Little Children

Matthew 18:1 "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

Were children the same then as now?

First off, "the little children" in the day of Christ were different than today. Theirs was a world of regulation and obedience. On the other hand there are behaviors classic to youth of all ages. The youthful David in the pastures with his flock had much in common with the farm boy today with his rifle. They do some of the same things and dream similar dreams!

Let's first look at verse 18:3 "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Who are children?

1. an unborn or recently born person
2. a young person especially between infancy and youth (before maturity)
3. a son or daughter of human parents

Are we to become as little children TO BE converted or as a result of conversion?

The Greek translated "converted" is strepho meaning "to turn quite around".

I always thought that this meant children were easier to convert than adults.

Do you not agree that the conversion is when one is "born again"?

Review "born again" from link: BORN AGAIN.

If so, we are in agreement. That's not to say that children are more receptive to teaching than adults, but that's not what this means?

Why are children more receptive to teaching?

1. Limited exposure to contrary ideas
2. Eagerness to learn
3. Ability to learn at a faster rate
4. Innocence
5. Mimic adults who they love and respect
6. Shorter history of worldly pleasures
7. More sensitive to love
8. Feelings of security with teacher
9. Attitude (humility)
10. Influence of other children
11. Simple faith
12. Pride has not yet matured

Rather than "become as little children" to be converted, we come as we are!

Regarding the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet, the Pharisees rebuked him:

Luke 7:47 ... I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

There is one word to describe what Jesus is saying in verse 18:3? CHANGE!

How are we to change: from the impurity of learned adult minds to the innocence of a child. Obedience to God's will!

Is sinning a learned behavior? Yes.

Of course babies cry at discomfort. Because they get fed when they cry they learn that by crying they can get what they want. As they have their anger fit what they desire is forthcoming. That is learned behavior. It's called "operant conditioning" and results in "positive reinforcement", which is rewarding bad behavior.

What are some characteristics of young children?

• Loving
• Active (apathy has yet to set in)
• Sense of humor (not thin-skinned)
• Learn readily (receptive to ideas)
• React socially (Lucas hugged everybody)
• Sense of justice (right and wrong are simple)
• Friendship important
• Reason well. Do not yet go with false perceptions. (Try playing Concentration with a six year old!)
• Follow directions more readily (Obey!)
• Can have long attention spans (persistent)
• Enjoy learning and knowledge (open to truth)

Jesus expects us to be like these children when we "turn around" our lives. What is it that we are expected to do? Change! Old persons to new!

The old person's are antithetic to the genuineness of the little children. The old person with hate, anger, thin-skin, apathy, rationalizing, unfriendlinss, illogical, stubbornness, and rejection of truth is to be put away. Conversion is a transition from being the sinful old person to an innocent new person!

Do children do wrong?

Sure. That is original sin. We are born with a propensity to sin!

What are the first things children demonstrate?

• anger accompanied by crying tantrums
• "No!" They learn disobedience when it doesn't meet their desires.
• "Mine!" Selfishness
• "I don't want to!" Self-centeredness
• Slapping or pinching. Violence
• "Give it to me!" Demanding
• "I didn't do it!" Lying.
• Many others

The propensity to rebel is inborn, but the attitude of sin is learned. Infants do what infants have done since the days of Seth, but the continuation and growth in "sin" is learned as parents react to their wrongs by positive reinforcement. Disobedient children have become masters of weak parents. The start is benign, but by adolescence some of us have already grown teenage terrorists!

Rebellious or different children are a product of permissive parents. Parents who want mature children grow civil children. Those permissive parents who allow children to "do whatever they want to do" create adults who "do what is right in their own eyes!" We must teach obedience and submission to authority.

Do Christians still deal with childish sins? Yes we do! It will be a burden until we die!

Do we love and forgive children who try to obey well and sometimes slip up? Yes. Under what conditions? Sorry!

Does God forgive those adults who still do the occasional sin and slip up? Yes. Under what conditions? Contrition and repentance!

Why does God forgive even Christians of their sins? Jesus endured the same temptations which men endure. He knows that it is hard!

How bad does a child have to be before we commence "tough love"? Open rebellion and rejection of authority?

How do we do toughlove? Emancipate the youth to be on his own.

How does God do his toughlove? Emancipates the sinner to be on his own!

For either the parent or the sinner, there is the danger that either may be destroyed. Real love is toughlove! Toughlove does hurt the parent. Toughlove does hurt our Father in heaven. Why?

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."

Because he loves you so much that he wants you to never die! He loves you so much that he sacrificed his only son to die in your place! His loss is your gain! All you must do is have faith in that payment and live in innocence as children do!

Verse 18:6 says "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

One other thing: Little children do not offend by nature! They love being with other children because there pride and power and jealousy have yet to be learned. We are to love the other "children" (Christians) and be in accord with them, just as children who play together in innocence.

Right now I'd rather be playing on a playground with little children than pursuing happiness by things adults do.!

For more on John 3:6 see my YouTube Video at link:

BORN AGAIN

Zacchaeus

LAST NIGHT"S BIBLE STUDY AT SALMONS GENERAL BAPTIST CHURCH

When we read Holy Scripture each and every word is there for  purpose! God didn't reveal truth casually, His words mean something.

Rule #1: Words Mean Things

Rule #2: God's word is truth.

Rule #3: God's Truth is revealed in Words because words mean things.

Conclusion: Always seek why God included any word!

That's my study method. Mere reading reveals much less. All scripture is all about Jesus and the reason to read is to find out what things mean about Jesus.

A recent President used the excuse "It depends on what the definition  of 'is' is."

Let's start there because IS is important. Why is it important what "is" is?

Exodus 3:14 "God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. "

am "present tense first person singular of be."
is "present tense third person of be"
be "identifies a person"

God calls himself I AM. We say he IS and that identifies his existence. In other words IS is a state of existence. It's always present tense, so that whoever exists whenever that's claimed is always real!

What is God's name?  He is without name because he just IS! JHVH is the Hebrew letters called the tetragrammaton which expressed God's eternal existence. He doesn't need a name because he is the One WHO ALWAYS IS!  GOD is NOT his name. We CALL him Emmanuel and Jesus for our benefit!

Now for more. Let's study today's lesson with the value of words in mind:

Luke 19:1 "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho."

What about Jericho? Any significance?

• The city of Palm trees. God showed Moses the land as far as Jericho from Nebo. (Deuteronomy 34:1-3).
• the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho (that's where Canaan was given to the Hebrews). (Numbers 33:50)
• Jericho was in early times the city of false gods and pagan worship.
• Under Joshua God destroyed Jericho by making it's walls fall down as they carried the Ark of the Covenant around it for seven days.
• Became a great city again, but was the city which had the most priests and Levites. (i.e., just as the world had been destroyed under Noah and created anew, Jericho had a new birth.) With all those do-gooder Levites there,  it was a place of regulations and scrutiny. Big Brother was alive and well there!

2 "And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich."

What do we know about Zacchaeus?

• Name means pure or innocent
• He was rich.
• He not only a publican, but was chief publican.
• He was short. More on that shortly!

What is a publican?

• Public contractors who did three things: supplied the Roman Legions, collected duties and taxes, and oversaw building projects.
• They were usually equites (knights) (inherited positions)
• They bid on tax debts and collected taxes to make a profit. As such they raised more money than the taxes required and kept the remainder for themselves! That's called "farming". The crop is cash!

Why then did the Hebrews despise the publicans?

Why was it important that Zacchaeus was a high up publican?  (They were usually the chief sinners and were hated!)

3 "And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature."

Why is it important that Zacchaeus was trying to see Jesus? (He knew that Jesus was important!)

He was a short man.  What type of behavior do most short people exhibit?

Napoleon Complex:  "theorized condition occurring in people of short stature. It is characterized by overly-aggressive or domineering social behavior, and carries the implication that such behaviour is compensatory for the subject's stature. The term is also used more generally to describe people who are driven by a perceived handicap to overcompensate in other aspects of their lives." (Wikipedia)

Napoleon Complex

What type of thought is this? UNFAIR! It's called a stereotype! Are all short people domineering?

4 "And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way."

Zacchaeus actually ran ahead to see Jesus! What would you think if you saw a rich man climbing a tree to see him? (Well to do Mexican in Mexico City sitting in a trash can when it was cold).

Is the sycamore tree of any significance?  (It's the city of Palm Trees) Not like our sycamore, but like a fig tree with mulberry leaves. The fruit is inferior, but to the Egyptians guess what this tree was called? THE TREE OF LIFE.

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."

What went through the minds of the people at this point? 

What did Jesus know about Zacchaeus? Everything!

We've discussed the stereotype the people saw. What did Jesus see in him? (His true self. His heart. His meekness.)

6 "And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully."

From this verse what feelings do you suppose Zacchaeus had for Jesus? (awe, belief and joy)

Who's important to you? How would you feel then? (When Ronald Reagan came what if he had called me forth!)

7 "And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner."

Why did they call Zacchaeus "a sinner"? 1) We all are. 2) They considered themselves to be righteous and thus this man with the sin of usury was not! What did they do to him? Stereotype him! Could there be another reason he was called "a sinner"? (PARABLE BELOW).

When the people saw this what did they do?(murmured: gossiped).

What did they gossip about? Jesus was going to stay with a sinner!

Whose integrity were they questioning? Jesus's.

Why was Zacchaeus picked out as a sinner? (He was stereotyped because he was a publican).

Weren't they all sinners? (Yes, but they judged harshly and unfairly. They condemned Zacchaeus. Because of his occupation they profiled him!)

Was there any other reasons that Zacchaeus may have been labeled "a sinner"? SEE PARABLE BELOW

The publican in the parable right before this incident called himself "a sinner"! What do you suppose passed through the minds of the people? (Indeed this man is the sinner in the parable.)

Did they get the point in the parable? (No. The message that they got was that publicans are sinners!)

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."

Was Zacchaeus a sinner? Had he made money off unfortunate people? Did Zacchaeus realize that he was a sinner? Do you think that Zacchaeus was the one from the parable? Was he willing to make restitution? What is restitution? Is it important?

9 "And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."

What was Jesus' response to Zacchaeus?  (He saved him!) Why is Abraham of significance? (The covenant with Abraham is that his seed would be blessed).

10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Before this was Zacchaeus lost? (He was taught the scriptures well we find from secular writings, but he had never to that time accepted what he knew!)

What happened to Zacchaeus? Did he just become history and this is a history lesson?

Is there anything further known about Zacchaeus which may be important?

Acts 1:23 " And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24  And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."

What does Matthias have to do with Zacchaeus? He IS Zacchaeus Matthias!

 St. Clement of Alexandria, in his writings in the Stromata, points this out. "So Zacchaeus, whom they call Matthias, the chief tax collector, when he had heard that the Lord had esteemed him highly enough to be with Him, said, 'Behold, half of my present possessions I give as alms, and Lord, if I ever extorted money from anyone in any way, I return it fourfold.'  At this, the Saviour said, 'When the Son of Man came today, he found that which was lost'" (Stromata 4.6.35.2) from ("The Overlooked Holy Apostle, Matthias;" August 9/22)

He became a bishop to cannibals in Ethiopia where he was imprisoned to be eaten, but freed by divine Providence. When he returned to Galilee he was stoned to death at the orders of Annas, the chief priest.

Words mean things! Zacchaeus was written about for a reason! After the ascension of Jesus the Holy Ghost of Jesus came into him and he became an apostle because he had seen Jesus face to face!

Thereafter Jesus spoke a parable.

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.

Who do you suppose this parable was about? Zacchaeus and the religious leaders.

PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN:

Luke 18:9

"He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 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.

Nicodemus

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

Nicodemus:

• Unknown back for sure, but from the Talmud be may be Nicodemus ben Gurion and himself had miraculous powers.
• Pharisee: political party, social movement and school of thought. It's remnant became what is Rabinnic Judaism today.  They were set apart from the Sadducees as against Greek influences, the acceptance of all the Law including oral, but they did accept the idea of the Resurrection. (This is key to Nicodemus' story because to be "born-again" implies hat there is a Resurrection).
• Ruler of the Jews (member of the Sanhedrin): The assembly of 23-71 men in every city in the Land of Israel. The Sanhedrin were patterned after the Judges of old times. The Great Sanhedrin were the leaders and include a president, chief of court and an assembly.

This commentary is not a out Nicodemus though, it's about being "born-again"!

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus by night?

Did Nicodemus recognize Jesus as Savior?

Should he have?

Do you think Jesus is recognized by most as Savior or teacher even today?

Nicodemus recognized that Jesus performed miracles? (This reinforces the idea that this may have been Nicodeus ben Gurion who himself was a miracle worker).

Nicodemus knew that his miracles where tricks. He understood that Jesus was the real deal. Did Nicodemus come to learn about God or did he come to learn how to do miracles?

Are there false miracle workers today? (Faith healers prosperity ministry, positive talk ministries)

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jesus said this? Do you suppose it's truth?

Did Jesus immediately know Nicodemus' heart?

Was Nicodemus sincere in his quest to know Jesus or was it to learn how to do miracles?

Since the subject at hand is about miracles, is being "born again" a miracle?

What does "born again" literally mean? (from the Greek "born from above)?

What is the relationship between kingdom of God and "born again"? One cannot be a citizen of God's realm without first being spiritually born to qualify for citizenship.

Where is the kingdom of God? (Wherever God reigns).

Where does God reign? In the hearts of those born again!

Heaven as where God sits on his throne where only "good" can be. To enter there one must be glorified (made perfect). Those born again, but not yet glorified after death are honorary citizens of God's kingdom. At death there spirit will be full citizens of God's kingdom, and when they are resurrected their bodies will be as well.  We should have joy awaiting that time!

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Did Nicodemus understand what it takes to be born again? Do you?

Jesus explains further:

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

See "Herrin Daily Blog" on "Born-Again" at this link: BORN AGAIN .

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

What are we when we're born? flesh

When we're born again what are we? spirit (soul at creation, what happened to it, what it is full of at birth and at salvation)

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

What is Jesus saying about the Spirit? It's there, we "hear" him, but we don't know his way.

What does that say about those who were born-again's spirit? We have the Holy Spirit with us.

Jesus is talking and has yet to ascend? The Holy Ghost came after his ascension. The Comforter had not come. How could it be that at this time those born-again got the Holy Spirit?

Spirit is God's essence and Holy Ghost is the specific spirit of Jesus.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
¹²  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

How do we avoid destruction and have eternal life? Lift up Jesus!

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.

Why? God loves the world.

What did he do? Made a one time sacrifice for you, his most and only beloved son.

To whom is salvation available? Whosoever... everybody!

What is the requirement? belief.

Since even the demons believe, is there something else? pisteou in the Greek TRUST

How are we to trust Jesus? Believe that because he died for us and was Resurrected that we can be as well.

How do those who do not believe perish? The Second Death! After the body dies and the heart judged at the Great White Throne Judgment, then the soul will die. It will be a living death forever.

What happens to the person who has everlasting life? Be like Jesus. Glorified in a perfect body without sin forever!

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Why was Jesus born? To save us! That we all MIGHT be saved.

What does "might" imply? We have a choice. Our fate is on our own shoulders.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

What will condemn men? Unbelief. Belief is something gained. If one never seeks it out, they are condemned by their negligence!

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

When are we "born again"? When we trust Jesus through his "Light" (truth). At the moment we become enlightened we are "born-again".  It's when we realize that we can't save ourselves and that only Jesus' blood will save, and trust that it does!

Emotion and Truth

With regard to human rights, now is the time of much dissension. Our leaders have created class warfare more so than at any time in history since the Bolshevik Revolution of  1917. At that time it wasn't about race, but those with little allied against those with much! At that time a peaceful protest turned into a bloody battle because of emotions. 200,000 people demonstrated against injustice which led to the death of 300 citizens.

Marxism feeds on class warfare. That is power-grabbing technique of socialism. In order to create chaos Marxists first foment the dissatisfaction into open violence. When that happens emotion reigns and truth is obscured. I won't go into the Russian Revolution any further, but the technique is important to understand with whom it is that we are warring!

"You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." (Rahm Emanuel)

Unfortunately there are always "serious crises".  If not dutiful soldiers of chaos create the crisis. If not the creation of a crisis, socialism fosters dissension until it is a crisis. When emotions are high truth is obscured because reason requires cognition. When people quit thinking straight is when masses of discouraged people go awry and trouble ensues. Old truths grow until they become new truths. Of course truth cannot be changed, but angry people are gullible for anything.

What is truth? People don't care, but truth is when anything is in accordance with reality. "The police are brutal" contains truth, but it is not entirely truthful. Some police have been brutal, but the majority of policemen are good citizens just doing their jobs. Emotion blinds people to truth. Through the blurry eyes of pain, the hurt person sees the policeman as a weapon of mass destruction who is a hater. That's not truth. That's emotion speaking!

My own son was beaten by a police officer in Bowling Green. My son had his faults, but on this occasion witnesses told me that he was being peaceful and that the cop instigated the conflict which led to brutal tactics. The cop was emotional and failed to use reason. My son was hauled off to jail for merely being the wrong place at the wrong time. Two months later that same policeman was fired for beating a black woman. Here we have a situation that the cop wasn't discriminating with whom he was angry, but anger toward a person of color brought justice whereas with a white male, justice failed!

I was angry, but I was rational. I put emotion aside. I respect policemen to this day. The abusive police officer was the exception not the rule. Justice finally prevailed with him. I am disappointed that the laws of the land have made justice toward some better than justice for all, but that is what we have paid for due to America's long guilt trip because of slavery and the results of Reconstruction where "inequality" became the law of the land.

With all the demonstrations nationwide there are reasons for it. Because of history, blacks still have the hurt of past discrimination. I've always contended that the war caused the problem we have today and I actually blame the Radical Republicans rather than credit them, for the racial division today. The courts were the proper tool for change, not a war! The so-called Civil War was the emotional response for using a crisis for change. We now have change and we see it on the streets.  We have two nations, not one privileged and the other not, because the government has made minorities more privileged. It's the same type of placation which resulted in a war where 700,000 people died!

Those in the streets today are mere tools. They are being used by those behind the scenes who desire a Utopia here on earth, with of course, them in charge! Once the tool has served their purpose the facilitators will step forward and push them aside. Socialism easily realizes that color cannot be hidden and color is a divider. Lincoln himself realized that when he said:

"I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is physical difference between the two which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality, and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position."

Lincoln realized that race could not be hidden and that color shall always be a barrier to unity! This notion is the crises which progressives use to gain ground in their revolution to create a one world government, and blacks fall for their deception.  Color can be grabbed from the box and progressives are grabbing the black crayon to do their coloring. This crayon is always at the front of the box and is getting worn down from use!

Of course their is a solution, but it's not doing what THEY want us to do. The progressives use this crisis to their own advantage and now race relations are worse than ever!

Lincoln also realized that we are all created equal. That's from "The Gettysburg Address". God made us different, but scripture says that he is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Like it or not, God made us all and he made us equal in his eyes! Does that mean that we are inherently equal. No! Any sane person can see that we are different from each other, but each of our qualities are in the eyes of the beholder. To be truthful, I don't care for black culture. It's at odds with scripture. However, I don't care for popular culture practiced by any race for the same reason. Progressives have come up with one of those "new truths" which divide: "Hate can be defined by recognizing that we are different.", but at the same time dwell on diversity to exacerbate the crises! It's not equality progressives desire; it's dissatisfaction to drive the desire for change their way.

Before we know it there will be a peak crisis which will drive the people to arms. It may go either way. It may be a race war. It may be a war between democracy and socialism or it may be a religious war. Marxists don't care what the flavor of the war is as long as they can use the war for gain. That's what the Bolsheviks did! Even though Bloody Sunday which started their Revolution was led by a priest seeking change for the better, it was not long before the Marxists nearly destroyed Christianity which drove the desire for change! Their tool had been used, was no longer sharp and was discarded in favor of more blatant tools.

That's what will happen with "Black Lives Matter". Once they serve their purpose they'll learn that to the progressives "Black Lives Don't Matter". They are a mere tool in the arsenal for change and change has direction! Blacks will someday suffer because progressives like Margaret Sanger sees color as merely a black crayon in their box to be used until it's too short to shade opinion. Then those progressives will just grab another crayon and color on!

The solution to this is Jesus Christ. He is who knows that we are equal!

Virus

Recently I got a virus on my computer. It was Adware. As such because I accepted good things (a free program) along with it I was infected. The virus was such that it continually taunted me to "call this number" and the infection would be removed. It disguised itself as a legitimate Microsoft warning and the warning looked real. They appeared to really want to help me!

Being an engineer I seldom accept things at face value. Before I step in quicksand I test the soil. Rather than calling the number provided, I googled the problem. It turned out that this was a computer virus introduced to me as benign Adware. When I downloaded free stuff because it, free stuff which would destroy my computer came along with it. That's another lesson that nothing is ever free!

My discerning mind was questioning. We should always be on the look out for things which will harm us. Why? Because human nature is inherently evil. It is other people aggrandizing themselves at the expense of innocent people.  To get the free stuff (shareware) I knew when I accepted their terms and conditions that it was risky, but the free stuff which I wanted was worth the risk. All shareware is not infected, but one always takes a chance when they do a download and do so anyway even though they are warned in advance (in small print).

Whoever developed the virus was brilliant. It was enveloped in "good"; let us help you; but the virus was there to destroy and to intimidate. All I  needed to do was call that number and they would fix the problem! Help comes with huge cost. It must be paid for and in effect it's tribute to keep the bully from bullying anymore!

I am not one to submit to nefarious forces. Out of principle I made up my mind that a cure was there without me having to pay a dime, and with persistence I could prevail! Others had been infected before. I learned from them! I googled the problem and found a multistep solution. It took hours using five antivirus programs to nix the virus. Some failed me. One worked. I even tried three programs multiple times. Each failed me. Suddenly it was gone. With charity some helpful person had developed a cure. They toiled to provide a solution to the virus and the only expectation is after a period of time, out of gratitude, I would pay for their work. I didn't have to, but they were convinced that by their charity I would be appreciative for their fix and come to depend on them.That I would trust their fix because it offered a permanent solution. It provided hope that I would never die online again!

Why did those bad people plant the virus in my computer? They wanted something from me. In this case it was my money! They did it with their own hard work, but it was nefariously imposed upon me. It appeared to be good, but it killed me until the virus was destroyed.

By now the reader should be aware that the virus problem is analogous to a spiritual problem. Satan by deception tempts people to accept the virus of sin. He twists truth to deceive and for us to get free things (pleasure, power, wealth). Once we ignore truth and venture out on our own, we become his. We get infected with the virus of sin. In our instruction manual (the Bible) we know the risk which we take can and will kill us, but because of free stuff, we take the risk: surely I won't really die! Then as we partake of the free and enticing stuff, we kill ourselves just as I did when I accepted the shareware which concealed  a virus. You see the deceiver entices with good things to tempt us to do evil!  With evil there is always good and truth, but it's always coupled with falsehoods or deception!

With my virus I could still bypass it and use my computer, but danger lurked behind the scenes. That virus could silently destroy my computer and even my bank account with me unawares. That's what the virus of sin will do if we are deceived into accepting it! While we go merrily along with pleasure and seemingly happiness, all the while we're being destroyed from within. Before long those with the virus of sin are destitute. They face death and have no hope! There must be a cure for the virus of sin!

I found the virus fix by searching my the web. You can find the hope of salvation by studying God's Word. It is the sword which pierces the cloud and destroys the virus within. My computer fix was a antivirus program! Your fix is "blood". Just as someone sacrificed to provide me with the hope of computer longevity, the grace of Jesus by dying for me, provides for the hope of eternal life! His fix for our sin (the virus) is his own blood! Because he loved me he provided a way out of my dilemma! I don't have to die! I can merely accept his solution to the virus and live forever!

I would have been stupid if I had continued to live with that computer virus It would have destroyed me. Likewise, I am stupid if I fail to accept Jesus' fix. By rejecting his blood sacrifice I reject hope because just with the virus protection program, with my soul, there is no other way!

I'm appreciative to those who destroyed my computer virus for me! Likewise, because Jesus provided the fix for me to have hope in eternal life, I am grateful. I love him for it!  What those developers want for me is appreciation enough to buy their product. What Jesus wants from us is our love which we show by buying into his product: his commands and will for us!

I fixed my computer. I did little, but follow instructions. Because I am now fixed, I shared that with many people out of gladness. Likewise, because Jesus fixed me, I want to share it with the world! In fact that is my assignment from him; to tell the world what he did for me!

I no longer have the computer virus,  but if I'm not careful I can be careless again and forget how low I was before. I can forget about the nefarious people out there and fail to be wary. Likewise, I must be careful to always trust Jesus because Satan still looks for a way to slip the virus of sin back into my life. He introduces it gradually one sin at a time until I'm living for him! It's just like a computer virus which can infect me any moment that I relax my caution. I can be living for those nefarious and fail to even realize it!

If my computer is infected again, I can still have hope if I act quickly before I'm destroyed. With my spiritual life, I pray daily for God to protect me from temptation from the virus. If I fail to walk with him, I am vulnerable to destruction! His blood has already made me safe, but his blood by faith is eternal protection unless I fail to always reside in his protective armor! CAUTION: Neglect can kill forever! WISDOM: Walk in the way of Jesus and never be infected again!

Never let the bully bully you again!

Hardened Hearts

I write commentary nearly every day. It's discouraging because others have preconceived ideas on the meaning of scripture, don't care what it says or twist it to suit their lifestyle. In doing so rather than bring their beliefs in line with truth, they endeavor to change truth to fit their mindset!

Sometimes I feel that I waste my time revealing the word to those who merely perceive that they understand. They don't! I don't! It's hard work to understand God's will because we all have a barrier. Just as the Burger King slogan says "Have it your way," we too want it "our way"! That's human nature and is called "original sin" because Adam and Eve wanted God,  but they wanted God "their way". As such they were prideful and they became gods in their own eyes. Ever since every person ever born have a "god complex". They put their own desires above God's will!

My commentary is just that. It's an opinion on how to live according to the word. As with anything written, it must be put in context, interpreted and be internally consistent. It can't mean something for one era and something else in another era. Scripture is timeless and God is unchanging! However, I use Greek Lexicons, dictionaries, history, the writings of the church fathers, others commentary and prayer to understand Holy Scripture. Coupled with that I let God out of the box in which we have put him, sacrifice my own preconceived notions and even convict myself using God's inspired words. I approach God's Word humbly (as I can because humility is a lofty tower which when reached we fall), and submit to God my pride! If I have a sinful attitude or behavior before I proceed I repent and ask God for forgiveness and discernment! Even with that my humanity steps on my desire because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Apostle Paul).

If I am to err in my commentary I favor erring toward God's will than my perception because we all must be aware that Satan's helpers sole job is to deceive God's creation!

With all that said, it is my perception that ministerial days are ending. Preachers can preach with all their heart and teachers can teach with all their strength, but hard hearts are impenetrable.  Why? Because it interferes with the appeasement of one's true god; their own self whose idol is the flesh! Those gods demand pleasure and the flesh appeases them!  These other gods are appeased by lust, desire, drunkenness, drug use, abortion, hate of others, love of self, rebellion to rules, unnatural behaviors, false knowledge and on and on! At the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil our forebears learned how to rationalize with their new ability. Ever since even those who claim to be children of God twist his word for their own pleasure just as Adam and Eve did!

Christians even today still have that mentality! If God's Word encroaches upon people's ideas, it's God who must give way. Of course most "Christians" are not truly Christians because they fail to accept God as he is; they create a God as they understand him! Their understanding is tinged by pride, false knowledge, pleasure, prestige, education, ignorance and rebellion. We're asked to present ourselves a living sacrifice to God, but then we carry a spiritually dead corpse to the altar still stained with sin and ask God "accept me as I am because I'm not going to change!"

Those who reject God have various reasons, but their methods are all the same! They harden their hearts. That is difficult to explain, but it's an innate stubbornness which people have. It results from God's sword attempting to pierce our own selfish God. It's showing Satan the breach in our armor. In effect it's putting on Satan's lead shield to keep the Word from piercing! I know of what I speak! I have done that many times, but make a point not to do it! In times of old God allowed divorce, for instance. Not because it's his will, but because of hard hearts of those who claim him as God! Hearts haven't gotten any softer since then. There is nothing new under the sun!

Ephesians 4:18 ESV "They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."

In essence rebellious people put on blinders so they don't have to change! The outcome should be, according to scripture, is changed hearts and becoming a new person. People want God, but they don't want the change which is supposed to happen. Rejection of change is what hard hearts cause! Hard hearts don't accept truth and cloud their own reasoning. They fail to accept God's Light and their minds and hearts remain in the darkness of ignorance and rejection. That's a dangerous place to be; neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. God will spew you out of his mouth (Apostle John).

There is a solution to a hardened heart. With my own I prayed and cried "Let me change, Lord. Remove this burden from my soul!" He honored that and I was able to cry in contrition. No, not every time, but I know that I am safe if I feel guilt for sin.  That's a good  thing and is God's Holy Spirit at work! As with me he can help you too because he tells us so:

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV) "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

God: Building Our Nation

Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

This verse is the "verse of the day" from "Bible Gateway" on internet. It sure applies now and did at all times in history It is timeless! Why? Compare it to the Abrahamic Covenant:

Genesis 17:1 "...the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised."

Proverbs are "wisdom from the Lord". God said it and it was written! Compare it to his promise to Abraham

1. First off God said it. Compare that to "I am the Almighty God" when he spoke to Abraham. The Lord appeared to Abraham. Since no one could look on Abraham, who was it who appeared to him? He spoke. Abraham heard words. It was "the Word" who spoke. He was Emmanuel soon to be called that and "Jesus" as well! Jesus spoke to Abraham! It was Jesus, who had yet to be embodied, but as the angels "The Angel of God" could appear as he desired. After all, he is Almighty God!
2. Secondly, Proverbs says "righteousness exalteth a nation".  Compare that to "walk before me, and be thou perfect"! That's what righteousness is all about. We are to "be perfect". Since this is an everlasting covenant the deal God made with mankind was to be perfect! That was reinforced in Proverbs! Some will argue two points: 1) A person can never be perfect and 2) the Law has been replaced by grace. God''s deal was that we be perfect. He knows that we shall fail, but he does not dismiss our trying. Endeavoring to be perfect is how we show God that we love him! If he buys into our sincerity, then we are exalted! (More on that shortly). For the second excuse, Jesus came to fulfill the Law. What is written on stone is everlasting! The Ten Commandments are God's expectations of his creation! They are the metrics for "perfection" and all are demonstrations of love!
3. Thirdly, what is "exalteth"? That means "to elevate" our stature, not in men's eyes, but God's! The end result that those who are righteous (or who seek perfection by obedience) shall eventually be glorified! That means when the person does their body and soul will be in perfect harmony with God's will, it shall never feel pain and will live forever! Our substance shall be like Jesus' after his Resurrection! Hidden in "exhalteth" is the promise of a Savior who will be a King as promised to Abraham. Jesus Christ was of his seed!
4. As always God says things applicable to life here in the world. So fourthly, God is a nation-builder. He did that! He built Israel from the seed of Abraham, but more importantly God's nation is the kingdom of God. That nation was built simultaneously with the death of Jesus on the cross. The old was torn down and a future with hope was created. The ultimate promise in proverbs and to Abraham was that the kingdom of God would be built through Jesus' death and Resurrection!
5. In an agreement there are always stipulations! The fifth point in Proverbs is about sin! When God told Abraham "be thou perfect" he was saying "do not sin". That is how mankind fulfills our end of the deal! In effect the Word is saying "because of my grace you are expected to love me back"! Yes, the covenant with Abraham is an act of grace... what Christianity is all about! God didn't have to make a deal. He did it because he loves us (John 3:16). Ironically, or poetic justice, it was Jesus who made the deal with Abraham and it was Jesus who was the object of the agreement. He in effect promised "Take up your cross and follow me and I shall give you eternal life!" It was an everlasting covenant, we shall be glorified and it's God's promise to mankind. We fulfill our end of the bargain by refraining from sin!  That is an obligation of the Christian, it's obedience and it's our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
6. The sixth point is that sin is a "reproach".  It's a disgrace! What God says is that when you sin it's disgraceful! When any person does things which are a disgrace it minimizes God because it's God's covenant which is broken and God's heart which is torn. Not only that, but the sinner becomes a low-life. What they do they can never truly have pride in because they come up short. Some things sinners do are so grievous that they are an abomination (disgusting) to the Lord! If we disgust the Lord we are a disgrace to his name and as such, God's grace is never accepted. Being a "reproach" is denying grace! Those who live a life of sin fail to accept God's grace and this is a reproach! A person cannot serve two masters! He comes to hate one and love the other. By sinning sinners are in effect hating God! Sin is what voids the deal which God made with Abraham. When God said "be thou perfect" having love enough to be righteous, that was the deal breaker, not that perfection i achieved, but that a person is to do God's will as an act of love. If love is not there, then God's deal with mankind is broken. The Law is held in reproach!
7. Lastly, Proverbs says "a reproach to any people". Just as all were to obey the Law the reproach of sin is for any people. No one is above the Law. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God"! Grace is for all because all have sinned. God's promise to Abraham was for all mankind... all the seed of Abraham! The Jews cut off their flesh as a symbol of obedience. Whereas, they cut off a small part of the flesh by being perfect God expected them to cut off all "the flesh". That is to "sin no more" or be perfect in heart! Proverbs says that sin is a disgrace for anyone and Abraham was told by God for all his seed to be perfect in heart. Abraham knew the expectations of the covenant because he knew it was the pre-incarnate Jesus who made the deal! Because Abraham mimicked God's sacrifice of his "only son" the pre-incarnate Jesus, using the Word, told Abraham all about what was to come! 

King Solomon wrote Proverbs. He was the wisest man who ever lived (move over Stephen Hawking) because God revealed to him his mystery. When the covenant was made with Abraham those who read it failed to understand it until the mystery of God was revealed starting with John the Baptist! Abraham knew the mystery and so did Solomon. David knew it too and so did all the prophets! Now we know the mystery of God!

But these verses are also about the world! Basically, if we obey the Lord and live in righteousness, not only is there a promise of glorification in the kingdom of God, but there shall be prosperity for those who are righteous. As we near the Fourth of July and the celebration of American Independence we must remember that God's promise to Abraham applies to the United States! If we live righteously as Solomon told us, then we shall be exalted as a nation! With Abraham it is prosperity that he gave. If we live as if we love and respect God, he will keep his deal. The outcome is prosperity, but if we fail him, we are a reproach!