I can do nothing

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he does, these also does the Son likewise. 

John 5:30-32 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that bears witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true.

This was Jesus' witness about himself. He demonstrates his complete submission to the Father in everything that He did. He did not boast or promote himself, the works that the Father gave Him to do, they were the witness. He set His will aside, and only did the will of His Father. His complete submission is no better illustrated than in the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed; not my will, but yours be done. More can be seen about this Here.

Jn 8:28-29 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

In the book of Jeremiah we see his exhortation to trust God and not yourself. If Jesus did this, should we not also do the same?

Jer 17:5-8 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Psa 34:7-8 The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.

Ps 84:11-12 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusts in thee.

Those that trust in the Lord show themselves to be obedient, and to hate evil (the fear of the Lord) they walk uprightly and receive great blessings of protection from the Lord.

It is so much better to walk in the ways of the Lord than in the ways of men, including your own!

New life IN Christ Jesus

 John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

John 6:53 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 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.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The Mystery

 Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

There is a mystery which was hid from ages and generations, and the riches of this mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

We learn throughout the New Covenant that there was a mystery, it was hidden, kept secret, it was ordained to our glory; all shall share in the fellowship and be gathered together in one in Christ Jesus.

These mysteries were not known before and Jesus spoke in parables to keep them hidden from those who were not of his followers: Matt 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10 to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to the rest I speak in parables.

See below gathered scripture references on this mystery. This is augmented when you begin to look as well at scriptures relating to he oneness in Christ Jesus that we have in this new covenant. (John 17:20-23 and many more)

1 Cor 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Cor 13:2; 14:2

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 14:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

1 Tim 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

1 Tim 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The result of this mystery is stated here:

1 Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality...

In the end we shall all be changed and joined together in the kingdom of God.

There are a few other mysteries mentioned in Revelation 

Rev 1:20

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Rev 17:7

Lowliness of Mind

 The contrast to vanity of the mind is lowliness of mind

Acts 20:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

1Pet 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

This attitude of lowliness of mind brings one to: look to the things of others, Forbear and forgive one another, and essentially to love one another. This is the context in which this attitude of heart operates. It is an attitude which makes us receivers of the grace of God. Jesus said, if you do not forgive, neither will you be forgiven, this is a transactional fact, but the relationship of humility is what brings true forgiveness.

Vanity of the Mind

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

This verse follows after a long declaration of the wonders of what God has done for those who will receive His salvation. He declares that through the blood of Jesus we have redemption (1:7) and that through hearing the word of God we trust in Him, believe and receive the Holy ghost (1:13). He follows with an exposition of who Christ has made us, how we were called out of the filth we lived in to be made alive with the very Son of God. He tells us that there is no boasting for it is the gift of God, given freely and resulting in our involvement as the workmanship of the building the He is building. (2:1-22).

In Chapter 3 Paul gives an important interlude as to his credentials as a witness

Which brings us back to chapter 4. Paul, calls us to follow after that for which we have been redeemed.

"(I) beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.:

The rest of chapter 4 hearkens back to the three previous chapters to show that what Jesus did for us has brought us to this place where we can walk pleasing to the one who first loved us.

Eph 4:17 is a declaration of how NOT to walk. As Gentiles the Ephesians had previously walked as most men do, in the vanity of their mind. This reminds us of the cry of the preacher in Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

We can see a similar call from Peter, talking about the results of these who walk in this vanity.

2Pet 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

We are talking about those who have heard and at least have professed their belief in the salvation which is in Jesus. This is why Paul warns us NOT to walk this way. The ways of the flesh are the ways of sin, and the end of them is death.

In Romans Paul also discusses vanity and the hardness (blindness) of the heart of those who turn away from God.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Therefore, let us not be as these, turning back to the elements of this world and the ways of death, but let us put on the ways and the mind of Christ Jesus, a topic for another day...

Science and the Bible

Science is based on observation, hypothesis, testing and conclusions leading to more hypothesis. Everything science can observe is limited to the 5 senses and extensions of those senses. An example of this is a telescope, it takes a lens and improves our ability to see into places too far away for us to go. Another example would be a spectroscope, an instrument which allows us to bring non visible spectra into a realm we can see or detect with further instruments. We can improve our vision, our hearing, even our smell, taste and touch by using instruments refined over time using the methods of applied science of engineering.

The improvements which have been worked by these twins, scientific method and engineering have been astounding, the ability to improve the ease with which we carry out daily tasks has exploded exponentially over the last 300 years particularly. Because of this clearly manifest success, science has taken on an almost mystical power to demand worship at the altar of "scientific truth". An appeal to science is often used in an attempt to end many disagreements on everything from politics to religion, the claim "I follow the science" is heard many times on both sides of the same argument.

But has science done anything to solve the greatest problem of man? Has it discovered a way for man to be free from his sin? Science is just a tool, and it is limited to the realm of the senses and the noted extensions of those senses. There is a knowledge which far exceeds the wisdom of men, a knowledge not limited to a sensual realm. We see in Paul's letter to Timothy a warning not to let false knowledge oppose the faith:

1 Tim 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

The greek word translated in the KJV as "science" is actually translated as "knowledge" in every other instance. A good example is the following:

2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The tension is not knowledge versus lack of knowledge as much as it is which knowledge you possess. 

Paul instructs Timothy to avoid false knowledge, manifested by profane vanity, an earthly, sensual, devilish knowledge as James expresses it in Jas 3:15. This wisdom is manifested by bitter envying and strife, but the wisdom from above manifests the fruits of the Spirit of God. (James 3:13-18)

So, is the puffed up knowledge which opposes faith and true wisdom the same as the science of today?

The answer is, it can be, and often is the same. One of the hallmarks of false knowledge is the removal of the knowledge of God.

Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

There is something far superior to knowledge, however derived, the love of God. There is something worth knowing which passes other knowledge, the love of Christ.

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

1Cor 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Charity here is Agape, the love which God sets above all others, the love which He expresses through Jesus Christ and has given to us so that we might live in that same love.

So we see that in a manner of speaking, knowledge can be good or evil, depending on whether or not one retains God in their knowledge and whether or not the love of God is manifest in the life of the one possessing that knowledge. The sad thing about "science" today is that so many actively exclude God and his word from any of their thinking. The ways of God, particularly His holiness, they want to exclude. His statutes and judgements must be put away and He must be written out of history. This has certainly not been the way of every scientist, as many examples of men and women who studied the observable world, yet retained the awe of God's creation, are found throughout the history of scientific inquiry. But today in the scientific community these seem fewer and fewer.

In Isaiah we see the declaration that God's ways are far superior to the ways of men.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So let's leave with this final thought. God's ways are higher, and his realm functions in that which is unobservable by the senses of man, no matter how much we extend them. True science understands its limitations, and is not arrogant nor puffed up, it does not declare its findings to be absolute truth. Many a great theory has been dashed by new levels of observation, and many facts "known for certain" have ended up contradicted by a new wave of inquiry, but the ways and the love of God last forever and will never change. So set aside arrogance, do not be afraid of the tool, but treat it as that, a tool wielded by men, and best wielded by men who know the love of God and who retain the knowledge of a God who is far greater than any "observable fact".

No other name

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

1Jn 4:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The whole world needs to hear that it is only by the name of Jesus men can be saved. Good works will not save you, levels of education nor work ethic will earn God's favor, great philosophical understanding will not deliver you from wrath. Only by accepting the love of God expressed by and through his son Jesus can can salvation come. Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born again, you must be born of water and of the spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

God is still God

Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons:

he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom unto the wise,

and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things:

he knoweth what is in the darkness,

and the light dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

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.

Contrary to what many seem to believe, God, Jehoah, Yahweh, The Father of our Lord Jesus, still reigns in heaven and earth, and all His authority has been given to Jesus.

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

While Satan may be called the prince and power of the air, it is God who reigns over all, and even though there is a space of time given, the defeat of every power of darkness is fulfilled in Jesus.

Fear not, God is still God and He reigns in the kingdom of men

The extent of David's Kingdom

 David ruled a kingdom which was quite extensive and included a number of tributaries. it is good to understand the extent of this kingdom and to let it help inform our understanding of why certain nations acted as they did and how Israel's dominance faded so quickly with Solomon.

There are issues with chronology and the placement of the kingdom of David in the Iron age, rather than its actual context which is the Bronze Age. That is not the purpose of this page, but to establish the extent of the kingdom which David handed over to Solomon.

Abraham's promised land

Gen 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

The Kingdom of David.

2Sam 8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

What we see here is that in all the area of the land between the rivers, David put all the peoples to tribute such that all could be blessed by the kingdom which God established. David executed judgment and justice to ALL his people, I believe that includes the tributaries. The key here is the kings of Zobah and Damascus Syria. That gets the extent of David's kingdon to the River Euphrates. Saul had smitten the Amalakites, they would have been down to the Delta region of Egypt. This realtionship and the relationship of David to Egypt will be looked into at a later date as it is very complex.

Therefore he had a kingdom which stretched as was told to Abraham from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River. All the peoples were tributaries including the related Edom, Moab and Ammon, The Syrians, The Amalakites and even the Philistines/Phoenicians. As well as the Canaanites who were left in the land since the time of Joshua and the Judges.

1Chr 22:17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

As Solomon ultimately fails in his responsibility to continue the kingdom of David, we see subsequently a divided kingdom which loses thru rebellion all the tributaries and eventually the entire kingdom. Each of these mentioned tributaries has a story in actual rebellion, fighting with Israel/Judah and being mentioned in prophecy as to their final outcome. But there was peace during the reign of Solomon, and the extent of that peace is noted here:

Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River (Euphrates) to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. (1 Ki. 4:21 cf. 2 Chron. 9:26) For he had dominion over everything west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River; and he had peace on all sides round about him. So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. (1 Ki. 4:24,25) You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. (1 Ki. 5: 3,4)

If the kingdom had continued as it was intended and each of those nations continued with Israel under the leadership of God there would have been blessings all around, but we will never know what that looks like because of the failures which followed so shortly after David.

The "lot" of the saints in light

 Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

This phrase "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:" Is particularly interesting for all that it conveys.

First the concept of being made meet, or able. This clearly makes known that we were not able previous to being made so. Men were lost without a God who would make us able. He made a way were there was no way.

Then to be partakers of an inheritance. The word here is not strictly inheritance, but a part, a portion which has been acquired. The word is used of the Roman soldiers casting lots over Jesus' garment and at the choosing of Matthias; and to declare that Simon the sorcerer had no lot, or part, in this ministry.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

The word is here again translated inheritance but refers to having received a part in this sanctification/holiness.

To be a part of the saints in light! To be made a holy one (saint) in light. In both these highlighted passages we see the clear distinction of being brought from darkness into light.

This is what it means to be born again, to be brought out of the darkness of sin and brought into the light of His life. Our "lot" is to receive His holiness in light, along with all the saints.

Nebuchadnezzer conquered Egypt

The fact of the destruction of Egypt by Babylon was well known after the detailed and strictly recorded prophecies of Ezekiel.

Ezek 29:1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:

Ezek 29:17 And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 18 Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus:

Ezek 30:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! 3 For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. 4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.

Ezek 30:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. 11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.

Ezek 30:20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 21 Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.

Ezek 31:1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude;

Ezek 32:1 And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

...11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee. 12 By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.

Ezek 32:17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 18 Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.

There are many particulars about this compilation of prophesy which speak of the utter destruction of the land of Egypt by the Babylonians. The land would be found utterly desolate and greatly effected for forty years. It will never more rule over the nations, losing it's preeminent place

29:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee. 9 And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it. 10 Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia. 11 No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.

13 Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: 14 And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. 15 It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.

Nebuchadnezzer is commended for his destruction of Tyre in accordance with the direction of God: (Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: 19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.) He proceeds to detail destruction in all of the major cities of Egypt, Including the city of No (Thebes) the greatest in Egypt.

Jeremiah took up a similar prophecy after Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians.

Jer 43:8 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9 Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; 10 And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. 12 And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace. 13 He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

Jeremiah even names the Pharaoh which shall experience this destruction:

Jer 43:30 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

Pharaoh Hophra was to follow Pharaoh Necho as the focus of Gods wrath, an important fact as Necho lost to Babylon at the battle of Carchemish.

Jer 46:13 The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

Jer 46:25 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith;

Behold, I will punish the multitude of No,

and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings;

even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:

26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives,

and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon,

and into the hand of his servants:

and afterward it shall be inhabited,

as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

It is important that we understand that these two great prophets could not have been wrong or they would not be revered today as the prophets they are. They prophesied from two different viewpoints but to the same exacting story, Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon would destroy Egypt, ruled the by Pharaoh Hophra and the land would be desolate for 40 years and then the captivity would return to re-inhabit an Egypt which never again would be as powerful as it had been.

Why bring this up? Because according to current history as taught everywhere, this never happened, It cannot be; according to currently accepted Egyptian chronology. Why? because the current Egyptian chronology is wrong. if you want to know more about this subject you can read the first book in the displaced dynasties series, found here: http://www.displaceddynasties.com/

Jesus in the Garden

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matt 26:36-39 (Luke 22:42; Mark 14:36)

Many associate this prayer with Jesus' desire to avoid the cross. But before this point, He said the following:

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. Jn 12:23-33

Jesus knew his purpose  this is evident throughout the gospels when He states what he has come to do. (Matt 12:40; 16:21 and MANY others) When you read Mark it seems like every other chapter.

In Matt 26 He proclaims again that the scripture must be fulfilled; and he had rebuked Peter for suggesting otherwise. Lastly He says this:

John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

When He prays to let the cup depart from Him; it is not the hour of the cross, but the cup of suffering; being tempted and assaulted by the powers of darkness trying to keep him from his appointed hour. He is exceedingly sorrowful even unto death, because that was literally true.

Mark 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

He knew His purpose, He was exceeding sorrowful because something was pressing on Him. He was sweating great drops of blood striving against sin, refusing temptation and submitting to the Father and trusting the Father to keep Him from the evil. The crux of all the history of man was found in the moment, Satan was doing all He could do to prevent Jesus from the cross, and as we shall see, Jesus was heard! He even had to step out and rebuke Peter from taking things into his own hand:

Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? John 18:11

Bringing out the sword was a danger to them all, He had prayed for the Father to spare his life from temptation and from wicked men, Peter was putting this in danger, therefore He took command of the situation.

We see commentary on this in Hebrews:

Heb 5:5-9

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

He prayed and was heard; instead of fighting the battle in his own strength He submitted to His Father who kept him safe until He could see the scripture fulfilled.

Some disciples asked about sitting at His right hand, He answered:
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: Mark 10:38-39 (Matt 20:22-23)

They could never fulfill His hour of crucifixion for the sins of the world, but they could and did follow in His steps.

Heb 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Both parts are seen in this scripture; The cross and the suffering which caused him to sweat great drops of blood.

Be Sober and Watch

 Watch, be sober, get your mind right. These are all translated terms from scripture. I have collected here scripture containing these three words:

G3525 nepho (be sober, watch)

G4993 sophroneo (be in right mind, be sober minded) from G4998; to be of sound mind

G1127 gregoreuo (vigilant, watchful) from G1453 to keep awake

Using the color codes you can see where each word is used and how it is translated in the KJV.

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

1Thess 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

2Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

1Pet 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; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith...

Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35; used of demoniac now in his right mind

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

2Cor 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

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

Matt 26:40, 41; Mark 13:34, 35, 37; 14:34, 37, 38 Luke 12:37, 39 all as watch, in terms of vigilance.

Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

1Cor 16:13; Col 4:2; Rev 3:2,3

Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Two Resurrections

Heb 6:1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit."

The resurrection as a fact of the gospel cannot be disputed. Paul emphasized it in all his preaching, both in his first epistle: 1 Thess 1:10 "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come"; and in his last: 2Tim 2:8 "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:"

Much can be said of the resurrection, How Jesus was raised up, how we are raised up with Him, and the fact that if Jesus is not raised up we are yet in our sins. (1 Cor 15:17) The doctrine is expounded on in detail in 1 Cor 15; Rom 4-8 and all throughout Acts; which we will not detail here.

The point of this post is to establish the fact that there are two resurrection, divided by time and containing different people. The first, of the just, a resurrection of life. The second, of the unjust, and that brings men to the second death.

Two Resurrections 

John 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

There are in fact two resurrections. One for the just, and one for the evil.

Acts 24:15 "And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."

Luke 14:14 "And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

The following passage in revelation speaks of the end of the first resurrection, It begins with Jesus and ends with those killed for their witness to the word of God. There is a thousand year separation between the end of the first resurrection and that for "the rest of the dead".

Rev 20:5 "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

The first resurrection brings a people who will be reigning during the thousand years that must pass before the rest of the dead will be raised to judgment.

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations ...11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ...14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So, clearly, there are two resurrection, one to life and one to death. The call is to believe on Jesus and to be a part of those blessed and happy to be a part of the first resurrection.

Freedom from Sin

Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What does it mean to be free from sin? The testimony of some is that they have sin repeated in their lives, even though they are "Christians", how does this reconcile with the statements that we are made free from sin found in multiple contexts throughout the word of God.

The concept of redemption; to be bought back.

The concept of salvation; to be saved from death and bondage.

The concept of a change of life; to no longer be bound to our life, but to live in Jesus' life

To  be called OUT of darkness, and brought into marvelous light.

It is important to note, even the redeemed can backslide, or commit sin because of temptation. Even Jesus was tempted; yet he never sinned. Do not think that there are not trials and testings and assaults of the powers of darkness, there are.

The grace of God empowers us. It gives strength in time of need, strength to endure temptation. There is no endurance when temptation is succumbed to, only sin and therefore death.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

What do I do if I find myself here? Do I conclude that since I failed to resist that I have no hope of resisting? That somehow there is within me a power which prevents my endurance? 

Lets back up in Romans 6

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Grace includes the power to resist. Repentance is the power to be forgiven and brought back to right standing with God. The salvation of God is complete!

2Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

bottom line:

This is not meant to be exhaustive, just illustrative; I have been saved from sin, not to continue in bondage, but to live in the life of Christ Jesus. A life so complete that power exists for every eventuality, free from Sin and the death which results from it, not because I can sin and still be acceptable, but because I can resist sin, endure temptation and show forth the righteous ways of God, and because I can repent if I fail, and the conviction of the Holy Ghost will lead me to that repentance, and I can be restored because of the power of the blood of Jesus.

If I had wrought salvation for myself, I would have something to boast in, but boasting is excluded, because all of this was provided for me by the offering of Jesus. I in no way have earned it, but I have received it because of the God who loves me.

So rejoice in this, we have been given the power to live free from sin, not free IN sin, but free FROM it. We have been given the gift of the Holy ghost to lead us into all truth, and the empowerment of the grace of God to help us to endure temptation, and at the end of it all is a crown of life.

Trusting God

Isa 12:1 And in that day thou shalt say,

O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me,

thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

2 Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and not be afraid:

for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song;

he also is become my salvation.

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

4 And in that day shall ye say,

Praise the LORD, call upon his name,

declare his doings among the people,

make mention that his name is exalted.

5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things:

this is known in all the earth.

6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion:

for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

There are many examples of trusting the Lord given to us in the Old Covenant.

We see Noah trusting for the ark to be finished before the rain, and trusting God to keep them during the great deluge.

Abraham trusting the God would fulfill his promises, even though it seemed that the answer was severely delayed and his body and that of his wife past the age of child bearing.

Isaac trusting for harvest even during famine.

Jacob trusting even though his life was threatened.

David, Jehosaphat, Hezekiah and many others throughout the threats against the kingdom of Israel.

In all these examples we see one constant, joy and praise and thanksgiving are all around. When I put my trust in God I can rejoice, for I know he will keep me, I can sing and cry and shout for he will deliver me. No matter the circumstance, no matter the "evidence" I know my God cares for me and has given me his protection. He is my strength, the joy of the Lord is my strength, and He is my song, the worship of my lips, and He will ultimately deliver; He is my salvation.

GIVING THANKS!

 Giving Thanks!

Psalm 30:11-12

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

1Thess 5:14-18

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Whatever the mountain you are facing, Grace will empower you to make it a plain. In the same way giving thanks will change the attitude of your life into the expression of the Father, The life of God manifested through you.

Psalm 42:11Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?

hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

As I give thanks to him, it quickly turns to praise, and my soul xan no longer be cast down, but lifted up into the heavenly realm.

You can search for these words all over the Bible, Thanks, Thanksgiving, Thankful(ness), and Praise. It is the attitude of thanksgiving which brings us to the remembrance of all the good things he has done for us.