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Apologetics II

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We Should not Judge

(I expressed my disapproval of modern dress to someone and the response was: “We should not judge. I’ve already done an article on judging. This one is to address just this one misunderstanding of what Jesus said in Matt: 7:1-5:) Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2: For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4: Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5: Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

(As you can see by the text, Jesus is talking about holding others to a strict code of conduct based upon what you think you know. He’s talking about considering a fellow Christian inferior because you see a fault when you have faults of your own.

But the interpretation has morphed into--we can’t say what’s right and what’s wrong. When one is coming from Bible authority and points out a violation of proper conduct with the intent of lifting up the standard for the benefit of the individual or the community or the church, that is not judging, that is being light and salt.

In that very same address down in verse 15 Jesus tells us to do just what I was doing—Matt: 7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.)

Scriptures that show we must judge in this way:

Prov: 20:11: Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. (As a parent must correct their child, so those who know the truth are to try to teach it to those who do not.)

Mal: 13-18: Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14: Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? 15: And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. 16: Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17: And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18: Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

In the same chapter where Jesus says, “Judge not”, he says what is below. Matt: 7:13-20: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

1Cor: 5:11-13: But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12: For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13: But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

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

2Thess: 3:6: Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Jas: 5:9-10: Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20: Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1Jn: 37: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

(It’s the Bible that tells us what is right and what is wrong and it’s the Bible that tells us how to judge. Jesus was talking about erroneous judgment, wrong motives, and a wrong attitude. He message is always walk in love--God’s love--Biblical love.)

© Sylvia Huffnagle


Setting the Record Straight

Most of the church seems to think that because they claim Jesus, they are exempt from following God’s admonitions and precepts, but the truth is that God gave us Jesus so that we can follow His teaching and ways.

Jer: 32:17-19 reveals that our great and mighty God rewards everyone according to their ways and fruits. Today’s church seems to think that God sent Jesus so that mankind won’t have to reap what they’ve sown, but the truth is that God sent Jesus so mankind can change what he sows so he can change what he’s reaping.

We have not been given Jesus in order to be excused from obeying the Word. We have been given Jesus so we can carry out the Word. Just quit looking at mankind’s frailties and look to God’s greatness. Quit using mankind’s shortcomings as an excuse for sinning and messing up. Use the power of Christ within you to overcome them.

Another thing:

Many are teaching that when you “get saved” you are adopted back into the family of God and that parents don’t kick their kids out of the family for being disobedient, therefore God does not kick anyone out of His family either.

This is true but here is how it works. The child of God who chooses to disobey the Father puts him or herself in a position of estrangement from God just as they had been before they came to Him and asked to be saved, born again, accepted, redeemed, or whatever you call it when you are reconciled back to God..

When God adopts you, He gives you His Spirit which is life. But it was a heart choice that caused you to receive life and a heart choice can cause you to receive death. Matt: 8:11-12: … the sons and the heirs of the kingdom will be driven out into darkness.

In the story of The Prodigal the dad said, “This my son was dead, but is alive again.”

What caused him to die? He chose to leave the father’s household and go his own way.

What caused him to be alive again? He came home--repentant and subservient.

Safety:

People come into a stable church and say, “This is stability. I will be safe here.” But little do they know that their adversary has other plans. They do not recognize that we are in a war. They all need to put on the full armor of God or they will be taken away. It’s just that serious, but the church’s emphasis is not on putting on the full armor of God, it is still on going to church and on grace overlooking weaknesses. My point is they are not preparing for battle, they think they are arming those already in battle. But it takes the full armor of God to defeat the enemy.

Blessed:

Deut:1-2: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

3-14: Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4: Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5: Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6: Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7: The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8: The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 9: The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10: And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11: And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12: The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13: And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

14-15: And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. 15: But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

(Some may say, “That was for Israel in the Old Testament.” But it is written in 2Cor:1:19-20 that all promises are ‘yes” to those in Jesus. This is because Jesus fulfilled the law and all promises are ‘yes’ to Him. The key to obtaining all the good things is not to claim that you are among the redeemed, but to hide and abide in Jesus. To hide and abide in Him means to dwell in Him and He in you. This talks about an intimate relationship where Jesus is your Lord, Teacher, and Shepherd, as well as being your Savior, High Priest, Advocate, and big brother. If Jesus is these things to you, you will do things God’s way and be blessed in all you put your hand to.)

Gal:3:8-14: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9: So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11: But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12: And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

(Those who are redeemed through Christ are entitled to the blessing of the Holy Spirit as it was promised to Abraham. Yes. It is God’s will that ALL those who are redeemed receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This outpouring endues the believer with power from on high. Power to resist the enemy, power to witness, power to love your enemies, etc.)

Sin:

God looks at everything through the eyes of love. He not only sees the action, He also sees what’s behind the action and He sees the short term and long term consequences of the action. That should help people understand why He deals with things the way He does. His eyes of love are not the kind that see no evil and they do not just see the sin. In the instant of the action or words, He sees not only the short term and long term consequences, He also sees the best course of action for Him to take toward the offender or toward the obedient.

When one has truly received Jesus and has made a true commitment to change, God sees them not only as they are today, He also sees the finished product--what He is going to make of the person. He sees them as they will be when He has accomplished His work in them. For this class, it is right to assure them that God considers them sinless in His eyes.

But what about the class of confessors who have not truly made the commitment to turn away from sin, turn to God, renew their mind, starve their carnal appetites, and be doers of the Word? Does God see them as sinless just because they say they asked to be saved? No. A person cannot receive God’s salvation until they truly repent and turn to Him.

The bottom line is that there is no use to going to church if the members are not going to be serious about the crucifixion and resurrection taking place in them, because they will never grow up or be perfected or be “one--the body of believers united” for long without it. In fact, without it, all a “body” can become is religious and develop their own religion instead of developing into the body of Christ.

The biggest difficulty in the true church is a lack of knowledge about being crucified with Christ and resurrected Christ in them. Oh, the people have heard this and acknowledge that it is so, but it is still an abstract instead of a reality. It is also true that this is not the spirit in the church nor in the average Christian’s life. Oh, there is a spirit of submission, but without the knowledge of how to apply it in their particular strong temptations, they continue to agree in their minds, but lose in their daily battles. For the crucifixion and resurrection power is God’s answer to mankind’s dilemma of how to live godly, of how to rule over their carnal nature, of how to resist temptation, and of how to submit to God.

The church must be delivered from this present natural gospel which is escape from hell, but not from sin, and be instructed in the super-natural gospel which is Christ in us is our hope of glory. Believers are empowered to crucify their carnal desires and live the resurrected life of Christ in us. Col:1:27

God is perfect in all things--perfect intelligence, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, love, goodness, and power. Christians, being human, are very imperfect, are very limited, are even perverted in some areas. Then there is the troublemaker to hinder them and their carnal nature to drag them down. This is not a negative article. Those things were pointed out only to show that Christians, as long as they are in a carnal body, can not be perfect--they cannot even be perfect children, but they can have a perfect heart toward God. That’s what they must have in order to be children of God and expect to overcome.

So let it be known that God is not expecting Christians to be perfect, but He does expect them to strive for all purity. He does expect them to run the race according to the rules. He does expect them to live by love and faith and not by fear or selfishness.

Mercy:

God is love. His justice is full of love. No, He did not have Jesus go through all that and shed His blood to satisfy His demand of death for sinning against Him. God’s justice included all that Jesus did because God is love. The wages of sin is death is why we die. Jesus had to do all He did in order to counter all that Adam and Eve had done in the fall. Adam committed selfishness. Jesus committed the supreme act of agape love. Adam’s choice is the kind of choice that causes innocent bloodshed. So Jesus chose to shed His innocent blood for the world. Adam hearkened to the lie and liar and disobeyed God. Jesus hearkened to God and obeyed Him. When we receive Jesus, we receive restoration in our relationship with God and restoration back to spiritual life. Our original power of choice is restored. We can choose the Adam way and die or the Jesus way and live. The grace that goes with this theology is offered only to those who choose righteousness.

There is another very subtle and tremendous lie being believed and spoken today. It is that Jesus came to give us peace and love. That sounds right because He did come to do that, but it can only be accomplished by receiving Jesus himself. The truth is if you receive Jesus and obey Him, you will enjoy peace and love. Note that human peace and love practiced by confessed believers who have not put on the Lord Jesus Christ is not real and lasting peace and love.

And those who are peddling peace and love without insisting that the recipient receive the author of peace and love are deceived and their labor is in vain.

© Sylvia Huffnagle


Lighten Up

A popular phrase right now is; “Oh, lighten up.” In fact many people including Christians think that a person should lighten up. If lighten up means – don’t be so serious or don’t take life so serious or joke and fool around a little – I don’t identify with it. I get my instruction from the Word of God and I am putting many of them in this article to make sure Christians don’t lighten up in any way that would put them in a vulnerable place or that would cause them to be a bad example to others. Make sure your ‘lighten up’ does not lead you to behave as the world does.

Ex: 15:26: And said, If thou wilt diligently (1 persevering and careful in work; 2 industrious done with careful, steady effort; painstaking) hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Deut: 4:9: Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

Deut: 6:7: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deut: 11:13: And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deut: 11:22: For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

Deut: 28:1: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

Prov: 3:21: My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

Prov: 4:13: Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Prov: 11:27: He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

Isa: 55:2: Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Lk: 21:34-36: And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35: For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

1Cor: 10:12: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed (heed, beware, mind; see take care at care, watch out) lest he fall.

1Cor: 15:33: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Gal: 6:7: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

1Thess: 5:6: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober ([Solemn] – Syn. restrained, earnest, grave; see solemn 1, serious 2.).

1Thess: 5:8: But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

1Tim: 5:10: Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

Titus: 1:7-8: For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8: But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Titus: 2:2: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Titus: 2:4: That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Titus: 2:6: Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Titus: 2:7-8: In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8: Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Heb: 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Heb: 12:15: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

1Pt: 1:13: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1Pt: 4:7: But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

1Pt: 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

2Pt: 3:14: Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

©Sylvia Huffnagle

The Blood of the Lamb

The blood of Jesus is powerful. Why, because the Son of God shed it? Yes, and also because of the price He paid to cleanse you. He went through extreme agony of temptation, extreme agony of punishment, and extreme agony of death. And it was all an act of agape love. That is why the blood of the lamb has the power to wipe out not only the penalty of the sin, but also the record of the sin. The believer must know and understand that Jesus’ blood is that precious because He paid the maximum price to bring about their cleansing. It must not be taken lightly.

When the devil torments a Christian about their past, they need to understand the power of Jesus’ blood. It completely null and voids the transgression--as if they had never done it. The believer must know and understand that Jesus’ blood is that powerful. For a Christian to allow their self to be unsettled about their past sins is a to make His blood sacrifice a small thing.

Speaking of the blood, I think the church takes it too far when they attribute the whole of salvation to the blood. The blood isn’t even mentioned in the full armor of God that every Christian must put on in order to be protected from evil.

The blood does not perform the offices that Jesus performs. The blood does not get you to heaven. It only makes you a candidate for heaven. It qualifies you to receive the Holy Spirit. It takes the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Word as well as the blood to get you into heaven.

The blood of the Lamb is the beginning of our salvation as a broken down car cannot run until it is put in the hands of a good mechanic, so a person needs to be put into God’s hands in order to be made to run right. After the reconciliation, comes restoration.

Many rely on the blood of the lamb as a coverall, The blood covers confessed sin, but the real covering is the wedding garment which is putting on Jesus. Rom: 13:14

Rev: 12:11 does say that they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. That’s because the blood of the lamb bought the package. But let’s receive, use, and acknowledge the package which is spiritual life--living and if need by dying God’s way and not man’s.

© Sylvia Huffnagle


Jesus’ Words are Spirit and they are Llife

Many teachers and writers today have observed that the church’s doctrines are not all biblically based. They have discovered that the church for the most part is biblically illiterate. These teachers have come up with some good observations about what needs to be adjusted in order to have a more biblically accurate church, but I believe instead of dealing with the symptoms we should get to the root cause of the malady.

That root cause is that the church as a whole is ashamed of Jesus’ words. The answer to all of the church’s malfunctions is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. But first let’s elaborate on Jesus’ words being Spirit and life.

Jn: 6:29-32: Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30: They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31: Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33-40: For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34: Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36: But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39: And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40: And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

41-42: The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42: And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

43-47: Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45: It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46: Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48-56: I am that bread of life. 49: Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50: This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51: I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52: The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55: For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56: He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57-61: As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58: This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59: These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60: Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61: When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62-66: What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63: It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64: But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65: And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66: From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67-71: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68: Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69: And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70: Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71: He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Let this sink in--Jesus’ words are the life-giving and spirit-giving words. Now let us see if the church is ashamed of Jesus’ words.

Matt: 5:20-26: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25: Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26: Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27-32: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.29: And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30: And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31: It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

33-37: Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36: Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37: But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

38: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40: And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42: Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43-48: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47: And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

These words are only the beginning of what He taught. I have another article called Jesus’ Words. It points out many more teachings of our Lord that don’t seem to count today.

The impression I get at any given church today is that “we are just sinners saved by grace. We’re not perfect, just forgiven.” Folks, the church should be a place where people can go and hear the words of Jesus. The church should be speaking and living Jesus’ words.

© Sylvia Huffnagle


The Body of Christ

God said: I will be your God, if you make Me your God. Ex:23:25-33, Deut: 26:16-19

The church says: He is our God, but they do not make Him their God.

God said: I will be your Father if you come out from among them. 2Cor: 6:17-18

The church says: He is our Father, but they dont come out from among them.

Jesus says: Turn from your way. Turn to Me and I will save you. Matt: 4:17-18 The church says: Jesus is our Savior, but they do not turn to His ways.

Jesus says He is the High Priest of our Profession. Heb: 3:1 But the church professes to be sick, weak, ignorant, and human.

Jesus said: If anyone would be His disciple they must forsake all and follow Him. Lk: 14:33

The church says they are His disciples and they have not forsaken all to follow Him.

The church intends to repair the breach between God and man, but they do not do what it says in Isa: 58-59 that would repair the breach.

The church believes they will possess the land, but they do not do what is laid out to do to possess the land. No: 8:22-24, Deut: 6:18, 11

The church is the body of Christ. This means as He is so are we in this world. 1Jn: 4:13-14

Whose words are the church the most ashamed of--the ones they do not quote? The teachings of Jesus, the Son of God--The Teacher.

Who words should the church be quoting most often? Jesus words--the church is His body. They are actually afraid that His words will offend someone.

Rev: 19:20: I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

This means Jesus is the answer to all the shortcomings that the prophets addressed that were the downfall of Israel and Judah. Yet many Christians think that what the books of the Prophets have to say is irrelevant. The books of the prophets reveal not only a lot of end-time prophesy, but they also reveal how God feels about many things and they address many sins and their consequences and many of them tell of the coming Savior who would save His people not just from hell but from sin and its consequences.

If the church would study and heed the books of the prophets, they would soon be studying, understanding, and obeying all the rest of Bible too. The Bible declares all scripture is for today.

2Tim: 3:15: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Christ means anointed one. The church, is His body. We are supposed to carry on His ministry with the same anointing and power--His anointing and power.

Matt: 28:18: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Col: 2:6-10: As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

© Sylvia Huffnagle


 


Sylvia Huffnagle - minister The Father/child Covenant Relationship  Romans 6-8 Grace Sowing and Reaping Biblical Balance Apologetics Apologetics II Biblical Balance End Time Warnings End Time Warnings II Author's Pitch Page Download About e-mail me