Must Christians always forgive those who do bad things to them?

This is another “Sacred Cow” in some Churches today! Some hold the Church to a higher standard than  God’s standard. In order to be saved a person must repent (Luke 13:5) as declared by Peter in the Book of Acts (Acts3:19). Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Godly repentance leads to Salvation. I have heard and read that we must forgive all who hurt us, by word or deed, even without them being sorry!
God demands repentance. Jesus made it clear, without repentance there can be no forgiveness “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying: “I repent”, forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4).  What about the; “Souls under the Altar “crying out:  and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Rev. 6:10)

Please note: these Souls of believers are asking for revenge from God. We are not to take our own revenge Beloved, but to leave room for the wrath of God. (Romans 12:19). The word of God refutes those who teach a “Blanket” forgiveness of all and anything without repentance!

The Truth is, when offended by anyone who then says: “I’m Sorry”, the Lord Jesus said we must forgive! But those who murdered the Souls “Under the Altar” were not  sorry and those Saints did not forgive them! We don’t take our own revenge but through prayer we place them in God’s Hands. He may deal with them immediately, or He may take time but be sure their fate is sealed. I have personally seen the Lord deal with my enemies. I remember a man I worked with, he constantly cursed at me, each time I went to him and asked what I had done to him, he said all was well. But he continued to do the same thing. I found out some time later that he was telling lies about me to my Boss. He caused me great suffering. Many years later after I had retired, I thought of this man while praying. I asked the Lord: “What about this man?”  Everything seemed to go his way, I remembered from work. I forgot about this prayer, sometime later we went to visit our Family. I decided to visit my old job; I was invited to go to lunch with my old Boss and the man who hated me. While we were together, I heard this man tell my old Boss how terrible things were going for him at the job. I remembered I had placed him in God’s Hands. Scripture says: “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God (Hebrews 10:31). David went into the Temple of God to inquire about the wicked, what the Lord showed him caused him never to ask again!

In summary, I don’t believe the sugar coated word of those who add to or twist God’s Word.  His forgiveness is totally linked to repentance and so is ours. If a believer or a non-believer offends you, tell them, give them an opportunity to repent. And if they say they are sorry, forgive them, if they are not, ask the Lord to intervene (Some may be Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, some not). When we lean on the Lord by Faith and Pray, He will always bring the best outcome for us. The outcome for the wicked is never good! Pray for your enemies, bless them, do good to them. It is only by God’s grace that they will repent, if they do, it will remove that invisible wall between you and them, especially if they are friends or fellow believers. For the “Blanket” forgiveness folks, consider this: married couples, Christians or not, when one is offended and the other not sorry, what is the outcome? (Resentment and separation, bad feelings). Does the offended one say: I forgive you even though you are not sorry? No, the relief comes when the words: “I’m sorry” are said, both sides feel a relief, thus obeying the Lord’s word of forgiving one another.  I would like to add, for believers, even though someone offends you, doing good to them brings the Holy Spirit’s power into this situation. Pray God will convict them in their consciences that they are wrong, causing them to repent and ask for forgiveness.  When you have done all and they continue to hurt you by word or deed, leave them to God, He will repay! When we sin, we sin against God but always remember, if we confess (Repent) of our sins, He is faithful to forgive them and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1-John 1:9 NASB). I must repeat, we are not held to a “Higher” standard than God, that is forgiving people who do not repent!

Alexander the copper smith did me much harm; the Lord will “repay” him according to his deeds. 2-Timothy 4:14 NASB. Paul the Apostle obviously had not forgiven this man, I believe this man as well as those who murdered the “Souls under the Altar” were not repentant of their deeds. Paul, like those Saints looked to the Lord to take revenge (Paul obeyed God’s word by not taking his own revenge). Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19 NASB )

In rightly dividing the word of truth we find that contrary to what some of the modern Churches teach, revenge has it’s place in a Christian’s walk with the Lord. How do we reconcile this with “Love your enemy”? Yes, love them with a social, friendly love (It is NOT the Agape love Jesus said we are to have for a brother or sister in Christ, that only come through the Holy Spirit who dwells in the believer). It can be hard to even love them with the “Philo” social, friendly love, the worlds love. Jesus had this friendly love even for Judas and was greived when he betrayed him. (We must consider those in Satan’s Kingdom hate and dispise us and always will unless they are converted).  Before Peter received the Holy Spirit, he was asked a few times by Jesus if he loved him, Peter’s responce was; Lord you know I love you (He spoke the Greek word “Philo” which is a friendly, social love) but Jesus was saying; Do you “Agape” me? ( This Greek word is a love that only God has, a giving and not taking love. John 3:16 ) Peter could only say; “I love you as my friend-Philo”. Finally, Jesus asked Peter; “Do you really love me as your friend”. This grieved Peter as friendly love was all he had, for now, when he did receive the Holy Spirit he also received Agape love for Jesus.

Overcome evil by doing good! (It’s like placing hot coals on their heads) but times may come when you have a “Righteous” anger when all you can feel is the need for revenge!

The Lord is ok with your desire for revenge but says; never take your own revenge beloved, through prayer, place them in my hands and my wrath will be upon them. (Paraphrased).  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 NASB.

The souls of the murdered Saints under the Altar sought revenge (Which was coming), not forgiving but asking; “How long?”

Even Paul the Apostle sought God’s revenge against the coppersmith who did him much harm.

Conclusion: The “Blanket” forgiveness that some Churches teach and the world believes in, is not taught in God’s word!

When Jesus whipped the “Money Changers” in the Temple, was he loving them or forgiving them?

When he called the Pharisees children of Satan, was he loving or forgiving them?

It is through the leading of the Holy Spirit that righteous anger comes without sinning and leaves room for the wrath of God.

The only way to be sound in rightly dividing God’s word is to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit, then you will be a “Mature” Son of God. Only walking by Faith pleases Him!

Corrie Ten Boom in her Book: “The Hiding Place”, met the Nazi Commander of the Prison Camp where
her Sister had died. This man had become a Christian. When introduced to him,
he held out his hand. Momentarily, she could not shake his hand but the Lord
moved her in her heart and she did. The man, offering his hand was his way of
saying: “I’m Sorry”. He had hated her before being saved but the Lord gave him a New Heart of love.

Author Ken

December 2011

What is Love?

We are told in the Bible that God IS Love. How many understand what real Love is?  In the World today we hear the words “Love Affair”. Let’s take a look at that, I think most people would agree it involves sex which the Bible calls Eros. It is a physical love. * A sexual desire where each one involved receives something for themselves from the other. Outside of Marriage it is condemned by the Bible as fornication. It also can be one of the reasons why some Marriages fail through adultery, also a sin in the Word of God.

How Many Types of Love are there?

There are three types of Love the Bible speaks of: Agape’, Philo and Eros.

Agape’ is God’s Love, it is a giving Love.  For God so Loved the Creation, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life”(John 3: 16). There is nothing selfish with God’s Love. This is why Jesus said in order to follow Him we must deny ourselves, our own desires for the sake of others. This imitates the Lord Himself who became a Servant to others. He who would be great among you, let him be the Servant of all. ( Mark 10: 44)  The dictionary’s description of the word Agape’ is an unselfish Love for another without sexual implications.

Philo, from the Greek is a friend’s Love. Peter said to Jesus when the Lord asked him, Peter, do you Love (Agape’) Me? Peter said, “I Love (Philo) you Lord”. Peter was saying,  you’re my best friend Lord. From the Greek translation of the word we can understand why Peter was grieved when the Lord asked him the third time. Jesus changed His use of the word “Love” from Agape’ (God’s Love) to Philo a (Friendly) Love. The Lord was saying to Peter, do you really Love me  even as a friend? ? Peter was crushed,  saying,  Lord you know everything!  All he had was a friendly Love for the Lord. (Without God’s Power, Friendly Love for the Lord is all we have). It was at Pentecost that Peter along with the other Apostles would receive Power. When they received  the Holy Spirit, Gifts, and the “Fruit” of the Spirit,  the best being “Agape” (God’s Love). When we are Born Again we receive the Holy Spirit and the Agape’ Love; which is shed abroad in our hearts through Christ Jesus. (Romans 5: 5) Jesus said, “the Greatest” Commandment is to Love God with all your Heart. (Luke 10: 27 )   In our own strength we cannot do it, but our wonderful God gives us the Power to Love Him. We receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit when we have Faith in the Lord Jesus. Without Him we can do nothing! (John 15: 5.)

I thought I would share a Poem I wrote for the Lord;  it is my appreciation of His Love to me. He  is my Faithful Friend, wish I had always been the same towards Him, please read it below.

* And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23 NASB.

Note the words; “Deny himself”, self- gratification is the way of the world, giving is the way of God!

To be like Christ the Christian is to be “selfless” not selfish. Our flesh is our cross. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to fight the battle between our “Inner Man” and the corruptible flesh.  (The New Man, the saved believer’s spirit is a New Creation in Christ) Through devotion to Christ with obedience, the Holy Spirit will put to death the deeds of the body.  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,  Romans 7:22 NASB. but I see in my body a different principle waging war with the law in my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin that exists in my body. Romans 7:23 ISV.

Note: To his surprise, the Apostle Paul found that he still sinned but unlike before he was saved by the Lord it appaled him. He even called himself a rotten man! Please read all of Romans 7.  The key to understanding this chapter is the fact that Paul did NOT willfully sin, therefore God gave him “Grace upon Grace” and not judgment. I hope this gives my brothers and sisters in the Lord comfort in their struggle with sin, you are not alone in your battle as Paul was not alone. When you sin, confess it, when you do it’s gone and forgotten by God. Be devoted to Jesus your first love. Be Christ conscious not sin conscious. (Always avoid sinning willfully as this will bring the Lord’s correction which can be grievous. Whom the Lord loves He corrects) Hanging on to forgiven sin can take you on a “Guilt Trip” causing you to lose the joy of the Lord which is your strength!

 

A Poem Dedicated to Jesus

Prone to wander, Prone to go, far from my Lord, reaping what I sow,

but ah the wondrous Sheppard, my Faithful Friend,

His Rod and Staff remind me of his care and Love, of no end.

The still waters, green pastures, my Soul at rest,

knowing that through many trials I have come, not failing the test.

He has called me before my birth,

redeemed me at the Cross that Day on the Earth.

Now I sing a new song, a sinner saved by Grace,

when He returns I will see Him Face to Face.

 

AUTHOR KEN

November 2011

What was the Death that Adam, Eve, and All Mankind Experienced in the Fall?

Have you ever wondered what was the death penalty God pronounced upon our ancestors and all mankind? They did not drop to the ground dead after they sinned but there was a “Death” in their spirits. Being separated from God for all Eternity is called: “The Second Death” (Rev. 2: 11). The death that took place in the Garden of Eden was a “spiritual” death. The human spirit is called; “The Candle Of The Lord” (Proverbs 20:27). It is the only place where true worship and fellowship takes place with God. Jesus said: “Those who would worship God must worship Him IN spirit and Truth” (John 4: 24).

Conclusion:

The Word of God tells us that outside of Faith in Jesus Christ we are dead men walking in living bodies. Dead spirits, but are those spirit’s really dead as we know death? The answer is no because when the spirit leaves, the body has died*. The sinner apart from Christ is spiritually dead to the things of God, they have lost the communication with the Fall. They cannot hear, but I have Good News for you! How did Lazarus hear the Lord’s call to come forth while he was dead? How can dead men hear? It is the Lord who gives ears to hear, eyes to see. Jesus brought back the spirit of Lazarus. He heard the Lord’s voice and he came forth in a living body and soul by the power of God alone, Jesus, the Resurrection and The Life! Born once, die twice! Born twice, die once! Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born
again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”(John 3:3 NASB) “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28 NASB)

Call upon Jesus, He is the only one who can save you, if you hear His voice, it will be in your spirit, don’t harden your heart. Repent of your sins and He will forgive you and give you a New Spirit which is alive to God. You will be a New Creation in Him. You will receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit and be joined to “The New Man” who is the Lord Jesus Himself. The Second Adam who could not fail, praise Him!

* For the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also the faith apart from the works is dead (James 2:26).

 

Ken

November 2011

David and Mephibosheth

2nd SAMUEL 9: 1-13

A Love Story; Jesus and the Sinner

This is a beautiful account of a lame man who lived in a place called Lodebar (meaning without pasture). The story begins with King David asking: “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” David had a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba appear before him, who told the King of a son of Jonathan named Mephibosheth; he was lame and lived in Lodebar. David sent for Mephibosheth and when he appeared before the King he bowed down to pay him honor. “Don’t be afraid”, David said to him, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul and you will always eat at my table.  Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant; that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

I love this story; looking beyond the “Letter” of the Word we see Jesus and His Love revealed to us through King David. I first heard about Mephibosheth in a little Church my Wife and I attended while on vacation. The Pastor was away and his Wife gave the message. When she began reading from 2 Samuel 9: 1-12  , my knuckles were white from squeezing the edge of the Pew, I wasn’t happy (I don’t believe in women preaching or teaching the Word of God as the Apostle Paul explained why 1 Timothy 2:12). As she read the Scriptures the Holy Spirit began to minister to my heart.

The Holy Spirit revealed to me a deeper spiritual meaning. Suddenly I saw it, Mephibosheth was me and every sinner who is called and saved by the Lord.  Before being saved I was lame due to sin and separated from God. In this condition all sinners live in Lodebar, far from the Lord and Pasture (far from rest). David is a “Type” of Christ as he called the lame man to himself.  The Lord Jesus calls us to Himself (for Salvation) and we become the “Adopted” Sons of God, part of His household(where we eat Spiritual Food – “The Bread Of Life–Jesus”). We are joint Heirs with Jesus (1 John 3: 1-2). When the service ended we went to the rear of the Church and everyone was weeping, including me. The Holy Spirit had moved upon the whole congregation using a woman with such a beautiful  love story from the Word of God showing Jesus and His Love for the sinner.  I learned something that day; God is not hindered (when the Word is heard) in seeking His lost Sheep. I also learned to seek the “Deeper” things of God in His Word.  I have come a long way in that regard and will share more of those things another day.

Ken

November 2011

The deep things of God

Please note, I do not advise that new believers (Baby Christians) should read what I have written below. They should feed on the “Milk” of the Word.  Deep things of the Word are for Mature Christians who have moved from the milk of the Word to the Strong Meat.

Who is really free?

“Whom the Son has set free;  is free indeed”.  Set free from what? Where is a person before the Lord sets them free? Scripture says they are in Satan’s Kingdom; being held captive to do his will.  Jesus said; “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

We hear in some Churches that all people have free will (another Sacred Cow) and that God would never violate that; but what does the Word of God say? It says all those who are unsaved are dead in sins and trespasses. They  are in Satan’s Kingdom. They are held captive TO DO HIS WILL!  Does that sound like someone with free will? The  Bible says that they have a fallen nature that loves sin and  hates God.

When Adam sinned he did not die physically but spiritually;  our spirits are the “Candle” of the Lord. We communicate with God in our spirit.  In the  fall; that Candle went out and man became dead to God. Fallen man can do as they will but are  not able to come to God;  nor would they will to. They love their sin more than God.

WHO SETS THE SINNER FREE?

Who sought after Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?

Who sought after Lasurus even after he died?

Who sought after some fisherman?

Who is it that said He came to save sinners?

Jesus! The Resurrection and the Life Everlasting!

Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil;  to plunder his Kingdom. To set the Captives free. When Jesus sent them to bring Him a Donkey and it’s Fold they were bound. They represented us, our children  and all those the Lord desires to bring to Himself. We were like those Donkeys, bound and serving another Master (Satan). Like beasts of burden doing his will as the Word declares. Jesus said: “Loose them and bring them to Me”. Here is a deep truth of the Word, the Donkeys who represent the lost, are bound to Satan and set free by  the Lord Jesus. It is He who plunders the strong man’s house. “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36 NLT). Only the believer in Jesus has free will, no longer bound and serving Satan!  “We are of  God;  little ones and the whole World lies in the Power of the Evil one” (1 John 5: 19).

Please Note: All my Blogs are based upon God’s infalible Word; my solid Foundation. My interpretations of Scripture are what I believe the Holy Spirit reveals to me that enhances God’s Word. My goal is to have a better understanding of the deeper truths of the Word. I never twist it. With  God’s help, I strive to “Rightly” divide the Word of Truth. Examples of deeper truths are found in my blogs: “Eyes to see” and “David and Mephiboseth”. With the healing of the blind man we find that Jesus prayed twice, why? David and Mephiboseth is a beautiful picture of Jesus and the sinner. Please read them on this site and you will understand how I look at scripture. I read the truth of the Word but also seek the deeper things that glorify God through them. They are the “Hidden Treasures” that only through the Holy Spirit can be revealed.  “But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets” (1-Corinthians 2:10 NLT).

Ken

November 2011