Peter, Sin and Forgiveness

We know that the apostle Peter was of the elect of God.  He was a true Christian; however, we see him sin against our Lord in Matthew 16:22-23.  This was after he gave his undying confession of Jesus in Matthew 16:16.  He called Jesus "the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  Peter proclaimed the deity of Jesus Christ.  It was what Nathanael proclaimed of Christ in John 1:49.  Scholars say that Peter is "a" rock or "the" rock.  I would say that Christ is "the" Rock but Peter is "a" rock.  We are called to be a little Jesus to the world.  I think Christ built the church upon Himself.  Here are the verses that speak of Peter's betrayal of Christ before His atoning death:

Matthew 16:22 KJV
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Matthew 16:23 KJV
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Jesus in the Gospel accounts mentions someone who is a devil and it was Judas.  Someone may think it could mean Peter as well by these verses; however, I think we can say with assurance that Peter is a true Christian.  We can learn that God forgives the greatest of sins, because Peter became an "incarnation of Satan."  Such a thing is a great sin but Jesus forgave him no doubt.  Peter also wrote epistles and instructed the Christian brethren.   We can learn that with God forgiveness is possible and actual for the worst offense.

Christ Alone and Other Works

Do we need good works to enter heaven?  There is a work provided for us and it is in Christ alone.  We need the work of Christ alone to save us.  We need to understand we are saved by the unified work of Christ alone.  That is, His life, death and resurrection.  The resurrection confirms that His life and death are authentic (Acts 4:12).

Rome says that the Roman Church is necessary for spiritual salvation (CCC 846) and she speaks of a cleansing fire in purgatory and temporal punishment.  We know that the blood of Jesus Christ expiates all our sin (Romans 3:25).  We need the work of Christ alone and not our deeply and profoundly imperfect works.

The Blood of Jesus Washes Us Clean

The blood of Jesus washes us clean.  I am not referring to the transubstantiated blood of the Roman Eucharist.  I suggest to you that it cannot take away sin.  I believe only the real and first event atonement of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ can take away every sin.  The Eucharist is a representation of the body and blood of Christ.  We should not worship it but we must worship Christ alone. 

Let us ponder these Scripture references,

1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Choose Jesus Christ This Day

There is no doubt that people should make a decision for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; however, we know by the Holy Scripture that God first chooses us.  This is a very serious matter, because it is God who chooses us before we choose Him.  He has chosen us to bear much fruit. 

I am not advocating decisional regeneration, but I am saying that it matters who makes a decision for Jesus Christ.  It matters if Jesus is behind that human decision for Christ.  He enables us to chose Him alone for spiritual salvation.   No one is good enough to believe.  Everyone is total unable to believe Christ. 

Total inability comes from total depravity.  People are totally depraved and radically corrupt.  We do not have a nature that is compatible with the goodness of God.  The nature human beings have is at enmity against God. We are rebellious by nature. 

No one can choose Christ because we are dead in sin.  We are totally hindered to chose Christ.  The deadness in sin that we have means we are spiritually dead people.  I pray that if someone does choose Christ that is evidence of the work of God.  Someone could choose Christ but be unbelieving.  However, if someone chooses Christ it could also be the work of the Spirit of God and the Word of God.

I believe that the written Word of God teaches monergistic regeneration.  That is, that we are born again not by our decision but by the Spirit and the Word.  No decision of anyone ever saved a soul.  Only the work of the Holy Ghost and the Scriptures could save a soul. 

I acknowledge Jesus Christ before men and chose Christ because He chose me first.  I pray that people would chose Christ because of the Spirit and Word alone.  May you chose Jesus today for the right reasons and may His grace and peace cover you.  Amen.

If You Are Under Trails...

We all suffer from something.  Some have physical pain and others have emotional pain, but some have mental difficulties.  There is no doubt that we are people who suffer from something. 

What should we do when it comes upon us?  We should turn to the written Word of God.  We should turn to prayer.  We can have refuge in our reading and reflecting of the Bible alone. 

We should not be ashamed if we suffer from physical, emotional or mental suffering.  We should rest on the promise of God that He is our strength, refuge and mighty fortress. 

If we face trails, it does not mean God does not love us.  If we face trails, it does not mean that God will not be compassionate toward us-ward.  We can have great hope that once we die we will be glorified.  This happens at the moment of death.  This is our great hope and confidence and wisdom.

A trail may seem to take us out of God's love; however, such a notion is impossible.  Nothing in all creation can take us out of God's love.  Not even our own selves can take us out of God's love.  Not even our rejection of Him can rid of us of a great and awesome God.  That does not mean we should reject Him but it means that He is always there for us to bear our load.  Jesus says "Come unto me."  He wants us to come to Him because He is kind to the downtrodden and brokenhearted.

Maybe we have committed wrongdoing and we are suffering for our sins.  Jesus said to one person "sin no more lest something worse happen to you."  There are indeed consequences to sin; however, there was a blind man from birth and neither he nor his parents sinned that he was born blind, but it was done so that the works of God would be manifested within him.  That is, it was Jesus' miracles which were the works of God.  Suffering is not an illusion but it is something that is real.  It is something that people experience. 

We ought to focus on JESUS when we suffer.  We ought to ask God for deliverance when we suffer.  God is faithful and true and He will see us through.  He will not abandon us and forsake us.  We can be sure that He is kind to the wicked and loving toward His people. 

We ought to remember the simplicity of the gospel.  We ought to remember that Jesus saves us.  There is no one else who is a greater or better friend than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

Was ever a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in Heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain

Time Wasted

All the time we have is precious.  None of it is to be wasted.  God gives us all the time we need to accomplish His plans.  We have only one life to live, only one.  We ought to live with carefulness and discernment.  We ought not to waste our time here on earth.  God does not want us to use time to trifle with but to take it seriously.  We ought to live in light God's promises and in mediating on His Word. 

After we are done with this life, we will face eternity.   Have you lived with the fullness of Christ and the endurance and work ethic that a Christian should work at?  The things we did not accomplish in time and space we may accomplish in eternity.  There is enough "time" in eternity to do all the things we couldn't do here on earth in this mortal life.  Jesus is preparing a place for us.  We ought to be responsible for our time and how we use it.   Judas used his time unwisely because he was a devil.  Do you use your time wisely? 

Time is so important because it is when we do things.  Let us not play with time but have things to be done.  Maybe we should plan what we do.  Let us not be trifle with time because there is but one life to live.  Reincarnation is a farce because only resurrection is true.   We ought to live life faithfully to Jesus and be obedient to Him no matter what.  Time wasted is sin and we would do well to repent of it.   We would do well to live like Jesus.  Jesus never wasted any time.  If we are like Him, we will accomplish much.  The apostle John says there is not enough books to be written on how much Jesus has done.  Could we say the same about us?  Do we waste our time?  Are we concerned about the things of God and the eternal destiny of each person?  Let us ponder diligently on these things.   Amen.

God Controls Everything

The very hairs of are head are all numbered (Matthew 10:29-30).  God the Father is controlling all our circumstances and nothing happens that is not through His care-loving hands.  He directs all our circumstances and it is a moment by moment directing.  He is sovereign and in complete control.  Some think that God is standing away from His creation and letting things flow apart from Him.  Nothing trivial escapes His notice.  Everything in creation is ordered by God alone. 

It is indeed hard to believe when things go dark.  It is hard to believe when we are in great pain.  We ought to have the response of waiting upon the Lord.  We ought to use discernment in the way we should walk in Christ.  We ought to keep our eyes on Yeshua and He will safely lead us along life's pathway.  It is designed by Him and we can take confidence that He is in control.  In fact, we are to be assured that God is controlling all things pertaining to life and godliness. We ought to look to God for deliverance, for light and for help.  We call this our precious faith. 

It is a awesome thing to discern that God is with us because He controls everything; however, many do not believe this sacred truth.  I suggest to you that we should rest upon the absolute sovereignty of God in all things.  This will give us hope and increase our faith.  He is not the author of sin nor does He have any fellowship with sin. 

We ought to never deny God's particular providence.  Nothing should baffle us because we know that everything passes through the hands of Jesus our Friend and Advocate with God the Father.  There is no god that can take us out of the hand of Almighty God.  There is no person who can damn us, condemn us or forsake us under judgment when we have truly trusted Christ.  It is because God through His Son has made the matter of spiritual salvation a secure and certain testimony of His abundant and all-sufficient grace.  Amen.

Yeshua Sought Me When A Stranger

We must realize that Jesus Christ seeks sinners to save; that is, He will find the lost and save them.  It was Adam who hid himself from God but God sought him out.  He seeks and finds and saves.  No one saves like Jesus saves.  He saves freely and immutably. 

Jesus never changes.  That is, we can rest assured that He will continue to save the lost.  He came not to save those who claim their own merit or goodness.  He came to save sinners!  We all should regard ourselves as the chief of sinners.  Its not necessarily the degree of sin but the Person sinned against. 

Jesus seeks and saves sinners.  He has the strong arm to save.  He is the stronger and no one can undo His work of spiritual salvation.  We may fall into sin after we are found by Christ.  That is what the Cross of Christ is for: sinners!  May we seriously think upon Christ and Him alone for how we are right with God.  Amen.

Christ Alone and Salvation

There is no hope except through Yeshua alone.  The essence of hopelessness is the absence of Christ.  He must be the center of our focus and trust and hope and love.  There is no love or trust except in Christ. 

People add other intercessors to make themselves feel comfortable; however, it is a wrong comfort or peace.  The comfort and peace Jesus gives is not of this world. 

We ought to pray for someone's salvation.  We ought to pray that people gain the peace of Christ.  There is no peace like the peace of Jesus.  His peace is a everlasting peace.  Amen.

Some people find peace in the Virgin Mary, but I suggest to you that it is a false peace.  Some people find hope in the Virgin Mary, but I suggest to you that it is a false hope.  The only true peace and hope is found in Mary's Son Jesus!  We ought to have Him as our sole refuge. 

Sin and the Christian Life

We will sin in the Christian life because we are sinners.  We have a sin nature and it is apart of the Christian life to sin but in a legal sense we are dead to sin and alive to Christ. 

We already have the victory over sin, death and hell because of Jesus!  However, this does not mean we do not sin; that is, we will keep sinning until we are in glory but this does not mean we should indulge sin.

There are many who teach a "victory understanding" of the Christian life as if we don't ever sin or couldn't ever sin; however, this is contrary to the Bible.  The Bible teaches that we will sin but that we continue to repent of our sins through Jesus' shed blood.  This gives us the victory over sin and death and hell.  If we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus our righteousness. 

We ought to live holy lives in a surrendering and submission to Jesus.  We ought to be godly people and upright people in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. 

Suffering and Meaning

We all go through suffering in this life.  There are trails, tribulations and evils that we face.  We face the attacks of the flesh, the world and the devil.  They harm us and bombard us with all sorts of things.

The only meaning we have is through the Father's Son.  Jesus is our meaning!  Our existence is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  We ought to love God and enjoy Him.  He has the best plan for our lives.   No one can take His plan away from us.  May God also give us deliverance from evil.  Amen.

Is Mary our Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix?

Here what the Roman Church teaches,

969 "This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."

The Bible does not teach this; that is, the above is personal insight rather than biblical truth based on the written Scriptures.   Mary is not our Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix!  The Bible says that Jesus Christ is our Advocate and Mediator, but also that the Spirit of God is our Advocate.  Here are some quotations from the Bible,

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous..."  (1 John 2:1 KJV).  

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." (1 Timothy 2:5 KJV).

Here is how the Holy Spirit is described by Jesus Himself,

John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Is Mary a Co-Redemptrix?

Here Rome in their Catechism of the Catholic Church says,

"Without a single sin to retrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and work of her son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with Him...being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race" (CCC 494).

The Bible clearly and plainly teaches that Jesus Christ is our sinless Redeemer!  The simplicity of the gospel or glad tidings of Jesus Christ is that we look to Him alone for spiritual salvation.  Rome makes inferences from Scripture but these are more of personal insight than biblical truth.  Rome makes a cosmic leap of blind faith in the Virgin Mary.  No where in the Bible does it say that she is "without a single sin."  It is a nice idea at best but at worst it will cost the human person his soul.  We dare not equivalent Mary with Jesus, because only Jesus Christ was sinless.  There is no doubt that Mary was devoted to her Son!  However, she was a sinner saved by grace alone like all of us.  She cries out for a Savior in the Gospel of Luke.  If someone needs a Savior, they must be a sinner.  Someone who is sinless does not need a Savior.  The cause of spiritual salvation was God the Spirit not the Virgin Mary.  Saying that Mary is co-redeemerix is like adding a god besides Almighty God.  Let us look at what the Bible says about Jesus being the only Redeemer for the human race.  It never adds someone else along side the Redeemer Who is God alone:

1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV  
¹⁸ Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 
¹⁹ But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Job 19:25 KJV
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
 Psalm 19:14 KJV
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
 Psalm 78:35 KJV
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
 Proverbs 23:11 KJV
For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
 Isaiah 41:14 KJV
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
 Isaiah 43:14 KJV
Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
 Isaiah 44:6 KJV
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
 Isaiah 44:24 KJV
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
 Isaiah 47:4 KJV
As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
 Isaiah 48:17 KJV
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
 Jeremiah 50:34 KJV
Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

The Ugliness of Sin: A Presentation of Bible Verses on Sin

^{Romans 3 KJV}

⁹ What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

¹² They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

¹³ Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

¹⁴ Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood:

¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways:

¹⁷ And the way of peace have they not known:

¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes. 

Psalm 28:3 KJV
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

Psalm 36:1 KJV
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

Proverbs 10:20 KJV
The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 KJV
I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Jeremiah 4:18 KJV
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Faith vs. Fear

I suggest to you that faith is better than fear.  People have a tendency to fear anything and everything around them.  There are several reasons for fear.   There seems to be a war within us and a crisis.  As Christians, we ought to know that fear should have no place in our Christian lives.

Sometimes bad things happen to people around us, but should we respond with fear or faith?  If we respond with faith we will overcome obstacles and the troubling situations in our life.  We ought to focus on God and not the situation!  Worry will stop if we simply trust God. 

We ought to read the Scriptures.  We ought to hear His Word preached.  We ought to write on pleasant things and the things of love and joy.  No one can take that away from us. 

Heaven is the Beginning Not the End

We would do well to comprehend that heaven is the beginning of things to come never the end of things to come!  We ought to understand that heaven is a beautiful place. 

Heaven is the place where Jesus is.  Heaven is the place of friendship and fellowship and worship.  Heaven is the place of serving our great King and Lord and Savior and God. 

If we repent and submit to the Lordship of Christ, we will do well to honor God and enter heaven.  No one can enter heaven without submitting to the Lordship and Saviorship of Jesus Christ.  It is all about Christ alone and through Him alone. 

A Lost Cause

We are called to have mercy upon those who are a "lost cause" or an "out cast."  I suggest to you that they must repent and believe the gospel.  The Bible says to turn from our sins and embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior.  We ought to never turn away from Jesus.  No one can make themselves right with God but only by His grace alone.  It is salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for God's glory alone because of Scripture alone.  The gospel is the heart of simplicity.  May you turn from your sin today and embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Dwell Upon the Pure Righteousness of Christ Alone

^{Let us dwell and think upon the unified merit of Christ alone; that is, His life and death or His active and passive obedience.  In this treasure is the gift of eternal life.  Amen.}

^{Romans 3 KJV}

²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

²⁹ Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

³⁰ Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

³¹ Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Galatians 2 KJV

¹⁶ Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

¹⁷ But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

¹⁸ For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

¹⁹ For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

²¹ I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Genesis 15:6 KJV
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4  KJV

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 
² For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

³ For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
⁴ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
⁵ But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
⁶ Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
⁷ Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
⁹ Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
¹⁰ How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
¹² And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
¹³ For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
¹⁴ For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
¹⁵ Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
¹⁷ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
¹⁸ Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
¹⁹ And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
²⁰ He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
²¹ And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
²² And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
²⁴ But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
²⁵ Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Deuteronomy 9:4 KJV
Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.

Deuteronomy 9:5 KJV
Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

An Out Cast

There are some people in our society that have committed great crimes.  There are some people in our society that are an "out cast." 

What does the Bible say?  The Bible says there is forgiveness in love for these people if they come to God on His terms.  It is better, however, to suffer for righteousness' sake.  But if people do suffer for wrongdoing, there is still hope.  There is hope in Jesus Christ! 

He offers forgiveness of sin to those who repent unto remission.  We ought to repent "through Christ crucified."  The Jesus of the Bible is about free grace and free mercy.  People may hate the God of the Bible because He is so gracious.  People may hate when an "out cast" receives forgiveness of sin because of the offense of love. 

They even seek to discourage those who seek hope in Jesus.  Such is a grave offense!  People should encourage others to go to Jesus for forgiveness and love. 

It is an act of the greatest hypocrisy if a believer would discourage someone from going to Jesus.  I mean that is down right wrong and evil!  Someone who does that should not bear the mark of a "Christian." 

Here is some things of what the Bible says for someone who considers themselves an "out cast."

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Luke 19:10
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Matthew 9:13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 2:17
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 5:32
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
 Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Repentance and Faith

We should repent of our sins.  We may have committed great or small sins.  There is no sin that can cause us to be damned if we repent of it.   We may be the worst of sinners but the Lord is gracious and full of redemptive kindnesses.  It is by His kindnesses that we are forgiven.  It does not matter what you have done because Jesus loves us and forgives us.  We could have committed the list of accusations of great and extraordinary sins but He never casts out anyone who comes to Him.  After all we have done and where we have been, He forgives and He is compassionate to us.  He shines His smiling face upon us.  God calls us sons in Jesus' name.  Let us look at some of the verses in Revelation on repentance.  Remember repentance does not damn us but only sin damns.  God damns through sin but God grants repentance unto remission.  I think we live in a world of cruelty that forbids repentance because people want to perish by nature.  Let us not perish but repent and believe the gospel.

Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 

We should repent of all our sins.  Remember when you were converted and did great works of zeal?  We repented consistently and missed no sin before a holy God.  We have fallen into sin but we can repent.  

Revelation 2:16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 

God chastens His people through consequences but we are called to repentance.  Sometimes God will let the consequences come no matter if we repent or not.  We should repent of all our sins.  Here are other verses from the book of Revelation:

Revelation 2:21
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 
Revelation 2:22
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 
Revelation 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
 Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 
Revelation 9:20
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 
Revelation 9:21
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. 
Revelation 16:9
And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory
Revelation 16:11
And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Is Satan the Maker of the Trinity as Jehovah's Witnesses Say? A Scriptural Defense of the Trinity

"Satan is the originator of the trinity doctrine."  (Let God Be True, 1946 [1952 rev.], p. 101).

The Bible clearly teaches the doctrine of the Trinity.  It is an orthodox doctrine based and grounded upon the written Word of God.   Here are some verses to consider.

The Divinity of the Father

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8 NASB).

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit… (Matthew 28:19 NASB).  (Emphasis mine).

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:2 NASB).

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (Second Corinthians 13:14 NASB). (Emphasis mine).

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 NASB). (Emphasis mine).

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. (First Corinthians 8:6 NASB). (Emphasis mine).

The Personality of the Father

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. (Jeremiah NASB)

and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased. (Matthew 3:17 NASB).

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NASB).

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew          5:48 NASB).

But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6 NASB).

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”(Matthew 6:14 NASB).

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36 NASB).

saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42 NASB).

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NASB).

For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. (John 5:20 NASB).

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. (John 5:21 NASB).

I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours… (John 17:9 (NASB).

Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me;” (Acts 1:4 NASB).

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace… (Second Thessalonians 2:16 NASB).

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope… (First Timothy 1:1 NASB).

what we have seen and  heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. (First John 1:3 NASB).

The Divinity of the Son

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:6 NKJV).

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV).

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, "which is translated, "God with us." (Matthew 1:23 NKJV).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 NASB).

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (John 1:3 NASB).

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58 NKJV).

And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:28-29 NASB).

whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.  Amen.  (Romans 9:5 NASB).

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (Second Corinthians 4:4 NKJV).

that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (First Timothy 6:15 NKJV).

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 11:15-17 NASB).

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form… (Colossians 2:9 NASB).

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NASB).

looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ… (Titus 2:13 NASB).

having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." And of the angels He says:  "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."  But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. ⁹You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.” But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool?”  Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:4-14 NKJV).

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8; NKJV).

saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and  "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." (Revelation 1:11; NKJV).

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (Revelation 1:17-18; NKJV).

And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. (Revelation 21:6 NKJV).

The Humanity of the Son

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15 NKJV).

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NKJV).

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus… (First Timothy 2:5 NKJV).

The Divinity of the Holy Spirit

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NKJV).

By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. (Job 26:13 NKJV).

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4 NKJV).

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit… (Matthew 28:19 NASB) (Emphasis mine).

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (Second Corinthians 13:14 NASB). (Emphasis mine).  

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 NASB). (Emphasis added).

But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?  While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5:3-4 NKJV).

The Personality of the Holy Spirit

Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." (Genesis 6:3 NASB).

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.  (John 14:26 NASB).

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. (Acts 9:31 NASB).

And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers… (Acts 28:25 NASB).

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26 NKJV).

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 NKJV).

A Defense of the Trinity: A. R. E. denies the Trinity

The Association for Research and Enlightenment denies the Trinity and embraces pantheism.  Here is a quote from their literature,

"...in the beginning there was a set of spirit...it withdraw into itself...that which had filled it was shining from its center...This was the individuality of the spirit...this was God.  God desired to express Himself...Therefore, He projected from Himself cosmos and souls" (There Is a River: The Story of Edgar Cayce, pp. 306-307). 

God is unique in His person and essence (Zec. 14:9).  We also know that God is not a man (Nu. 23:19).  In pantheism, no distinction exists between God and man or physical objects.  The personal work of Jesus maintains the whole of creation (Col. 1:16-17).