Poem - 1 Peter 1:2

 

Oh, can it be?

The Father picked us

 so the Spirit quicked us

such favor we've been given!

And now the choice we face each day

a high road and a low

the will of Him who shines above

or my will - here below

our will is dark

and leaves our feet by sin grossly befouled

 His will is light

and with it comes

the only cleanser known

a match for such defiled feet

the blood of God the Son

 

                       (Based on 1Peter 1:2)

Song of Solomon Commentary 3 Person

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The Thinker - What was he thinking about?

Auguste Rodin made what is considered by some the most famous sculpture in the whole world. It is called the thinker. I knew about this famous sculpture throughout my life, and it seems that everyone I talk to knows about it, too. But what was this character thinking about? I always thought it was just a representation of mankind in general, man the philosopher, trying to figure out deep things.

But what was he thinking about? Can we know? Does he represent mankind in general, or any certain individual?

Apparently, he seems to represent Dante, the author of Inferno. Around the year 1890, Rodin (1840-1917) "completed" a huge work known as The Gates of Hell (It is about 20 feet tall!) Near the top, at the center, is the Thinker! Around him, people are falling into Hell, to their eternal punishment.

Dante, (Dante Alighieri 1265-1321), wrote Inferno, which is Italian for Hell. In his work, over the entrance of Hell the famous qoute is found, "Abandon all hope, those who enter here." Rodin carried this book around in his pocket for years! Dante was the thinker, and the very sober doom of people who die without Jesus, of people who die in their sins, was the general bent of his thought!



The original "thinker" is at the top under the topmost 3 figures.

Of The "Apostolic" Denomination

There are people today who call themselves "Apostolic." They say that there are not 3 persons in the Godhead, but only 3 manifestations. "Jesus only" is one of their sayings, from what I understand.

I hope any who are inclined in this direction will sincerely consider some of God's revelation about this important subject, and I hope they will let God be true, and not be mislead.

We know that when Jesus was preparing to leave the earth after His resurrection, He said,

"Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17) Jesus wasn't trying to trick anyone, He really does have a Father...He really does have a God.

Jesus said that He has a a Father and a God. This is consistent with what we find in 1 Corinthians 11:3 which says, "the head of Christ is God." Paul, speaking after the ascension of the Messiah, declared that the head of the Anointed One is (not was) God (God the Father).

"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him," (Ephesians 1:17) We find Paul again speaking in the present tense, and decades after the ascension of Messiah. Jesus was already glorified, but He is not the only person in the Godhead; there is One who is greater (equal in essence, but greater in role, like a general and a private are both men, and so they are equal in essence, but they are not equal in their military roles).

Three Persons, one Essence. Triunity. "God in three persons, blessed Trinity!" Magnify the LORD with me, let us exalt His name together!

Christians and Remarriage

Believers and those who want to be mindful of God's revelation ought to keep in mind some important points before they consider remarriage! This post is not meant to be exhaustive but helpful.

You could say that true marriage (between a man and a woman) is a two step process.
      Step A) Vows are made legally in the eyes of the state, and before witnesses.
      Step B)  God recognizes these vows being taken and in His eyes the 2 become 1

Divorce in the eyes of the state nullifies Step A, but to a certain extent the couple is still one according to step B. (Please note: this does not mean it is all right for them to be intimate before restoring Step A.) However, this point about the remaining union is very important. As long as these individuals remain pure from other unions, there is hope and concern about the union. Should one of the divorced partners go and remarry, this breaks Step B between the first couple.

If a person divorces from a second spouse and wants to remarry their first spouse, they are not to do so. The Bible states very plainly that this is defiling. (Deut. 24:1-4; Jer. 3:1)

If a person has been divorced according to Step A, even for decades, they should not feel free to remarry if the one they have been divorced from has not remarried.

Dare to be a Daniel

I love the song Dare to be a Daniel! The words and music were both written by Philip Bliss. It calls for people who will take God's commands seriously. "Standing by a purpose true, Heeding God's command, Honor them the faithful few! All hail to Daniel's Band!" They may start off as solitary figures. Others may join them, or they may die as martyrs. The results? God is pleased and glorified. They are a testimony of light amid great darkness.

I think of men like John Huss, Martin Luther, and John Wycliffe. These men heard God calling, and they stepped out boldly and in faith. They were mightily used of God. God tells us to honor men like this. There are many battles today, and the hosts of Satan seem to be gaining ground all around us. I pray that Daniels will step forward into the gaps. I pray that others will join them. May all believers cheer on the Daniels of the world.

"Hold the Gospel banner high! On to victory grand! Satan and his host defy, and shout for Daniel's Band! Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone, Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known!

Daniel may even have been made a eunuch. Weak and alone, he stood up to all the might of Babylon, the greatest of earthly kingdoms, the head of gold. A few friends joined him. They would not bow to idols. They would be true to God, even if it cost them their lives. I applaud their example!

Does Anyone Other Than God Play a Part in Salvation?

Someone has described what man has to do to be saved using the illustration of a coin. A coin has two sides, heads and tails. Man must do two things to be saved - repent of his sins (or turn from something and someone) and place his faith or belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (or turn towards someone.) Man must cease from his dead works and trust in the grace or unmerited favor of God alone.

Man brings nothing to the table in terms of salvation except a dirty and needy sinner. But if he will truly bring that (which of course would take the drawing of the Holy Spirit -John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. John 6:44 No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.) then he will find that God is a most generous and a most capable Savior!!! He certainly doesn't need any help from us, and without a doubt we are completely incapable in ourselves of giving Him any help. If anyone doubts this it might be helpful for them to meditate on Ephesians 2 for a time.

Well, please consider two precious words with me.

Justification...Imputation....these are very special words, and we find them both in Romans 4 and 5.

First, let's think about Justification.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Justified - Declared righteous in the courtroom of heaven but totally unattached to any works on our part. As one song states "Oh what a standing is mine!" The gift of God is eternal life.

Outside of Jesus and Jesus alone, the very best you or I can even hope to accomplish is utterly sinful in God's sight. Consider these verses from Isaiah:

Is. 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Is. 64:7 And there is none that calls upon Your name, that stirrs up himself to take hold of You: for You have hid Your face from us, and have consumed us, because of our iniquities.

Justification - a sinner like myself, only deserving of hell, is now accepted in the Beloved. I am pronounced righteous by God Himself.

That leads us to our second special word, imputation.

Rom 4:6 Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works,

Imputes - God takes an inventory of those who are born-again and sees them (reckons them, considers them) as righteous and good...without works. Where did that goodness come from? Where does it come from?

That's what the cross of Jesus is all about!

2Co 5:21 For he has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Every truly saved person, every one who has been born-again, is a saint. They are a holy one. The righteousness of Christ is placed in their account. God imputes it or counts it as their asset (and oh most precious of all assets!!!) apart from works...not based on us doing anything. By the Grace of God alone.

One song puts it this way: "Tis done, the great transactions done! I am the Lord's! and He is mine!"

Imputation - a sinner like myself, only deserving of hell, is now accepted in the Beloved. I am pronounced righteous by God Himself because the very righteousness of His precious, perfect, unblemished Son has been totally and undeservedly eternally given to me.

Does anyone other than God play a part in salvation? Only in providing a hopeless and needy sinner. But that's something I am truly qualified for. What about yourself?