Romans 8:17-25 comments: our hope

 

Romans 8:17 ¶  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

 

As children of God we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ of all things visible and invisible. This is our destiny. The question in verse 17 is one of suffering. Must we suffer the physical agony of persecution and death as Christ did to have that inheritance? This has confused some in the past.

 

It is absurd for us to think that every saved Christian has been martyred or murdered to assure their salvation. Certainly, there were martyrs in the past who looked at their violent death at the hands of others as a way to obtain eternal life. In fact, I have read that in some early persecutions there was altogether too much volunteering to die going on so that pastors had to tell people that was not necessary or even acceptable to ask to be killed. Persecution would come to them without them seeking martyrdom.

Still, we must understand the context in which this is said. The early Christian lived in a world that hated them and hated Christ in a way we cannot understand with our Constitution’s Bill of Rights which guarantees religious freedom or even the modern belief in more civilized societies that all religions should be respected and allowed to practice. See the commands and expectations to suffer persecution for Christ.

 

Let’s focus on the word suffer and its derivations when it means, not to permit or allow something, but to endure affliction, persecution, and tribulation. One of the cruelest demands made against Christians under torture was to renounce Christ.

 

1Corinthians 4:12  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

 

PhIlippians 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

 

2Thessalonians 1:5  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

 

1Timothy 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

 

2Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

2Timothy 2:9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound…12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

 

2Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

If you live as a Christian it is sure that at some point in your life you will endure persecution for it, even if it is mild.

 

But, the context of verse 18 is the present time that Paul is living. You not being permitted to put up a scripture verse in your office cubicle hardly compares to what early Christians had to endure.

 

We wait selfishly for a good reason earnestly expecting and in the hope of the receiving of a resurrection body that will not suffer and die. All of our lives we are subject to the bondage of death.

 

Hebrews 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

But we wait expectantly in hope for a new body.

Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

 

See this verse also on a physical resurrection from Job, written between 1500 to 2000BC.

 

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

 

And a thousand years later see this verse on a physical resurrection from Isaiah.

 

Isaiah 26:19  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

 

And then, a few hundred years later, as Daniel writes under the reigns of the last Babylonian emperors and the first Persian.

 

Daniel 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

 

Keeping this understanding of the ancient Jew and Gentile before the Jew came into being (Job) read the “dry bones” prophesy in Ezekiel 37.

 

Ezekiel 37:12  Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

 

See the following on the rapture or translation, the Biblical term, of the church;

 

1Thessalonians 4:13 ¶  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Our current flesh and blood cannot inherit eternal life. It is just not possible for it to do so. At this point I think a reading of 1Corinthians 15 is relevant.

 

1Corinthians 15:1 ¶  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11  Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

 

    12 ¶  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

 

    20 ¶  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Fatherwhen he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29  Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30  And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and

drink; for to morrow we die. 33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

 

 

    35 ¶  But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36  Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37  And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38  But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39  All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41  Thereis one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 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, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

    58 ¶  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

So, in order to live forever we must have a body different than one of mortal flesh and blood. We can be resurrected because inside each of us, if we have received Christ, the very Spirit of God dwells. Because of that we will be resurrected and with a different, spiritual body we can enter into eternity with the LORD who created us.

 

This is our expectation and hope, the vital understanding of the meaning of Easter, the resurrection of Christ celebrated, whether it is worshipped once a year, every Sunday, or every day, as it should be. We will triumph over death by the One who resides in us. We have that hope.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 comments: orders for a future king

 

Deuteronomy 17:14 ¶  When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; 15  Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. 16  But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. 17  Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 18  And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19  And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20  That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

 

Here, it is predicted what will happen in Israel later.

 

1Samuel 8:4 ¶  Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6  But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9  Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 10  And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12  And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13  And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14  And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15  And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16  And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17  He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18  And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. 19  Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20  That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21  And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22  And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

 

God does not create civilizations and cultures but permits man to do so. He only places conditions on their functioning and since they rarely obey they face His judgment. But, here is an example of how God modifies man’s desires.

 

Notice how even the “good” kings disobeyed these principles God set down. Solomon got horses from Egypt.

 

1Kings 10:28  And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

 

He took many wives which turned the heart of this wisest of all humans. As Nehemiah noted;

 

Nehemiah 13:23 ¶  In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24  And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. 25  And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 26  Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27  Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

 

1Kings 11:1 ¶  But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2  Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7  Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8  And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

 

    9 ¶  And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10  And had commanded him concerning this  thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

 

1Kings 10:21  And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

 

Notice also how the kings disregarded God’s commandments with regard to His law and how shocked one was to find the Law in written form realizing that by reading it the kingdom was judged.

 

2Chronicles 34:14 ¶  And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.  15  And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16  And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it. 17  And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. 18 

Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. 19  And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. 20  And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king’s, saying, 21  Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

 

We have a great advantage of having so many Bibles around today. Imagine a king who finds a written copy of the Law to be an amazing thing to find and a distressing thing to read. Clearly, previous kings not long after Solomon did not read the Bible daily because they didn’t have one.

 

Essentially, the basic requirement for kingship was clear, that is, kingship approved by God.

 

2Samuel 23:3  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

Deuteronomy 16:18- 17:13 comments

 

Deuteronomy 16:18 ¶  Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19  Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. 20  That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 21  Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. 22  Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

 

Here is a command for the Israelites for civil authority. This gives us an indication of what God intended before they demanded a king. Each tribe would govern itself justly and wisely. Bribery and oppression were forbidden.

 

His final command here involves the forbidding of heathen fixtures of worship anywhere near His altar, including groves in which the heathen worshipped or statues that they looked to as gods.

 

Deuteronomy, chapter 17

 

Deuteronomy 17:1 ¶  Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. 2  If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, 3  And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 4  And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: 5  Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. 6  At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7  The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

 

The Israelites were not to offer diseased or deformed animals as sacrifices. They were to offer their best trusting that God would bless them. The perfect animal, unblemished, was a picture of Christ to come.

 

Deuteronomy 15:21  And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.

 

Exodus 12:5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

 

Leviticus 22:20  But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. 21  And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. 22  Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD. 23  Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. 24  Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land. 25  Neither from a stranger’s hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

 

Malachi 1:8  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts…13  Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 14  But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

 

Hebrews 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

1Peter 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

Here also, it is said that if it becomes known that an Israelite has gone and worshipped other gods by the mouth of two or more witnesses they were to be stoned by the people collectively after the witnesses placed their hands on them. The witnesses bore their responsibility for an honest accusation and the people confirmed their belief that God’s ways were right ways by participating in this public execution for idolatry.

 

This is similar to the admonition given in 13:1

 

Deuteronomy 13:1 ¶  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2  And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 17:8 ¶  If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; 9  And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: 10  And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: 11  According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12  And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. 13  And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

 

As this follows chapter 16:18 this outlines a court of appeal for the judges. Without Moses around this was necessary. This was not like our court of appeals where if you don’t like the decision you appeal it. This was for the judges appointed if they found a case too difficult to judge. This final decision had to be accepted without question or fail, obviously as maintaining social order is an important facet of any criminal justice system, not just justice for the accused and the accuser.

Bible study on Monday night - Comparing New Testament references using Old Testament verses

 In the gospels;

1. New Testament passage: Matthew 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

Context: Jesus’ birth

Old Testament reference: Isaiah 7:10 ¶  Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11  Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12  But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13  And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15  Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16  For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

 

Context: Isaiah 7:1 ¶  And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

Comments: Prophecy given in context of Syrian and Israel attack on Jerusalem and Judah. Not fulfilled based on the text in the immediate circumstances. Clear prophecy of Christ.

Doctrine: The Virgin Birth of Christ.

In Acts;

1. New Testament passage: Acts 1:16  Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.17  For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18  Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

19  And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20  For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

 

Context: Acts 1:6 ¶  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same

Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

    12 ¶  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. 13  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

 

    15 ¶  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

Old Testament reference: Psalm 109:8  Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

Context: A comparison of Christ and Judas? Psalm 109:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise; 2  For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. 3  They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. 4  For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. 5  And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

 

    6 ¶  Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. 7  When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. 8  Let his days be few; and let another take his office. 9  Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. 10  Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. 11  Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. 12  Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. 13  Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. 14  Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. 15  Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth. 16  Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart. 17  As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. 18  As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. 19  Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. 20  Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

 

    21 ¶  But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. 22  For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. 23  I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. 24  My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness. 25  I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads. 26  Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy: 27  That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it. 28  Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice. 29  Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. 30  I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude. 31  For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

 

Comments: Peter refers back to an Old Testament passage that compares the Messiah and His betrayer although the original context appears to be about a righteous man’s struggle against an evil man.

Doctrine: Judas’ betrayal of Christ.

From Paul's letter to the Romans;

1.New Testament passage: Romans 1:1 ¶  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

 

Context: Paul’s introduction and credentials

Old Testament references based on earlier commentaries: Isaiah 40:2  Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins… 42:4  He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law… 52:1 ¶  Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean… Psalm 19:3  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6  His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof… Psalm 68:11  The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

 

Context: These are verses earlier generations of Christians have said applied to Paul’s statement as well as many others.

Doctrine: God has prepared His apostles, separated to spread God’s word.

Sunday School Lesson given at Lake Marburg Church this morning on Luke 18:35 through 19:27

 

Luke 18:35 ¶  And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36  And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37  And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38  And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39  And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40  And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41  Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42  And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43  And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

 

Here is a man, blind AND poor physically, much as the unsaved man or woman is spiritually. He has nothing with which to commend Himself to Christ but His physical misery and His poverty. That’s how we come to Christ if we come to Him at all. Christ responds to us in the depth of our despair, not requiring us to “get right” before He’ll deal with us. In regard to sin, David pleaded with God for forgiveness not because of the lightness of his sin, but because of the greatness of it.

 

Psalm 25:11  For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

 

A sick person does not make his case before a doctor on account of how trifling his or her sickness is but based on their sickness being significant and distressing. This man only cried out for mercy acknowledging who Christ was. He called out for mercy from one whom he knew had the power to have mercy on his weakness.

 

He wanted to see and knew that Christ, had faith that Christ, could make it happen. Here is Christ, on the way to His divine appointment, who stops to deal with this seemingly insignificant person’s handicap. Christ came to give sight to the blind. We would not see the truth were it not for Christ who is the truth.

 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

The world that rejects Him as Messiah, Saviour, Lord, and God-in-the-flesh is blind. Satan, the god of this world, keeps as many of them in that condition for as long as he can.

 

2Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

They have but to cry out to Him to be saved from the darkness.

 

Romans 10:8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be

saved. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

 

    12 ¶  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

When a great change comes over a person’s life because Christ has entered into it often times even those around them marvel and are amazed at the change. Of course, they might become annoyed at the change if the person simply becomes an annoying pain in the neck. But a reformed life after an encounter with Christ is a wonder to behold if genuine and sincere. God’s mercy is apparent when a person sees the light of Christ and becomes one of His. It is also apparent for the believer in his or her everyday life, in the grace that is shed on our time here on earth. What we need, every day, is mercy, is to repeat the cry of this blind beggar; have mercy on me. Open my eyes and let me see.

 

Luke, chapter 19

 

Luke 19:1 ¶  And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2  And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3  And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4  And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

In Luke 3 John the Baptist admonished the publicans, the tax-collectors, not to demand more money than they were supposed to get. It was common then for the tax-collector to extort money out of the powerless people he was charged with collecting taxes from compounding the thinking that they were Jewish turncoats working for the Romans with corruption on top of that. They were not well-liked and, typically, were lumped in with prostitutes as being hated sinners.

 

Zacchaeus admits his past extortions, repents of his sin, and pays restitution all the while acknowledging Christ as Lord. Here is the classic example of coming to Christ. Repent of your sins, make restitution when possible, and acknowledge and believe in Christ. Jesus again makes the declaration that He is come to save them that are lost, an implication that salvation can only be for those who admit they are lost, humbling themselves before God. I am reminded of the publican in chapter 18.

 

13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

Here is a Christian principle that all employees of government and even private business should be conscious of. Do not use your position for personal gain other than what is appointed to you. I used to work for a mobile home sales lot where the manager, part owner, would sell wheels and axles from homes he had set on customer’s property, wheels and axles that were to remain with the dealership and were not property of the customer. However, he did not tell his partner about the money he was pocketing. Oddly, he thought nothing of it until he was caught in an audit. Although, he was part owner, what he did was dishonest and was basically stealing from his partner. It ended his part in the business as the law backed up his partner.

 

I have heard anecdotal stories about building inspectors in this area making it clear that if a contractor were to give them a little side money a permit process would go easier for them. Recently, also there was a scandal nationally where wealthy parents paid an agent to help their children get into elite colleges fraudulently. Christians must not engage in such dishonesty and should be above board and transparent in all of their dealings.

 

Zacchaeus repented of his wickedness, everyday corruption, and turned to Christ. And notice, Christ was going to abide with him, grace the man’s house with Christ’s own presence. Think of the analogy.

 

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

 

Note here that Christ knew He would be welcome at Zacchaeus’ house and invited Himself there. God’s foreknowledge knew that we would believe Him before the world was founded. We were chosen, in Him, that is by virtue of His foreknowledge of our willingness to receive His offer of grace, before the earth was created.

 

Ephesians 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

 

1Peter 1:2a  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…

 

For those of us who belong to Christ there was a time when He said to us, “for to day I must abide at thy house.” The wonderful thing about Christ’s indwelling is that He never leaves us.

 

He told Paul, as reported in Hebrews 13:5, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. This is a sentiment similarly, in different contexts, expressed by God throughout the Old Testament; in Deuteronomy 31, Joshua 1, 1Samuel 12, 1Chronicles 28, and Psalm 37.

 

God, who created us, and makes all things happen by the word of His power, has come to live in our earthly house, our body, with us. I cannot imagine anything more incredible.

 

Finally, verse 10 shows us that Jesus came to straighten out the Jews first, the lost sheep of the house of Israel who strayed from the path God set them on and invented their own path of hypocrisy and false doctrine.

 

Matthew 10:5 ¶  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

Matthew 15:24  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

Then, His offer of salvation is extended to all mankind who from the days of Noah had also walked in their own perverted way.

 

Psalm 22:27  All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

 

Matthew 8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

 

Matthew 12:21  And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

 

John 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

 

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Luke 19:11 ¶  And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14  But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15  And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16  Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17  And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18  And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19  And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20  And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21  For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23  Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24  And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25  (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26  For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27  But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

 

The disciples are following Jesus to Jerusalem fully expecting His power to be revealed and His kingdom to be made manifest in a physical, tangible sense on earth right in front of them. Christ then speaks a parable about the consequences for the Jews of rejecting Him. This would apply to all mankind as well. The nobleman presents himself to his subjects who reject him. He has supplied his own servants, and, remember, He is talking with His Jewish disciples here, with a gift that they are to use on his behalf. In the end, those who reject the nobleman’s rule over them will be executed and that servant who does not exercise his gifts for God, and we all have talents and gifts given to us by God, in the world will lose even what they have. A similar parable is told in Matthew 25 but in the context of them not knowing when Christ would return as He discusses the end times when asked in Matthew 24:1 when they will come about.

 

He has already told them in 17 that the kingdom of God for them lies within their hearts but they have been expecting a conquering Messiah who will remove the Roman yoke of bondage from their necks and restore Israel to a place of prominence. Even after His resurrection they say;

 

Acts 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

 

Jesus had told Governor Pilate;

 

John 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

 

Notice the now is my kingdom not from hence. But, His kingdom will come to this world and many will suffer for their rejection of Him.

 

Matthew 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

 

God exercises His power over our existence in every heartbeat He makes happen. But, Jesus is not now exercising direct and physical, political rule over the kingdoms of the world although the Bible says that there will come a time for that.

 

Revelation 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

The direct application is for Christ’s Jewish disciples in the days coming to His Crucifixion and after His Resurrection and ascension to Heaven. But, we’ve been given gifts which we are to exercise on His behalf also. We are His ambassadors, perhaps a front infiltrating in Satan’s world of men and women to prepare Christ’s coming. An analogy can be made to a commando unit landing behind enemy lines. Or, more simply, like the prophets and John the Baptist who announced Him. Our gifts are not all physical. In fact, the proof or fruit of the Holy Spirit living inside of us is outlined in Galatians 5 in contrast against the demands of the flesh and the consequences of living in it.

 

Galatians 5:13 ¶  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

In addition to the fruit of the Spirit we have each been given gifts of abilities. Each of these are particular to us individually and one does not have what the other has and two with the same do not have it in the same measure.

 

Romans 12:1 ¶  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 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. 4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11  Not slothful in

business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

 

The error on our part is in doing nothing. It is not about being successful as God provides the success.

 

1Corinthians 3:5 ¶  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Or, as Jesus said so clearly;

 

John 3:27  John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

We are like the servants who received the pounds and were tasked to make them work for the master. As the Baltimore preacher Sewall Smith asked in a sermon on John 6:9, “What are you going to do with your five and two?”