Listen to the commentary: Track One  Track Two

What I am going to do is to start again with the Second Stone, and go into much  more detail.

          We finally get into a personal relationship with God; things we have to do to have fellowship with Him and his Son, Jesus Christ.  This is where we begin to examine ourselves from the outside in; that's right; we begin with things we do in the flesh which need cleaning up: our language, our behavior toward others; how we treat our wives and children; how we are on the job; how we are among people who love God; and how we are around people who don't know God.  Everything we do, say, and think comes into focus; we must become a new creation as we are regenerated, that is, born again.  We must examine everything about our selves. 

          We could go on and on, because we are talking about repenting from those things which displease God but more, consider this again:   

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  (Heb.9.13,14)

So, what do we mean by dead works?  And, what is the 'blood of Christ'?  Remember this:

The spirit, and the water, and the blood, and they agree in one...'  (1 Jn.5.8 ASV)

The blood of Christ is the Word of God, so that you cleanse your conscience by obedience to the Word of God.  Now, you remember our discussion from Eph.2; here is some of it:

And you, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest..  (Eph.2.1-3)

Understand?  The sins in which you lived and practiced...THESE ARE THE DEAD WORKS; the sins you committed every day, two, three, and four times a day, but you say, What sins?  Here:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Gal.5.19-21)

Now this lists 15 things you may do which will prevent you from entering the Kingdom of Heaven.  The next step is to analyze each thing you do in your flesh and mind; this is absolutely essential; you are going to examine yourself inside and out, nothing lacking; you are going to cleanse and purify every thing you do and think.

Fornication/Adultery: is there anyone who does not understand this; it is having sex with someone not your wife, and if she be married to someone else, it becomes adultery.  But, there is more:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shall not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.  30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.  (Mt.5.27-30) 

Is this serious business or not?! telling us that if we cannot control our members to destroy or cut them off!

          But the point is, simply looking at a woman to lust is adultery if she be a married woman, and to look at one who is not married, it is fornication; we do not have to do it in the flesh, which leads to the fact that we must cleanse our THOUGHTS (see 2 Cor.10.3-5) as well as our tongues, hands, eyes, and feet; but I have only begun.

Uncleanness: (Gr. akatharizo)  let's compare this:

Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, 18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  (2 Cor.6.14-7.1)

Here it is evident that if you associate with unbelievers you will become unclean, but who are the unbelievers? Of course, most suppose he is speaking of sinners in the secular world; not so.  If you UN-believe something, you simply are not believing it.  We are talking about those who profess to believe in Christ but are not obeying him.  Oh yes! this encompasses something you may not want to contemplate, separating from your religious friends, not fellowshipping with those who refuse the truth, who will not receive correction, and whether you believe it or not, this includes just about 99% of the religious world.

          Not only so, but if you go into their high places and sit and listen to them spew falsehood and lies, you become unclean:

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? 17 seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar? 19 What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?  (1 Cor.10.16-22)

So, you go in and sit down; everything is so pleasant; stained glass windows, red shag carpet, the platform is festooned with flowers, the furniture is solid oak; the organ plays softly; everything to entice you through the lusts of the flesh just as Peter said in 2 Pet.. But in this context, it is clear; you cannot sit in their churches with those teaching falsehood, and then go read your Bible supposing you are going to be taught of God: not so! the twain are not compatible; the Spirit of God is not going to teach you as long as you are partaking with demons.  You see, we are not playing games here; this is exceedingly important (see Pro.14.15).

          Am I being unfair? Am I slandering or misrepresenting the facts; for those of you who have been a part of some church all your adult life, you are not going to like this, but before you reject it, pay attention to the Scriptures I have presented, and, as I say, the more you learn, the more you will be able to discern the truth from error.

          The cup of demons is full of falsehood, lies, and half truths as some of you tell me, there are those on the radio and other places who teach good things, but I tell you, when you become more enlightened, so that you can discern the truth from error, you will discover that they are flawed in their teaching, and remember, a little leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Cor.5.6).  We cannot be partly right; God wants us to get it all right, and until we do, He will not send us into His work.

          Now, keeping oneself from becoming unclean: the Pharisees were very careful about cleansing themselves before they ate because they felt (and still do) that when they come from out in the public, that they are unclean, and if they eat with defiled hands, i.e. unwashed hands, they defile themselves (see Mk.7.1-4a), but listen to what Jesus told them:

And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. 39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?  (Lk.11.37-40)

They were being careful to be clean outwardly, but inwardly they were full of corruption: they were unclean.  Here, Jesus makes it very clear:

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.  (Mk.7.14-23)

Now you are beginning to understand what makes us unclean; it is not only hearing the false teaching of others, but we become unclean by the filth of our own thoughts, and as concerns separating from those who believe lies, here is another reason we must take into account, and why we are to separate from those professing to be Christians who are unclean, but again, we have to temper this:

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?  13 But them that are without God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.  (1 Cor.5.9-13)

That's right: if there are folks with obvious sins which they practice, and even flaunt or if they are unclean through the falsehood they have received and refuse to change, we are commanded not to keep company with them.

          When I began this, you thought I was really coming off the wall (excuse the idiom) with these things, but now you see I do indeed document all that I teach.

Lasciviousness:

          Lascivious comes from the Greek word aselgeia which is translated also to, wantonness; it simply means one given to lustfulness and keeps dubious company (1 Pet.4.1-3-5).

Idolatry:

          Idolatry comes from the Greek word eidololatreia and is exactly what it says: given to idolatry; an idol can be money, anything material, your food, your job, your position in society, anything you worship, and it is akin to covetous.                  

Witchcraft: (sorcery ASV):

          Of course, this is simply seeking after fortune tellers, mediums, spirits, and even psychics. 

Hatred: (enmities ASV):

          Holding grudges, hating someone for any reason is not compatible with the gentleness of Christ or this:

          Vengeance belongs unto me, saith the Lord; I will repay.  (Heb.10.30)

If you have a problem with someone, do not allow it to became a cancer in you because it can grow into an awful thing.  Jesus said,

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall 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; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.  (Mt.5.43-48)

Then, there is this:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (ie. a contemptible word or gesture; specifically, empty headed or ignorant), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.  23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.  (Mt.5.21-24)

Hate and anger go hand in hand, and is a very destructive force, as you may discern.  You cannot harbor such emotions; they will destroy you.

Variance: (strife ASV):

          Variance comes from the Greek word, eris  and is also translated to contention (ous), debate, strife; do you argue with folks about what the Bible says? if you do, you are guilty of this.  Debating in a right spirit is of course, alright, but I have seldom seen Christians argue a point without becoming tight-lipped and angry.  Consider this:

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (Ja.3.13-18)

Seditions:

          This comes from the Greek word dichostasia and is otherwise translated, divisions, or factions.  In every church I have been in, there was always at least one group which separated itself from the whole, and which usually leads to a church split; it is a heart-breaking and heart rending situation.  Consider this:

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Rom.16.17,18)

Heresies:

          This comes from the Greek word, hairesis which is otherwise translated to, sect.  We could list a multitude of sects, but the church world is absolutely overcome with heresies; they can point to odd religious groups but they are no better; you don't have to go into the occult to be guilty of heresy; all you have to do is to define Grace as unmerited favor, and you are indeed a heretic.  Here is an example:

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.  19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.  (1 Cor.11.17-19)   

Now, all they were doing here was that some wanted to be seen as approved of God so that they could have bragging rights, and this he calls heresy. 

          Then we have this from 2 Pet.:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2 Pet.2.1)

You see: as he warned, false teachers have come in and corrupted the truth; this is heresy to the extreme.  Things such as once saved, always saved, it is not necessary to obey God or to keep His commandments in order to receive the promises because Jesus paid it all.  You think these things are not heresy?  How about the Rapture of the church; it is pure falsehood, and so easy to debunk even a child can do it.  How about Easter, Good Friday, and Christmas?  The church celebrates all of these and they are as evil and corrupt as any false god.

Envyings:

          This is simply envy, but let's compare it to this:

Neither shall thou covet thy neighbor's wife; neither shall thou desire thy neighbors house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbors. (Deu.5.22)

The 10^th Commandment works here.

Drunkenness:

          Drunkenness, of course, is simply to overindulge in drink, in particular.

Revelings:

          Now, when we say, reveling we have in mind a Roman orgy; not necessarily; ever been to a party?  Ever go to a banquet?  We tend to excuse ourselves because we don't suppose we do it to excess; fine; even Jesus went to a wedding, but a wedding is a legitimate place to celebrate in moderation.  Reveling is to overindulge in fleshly pleasure.

          The above list of things we can do to shut ourselves out of the Kingdom of God is only a partial list, but you must realize what I am doing: I am showing you what you are to repent of; what the dead works are which will keep us out of God's kingdom; for example, there is this:

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.  (Lk.21.34-36)

Surfeiting; overeating, and  the cares of this life.  You in Africa take notice because here in America overeating and seeking after the cares of this life is the whole of many Christians here; American Christians look like the world, act like the world: they live in the same houses, dress the same, drive the same vehicles, and eat the same food as the so-called heathen; the only difference between them and the heathen whom they condemn, is that they go to church on Sunday, and in some cases, they use a religious lingo; you think they are saved?!  I don't think so, but the point is, don't envy Americans.  They may have all the good things in this world now, but it is all coming to a violent end, and you will be very glad you are in Africa, except, there is no place that will not feel the wrath of God when He begins His judgments.

          Let's look for more:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (2 Tim.3.1-7)

See, he is speaking about those professing to believe in God but they deny the power in godliness.  I will be showing you that later.  But go over these adjectives to examine yourselves.  I know some proud and high-minded Christians; I know some unholy Christians, claiming to be saved, sanctified, and full of the Holy Ghost while living in open adultery.  

          Children of God, we cannot deceive ourselves; God means business.  As I showed you, as God dealt with Israel, so will He deal with us, and as He says in Nah.1.3, He does not acquit the guilty, and He is no respecter of persons (Rom.2.11).

Reflect

          Now, do you understand what I am doing here?  The subject is REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS; I am showing you the dead works where we ONCE walked, or in your case, you may still do, but you are going to put to death the deeds of the body so you can live (Rom.8.13; Col.3.9).

          You have never approached the Word of God with this in mind; but now that you know you must put off the old man, as we may read:

'...that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23 and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.  (Eph.4.22-24)

If you read this carefully, you will understand the whole process.  But we will be saying more about that when we get to Baptism.

          There are other lists of sins and indiscretions which will keep us out of God's kingdom, but I want you to do some research on your own.  Some of this is strange to your ears, and indeed it will take some time for you to absorb it, but you must not only assimilate this, but you must master it; you must be able to let all these evil deeds search you out and not be able to find any fault in you, and I'd say you have some work to do (smile). 

          I will never forget when I came out of the church; I knew I was not yet to the place those folks in Ephesians 2 were, how that they once walked according to the dictates of Satan (vs. 2,3).  I knew as long as I continued  in sin in any way, I was not saved, so that I remember the FIRST DAY I went the whole day without sinning; that is, not saying something unkind or thinking something wrong, or acting inappropriately; then after that I went two days, without sinning, then three days, and that was way I began.

          Don't let ANYONE tell you it is impossible not to sin; if you believe that, you will remain in your sins and will never come into the Kingdom of Heaven, so what I am going to do for the rest of this study (lecture) is to show you what Jesus Christ has done to help you through your trials and temptations.

The Life of Christ

          What I am going to show you is going to put to shame the lie that we cannot help but sin.  You've heard the expression, there was only one perfect man, and that was Jesus: we are just an old rotten sinners, saved by grace.  My answer to that is, well if you want to condemn yourself, go ahead, but don't include me, because I still read how the wages of sin is death.

          The basic problem among God's people is that they do not want to suffer, whereas we read:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:..Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin...'     (1 Pet.2.21-23; 4.1)        

The attitude is: Christ did all the suffering; all we have to do is to accept his sacrifice in our behalf.  That is the old cop-out, the old excuse they hope will excuse them from dealing with their sins, but it is not going to work for them.

          This is a great truth and exceedingly important because it is the undoing of the entire church world; they say that Jesus came in a body of brass, that he was the God/man who had no problem with sin, that he had all the power of God, whereas we are in the flesh which is weak and that we cannot possibly be like him.  He has extraordinary powers we do not have, but we are simply flesh and blood and cannot possibly do what he did.

          The fact is, Christ Jesus did much more than anyone supposes to help us overcome and to become as he is in all things; therefore, I am going to quote some Scripture from Hebrews; consider it carefully:

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.. (Heb.2.1-3a)

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visit him? 7 Thou made him a little lower than the angels; thou crowned him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:  8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  (Heb.2.5-10)

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (i.e. help) them that are tempted.  (Heb.2.14,17,18)

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  (Heb.4.14-17)

First, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?  What we learn here is that we will not be delivered if we neglect or negate what Jesus did.  Second, Jesus was made lower than the angels: consider that!  Here he was able to command angels but was made lower than they because he came in flesh and blood, yet became the leader, the captain of our deliverance.  Next, because we are in flesh and blood, it behoved him to also come in flesh and blood just as we are.

          Then, after we realize how that he came without extraordinary powers, but suffered until he sweat blood resisting against sin, living all his adult life walking perfect before God, leaving us an example, he now sits on the THRONE OF GRACE (POWER), to give us grace to help in the times when we are tempted! 

          Now consider this: Jesus did not come as a great power house, a man of steel who was not burdened with our feelings and temptations, but he came as a man, in flesh and flood with the same infirmities and temptations; this DEFIES the entire spectrum of the religious world who say that Jesus had these extraordinary powers we don't have.  Do you understand what I am saying?  Jesus came to be like unto us with the same frailties, feeling the same temptations, but he endured it for our sake and gave us a way to overcome through the Throne of Grace.  You must realize that you can go to Jesus in the time of temptation, and cry out to him to HELP YOU to overcome the temptation, AND HE WILL DO IT; IT IS REAL; IT REALLY HAPPENS; HE IS THERE SITTING WITH OUTSTRETCHED HANDS TO GIVE YOU THE POWER TO OVERCOME!!

          After this, Paul exhorts us:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. 7 If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.  11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.  (Heb.12.1-14)

          Therefore, Paul also says:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  (1 Cor.10.13)

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So, what is the bottom line?  What is the essence of all we have said?  It is that we have no excuse for sin, because Jesus has provided for us a way of escape so that we may be able to overcome!  This is that great salvation.  We are, therefore, commanded to repent of our old ways and to put on Jesus Christ.

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          The only thing left for us to do it to take hold of this and run with it, repenting of our old ways, and changing and conforming to the Word of God; anything less will bring us failure.  There is nowhere you can go now to get away from this; you must be willing to suffer as you resist against sin and temptation and receive the disciplining of the Lord, as we read above.

          In the Greek, the word for chastening also carries with it the meaning of discipline as we are trained and disciplined in the ways of God.  Jesus shows us the way, as he is the author and perfecter of our faith which leads to our deliverance, our salvation, and notice he will chasten us as a father chastens, corrects, his own children.  Yes, He will punish us when we become sluggish and careless in our ways.  Are you sick?  Are you without work?  Is your family suffering the lack of necessities?  Is trouble always at your door?  You know the answer: you need to examine yourself and when God shows you where you need changing, do it immediately, because you will progress no further until you do.

          See: your conscience was given to you as a guide, as that still small voice behind you, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it (Isa.30.21).  It will condemn you when you get out of the way; it will commend you when you do right (1 Jn.3.19-22). 

Conclusion to Repentance from Dead Works

          This is the second stone in the Foundation, Repentance from dead works.  You may now realize how important it is and how it will bring us nearer to God and to His promises.  You are just beginning, but because God has sent me as a harbinger, you now have a helper in your faith.  My wife and I have lived this for many years, and we have seen the power of God in our lives to overcome and to walk before Him in a perfect way.  Yes, we have suffered many things along the way, and we have made many mistakes, but God is merciful who will always be with you as long as you continue to seek Him in truth.

          What you are learning here is the beginning of the Gospel of Christ which will be preached during the Tribulation to restore God's kingdom.  I hope you see your progress, and I hope you are rejoicing to see these things; if you do not see them clearly, pray for understanding, as James says:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  (Ja.1.2-8)

And, of course, go back and read Pro.1.20-23; He will make His words known unto us if we turn at his reproof. 

          Yes, I have given you much, and considering those of you who are taking this correspondence course, you are receiving these truths by the bucket full.  And, I know you may be finding it difficult to keep up, so that you must spend a great deal of time in study and contemplating these things.

          You are right now head and shoulders over any person in the secular church; they know none of what we have discussed.  You are a very privileged people, a special people to come into these things, and you who would prepare for a ministry, you must master this so that you may teach others, but as I keep saying, this is a time consuming process; it is going to take you some time to get through this; God will accelerate you through these things, but along with you moving fast, so will the trials and suffering.

          You are going to begin to realize the reality of putting all this to use as God allows you to be persecuted and chastised by those around you for the changes you are making in your life.  But, remember this:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God¹ are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perishes though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: 8 whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  (1 Pet.1.3-9) (¹ i.e. the grace of God)

Are you beginning to rejoice?  No?  Well, of course, as we read from Heb.12, to wit, that discipline is not pleasant during the time of its application, but afterwards it brings peace; you now see what a tremendous work you have to do in yourselves, but as Paul says, do not faint, but lift up the weak hands that hang down, and the shaky knees, but rather make straight paths for your feet so that you are not turned out of the way.

A New Realm 

          You are coming into a new realm into which you have unwittingly entered; it is a place of no return, because once you have seen the truth, you cannot go back, as Paul says:

For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  (Heb.6.4-6)     

Once we have been enlightened, we reach a place where God requires the more from us:

And that servant, who knew his lords will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; 48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.  (Lk.12.47.48)                         

This is another reason why you should not show these things to those who care little for the truth.

          But see: do not forget the benefits of peace when you obey God and when you learn from Him you feel the joy of the Lord.  And, the thing I keep emphasizing, SALVATION is DELIVERANCE.  If you are walking in the truth, you can depend on God's promise to keep you and yours from disaster and trouble; you can claim Psalm 91 when you qualify. 

Amen

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