage from John 
13: 10  as  someone was praying  in public for such  a cleansing,  it
occured to me; this kind of prayer may not be Scriptural. In this pas-
sage Jesus was washing His disciples feet after the Last Supper. Dur-
ing an exchange with Cepas, Peter, as the disciple asked the Lord to  
wash  him  all over,  the  Lord  said; “He who is washed needeth not 
save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and  ye are clean,  but 
not all,"  speaking of  Judas who should betray Him.  In other places
we see how this cleansing is effected.  In John 15: 3, during  the dis-
course on the "True Vine."  Christ said,  ye  are  clean  through the  
Word I have spoken unto you."  Then in John 17: 17, from His inter-
cessory  prayer for  His disciples,  He  said; “Sanctify  them  by thy 
truth. Thy word is truth.”  In  the Psalms we see a reference to  this 
principle: "Wherewithal shall a young cleanse his way?  By  taking
heed according to Thy Word.?"  As children of the living God, heirs 
and  joint-heirs  with Jesus Christ, our Lord  has taken it upon him-
self to cleanse us from sins of the heart.  He knows we are not going 
to  intentionally rebel against known  truth.  The  slipping and error 
into which we  fall victim is unintentional.  At times  our missing the 
mark is out of  ignorance  of the truth of God's Word.  According to
Scripture, under consideration above;  if the child of God is faithful 
in applying the Word to every situation,  he will be free from sins of 
the heart.  The contamination from walking in this world is cleansed
through the "washing of the Water of the Word." In John 1:9, we see
the solution to the problem as it arises. "If we confess our sins, He is
faithful  and  just to  forgive us  our sins  and to  cleanse  us from all
unrighteousness."   This act involves repentance, or turning from the
sin to our Heavenly Father for cleansing.  We must then make a con-
certed effort to avoid sin in the future,  remembering, God hates sin. 
He does not countenance sinful lifestyles on the part of His children.
That should be enough to cause us to avoid sin like the plague it is.

   
  (A life above reproach is required of one who would be like Christ.)
A reproach is a poor reflection on our Lord, His church and family.  
We can only live above reproach as we follow the Word of God. 
"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld 
His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of 
  grace and truth." 
                                                                                     John 1: 14, nkjv

The Lord God will not be separated from His Word, Jesus Christ His 
Son. Read Ephesians 5: 25-26...  "Husbands. love your wives, just as
Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her,  that He might 
sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the Word.  

    Since we are flawed and imperfect beings,  our God has made provi-
sion for  regular cleansing  of  our vessel  using the Word of God.  This 
does not excuse one who finds himself in this dilemma, but provides a 
way for uninterrupted fellowship with the Father as we walk on earth.
God  hated sin enough to give His  Son as a sacrifice  in redemption of 
the race.   (There is but  one race,  the Human Race or family...) 
  He did,  however,  recognize the fact that we are  weak because of the
body of flesh in which we live, and offers cleansing and uninterrupted
service.  It  is  available to the child of God as  the Spirit brings convic-
tion  and  confession  is  made.  We  know,  according  to  God's Word,
we  are not made perfect  through  keeping  the  law  or  doing "good."
Nor is there any  other way  we may attain  perfection or  maturity  on
our own, by efforts in  the flesh.  There  remains one way cleansing  is 
accomplished.  The lord  “imputes"  righteousness,   just  as  He did  in
Abraham  of  the  Old  Testament.    “Abraham   believed  God  and   it 
was  counted (imputed) to  Him  for  righteousness.”  This  gift  is  not, 
nor  has never been  earned  by  a child  of  God.  The  blood  of  Jesus
is  our only means of  forgiveness and  accessed  through faith in Him. 
(Believe God.) There has never been other  means  of  cleansing  than 
the  grace of  Jesus Christ.  Cleansing of  the  heart of  a  believer  is a 
once for  all thing.  One only  needs  cleansing of  the feet as he walks 
among  the  men  of  this  world  and  even  earnestly  seeking   purity, 
slips into error.  This is offered by exercising 1 John 1: 9. 
     “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive 
        us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  

This is the continuous work of the Word of God, actuated by the Spirit, 
 in our lives to keep us “unspotted by the  world,”  and above reproach 
as we deal with the “world, the flesh and the devil," our  only enemies.
                                                                                           donporter   9.08.12        
 

THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH

 (Foundations of  “...the faith which was once delivered to the saints.)  
                                 Jude 3            (If one would be wise)
  At  the close  of  the Sermon on  the Mount,  in Matthew 7,  our Lord
made a number of comments concerning His words in  that discourse. 
The remarks were not a summary, but admonitions of  how we should 
respond to  the message.  In Mt. 7:15-20,  he  warns  against  false  tea-
chers and brethren who would arise, as in Jude 3, with the purpose of 
distorting words to their own end and how we might readily recognize 
this.  One of  the statement becomes a  cliche’  if we are  not  wise is vs. 
20, “Wherefore,  by their fruits ye shall  know them.”  Action  produce 
recognizable result as we  closely follow His  teaching.  If  we are care-
less, failing to prepare the  mind  through  faithful  study of  the Word, 
we may not notice when teachers produces “bad” fruit. We will not be 
aware if his/her work is of the flesh.  This leads  us to  His admonition 
earlier in chapter 7 concerning the act of "judging"  others.  If  we are 
to recognize  bad  fruit in  an apparent  brother or teacher,  how do we 
escape the act of  judging  another?  This  has  been a concern of mine 
for years,  and I  do not recall it having been addressed adequately. 

 We must exercise discernment in Spiritual matters and the mundane.
If  there is evidence of  a  teacher or  brother  living  contrary to  plain
teaching of Scripture, we are not guilty of  judging  when we go to the
brother/teacher and  between the two of  us  express  concern.  How-
ever;  if we disagree and go to others slandering the individual, we are 
in violation of Scripture and our actions and fruit are bad.  Of  course, 
there is  always  the  possibility of  error on  our part.  If  we  hold  our
view in such  high esteem we fail  to  recognize our error,  we have,  in
that way  become like the  Pharisees in the time of  Christ, hypocrites.  
It  is  important to  entreat  one as  a brother,  rather than  admonish.  
This  leaves the door open  for  discussion and  clarification of  princi-
ples  of  which we  may  be  unaware.  Another  consideration,  before 
confrontation,  is  to  pray,  as  in  vs. 7-11.  Here we  are  promised an 
answer when we ask in faith:  (7) “Ask, and it shall be given you...”

       There is in vs. 21-23,  the possibility  of  the “false  profession.”   
You will know others by the fruit of their life, but our main concern  
is; are we on firm ground with our own  profession of faith in Christ.  
This is a personal matter and not to  be  applied  to others.  We must 
examine our works, making sure the foundation is good as in verses
 24-27.  Are we building our  lives of  faith  on  the solid  rock,  Jesus 
 Christ,  or  some  false  foundation.   Do  we  regularly examine our-
selves to see whether our  actions and  attitudes are  consistent with  
the  teaching  of  Christ?  Are  we  truly  following  Him?  There is  a 
standard by which we may know.  Do you and I faithfully make sure 
our  lives  measure up to this rule?  In order to follow Him, we must 
see to the best for others.  If we are consumed with self interest and 
fail to follow Him in this,  we not in truth followers,  but false profes-
sors.

            “Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men 
               should do to you, do ye even so to them...” vs 12. 

 If we follow Christ in  this most important principle, we will do well, 
for  if  we  are to  men as we would  have them be to us,  it  is unlikely 
there will be error or  judgment  of others on our part.  Our response 
to them will likely be in  their best interest,  without criticism,  with a 
loving  Spirit,  the Holy Spirit.                                                                                                                                                       donporter  9.1.12