DOES HABAKKUK 3:3 PREDICT THE COMING OF MOHAMMED? #OBJECTIONS. #WordFromTheLord. #ISLAMDEBUNKED.
“God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran Selah His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise," (Hab. 3:3).
Some Muslims argue that this passage refers to Muhammad coming from Paran (Arabia) in light of Deuteronomy 33:2 (https://t.me/ChristIS/6259)
A number of serious problems with arguing that Muhammad fulfills this “prophecy” in Deuteronomy 34:10.
First, Paran is not near Mecca where Muhammad came from but is hundreds of miles away.
Second, the text is speaking of God coming, not Muhammad who denied being God.
Third, the “praise” does not refer to Muhammad (whose name means “the praised one”), since the subject of “praise” and “glory” is God (“His”).
Even Muslims would agree that Muhammad should not be praised as God. Therefore, it is unreasonable to believe that this passage is referring to Muhammad.
WORD FROM THE LORD. (https://t.me/ChristIS/2177)
Reading Psalms last I noticed something amazing. The musical term SELAH in numerous verses and places. So, for any Muslim who still wishes to place Mohammed as the Holy One in the book of Habakkuk 3:3 OT it's not here and you will need to find another place, as I originally said SELAH is a musical term and proven as scripture interprets scripture to the Truth of His Word.
Psalm 3:1-8 KJV — A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
Please see Psalms 4 and 9 for the same word, plus have a word search as theirs many other places too.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Christ is Life. John 3:16
“God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran Selah His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise," (Hab. 3:3).
Some Muslims argue that this passage refers to Muhammad coming from Paran (Arabia) in light of Deuteronomy 33:2 (https://t.me/ChristIS/6259)
A number of serious problems with arguing that Muhammad fulfills this “prophecy” in Deuteronomy 34:10.
First, Paran is not near Mecca where Muhammad came from but is hundreds of miles away.
Second, the text is speaking of God coming, not Muhammad who denied being God.
Third, the “praise” does not refer to Muhammad (whose name means “the praised one”), since the subject of “praise” and “glory” is God (“His”).
Even Muslims would agree that Muhammad should not be praised as God. Therefore, it is unreasonable to believe that this passage is referring to Muhammad.
WORD FROM THE LORD. (https://t.me/ChristIS/2177)
Reading Psalms last I noticed something amazing. The musical term SELAH in numerous verses and places. So, for any Muslim who still wishes to place Mohammed as the Holy One in the book of Habakkuk 3:3 OT it's not here and you will need to find another place, as I originally said SELAH is a musical term and proven as scripture interprets scripture to the Truth of His Word.
Psalm 3:1-8 KJV — A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
Please see Psalms 4 and 9 for the same word, plus have a word search as theirs many other places too.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Christ is Life. John 3:16
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Christ is Life - Seeds to Sow
DOES DEUTERONOMY 33:2 PREDICT THE COMING OF MOHAMMED? #OBJECTIONS. #WordFromTheLord. #ISLAMDEBUNKED.
Surah 7:157 must be the biggest pain in all Islamic polemics; it's amazing to me how many verses Muslims will often try and use to fulfil this false claim…
Surah 7:157 must be the biggest pain in all Islamic polemics; it's amazing to me how many verses Muslims will often try and use to fulfil this false claim…
THE NON-CONTRADICTIONS OF THE BIBLE. PART THREE.
#ObjectionDebunked.#WordFromTheLord.
Unbelievers will say God incited David to conduct the census of his people, or is it Satan?
2 Samuel 24:1 - Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
1 Chronicles 21:1 - And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
SHORT ANSWER - The reader misunderstands how God works in history.
IN-DEPTH ANSWER - This seems an apparent discrepancy unless of course both statements are true. It was towards the end of David’s reign, and David was looking back over his brilliant conquests, which had brought the Canaanite, Syrian, and Phoenician kingdoms into a state of vassalage and dependency on Israel. He had an attitude of pride and self-admiration for his achievements and was thinking more in terms of armaments and troops than in terms of the mercies of God.
The Lord therefore decided that it was time that David be brought to his knees, where he would once again be cast back onto the mercy of God. So, he let him go ahead with his census, to find out just how much good it would do him, as the only thing this census would accomplish would be to inflate the national ego (intimated in Joab’s warning against carrying out the census in 1 Chronicles 21:3). As soon as the numbering was completed, God intended to chasten the nation with a disastrous plague which would bring about an enormous loss of life (in fact the lives of 70,000 Israelites according to 2 Samuel 24:15).
What about Satan? Why would he get himself involved in this affair (according to 1 Chronicles 21:1) if God had already prompted David to commit the folly he had in mind? It seems his reasons were entirely malicious, knowing that a census would displease the Lord (1 Chronicles 21:7-8), and so he also incited David to carry it through.
Yet this is nothing new, for there are several other occurrences in the Bible where both the Lord and Satan were involved in soul-searching testing and trials:
A - In the book of Job, chapters one and two we find a challenge to Satan from God allowing Satan to bring upon Job his calamities. God’s purpose was to purify Job’s faith, and to strengthen his character by means of discipline through adversity, whereas Satan’s purpose was purely malicious, wishing Job as much harm as possible so that he would recant his faith in his God.
B - Similarly both God and Satan are involved in the sufferings of persecuted Christians according to 1 Peter 4:19 and 5:8. God’s purpose is to strengthen their faith and to enable them to share in the sufferings of Christ in this life, that they may rejoice with Him in the glories of heaven to come (1 Peter 4:13-14), whereas Satan’s purpose is to ‘devour’ them (1 Peter 5:8), or rather to draw them into self-pity and bitterness, and down to his level.
C - Both God and Satan allowed Jesus the three temptations during his ministry on earth. God’s purpose for these temptations was for him to triumph completely over the very tempter who had lured the first Adam to his fall, whereas Satan’s purpose was to deflect the saviour from his messianic mission.
PART ONE OF TWO
#ObjectionDebunked.#WordFromTheLord.
Unbelievers will say God incited David to conduct the census of his people, or is it Satan?
2 Samuel 24:1 - Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
1 Chronicles 21:1 - And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
SHORT ANSWER - The reader misunderstands how God works in history.
IN-DEPTH ANSWER - This seems an apparent discrepancy unless of course both statements are true. It was towards the end of David’s reign, and David was looking back over his brilliant conquests, which had brought the Canaanite, Syrian, and Phoenician kingdoms into a state of vassalage and dependency on Israel. He had an attitude of pride and self-admiration for his achievements and was thinking more in terms of armaments and troops than in terms of the mercies of God.
The Lord therefore decided that it was time that David be brought to his knees, where he would once again be cast back onto the mercy of God. So, he let him go ahead with his census, to find out just how much good it would do him, as the only thing this census would accomplish would be to inflate the national ego (intimated in Joab’s warning against carrying out the census in 1 Chronicles 21:3). As soon as the numbering was completed, God intended to chasten the nation with a disastrous plague which would bring about an enormous loss of life (in fact the lives of 70,000 Israelites according to 2 Samuel 24:15).
What about Satan? Why would he get himself involved in this affair (according to 1 Chronicles 21:1) if God had already prompted David to commit the folly he had in mind? It seems his reasons were entirely malicious, knowing that a census would displease the Lord (1 Chronicles 21:7-8), and so he also incited David to carry it through.
Yet this is nothing new, for there are several other occurrences in the Bible where both the Lord and Satan were involved in soul-searching testing and trials:
A - In the book of Job, chapters one and two we find a challenge to Satan from God allowing Satan to bring upon Job his calamities. God’s purpose was to purify Job’s faith, and to strengthen his character by means of discipline through adversity, whereas Satan’s purpose was purely malicious, wishing Job as much harm as possible so that he would recant his faith in his God.
B - Similarly both God and Satan are involved in the sufferings of persecuted Christians according to 1 Peter 4:19 and 5:8. God’s purpose is to strengthen their faith and to enable them to share in the sufferings of Christ in this life, that they may rejoice with Him in the glories of heaven to come (1 Peter 4:13-14), whereas Satan’s purpose is to ‘devour’ them (1 Peter 5:8), or rather to draw them into self-pity and bitterness, and down to his level.
C - Both God and Satan allowed Jesus the three temptations during his ministry on earth. God’s purpose for these temptations was for him to triumph completely over the very tempter who had lured the first Adam to his fall, whereas Satan’s purpose was to deflect the saviour from his messianic mission.
PART ONE OF TWO
Forwarded from Christ is Life - Seeds to Sow (Mark Lock)
PART TWO OF TWO.
D - In the case of Peter’s three denials of Jesus in the court of the high priest, it was Jesus himself who points out the purposes of both parties' involvement when he says in Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.“
E - And finally, the crucifixion itself bears out yet another example where both God and Satan are involved. Satan exposed his purpose when he had the heart of Judas filled with treachery and hate (John 13:27), causing him to betray Jesus. The Lord’s reasoning behind the crucifixion, however, was that Jesus, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world should give his life as a ransom for many, so that once again sinful man could relish in the relationship lost at the very beginning, in the garden of Eden, and thereby enter a relationship which is now eternal.
We see above five other examples where both the Lord and Satan were involved together though with entirely different motives. Satan’s motive in all these examples, including the census by David, was driven by malicious intent, while the Lord in all these cases showed an entirely different motive. His was a benevolent motive with a view to eventual victory, while simultaneously increasing the usefulness of the person tested. In every case Satan’s success was limited and transient, while in the end God’s purpose was well served furthering His cause substantially.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Christ is Life - John 3:16.
D - In the case of Peter’s three denials of Jesus in the court of the high priest, it was Jesus himself who points out the purposes of both parties' involvement when he says in Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.“
E - And finally, the crucifixion itself bears out yet another example where both God and Satan are involved. Satan exposed his purpose when he had the heart of Judas filled with treachery and hate (John 13:27), causing him to betray Jesus. The Lord’s reasoning behind the crucifixion, however, was that Jesus, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world should give his life as a ransom for many, so that once again sinful man could relish in the relationship lost at the very beginning, in the garden of Eden, and thereby enter a relationship which is now eternal.
We see above five other examples where both the Lord and Satan were involved together though with entirely different motives. Satan’s motive in all these examples, including the census by David, was driven by malicious intent, while the Lord in all these cases showed an entirely different motive. His was a benevolent motive with a view to eventual victory, while simultaneously increasing the usefulness of the person tested. In every case Satan’s success was limited and transient, while in the end God’s purpose was well served furthering His cause substantially.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Christ is Life - John 3:16.
Forwarded from The Fountain Of Life Gospel Ministry (Evangelist Samson Segun Bello)
WATCH AND PRAY
Be spiritually vigilant and always pray without season, that you may remain strengthened, having all it takes to overcome the weakness of the flesh and stand triumphantly victorious over every trial or temptation that comes your way.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father thank you for the zeal you've bestowed upon us for your service, please continue to strengthen us, that we may always overcome every weakness of the flesh that stands as a barrier against our faithfulness to you in Jesus Christ name amen.
https://thefountainoflifegospelministry.blogspot.com/2022/06/watch-and-pray.html
Be spiritually vigilant and always pray without season, that you may remain strengthened, having all it takes to overcome the weakness of the flesh and stand triumphantly victorious over every trial or temptation that comes your way.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father thank you for the zeal you've bestowed upon us for your service, please continue to strengthen us, that we may always overcome every weakness of the flesh that stands as a barrier against our faithfulness to you in Jesus Christ name amen.
https://thefountainoflifegospelministry.blogspot.com/2022/06/watch-and-pray.html
Blogspot
WATCH AND PRAY
Daily Devotion and Prayer
June 22 - The Measure of Commitment
God entered into covenant with Abraham, as recorded in Genesis 15. Each person involved—God and Abraham—made a total commitment. There came a time when God called on Abraham to fulfill his commitment and offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. But God’s commitment was just as total as Abraham’s. So, two thousand years later, the other side of the covenant came to the fore: God gave up His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember that the commitment you make to God usually determines the measure of God’s commitment to you. Total commitment to God calls for total commitment from God. That is the very essence of a covenant relationship. However, Abraham’s covenant with God had a further practical effect on his personal relationship with God. In his epistle, James spoke about what Abraham did when he offered up Isaac, and the result of his willingness to do so.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. (James 2:21–23 NASB)
Through that covenant commitment and through its outworking in the offering up of Isaac, Abraham was reckoned as God’s friend. That is a very significant and honorable title. The lesson is this: covenant is the door to true friendship. When two individuals make a covenant with one another and live out the terms of their covenant, that is true friendship at work.
prayer-response (SAY OUT LOUD)
Thank You, Jesus, that You have redeemed me. I proclaim my total commitment to God, and His to me—our covenant is the door to true friendship. I proclaim that I am a friend of Christ. Amen.
God entered into covenant with Abraham, as recorded in Genesis 15. Each person involved—God and Abraham—made a total commitment. There came a time when God called on Abraham to fulfill his commitment and offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. But God’s commitment was just as total as Abraham’s. So, two thousand years later, the other side of the covenant came to the fore: God gave up His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember that the commitment you make to God usually determines the measure of God’s commitment to you. Total commitment to God calls for total commitment from God. That is the very essence of a covenant relationship. However, Abraham’s covenant with God had a further practical effect on his personal relationship with God. In his epistle, James spoke about what Abraham did when he offered up Isaac, and the result of his willingness to do so.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. (James 2:21–23 NASB)
Through that covenant commitment and through its outworking in the offering up of Isaac, Abraham was reckoned as God’s friend. That is a very significant and honorable title. The lesson is this: covenant is the door to true friendship. When two individuals make a covenant with one another and live out the terms of their covenant, that is true friendship at work.
prayer-response (SAY OUT LOUD)
Thank You, Jesus, that You have redeemed me. I proclaim my total commitment to God, and His to me—our covenant is the door to true friendship. I proclaim that I am a friend of Christ. Amen.
THE NON-CONTRADICTIONS OF THE BIBLE. PART FOUR.
#ObjectionDebunked #WordFromTheLord
Unbelievers will say the bible is corrupted because 2 Samuel mentions 7 years of famine whereas 1 Chronicles mentions only three?
Please see the verses in question below.
2 Samuel 24:13 - So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
1 Chronicles 21:12 - Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
SHORT ANSWER - The reader misunderstood the author’s intent, they also misunderstood the wording.
IN DEPTH ANSWER - The answer can be found by observing the usage of words in each passage. When you compare the two passages you will note that the wording is significantly different in 1 Chronicles 21 from that found in 2 Samuel 24.
In 2 Samuel 24:13 the question is “shell seven years of famine come to you?” In 1 Chronicles 21:12 we find an alternative imperative, “take for yourself either three years of famine…” From this we may reasonably conclude that 2 Samuel records the first approach of the prophet Gad to David, in which the alternative prospect was seven years; whereas the Chronicles account gives us the second and final approach of Nathan to the King, in which the Lord (doubtless in response to David’s earnest entreaty in private prayer) reduced the severity of that grim alternative to three years rather than an entire span of seven. As it turned out, however, David opted for God’s third preference, and thereby received three days of severe pestilence, resulting in the deaths of 70,000 men in Israel.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Christ is Life. John 3:16.
#ObjectionDebunked #WordFromTheLord
Unbelievers will say the bible is corrupted because 2 Samuel mentions 7 years of famine whereas 1 Chronicles mentions only three?
Please see the verses in question below.
2 Samuel 24:13 - So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
1 Chronicles 21:12 - Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
SHORT ANSWER - The reader misunderstood the author’s intent, they also misunderstood the wording.
IN DEPTH ANSWER - The answer can be found by observing the usage of words in each passage. When you compare the two passages you will note that the wording is significantly different in 1 Chronicles 21 from that found in 2 Samuel 24.
In 2 Samuel 24:13 the question is “shell seven years of famine come to you?” In 1 Chronicles 21:12 we find an alternative imperative, “take for yourself either three years of famine…” From this we may reasonably conclude that 2 Samuel records the first approach of the prophet Gad to David, in which the alternative prospect was seven years; whereas the Chronicles account gives us the second and final approach of Nathan to the King, in which the Lord (doubtless in response to David’s earnest entreaty in private prayer) reduced the severity of that grim alternative to three years rather than an entire span of seven. As it turned out, however, David opted for God’s third preference, and thereby received three days of severe pestilence, resulting in the deaths of 70,000 men in Israel.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Christ is Life. John 3:16.
Forwarded from The Fountain Of Life Gospel Ministry (Evangelist Samson Segun Bello)
JESUS CHRIST'S THE SON OF GOD
Jesus Christ Himself affirmed even before His persecutors that He is the son of God and after His death and resurrection His words was visualized by His disciples, as He was seen ascending before their eyes in Act 1:9 and revealed in Hebrews 10:12 that He sits at the right hand of God.
Therefore as christians we have to declare our faithfulness to the LORD without fear, even in the midst of persecution and trials.
PRAYER: Dear LORD thank you for your love shown to all, through your Son Jesus Christ the savior of all men, please continue to keep us save and prepared for your second coming, that we may be counted amongst the saints on the last day in Jesus Christ's name amen.
https://thefountainoflifegospelministry.blogspot.com/2022/06/jesus-christs-son-of-god.html
Jesus Christ Himself affirmed even before His persecutors that He is the son of God and after His death and resurrection His words was visualized by His disciples, as He was seen ascending before their eyes in Act 1:9 and revealed in Hebrews 10:12 that He sits at the right hand of God.
Therefore as christians we have to declare our faithfulness to the LORD without fear, even in the midst of persecution and trials.
PRAYER: Dear LORD thank you for your love shown to all, through your Son Jesus Christ the savior of all men, please continue to keep us save and prepared for your second coming, that we may be counted amongst the saints on the last day in Jesus Christ's name amen.
https://thefountainoflifegospelministry.blogspot.com/2022/06/jesus-christs-son-of-god.html
Blogspot
JESUS CHRIST'S THE SON OF GOD
Daily Devotion and Prayer
Never Mix Law and Grace
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 3:1–3
Do you know why many believers today have a confused perspective of God? For example, many believers think that God is sometimes angry with them, but at other times pleased with them.
And while they would personally never hurt their own children this way, many believers today think that their heavenly Father would actually punish them with sicknesses and diseases. What accounts for this apparent “schizophrenia” that exists in the body of Christ today?
The answer lies in a mixture of covenants (or “Galatianism”) that is prevalent in the church of Jesus Christ. During Paul’s day, the church in Galatia was struggling with this intermingling of teachings about God that contains a little bit of the law as well as a little bit of grace—a mixture of covenants. From the severity of Apostle Paul’s tone to the Galatians, it is obvious that Paul regarded this issue very seriously.
You might expect Paul to be more upset with the believers in Corinth, who were involved in all kinds of public sins and immoral activities, but he was not. His intense reaction toward the church in Galatia reveals what is of priority to God. It is clear that in God’s eyes, believing the wrong doctrine is worse than exhibiting wrong behavior!
When it came to wrong behavior in Corinth, Paul was cool and collected toward the believers. He was able to handle their wrong behavior because he knew that the grace of God was able to take care of their spree of wrong behavior. That is why he was able to speak positively to them, even telling them, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 1:4). But when it came to wrong doctrine in Galatia, he rebuked the believers there because they nullified God’s grace by mixing it with the law.
In the very first chapter of Galatians, Paul says, “I marvel . . .” or as you and I would say today, “I am appalled . . .” What appalled him? Paul continues, “. . . that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6–7).
Paul had preached the gospel of grace to the Galatians, but he found that there were Judaizers who introduced elements of the law to them. They mixed God’s grace with the law, causing the Galatians to turn away from the pure grace of Christ. They said, “Yes, it’s good that you are saved by grace, but it’s not enough for you to just have Jesus. You must also know and abide by the law of Moses and be circumcised to be pleasing to God.”
This mixture of law and grace angered Paul. You see, if you have wrong behavior, as long as there is grace in the church, grace will teach and give you the power to overcome your wrong behavior. But if there is no grace in the church, or if grace is mixed with the law and nullified, then what hope is there for overcoming your wrong behavior?
Beloved, wrongly believing a mixture of law and grace leads you down a path of defeat and will keep you trapped in paralyzing captivity. Right believing in the pure, unmixed gospel of grace, on the other hand, is the door out of this vicious cycle of defeat and bondage.
Today, begin to believe right by choosing to know and believe in the true gospel of grace. Believe that Jesus’ finished work has cleansed and forgiven you, and made you righteous with His own righteousness in the eyes of Almighty God. I pray that as you turn to the person of Jesus who has saved you to the uttermost by His sacrifice on the cross, you will begin to experience your breakthrough and lasting victory!
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 3:1–3
Do you know why many believers today have a confused perspective of God? For example, many believers think that God is sometimes angry with them, but at other times pleased with them.
And while they would personally never hurt their own children this way, many believers today think that their heavenly Father would actually punish them with sicknesses and diseases. What accounts for this apparent “schizophrenia” that exists in the body of Christ today?
The answer lies in a mixture of covenants (or “Galatianism”) that is prevalent in the church of Jesus Christ. During Paul’s day, the church in Galatia was struggling with this intermingling of teachings about God that contains a little bit of the law as well as a little bit of grace—a mixture of covenants. From the severity of Apostle Paul’s tone to the Galatians, it is obvious that Paul regarded this issue very seriously.
You might expect Paul to be more upset with the believers in Corinth, who were involved in all kinds of public sins and immoral activities, but he was not. His intense reaction toward the church in Galatia reveals what is of priority to God. It is clear that in God’s eyes, believing the wrong doctrine is worse than exhibiting wrong behavior!
When it came to wrong behavior in Corinth, Paul was cool and collected toward the believers. He was able to handle their wrong behavior because he knew that the grace of God was able to take care of their spree of wrong behavior. That is why he was able to speak positively to them, even telling them, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 1:4). But when it came to wrong doctrine in Galatia, he rebuked the believers there because they nullified God’s grace by mixing it with the law.
In the very first chapter of Galatians, Paul says, “I marvel . . .” or as you and I would say today, “I am appalled . . .” What appalled him? Paul continues, “. . . that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6–7).
Paul had preached the gospel of grace to the Galatians, but he found that there were Judaizers who introduced elements of the law to them. They mixed God’s grace with the law, causing the Galatians to turn away from the pure grace of Christ. They said, “Yes, it’s good that you are saved by grace, but it’s not enough for you to just have Jesus. You must also know and abide by the law of Moses and be circumcised to be pleasing to God.”
This mixture of law and grace angered Paul. You see, if you have wrong behavior, as long as there is grace in the church, grace will teach and give you the power to overcome your wrong behavior. But if there is no grace in the church, or if grace is mixed with the law and nullified, then what hope is there for overcoming your wrong behavior?
Beloved, wrongly believing a mixture of law and grace leads you down a path of defeat and will keep you trapped in paralyzing captivity. Right believing in the pure, unmixed gospel of grace, on the other hand, is the door out of this vicious cycle of defeat and bondage.
Today, begin to believe right by choosing to know and believe in the true gospel of grace. Believe that Jesus’ finished work has cleansed and forgiven you, and made you righteous with His own righteousness in the eyes of Almighty God. I pray that as you turn to the person of Jesus who has saved you to the uttermost by His sacrifice on the cross, you will begin to experience your breakthrough and lasting victory!
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June 23 - Submitting to God’s Instruction
When God sets out to teach, He chooses His students on the basis of their character—not on their intellectual abilities, academic degrees, or social standing. He looks for an inner attitude of the heart toward Himself, an attitude of reverent submission and respect. Furthermore, God sets the curriculum. He teaches such individuals “in the way that he [God] shall choose” (Psalm 25:12 KJV). Often, the way God chooses is not the way that we would choose for ourselves. We might incline toward themes of prophecy or revelation that seem profound, whereas God’s curriculum might focus on what is humble and down-to-earth: service, sacrifice, and faithfulness.
For those who submit to God’s instruction, there is a wonderful reward: “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him” (Psalm 25:14 KJV). In human relationships, we share our secrets only with those whom we trust. Likewise, when God shares His secrets with us, it is proof that we have earned His trust. It is our certificate of graduation from His school.
This truth is illustrated beautifully in the relationship of Jesus to His disciples. After He had put them through three years of rigorous discipline, He told them, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15 NIV). First, Jesus Himself learned from the Father through perfect submission to Him. Then, Jesus, in turn, passed on all He had learned from the Father to those who submitted in like manner to Him.
God still chooses His students on this basis. Neither His requirements nor His curriculum have changed.
prayer-response (SPEAK OUT LOUD)
Thank You, Jesus, that You have redeemed me. I proclaim my desire to submit completely to the Lord’s instruction and thereby to become His friend, for I am a friend of Christ. Amen.
When God sets out to teach, He chooses His students on the basis of their character—not on their intellectual abilities, academic degrees, or social standing. He looks for an inner attitude of the heart toward Himself, an attitude of reverent submission and respect. Furthermore, God sets the curriculum. He teaches such individuals “in the way that he [God] shall choose” (Psalm 25:12 KJV). Often, the way God chooses is not the way that we would choose for ourselves. We might incline toward themes of prophecy or revelation that seem profound, whereas God’s curriculum might focus on what is humble and down-to-earth: service, sacrifice, and faithfulness.
For those who submit to God’s instruction, there is a wonderful reward: “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him” (Psalm 25:14 KJV). In human relationships, we share our secrets only with those whom we trust. Likewise, when God shares His secrets with us, it is proof that we have earned His trust. It is our certificate of graduation from His school.
This truth is illustrated beautifully in the relationship of Jesus to His disciples. After He had put them through three years of rigorous discipline, He told them, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15 NIV). First, Jesus Himself learned from the Father through perfect submission to Him. Then, Jesus, in turn, passed on all He had learned from the Father to those who submitted in like manner to Him.
God still chooses His students on this basis. Neither His requirements nor His curriculum have changed.
prayer-response (SPEAK OUT LOUD)
Thank You, Jesus, that You have redeemed me. I proclaim my desire to submit completely to the Lord’s instruction and thereby to become His friend, for I am a friend of Christ. Amen.
THE NON-CONTRADICTIONS OF THE BIBLE. PART FIVE.
#ObjectionDebunked #WordFromTheLord
Was Ahaziah 22 or 42 when he began to rule over Jerusalem?
22 years - 2 Kings 8:26 - Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
42 years - 2 Chronicles 22:2 - Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
SHORT ANSWER - A simple copyist error.
IN DEPTH ANSWER - Because we are dealing with accounts which were written thousands of years ago, we would not expect to have the originals in our possession today, as they would have disintegrated long ago. We are therefore dependent on the copies taken from copies of those originals, which were in turn continually copied out over a period of centuries. Those who did the copying were prone to making two types of scribal errors. One concerned the spelling of proper names, and the other had to do with numbers.
The two examples of numerical discrepancy here have to do with a decade in the number given. Ahaziah is said to have been 22 in 2 Kings 8:26; while in 2 Chronicles 22:2 Ahaziah is said to have been 42. Fortunately there is enough additional information in the Biblical text to show that the correct number is 22. Earlier in 2 Kings 8:17 the author mentions that Ahaziah’s father Joram ben Ahab was 32 when he became King, and he died eight years later, at the age of 40. Therefore Ahaziah could not have been 42 at the time of his father’s death at age 40! Such scribal errors do not change Jewish or Christian beliefs in the least. In such a case, another portion of scripture often corrects the mistake (2 Kings 8:26 in this instance). We must also remember that the scribes who were responsible for the copies were meticulously honest in handling Biblical texts. They delivered them as they received them, without changing even obvious mistakes, which are few indeed.
Please refer to tomorrow's non-contradiction for a more in-depth presentation on how scribes could misconstrue numbers within manuscripts.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Christ is Life. John. 3:16.
#ObjectionDebunked #WordFromTheLord
Was Ahaziah 22 or 42 when he began to rule over Jerusalem?
22 years - 2 Kings 8:26 - Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
42 years - 2 Chronicles 22:2 - Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
SHORT ANSWER - A simple copyist error.
IN DEPTH ANSWER - Because we are dealing with accounts which were written thousands of years ago, we would not expect to have the originals in our possession today, as they would have disintegrated long ago. We are therefore dependent on the copies taken from copies of those originals, which were in turn continually copied out over a period of centuries. Those who did the copying were prone to making two types of scribal errors. One concerned the spelling of proper names, and the other had to do with numbers.
The two examples of numerical discrepancy here have to do with a decade in the number given. Ahaziah is said to have been 22 in 2 Kings 8:26; while in 2 Chronicles 22:2 Ahaziah is said to have been 42. Fortunately there is enough additional information in the Biblical text to show that the correct number is 22. Earlier in 2 Kings 8:17 the author mentions that Ahaziah’s father Joram ben Ahab was 32 when he became King, and he died eight years later, at the age of 40. Therefore Ahaziah could not have been 42 at the time of his father’s death at age 40! Such scribal errors do not change Jewish or Christian beliefs in the least. In such a case, another portion of scripture often corrects the mistake (2 Kings 8:26 in this instance). We must also remember that the scribes who were responsible for the copies were meticulously honest in handling Biblical texts. They delivered them as they received them, without changing even obvious mistakes, which are few indeed.
Please refer to tomorrow's non-contradiction for a more in-depth presentation on how scribes could misconstrue numbers within manuscripts.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Christ is Life. John. 3:16.
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