#Galatians 1:8-9 in context

[mindfulldsliving]

Salvation and Scripture: A Latter-day Saint Approach to Faith, Works, and Modern Revelation

Faith, grace, and works are often hotly debated topics in Christian theology, and Ephesians 2:8–9 and Galatians 1:8–9 have long been central to these conversations. As Latter-day Saints, we affirm salvation through grace but understand that faith and works together reflect true conversion. Critics often claim these verses contradict our beliefs, but with context and revelation, they align…

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

In John 6:63, Jesus declares, "The Spirit gives life [quickens]; the flesh counts for nothing." This statement is a profound declaration about the nature of spiritual versus earthly realities and the source of true life.

When Jesus refers to "the Spirit," He is speaking of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. The phrase "the Spirit gives life" indicates that it is the Holy Spirit who imparts spiritual life, or new birth (John 3:5-6). This life is not merely physical existence, but a deep, transformative relationship with God, characterized by understanding, faith, and obedience.

The term "flesh" in this context represents human effort and the human nature apart from God's Spirit. When Jesus says, "the flesh counts for nothing," He is emphasizing that human effort and physical existence in themselves cannot achieve spiritual life or please God. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that salvation and spiritual understanding are not products of human wisdom or power but are gifts from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This statement from Jesus also points to the necessity of spiritual understanding to grasp the truths of God's kingdom. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus' teachings (including His discourse on being the Bread of Life in John 6) will not be truly understood or accepted. This is evident in the context of John 6, where many disciples struggled with Jesus' teaching and some even turned away.

Jesus is contrasting the spiritual perspective, which values the things of God and recognizes the necessity of the Holy Spirit, with the earthly perspective, which is limited to human understanding and effort. This theme is consistent in the New Testament, where the spiritual life in Christ is often contrasted with the natural or fleshly way of life (e.g., Romans 8:5-8).

In summary, Jesus' statement in John 6:63 underscores the critical role of the Holy Spirit in imparting true life and understanding, and it highlights the limitations of fallen human nature and effort in achieving spiritual realities. This teaching invites believers to rely on the Spirit for spiritual insight and life, rather than on their own understanding or abilities.

And if believers need to rely on the Holy Spirit for spiritual insight and life, how much more unbelievers need Him in order to believe.

The New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the process of coming to faith. It is the Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). In the case of unbelievers, the Holy Spirit works to awaken their hearts to their need for God, to the truth of the Gospel, and to the reality their need of Jesus Christ as Savior. This awakening is essential because, as Scripture teaches, the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Since faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), the initial and continuing belief in the Gospel is made possible only through the Holy Spirit’s work. For an unbeliever to come to faith, the Spirit must open their heart to respond to the Gospel (Acts 16:14). This demonstrates that salvation is not a result of human effort or wisdom but is a supernatural work of God. For believers, the Holy Spirit is the source of ongoing spiritual growth and understanding. He guides into all truth (John 16:13), helps in weakness (Romans 8:26), and produces spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). This ongoing work of the Spirit is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God and for growing in spiritual maturity.

The necessity of the Holy Spirit's work both in bringing unbelievers to faith and in sustaining believers highlights the grace and sovereignty of God in salvation. It shows that no one can come to Christ unless the Father grants it (John 6:65), and it underscores the idea that salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace from beginning to end.

In conclusion, the Holy Spirit's role is indispensable both for unbelievers to come to faith and for believers to continue in their spiritual pilgrimage. This understanding fosters a sense of humility and dependence on God, recognizing that both the initiation and the sustenance of faith are the works of His Spirit.

[psalmonesermons]

Lessons from Galatians Part 6

Chapter 6:1-18 How to restore someone from sin

6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

There is in the original Greek an element of being caught out by surprise! However we know from other scriptures that we do not fall into sin in some way without giving our consent. It is a hallmark of our love that we can restore a brother or sister. If it, was you, how would you like to be dealt with? Restoring a brother or sister is like setting a bone back into place so that the body is fully functioning again. But we are warned to be careful unless we fall into the same as the person who has sinned.

2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Let us be there for each other the stronger giving their strength to the weaker.

Place a steadying hand on your brother arm. That is what love is all about and should be what church is about.

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Pride comes before a fall.

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

If you must compare yourself to another then compare yourself with Jesus Christ. Only when your eyes are on Christ can you see clearly to monitor your own life and walk. All flesh is grass!

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

At the end of the day each one of us are accountable to the Lord and to him alone. We will stand in a moral and spiritual sense naked before him, so now is the time to get our lives sorted out before judgement day.

6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Anyone receiving instruction in the Word of God must share all good things with their teacher. Our teachers bless us in a very tangible and godly way, and it is right we should bless them in every way. There is a strong hint of finance in this verse.

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Do not make excuses!

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

We need to hang in there in life!

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Let your light shine before men. Remember to bless your Christian family just as much as your natural family. If we give to the poor, then do not forget the poor in the church. Remember the widows and orphans especially those in the church.

11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand.

The meaning here is a 'grand' letter in the context of he he had personally laboured over this letter. It is nothing to do with bad eyesight!

12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

The Judaizing teachers wanted converts to their own erroneous teaching and gain brownie-points from their friends.

14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

The only thing that delighted Paul was when someone had a revelation of what Jesus Christ did at the cross. Paul was dead to the world, including all its so-called pleasures, honours, and temptations and like the world had nothing in common with Paul.

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availed anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

It is the new birth that is the important thing. A new heart and a new mind and having been given a new life for the old sinful one.

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

The new birth is the model or pattern to follow. This includes all the spiritual children of Abraham (Jew or Gentile) through faith in Jesus Christ.

17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Literally stigmata! Paul's suffering and injuries on his body were proof that he was in the master’s service.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Note Paul calls them brothers!

Amen

Your Prayer

[mysteriesofmarcy]

Genuine question. Please explain to me, why is being queer a sin? Neither consensual homosexuality nor transgenderism hurts anyone. It does no harm and there are a lot of peer reviewed scientific studies (which I cannot currently link because of media links being turned off but I would be happy to find for you if you are interested) that show queer people who are accepted by themselves and their community tend to live longer and happier lives than people who are not accepted. I am admittedly not christian (although some of my family is) so I don't have the best grasp on religion as a whole and I'm genuinely curious to hear your perspective. Why is something that only seems to benefit humanity as a whole considered a bad thing?

NOTE: I'm going to jump around a bit here, so bear with me.

First, yeah, you don't have to prove that people who are accepted by themselves and their communities tend to live much longer and happier lives than people who aren't. That's true of anyone, regardless of who they are or what they believe.

But contrary to popular belief, you are not "born gay/lbt-whatever else". Nobody is. Why? That's not how God designed us.

Here is a little background information on that last point:

God designed marriage to be a union between one man and one woman for as long as both of them are alive. The relationship between a husband and a wife is meant to be a mirror of God's own relationship with the church: God protects His church, just like a husband protects his wife. God gave His life for us, just like a husband is supposed to give his life for His wife if the need arises. And God went to prepare a home for us, just like in ancient times a man would go prior to his marriage to prepare a home for his bride.

But you asked specifically why being queer is a sin. Although homosexuality is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, including

Romans 1:18-32

Leviticus 18:22

Genesis 18:20-19:24

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

1 Timothy 1:9-11

Galatians 5:19-21

Revelation 21:8

Revelation 22:14-16

Matthew 15:19

Mark 7:21

And many more,

The reason that it's a sin is more the fact that it is intellectually dishonest to consider yourself as such. Because like I said, God created humans to be male and female, and to mate one man to one woman. That is what's in our nature.

You may note that some verses only refer to "sexual immorality." In this case, the context of the other verses tells us that this term includes any sexual relations outside those of "one man and one woman married to each other for life."

P.S. in case you don't feel like looking up all those verses above, I've linked this handy explanation for you.

And, I will add that I'm not an expert by any means. This is just a simplistic version of my views.

[terrifickid]

It says,

"Where does the Bible say the now faith

02:16



The phrase "now faith" is found in the Bible in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV), which says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." This verse is often quoted to emphasize the importance of faith in Christian belief and practice. It suggests that faith is the foundation for hoping in things that have not yet come to pass and the evidence for believing in things that cannot be seen or physically proven.

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RC

Where else?

02:16



The phrase "now faith" appears only once in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, which is in Hebrews 11:1. However, the concept of faith is discussed throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments.

Here are some other verses that speak about faith:

Romans 1:17 - "For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"

Galatians 2:16 - "knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."

Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

Hebrews 10:38 - "But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back."

James 2:17 - "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

These verses, along with many others, highlight the importance of faith in the Christian life and the belief that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

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What's James 2:17?

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James 2:17 is a verse in the New Testament of the Bible that says, "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

This verse is part of a larger passage in James chapter 2 that emphasizes the importance of both faith and works in the life of a believer. James argues that true faith will naturally result in good works, and that a faith that does not produce good works is incomplete and insufficient.

In other words, James is saying that simply having faith in God is not enough – that faith must be accompanied by action and good works. A person who claims to have faith but does not demonstrate it through their actions is like a body without a spirit – it is dead.

This verse highlights the importance of both faith and works in the Christian life, and encourages believers to put their faith into action by serving others and living a life that reflects their beliefs.

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RC

What's the context of Hebrews 11?

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Hebrews 11 is a chapter in the New Testament of the Bible that is often referred to as the "Hall of Faith." It is a chapter that highlights the importance of faith in the lives of Old Testament believers, and provides examples of individuals who demonstrated great faith in God.

The chapter begins with a definition of faith in verse 1, which says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The author of Hebrews then goes on to provide numerous examples of individuals who demonstrated faith in God, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and many others.

The chapter emphasizes the importance of faith in pleasing God and receiving His blessings. It highlights the fact that many of the Old Testament heroes of faith did not receive what was promised during their lifetime, but they still had faith in God and trusted in His promises.

The chapter also encourages believers to persevere in their faith, even in the face of trials and difficulties. It reminds us that faith is not just about believing in God, but also about trusting in His character and His promises, even when we cannot see or understand what He is doing.

Overall, the context of Hebrews 11 is to encourage believers to have faith in God, to trust in His promises, and to persevere in their faith, even in the face of challenges and difficulties. It provides numerous examples of individuals who demonstrated great faith in God, and encourages us to follow in their footsteps.

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Provide Hebrews 11

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Sure! Here is the full text of Hebrews 11 (New International Version):

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

"

[jdgo51]

When You Jump into a Pit Today's inspiration comes from: Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore You Can Jump In "Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression." — Psalm 19:13 "'You can jump in. Before you take the plunge into that pit, you can be well aware that what you’re about to do is wrong, probably even foolish. But the escalating desire to do it exceeds the good sense not to. You had time to think, and then you did exactly what you meant to do even if the pit turned out to be deeper and the consequences higher than you hoped. You, like me, probably do what you do because you want to. You like the trip. You don’t necessarily like the cost but, like all vacations, a great trip can be worth the expense. God does all these things to a person — twice, even three times — to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them. — Job 33:29–30 Personal Application Each of us will ultimately do what we want to do. Christ asks, “What do you want, Child?” How will you answer that question? Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and He has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem. — Ezra 9:9 Motive is huge to God. And so is character. Primarily His character, which we are created to emulate. Dangerous Territory Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. — Galatians 6:7–9 The problem with us pit-jumpers is that we don’t want to hear God’s warnings when we get close to a pit. We want what we want. So we stick our fingers in our ears before we jump. This is by far the most dangerous and supremely consequential way to get in a pit. Motive is huge to God. And so is character. Primarily His character, which we are created to emulate. And He will not be mocked. The very segment of Scripture where we’re told God won’t be mocked is strategically centered in the context of reaping what we sow (see Galatians 6:7–9). God looks intently not only at what we’ve done and how, but also why we did it. Reflection Question Why is “jumping in” the most dangerous and supremely consequential method of getting into a pit? Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right. — Isaiah 1:16–17 Personal Application The psalmist said, I delight to do Your will, my God; Your Law is within my heart. — Psalm 40:8 NASB On a continuum between “not at all” to “yes, I’m there,” how true is this for you today? As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. — 1 Peter 1:14–15"' Excerpted with permission from Get Out of That Pit: A 40-Day Devotional Journal by Beth Moore, copyright Beth Moore.

[curtklingermanposts]

Burnout Has No Place in Grace

The Quest for Worthiness

It’s probably safe to say most of us want to feel deserving. It’s one reason people work hard for what they get. Nothing wrong with hard work, until it turns into striving to be worthy. Where people get it wrong is when they lose sight of how they are to work. More pointedly, for Whom they work. Why do you do what you do?

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

 Being driven is much different from being led. One way to determine whether you’re doing things as to the Lord versus people, or yourself for that matter, is the driven/led principle. In this context, driven is an unhealthy obsession, in which stress is involved. Additionally, pride and people-pleasing join in the fray. Pride seeks affirmation. All of this indicates a disconnect with one’s identity in Jesus Christ. The more individuals know who they are in Him, the less need they have for approval from others.

Those who crave that approval are more easily manipulated. They find it very difficult to say no when they know full well, they should. It’s a form of bondage that wears people out. The reason some burnout in ministry is because of doing things God has not called them to do. They say yes before praying, and find themselves wishing they didn’t. Sure, they don’t want to let people down. However, in some cases, the pat on the back that comes with the yes has more significance. Here’s the question: do they say yes, because they don’t want disappoint another, or is it because they’re afraid of missing the pat on the back? It’s not exactly altruistic to do things for others to gain their gratitude or affection. Of course, they may fear of rejection.

Another quandary is seeking God’s affection. Why do people seek His love when they already have it? You cannot earn His love.

How to Fall From Grace

We know, by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace and faith in Jesus Christ alone make us worthy. There’s nothing we can do to make it so. This is Christianity 101; nevertheless, some get bamboozled into self-righteousness. One of the tricksters is the emotions, which compels them to do things to feel worthy. Class, we need to pay more attention. It is the righteousness of Jesus that makes us righteousness; not our feelings of worthiness.

When anyone tries to make himself righteous by his deeds, he falls from grace (read the book of Galatians). He is no longer walking by faith; but by works. No one’s works are ever good enough to make one right in the sight of God.

Being Led

Romans 8:14-16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Being led of Holy Spirit is the result of the relationship with God. There is no bondage attached to it, because there is no fear involved. Only love! Love has no strings attached; it cannot be earned. Faith works by love, and perfect love casts out fear (see Galatians 5:6; 1 John 4:18). When Holy Spirit leads us, His grace empowers us to fulfill the mission. Burnout has no place in grace.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

perfectfaith.org

[walkswithmyfather]

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” —1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV)

“We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.” —1 Timothy 6:12 (ERV)

“What does 1 Timothy 6:12 mean?” By Bibleref.com:

“Verse 11 commanded Timothy to flee from sin and temptation, and gave a list of positive character traits to pursue, instead. In this verse, Paul provides two imperatives. First, Timothy is to, "Fight the good fight of the faith." This wording closely resembles words Paul will use regarding himself in his second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:7). The metaphor of our spiritual warfare as a boxing match is not unusual for Paul, who also spoke of the Christian faith as a boxing match or fight in 1 Corinthians 9:26: "… I do not box as one beating the air," referencing the idea of shadow boxing.

Paul's second command in this verse is for Timothy to live as if he has eternal life already. Paul mentioned eternal life earlier in 1 Timothy 1:16 and often spoke of it in his letters (Romans 2:7; 5:21; 6:22, 23; Galatians 6:8; Titus 1:2).

Timothy's profession of faith, mentioned here, had clearly happened among other believers in Lystra before he set out to travel with Paul as a missionary.

Context Summary: First Timothy 6:11–21 provides a contrast to the errors and temptations exhibited by false teachers. Paul delivers a strong, unmistakable mandate to Timothy: maintain your testimony, maintain your faith, fight for what is true and right. As a church leader, Timothy's primary weapons against false doctrine and sin are keeping himself on God's path and refusing to waver in his instruction of fellow church members. At the same time, Paul warns Timothy not to be distracted by the pseudo-intellectual debates in which some false teachers engage.

Chapter Context: This chapter completes Paul's highly practical instructions to his friend and student, Timothy. The major focus of this passage is proper Christian conduct, and the avoidance of evil. Paul gives several character flaws common in those who teach false doctrine. He also provides a stark warning about the dangers of greed and materialism. Those who become obsessed with wealth open themselves to virtually any other sin one can imagine. Timothy is given a clear mandate to uphold his faith and testimony, along with Paul's blessings and encouragement.”

[coffeeman777]

Christians and Obedience

This is a long post, so here's the TL;DR -- The Bible clearly, explicitly states that genuine, born-again Christians who have God's Spirit in them will abandon sin and lead holy lives, and this is not optional. The Bible also clearly, explicitly states that there will be fake Christians who claim Jesus but live in and advocate open, deliberate sin. If you subscribe to a theology that suggests God doesn't care about sin anymore, or that Chrisitans don't have any call to obey God, or that anyone who claims Jesus is genuinely saved regardless of how they live, you need to repent and line up with the Word of God.

Onward.

Christians have an obligation to turn from their sins. As popular as it is among various groups of Christians to believe that because of Jesus God doesn't care about sin anymore, that idea is at odds with Scripture and anyone who embraces it is in extreme spiritual danger.

There are two basic Biblical truths at play here:

1) Christians are saved by grace through faith. No one can earn God's gift of salvation. No one's works can merit salvation. Salvation is complete in Christ Jesus, from start to finish. We are completely saved immediately after we confess and believe, and once saved, our works cannot add to or take away from that salvation, nor do they maintain it. We are kept completely by God's grace for the entire duration of our lives. Salvation is perfect through Christ, and permanent (John 5:24; Acts 2:21; Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-31, 8:1-4, 31-39, 10:9-13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:4-9).

2) Repentance from sins, obedience to God's commands, holiness and righteousness are not optional; they are necessary traits that must be found in everyone who is truly saved. The Scripture is abundantly clear that those who are in Christ will turn from sin, seek to obey God, and strive to live genuinely holy lives (2 Timothy 2:19, Romans 6, 12:9, 1 Peter 1:14-19, Galatians 5:19-24, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 John 2:4-6, 15-17, 3:4-10). (Note: This does NOT mean that you must be instantly perfect to be a real Christian, and it does NOT mean that you can't struggle with sin. Each of us is an individual, with our own individual backgrounds, personality traits, and circumstances. We learn and mature at different rates. Some of us develop slower than others. Taking more time to progress in holiness after coming to Christ does not mean your faith isn't real. But regardless of how fast or slow we progress in holiness, the progression will be present. And that's the point to remember: there will be progress, a steady change from who you were outside of Christ to who you are called to be in Christ.)

At first glance, it may seem like these two Biblical truths are at odds with one another. Indeed, it's easy to find examples of Christians undermining, explaining away, or outright ignoring one of these truths in order to over-emphasize the other. Some want to exaggerate the second truth and turn Christianity into a works-based system where our salvation is earned by rule-keeping. And a great many more want to exaggerate the first truth and make Jesus into a get-out-of-Hell-free card, holding that God's grace through Christ Jesus means that repentance and obedience are purely optional, and that God no longer cares whether we sin or not. I've even seen some teachers in this vein saying that God has no more wrath, and that He doesn't judge at all anymore. Both of these twists on the Biblical message are grievously wrong. The fact of the matter is that both of these truths interlock like two puzzle pieces, and flow one to another without any conflict.

If we believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, we must treat it as such and be faithful to Biblical text, keeping all passages in context while reconciling them with each other. If we fail to do this, we can easily deceive ourselves and everyone who listens to us.

The truth is that salvation is a gift of God's grace, received by faith, that cannot be earned by works; and that once a person is really and truly saved, the Holy Spirit indwells them and necessarily changes them from the inside out, leading to genuine repentance and obedience.

The born-again Christian develops a strong desire to please and worship the Lord with their whole life. Worship is ever so much more than just singing songs; it is faithfully studying and applying God's Word; it is forsaking sin and obeying God's commands; it is doing selfless good works for the glory of Jesus Christ.

The Scripture is clear that to love God means to obey Him (John 14:15, 1 John 5:3).

Real Christians do not repent of sins and strive for holiness because they're scared of going to Hell; they realize that salvation is complete in Christ, that it can't be lost, that God gives them more grace than they'll ever need, that mercy and forgiveness are granted by God through Christ for all sins past and future, and that the Father loves them as much as He loves Jesus. Real Christians repent and strive for holiness with everything in them, with all their might every day, for no other reason than because they love God and they want to do what honors and pleases Him while avoiding evil behavior, which God hates (Psalm 5:4-5, 11:5, Proverbs 6:16-19, 8:13, Zechariah 8:17).

The thought of intentionally sinning becomes repugnant to them, like the thought of deliberately betraying a loved one, or intentionally harming an innocent person. And it is exactly this attitude that proves that a person really is saved (Matthew 7:15-23, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:16-24, 1 John 2:4, 3:4-10, 5:1-3, 18).

So, to be clear: salvation is not earned; it can't be gained with good works, it isn't maintained with good works, and it can't be lost due to sinning. And the one who is saved and secure in Christ, who has the Holy Spirit in them, will reject and avoid sin like the plague, and genuinely seek with real, grace-enabled effort to live a lifestyle in obedience to God's commands, full of the fruit of the Spirit. Good works cannot save you, but if you're really saved, you will do good works; it cannot be otherwise.

Furthermore, fake Christians (also called false converts) exist. They are the wolves in sheep's clothing, the ones who say to Jesus "Lord, Lord," but will be rejected for their lawlessness (Matthew 7:15-23), the ones who have a form of Godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5), the ones who fall away (1 John 2:19). The Bible gives explicit instructions on how to recognize these people, and on how to deal with them when they are recognized (Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5). In the case of Christian leaders who are engaging in deliberate sin, we're explicitly commanded to rebuke them publicly (1 Timothy 5:20-21).

Here I must point out the difference between real Christians who struggle with sin, and fake Christians who embrace a sinful lifestyle.

Real Christians can and do struggle with various sins (operative word here is "struggle"). The path from who we are when we are first saved to true Christlikeness is long and difficult; this process is called "sanctification," whereby we are stripped of the sinful behaviors and addictions that we whole-heartedly embraced while we were still outside of Christ, while being molded and shaped by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to fit the image of Jesus. We discover areas of sin in our lives, overcome it by the power of the Holy Spirit and grace-enabled effort, then grow a little bit only to discover more sinful areas, and the process repeats. This goes on until we are taken home. Throughout the process, real Christians hate the sin they find in themselves and take action against it. They long to be free of it. We should all acknowledge our own sin, help each other, and give grace to each other.

The fake Christian, the false convert, claims the name of Christ but doesn't repent. They don't hate their sin, and they don't take any meaningful action against it. Although they may say that they do hate their sin and they do want to be rid of it, the way they live their lives will betray them and reveal the truth. Often, they don't live any differently than they did before they got saved. They will commit intentional, deliberate sin and think nothing of it. They will live in sin and aren't bothered by it. They may hide their sinful lifestyles behind a facade of Christianity, or they may openly live in sin while claiming to be saved. They may get angry and defensive if someone calls them out, or they may acknowledge their sin but remain unwilling to change.

In either case, it is the attitude of the heart towards sin that reveals whether a person is actually in Christ or not. And as mentioned above, the Bible shows us how to tell who the false converts are, and what we should do about it: we are to confront them, and if they refuse to repent, put them out of the Church (1 Corinthians 5). Of course, if they repent and turn to the Lord sincerely after the fact, we should be gracious and take them in again, while being very careful to follow the relevant commands from Scripture.

Here are the objections I commonly get after explaining all this to people (almost always from other Christians):

"God is love; you can't tell people they can't sin because that's not loving!"

Jesus, Paul, and all of the Apostles told people to repent as part of the presentation of the Gospel. Sin separates people from God; both false converts as well as straight-up unbelievers must be warned so that they can repent and turn to the Lord to escape the wrath to come. That is exactly what the Bible teaches.

The love we are commanded to have for others is "agape," which is a love of the will. This isn't an emotional, warm fuzzy feeling kind of love. This is a choice to do the highest good possible for others, regardless of how we might feel, regardless of whether that makes them uncomfortable, and regardless of what it costs us.

"By saying that Christians have to obey God, you're saying that they must be sinlessly perfect, and that they have to earn God's grace! Christians still sin, including you!"

Sinless perfection is not possible for any of us on this side of eternity, because the fallen nature will always be with us here, and we are therefore always susceptible to temptation. Christians can and do mess up, and when they do, the grace and mercy of God is there for them.

But the sin of the Christian is the exception, not the norm; they do not live lifestyles of premeditated, intentional, deliberate sin. Real Christians with the Holy Spirit inside of them live to please God, even if they do it imperfectly; they seek always to obey and honor the Lord and hate to disobey. Christians mature at different rates, some faster, some slower, but regardless of their level of development in Christ, this attitude will be present in anyone/everyone who is truly saved.

"You can't say who's a false convert! If a person claims to be a Christian, then they are, it doesn't matter how they live!"

Jesus, Paul, and the Apostle John were all quite explicit about how to tell false converts from genuine Christians:

Matthew 7:15-23

"15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

Galatians 5:16-24

"16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

1 John 2:4, 3:4-10, 5:1-3, 18

"4 Whoever says “I know [Christ]” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in Him...

...4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother...

...Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments...

...18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him."

"There's never a reason to call someone out on their sins! The Bible only says that we're to love others! If you call someone out on their sin, you're being judgmental and self-righteous!"

The Scripture is explicit on this point as well; it isn't judgmental or self-righteous to simply obey God.

Hebrews 3:13

"13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God."

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

"9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church[b] whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”"

The truest expression of self-sacrificial love for anyone is offering them a sincere warning when they're in sin; to do so places that person's well-being above yourself. This warning may make things awkward, it may make them not like you and break fellowship with you, but it's also often the only way to wake them up to the reality of their situation so that they can get right with God.

"Obedience is trumped by love! Loving God is all that matters! Emphasizing obedience is just being religious!"

You can't love God without obeying Him. You may have warm fuzzy feelings about God, you may love to sing worship songs, and go to church, and maybe read a carefully selected handful of Bible verses that reenforce your preconceived notions about God, but the Scripture explicitly says that if you aren't obeying God, you do not love Him.

John 14:15

"15 “If you love Me, obey My commandments.""

1 John 5:3

"3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."

It can't be dismissed as mere outward religion to love God enough to obey Him, anymore that love and devotion to a spouse shown in your behavior can be dismissed as empty gesture. If you love others, it will show in how you behave towards them. And it's no different with God.

Please, fellow Chrisitans, think and pray over these things. The Bible could not be more clear. If we hold that the Bible is God's inspired Word, we ought to listen and be true to what it says.

There's so much grace afforded to us in Christ; we have abundant mercy and forgiveness for all of our faults and flaws. But this grace, this kindness from God, is not meant to keep us in our sin; it's meant to lead us out from it (Romans 2:4). We have all the power we need to lay our sin down and live genuinely holy lives (Romans 6). It is not good, or kind, or loving, or wise for us to remain in sin and teach others to do likewise; it is the exact opposite. While we should be as compassionate, and gracious, and gentle as we possibly can be in every situation, we can't ignore God's express commands to not become friends with the world (James 4:4); this does not please God at all, and if we think it does, we delude ourselves to our own detriment.

Please, I beg you, go to the Scriptures and study this out. Obey the Lord. Do things His way. Seek genuine holiness with everything you have in you; rest in the knowledge that God's grace covers you as you do all you can to obey Him from the heart. Don't pervert the Bible's message of grace to permit sin.

[psalmonesermons]

God can make a little go a long way

God wants your 'littles'

Some years ago, whilst working in my role as a biomedical scientist, I heard about a patient who had a kidney transplant. Such patients need to take a type of medication called immuno-suppressive drugs. These drugs prevent the patient’s immune system from rejecting the transplanted organ. The doctors were able to gradually reduce the patient’s tablets from several a day at first, over a year or two right down to a half tablet each day. This worked fine and for something like 14 years the half tablet did the job. However, one day the patient forgot to take the half tablet and sad to say, he went into graft rejection and lost the kidney. Although he was only taking a tiny dose it went a long way and unfortunately as soon as he stopped the entire benefit was lost.

This story made me think of a recurring theme in the bible of how God can make a little go a long way. Let us bring these stories to mind…

Elijah’s tub of flour and jug of oil never ran out during the famine (1 Kings 17:8-16).

Elisha prayed that the widow’s jar of oil would keep flowing and she was able to clear all her debts (2 Kings 4:1-7). God filled every vessel of the widow which c.f. with us being filled with the Spirit but he is never diluted or diminished.

Jesus prayed and the loaves and fishes were multiplied to feed a multitude (Matthew 14:17-21) and had lots of leftovers too.

Again, Jesus tells us (Matthew 17:20) that if we have the tiniest measure of faith, then we can move mountains!

God certainly can make a little go a long way! And he does time after time, again and again,

Let us now focus specifically on a little going a long way in the context of prayer. Sometimes we think that for certain types of prayer to be effective, then the prayer must be nice and long. But could God act on us merely mentioning someone in our prayers? Well, here are 5 biblical examples from the Apostle Paul, who clearly thought mentioning someone in prayer was very worthwhile.

Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention [1] of you always in my prayers.

Ephesians 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.

Philemon 4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

So, what does it mean to mention someone in prayer? A dictionary definition of the word ‘mention’ -a brief comment or remark, or, to remember briefly.

As we get older in the faith our daily prayer lists get longer and longer! Paul’s prayer list must have been very extensive (he prayed for the Galatians, Colossians and many other churches, families, and individuals). But he felt that it was important to continually be mentioning his fellow believers in prayer to the Lord.

Sometimes, we think that for a prayer to be effective that it must be long! As an older car battery charger gives a trickle charge, so our making mention of others in prayer is constantly bringing them before the throne room of grace.

Sad to say, from my own experience, for several years I used to briefly mention each day two children with serious health problems. They always seemed fine. But I unintentionally forgot them for a year or two. When I next saw them, I was surprised how much they had deteriorated, and I decided that I had to start mentioning them before God each day again.

Beloved, God can make your little go a long way. So, give God your littles:

(your little prayer, your little time, your little finance and little resources, your little strength, your little capacity to care for others, your little faith can move mountains), and know this that even mentioning someone in prayer to the Lord is positively making a difference in their lives.

Let us pray:

Father God in Jesus name, we offer to you the ‘littles’ in our lives, our time, our strength and energy, our finance and resources, and all other areas of our lives where we feel ‘little’, asking that that you make each one of them go a long way in the building your kingdom.

Amen

[1] 3417. mneia, mni'-ah; from G3415 or G3403; recollection; by impl. recital: --mention, remembrance.

[wesenschau]

Israel, Pharaoh, The Tents of Kedar and Mary

In Deuteronomy 32:21 we are told what happens when Israel deviates from God’s hierarchical prescriptions:

“They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”

It is in God that all things have their being/existence, it is in God’s mind that all things are sustained. This means, when man turns away from the cosmic hierarchies which God operates in creation by, they are turning towards non-being/non-existence/disintegration/exile. We can see a typological pattern throughout the Old Testament of Israel failing to fulfill the torah, tending towards non existence, being exiled and then being reunified through the gentiles. This article from James Jordan explores this concept more in-depth. What it means for Israel to move God to jealousy with that which is not God, is to turn away from divinely established meanings and names of reality and try to name/bring meaning to things on your own account (it is the attempt to make a name for oneself [gen. 11:4]). This is the fundamental sin which divides us from God/where God wants us to be. Of course there is always a redemptive aspect to this pattern. This can be seen most clearly in Christ’s redeeming the sin of Adam. 

Whenever Israel turns from God, they face exile -- they are sent to the wilderness; God then turns his attention to the wilderness and shows Israel how the wilderness/unknown aspects of reality are to be reconciled into the grand cosmic structure of things. The books of Isaiah and Jeremiah shed much light on this. For Jeremiah, as a mosaic-type prophet, Israel has become the new pharaoh. Note Israel disobeying God’s commandment to  “not . . . return the people to Egypt . . . , since the LORD has said to you, ‘You must never return that way again” (Deut 17:16) in Jer. 31, and Israel committing the sin of pharaoh in Jer. 34 (the refusal to release slaves/the presumption that man can account for all aspects of reality). Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help! (Is. 31:1). For Isaiah Israel is as a barren woman requiring a kinsman redeemer. At the end of Daniel we are told from the time of the book till redemption is 1290 days, which is 430*3. 430 years is the time from Abraham till the time of the exodus (Gal. 3:17)/ the time of sojourn in Egypt (Exodus 12:40). There is a triplet “exile” from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up (Dan. 12:11). In order these three sojourns are under: Antiochus Epiphanes -> the Maccabean dynasty -> Herodian dynasty + Jewish priesthood. The little horn of Daniel 7 corresponds with the 2-horned land beast of Revelation 12 and has a twofold operation of Herodian and corrupted priestly power structures. This two horned beast is the same beast that crucified Christ and is described in Revelation as the whore of Babylon, who “in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints” (Rev. 18:24). This is the same Jerusalem whom Jesus laments over in Mt. 23:17 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!“.

This brings light to the passage in Matthew 2:3 where God calls His Son out of Egypt -- Egypt, being Israel. It is no wonder that Ishmael, son of an Egyptian, is shown by Saint Paul to be a symbol of Israel/the law in Galatians 4.

Now that we have established the pharaonic nature of Israel at the time of Christ, we can open up a prosopological reading of Psalm 120:5. In Psalm 120:5 we see Christ sojourning in Meshech and dwelling in the tents of Kedar. Meshech is a son of Japheth and one of the surrounding nations in the battle of Gog and Magog. Kedar is a son of Ishmael and is associated with the nomadic wilderness (Ezk. 27:21; Jer. 2:10). Ps. 120:5 is Christ mourning over the apostasy of the Jews -- the giving up of their wings of holiness (Num. 15:37-41) and their taking up of wings of abominations (Dan. 9:27). “Woe is me!” cries Christ, “that my people have rejected me! Woe is me! That the temple has become desolate, like a wild desert! Woe is me! That I dwell in the temple which has been transformed to a foreign tent of nomads!” The consequence of Israel’s rejection of Christ is that he is to bring light to the nations, which, although obviously good, is not good that it needs to be done under the pretext of Israel’s disobedience. Christ’s mourning over the temple in Luke 19:41-44 (note verse 42 and Ps. 120:7) comes from the same place as Jonah’s mourning over the conversion of Nineveh under the gourd plant. The conversion of gentiles meant the disobedience and demise of Israel; thus Christ laments: “Woe is me! that I sojourneth in a foreign nation, that I have been forced out into Egypt, even unto the tents of Kedar, to find someone to share my love with!”

A mariological reading is also, in my opinion, applicable -- particularly in light of Sg. 1:5-6. Mary, like Isaiah, comes from a people of unclean lips (Is. 6:5) (note the solution to this uncleanness is sacrificial/eucharistic in nature [Is. 6:6-7 -> Ps. 120:4]). In a mariological reading of song of songs we see a Holy Bride seeking nothing but to serve and love her Bridegroom. We see that Mary desires to bring Christ into her mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived her (Sg. 3:4) and to lead Christ, and bring him into her mother’s house who would instruct her (Sg. 8:2). I believe this is fulfilled in Luke 2, in the presentation of the Lord in the temple (and continues to be fulfilled by many faithful Christians bringing Christ into the various profane institutions/structures in which they were raised. On a grander scale the Church has never failed to take profane philosophy/worldly knowledge and baptize it and consecrate it to the Lord).

[Side note: Sg. 8:3 provides an interesting insight into the Marian aspect of the Eucharist -- demonstrating her inseparability from the Church, which I would like to develop/explore further, God willing].

In my opinion, Mary’s confession of being black, but comely and being likened unto the tents of Kedar, and the curtains of Solomon is possibly twofold in its allegorical indications:

1) Mary is in a temple which is stained -- where the curtains of Solomon have become like the black tents of Kedar. Why did this happen? because Israel failed to keep their own vineyard and was subjected to enslavement under foreign rule (Sg. 1:6). Because of Mary’s identification with the temple and her people, which are of an unclean lip (Is. 6:5) she mourns over their uncleanness, but shows that there is still hope in the whittled down, comely line of David, which is a sign of God’s faithfulness. Because the Jews have become like Egypt, the children of Mary’s mother (meaning: the benefactors of second temple corruption) force Mary and her Bridegroom out unto the real tents of Kedar, where Christ transforms them into curtains of Solomon (Sg. 1:5-6). It is interesting to note Kedar’s connection to Egypt -- Kedar being a son of Ishmael and his Egyptian bride (Gen. 25:13) (Ishmael was also born of an Egyptian woman [Hagar, Gen. 16:1]). (The fact Ishmael had an Egyptian mother and an Egyptian wife further solidifies the association of bride and mother in this context. Also note the comparison of the Bride to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots in Sg. 1:9).

2) This next idea is ultimately connected to the concept of original sin and the story of Adam being installed as the priest/keeper of his garden/vineyard but he failed to do so, and because of that, God had to put barriers/mediators between Adam/man and Himself in order that the sun may not burn them (sg. 1:6). Mary, although sinless, carried the burden of original sin. It is because Mary had original sin but was sinless that she perfectly fulfilled her place in the arc of salvation as new Eve. (Eve did not have original sin but still sinned -- Eve was like the curtains of Solomon but voluntarily brought upon herself exile out of the garden into the wild tents of Kedar. Mary, however, although stained by the blackness and burns of original sin remained altogether comely.) 

The antimonies of black, but comely and the tents of Kedar / the curtains of Solomon (as well as the multitude of twofold descriptions throughout the song of songs) definitely call back to the two goats in the day of atonement, in which all of reality is accounted for by God and the prescribed participation in that reality by Israel -- although, this is a concept I need to explore more in-depth. 

[The unknown/wild aspects of reality, represented by the tents of Kedar, are not inherently evil and will ultimately be reconciled within God’s total account of all things within His cosmic structure of reality. It becomes evil, however, when man attempts to structure reality and account for these wild/unknown things within his own naming/reasoning.]

Many of these ideas are drawing heavily upon concepts I’ve been introduced to by Kabane/Seraphim Hamilton, who never fails to provide inspiring, edifying and brilliant content.

This was a jumbled together mess of ideas but I hope some level of coherency was achieved and that someone can learn something from this. 😄

[creepymagickshop]

Soldiers of Christ- How to spot a retard satanist trying to preach or quote your Holy Bible. This could even be your very own pastor or elder- gasp!

Oracle Penelope with the love of Jesus Christ our Savior, to the Christian Soldiers ready to defend the real body of Christ, greetings on this beautiful Mother’s Day!

As we learned from a previous lesson, you are not to take everything for granted, you decern through the Holy Ghost, which only Christians have, to the truth of a statement about and for God. The Lambs will be speaking with the Dragons voice! Those are fake Christians and will be thrown into the abyss also! Walk away from those teachers, they are satanists. (Revelations)

We will take a simple verse misquoted a lot. If you ever heard someone quoting this to shut someone up, you may give them a verbal lashing as the moronic satanist they just proved themselves to be. (We give you permission)

Christians listen through the Holy Spirit and also read in context, with understanding of cultural reference and time period root-word meaning (cough cough, retards who have problems with the term Witch of Christ, you just marked yourselves are morons on a public stage).

One shining example of a moron misunderstanding our Holy Scripture is “Women should be silent in church!” They are of course misquoting our beloved Paul in one of his letters to a struggling new Christian church surrounded by moron cockroaches. We REAL Christians, all know he was speaking to one group of women who were yelling over the preacher, and also speaking to a group of men causing problems. So simply solved by actually reading the whole letter.

Anyone who preaches the true version of the Word of God, preaches the Good News without perversions. Otherwise they are false messengers, backed by the dragon, who is Lucifer. If you are misquoting the Bible, you are a crony of the devil. We don’t want you near us, and don’t go claiming our Christianity. You ARE NOT ONE OF US (you need a good punch to the throat).

Galatians 1: 1 (YLT1898)

1 Paul, an apostle — not from men, not through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who did raise him out of the dead —

Galatians 1: 6- 9 (YLT1898)

6 I wonder that you are so quickly removed from Him who did call you in the grace of Christ to another good news [fake Christian teachings];

7 that is not another, except there be certain who are troubling you, and wishing to pervert the good news of the Christ;

8 but even if we or a messenger out of heaven may proclaim good news to you different from what we did proclaim to you [subgroup of “Christians” with extra fake holy books or misquoting the Bible] — anathema let him be! [vehemently disliked]

9 as we have said before, and now we say again, if any one to you may proclaim good news different from what he did recieve — anathema let him be!

Do not fall into the grasp of a greedy devil by listening to teachers who misquote the Holy Bible. Listen to their teachings, is there wisdom in the lesson? Is there understanding of context in the preaching? If they lack these things, they have not been initiated into the secret of the Christ, they have not received the Holy Ghost.

If someone has been brought up by a devil who has been teaching falsely the Bible, in such a perverted manner, the Holy Ghost will have them ( the listener) swerve away from following the footsteps of their predecessor. Meaning- they will not want to repeat such vile degrading things to other people. They may believe that it is in the Bible, because they have been taught this, but the Holy Ghost will speak to their spirit and have them back away from such things. They definitely will not be running around screaming it and throwing it into people faces to try and hurt others. Those people have no wisdom and are cockroaches claiming the name of our Christ. (A good verbal punch to the throat will sort them out)

If you have been raised and are now within a church that is misquoting the Bible- RUN.

The judgment seal has been broken (Revelations) and those fake churches will be judged harshly just like all the other moron satanists.

You are never to believe anyone’s teachings about our Jesus Christ without doing your own footwork to make sure it is good sound doctrine.

What do we do with lukewarm Christians who hear a messenger from God and poo-poo them, turning away pretending no one is speaking?

Oh! If it’s a woman, they don’t have to listen? Or if it’s not someone of their skin color, they don’t have to listen?

Listen up EVERYONE!

When God sends a messenger to speak to you, He, your own God, is speaking to you through someone’s mouth, and you are to show respect and value Gods words.

You with the Holy Spirit are filled with His truth. Your spirit will discern a servant of Christ. You will know they are from God.

The moment a lukewarm Christian turns away from a messenger of God, He your God, vomits them out of His mouth. (Revelations)

There are no do-overs. 

If Gods messengers are starting to call for war, for action, it is your OWN GOD who is telling you this. Lukewarm Christians stand with Satan the moment they turn their backs on the call. Don’t get it twisted- you do not get to choose the mouthpiece of God that you want to listen to. Those people are arrogant fools who will be knocked from the high places they have set themselves up in. Just watch our God work, His curse is upon the world, it is judgment time. (This is not new information from me, Oracle of Christ, I have prophesied over a year ago, to which you yourself can look up on my feed, that God has been sounding the breaking of the seal of judgment)

The next seal to break will be Death and Hades, you WANT Gods holy seal of protection on you for what’s coming.

- Penelope

[nerdygaymormon]

Collection of scriptures useful for queer people to understand

Over the past year I have shared some thoughts on scriptures related to homosexuality or queer people. I plan to add to this, but here is a collection of the posts I’ve made so far. 

It’s important to understand these verses because many people use scriptures to justify their bigotry, but much of what they think they know about what the scriptures say just isn’t there, or is a mischaracterization. Their prejudice is not what God says about you. 

Genesis 1 & 2 – Adam & Eve, AND Adam & Steve : The purpose of these verses is not to discount homosexuality or being transgender

Genesis 19:1-11 – Sodom & Gomorrah : It’s ironic that this story is used to justify treating LGBTQ+ individuals inhospitably. Homosexuality had nothing to do with this story and such an interpretation was not added until over a thousand years later.

Leviticus 18, 20 – Lie with a man as with a woman : These verses forbid Jews from engaging in male-male sex done as part of pagan worship. 

Deuteronomy 23:17 – whores and sodomites : These verses are about prohibiting prostitution

Ruth & Naomi : 2 women who made vows, lived together for life, loved each other deeply, adopted each other’s extended families as their own, and relied on each other for sustenance. And the Bible celebrates their relationship. 

Jonathan & David : The text suggests this is more than two men who became friends. The possibility this is a same-sex relationship blessed by God is why the story of Jonathan and David has been a favorite of queer Christians. 

1 Kings 14:24 – sodomites in the land; 1 Kings 15:12 he took away the sodomites; 1 Kings 22:46 the remnant of the sodomites; 2 Kings 23:7 brake down the houses of the sodomites : Every time the Old Testament condemns homosexual acts, it is because they’re part of worshiping a different god. Worship of any other god is what is forbidden, it’s one of the 10 commandments.

Esther : While they don’t fit our modern definitions of LGBTQIA, eunuchs were definitively considered “other” in their time and offer us a chance to discuss otherness and non-gender conforming people in the Bible. They’re the unsung heroes of this story. 

Isaiah 3:9 - declare their sin as Sodom : Isaiah calls out the people of Judah and Jerusalem for not taking care of the poor or visitors. For having no guilt about the sins they commit. Not for being gay.

Isaiah 56:3-7 : Eunuchs welcomed by God: God’s way is radical inclusiveness, God doesn’t marginalize people. 

Daniel : In my opinion, the best example in the Old Testament to suggest God supports same-gender loving relationships. 

Socially queer Jesus & disciples : Queerness fits naturally with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 8:5-13 – The centurion and his “servant” : Jesus restores a gay relationship by a miracle of healing and then holds up a gay man as an example of faith for all to follow. 

Matthew 19:5-12 – Marriage & Eunuchs : Jesus is discussing marriage and he mentions eunuchs (which, in context, seems clear he’s speaking of men who don’t have a desire or attraction for women) being an exemption from male-female marriage. 

Matthew 25:31-46 : Christ determined “the righteous” were people who welcomed the stranger, fed and clothed people in need, visited the sick and those in jail. Doing these things builds the kingdom of God, regardless of the belief or faith of the individual. 

Acts 8:25-40 An apostle baptizes a eunuch into the church : I see the eunuch’s journey mirrored in the unfolding path of modern-day LGBTQ+ people. as step-by-step we’re on the way to being accepted in the Church. 

Romans 1:26-27 : Like most every verse on same-sex activity in the Bible, this one is about behaviors in relation to idol worship, which is forbidden in the Ten Commandments. Possibly it’s about lust and one-time encounters, perhaps even straight people engaging in sexual behaviors that can’t result in pregnancy. It isn’t about loving committed relationships between people who have a same-sex orientation.

I Corinthians 6:9-10 : Paul is speaking against prostitutes or random hook-ups, where sex is being pursued for sex, not love or as part of a relationship. No one believes he is condemning sex between heterosexual married individuals. We likewise shouldn’t assume he’s forbidding relationships between people of the same gender.  

1 Corinthians 7 :  If you’re ace/aro, great! God has work for you. However, if you don’t have the “gift of celibacy,” then channel your sexual desires within marriage. Paul is adamant that celibacy should NOT be forced on people. To do so endangers their spiritual well being! Is there a better argument than Paul’s for why Christians should accept and celebrate same-sex marriage? 

Galatians 3:28 : The human distinctions of race, social rank, and sex are in some sense nullified in Christ. This scripture says the gender binary disappears in Christ. 

1 Timothy 1:8-10 : While many Christians like to point to this passage in 1 Timothy as an example of the Bible condemning homosexuality, it actually is referring to boy prostitutes, the male customers who used them, and the slave dealers who procured them and sold them into prostitution. 

Doctrine and Covenants 49:15-17 : The purpose of these verses is to say that marriage is good and rejecting a requirement of life-long celibacy. 

[audarkmist]

What I’m taught is Hebrews 10:26, Galatians 5:16, 1 Corinthians 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:17, be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. Crucify the flesh, kill sin, dead to sin. All terms the Bible uses to support that a Christian who sins is not of God, all sin is willful because of you sin it means you aren’t walking in the spirit. Why do Christians ask people who quote this “do you not sin?” Like they get defensive and want to justify their own sin? God hates sin and sinners is what I’m told.

Dear anon,

I can’t speak for every context where people say “do you not sin?”. It kind of depends on the nature of the conversation. I think they may be referring to…

1. Habitual Sin vs Sin.

1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

This is because all of us have sinned and even continue to sin after being saved. Not sinning is referring to habitual sin or practicing sin.

1 John 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

2. Gently convicting.

The point to remember is Christians will still sin and all passages must be reconciled. They shouldn’t make excuses for sin or defend it. It might be hard for them if they are put on the spot in front of everyone or the rebuke is not gentle in nature. We are supposed to encourage each other in doing good works. Encouragement includes remembering positive reinforcement not just negative ones. Things like “I saw you doing better keep it up and soon you’ll be rid of this sin” or something soft lol. Let the word of God convict not the tone of voice or use of harsh words. Many are more sensitive than they can come off you know,

Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

3. Marks of a true Christian.

The Christian life isn’t sinless perfection but continuous repentance from sin. A true Christian will be sensitive to the sin in their life and turn away from it. The bigger essential is the inward heart change of hating sin and loving God that leads to greater and greater sanctification.

4. God hates the sinner.

God does hate the sinner outside of Christ and the false professing Christians. Once saved his attitude towards us is always love as if we were Christ. We receive Christ righteousness for current and future sins (unless we prove to have never been saved). He does discipline us out of love but not to destroy us. I would be worried if God does not discipline someone. It’s not a good sign if God is not disciplining the person and working on them (they may not be saved). God disciplines his own children to help them like a parent disciplining their own child.Discipline implies his children will sin but not without cost.

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.

There is hope for a Christian who sins. Christ advocates their case with his blood. It implies a Christian will sin but does not make a habit of sinning or a practice of it. In their practice they are continuously fighting, turning away and repenting from their sins. Their heart has been changed so they no longer see sin as their desire but God. A war wages between the flesh and the spirit but there must be a war. Only someone alive can wage a war. Someone dead never gets up to fight. The righteous man may fall seven times but every time he must get back up. We should not be passive about destroying sin.

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Proverbs 24:16 For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

That is to say the righteous keep fighting while the lost stay down never standing back up to fight. A dead man can’t get back up to fight and needs reminded of the gospel and go back to elementary doctrines. They must understand salvation is a free gift not by works but that produces works as a byproduct. The lost must be saved and born again before they can fight. 

God bless!

[wisdomfish]

Darnel...

False brothers and sisters have been a heartbreaking scourge on the church since its very beginning, when Judas joined the band of disciples as a “devil” among saints (John 6:70–71). When the net of the kingdom is cast into the sea of the world, it hauls in both good and bad fish, which must be separated later (Matthew 13:47–50). When the seed of the kingdom is sown into the field of the world, the enemy sows his own seed in the field, causing the devil’s weeds to grow alongside God’s wheat, and must be separated later (Matthew 13:36–43).

That last parable in particular illustrates a difficult reality for us: it often takes a while until we can tell the difference between God’s wheat and the devil’s weeds. The Greek word translated into English as weed in this parable is zizanion, which the original readers likely would have understood to be a particular weed called darnel. Darnel has been known as wheat’s “evil twin” for thousands of years because in seed form and early development it looks very much like wheat, but it’s toxic to humans and so must be separated at harvest.

So when Jesus says, “You will recognize them by their fruits,” he means we will recognize true and false brothers and sisters when they reach a certain level of maturity and their fruit (whether wheat or darnel) can be seen. Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, and Simon the magician all looked like wheat to the disciples at first (Acts 5:1–11; 8:9–24). Until the toxic fruit of their falseness became visible.

What makes this whole process even trickier is that good trees sometimes act sinfully and bear bad fruit. There’s Aaron and the golden calf (Exodus 32:1–6), David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1–25), Peter denying Jesus (John 18:15–18, 25–27), Peter and Barnabas acting hypocritically (Galatians 2:11–13), a number of Corinthians acting pridefully, immorally, suing each other, and engaging in various other sins (1 Corinthians 4:8; 5:1; 6:1–8; 8:1). Those don’t look like good fruits. So were they bad trees?

No and not necessarily (since I can’t vouch for all the nameless Corinthians). Why? Because when confronted, they “[bore] fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). And the bad fruit proved to be an anomaly in a longer-term context of bearing good fruits.

~ John Bloom

[davidrmaas]

After chastising the Galatians for exchanging the liberating Spirit for the bondage of circumcision (Galatians 3:1-8), the Apostle Paul then makes an argument based on the example of Abraham (3:6-14). He links Abraham to faith, righteousness and the promised blessing for Gentiles, then introduces the subjects of the “sons of Abraham,” the ingathering of the Gentiles and the curse of the Law.      Abraham was reckoned righteous on the basis of faith (“just as Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him for righteousness”), therefore those who are from faith are true “sons of Abraham.” God promised that in Abraham “all the Gentiles will be blessed”; from the beginning His purpose was that “the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Jesus Christ, in order that the promise of the Spirit might be received through the faith.” Paul equates the “blessing of Abraham” with the “promise of the Spirit.”      In contrast, those “from the works of the Law” place themselves under the Law's curse. The Law pronounces that those under it are obligated “to continue in ALL the things written in the Book of the Law” (Deuteronomy 27:26). The Law is not a pick-and-choose menu but an all-or-nothing proposition.     Gentile believers that subject themselves to circumcision must understand that much more is involved than just the removal of foreskin. Torah requires covenant members to do all that is written in it; failure to do so will place one under its curse. Circumcision is just a first step and entry point to something much larger.      Paul next presents an argument based on the nature of a covenant (3:15-18). The covenant with Abraham represented God's original intent and irreversible will. A covenant once ratified “no one voids or appends,” therefore the Law that “came into being four hundred and thirty years later does not invalidate or nullify” the earlier promise.      The Promise was given not just to Abraham but to “his seed,” singular, and that seed is Jesus. The promised inheritance with its blessings for Gentiles is therefore not from the law, but rather through “the promise to Abraham.” Paul's line of reasoning is covenantal.  The Purpose & Duration of the Law:  (Galatians 3:19-22) - “Why, then, the Law? It was added because of the transgressions until the time when the seed came for whom the promise was given, and it was given in charge through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not mediator of one, yet God is one. Is then the law against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given which was able to make alive, then righteousness would be from the law. But the scripture confined all things under sin, in order that the promise from the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them who believe.”      If God gave the Law at Sinai, if right standing with God is based on faith not deeds of the Torah, and if the inheritance promised to Abraham is received through faith, not Law, what was and is the purpose of the Mosaic Law?      Paul responds first that the Law was “added” after the original promise to Abraham. It is subsequent and subsidiary to the promise. It is also distinct from it in regards to its era in salvation history.      By “added” Paul does not mean that the Mosaic legislation did add something to the original covenant. He identifies the Law given at Sinai to be a covenant confirmed by God (“a covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law…does not void the promise”). Paul views the Mosaic legislation as a distinct covenant, a covenant that was “added” after the original Promise.      The Law was given “until the seed should come.” This means there was a temporal limitation on the Law. “Until” translates the Greek preposition achri. When used with a place it connotes “as far as”; with time the sense is “until” or “up to” a termination point. Paul thus places the Law under a time constraint. Throughout his argument, Paul consistently refers to the “law” in the singular, to the Mosaic Law in its entirety. He never subdivides the Law into separate categories (e.g., moral, civil, ceremonial). It is not a part of the Law that has a termination point, but the whole Law.      Paul identifies the promised “seed” as Christ and the arrival of this “seed” is the Law’s termination point. The Torah was to be in effect until the seed arrived. Paul sees two distinct eras of Salvation History. The first ends when the second begins.      Paul does not argue that the function of the Law is now added to or integrated with the promise; he argues the opposite when he says no one adds to or annuls an existing covenant. Paul sees the Abrahamic covenant and the Mosaic legislation as two separate covenants, not two parts of one. One is added to Israel’s story after the other.      The Law became necessary “because of transgressions.” Transgression (parabasis) means an “overstepping, a trespass, a transgression.” It refers to deliberate or conscious acts of disobedience. Sin has existed since Adam but law turns it into “transgression” by making known God’s standard.      The sense of the preposition “because of” or charin can be understood in one of two ways: either the Law was given to identify transgressions or to increase them. The first option fits the immediate context and Paul’s theology elsewhere (e.g., Romans 3:20). The idea of increasing sin makes little sense in light of his next statement, “until the seed should come to whom the promise was made.” Identifying transgression better fits the analogy of the Law’s role as a “custodian” in verse 24-25.      The Law “was given in charge through angels by the hand of a mediator.” This thought reflects a later Jewish tradition that angels delivered the Law into the “hand of” Moses, one seen elsewhere in the New Testament (cp. Deuteronomy 33:2; Acts 7:38; 7:53; Hebrews 2:2). “The hand of a mediator” likely refers to Moses (the Septuagint frequently states the Law was “by the hand of Moses” (e.g., Leviticus 26:46; Numbers 4:37; 4:41, 4:45, 4:49; 9:23; 10:13; 15:23).      To claim the Law was given by angels does not disparage it. A law given directly by God or by his appointed agents is valid. Possibly Paul’s opponents cited the angels’ presence at Sinai as evidence of the law’s glory. But Paul turns this tradition against them.      The Law was given by the angels into “the hand of a mediator”; it was delivered into the hands of Moses who in turn mediated it to Israel. But “a mediator is not mediator of one, yet God is one.” A mediator implies a plurality of persons involved in a transaction. With Abraham God acted directly and unilaterally. He does not need an intermediary; God gave the promise directly to Abraham. This stresses the promise’s priority over the Torah. Paul does not disparage Moses, the Law, angels or the function of a mediator, but is stressing the priority of the earlier promise over the Law, which was given later and through intermediaries.      The Law is not contrary to the Promise; “is the Law against the promises of God?” Since there are discontinuities between the Law and the Promise, and since the Law was added later and is subsidiary to the Promise, it is necessary to demonstrate the Law is not contrary to the Promise.      “If a law had been given that was able to make alive, then righteousness would have been on the basis of law.” The Law is incapable of imparting life, therefore, righteousness cannot be based on the Law. The purpose of the Law was for something other than the impartation of life. Moreover, if the Law could make alive or acquit sinners before God, “then Christ died in vain” (2:21). Paul equates the impartation of life with the being set right with God. The Law is not contrary to the Promise but the Law lacks the necessary means to deliver the Promise.      The “Scripture confined all things under sin” so that the promise from the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them who believe. “All things” is in the neuter gender and may here be a broader category than “all persons” (i.e., the entire creation under the dominion of sin). Paul is expanding his target to include all humanity. All those “under the Law,” that is, Israel, are under its curse, and all humans are confined under sin.      Paul does not say the Law confined all things but “the Scripture,” singular. Elsewhere when Paul uses “the Scripture” in the singular with the definite article he refers to a specific passage (Galatians 3:8, 4:30, Romans 4:3, 9:17, 10:11, 11:2). Most likely he means the key proof text cited in the letter’s proposition (Galatians 2:16) quoted from Psalm 143:2 (“because by the works of the law shall no flesh be acquitted”). No flesh can be acquitted by the works of the law because all are confined under sin.      “Confined” translates a Greek verb, sungkleiō, meaning to “shut together, to confine, hem in, imprison.” The idea is something shut up together on all sides, such as a school of fish caught in a net. A similar idea is expressed in Romans 11:32, “For God has confined them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” The same verb is used in the next verse, “But before the faith came we were kept under the law, confined until the faith”. All flesh is under sin and unable to be set right before God.      Verse 22 reads, “from the faith of Jesus Christ,” which points either to the “faith” of Jesus or to his “faithfulness.” Probably this is a cryptic reference to the faithful obedience of Jesus demonstrated in his death (2:20-21). The source or basis of the promise now available to all who believe is the faithfulness of Jesus.

http://finishedword.blogspot.com/2019/07/provisional-nature-of-law.html