John 9:13-16 Sabbath Observance

13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

 

Devotional

Now this man whom Jesus healed of his blindness, a blindness from birth, was healed as Jesus said so "...that the works of God should be revealed in Him." John 9:3 Therefore all that follows after his healing is the result of men either believing or not believing that Jesus is from God. Therefore with the blind man having been miraculously healed by Jesus, so that none can deny what has happened to him, though some try to deny that he was even the one born blind (John 9:8-12), and so with his being healed and this creating quite a stir in his community, the previously blind man is now taken by them to the Pharisees so that they might examine him. And that is where we pick up the story.
Now it's interesting to see the division that immediately arises within the Pharisees ranks over the blind mans healing. For some will immediately dismiss the mighty work of God in the mans life simply because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. And so because of their hardness of heart towards Jesus (and thus God) they do not understand the Sabbath's purpose; that it was given to give man rest from his labors; and not enslave him to the observance of it according to doctrines and commandments of men. Nor do they understand that God likewise does not cease to do good (i.e. "work") simply because it is the Sabbath (consider John 5:17). As Jesus said at the start of this chapter: ⁴ I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:4-5Therefore Jesus in seeking to do the works of God, and be the light in the world to lost and perishing mankind, must also work on the Sabbath, just as His Father does. Yet that is what is so offensive to them, that Jesus would dare to work (i.e. heal) a blind man on the Sabbath, and thus violate their understanding and interpretations of it. And so they being blinded to grace and goodness of God and His witness to them, through Jesus' gracious work in healing the blind man, will only say of Jesus having done so: “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” vs. 16 Now the other faction within the Pharisees, though likewise not willing to justify Jesus because He healed the blind man on the Sabbath, can neither condemn Jesus as a sinner as their colleagues before them did, since they say, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And so there breaks out a division among them. Now we know how the rest of the story plays out as they will continue to strive with Jesus (and then the healed blind man) to try to dismiss God's work amongst them before they condemn them both as sinners. And so that is what legalism ultimately brings, not God's light nor God's life into men's lives, but instead condemns those who do obey it as sinners, and thus condemns those who should not be condemned. Now what would you say if someone did not preach or endorse your favorite ordinance in which there is Christian liberty, like with Bible translations, or with tithing, or even keeping the the Lord’s Day as one would observe it or not; would you dismiss everything about them and their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and their obedience and good works towards God simply because they don’t hold your point of view on some non-essential matters (Rom. 14). Would you say like the Pharisees "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep..."For in holding to their own ideals the Pharisees eyes were darkened and their hearts hardened to who Jesus really is, and the value He places on all people. How about you and I would we reject someones testimony because they "violated" some principal that we hold dear (not that Jesus commands) but we hold as incumbent on all believers. Again maybe it's a favorite Bible translation; or maybe it's a form of worship music; or again maybe it's the "Sabbath day"; not that there is a Sabbath for New Covenant believers to observe (other than the Sabbath rest that God commands that was foreshadowed in the Old Covenant and is now realized in the New that we all cease from our "works"; by which we try to make ourselves approved to God through them, and rather trust fully in Jesus Christ's finished work at Calvary for our souls redemption, and thus enter Christ's rest, see Heb 4). Or maybe it's some sort of ideal like pacifism, that has superseded (in your mind or heart) Jesus Christ's crucifixion for every persons redemption and reconciliation fully back to God simply by their faith in His Person crucified and risen from the dead. Whatever it is, it is wrong when one accepts or rejects another believer by their holding to, or not holding to, one's own ideals.

Again the Pharisees rejected the wonderful and merciful Work of God done through the Lord Jesus Christ simply because Jesus did it, rather intentionally I might add, on the Sabbath. Which they had made into a impossibly difficult and burdensome day to observe, with all of their self imposed ordinances that they heaped up on all those trying to observe it. Yet the Sabbath was to be a day to bring rest and refreshment to both man and beast (Deut 5:14), and what could be more in accord with that than to make a man completely whole on it, as Jesus Himself declared and did. And in so doing Jesus foreshadowed the regeneration of us all by His Spirit, when we as new creations in Christ having our souls reconciled back to God will also have our bodies made completely whole and into the heavenly Mans image when we are together with Him in heaven (1 Cor 15:48-49). Thus Jesus thoroughly kept the Sabbath (and honored God through it) by healing a blind man on it.

I hope then that wherever you are in your faith walk with Jesus Christ, whether strong in conscience or weak, that you will not allow your conscience or liberty to be a cause of enmity or disunity amongst brethren.

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

Be Reconcilated to God & Each Other

2 Samuel 14:14
“…Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.”

 

Devotional
When a believer sins there is a rift in the relationship with God, and often times their fellow person. Though a first response maybe to conceal ones sin, or if offended, to seek to punish or banish the offender, God’s response is neither. For Jesus suffered for all our sins so that He could through grace and truth devise a means of reconciliation for everyone in need (Matt. 9:13; John 1:17). Indeed it was our sins that broke Christ’s body and shed His blood at Calvary where God’s justice was served. Therefore if we are going to follow Jesus we must be open to reconciliation towards all individuals, whereby upon a person’s repentance restoration can be secured (Luke 17:3-4). If people refuse to repent then that’s a different matter (Matt. 18:15-20). For the Lord Jesus has already provided the righteousness for us all (2 Cor. 5:21). That God’s Righteousness, not mans, might be made known and granted to all (Job 33:23-30; Rom. 3:19-28). So that all who receive God’s grace by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person might have cause to praise God forever (Psalm 145; Luke 15:7, 10).

---

 

Scripture Quotations

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

 

John 13:1-20

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."
 
Devotional
If God put all things in your hands; all authority and all power, how would you respond? That question thankfully is unanswerable, because He hasn't, nor will he (though some people try to live like He has). Nonetheless let us lay aside our weak attempts at humor and return to the text and see what was in the heart and mind of Jesus when God did just that. As verse one states it, these events took place before the Passover; the finial meal the disciples will eat with Jesus before His Crucifixion; where He will usher in the New Covenant, and where He will also give the piece of bread that He dipped (signifying His mortal body) into the hands of Judas Iscariot, who will then go out; having already agreed to betray Jesus to the chief priests; and gather together all those who will arrest Jesus in Gethsemane. And so Jesus' knowing that His hour had come (that the time of His betrayal and arrest,  leading to His Crucifixion death for everyone who believes in Him had come), "...that  He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself." vs. 1-4
Now there is quite a bit there in verses 1-4 so I'll take them one at a time:

1) "that Jesus should depart from this world to the Father" vs. 1

Jesus' Mission if you like was never to be brought into this world and then remain in this world. He came into this world by the Holy Spirit; being born through the virgin Marry as a Man; but God's redemption plans were never that Jesus should remain the Son of Man on earth then immediately rule from that position. For Jesus had to become a Man first to take the place of Adam; the first man created, and who sinned, and by whom sin entered the world. Thus Jesus became a Man, the Son of Man, to become the feudal head of all mankind, so that by His atoning death on the cross for all our sins remission, both their atonement and His Righteousness could be applied to everyone who believes in Him (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21). For the Scriptures states that: just as sin came through one man (i.e. Adam) resulting in the condemnation of all mankind, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift of God came to all mankind resulting in justification to life (See Rom 5:18-19). Thus Jesus' coming to earth as the Son of Man was first to purchase our redemption from sin and death by His own Crucifixion death and shed blood (John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Heb 9:22). That then being accomplished, Jesus had to return to the Father (again in fulfillment of Scripture, and thus God's plans) waiting until all His enemies are made His footstool (Psalm 110:1; Mark 12:35-37). Thus we have Jesus' Resurrection from the dead, for His, and our victory over death. For since in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. Thus Jesus having risen from the dead, having ascended back to the Father after forty days of Resurrection life on earth with the Apostles, did so too wait until all His enemies are made His footstool (see 1 Cor 15:20-28; Heb 10:12-14). The interim bringing in His Promise of the Holy Spirit's outpouring into the world, by which God convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:5-11); but more specifically for us who believe in Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit who brings us to life, and baptizes us into Christ's Body the moment we believe in Jesus, and thus it is He who brings new and everlasting life with Christ into us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Therefore it is critically important that our faith and hope always be rooted and grounded in God's Righteousness through Jesus Christ's Finished Work alone (Rom 3:21-28, vs. 26; 4:4-5; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7 etc.).

2) "having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end" vs.1

That Jesus loved His own, that He loved them to the end" should be of great consolation for us all. For if you believe in, and thus belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, you can be assured that His love for you is not conditional. Consider if you will, in the Gospel Jesus' disciples were anything but perfect; neither their motives, nor their words and behavior could be described as "perfect".  Indeed if it were not for Jesus' oversight, intercession, and correction, the disciples (like us, individually and collectively) in of themselves would be a much maligned group for their conduct. Yet through it all we do not find Jesus forsaking or abandoning them. Instead we often find Him using their failures to teach great spiritual truths to them and to us all (consider Matt 10:35-45; 16:21-28). Now you could say that Holy Spirit was not yet given and they were still unregenerate men; that is still natural men, not yet born of the Holy Spirit, and thus not yet empowered by God. True, but even after Pentecost and the Holy Spirit's outpouring into their lives, there are failures in their lives, just as their are (and will be) in mine and yours (consider 1 John 1:6-10). Now the point I'm trying to make is  simply that once God the Father has set His love in you, because you have come to believe and trust in His Son Jesus, neither the Lord Jesus Christ, nor God the Father will ever withdraw His love from you. The proof being that God seals us all who believe with His Spirit, whose first fruit is love, for the day of redemption (2 Cor 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph 4:30). Thus we can love God in all our circumstances of life, because it is He who first loved us; and continues to do so throughout our lives; as we learn to live by faith and in obedience towards Him (consider Rom 8:31-39; 1 John 4:17-19).

3) " And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him" vs. 2

It was the devils' desire to destroy Jesus from the beginning. And so having failed to lure Jesus into disobedience to the Will of God through the Temptation of His Person (Luke 4:1-13); the devil then waits for an opportune time and seeks to use one of his own; not one of Christs; but one of his own, through whom he can hasten Christ's death (Luke 22:1-6). For Judas Iscariot though selected by Jesus Christ along with the twelve, was never of Christ, but rather he was selected by Christ because he was to fulfill the Scripture, as the one who would betray the Son of Man (John 13:18).

4) And so "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself." vs. 3-4

Now Jesus knowing then that God the Father had given all things into His hands (that is all things on earth and all things in heaven), will now give us a tangible example of what it means to follow Him, (that is service, not self serving ambition, and this on the eve of His own Crucifixion). Now in doing so Jesus will also teach us; through the Apostle Peter an important lesson on our needing to have our whole person's washed by Christ's Person, which only comes by faith in and obedience towards Jesus Christ's Person (1 Tim 1:5; 3:9; Titus 1:15-16; Heb 9:11-15; 10:21-22; 1 Peter 3:21). First then, that Jesus after the supper rose from His place and took a towel and girded Himself is by all estimations of culture norms then, and now, not what people of prestige and honor do, especially after being exalted to highest position in the presence of their subordinates. Yet that is precisely what Jesus did, having received all things from the Father. His first act is not too demand His exceedingly high and prestigious place amongst them, His first act as Ruler of All, amongst them all, is not to reach for the throne, but for a towel! And thus the Scripture says after Jesus poured water in a basin and girded Himself with the towel, He began the wash the disciples feet, one by one, and then dry them with the towel (vs. 5). Now what Jesus was doing was considered then the lowliest of all duties; something relegated to household servants, slaves, or sadly the wife in ancient times, and not something the master of a house would ever even contemplate doing. Nonetheless Jesus quite deliberately and methodically wash's the disciples feet and dries them with the towel, before coming to Peter. And it is when Jesus comes to Peter, that Peter says to Jesus: 6... "Lord, are You washing my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." 8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

 Vs. 6-11 Now Peter's initial resistance to Jesus washing his feet is commendable because Peter held the Lord in very high regard, and thus in no way wanted his Master to stoop too what seemed to him a position far beneath His Privileged Person. A natural response, yes, but not in accord with either the Lord Jesus Christ's Person or His Gospel. Since Jesus specifically came forth from God as God's Servant; to bear our sins on the cross (see Isaiah 53). But also to lead and guide us in our new lives, as His servant minded and oriented people (consider Mark 10:42-45; Phil. 2:5-11). And that is what Jesus is emphasizing here, both our need for our persons, to first be wholly washed by His Person, that is our sins washed away by His shed blood, which happens the moment we believe in Him, we are washed by His blood, regenerated by His Spirit, cloaked in His Righteousness, and thus we can confidently say with every other believer that we have been made clean by Christ alone. Then that being done in us and for us, for us to follow Jesus as He has done and commands here, and go and wash each others feet. Now you can take that literally, as if we are to literally wash each others feet; which I know of some Assemblies that do that, and that is fine as they are following Scripture, as long as they don't make that into their own form righteousness; that is by doing so they are more right in the sight of God than any other Assembly or believer who does not follow suite (consider Rom 10:3-4). For again there maybe times where such circumstances of life require that our feet need to be washed by another. My grandmother for years had to care for and often wash and bandage my grandfathers ailing and infected toe to try to preserve it. Not a pretty duty, but she did it with great dignity, care and love. So I see Jesus' Words here not just as a command to "wash" each others feet, (as a sort of ritual obedience to Him) rather to serve one another through love (Gal 5:13). For that is where Jesus says His blessing rests; not on those who seek to be served, but on those who serve others in His Name (consider Mark 10:45). For that is the heart of Christ that bleeds through this passage of the Scriptures, that as He has done in His love for His own, willing serving them, so should we serve each other. Therefore we should not see ourselves as so exalted or privileged as to be above any duty that would benefit another believer. This maybe foot washing if you live in Africa where I'm sure dusty feet are the norm, or it maybe something as simple as washing dishes after dinner to give your wife or parents a break if you don't own a dishwasher. For I don't want to limit the scope of Jesus' Words and their implications and blessing here for us. Rather I want us all to learn to gain the heart of a servant towards each other, to see each other as equal brethren, and to manifest our love towards each other in innumerous tangible ways that will benefit one another. That is what Jesus is teaching here, through His example of foot washing, and it is His example that we as followers of Christ want to emulate in our own lives as well.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982
 

Proverbs 18:8

Proverbs 18:8 (26:22)

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

Devotional

This proverb is a warning against receiving the talebearers/gossipers, gossip/slander. For though it may be "tasty" to some peoples palates, in the end it will settle deeply into ones own heart. And thus one's opinions of an individual or person will not only be distorted by it, but these will not be easily changed. Ultimately then making those who receive the talebearers gossip and slander likely to become just as unjust (and cruel) in their words and behavior towards the person who is slandered, as the person who speaks such things. For many wrongs and unjust behavior is often justified through it. Which is why it is so insidious and unjust. A so called "harmless" bit of gossip then always has far reaching, and often long lasting negative effects. Not only on the victims of it (and their relationships), but also the persons who propagate it, and or receive it. For all will bear some negative effects and consequences from it in their own lives. Thus not only does the "tasty" words of the talebearer have destructive effects on others, it will also have destructive effects on you! For it gives Satan, whom the Scripture calls a slanderer and destroyer of people an open door to walk into your life if you propagate it or receive it. Therefore don't align yourself with Satan and his evil work in this world in seeking to ruin and destroy other peoples reputations and lives. For he will do that through you if you let him, all the while laying the groundwork to destroy you also! For everything from school yard bullying to outright assaults on one's person or property often gets it's fuel from the backbiting and slanderous tongue, something which God condemns (Ps. 50:21). Therefore we as believers are commanded to flee from all such things (Eph 4:29-32; Titus 3:2; James 4:11-12; 1 Peter 2:1-3) which do not make for peace, but only discord and strife (Pr. 26:20) and thus are not in accord with Jesus' commandment to love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34-35). Those then who think nothing of defaming another, and or forwarding the hurt of others through their reckless gossiping, backbiting and malicious tongues. Or who receive it as some sort of pleasurable thing, should consider that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will require an accounting of all their words and deeds (Matt 12:36; 2 Cor 5:10-11; James 5:9).

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 King Saul's End

13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. 14 But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

As the Scriptures states Saul though anointed as Israel's first king died for his unfaithfulness to the Lord (see 1 Samuel 13:1-15; 15:1-35, vs. 10). The passage also states that Saul's death was a direct result of his consulting a medium for guidance (see 1 Sam 28:3-25). Now from the time that God first prophesied of His rejecting Saul, and Saul's death at his own hands would be about 38 years. Thirty eight years of life lived as Israel's king, but with none of the true purposes of God fulfilled through it; and this often in spiritual torment and fear (1 Sam 16:14-23). And so Saul would live out his tenure in his own strength and power. 
Making many rash and ill advised decisions as he did (See 1 Sam 14:36-37), while having neither the true respect of the people (see 1 Sam 14:24-46) nor the personal Presence or Guidance of God (1 Sam 28:15). Thus Saul having been rejected by God for His disobedience, yet retaining external power in Israel, would only become more and more paranoid of David the son of Jesse whom God had anointed to replace him (1 Sam 18:8-16). And so in the end (though twice shown mercy by David, 1 Sam 24:1-22; 26:1-25) it would be Saul himself who would usher in his own demise. Now some of Saul's decisions as king born out of his fear of the people (1 Sam 15:24-25), and or his attempting to appease the people of Israel would only bring trouble to the nation. not only then, but also after his demise (2 Sam 21:1-14). And so Saul reigned for a season, but always without God and often in fear of, and or with murderous intentions towards David. The man whom the Lord said would (in God's timing) replace him (1 Sam 18:1-16). Sadly then Saul's best and most productive years were only spent in his futile and murderous attempts to try to keep God from fulfilling His plans and purposes for David the son of Jessie whom God had chosen to replace him. In this Saul would go so far as to even order the killing of eighty five of the Lord's priest's, when he was wrongly informed that Ahimelech the priest of Nob, had assisted David escape him (1 Sam 21:1-9; 22:6-23). Even his own son Jonathan who would've succeeded him, Saul likewise turned murderous towards when he perceived that Jonathan's heart was with David, and not with him in trying to help him maintain his legacy (see 1 Sam 20:1-42, vs. 33).

Now Saul began as a most desirable candidate for the throne. From a wealthy family, and standing head and shoulders above all the people, Saul was (at least from all outward appearances) the perfect specimen, and most likely choice to be Israel's first king. Even Samuel the prophet of God was taken with his person and stature when shown him by the Lord. And so the Lord knowing the heart of His people gave them the king that they desired for themselves (1 Sam 9:20). Yet the true nature of a man is seldom, if ever revealed by outward appearances, as the Lord would later caution Samuel when seeking Saul's replacement (1 Samuel 16:7).  And so it would be just two years into his reign when Saul's true character and inner weaknesses would begin to be exposed. Beginning with his unlawful sacrifice, when Samuel the prophet did not arrive at the appointed time. And so Saul facing his first leadership crises as the people began to depart from him because of a 30,000 man strong Philistine imminent invasion, which he himself had precipitated by attacking a garrison of the Philistines without first consulting God (compare his actions with David's 1 Chr 14:8-17); would in desperation in trying to find out what to do next, offer a sacrifice to God, which only a priest could lawfully do (1 Sam 13:1-15). Now in contrast to Saul's all to frequent rashness, by which he would try to compensate for his lack of leadership abilities (consider 1 Sam 14:24-46), is his son Jonathan. A man (like David) of true faith and God centered courage whose heart and life was guided by an unshakable and undeniable faith and trust in God (1 Sam 13:16-14:1-23, vs 6) something that Saul never exemplifies during his reign; either during the Goliath incident, or anytime else.  

And so again when Saul received a direct commandment from God to make war with king Agag and the Amaleta's and destroy him and everyone and thing that was theirs. (This for what Amalek their ancestral father did to the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt), would upon the battles completion, disobey God's commandment and give in to both his own as well as the people's desire to keep back the best of the sheep, oxen and plunder for themselves; (though Saul later blames the people for this), and thus they only destroy what was utterly worthless and despised. Now Samuel the prophet upon coming upon the scene and seeing King Agag still alive and the people hoarding the best of the spoils will openly confront Saul about these things. Yet Saul will repeatedly deny having done anything wrong. Indeed he will even go so far as to claim to have kept the commandment of the Lord when he clearly had not. Only when Samuel sternly rebukes Saul for his rebellion and lying ways, telling him that the Lord has rejected him as king; does Saul show any remorse for his actions; and that only to save face before Samuel and the people whom he feared being rejected as king (1 Sam 15:10-35).
So God in his anger gave them the king whom they desired for themselves (1 Sam 8:7), and in His wrath He took him away (Hosea 13:11). Thus Saul ruled them for a season, and that only as one who was not only continually unfaithful towards God, and unjust towards men, and ultimately as one who would only serve his own interests, fears, and plans.


Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
 

Numbers 29:7-11 An Offering Without Blemish

7 ‘On the tenth dayof this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work. 8 You shall present a burnt offering to the Lord as a sweet aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish. 9 Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 10 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs; 11 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the sin offering for atonement, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

 

Daily Devotional
God's command here that the sacrificial burnt offerings on the Day of Atonement be without blemish is important for us to understand. Since these foreshadow (or to point to) the Lord Jesus Christ's own sinlessness; and thus this principal runs throughout the Old Covenant beginning with the first commanded Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:5). Now Jesus Christ the Son of Man is in every aspect without blemish from sin, and thus only He could be the Sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 Peter 1:9). For it is only by the blood of Christ, that was shed unto death when He was crucified for us, that we have both cleansing and remission of all our sins when we believe in Him (Matt 26:28; Acts 10:43; Heb 9:22). Therefore Jesus Christ came, as He said, not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17-18); that is every aspect of it, for those who trust in Him. From it's sacrificial ordinances and commands, to its priesthood and tabernacle, all things contained within the Law of God are fulfilled in Christ. And so the Scripture states that all these things that God commanded before of the Israelites (and specifically of the Levitical priesthood) were ordinances that were in affect until the time of reformation (Heb 9:10): For 11 ...Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for 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, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The question then is have you yet received God's Promise of an eternal inheritance with Himself by faith in His Son Jesus? For that is what God requires of everyone; to look to (that is believe on, or trust in) the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead for the remission of all our sins, so that new and everlasting life might be brought into us the moment we believe (Eph. 1:13-14). For God having fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law through the death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus now offers His salvation to all who believe in Him (John 3:16). And so the Scripture states: "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." Heb 10:18
And so eternal life is now freely offered to all, as a gift of God's love for us all, the moment we believe. Now if you believe, and thus see yourself as a sinner in need of God's salvation, then please call upon the Name of the Lord as the Bible says we must, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord for in believing He is risen from dead and you will have remission of all your sins and eternal life (Rom 10:9-10, 13). Now you can do this by praying a simple prayer in faith, by praying something like this:
Dear Lord Jesus I confess to You that I am a sinner, and apart from You there is nothing I can do to take away or atone for my sins. Therefore I need You and want You in My life, to be both My Lord and Savior. So that You having already paid the penalty of all my sins might bring God's Promise of new and everlasting life by His Spirit into me. Therefore I now invite You Jesus into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior. amen.

If you have prayed that prayer or something similar because you have seen your need for Jesus Christ to both save you from your sins; from God's judgment against them, but also for Jesus to be your Lord by and through the grace of God. Then this is not the end, but the beginning of your new life In Christ (2 Cor 5:17). And so grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus by beginning each day with some Scripture readings, for that is the best way to get yourself grounded in God's Truth by reading and meditating and inculcating His Word into your inner most person. As well, as soon as possible, find some fellowship in a Gospel believing and preaching church, and there get baptised and make a public confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A great and important first step towards maturing in ones faith and building brotherly/sisterly bonds of love. And so as you come realize all that God has done for you (and or the Spirit moves you) look for opportunities to share your faith and God's love with others by word, surely, but also by acts of kindness and love. For Spiritual rebirth is not the end of being a disciple of Jesus, it is the beginning, and so spiritual growth comes by God's Spirit as we are led by Him and seek to obey Jesus in all grace and truth. If you have any questions or comments feel free to write them in the comment box and I will try to correspond with you. May God bless you richly as you seek to know Him and love Him better.  Your friend Tom

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982,

1 John 1:5-10

^5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ^6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ^7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ^8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ^9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ^10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Commentary

God is light; that is Holy, Pure, Righteous, without sin or inclination towards it. And thus there is no darkness in Him at all (vs. 5). That sets the backdrop for all that the Apostle John is about to say, specifically to believers, who are living, or are to be living in a right relationship with God by likewise seeking to do so (vs. 6-7). And thus the Apostle John says: "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." vs.6

Now in stating this he's not implying that we now as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead must somehow try to live sinless. Or that by living a righteous live someone would enter the Kingdom of heaven. No the point being made here by the Apostle John is not about salvation which we only receive by faith in Jesus and thus we are only justified through the grace of God by His Righteousness, not mans (Rom 3:19-28). No the point being made here by the Apostle John is someone professing to have faith In Jesus Christ but living as though nothing has changed in them. For one can claim to be in fellowship with God if they are living (i.e. wilfully walking) in darkness. If you remember the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 you might remember that it is the belt of truth that is the principal piece of armor that each and every believer must gird their waist with to withstand the assaults of the Devil. Cast of the belt of truth and the rest of the body armor mentioned their simply falls to the ground and becomes useless for ones defense against Satan's schemes. Therefore believing and obeying the truth; and thus walking and living in the truth, is absolutely critical for a believers well being. And here that truth is being expounded by the Apostle John commanding us all who believe to walk in light as God is light, and thus as children of God reflect the true moral character of God by keeping His commandments. That is to walk in light as God is light; and not in darkness as Satan, sin and all evil is always darkness and abides in the darkness. Those then who are living willingly in their sins are having their eyes blinded to the truth by the darkness; a darkness which darkens heart, soul and mind. Therefore a person who knowingly lives in sins darkness and yet thinks that they are somehow in a right relationship with God is utterly self deceived. For they are not in fellowship with God, but with the darkness and the ruler of it.

Therefore the Apostle John warns us all that if anyone thinks they have fellowship with God by going to church, or Bible studies, or being baptized, or attending worship services or doing whatever "religious" things one might think would approve them to God, but are knowingly living in sin, they are not living in the light as God is light, but are in effect living a terrible lie with eternal consequences for themselves if they continue on in it unrepentant, (Mark 9:42-48). And thus they are leaving a wide open door for Satan (the father of lies) to come into their lives here and now to both use them (for his purposes) as well as abuse them. The antithesis of this being found in 1 John 5:18.

Now in contrast to that very perilous scenario the Apostle John immediately goes on to say: "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." vs. 7

And thus Christian fellowship with each other comes by living in the light as He is light, and so the Apostle says the blood of Christ cleanses us from all our sin. Therefore the onus is on us all who believe in Jesus Christ, to walk in light as God is light. Light being the perfect metaphor for living according to all that is Biblically holy, true, just, righteous and sound. In essence having first received the Lord Jesus Christ through the gospel (John 1:12); and thus having our sins washed by the blood of Christ (); we must as a course of life, throughout our new lives, seek to purify our lives from sin, just as God is Pure (1 John 3:2-3). Therefore in living by and in harmony with Jesus Christ's life and Spirit within us we must do so according to His Word. And not according to the worlds ever changing moral standards, which would only make us enemies of God (James 4:4). Nor should we seek to live according to the commandments of men who turn from the truth (Titus 1:14); and thus all manner of legalism and self-imposed restrictions which have nothing to do with obeying God's moral decrees and do even less to keep one from the sinful lusts of the flesh (Col. 2:20-22). But again according to the Lord Jesus Christ's unchanging Words and commandments given in the N.T. by Himself and by His Spirit for us all through the Biblical Apostles. Therefore the promise of God goes out to us all "if we walk in light as He is light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Vs. 8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Now because of the sinfulness of us all; both our sin nature, as well as the sins we commit even after we believe in Jesus and receive the truth of the gospel; the Apostle John gives us this reality check. For though we don't live in darkness (that is sin as a way of life) we will all stumble and sin. And thus there are to extremes present here in these passages. The first being knowingly and unrepentantly living in sins darkness and thus being utterly self-deceived about ones standing with God while doing so. The other is living as though one has no sin, which is the antithesis of the first, but is also perilous, because just as when someone does not see the danger or care about the seriousness of living in sin, so there is a danger in living a lie as if one has no sin, two extremes yet both are dangerous in that they open one's life to Satan the father of lies.

Therefore to say that one has no sin is to deny the reality of one's person, both before redemption and afterwards. For if we had no sin then there would've been no need for the Lord Jesus Christ to suffer crucifixion death for the atonement of all our sins. Or if we say after we have received the truth of the gospel (having placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and thus been born-again by His Spirit) that we now have no more sin; and thus implying that we have attained too, or are somehow now sinless, the truth then would not be in us. For that would be to deny both our need for the Lord Jesus Christ first as Savior to save us from our sins; and then deny our ongoing need for His ongoing intercessory work as both our High Priest and Advocate before God the Father (see Heb 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1). Therefore if anyone says they have no sin they are living a lie and truth is not in them. The same should also be said of those who would knowingly advocate for sinless perfection in this life. Though holiness is the goal of every true believer, sinless perfection will not be our nature until we are fully transformed out of this mortal body and into the eternal spiritual bodies that we will have in the presence of God forever. Therefore we are being warned of being self deceived about ourselves or anyone else, whether this happens by comparing oneself to others, or by some other means, the truth of the Scriptures is eternally the same for everyone, before God all are in need of redemption from sin and death, "for all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God" Rom 3:23

This basic premise then is foundational for our seeing our need for the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel, as well as keeping our dependency on God as we are transformed into Christ-likeness throughout our sojourn in this life. Unfortunately distortions of this reality have gone on to call mankind totally depraved; (though mankind is indeed corrupted by sin (this includes believers) and are given over to degrees of depravity when they reject the illumination of God given them, (Rom. 1:18-32). Not all of mankind is totally depraved; especially those who believe and seek to obey the truth, whose minds and lives are now being renewed and transformed according to it, by the Holy Spirit of God. And thus our hope lies not in ourselves, or in anything inherently good within ourselves, but in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ whose life and person not only saves us, but also indwells us and is transforming us all who believe. And so again to say that one has no sin. Is in effect to say that one has no need for the atoning work of Jesus Christ or the restoring of Spiritual life by Him in us all who believe in Jesus by the Holy Spirit of God.

Vs. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Having acknowledged then that we all have sin the proper response is not to deny this reality (for again that is not walking in truth but a lie and thus opens the door to Satan in one's life) rather the solution for us all is to confess our sins to God. For as the Apostle John says God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we do. A great promise of God made available to us all who believe because of Jesus' Crucifixion death by which He paid the penalty of all our sins.

Vs. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Again to say that one has not sinned is to make God a liar, for His Word charges all of humanity with having sinned (Rom 3:19-20, 23), therefore to deny that reality is to make God a liar, and thus His word cannot be said to be in anyone who holds to such heretical notions.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982

Mark 4:21-25

21 Also He said to them, Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

Now Jesus by using the analogy of a lamp (i.e. an ancient oil lamp) not being hidden, but being placed on a lampstand tells us that the Kingdom of heavens secrets are now being revealed; (i.e. God's hidden secrets and mysteries things kept secret from the foundation of the world have now come to light through Christ's Gospel). For Jesus' analogy here is not of the individual believer; as in Matthews gospel in the beatitudes of being a light in the world by which Jesus is revealed and God glorified by a believers good works (Matt 5:14-16); rather here Jesus is clearly referring to His Word (as this passage immediately follows His giving the parable of the Sower). And so in the Lord Jesus Christ's Words, both the King and the Kingdom of heavens secrets are being revealed to all those who hear (i.e. believe and obey Him).

Which leads us into the next immediate passage:

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
 
Notice in this immediate follow up passage Jesus' first exhortation is that we take heed what we hear. For there is a crucial distinction to be made between the Lord Jesus Christ's Words; which have God's Authority in them; rather then just the mere and mortal words of sinful man. Therefore the importance and stress one lays on the Lord Jesus Christ's Words is absolutely crucial if one is going to follow Him and obey Him in discipleship. And so in this passage Jesus once again warns about the importance of hearing His Word; here somewhat differently than in parable of the Sower; for there He warns us not to let the Word get stolen away or choked out by three primary things:

1) By Satan immediately taking away what was sown in someones heart; which happens to all those who do not believe, and thus the Word never takes root. And so Jesus compares this to the seed which falls by the wayside which the birds of the air came and devoured (Mark 4:4).

2) By Persecution and Tribulations In this one the person receives the Word with joy and thus the Word seemingly takes root, but as Jesus says when persecution or tribulation arises they immediately stumble, and thus they lose their faith. And so Jesus compares this to the Word being sown on stony ground where there is no depth of earth and so the sun in heat of the day withers the plant away (Mark 4:5-6). Bringing this Biblical analogy into our reality it seems that this happens to some because they had false expectations about the journey ahead. Likely thinking that the Christian life and God's service would always be a pleasant and easy one. Well it isn't (Matt 7:13-14). As the Apostle Paul also said: "we must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of Heaven" Acts 14:22

3) By Jesus' Word being choked out by "the cares of this world"; "the deceitfulness of riches", "the desire for other things", all which Jesus warns makes the Word unfruitful! Now in Jesus last warning in the parable of the Sower in Mark's Gospel He warns about three very specific things that choke out God's Word if one lets them do so:

First "the cares of this world": Jesus addressed this early on in His ministry in Matthews gospel with His Sermon on the Mount. There He told us not to be anxious about food and clothing saying "what shall we eat" or "what shall we drink" or "what shall we wear" (Matt 6:31-32); instead by analogy of how God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field we must know and believe that our lives and thus our very well being is also under the loving hand and watchful eye of God, i.e. the hairs of your head are all numbered.(see Matt 6:25-30; Luke 12:6-7). Therefore the cares of this world must never be a hindrance to our following Jesus and pursuing whatever purposes He has already planned for us to fulfill. Instead rather than worrying about all the "what if's" we must seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these things will be added to us (Matt 6:33). It's a truly a great promise from our Lord and a reality that I myself have and continue to experience.

Second: "Deceitfulness of Riches" Probably the biggest deception in Christian dome, people not heeding Jesus' warning about no one being able to serve God and mammon (Matt 6:19-24). And thus the deceitfulness of riches choke out the Word and it becomes unfruitful. The Apostle James also warned that the rich man will fade-away in his pursuits (James 1:11). Now unrighteous mammon has a place in one's life. However if that is one's first desire and pursuit then the Kingdom of heaven, the Lordship of Christ, and thus God's Word will not be. And thus we are called to withdraw from every brother or sister who professes faith in Jesus Christ yet thinks and lives like Godliness is a means for their own financial gain (1 Tim 6:5). Now the antidote as the Apostle Paul said is for those who are rich now, to be rich in good works, ready to give willing to share, and so lay up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come (1 Tim 6:17).

Third: "The desire for other things" this is the most innocuous one in that one can so easily overlook it. For here Jesus is not warning about clearly sinful or wrong things, but rather "the desire for other things". And so He leaves it open to mean just about anything which takes away our focus, time and energies from His Word to pursue "other things". For God's Word will not be second to anything. Therefore we must all be careful that we don't waste the time allotted us here on earth in desiring and thus pursuing those things which ultimately have nothing to do with the Kingdom of heaven. Of course the antidote is living a new course of life and having new priorities by taking heed to Jesus Word: "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:34-38

 

And so back to the passage at hand Jesus having given the parable of the Sower and thus warning us all about His Word getting chocked out by various things now commends us all to hear Him (and not someone else); and so we must Hear Him and believe Him with all seriousness, reverence and diligence. For again He says: “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Therefore lets consider first Jesus' statement "With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given". Though similarly sounding to Jesus warning in Matthew about how we judge others we will be judged (see Matt 7:1-5). Here Jesus' emphasis is on His Word and how we hear it. For if you do not take Jesus' Words seriously; and thus never actively apply it to your life; nor put the hard effort of study into it then it's highly unlikely He will give you anymore than what you yourself receive, do and pursue. That's what He is essentially saying here. The measure you use will be measured to you. You want to rich in all Knowledge and Wisdom and Understanding of God's Word then you got to be an attentive listener of it and heeder to do it. Not an easy task, but certainly well worth the effort when one sees the fruits and results of doing so. And thus when one does so Jesus promises that more will be given them. For Spiritual growth and thus growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes first by faith then by a concerted effort. In contrast to that Jesus says "but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." Therefore where there is no faith there will be neither salvation nor a growing up into Spiritual maturity by Knowledge of, and through Christ's Word.
 
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

 

Exodus 19:1-6 Obedience and Faithfulness

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Devotional
Notice that God again commands Israel's obedience, just as He did when the Israelites first came out of Egypt (). And so God's choosing Israel for Himself, is not just a choosing by which He chooses to redeem Israel from their slavery in Egypt and then require nothing more of them. For God requires of them, as He says both their obedience and faithfulness. That is what is implicitly stated when He says: 5‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

The same then is true of salvation for us now. For it is God alone, through the Lord Jesus Christ, who by His grace, now rescues us from our own spiritual deadness and bondage to sin when we believe in Jesus His Son as testified to in the Gospel, calling upon His Name. And so as then, He also requires more than just our confession of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. He requires our ongoing obedience towards Himself through it. For that is what discipleship essentially is, believing in then submitting oneself to the Lord Jesus Christ through His Gospel. For though salvation is only received as a gift of God's love by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person. We must having received God's reconciliation In Christ and His Gospel, also strive to be faithful to Him through it. Now in this there will be things in the New Covenant that we see paralleled in the Old Covenant, and then there will be things that we don't see in the Old Covenant that are unique to the New. Jesus spoke of this when He said in Matthew 13:52 “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

The reason I mention this now is so that you don't get confused about all of the Sabbath requirements and food restrictions that are unique to the Old Covenant in your desire to obey God. For our having been liberated from sin, and redeemed from eternal death, are to serve the Lord Jesus Christ not by the letter of the Law, but rather by the Spirit of God (please read and understand 2 Cor 3:5-6, 9, 18; Gal 5:1, 4, 5 etc.). Which means that we are bound to Jesus Christ and His Lordship through the New Covenant, and not the Old. Thus the Holy Spirit and His fruits (see Gal 5:22-23) then are to be our guide when we face those ambiguous areas of life the Scriptures are silent on. For the glorious liberty of the children of God extends to all areas of life, so that life in all its fullness can be lived and enjoyed by us all in Christ, As Jesus said: "I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly." ^{John 10:10}

Therefore let no one steal your God given liberty In Christ by trying to define for you what is acceptable, or not acceptable for you, when these things are clearly neither immoral nor unethical by Biblical standards. For the Lord Jesus Christ having purchased your liberty for you by His own blood, should you then become enslaved to the doctrines and commandments of men? Therefore don't submit yourself to any such things. For they will add nothing to your new life in Christ. But they will undermine God's grace and commandments In Christ by seeking to establish their own (consider Matt 15:1-9; Rom 10:3-4).  And thus they will only lead you into all kinds of spiritual bondage and oppression by their misapplying and misusing God's Word to justify and impose their own "ideals" on those who sadly heed them. Which again cannot equal nor add anything to the righteousness of faith we have in Jesus, and will only bring spiritual bondage and troubles into your heart and life if you heed them (Consider Matt 16:5-12; Gal 4:9-11, 17; Col 2:20-23 etc.).

Therefore shun all man-made and self imposed "religious" ordinances and ideals which neither liberate the sinful flesh, nor honor God when one holds to them. As if we are required to serve and obey Jesus through them. Instead hold fast to the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for our sins remission, and risen from the dead so that new and everlasting life might given to everyone who believes in Him (Acts 10:34). For Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the church, and He alone is the Lord, Master and Teacher of everyone who trusts in and obeys Him as such. Therefore neither heed, nor keep the commandments of men which only undermine the grace and the righteousness of God (consider Rom 10:3-4).
 

Now with that said the other end of the spectrum are those who turn the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ into licentiousness by which all of God's Scriptural decrees on human morality are cast aside for the prevailing "morality" of the day. And in so doing they seek to justify clearly immoral behavior under the guise, of being "liberated" and or living by "grace". Which is neither grace nor liberty for God's grace given to us by faith in Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead first atones for then liberates the believer from their sins. It does not justify sin, it calls people to repentance from it. For nowhere in the Scriptures does God say that He will justify the wicked. He will justify the repentant, that is when anyone turns from their sins to Christ. God will justify them no matter what they have done by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But He will not justify the unbelieving and those who continue to live wicked lives that only testify to their own unbelief. For who could have imagined a generation ago that homosexuality, a clear sin throughout the Scriptures (Lev 18:22; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Rev 22:15 etc.) would now be justified, not just in the world, but by people professing Christian faith! Nonetheless the gospel is the Power of God to salvation for all who believe in Jesus Christ Crucified, Risen, Ascended and now seated at the right hand of the Throne of God (Rom 1:16) waiting till all His enemies are made His footstool, for all who do so will not only have remission of all their sins they will have everlasting life.

 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982