Is God Love, and Love Alone?

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

Nowadays, it has become more commonplace to hear that “God is love”, “He is a God of love, he wouldn’t condemn anyone!”, etc. Is this view biblical? Is this what is found throughout the holy scriptures, or does it contradict it?

As I have stated before, and will state many times again, the Bible should be read and studied as a continual letter. It was written that way, and intended to be read that way. To truly and fully understand the Word of God, it must be read in the context in which it was written. I will be discussing verses, and I would encourage you to read the verses before, after, and throughout to understand the context and concept throughout the Bible.

To go along with this, God is just. He loves His children. Those who deny Him and refuse to honor Him continually are not His children. They reject Him, they get punished. They receive judgement (justice) due their own disobedience and rejection of Him and His Word.

John 10:25-28 –  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

To sin is to turn from God’s will and disobey Him. It is an act against God. He cannot condone that behavior because it would go against His nature. Simply put, if you deny God’s word and sin against Him continually without repentance and turning to Him, He cannot love you, because it would be contrary to His nature.

Hebrews 10:26-31 – For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

If you turn to Him, and stop sinning and put your faith in Him, you will be saved from the judgment. Only when you turn from your sin, turn to God, and stop caring about things of this world and set your mind on Him, will you become His child. You can’t live how you want, deny Him continually, reject Him and His laws, and receive His love. That is not the God of the Bible.

I am only going to list a few verses on each attribute, upon further study of God’s word, His nature and attributes will become quite evident.

Attributes of God

Holy – Exodus 15:11, 1 Samuel 2:2, Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah 8:13, Revelation 4:8, Joshua 24:19, Hebrews 12:10, Leviticus 19:2, Isaiah 6:3-5, etc, etc, etc, .

“Holy is the way God is. To be holy He does not conform to a standard. He is the standard.” – A.W. Tozer

“So obey God because you are His children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be His children—is holy. For He Himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy ” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Righteous – Psalm 71:19, Jeremiah 9:24, 2 Timothy 4:8, Exodus 9:27, 2 Chronicles 12:6, Jeremiah 23:6

Eternal – Psalm 90:2, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 57:15, 1 Timothy 6:16, Jude 1:25

Omnipresent (Ever-present) – Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 139:7-12, Jeremiah 23:23-24

Omnipotent (All-powerful) – Jeremiah 32:27, Luke 1:37, Genesis 17:1, Job 37:23, Job 42:2

Omniscience (All-knowing) – Job 21:22, 1 Samuel 2:3, Psalm 147:5, Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 11:33,

Immutable (Doesn’t change) – 1 Samuel 15:29, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 6:17, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17

Self-Sufficient – Exodus 3:14

Sovereign – Daniel 2:21, Job 12:29-32, Job 37:2-13, Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1, Daniel 2:21, 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Psalm 104, 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Love – Proverbs 3:12, Matthew 5:44-45, Ephesians 1, Psalm 37:28, Hosea 3:1, Psalm 100:5, John 3:16-19, Romans 5:5, 1 John 4, Romans 8

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?” “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love, Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can not keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39)

Conclusion:

As all of these verses will clearly show, God loves His children. He loves believers, not those who reject Him and want nothing to do with Him. It would contradict His nature, which isn’t possible. God is love, to those who love Him. He is just to those who reject Him. All are sinners in need of a Savior. Some people come to God when they are young, old, middle-aged, etc. There is hope for every person, and it is found in God alone. Christians are called to love (which involves not loving a persons sin, but loving what they can become). We are called to love what God can do in their lives, and share the message of salvation with them.

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Salvation

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

“I believe nothing merely because Calvin taught it, but because I have found his teaching in the Word of God.” – Charles Spurgeon

This should probably be addressed sooner rather than later, as it will come out later all throughout my posts and it will come to light directly eventually. I believe the Bible in its entirety. I believe the original manuscripts penned by man were inspired by God. I believe God has preserved His word as He said he would (Matthew 24:35, Matthew 5:17-18, Revelation 22:18-19, etc.). From my in depth studies and understanding of the history of the Bible and the manuscripts we have (e.g. Masoretic Text, Aleppo codex, Leningrad Codex, Codex Cairensis, Dead Sea Scrolls, Tanakh, so on) I believe God has kept His word/preserved His word as He always does and always has.

That all being said, I believe in predestination, election, limited atonement, effectual calling, perseverance of the saints, and total depravity. Not because John Calvin taught them, but because they are taught all throughout the Bible, what I have personally experienced, what I have seen in others, and what logically makes sense. I don’t follow John Calvin, I follow God, and I believe John Calvin did as well. I am not a Calvinist, I am a Christian, and I believe John Calvin was as well.

These words, as well as concepts are taught all throughout the Bible. From Genesis all the way to Revelation. I hope that I can convey that.

“Men are brought to God by the effectual power of grace, but grace never violates, though it subdues, the human will. They make a great mistake who think that God treats men as if they were logs: God knows they are not logs, and never treats them so. He has made them in his own image, to be free, intelligent agents, and he acts upon them as free agents. It is difficult for some men to understand how grace can be effectual and almighty, and yet man can still be a free agent. Now, if persons do not see this, we are not bound to give them understandings, but the two things are consistent enough: prejudice creates the difficulty, there is none really. A man may be free enough, and yet he may be so overwhelmingly persuaded to a certain course, that he cannot do otherwise; such moral power does not at all interfere with true liberty. If we taught that men were saved against their wills, and that physical force was put upon them to make them Christians, we should deserve to be denounced as talking nonsense, or worse; but the power which we speak of is moral, spiritual, persuasive, and operates in strict accordance with the usual laws of mind. The grace of God does no violence to the will, but sweetly overcomes its obstinacy, making it a willing captive.” – Charles Spurgeon

Sin affects every aspect of man-kind.  Man is inherently evil, selfish, and hateful. Apart from God, there is nothing to love in man. Man’s heart is evil (Mark 7:21-23; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:19). A person without Christ a slave of sin (John 8:34; Romans 6; 2 Peter 2:19). I know that for me as a former addict, I didn’t seek anything good. I was lost in my sin; it was my master. I crawled in my bottle and didn’t care what happened outside of it. I knew it was wrong, and I wasn’t happy, but I didn’t seek resolve. He does not seek for God (Romans 3:10-12; Psalm 10:4; ). He cannot understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14, Matthew 13:13, Romans 1:28-31, Ephesians 4:17-18, Romans 8:7). He is hostile toward God (Ephesians 2:3-15, Romans 8:7)

We are helpless until God saves us from ourselves. It is God’s will that we be saved, not our own. We are living in our sin and for the most part enjoying our sin. Our nature, our will is to sin, and be content in that sin (John 1:12-13); God grants us to believe (Philippians 1:29; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 1:30); faith is a gift from God (John 6:28-29; Acts 13:48; John 6)

Most people get hung up on this. In their humanity and what they have been taught, they can’t accept the fact that Jesus died only for the elect. Though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all, it was not efficacious for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the elect. See Matt. 26:28 where Jesus died for ‘many’; John 10:11, 15, Matt. 25:32-3, John 17:9 where Jesus’ prayer was for the ones given Him, not those of the entire world, Isaiah 53:12 which is a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion where he would bear the sins of many (not all), John 10 “ I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me; But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; on and on and on. People will use John 3:16 to save that He died for all, but don’t read the next verse. John 3:16-21 –  “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.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

If he died for all, then all would be saved. All would come to Him, but they don’t. We see it every day. People reject Christ and are hostile toward Him daily. Many atheist groups are trying to force God out of our schools, out of or jobs, out of the government, off our money, the mention of His name alone. Not all want to live righteous, selfless, pure lives. They enjoy their sin. Christians aren’t perfect, but we should strive toward that goal. We should hate our sin and continually strive after righteousness. A Christian should not and cannot love sin if the Spirit of God lives in them. It would go against the nature of God. It will continually be a battle. Our flesh will battle the spirit (Romans 7), but with the power of Christ in us, we will prevail.

The human will is different than Gods will. Our time is different than God’s time. He is infinite. We are finite. He is perfect. We are imperfect. We can’t question or even understand His will, but we can accept it and be patient, which is what we should strive for. We should hunger for that type of faith, wisdom, and patience. If we ask, God will give it (James 1).

The words predestination as well as the concept is taught all throughout the word of God (Romans 8, 9, Ephesians 1). Unfortunately this doctrine has been poorly taught and highly misunderstood. Growing up it was poorly taught and explained to me, but through my studies in God’s Word, the Spirit has guided my studies and showed me the truth. When God chooses someone to go to heaven, he will sanctify that person in this life. If God chose that person to go to heaven, they will live a righteous life on this earth. They will be worthy of heaven before they die. He won’t choose someone to go to heaven, save them, and then allow them to live whatever type of sinful life they want. That would be against His nature (which we will cover later). Also, He didn’t look into the future and choose us based on our actions, based on the “good works” we would do. He chose us because He wanted to (Psalm 115). Even our “righteous deeds are filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) when compared to the righteousness of God.

Ephesians 1:4-5 – ..just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Romans 8:28-30 –  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

To sum it all up, man alone is hopeless, but with Christ there is hope (Philippians 4:13). God saves us because it is His will. None of us deserve His mercy. For one person to go to heaven is more than the human race deserves. If one person goes to heaven, that is more than we deserve. Every day we sin against God. Our sin separates us from God. OUR SIN! (Isaiah 59:2, Psalm 37-43). God chooses some and not others. Jacob instead of Esau, Peter instead of Judas, David instead of Saul, Isaac instead of Ishmael. The list goes on. God doesn’t make mistakes and everything that happens is for a reason. We may not understand it but God intends it for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20). The more you study, the more sense it makes. The more you understand about God’s nature, His will instead of ours. The reason behind it all. This is important to understand so we can understand how to better please God through our lives and how to better understand other people and the choices they make.

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The Importance of Thoughts

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

To go along with the previous post, our thoughts are equally as important as our words. We are judged by the world based on our words, but God sees through our words and sees into our mind and heart.

Hebrews 4:12-13 – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Proverbs 16:1-2 –The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives.

Matthew 5:28 – ….” but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Matthew 15:18-19 – But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

God knows our hearts. We can’t hide from Him. Our goal should be to examine our heart. Purify our mind and heart. Set our mind on things that are pure, holy, just, righteous. Our heart and mind is who we truly are. When we are tested and tried our true self shows. Your patience is only tested when you go through a rough patch. It is only then that truly know if you have patience or not. Think on things that are holy and that will influence your thoughts. It goes to the age old maxim “Garbage in, garbage out.” It still rings true today. If you surround yourself with music that is degrading, full of filth, it will seep in to your subconscious and linger there. If you watch television shows about murder, sex, drugs, alcohol, then that is where your mind will drift, and eventually influence how you think on things. How your “heart” feels about things.

Examine who you are at your core. If you aren’t happy with it, give it to God. It’s that simple. It is only then that you can be the person that God wants you to be. Righteous, pure, holy, loving, kind, selfless, patient, wise, etc. It goes on. Let God fix your heart, to fix your life and change the path of your future for good. So that you are able to repair your relationships with loved ones, you  can forgive others that have wronged you, be a better spouse/parent/child. Your thoughts matter.

2 Corinthians 10:5 – We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 

1 Peter 3:15 – but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

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The Importance of Words

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

The words we speak affect those who hear them. The words we hear affect us whether we realize it or not. What we hear influences how we feel about our self. We internalize them. The television shows we subject ourselves to. The music we introduce in our lives. It all has an effect. It may be in our sub conscious, but it is there. Words are how we communicate. They are universal.

James 3:1-6 – ‘Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.’

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

God created the world with words (Genesis 1 &2). Wars have been started with words. Wars have been ended with words. Enemies made. Friends made. Friends lost. There is extreme power in words and often times we forget that.

Words is what the worlds judges us by. It is how they come to conclusions about who we are. First impressions are huge with me in both aspects. I focus on leaving a good impression with others (pointing others to Christ and hoping they see Him in me). I also am affected by my first impressions with them.

Here is what Jesus had to say about words:

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:33-37

Words are obviously important. Now understandably God can see through our words and sees the intent of our heart (Proverbs 16:2, Hebrews 4:12), but on earth they matter. On earth other people don’t know our heart, our mind. All they have is our words. That is what they have to go on. As Jesus said in the above passage in v.34 “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart”. As Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 4:5 – “Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.” If a man is corrupt he will either show it every minute, or if he tries to hide it, eventually God will expose it (in His time). God’s time is different than ours (2 Peter 3:8). God is an infinite being. We are finite. Our understanding of time is much different than His.

To sum it up, words matter. They can bless, they can curse. They can encourage, they can discourage. They show the content of your heart. How do you want to be remembered?

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Christ is the Only Way to heaven. Why preaching a “different Jesus” matters.

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

This will be the first of many on this topic. To make one full length post would be too lengthy. Initially I want to discuss discernment, distinguishing between the gospel (Christianity) vice a man made religion (prosperity gospel, LDS, Islam, etc).

Now to confront the elephant in the room, the whole premise this page is established on. If a person claims Christianity as their belief system, the primary distinguishing belief is salvation through Christ by grace alone. Period. Not grace plus works. Not “some higher power”. Not Muhammad. Not Enlightenment. The different schools of thought go on. If you believe in the Bible in its entirety, then you must believe that Jesus is the only way to God. We don’t pick and choose what we like about it and avoid the things we don’t like. That is not the way God intended it. That is not the message the Bible conveys.

The Old Testament pointed to Christ’s coming several hundred times. That was one of the main focal points of the Old Testament believers; the coming of the Messiah. The majority of the prophecies about Christ’s coming have been fulfilled. The remaining prophecies will be fulfilled at the second coming. Christ did not come to abolish the law, but fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). The Old Testament and New Testament go hand in hand with each other. They don’t contradict each other. You can’t accept one and reject the other. That’s not the way it works. The Bible is quite clear on these subjects. You accept Christ or reject Him.

Many false teachers have arisen and corrupted the church, which we were forewarned about numerous times. It is a Christian’s responsibility to use discernment on these issues. To distinguish good teachings from blasphemous and heretical teachings.

John 14:4-13 – And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

 

Jesus didn’t say “If you believe in a higher power and reject me, you’ll be saved”. It is perfectly clear here as well as throughout scripture. Jesus Christ was the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament. He was God in the flesh. God with us; (Immanuel). He is the only way to the Father. This is one of the essentials of the Christian faith. The deity of Christ, the trinity, and salvation by grace alone (through Christ) (all straight from the Bible, in black and white) are essentials and what distinguishes Christianity from all other world religions. A Christian should stand firm on this foundation and not be led astray from all the false teachings. They should research what they are taught and take it to the scriptures to see if it matches up, or contradicts it, not just accept an empty, worldly message.

Galatians 1:6-9 –  I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

 

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 – But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

 

2 Peter 2:1-3: But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is very important for self professed believers of Christ, especially young believers. There are unfortunately many people in the church, even leaders who aren’t teaching the message God intended from His Holy word. It is up to the believer to distinguish between truth and lies. To let the Spirit and the word of God lead them, not some other person. Much more on this later. To be continued……

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Encouragement from God’s Word

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

Life is tough. People say that “life is short”, and as James call it “a vapor”, but it is the longest thing we will ever do. We go through things we don’t understand. Things happen to us that we don’t see the meaning in, but God does have a plan. If you turn to God, and ask Him to help you with your troubles He will see you through them. It might be years before you understand the meaning and purpose to it all, but God has a plan in all He does. There is hope in Him and His word. Here is a list of verses that help me when I am struggling to remember that:

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

Isaiah 41:9-10 – You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 55:22 – Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

1 Peter 5:6-10 – Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.  After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 – we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;  always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death works in us, but life in you.

Matthew 6:25-34 – “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,  yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!  Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Luke 12:25-26 – And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

Posted in Encouragement, Hope | Leave a comment

Do we need to ask forgiveness for our sins?

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

I logically wouldn’t think this needs to be covered, but through my interactions with other people I have learned that it does. In some circles it is taught that 1 John 1:9 is written to the lost, not the Christian. It is taught that a Christian doesn’t need to confess their sins, that in doing so we profess unbelief, that a Christian is supposed to be righteous and never sin (which is wrong and is not biblical). We are all sinners (Romans 3:23, 6:23) The verse reads as follows: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Keep in mind as I will cover later, the chapter/verse division wasn’t in the original text. It was introduced around A.D. 1205 by Stephen Langton. So when the Bible is being read, it reads like a letter. All of it together in context. Not random excerpts out of context. This is the reason we have over 10,000 denominations in the “Christian church”. There are many sects/cults that are self-professing Christian denominations, but heretical at the heart of their teachings. Here we go!

2 Timothy 2:23-26 – But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

Now let’s read 1 John in context. We are going to step through 1 John and see if it could possibly be written to the lost (which it isn’t; it is written to the Christian church).  

 

  • Notice the use of pronoun “we”/”us/our”. Is the author lost?No. Most definitely not.

 

1) 1 John1:1-10 –  What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us 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. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

2) (This makes it pretty clear (to me). I don’t want to make God a liar) v. 8-10: We are all sinners, (v. 10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar…..

3) 1 John 2:1-2:   My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.  (……pretty clear)

4) 1 John 2:8:  On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.

5) (The lost don’t know God, v. 13 can’t apply to lost, they also haven’t “overcome the evil one” (v.13); the Word of God doesn’t “abide” in the lost (v. 14)) 1 John 2:12-14:  I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

6) (For this epistle to be written to the lost, v. 19 would have to be saying that Christians went out from the lost and were never lost? Do the lost have an anointing from the Holy One? No! (v.20))   1 John 2:19-21:  They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.  I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

7) (Once again, do the lost have an anointing from the Holy One? (v. 27); do the lost abide in God? NO! (v. 27) 1 John 2:27:  As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

8) (The lost cannot have confidence when He appears (v. 28) 1 John 2:28: Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

9) (Are the lost “children of God”? , NO! (v. 1-2)) 1 John 3:1-2: See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

10) (The world doesn’t hate the lost, it accepts them as one of their own, because they are (v.13); the lost haven’t passed out of death into life (v.14), they are still in their sin) 1 John 3:11-13:  For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.  Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

11) (Christ laid down His life for His sheep, not the lost: John 10:25-28 –  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.) 1 John 3:16 : We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

12) (The lost cannot have an assured heart) 1 John 3:19: We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him

13) (The Lord does not answer the requests of the lost, their will is contrary to the will of our Father, they cannot ask according to His will. For Him to “answer their requests would contradict His nature. In the end, His sovereignty/providence reigns over all. He can still work in their life and will, but not because they asked it of Him, it’s because He is God, and He can do that.)- 1 John 3:22: and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

14) (Once again, does He abide in the lost? NO! They haven’t received the Spirit) 1 John 3:24: The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

15) (The lost are in the world, and of the world, and again, the Spirit of God does not live in them! And again, they have not overcome the world/evil one) 1 John 4:4: You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

16) (For this to be to the lost, it would be saying he who is lost doesn’t listen to the lost, and only listens to those who know God? It wouldn’t work) 1 John 4:6: We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

17) (The love of God isn’t manifested in the lost, only in those who know God, nor would they live through Jesus). 1 John 4:9: By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

18) (Already covered) 1 John 4:13: By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

19) (Already covered) 1 John 4:19: We love, because He first loved us.

20) (The lost don’t have faith, that should be evident) 1 John 5:4: For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.

21) (The lost don’t have eternal life) 1 John 5:11: And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

22) (The lost don’t have eternal life) 1 John 5:13: These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

23) (Covered in #13)1 John 5:14: This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

more of my thoughts:

First off, this is not an “essential” message of the faith. When studying the Bible we shouldn’t read anything into the Bible. We let the Spirit lead our studies and let the Bible speak for itself. If it isn’t “black and white”, then don’t claim your “view” as an absolute truth and tell others they are wrong. This is bad theology to approach it that way. Approach all with loving-kindness, gentleness, grace, patience, and love.

In closing, we should acknowledge sin as what it is, sin. We shouldn’t attempt to justify it somehow, or pretend God doesn’t know what we’ve done. We should put off the old, put on the new, and be a new creation. Not want to sin, and feel bad when we do, and ask God to help us not do it again. God knows our hearts, and we don’t necessarily need to ask for forgiveness verbally, but the intent of our heart needs to be repentant.  The Holy Bible speaks for itself, and defends itself. The “assumption” is that 1 John 1:9 is strictly addressed to the lost, not the saved. For this to be true, the entire letter would have to be written to the lost, which clearly is not true. See 1 John 3:1 ….we would be called children of God; and such we are. ; 1 John 5:4: ….and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Look at the numerous, numerous other verses that clearly address the general epistle of 1 John to be addressed to God’s church. The saved, not the lost. Keep in mind, this is all secondary to the primary message of the Bible, which is salvation through faith, by grace, the means by which is Jesus Christ’s complete work on the cross.

Posted in Forgiveness, Righteousness, Salvation | Leave a comment

The Great Commission: Should it really be the first thing a new Christian pursues?

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

Matthew 28:16-20….16But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Apostle – (Gr. Apostolos) “one who is sent away”, a messenger and ambassador.

Disciple – (Gr. Mathetes) “student”, “pupil”, “apprentice”, “adherent”, most often associated with     people who were devout followers of a great religious leader or teacher of philosophy.

    The difference here is one is the teacher, one is the student. Before one can teach, they must first learn. Then when the knowledge and understanding is there, then they can teach. A person will not be prepared to take on “disciples” if they have not been properly taught.  They will be an ineffective teacher, a stumbling-block, and do more damage than good.

James 3:1-2 – 1Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

Before being “sent away” by Jesus to spread the word of Christianity, the eleven (Judas betrayed Jesus and hung himself by this point (Acts 1:25)) were mere disciples. This exact moment was their graduation of sorts; the transition from student, to teacher. This is when they became true apostles.

Acts 1:1-5 – 1The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4Gathering 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; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

    The Holy Bible only refers to them as apostles when it mentions them teaching. All other times it refers to them as disciples. This is an important point.

    Understand though, there is a difference in “not teaching” vice “not standing firm in your faith”. People will use the phrase, “Speaking is not my gift, so I don’t tell others about Christ”. This isn’t the intent. We should always be ready to make a defense of the faith that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). We should not surrender and opportunity to explain our faith to another person, any chance to witness to another person should be seized! This is different than making disciples.

    The apostles were trained by God Himself in the flesh. They walked with Him, talked with Him, saw His miracles first hand. Only after all of this did God send them out to teach, to make disciples. A person should be properly prepared before seeking to fulfill the Great Commission, so that they don’t hinder another person’s walk. Sanctification is a process. For some it’s fast, for some it is extremely slow, for some it is moderate. Every Christian should strive to be a teacher, but they should be ready (1 Peter 1-2). Use the gifts God gave you to glorify Him. He gave them to you for a reason.

Romans 12:4-8 – 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12 – 1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware…. 4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
    12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
    14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
    27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
    And I show you a still more excellent way.

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What’s the Point?

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Douglas Hoven

With everything that is on the television, internet, and radio, why do we need one more joker sharing his opinion on stuff we don’t care about? The reason I am doing this is for spiritual growth, to bring others to Christ, to disciple other people and be a disciple. For me and especially for any other person seeking answers. I love learning and teaching others, and helping other people in every aspect of the word. This is for gaining knowledge, wisdom, having discussions, even it only helps one person.

There are many relevant/controversial issues going on in the world today that need to be discussed (e.g. gay marriage, abortion, evolution, divorce, salvation, heaven and hell, word of faith movement, heretical/apostate teachers, rejection of Christ, etc.). Too many of these problems have crept into the church and are being taught and accepted widely among self-professing Christian churches. They need to be addressed and biblical discernment used. As Shai Linne said “Because today the only heresy is saying that there’s heresy:”How dare they be specific and drop some clarity on the popularity of the gospel of prosperity””.

I hope this is a blessing to you. God can help anyone who so desires. This is something I will repeat over and over. There is hope in the Lord. There is peace. There is rest. If you feel God tugging, don’t hesitate. Heed the call.

James 4:1-10 – What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

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