HEBREWS; an introduction...

     The book of Hebrews shows changes in the Law of God,
that came to pass because of the birth, life, death and resu-
rection of  the Lord God, Jesus Christ.   An important prin-
ciple is; the law was annulled or changed because of weak-
ness of the flesh and not for any shortcoming of the Law as
recorded in the Old Testament, or covenant.  Since not one
of the Patriarchs kept the law perfectly, there must be ano-
ther person who had the ability within  himself to keep per-
fectly, the Law of God.  He  was the author of the Law and 
is He who is also named  the "Word of God."   In Scripture
we find this; "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begot-
ten of the Father,  full of grace and truth."  John 1:14, This
came to pass to establish change in the covenant, since the 
old covenant with God's Chosen People,  did not make per-
fect the people as in Hebrews 8:7-9, "For if that first cove-
nant  had  been faultless,  then should no  place have  been 
sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith
Behold, the days come,  saith the Lord,  when I will make a
new covenant with the house of Is'ra-el and  with the house
of Ju'dah:  Not according to the covenant  that I made with
their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out
of the land of Egypt;because they continued not in my cove-
nant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 

This post is an  unfinished work in progress...

     In the mean  time there is  a comment to be made concer- 
ning the people of Is'ra-el, God's chosen, and the church of
Jesus Christ,  "God the Son."  First,  the Lord God  has not,
in any sense, deserted his people, Is'ra-el. They are yet, His
Chosen people.  The followers of, believers in,Yeshua, have
been  grafted into the tree that is God's people , but the fol-
lowers of the Law of  Moses, see Exodus chapter 20 for the
commandments in the Law,  are still God's chosen.  They're
in unbelief in their Messiah, and are not in "fellowship with
God, the Father, nor God, the Son. They will regain fellow-
ship,  and be grafted back into their natural and inevitable 
return to faith in their God, when  they recognize, and sub-
mit to God the Son, Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

     Followers of Jesus are sometimes accused of being poly-
thiest, and regarded as having three Gods.  The followers of
Jesus believe God is a Spirit.  The Holy Spirit and the Lord,
Jesus Christ emanates from God the Father. since God is in
no way confined to  a body, "God is a Spirit,"  He is present
everywhere as God the Son, God the Holy Spirit or Spirit of
God.   These are terms identifying the three persons of God,
one God, sometimes referred to as Triune, of Trinity. Those
two terms do not appear in Scripture. 


donporter,sr 3.15.19 (9:55 pm)  ed, 3.25.19 (8:12 am)  

 

COMMANDMENT IN PERPETUITY

Exodus 20: 7  

  “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord 

will not hold him guiltless who taketh his name in vain.”  Exodus 20: 7 

     While I am convinced there are two shades of meaning to this Com-

mand  from our Lord to Moses at Sinai, one is overlooked, in  my expe-

rience.  The initial interpretation regarded by persons in my sphere of  

knowledge, me included,  had to do  with the use of  “His” name in a

casual conversation without due reverence , or using his Holy name in

slang, even profanity.  Another possible interpretation, in my view, has 

to do with assuming the name to myself as the badge of a child of God, 

or Christian, while failing, miserably, to live life reflecting the life our 

Lord requires of his followers. While there is no assumption on my part, 

about persons outside my circle of  knowledge having  taken that same 

view, I am  just, not aware of it.  You may be  privy to such  knowledge.  

       Send any information you might have on this subject to me at,   
   "jlrsbnch@msn.com."   If you would prefer, make your comment(s) 
 for use as part of this post.  Thanks for looking.   donporter,sr...9/16/19

  

BORN AGAIN?

     From Scripture, there is information we need on the

"New Birth," that is, given Spiritual Life from the Lord.

It may also be  described as "Born of the Spirit,"  to be 

"In Christ," and others, describing our condition  after 

we  receive Jesus Christ as Savior and  Lord.  There is

also debate on whether one may have Christ as Savior

without him being Lord of Life.  (It is inconceivable to

me that he will be Savior and not Lord of Life.)  In the

following  we will see from the Scripture how one may

be "Saved," and briefly discuss how to be sure of one's

Salvation. 

     The new birth,  Spiritual  life from the Lord God,  is

also described as "Born of the Spirit," to be "In Christ,"

to be "Saved," and other terms. There is also the debate

as to whether one may be "in Christ," but fail to accept

Jesus as Lord of life.  (I,  for one,  have difficulty belie-

ving one who does not have Jesus Christ as Lord of his

life, can be sure of Salvation.  There is also a method

called "The Roman Road," showing a seeker how to 

come to know God the Son as Savior and Lord. Scrip-
ture references are taken from the Apostle Pauls epis-

tle to believers in Rome aptly called "Romans."  Go to 

Romans, the New Testament, chapter 10:9-10 and 13 

and follow the clear instruction.  It plainly states in 

verse 9, "...if you confess with  your mouth  the Lord 

Jesus , and believe in  your heart that God has raised  

Him from the dead, you will be saved." Here, one is to

confess before others, a belief  in Jesus Christ  is Lord, 

in response to your "heart felt" belief that God  raised

him from the dead.  The term "heart," does not  refer

to a bodily organ, of course, but to your innermost 

being, or consciousness. 

     What about the prospect of doubting Salvation? 

The passage referenced has the solution for this con-

dition, as  well.  If one comes to  doubt his Salvation,

he  must return to Scripture and find how it happens.

If we openly profess to be a believer,  but fail to fol-

low  Jesus Christ as Savior and  Lord, we have  then,

taken  that  "Holy"  name  in vain,  and  Scripture  is
clear.   Exodus 20: 7, Thou shalt not take the name 

of the Lord thy God in vain: for the  Lord  will not

hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."   If
there is anything accounted as 'taking his name is 

vain, it would be claiming to be a disciple and fail-

ing to follow up on that profession by serving Him

in the proclaimation of the message of Scripture. 

     Returning to self-doubt;  the solution for doubt is
the  same as  receiving Jesus Christ  as Savior and 
Lord.  We must confess our healtfelt belief in Him 
to a person or persons.  In so doing we have again,
fulfilled the basic  step to the "New Birth" in Jesus

Christ and restored confidence in our relationship

with him.  Again, however; we must follow him in
order to  make  our confession an "Election sure."
by regularly reading Scripture, applying it to our
lives and assembling rdegularly with other belie-
vers in Christ. This must be coupled with  consis- 

tent prayer life. One may learn the form and sub-
stance of prayer in the Gospel recorded according
to  the Apostle Matthew in  chapter 6: 9-13.  The
explanation at close of the prayer, verse 14 - 15
is critical and must be followed for a continued
walk with God.  For if ye forgive men their tres-
passes, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if ye forgive not men their traspasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses."

    The "Roman Road" has variations as to which
passages in Scripture are used tdo bring others to
Christ.  Here is the long list, giving options to use
as a situation suggests.

Romans 3: 10

Romans 3: 23

Romans 4: 3

Romans 5: 6-8

Romans 5: 12

Romans 5: 19-20

Romans 6: 1-2

Romans 6: 14-15

Romans 6: 23

Romans 8: 1

Romans 8:14-16

Romans 10: 8-10, 13 

May the Lord God bless your efforts on behalf of

mankind as led by His Spirit.  donporter,sr 1.30.19

   

TRUE FAITH THAT WILL WORK (12.29.18)

     I must at this time edit some of my previous thoughts and
comments in my life and in this blog.  At times I have failed
to consider or remember life in Christ is not only a learned
lifestyle, but one must "grow" into the life.  It is clear to me
my words and actions at times have seemed curiously harsh
or very strict, rather than considerate and kind.  I have had
a lack of humility and have required more of others than of
myself.  Clearly a  lack of  Christ-likeness and  a  self-righ-
teous  spirit influenced  my attitude  toward  others  caused
this, exacerbated by immaturity.  The apparent cure for the
condition must, of  necessity, be a careful, diligent study of 
the Word of God (Scripture) and adherence thereto.  

     We need only to live life the way our Lord lived among
"us" during his incarnation.  He was humble, but of strong
character with standards, unimpeachable.  There were the 
times of joy, times of sorrow and finally the ultimate appa-
rent  failure and death,  that  turned  out to be his ultimate
triumph according to the plan of  his Father in heaven.  It
is significant; he lived, knowing his life would be this way,
and  although He prayed at one time,  "...let this cup pass
from me,"  (Luke 23:42) his desire was to do the will of his 
Father, with whom He was "One."   ("I and my Father are 
One." ) John 10: 30

     It will take a strong commitment, Divine help and  the
fellowship of other believers to live a life pleasing to  our
Lord.  The end of a life so lived will be rewarding beyond
our imagination and to state it to be worthwhile, is under-
statement, to say the least.  May the Lord God bless your
efforts and faith as we serve the only entity worthy of our
faith, who is our only  hope for eternal life and a  calling
to service here and for eternity.

     There is a passage in Matthew, Chapter 12, verse 36
that has always given me pause.  "...That every idle word
that man  shall speak,  they shall  give account thereof in 
the day of judgment."  That is heavy.

donporter,sr  (12.28.18) 

AN END TO RACISM? 11.03.18

Today I have finally  gotten around to begin reading "The End 
of Racism," by Dinesh D'souza, published, 1995 by Simon and 
Shuster.  Although he is of eastern Asian descent, he has lived 
around the world.  His background and experience are varied. 
Having read only the information on the jacket of the book, pre-
face, and chapter one. This is not  about his book , as pertinent 
and deep as it is. It appears  to be well worth  reading and will  
be of  assistance to anyone  concerned with  a problem, racism, 
which infects every culture.  Here we do not offer the final end  
to racism, but an offer to create an atmosphere for one person  
at a time, to free himself from the injustice he might perpetrate  
on others, period. Though we may think this simplistic, the goal 
is to  make plain the fault  everyone has, as part of  their being.  
The sin to which I refer is a self serving mindset or inability to 
prefer others to self.  We do not even have the ability to look at
a situation to see a situation through the eyes of another.  If we
were to come to a place where we could settle those issues, we
would, effectively, end racism on our part.  It is on us; you and
me.  We may also develop relationships with part of the family

of God and man, now closed to us, missing  the blessing of fel-
lowship with them.  We have only to turn to Scripture and read 
the "Golden Rule."  "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.  for this is the
law and the prophets."   Matthew 7:12  (Scripture quoted from
KJV and NKJV)
(Matthew 7:12) Since this is a Word  from the Lord, the follower 
of  Jesus Christ have the privilege, or responsibility to honor this 
great commandment from his God. This is the one command sta--
ted in Scripture, "to fulfill the Law" of God.  If we do not honour
this one commandment, we have all missed the mark and are lost
The sin of Racism will be with us still,  as well as other grevious,
debilitating practices that stain the soul and cause us to be of no
use in the Kingdom of our God...  This leaves us with a mandate 
to be to everyone with  whom we interact as we would they were
to us.  In Romans 12: 9-10, 14:  "Let love be  without dissimula-
lation."   (Hiding under a false appearance)  "Abhor  that which
is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned
one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one ano-
ther with brotherly love.  Bless those who peresecute you.   bless 
and curse not." 
     This passage gives us opportunity to build personal  relation-
ships, based on  the way our Lord has dealt  with us.  He is care-     
ful to relate to  his children  with a love that  places the recipient 
of that love above himself. Can we do less and still claim we are 
following  him?  This will require a  lot of  introspection, or soul 
searching,  and is certainly not going  to be easy.  Is anything of  
worth  ever "easy?”  God bless as we live in a way requiring the 
power and wisdom of God in you and me to succeed;  become of 
use in His  Kingdom, with a guarantee of  eternal life with Jesus 
Christ.  "And be not drunk with wine,  wherein is excess;  but be 
be filled with the Spirit."  (Ephesians 5:18) It might be rendered 
"be ye being filled," indicating  a continuous  flow of  His Spirit 
on and in you/me.  
                   ...PRAISE THE LORD GOD IN JESUS CHRIST...   

                       God bless, and thanks for reading.  donporter,sr

JAMES, the JUST, James 1: 1 - 8

"James, a servant of  God and of  the Lord Jesus Christ, to
the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.  My 
brethren, count  it all joy  when ye  fall into  divers tempta-
tions;  Knowing this,  that the trying of  your faith worketh
patience.  But  let  patience have her perfect  work that  ye
may be perfect and entire, wanting  nothing.  If any of you
lack  wisdom, let  him ask  of God,  that  giveth to  all men 
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
(verses 1-5, kjv)

       It  seems this passage is  written to new  believers who 
were  having difficulty  dealing with  the temptation  to fall
back into Judaism.  This, of  course would also apply to us,
as gentile believers, who  might suffer a desire to return to
life seeking  pleasure and  need strength and wisdom from
the Lord, to resist the natural tendency to fall in a lifestyle
inconsistent  with one  who is following Jesus Christ.  Just
ask the Lord God in the  name of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
and he will give it without any chide or taunt, (upbraideth
not) but will give it lovingly and liberally.  It is impossible
to serve our Lord with any effect without wisdom. Wisdom
required for service to him, and to mankind, must be tried 
in the fire of experience, having overcome trials and temp-
tations of life. Then it may be infused with His Spirit (God
the Spirit) according to Ephesians 5: 14-18, 

     "Wherefore he saith,  'Awake thou that sleepest, and
      rise from the dead and  he shall give thee light.  See 
      then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as 
      wise, redeeming the time  because the days are evil.  
    Wherefore be  ye not unwise but understanding what 
    the will of  the Lord is.  And be  not drunk  with wine
    wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."

    "But let him ask in  faith, nothing  wavering.  For he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and
tossed.  But let  not that man think  that he will  receive any
thing from  the Lord.  A double minded  man is  unstable in 
all his ways."  (James 1: 6-8)

     This passage indicates our Lord's contempt for any who
are faithless and therefore unable to trust Him, without any
reservation, or answer a  prayer of  faith based on the truth 
of  God's Word;  Since  this one is not  trustworthy , he also
has issues of fully trusting his Heavenly Father to fulfill the
promises made in His Word. 

                                                          donporter,sr   10.25.18

     

     

     

TURNING FROM THE FAITH

  "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our Father, to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen."  Galatians 1: 3-5

After this greeting from the Apostle, A Word from the Lord God 
to a fledgling group of Believers, he writes, "I marvel that you 
are  turning, so soon, from Him who called you in the grace of 

Christ,to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."  

Galatians 1: 6-8

 Any deviation within a group of believers, from the pure, unadul-

 terated gospel, (inspired truth) of Jesus Christ is unacceptable to

  the Lord God,  and must be confronted immediately.  Otherwise,

the body will be tainted by the apostasy, and it will take the whole

congregation with it. Truth and false doctrine cannot exist side by

side, lest the falsity contaminate the whole.  As in baking, if there

is a  foreign substance used as part of the process, the whole will

be ruined.   I am convinced sectarianism, or denominations have

succeeded in  causing divisions among "brothers,"   and God will

judge that.  There may be some differences in interpretation from

Scripture that seem inconsequential, and there are supposed areas

of the Word having to do with form and ceremony that are not to

be divisive.  We must, however; encourage a return to fundamen-

tal truth. Proclaim that, and overcome our differences with prayer

and love for a brother.  Let's refuse to engage in disputes over any

part of  Scripture that may  not be fully understood, and  build up faith in Jesus Christ, his Word and grace, accorded every belie- ver, according to his faith.  (I believe we may well, even as follo-
wers of Christ, be unable to fully explain "Holy Writ, or attain the
depth of understanding available to us without maturity, leaning
on the wisdom of God the Spirit.

 If one comes into the assembly and is demonstrated to be trouble-
some, we must deal with this one.  "as you would that men should
do to you, do ye also to them, likewise."  Luke 6: 31 If we keep the
"Golden Rule" of Matthew 7 and Luke 6 predominant in our thin- 
king and action/actions toward others, we will do well.  If we fail
to keep this "principle" in mind, it is my conviction that we will do
nothing but bring similar actions upon ourselves.  I believe this is
a law of our God.   

                                                                                                           donporter,sr. 9.10.18