The Sin Against Yourself

1 Corinthians 6:18 "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."

Let's think of all the sins possible. Either they are sins against God (Commandments 1-3) or against others (Commandments 4-10).  Why is "fornication" not included? First off, we must ask "What is fornication?" The theological definition is "Sex between those who are unmarried." I've always been taught that, but that doesn't make it so! There is something about the word which gives a dire consequence "sins against the person's own body".

Let's see what the dictionary says:

"Consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other." (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

So far the definition fits what I've been taught except for "consensual". This means that no one was coerced and each person agreed to have sex.  But wait, we need to look at "sexual intercourse". It's not only traditional "home run" type sex, but any sexual activity; at least second base to home! Victorian morals would include "first base" passionate kissing as well.

Before we proceed let's ask the question "What is the peculiarity which distinguishes fornication from adultery?

"Adultery is sex between a married person and someone who is not that person's wife or husband." (ibid).

The big difference between fornication and adultery is that in the latter at least one party is married. Of course "marriage" in biblical times was fairly abstract.  Roman marriage and Jewish marriages had much the same meaning. The woman agreed to serve the man, property was shared, there was a pledge made by each and the marriage was consummated by intercourse. The goal of marriage was to provide heirs with legitimacy. (See Wikipedia:  Marriage in ancient Rome, and Ancient Marriage
Ancient Manners and Customs, Daily Life, Cultures, Bible Lands).

The "document" wasn't as important to the Romans as to the Jews, but monogamy in marriage was the belief for both. There were no civil documents in ancient Rome and Greece, and marriage was a religious agreement between two people and two families. The family's and the community's recognition is what made the marriage a marriage! There was an elaborate feast and ceremony in Roman and Hebrew societies, and "common law" marriage didn't exist in civilized societies at that time (Wikipedia, Common Law Marriage). (Christian's would not accept "common law" as any more than long term fornication because of lack of commitment and the lack of a religious agreement or vowels.)

The Catholic Church originated what would become "banns" in 1215 A.D. Marriages were to be announced by the priest. This tradition carried over into early America, especially on the frontier. Most marriages on the frontier were by "banns"; which is basically "recognition by the church". Hence, civilly documented marriages are a modern phenomena.

It would appear that marriages in civilized societies in ancient days was meant to be either arranged or romantic, but with commitment to each other in whatever religion the candidates proclaimed, it was to be monogamous and for life. With the advent of civilized societies, polygamy (multiple wives) was not to be considered. The apostolic fathers referred to those who teach this practice in the Christian community as Nicolaitans. They practiced the ancient sin of Balaam.

Revelation 2:15 "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate."

Jesus told the woman at the well:

 John 4:18 "For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly."

It would appear that by community norms that this woman had had some sort of banquet with each of the five husbands, they and the family accepted  them as married, they had sexual intercourse, they likely had children together and they made some type of pledge to each other, although no civil document was ever signed. If she was Hebrew there may have been a religious document involved. Being a Samaritan, a mixed race people, it's most likely that there was no document.

What set apart the man to whom she was now "married" (sic). They were not really married. It would appear that they were fornicating (shacking up) and since she had been married before (five times) they were in adultery because of their former marriages. It's unlikely that Samaritans had any type of divorce proceedings at that time. Divorce was likely the termination of the relationship without pomp nor document unless she was a Hebrew woman.

 Therefore the dictionary definition of fornication can be rewritten as:

"Any sexual activity between two people who have never been married to each other." which includes same-sex activity.

I eliminated "consensual" because of the following:

Deuteronomy 22:23-24 “If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

The "betrothed virgin" is the engaged wife whose marriage has yet to be consummated. Betrothal was as profound as marriage except for the sexual intercourse. It's obvious here that the virgin fornicated, although it wasn't consensual, because she failed to resist.

However, symbolic of fornication is "of the flesh".  The Bible speaks of "syncretic fornication"!  That's having another god in addition to God. It's the mixing of two religions. People "fornicate" with other gods.

2 Chronicles 21:10 "So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers.11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto."

The "fornication" of OT times were Jews who forsook God to worship pagan gods. The Hebrew people fornicated with other religions. Ironically, many of the "other gods" were appeased by worshipers who fornicated as part of the religious ceremony. Fornication is closely associated to pagan religions because much of how they worship is sexually oriented.

Hosea 1:2 "The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord."

 Even Christian (sic) churches who allow all types of fornications within the church are referred to as "whores", obviously referring to those who fornicate!

Revelation 19:2 "For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand."

"The great whore" is the apostate church extant in later days. The Church of Laodocea was of that type of church, and it is representative of a great many of the contemporary churches today.

Therefore, there is a second definition of "fornication" which is used in the context of theology:

"Appeasing other gods as the One True God is made jealous". (My Definition).

 Exodus 20:5a "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God..."

God is jealous of those who fornicate with other gods. There are many idols which represent those "other gods" because they offer pleasure to the individual. For instance, the sun God is worshiped because it does what? Provides pleasurable things to those who worship it! Why worship Molech? That god provides sexual pleasure to those who bow down to him; and on and on. You see, all these other gods. are ones who offer you pleasure, prosperity or prestige. They all build you up, truly appeasing you. Yes, you are the "other god" which is represented by any of the others!

 Why is "fornication" as in against your own body? Because it's symbolic of apostasy. It makes God jealous of you! If God is jealous, then your body will suffer his wrath. God will judge the heart of the fornicator and of it is one of pleasure, then the fornicator is an idolater and deserves death!

Excuses vs. Reasons

Three statements. Which has the most impact?

1) I don't do aerobics because I don't have time, nobody will do them with me, and besides that I don't have a floor mat.

OR

2) I don't do aerobics because I'd rather do other things!

OR

3) I don't do aerobics because I physically am not capable of doing them.

What do you think? Is it door #1, door #2 or door #3?

What's the primary difference between 1, 2 and 3?

Statement #1 has the most wordage. Statement #2 is true. Statement #3 may be true or the speaker just may not now what his capabilities are. However, we must remember that speaker #3 may have attempted aerobics before and failed miserably. There just is not enough information! How about revising that latter statement:

3R) I don't do aerobics because I did them and I failed after many trials.

Statement #3R is now valid and has more information. Of course with instruction and practice this person may have been capable, but we'll assume that he too would "rather do other things"!

Therefore, statement #2 "I'd rather do other things." is the statement most true and should have enough impact. My motto has always been "People do what they truly want to do!"  Therefore, speaker #1 is exaggerating or believing that (multiple excuses = 1 good reason). Speaker #3 is saying about the same thing "I've tried that before and I'd rather do other things!"

A great reason IS "I am doing what I truly want to do!" That means speaker #2 is being most honest, but may be considered to be rude. That's why people use multiple excuses or assemble a valid, but not complete reason. People play games with words most of the time to avoid conflict and hurt feelings; often their own feelings.

Excuses lessen the blame in justifying one's actions. A better word is "rationalizing" one's decisions.

Reasons justifies one's actions. The difference is the phrase: "lessen the blame". The speaker (#1, for instance) knows that no valid reason exists for not doing aerobics. Therefore, multiple excuses are used since none of them are valid anyway. In their eyes (multiple excuses = 1 reason). They feel good about it, but the perceptive listener feels minimized. Depending on the subject at hand, hurt feelings may ensue.

When I ask someone to come over for dinner or go to a movie or something, IF I get a multiplicity of "reasons" (sic), it's just a bunch of excuses to lessen the blame for them who would  "rather  be doing something else". The motto "People do what they truly want to do." is immutable; is and always has been that way. Of course there are valid reasons! People incapacitated or incarcerated certainly aren't doing what they would rather be doing, but that's the exception. Even people who are  hard at work are "doing what they truly would rather be doing" because they have choices!

They would rather have things and feed themselves and their families than slothful (at least until Obama came on the scene). They can choose not to work, but honestly, short of a miracle or a dead rich uncle, they're doing what they want to do because the options are bleak.

Now for the spiritual message: I don't go to church because: 1) _______,  2) _______, 3) _______, 4) ________,  n) ________. Any number of excuses (n) can be dreamed up to rationalize not going to church. The one valid reason is that "People do what they truly want to do." That's to not go to church! They'd rather be doing something else!

I'm not your friend because:  1) _______,  2) _______, 3) _______, 4) ________,  n) ________. All these are excuses. The valid reason is "People are friends with those whom they truly want to befriend", or "I'd rather be with someone else.", or more honestly "I just don't like you!" People who don't like someone else is not much on "loving their neighbor"! They prefer to pleasure their idol; their own "self". That goes back to my motto: "People do what they truly want to do!" because what they truly  want is pleasure.

Now envision this: You are standing before God and he asks "Why?" Your response is "I did what I truly wanted to do!" God says "That's a true statement (#2). However, by doing what was right in your own eyes, you were appeasing your idol of the "self". Rather than loving me and others, your life was full of self-love. Away from me. I never knew you!"

It doesn't have to be that way! Be honest, be empathetic, be forgiving, be inclusive and be loving. For God and neighbor, topple your own idol, and "Do what God truly wants you to do!"

Trusting God

Trust: what is it? Having confidence in the reliability of something or someone. Of course reliability is that nothing will change. What's there now will be there next time, and it will always be there.

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

This passage is a statement of reliability!  To put this in perspective which we can all understand, we all want a reliable car. We want it to be there when we need it, be found at the same place each time, always perform the same for you and for anyone else who may drive it, drive smoothly, never act up, and get you to a destination of your choice! Now God's so much more than a mere car, but don't we all want a God who has those same characteristics?  We trust a car which is reliable. We can trust God for his reliability!

Isaiah 26:4 "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength..."

Here we have "trust" associated with God's reliability. He is there forever; was always and always will be! Then it is noted that the Lord is everlasting. That's "forever" defined. There is no end to "forever"!

Everlasting and forever are profound terms. God was before things were and will be there after all things are gone. Before even dark space became into existence God was there! "But", you say "darkness is nothingness!" The very space in which the cosmos was placed was placed there. Since space holds things, it is a container. Empty containers are a "thing", but this container has no walls. It goes on forever. It's distance, if traveled is "everlasting"! Truly God is omnipotent. As Revelation 1:8 says he's "the Almighty"! He created the complex things which we can't even comprehend.

We can trust God because he did it. When we're babies, we stand up for the first time because we trust gravity. Although it will push us down if we waver, standing tall is because gravity gives us a sense of direction. God made the gravity. Besides God, gravity is the most powerful thing in existence; even more so than nuclear energy! Yet babies have a personal relationship with it! So why is it so implausible that we can't have a personal relationship with the Creator?

We see what is out there and realize that chance had little to do with what we see. Any fool should know that the painting which meets his eyes was painted by an Almighty Artist! Scripture tells us why we should trust in God:

Romans 1:19 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..."

Translation: Trust God because he did create it all. Trust him because he is almighty!

Those who have adapted evolution to the creation story fail to trust God! It seems to some that God is not almighty, but is limited by their own belief system. We have eyes, but fail to see!

Matthew 13:15 "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

Trusting God is how we're converted. Conversion is changing unbelief into belief. The component of "belief" which converts is "trust"! Since even the demons believe, our belief must be one of trust.

 Seeing nothing and hearing nothing is the "self's" defense mechanism. If a person rejects what they could see and here; the things around us, then that person would trust an Almighty God. Even evolution is man's attempt to deny the omnipotence of God, thus denying him of their trust!

There are three entities which are candidates for trust: the self, others or God. The "self" and "others" are subject to deception by evil. God is not! Others teach that the things of nature just happened. The "selfs" of the masses believe that falsehood. God says he did it! I wasn't there and neither were others. God was there. Trust him!

Doubt of God's "Almightiness" and "All-knowingness" does two things: it reveals denial on our part and it minimizes trust in God. Doubters accept the notion from dreamers of how the dream came about. Those who trust take God's word for it!

 I'm an engineer. Being of that education and vocation, I was trained well in the physical sciences and mathematics. Not only that, but I've been taught and can calculate nuclear equations. I understand Einsteins's Theory of General  Relativity.  What he calculated God created. It's Einstein's theory of what God made happen. I trust the God part, but Einstein could be wrong! However, here is what Einstein admitted:

"I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details. "

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."

What the genius himself believed is what today's scientists disbelieve. Einstein's theories and mathematics can be taught in school, but his belief in a supreme God cannot be, although what Einstein learned was that his theories supported the concept of God!

No, Einstein didn't believe in a God which cares personally about him, for he denied the "Why" God created! Surely God had a reason for creating it all. We are the reason! God cared about us enough to want us to be. He created an existence for us to inhabit. God wanted us to enjoy his artwork with him, not wanting to merely wanting to enjoying his magnificence alone! The Creator God, Albert, is a personal God just as mighty gravity too is a personal thing!

Trust has continuity. It's knowing that God is reliable. His creation testifies to his awesomeness, power and durability. Although no words can explain God, there are no other explanations for what is. Why trust "chance" when God can be trusted. "Chance" has no power at all. "Chance" can't be trusted!

Figure #1: Pillars of Creation

Figure #1 is a photograph of the "Pillars of Creation" from the Hubbell telescope. This is what God is talking about in Roman 1:20:

 "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made..."

On Joy

When I was a teen I went to a new church. To be honest it was more to meet girls than to seek God. My first time I learned that the preacher had eight daughters. Three were in my Sunday school class. Faith introduced herself and smiled. Then Hope told me her name and smiled. Lastly, the gorgeous redhead said "I'm Joy." I responded "I bet!", and I smiled!

She was a really nice Christian girl and I embarrassed her. We became close friends, but not even close to being romantic. I had trouble with Joy. She just wasn't for me.

I still have trouble with joy. As a Christian it seems that I would be "just full of joy", but I'm not! Why? Because I'm imperfect and I'm not happy about that. And because of my imperfections people aren't happy with me. It's as if I'm the only Christian who sins, and because others are so perfect (sic), I find myself constantly flogging my own spiritual condition. I recently had the church pray that I would have joy return to my life. No, I don't deserve it because I know my own mind. Paul described well what I know is true in my own life:

Romans 7:17 " Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."

Without making any excuses, this is my spiritual condition! However, Paul reasoned that as a Christian, it's not truly him who sins, but it's a sinful nature. The flesh, being his human nature, continually desires to sin because "the flesh" always desires to please itself.

Paul wants to do "good", but he's too weak to do so. "The flesh" has other ideas. The desire is to do good, but the flesh does evil.  Although Paul is a Christian, he is still a sinful man! Is he a hypocrite? No, because he admits his imperfections! How can a Christian have evil and good at the same time?

"The flesh" is the physical body which all humans have. The flesh is born with a "self-satisfaction" desire thanks to us being Adam's seed:

Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

Because everyone sins, evil resides in everyone (except the self-righteous: LOL). Sin is defined differently by many. However there are sins of commission (things we do), sins of omission (obligations we ignore) and accidental sins (consequences because we fail listen to God's precise instructions). My definition of sin is: "Thoughts, behaviors and attitudes which elevate the self as they minimize God's will." This is based on scripture:

Genesis 3:22 "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil..."

Adam and Eve wanted to be on the same latitude as God. Whereas, before they just lived in peace with God and in full communion, they exposed themselves to "knowing". Now they knew! And now they did things they shouldn't have! Before they were merely naked. It was natural. Their bodies were mere reproductive "tools". Their bodies were for procreation as they multiplied. Now because they knew sin, their flesh was for sexual pleasure and there was shame because they were out of God's will. "Knowing" is an awful thing when a person knows evil!

Because Adam and Eve ate of the tree whose fruit was pleasurable, sin became all about pleasuring the flesh, and the flesh became "the other god besides God". Because Adam and Eve were ashamed and KNEW they were guilty. God covered "the flesh" as signified by their genitals, with animal skins. Blood was shed to atone for their sin. Salvation is always by the blood!

Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

 Since they were sorry for their disobedience, God covered their shame by providing a blood sacrifice. An innocent animal gave their life to redeem Adam and Eve. They were saved by the blood.  Jesus was there doing the redemption because Jesus is the Word and the Word was made flesh. It was by their faith in The Word, God, which pardoned their sin.

I have just described my idol. It's my flesh and how I please my flesh is through pleasure. However, because I'm a Christian my flesh can never be truly satisfied. Just like Adam and Eve, guilt interferes with my idol having true happiness and joy. My body is the flesh, but inside that flesh is a soul. While the body is the cup for my flesh, the soul is the cup for my spirit. Because I'm a Christian my soul is filled with the Holy Spirit. My soul is "The Holy of Holies" and corruptness can never be in there unless I willingly empty it. Outside the Holy of Holies, there are impurities. The imperfect priest is out there and so am I. The tent outside the Holy of Holies is my body. My flesh is just outside. I present myself to The Priest to cut off my flesh; topple my idol, as a sacrifice to God:

Let's take a short look at "who we are"! Remember our make-up determines who our God is and joy is a result of choosing the right God.

Figure #1: Us: Our Spiritual Sytsem

Please study Figure #1: Us: Our Spiritual System. I show "us" humans on the left side of the balance beam. On the right side of the fulcrum is God. The only way to see God is to look at him in his flesh. Jesus is filled with the Holy Ghost and as such "The Trinity" is alive and well in him. When we look at Jesus we see God, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I have placed "us" and God on the fulcrum because "we" choose either "The One True God" or "Other God", which is of course "besides him".  Most men, even atheists, do not totally reject God because if an atheist doesn't believe, how can he reject? What they do is the same as everybody else; they worship other gods besides God. Their idol is their "self".

I show the teeter board as level. That means it's shown in a steady state balanced position. It's where the individual values God, but values him or herself equally. Those with just a little faith may have trouble trusting God. Hence, they are valuing their own self on an equal basis as they do God. The "scales" show in Figure #1 is a measurement of faith. Consider the "cloud" symbol. It can move toward Jesus or toward "self". As it moves the teeter board tips one way or the other. The intent is to have enough faith to balance the beam toward God. Envision the "cloud" moving right. That indicates greater faith and those with more faith place more trust in Jesus. When faith moves rightward, it's a sacrifice of the self. This is "the living sacrifice" we are to offer God. We trade trust in our "self" with trust in God!

The "cloud" (soul) can't move rightward because it's constrained by the body. The Christian must move "the flesh" and "mind" toward God in unison because they are one! Paul had trouble bringing the flesh and mind into righteousness and so do I... and you do too!

It takes just a little faith to become a Christian. However, as faith moves more rightward, the person becomes more righteous. Righteousness is becoming more Christlike by taking the emphasis off the self with it's flesh and more on God whose Spirit is greater! With just a little faith, the teeter totters toward Jesus and the idol topples. The "self" falls off its pedestal.

There is one who tries to put his foot on the scale. That's Satan. He is shown as the star because his symbol is the pentagram. He is the evil influence on us. I show a gray squiggly arrow going from Satan to our soul. If the soul is not filled with the Holy Ghost (you're not saved), then your empty cup is filled most of the way with evil (from Satan). I say "most of the way" because although the non-Christian is guilty of all types of sin, God in his wisdom, left just a little emptiness so that the Holy Spirit can call us. That partial emptiness is where yearning for hope is. We all long for a god and the best one to yearn for is Jehovah.

Many people, however, because of this emptiness, yearn for a god and receive a false god. With a false god, there is no true joy. Hence, the first step toward being joyous is recognizing that you must have hope and only God can provide hope. That emptiness must be answered and the best answer is to allow God to make evil flee from the soul and the deception of Satan be replaced by truth. As a new creature, the vacating of sin and the entry of the Holy Ghost, you are a new person. Hence, you're "born again"! That is a joyous occasion. More joyous than your first birth!

The circle on the left is you. It's your existence. Within "you" are the previously discussed soul, plus your mind and your body. Your mind is the processor, referee and manager of all your systems. It communicates with your body and your soul. The mind makes decisions. It has the capacity to choose evil or goodness. It hosts a person's will, and thanks to God, the will is free to choose eternal life or eternal death. Satan's job is to trick you in choosing wrongly and God's will is that you choose him. It's Jesus which must be accepted for salvation, but Satan cares little who you choose just so it's not Jesus. Regardless of your choice, the god of self is of utmost importance. Jesus even allows you to protect that god from suffering by offering everyone salvation!

Your entire system is covered with flesh. It's "the flesh" which demands your attention. It wants to be pleasured. Rather than "tending God's garden" those who worship the 'self" tend their own. They paint it up, deck it with jewels, ink it, cut it, pierce it, dress it in the finest clothes and show it off! They fornicate it, tease with it, stroke it and stuff it with Epicurean delights. Some worship their god by making it beautiful, but others fatten it up and make it less appealing. Both types wish to appease their selfish god!

Some even keep their god "high", get it drunk and drive out the Holy Spirit with smoke. Most of all, people put their god on a pedestal and worship it!

Satan provides pleasure, often immediately, and deceives people into accepting that pleasure. He tricks them through false knowledge and lack of wisdom. Although people think they are as smart as God, that's Satan's trick.  One trick used by Satan is false guilt. His M.O. is to trick you into not feeling guilty because you sin. "Everyone does it!" He says, and "Nobody will know!" It's just a natural function of your body, so that guilt you're feeling is from religious people who represses you!" People who fall for those lies begin to feel that their life is being wasted on stoicism. They feel guilty because they are not enjoying sin! Evil is the product of Satan. Evil is anything against God's will.

"The flesh" is the part of your god which is pleasured. When it sins, it tells the mind that "this is enjoyable" and the mind has satisfaction because the flesh is pleasured. Satan says "Go ahead and enjoy! Eat of any fruit you wish! There will be no death."

The Holy Spirit is an aspect of God which calls us to repentance and helps us be righteous. It squeezes out the evil in the soul, and the Holy Spirit lives there instead. You don't have to face temptation from Satan as he encourages evil; the Holy Spirit is there to help you out. He reminds you that Jesus died for you and that Jesus must be obeyed and loved. When you sin, the Holy Spirit is what makes your conscience sear. He convicts you of your sin. In response, you feel guilt. That's a check valve from God to help you be righteous. The conscience is the unseen faculty where guilt arises.  (Not shown on the chart).

The Holy Spirit tells you what's right. It's essential that every Christian read the instruction manual for his or her spiritual system. The best guide to operating this body is in the Bible. It's the Word of God and that's how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. A proper operating system will experience joy. That's elation when we're right with God, our guilt machine is idle and that Satan has fled! We live at peace with others because God has transmitted peace to us!

We can move toward joy by shifting our weight toward the fulcrum. We let Jesus be our example and get closer to him. We don't get "more saved" by shifting our weight. We just get more joy when we move closer to Jesus because we minimize the worship of our 'self", and our "other god" is put in storage, hopefully for disposal. The shifting of our system toward Jesus is our sacrifice to God:

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."

Our "body" is our little "other god". We present a live sacrifice to Jesus by scooting closer to him. We shift our faith along the scale as far as it can go! Abraham had great faith! We show our faith through obedience. We'll never be prefect, but God gives grace (credit) for effort because the effort is how we show our love for him! 

Just as Adam and Eve's flesh was "cut-off" by the shed blood of animals (the skins which covered their flesh), our own flesh is cut-off by the blood of Jesus. In both cases it was God who covered the sins of Adam and our own!

Obedience is how we move rightward and tip the scales toward Jesus:

Romans 5:19 "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

Adam is what made us the "other god". He sought to be as God. Hence, pretending to God's role was original sin. Because Adam was a pretender to God's throne, we are too. Our god of "self" wants to reign in God's place. That's "the flesh" we struggle with. Our idol is us and it is appeased by fleshly pleasure.

Jesus came to die for us. That's why God conceived him! Jesus, although he felt the desires of "the flesh", had "the faith of God". In spite of Satan Jesus moved toward God's will. He obeyed and suffered death for it! We are to be as close to the example Jesus set and move that body and faith toward righteousness. That's where hope lies and hope begets joy! Now you know! 

On Being Merciful

Love and Mercy are twin characteristics of God and twin commands as well. They are twins because being merciful is a trait of loving. Note that showing mercy is unconditional as is love. I will "love" if (fill in your requirement here). Whatever you put in the blank is a requirement which satisfies you. Therefore conditional love is selfish because in effect it's your "self" which you seek to satisfy. Love is not an option for a Christian. God commands it as a way of demonstrating love for him! (John 14:15). Therefore it takes quite a bit of effort to love those who fail to pamper your god; your "self". Yes, you read that right! Most people, even Christians love conditionally. I will "love" you if (you pleasure my little god)!

With conditional love it's not God who you are obeying, but your god, the "self" to whom you bow!

Mercy is when love is unconditional. The one to whom you're merciful doesn't have to stroke your idol, the "self" to get a reprieve.

"Mercy" is a kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

By definition then, mercy is showing forgiveness to another although they don't deserve it! How can mere humans be merciful? Because to show God that you love him, acts of love must be done! Being merciful is one of the best ways to demonstrate love. That's why they are twin attributes! Without love mankind is incapable of being merciful! Showing mercy is compassion which you give others because if the situation was turned around, mercy is what you would want. That's "the rule"; The Golden Rule!

Mercy and Love have another sibling! They're not twins; they're triplets! Forgiveness is how a Christian shows mercy and mercy is how a Christian shows love! Yes, "Forgiveness" is one of them, and he was born a few minutes before mercy. Love gestated last, but love is what bonds the three together as if they are one!

Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

 Most of us have begged God for forgiveness. If the bequest is sincere and sorrow is genuine, God always forgives! Thank you, God. His ability to forgive is his mercy. He is merciful because he loves us! It's not contingent mercy, but "God so loved the world..." (John 3:16a), and that includes the vilest of the vile!

We ask God to have mercy on us, but then we harden our hearts and be not merciful ourselves! You see, those whose god is the "self" guards that idol well! The "self" is a jealous god and he or she doesn't want the God of whom he or she is jealous to be mimicked! The self wants mercy, but the self isn't merciful. If one sacrifices "the flesh" their idol is toppled and then they love enough to be merciful! Only the most diligent Christian seems to be capable of being that "living sacrifice" to submit their own "self" to God! However, that's what God expects of us because he has already been merciful to us by providing the sacrifice to save our corrupt flesh!

Now for the "kicker"! There must be a point to this commentary, and there is! Study well what Matthew wrote:

Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

Matthew knew what he was talking about because he was divinely inspired. Jesus told him what to say! Jesus said, "Tell them this!" and then he spoke the words you just read! The reception of mercy is not conditional from God, but what God gives the merciful is "blessedness"! We're required to be merciful to show our love, but if we obey, then we get blessed!

Blessedness is obtaining God's approval of our demonstration of love, and because God is happy with us, he gives us joy!

Here is a scenario: Some one wronged you, or at least you perceived that you have been wronged. I say "perceived" because humans are fallible. We often totally misinterpret our senses! There are at least two options: 1) Be merciful and forgive or 2) hold a grudge.  If one is merciful he or she is in obedience to God and will be blessed. Happiness is an outcome! I know. I've done that and it's exhilarating.

If the person holds a grudge, God is not pleased because the Christian has not shown the mercy which God as shown to him/her.

James 5:9 "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

Grudging is judging. That's not your job, it's God's. God shows mercy and judges fairly. Holding grudges is having no mercy, and the standard by which we judge and grudge is the same standard which God will use for us!

Remember what I said about "Mercy" being a triplet of love and forgiveness? Well, if "Love" is aborted "Mercy" is mutated!  "Mercy" is unlike "Love" and "Forgiveness" because she has transformed in the womb to "Grudge". With "Grudge" sharing the same womb with Love and Forgiveness, they all miscarry! The "womb" of which I speak is the "soul", the womb where love resides!

Leviticus 19:18 "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."

From experience I can witness to this: If one shows mercy to another, that one is blessed! I forgave several people who wronged me. They never made restitution because sometimes that's not practical and often not possible. I forgave them in spite of that! That's unconditional and is merciful! The blessing I received is joy from God PLUS devotion and the best friendship ever from them! They not only became great friends, but strong allies!

Ain't God wise? Ain't God good?

Pawns in a Hellish Game

I learned how to play chess at an early age. The object of the game is to roadblock the other player using various pieces until the opponent can no longer make a move. As the number of the player's pieces gets fewer and fewer, the pressure builds. When that moment comes when all paths are blocked and the king is made vulnerable, the strongest player says "checkmate". The losing player studies the board and the realization comes that the game is over!

The "hellish game" that is being played right now is much the same. There are invisible forces who cheat in the game. The "game" is who gets your soul! God fights hard for you, but he allows Satan to attack. The "hellish game" is presented below:

Job 1:1 "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ⁶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. ⁷ And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. ⁸ And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?¹⁰ Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. ¹¹ But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. ¹² And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord."

Here are the rules of the "hellish game":

•  The "players" are Satan and God. They aren't there, but they each have a plan for winning.
• They call the moves, but representatives make the moves. Job represents God.
• God is the white "King". Satan is his adversary and is the pretender to the throne; the black king. Satan's pieces are all the others. They are at his disposal to be used, but they belong to God.
• The "sons of God" are angels who rebelled and joined Satan's team. They help Satan "cheat" and while he's off causing turmoil elsewhere, he transmits his moves and strategies to fallen angels. They are "principalities":

Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

So, therein lies the sides in this "hellish game"! Satan and his principalities and God! However, because Job was righteous, God allowed him to "play" without the angels actually making the moves. Job was God's representative. He made the "moves" which God "willed" in spite of the strategy of fallen angels. God made just one rule: "you can attack Job and his family, but you cannot kill him!" In order to police that, God put a spiritual "hedge" around Job. This was "protection" from the evil one. Satan can still attack anyone, but he can't kill us, if we have God's "hedge" around us! As Christians protection is available, but we must use it!

Ephesians 6:13 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

The "hedge" around Job was God's whole armor. Read Ephesans 6 to find out what Job wore as protection. In the "game" we have the same armor available as Job did! 

• "Checkmate" is when either Job withstands all that Satan has to offer and perseveres, or when Satan destroys Job. How can Job be "checkmated"? If Job can stand no more of the attacks and abandons God, he is in checkmate. Satan is "checkmated" when Job demonstrates steadfast faith!
• If Job is "checkmated" by Satan, God is undermined. When Satan is "checkmated" by Job on behalf of God, Satan is put in his place as a "wannabe" champion. Satan flees!

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

• Satan's team is allowed to cheat! Indeed, that is their secret weapon! They can lie, cheat, steal pieces, and even kill others. They can't, however, kill Job because he represents the white "King".
• Job on behalf of God cannot cheat. He plays with spirit and in truth. If he plays games under the table to win, then because he "cheats", his team changes. God will be in "check" if Job abandons him. However, God can never be checkmated! He makes the game at the end turn out in his favor!

The bishops on the side of darkness (black pieces) are false prophets. The white bishops are those who remind Job of what's right. Job had "friends" with whom he spoke that represents these pieces. Some were white bishops and others black.

• The "rooks" are the "castles". Black rooks are where the fallen angels reside. The white rooks are the "church". For Job it was he and his household. Note that some of his church was destroyed in the game
• The black "knights" are the fallen angels. The white "knights" are God's messengers. They can bring what God's will to Job, but he still must play the "game" himself!
• The "pawns" are family members, friends, co-workers, employees, other faithful people who's faith wavers, and many of those without discernment. Even some preachers are mere pawns and institutions are used to further the cause of black. On God's side of the board, pawns are never sacrificed! He would rather sacrifice himself than his "team". All his pieces are to stand firm and only those who submit to Satan's deception are lost. God's will is that none will be lost, but it's up to them.
• In this game when pieces are sacrificed they change sides. They aren't merely set off the board. They change masters. They can't be used by both sides because they can only serve one master.
• Pawns are different. They don't have to change sides, but can be used by the opponent, and even set off the board. They are those who have little discernment or are apathetic. Black pawns are non-Christians who serve Satan through deception. They can change sides if they read the rules closely enough. The rule book is scripture. However, if they remain on black's side of the board, they will soon be burnt up after Satan is checkmated. White pawns can remain on the board and be used by Satan unwittingly, they may be taken off the board or even turn "black"
• Which piece is Satan's? He's the black "king" piece, but his chief helper is the black "queen". She's represents evil strongholds. If Job captures that piece, it's impossible for Satan to win because his power is robbed! His stronghold is gone! Sure, he still has pieces he can move around and torment, but they, without the queen, will soon be lost! That "queen" can be anything which pleasures. It's those who seem to side with Job, but their advise is on the wrong side!

This game which I just described from the Book of Job is symbolic of the diabolical game which we play. Job represents "Christians". We are free to chose whose will we do. If we have faith to be steadfast for God, we may be attacked, but we can never be killed. God promised that and prevents Satan from harming us. If in the "game" we remain steadfast we shall live forever and Satan will be "checkmated" before his piece is scrapped into the fire!

Pawns are the roadblocks usually with people moving them around. As such Satan uses everybody, even Christians to win the game. No, the pawns don't knowingly change sides, but out of ignorance, lack of faith, lack of discernment and such, they may actually help the black side.

Modern churches are the black bishops who should be playing God's will, but Satan tricks them. White and black pawns may follow that bishop; some do it by choice and others are deceived!

Friends can be black pawns. Some of Job's friends were! Some who befriend a player may be a black pawn, now wearing white remnant. They may be followers of the false church (black bishops):

Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

Or these pawns may even belong to your church (white bishop):

Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." 

How white pawns become pawns is through selfishness and in protecting their "other god". Yes, some Christians attempt to serve two masters, even unwittingly, but they do! Because it's their "self" which they try to please, they don't see the dilemma! They either lack love for others or love themselves more! They may still love God, but don't show it by loving others. Those Christians who are unaware of "black" influences are "the elect" who are deceived!

Christians must wear the same armor as did Job because it's our hedge against destruction by Satan's forces. We are playing the same "hellish game played by Satan against Job. Job put Satan in "checkmate" because he did the will of God. Never ever let Satan trim your hedge and expose your weaknesses or you will be "checkmated" and as such expose yourself to join the used pieces in the fire! Grudges, anger, unfriendliness and lack of love and charity are the tactics which "check" even the elect!

 

On Bearing Grudges and Hate

Matthew 5:43 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45a That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven..."

You have been told that you are to love others. One must ask "Jesus said, that we've heard that before; 'love thy neighbor'!" Where did we hear it?  Jesus said it many hundreds of years ago when he, The Word, was an inspiration of Jesus. The Word said:

Leviticus 19:18 "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."

"Loving thy neighbor" was not a new thing. Although people "hated thine enemy" in days of antiquity, God never taught that anywhere. He did teach that those who seek to destroy the Jewish nation be destroyed themselves, but it wasn't out of hate. It was merely because it was war and for the destruction of sin! "Hate" of anyone comes from Satan. He is a murderer!  The psalmist said this:

Psalm 139:21 "Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."

This is not God  speaking. David wrote this to "impress" God, who incidentally, cannot be impressed by the words of people; but looks at the heart. What did God say about "hate" in the Old Testament (OT)?

Deuteronomy 19:11 "But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: 12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die."

The penalty under the law for "hating" was death! That's pretty severe because of "hating another":

1 John 3:15 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."

Hence, "hate" was never acceptable, not even hatred of the enemy! Hate is just like murder. It kills the spirit of those hated. In fact if a person hates another, their hate is an indictment of their very hope. Hate is the desire to have one spend eternity in hell. Hate kills the spirit of the hated! Those who hate others, just don't care! They worship their "self" and as long as their little god is not disturbed, it doesn't bother them to see others sentenced to where they belong themselves!

There is not an intermediate state in God's eyes, between love and hate. Having apathy for anyone is not loving them enough to care about their eternal destination. Apathy is a mild form of hate because it's not a position of love. Apathy is hate! Apathy kills others! Apathy kills the self!

By hating others, a person is attempting to preserve the "self". It sees the "hatee" as the enemy and seeks to undermine the other to keep their own god (the self) from toppling. By having hate, or even apathy, toward someone else condemns one's self. That "hater" "hath no eternal life abiding in him (or her)" It's ironic that the hater who is protecting their god of "self" actually destroys their own god, and that means destroying themselves! It's "cutting off the nose to spite the face" in effect!

Here's what we are to do for our enemies:  "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you..."We are to love'm, bless'm, be good to'm, and pray for'm! Even those who use us for their own purposes and persecute us!

Have you ever seen anyone who feels guilty for their own actions? Guilt causes them to react. There are two choices: repent or blame. True Christians repent, but sinners and selfish Christians blame! They preserve their "god of self" by persecuting others. It's as if "I feel badly so I will make him/her feel badly as well!" That protects the "self" from immediate hurt, but causes long-term guilt; IF the Christian has any emotions of love at all!

Lastly, why should we love others and put that apathy and hate aside? "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven..."  Love is necessary to claim your reward; the kingdom of God. Those who maintain their hate (unfriendliness even) shall get a reward too. It's eternal death!

My choice is to love others. I even love those who hate me! I don' like that they hate me, but God loves them; why shouldn't I? "For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16a). If a person does not love, they are not of God because God is love!