The Gospel Of Repentance

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines the word Vision as follows: the ability to think about or plan the future with wisdom. A mental image of what the future will or could be like. An experience of seeing someone or something in a dream or trance, or as a supernatural apparition. The Hebrew word for Vision is Châzôwn. It means a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation or oracle. In proverbs 29:18 we have the verse that reads, where there is no vision, the people perish, but happy is he that keeps the law. Mostly everyone I’ve listened to has regarded this verse to mean a vision, plan or dream God has given them perhaps for their ministry or just a personal goal. While God does give us plans for our lives in service to him as believers, that is not the meaning of this passage. What the writer means here is, where there is no prophetic revelation , that is no word from the Lord, the people cast off restraint, that is the people will rebel, but happy is he that k...

Quite a touchy subject isn’t it? People are always telling us “Don’t judge me!” Or “Only God can judge me!” What I’ve noticed is the people making these statements are usually the ones that are living sinful lifestyles. Notice I didn’t say those that sin on occasion, for we all do, but those that practice sin. Let’s see what the bible has to say about it. The word judge in the Greek is the word Krinō which means to divide, separate, make a distinction, come to decision, to give one’s opinion. WHEN WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE Jesus in Matthew 7:1-5 commands us not to judge if we’re in the following situation, “ Judge not that ye be not judged. For with the same judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged and with that measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why behold the mote in your brother’s eye and consider not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me ...

This is a rather strange statement don’t you think? Why would God hate anyone when he commands us not to hate? This statement originates in Malachi 1:2-3 where God affirms his love for Israel, “I have loved you”, says the Lord. In yet you (Israel) say, “In what way have you loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” To understand this statement we must go back to the beginning. In Genesis Issac’s wife Rebekah conceives but the children struggled together within her. Concerned about the discomfort in her womb. Rebekah said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” When she inquires of the Lord, he replies, “two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people will be stronger than the other and the older shall serve the younger.” So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in ...

The concept of predestination I’m sure has perplexed people for years and will continue to do so for many more to come. Biblically what does it mean to be predestined by God, to be conformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29 )? Predestination in the bible is the Greek term proorizō. The term means to choose beforehand, to foreordain, to predetermine ones destiny. To get a better understanding of predestination, let’s examine the scriptures to gain more insight into this wonderful concept. The apostle Paul in the book of Romans 8:29-30 said this, “For whom he foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he predestined, these he called, whom he called these also justified and whom he justified these He also glorified." These are all past tense verbs. Our salvation is secured in the mind of the Lord. What Paul is describing here is the doctr...

Demons are real but I'm not presenting their origins as dogma. I’m sharing this article for those that can receive it and for the reader’s consideration. Because of the subject matter there is more conjecture and supposition in this article than any of the previous ones in the blog. As always be like the noble Bereans and search the scriptures daily to prove whether those things are so (Luke 17:11). How long demons have been around it’s hard to tell. Many believe the fallen angels have transformed into demons in the rebellion before the dawn of time (Isaiah 14) so the terms fallen angels and demons are used interchangeably. While it’s possible it occurred this way, scripture is silent on the matter so we can’t be one hundred percent certain. The Hebrew term for demon is* śē d. The Greek terms are dáimōn and diabolos. The terms simply mean evil spirits. Demons are also called devils in scripture. They’re evil spirits that belong to the kingdom of satan. These creatures are ...

Question, why would Jesus when teaching the disciples to pray in Matthew 6:13 say, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”. From the wording of the text it appears the Lord tempts us. James 1:13 states that God does not tempt any man by evil which is true. When reading any text –especially the scripture, it’s imperative to read the narrative in it’s context and define certain terms. The word temptation in the Greek is peirasmos which means test or trial. Some trials have a beneficial purpose and effect (James 1:12) while others are designed entice us to sin and condemnation which the devil brings to us and also that by our own lust (Luke 22:3, 40; Matthew 4;1; James 1;14). In actuality, the Lord test or tries us in the same manner he tested Abraham (Genesis 22). The reason is for the perfecting of our faith, the development of our character, for our total dependence on the Lord through the trial, and ultimately for the glory of God. The Lord does allow us to be temp...

If God has truly forgiven me when I confess my sins, why do I still suffer wrong? That is a valid question. Some clarification and an example from God’s word will clear up the confusion. In I John 1:9 it reads, “If we confess our sins, he [The Lord] is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. The apostle John was writing to Christians, not to the unsaved. Although our souls are saved, our flesh is not yet. Sin and it’s contaminating effects still operate in our flesh and we often do to the dictates to it’s sinful desires. When we as believers confess post salvation, God forgives us. However, there are mortal consequences for that sin. Our sins judicially have been cleansed forever by the shed blood of Jesus – this happened at the moment we were saved and baptized into the family of God. As a result, we will never be judged guilty and sentenced to a burning hell for our sins. This does not mean that our Father God will not chasten us for that...