Obsessive-Compulsive?

Jesus, wasn't obsessive-compulsive, but he folded very neatly his napkin before leaving the tomb.

John 20:3 "Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself."

Why was Jesus not OC? Because he didn't organize his linen, but he did his napkin. If he had been OC, he would have neatly folded them both, but he didn't. It was the napkin only! Because scripture makes a point of mentioning the specific place and condition of the napkin, it must have importance.

This napkin wasn't something to wipe the sweat off the brow or moisture from the lips. It had a specific purpose. It was a soudarion for covering the face of the corpse.  Head-coverings had significance in the early church. Women wore them as a demonstration of submission.

1 Corinthians 11:6 "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8  For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man."

Only women were to have their head covered; for men they were not to do that, because their head is in the image of God's. Women were to cover their head because men have dominion over the women - like it or not. They are to be submissive to the men, and the head-covering is a symbol of submission. Some sects still do that, and it is an honorable thing to do,

Jesus's head was covered even though men should not! Why? Because he is not the image of God, but God Himself!  There was no reason that he should not have his head covered, but there is one good reason that his head was covered: Jesus's death was the ultimate servitude. He submitted to death for all mankind -  men, women, Jew, and Gentile.

Why did Jesus take the time to fold, twist, or otherwise position the napkin? It was his way of symbolically saying: It is done!

Revelation 21:6 "And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."

Folding that napkin, that burial head-covering, so neatly; implied that it would never be needed again. Jesus's death on the cross was of his own volition, and was the most submissive thing he could do. Never again would he have to shed his blood for mankind again, because it indeed was done!



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Out of Your Box

John 20:19 (ESV) "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'”

 If walls can't contain God, your box that you have him in, can't either. In this passage Jesus just appeared into the locked room where the eleven apostles were gathered. They thought that he was a phantom, and were afraid!  Even though masonry or stone walls are immaterial to Jesus, so is your own preconceived ideas of him. Many people have created their own Jesus (sic) in their minds, who is in a box about three feet wide, eighteen-inches thick, and six-feet tall - it is the box the size of you! That box is immaterial, but it's walls are made of pride, and is your own doctrine!

Jesus doesn't do this. Jesus doesn't do that. Jesus only works this way. Jesus is always positive. Jesus's grace doesn't require obedience. Jesus requires this or that. You must actually say Jesus name for that to work. Jesus will allow me into heaven although I deny him. Jesus won't send anybody to hell. These are some of the attributes of your boxed in Jesus. Your Jesus must follow your strict rules, and he is not allowed o deviate from your own doctrine!

For instance, Calvinists have put Jesus in a horrible box. You can live a life of sin without remorse, and expect eternal life. As a Calvinist, you merely stand, lay, or sit there; and Jesus saves you, and you have no say in the matter. As a Calvinist, if you have been selected, you get a free ticket to heaven, plus a bonus ticket to a life of hedonistic pleasure. If you are a Calvinist, those who oppose your doctrine are evil because they believe works mean something!

Then there are many who steal justice from God, and fail to allow him to judge. In their minds, they have done good, and God will never punish them. Many even believe hell is non-existent, and that Jesus has no place to allow justice to be served. They put Jesus in a strong container, and don't allow him to judge!

Others use God's name in vain, and contain Jesus with flippancy. He won't care if you use his name for Surprise! or as a comma in a sentence. Their Jesus is a weak God, and apathetic to our vanity.

Some don't even put Jesus in a box, but contain him at arms length. He never existed, even in spite of historical evidence.

Some put him in a educational box, and allow him to be only a teacher. Others put him in a pretty box and use him as an example of a do-gooder.

Others have him in an mythological box where he can't be in heaven because heaven is fictitious.

Most people put him in a box with them on top. They are the people who are self-indulgent, and do what they want to do, because their desire is more powerful than God's will.

Let me explain Jesus to you: He IS God! He does whatever is his will, because whatever he does is right and good. If he wants to have you, you are his. He doesn't do things by formulae or by the individually created doctrines of others. He can rebirth you even if you resist, but he can also wait until you accept him. He suits his own purpose. He is Almighty God!

If you deny him, he can allow Satan to take even Christians away. If he feels overly graceful, he can protect you from the evil one. If you live a life of goodness, he can turn his eyes from your works, If you sin all through your life, if he wants, he can reward you with heaven. His only requirement is belief, and that you remain faithful. Jesus is not in your box; he crated the box and called it the heavens. There are no walls to heaven. It's expanse goes on forever. God's world is without walls; why do you attempt to contain him with your narrow viewpoint.

The reason that some scripture appears to have contradicting doctrine is because God's doctrine is flexible; he does whatever he wills! You can't say: God doesn't do things that way! because God can do it anyway he wants! Simon Magus put God in a box:

Acts 8:12 (KJV)  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."

Simon saw Peter and John laying on hands, and believed this method was a secret way of obtaining power. He wanted to know the process for calling up the Holy Ghost - the very Spirit of Jesus. Simon put God in a box of his own, thinking that he could control Jesus. This notion was from a new-born, and baptized Christian who immediately developed his own doctrine -  his Jesus was one he wanted to control. His box was his own mind! If you have placed God in your doctrinal box, you are much like Simon! 

Open the door to Jesus. Take him out of your doctrinal box. He has the power to do whatever he wants, so your attempt to boxing him in is silly in his eyes. Maybe it is you that is in the box, and need out!

John 8:32 (KJV) " And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Book Titles Available

KIDS OF THE KORN (Click here to view this Kindle Book).

ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Kidd children take a journey through the cornfield in search of the prize at the end of their path. Along the way they meet some of the Korn Kiids of the Kornson family, and they learn together the doctrines of God as they share their faith. Kobby, Tassle, Pop Korn, Kernal Korn, Mama Maize and several other korn characters learn with them. This book is geared for middle school age readers and above. Although, it is to teach youngsters, adults can learn much as well.

The book teaches faith, love, grace, patience, purity, and essential doctrine for salvation. Lessons are learned as the youngsters travel and meet Worm, Bumble Bee, Snake, Stalk, and a man with cancer running the course; Herald Runner.

The book is intended to teach not only doctrine, but also vocabulary. As such difficult words are defined and religious concepts are explained. This text is intended to be an interesting, fun, and simple way to learn about God.

Credit must be given to Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, the second most read work behind the Holy Bible, for the concept for this book.

THE SKULL OF ADAM (Click here to view the Kindle Book or purchase a paperback or hard cover)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
In Holy Scripture, words mean things! Why is the "place of the skull" so important when three of the four Gospels mention Golgotha? Inquiring minds long before ago answered that question!
It may not be because the rock formation resembles a skull. It may have deeper meaning. Perhaps as some church fathers believed, Adam is buried on Calvary.
In this book, that contention is explored. Did Adam lose his significance at his death, or is there a link throughout the Scripture? That may never be known, but the thought is intriguing.
This is a work of fiction, but in the stories of biblical characters, there seems to be much more implied than said. John made that clear when he wrote his Gospel. Since Jesus was here in the beginning, where was he? He was always there! He still is always with us!
The skull of Adam is used herein to present essential doctrines in a casual conversational manner. It is all about the mystery of God. The mystery revealed is that in all times, the Scripture is all about Jesus.
What is said in these conversations explain the words of Jesus before he was ever born.

Please rate these books on Amazon if you like them. That will be greatly appreciated.

Unwilling to Willing

The Pharisees were called vipers by Jesus for following, not only all the Law, but to the T - all the  regulations which they added to the Law. They created an impossible legal system that none could possibly obey. One must give them credit though - they tried to keep the Law.

Calvinists would disagree, but abiding by the Law is a good thing! However, the reasons must be right. Law-keeping is not the way to heaven, but is a way to show love for God and fellow persons. The Pharisees were so set on keeping the Law, that they did so out of obligation, and not because they loved. For instance, it's admirable not to steal, but being honest (good) is the road to failure. At some point in time even a Pharisee would fail. What's worse, if they failed on one point of the Law, they failed on all points.

There was a command:

Exodus 23:19b "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk."

I believe this command is so that people will respect animals, for obviously boiling a kid goat in its own mother's milk is disrespectful. However, the Jews took this one step further - Do not eat meat and drink milk in the same meal.  The original command was easily obtainable, and not a burden on anyone. It was a fair command! On the other hand, the regulation added to the command, made it burdensome.

God's Law was written on stone for a reason. It was to endure forever.

Matthew 5:17  ^"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

 The reason for writing the Ten Commandments on stone are to last till heaven and earth pass away. As such they are forever, and have significance. Those Calvinists who minimize the Law shall be called less in the kingdom of heaven. In other words, they are indeed important because they are to complement and compliment Jesus!

To complement: He (Jesus) came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it!

To compliment:  If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

Now for unwilling and willing: Abraham obeyed God, and it was credited to him as faith:

Romans 4:20 "He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him..."

In other words, Abraham was willing.

Now let's look at another situation:

Mark 10:19 "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he (rich young man) answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."

Therein, the rich young man kept all the Law, but was unwilling. He was unwilling to offer himself as a living sacrifice to Jesus, whereas Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only remaining son, but was not required to actually obey what God commanded. As such the willingness to obey is of the heart, and is done out of love and respect.  Actually following commands out of coercion is unwillingness to do things out of love. Indeed, "If you love me, keep my commandments," said Jesus.
We all find ourselves in this dilemma, and it is dangerous. We all are at liberty to sin, and can if that's what we want. However, as Christians with changed hearts, we are to no longer desire sinful behaviors:

James 2:12 "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."

Here is another Law. We now have (1) The Law of God, (2) the Law of Sin, and (3) the Law of Liberty.

The Law of God is the Ten Commandments, and represent the ten ways to love God and others. The Law of Sin is the violation of the Ten Commandments, and are effectually ten ways to hate God and others. The Law of Liberty is the willingness to obey God for right reasons - out of love and respect for him.

We all struggle with the Law of Liberty. We are free to lie, covet, steal, etc., and we don't, but it's more to validate our fire insurance policy with God, than because we love him! In other words, we do it not to please God, but to keep our lousy skins out of hell. We don't obey willingly, but unwillingly because it's for wrong reasons.

What must we all do? We need to change. We are to obey, but because we want to please God. We are to hate sin, and be willing to sacrifice our pleasure for Jesus. Just think: It wasn't pleasurable for Him that day he died on the cross. We are to hang our pleasures right up there with him - willingly.

Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

It boils down to this: Are we willing or unwilling to please God?

Why France?

For my blog this past month both the United States and France had 5000 plus hits. For that, I appreciate France, but why France? They dwarfed all other nations of the world.

I gather that the French people read my commentary because they are longing for spiritual truth. I don't try to deceive anyone with what I write, and I call a spade a spade. We all need to hear truth, not something to tantalize us, or build up our egos. God knows that our own egos are mankind's biggest problem!

2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears..."

For Frenchmen, they have had itching ears since the Huguenot days. Those folks were early protestants of the French Reformed Church -  non-Catholics. Because they were of a different doctrine than either the Catholics or Lutherans, a war started in 1562 - the French War of Religion. Many of those Huguenots, due to persecution, came to America in it's early years. My own Gastineau line was one of those families.

During the time of the First French Republic, there existed a new church with a new god, for a short time, anyway. Their God was Reason, and prostitution replaced holiness in the churches. The French itched for freedom, and they got so much of it, that there was a holocaust of one group after another. Even as late as 1886 when the Statue of Liberty was donated to the United States by France, French ears were still itching - she is Libertas, a Roman goddess who represented the overthrow of Tarquin kings, thus creating the Roman Republic. Libertas was worshiped as a real goddess. She is not merely symbolic. She tickled the itching ears of those who sought civil  rather than spiritual freedom.

France today has few Christians. The Eurobarometer Poll conducted in 2010 reported that only 27% of the French people believe there is a God. Of course, god is not necessarily Jehovah God. Who knows how few believe in the One True God, let alone are faithful Christians! Throughout history, the ears of the French have itched. They believed in about any doctrine or false god which came along. The time is ripe now, for a true conversion of the French people. Only by being emancipated from false doctrine will the French ever be free. Until then, they are slaves to sinful doctrines.

The French people's ears have been tickled by about every false doctrine because they itch to hear what they want to hear. The French, since the days of Louis XVI who was guillotined in 1792, have had so many republics and empires - mostly agnostic ones, that they are ready for truth!

Throughout history there motto has been: "Do what thou wilt!" Unbridled liberty is as tyrannical as the old monarchy and Marxism, which the itching ears of the French love to hear! The French are still slaves. They are in bondage to secular humanism disguised as Liberty. While they are serfs to Satan, true freedom lies in servanthood to Christ.

Colossians 3:24 "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

Freedom is what the French people desire, but they look for it all places other than in the kingdom of God. His is a righteous kingdom, and none of the Bourbon kings or princes rule there. The French people can find freedom in being servants to God, ironic as that may seem. Blessed - the utmost blissful, they shall be when they are subjects of the kingdom of God!

Why France? They are tired of the tickling of itching ears, and are ready for some sound doctrine with the icing of truth, knowing how they love their pastries!


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Change

The question of the day is:  What is the most significant difference between the once-born to the one born-again? Several versus point toward that:

Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

Have you spotted the answer to the question? It is in one of the phrases high-lighted - transformed.

Transformed is figuratively metamorphosed - the person changes: A striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). To clarify that change, think of the two different types. A good example is when the caterpillar turns into a butterfly - a worm (sic) turns into an beautiful thing. The change that should be obvious is when a non-Christian changes into a Christian, going from worm to butterfly symbolically. That type of change is not something concealed, but is something which is obvious.

Another term for transformed is transfigured. When one thinks of that, Jesus Christ comes to mind - the transfiguration of Jesus. Up on the mountain with God, Jesus changed!

2 Peter 1: 16 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."

Jesus somehow changed: He received honor and glory from his Father. This change is a transfiguration -  A change in form or appearance :  metamorphosis, or an exalting, glorifying, or spiritual change. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). We can see from scripture the change itself:

Luke 9:29 "And as he (Jesus) prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering... 32  But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory."

Jesus was changed, and it was both a physical and spiritual change. His countenance, or outward manner changed. Likewise, what he was wearing turned the whitest of white and glistened. This I suppose was a cleansing of the contamination of the world from his body.  That leaves another change -  glory.   As we find from Moses conversation with God, starting in Exodus 33:19, glory is God's goodness, and God's appearance was as a shining light, so bright that eyes could not behold Him, as Ezekiel described Him.

In essence, Jesus was transfigured from the Son of Man to the Son of God. When God disappeared from the transfiguration, Jesus remained alone with those watching. My belief is that Jesus became as he would be after he died, glorified: He was endowed with all the goodness of God, the world being washed from him, not sin from him, but on him. He became the perfect sacrifice, pure and without tarnish, so that he could take on all the sins of mankind. His change was that the world was cleansed from him, and he was as he would be in heaven.

Now back to us: we are to be transformed, or transfigured if you prefer that.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

After a person is born-again, he or she is a new person in Christ. Old things pass away, and the person is transformed into a new creature. The caterpillar -  the first birth, is changed into the butterfly -  the second birth. The change should be obvious! It was for Jesus, and it should be for us. Our countenance should change. Since we were washed clean, not by water, but by the spirit, we should appear to be sparkling white since we are at that instant pure. At salvation is the time that we are good -  just like Jesus, because he took our sins away! Jesus transfigures us, similarly as God transfigured him!

What is the most significant difference between the once-born to the one born-again?

We should be changed, and it should show. If there is no evidence of change, it is possible that the old creature still lives, and is an imposter. The old creature merely poses as the new!

Calvinists minimize, and some even trivialize obedience to the Law of God. Those laws are the Law of Love, because the transformed creature changes from one of hate or apathy, into one who loves:

1 Peter 1:21 "Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

This describes the change from old creature to new -  when one who has only being born once, then  is born-again. The change is one of countenance -  going to pure love. The way to love is to obey His commandments (John 14:15). The new creature is obedient; it is hard, but the spirit helps us. People fail God because they ignore the spirit. As Christians, we're never left to our own devices. The transformation means that the spirit lives within us.

With his transfiguration, Jesus was glorified. He received his heavenly attributes. All sin was cleansed from touching his flesh, and his body was made eternal. It was if he had already died, and as such, He and God were united. He was truly God - all goodness, who died on the cross. However, we won't be glorified until we die. Glorification is the reward for being born-again, and enduring in faith until the end.

Christians don't have to sin; it is always a choice. The transformed creature has a new beginning. We are at liberty to sin if we will to do that. The test of faith is if we choose not to sin, even though we are at liberty to sin if we want. Our countenance changes from one who takes pleasure in the world, to one who is appalled by it! If after being born-again, the Christian is still living a life of sin, without repentance, then the person has not changed -  they aren't like Jesus. Then one should ask: If I have not changed, am I truly born-again?

I'll mention willingness here, but expound upon it later. Willingness is the change from old to new. It is our reasonable sacrifice: to go from unwilling to willing!

Change is our gift to Jesus for dying on the cross in our place. It is how we show our love and appreciation for him not only on Good Friday, but everyday!

Hope

What is hope? It is elpes from he Greek, which means to anticipate. It has nothing to do for wishing, because one who anticipates has the expectation that the event will happen. With that said, anticipation means something has yet to occur. It is sometimes in the future. Of course, the verse in mind is the following:

1 Thessalonians 5:8  (KJV) "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

The event that Christians await is salvation (KJV)., implying that Christians will be saved sometimes in the future. In all fairness, we need to look at the Greek for salvation as well. It is soteria, meaning to rescue. This word is a little different than we find in this verse:

Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

The KJV saved is sozo in the Greek., which means safe. There is a difference between saved and safe. The latter means not in danger. The former means delivered, and in that sense rescued.  With the true definition of soteria, then it is seen that Christians have the hope of being rescued. They have yet to be rescued, but because they trust God (faith), their hope is that they shall be. Matthew 24:13 establishes the criteria for soteria (rescued): He that endureth to the end. Enduring is staying true to the end.

The vehicle for staying true is faith (back to 1 Thessalonians 5:8): trusting in, and loyalty to God.

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved (sozo, safe) through faith (pistes, persuasion); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

A person who is brought to safety is persuaded, and have had their opinion changed, but Satan endeavors to unpersuaded (sic) by raising doubt. With scripture, persuading is leaving deception or apathy, and arriving at truth, and of course that means trusting the gospels about Jesus Christ.

The phrase shall be (Matthew 24:13) is not even in the Greek. It is an English transliteration, and the KJV sometimes renders it should be (John 3:16). Should raises doubt because it leaves open the possibility that the person won't be. Should is past tense. Shall is firm. It means that it will occur. It is future tense. Most places sozo is rendered shall be safe, meaning at sometime in the future. The future is anytime between this moment until the time when the soul is removed to paradise.

That is important: What we call saved is brought to safety. That's when God makes us righteous and puts a protective hedge around us (Job 1:10), called the whole armor of God:

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil... 13 ...that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day."

In essence, what we call salvation is God protecting us from being destroyed by Satan, but just as Job was tested, we too are tested. Testing allows the Christian to remain in the faith (endure) or blaspheme (cease being faithful to God).

Faith is a gift from God, and we Christians exercise it. Scripture refers to the work of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Indeed, maintaining faith is hard work because Satan and his legions go to and fro trying to destroy it. God protects us from Satan's wiles by using his sword (word) and armor. The Christian who fails to wear God's armor is in danger of Satan's barbs killing their faith.

The hope of salvation does raise some concerns about doubt because it is anticipating a future event which has yet to happen. The faith of God is certainty.  Because he is God, he knows the future. Faith is for us a variable: (1) No faith, (2) a little faith, (3) great faith, and (4) the faith of Abraham - as much as humanly possible. Anything less than the faith of God is doubt. We all have doubts at time. To deny that is deception. We must always be in the word to keep doubt out of our minds. Doubt is one of Satan's barbs.

Some are certain of their faith, or so they say. We do have assurance.

Hebrews 10:26 (ESV) "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries."

If one remains in a life of sin (go on sinning), after knowing the truth (about Jesus), judgment and hell awaits them. With that said obedience to the faith is the test of efficacy. Christians are to remain steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:9).

Some ask, "Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are saved?" That question makes one doubt, whereas before it wasn't on the mind. We all have doubts; that is imperfect faith. Satan raises doubts; God doesn't. Claiming to be certain, which only God can be, is prideful. It is making oneself out to be as God (Genesis 3:5). We must be wary of Satan and keep our armor shiny, polished, and in use! We anticipate that we will in the end be saved, but until then we walk in safety because we exercise our gift of faith.

This is my belief from scripture. I am dogmatic in my belief. This is called conditional security. Because I'm not God, I am convinced that I understand doctrine. Others are just as convinced of their position. However, I do not have the ability to declare mine to be divine truth, because to claim that I would be prideful. Likewise, for those in the eternal security camp, and are just as dogmatic, if they declare their truth to be profound, then they have pride in their doctrine.

These two doctrines are opposite, and are in direct conflict. One must be right and the other wrong. I won't put God in an Arminian box, and my desire is that others will take God out of his Calvinistic box. What I am saying, God is God. He can do as he pleases on an individual basis to suit his purposes. It would seem that Paul's conversion was a model for Calvinism, but Simon Magus's conversion and blasphemy was a model for Arminianism.

We can all get along, if we're Christians. In Paul's time there were even then doctrinal differences. He asked for unity. I will be in accord with my fellow brethren without regard to disputes. After all, who am I - God, to declare his every intent? I won't be that prideful because pride kills.