Is God Providing New Revelation – Private Interpretations?

 I often wonder if God speaks to people audibly today. Many Christians’ replies are, “Yes! Of course He does!” Many evangelical leaders claim God is telling them specific details about someone’s life; like they are going to get a financial breakthrough in 10 days. Or their prodigal son and daughter will come home in the next 30 days. What happens when these predictions do not come to pass because most of them do not happen as the preacher “prophesied” they would? Some of them have and will blame the person they prophesied to that they lacked faith in the “word of the Lord” they heard so it neutralized the prophecy. No. What actually happened is the preacher either presumed they heard from God (some inner unction?) like several false teachers did when they claimed the Lord told them Donald Trump would be re-elected in 2020, or they willingly lied and put Jesus’ name on their false prophecy to give it “divine authority.”

It has and will be continually argued that modern day prophecies are not Biblical because the canon is closed. God has said all He needed to say to humanity in the pages of scripture. Any supposed new revelation means God is not finished speaking to us and the Bible is being added to. While many know they cannot add to holy writ, they are convinced God has spoken to them perhaps audibly, in a dream, a vision or an inner voice. They believe God is speaking to them just like He spoke to the prophets and apostles of old. Proverbs 30:6 says, “Add not to His word lest He reprove you and you be found a liar.” Deuteronomy 4:2 says, “Do not add to what I command you and not subtract from it but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

Revelation 22:18-19, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll; if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

If you are claiming to speak in the name of the Lord, make absolutely sure you heard from Him. Because if what you say does not come to pass, you are a false teacher. In the writer’s view, that person is disqualified from ministry until they repent, sit down, and receive counsel from holy men of God.

What about private interpretations?

We can define private interpretations as explanations of men. Sadly, many false teachers and prophets today claim to have a personal revelation from the Lord; and because they play fast and loose with the Biblical text, they eisegete scripture to their own destruction. The apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:19-21 these words, “We also have a surer word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirt (emphasis added).  

The word interpretation is the Greek word epilusis. It literally means to loose, solve or explain. So, the Narcigete[1] who’s puffed up and anemic when handling Bible truth always sees themselves in the text of scripture and applies Bible passages that have nothing to do with them thus butchering the text. This results in them putting a private interpretation on God’s word rendering it of no effect. The fallout from this reckless handling of the word is catastrophic! How many people in congregations have been misled and destroyed emotionally by godless sermons? What is the net of result this? That person has delivered a demonic doctrine (1Tim 4:1). Many turn away from God and the truth. Their only experience with the Church was one of deception and hypocrisy. Any wonder why Paul commanded that we study to show ourselves approved unto God a worker who does not have to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15)?

A loving warning to all: Be very discriminate who you listen to and articles you read – including this writer. Be like the Bereans who received the word with all readiness of mind and search the scriptures daily to determine what they were hearing was so (Acts 17:11). Test the spirits to see if they are of God. Why? Because many false prophets are in the world (1 John 4:1). That means we have to wait for it…..JUDGE their fruit (Matt 7:15-20)! Those that do not teach the truth we are to mark and avoid them (Rom 16:17). That is a command from the Lord.

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them – Ephesians 5:11.

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[1] A Narcigete is a person who is selfish and eisegetes scripture. The word is a combination of Narcissism and Eisegesis. The word probably has not made its way into the dictionary yet.

The Tragedy Of Giving Up

When we are going through the trials of life, it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I realize that is cliché. The stress is often so painful we want to give up. Quitting should never be an option. Those that quit have guaranteed their failure to see what their endurance would have shown them. Tough times are designed to test us for sure, but the pain of our trials if we endure them is building us up and making us stronger. The gospel group Commissioned captured this well in one of their songs, “One Step After Another”

Trials of life can be a teacher for us if we do not just look at them negatively although the trial itself is negative. Trials come to us from the Lord, and trials can come from the devil. We suffer trials due to our own sins, and we can suffer trials from the sins of others. We are not responsible for the sins of others, but unfortunately we can become collateral damage because of their sins. Remember, be careful who you keep company with. Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor 15:33).

In 1 Peter 1:1-9 we read:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood;

Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Wow! What glorious revelation Peter gives to his readers! These nine verses sum up the Christian life from beginning to end. God called us according to His foreknowledge (Click on the link for an understanding  of God’s foreknowledge in another article). Because we are saved, the scripture says we have a living hope. The word hope means an earnest expectation. Biblical Hope is something that is guaranteed to happen – nothing can thwart it. Our salvation is under lock and key in heaven. No one can steal it nor can we lose it.

Jesus gave this encouragement to His disciples and by extension all believers, “Men are to always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1). In Galatians we read, “Let us not be weary in doing good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9).

Do you see the key to our success here in Galatians 6:9? Paul said that we MUST endure in doing what is good. It is important that I quote verse eight, “Whoever sows to please the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. This verse leads into verse nine which again tells us not to be weary in doing what is good – sowing to the Spirit and not the flesh.

The Israelites die in the wilderness due to unbelief

In the book of Numbers chapter 13 Moses sends out twelve spies to check out the land of Canaan. For forty days they survey the land and bring back a report to Moses. They reported to Moses the land is indeed a land of milk and honey. They brought some of its rich fruit. Caleb one of the spies said that they should take possession of the land immediately for they were capable of doing so (vs 30). Ten of the spies out of fear deliver an evil report to the people; because of the sons of Anak dwelt in the land. The Anakim were giants (vs 33).

The people ignored Caleb’s report and listened to the fearful spies. They cried and complained and said they should return to bondage in Egypt. The other faithful spy Joshua warned the people not to rebel against the Lord since He is with us. Be courageous and let’s take the land. The result of this is that none of the older generation would enter the land but would die in the wilderness. For the forty days the spies were in the land of Canaan, God made a year; 40 years they would spend in the wilderness until all of them died. Only their children along with Joshua and Caleb would enter (Num 14:31-44).

Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested Me. They tried Me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation. I said, they are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways. So I declared on oath in my anger, they shall never enter My rest (Psalm 95: 7b-11).

 

 

Because the children of Israel were fearful of their enemies, they refused to take possession of God’s blessing, sinned by disobeying the Lord and said they would return to Egypt. At the end of the day, they could not return to Egypt, and they could not enter Canaan. Since they rebelled against the Lord by giving up, He pronounced death.

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n the book of Revelation the Resurrected Lord Jesus commands John to write to seven Churches in Asia Minor: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Rev 1:11). This is what John wrote to the angel at the second Church Smyrna:

 These are the words of Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. “I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich (rich in faith, parenthesis mine)! I know the slander of those who say they’re Jews are not but are of the synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are to suffer. I tell you; the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you life as a victor’s crown” (some versions say, and I will give you a crown of life). Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:8-11).

John has been banished to a small Island called Patmos when he wrote the seven letters to the seven Churches is Asia (Now modern Turkey). John wrote these letters at the end of the first century. The reason that I focused on the Church at Smyrna was because they were the persecuted Church. To one degree or another we as believers can relate. The key words John used were, “Be faithful unto death and you receive the crown of life.” Our reliance and trust in God have to be all or nothing! We cannot give up on God. We have to be faithful – even if it kills us!

This was Job’s resolve when enduring his trials, “Though He (the Lord) slay me, yet I will trust Him” (Job 13:15).

It’s all good anyway, right? To live is Christ. To die is gain (Phil 1:21).

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-3).

 

What Is a Saint - Who Can Be a Saint?

 

Who determines sainthood; does God or man? Many people throughout history have been given the illustrious title of saint: Saint Peter the apostle, Saint Nicholas (i.e. Santa Claus), Saint John the apostle, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Patrick of Ireland. Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was canonized as a Saint by the Roman Catholic Church on September 4, 2016 – nineteen years after her death.

The word saint is the Greek word hagios. Saint is connected to the word holy. A saint is one that is holy, sanctified and separated to God. A saint is anyone who is a Christian (Eph 1:1; Jude 3; Rev 13:7) or in the Old Testament those whom God chose as His own (Psalm 116:15; Dan 7:22,25). A saint is a position that God confers upon those He saves. Jude 1:14b says the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints. The New International Version (NIV) uses the words holy ones instead of saints. Both versions are correct.

Contrary to popular belief, sainthood is conferred on believers in Jesus Christ during life. No one can become a saint posthumously. Like I mentioned above, the Catholic Church gave Mother Teresa the name of Saint Teresa nineteen years after death. What was the determining decision to do this? The Catholic Church claimed she healed two people by interceding for them from the grave when they “prayed” to her.

An Indian woman named Monica Besra said she was cured of an abdominal tumor through the intercession of Mother Teresa on the one-year anniversary of her death in 1998. A man from Brazil named Marcilio Andrino was diagnosed with a brain infection. He fell into a coma. His wife, family and friends prayed to Mother Teresa. As the doctors brought him to the operating room for surgery, he supposedly woke up with no pain. Because of these two “miracles” that are attributed to a dead woman, she (Mother Teresa) was canonized as a saint which she was already beatified[1]  (i.e. declared in heaven) by the Catholic Church.

Three things I need to point out. 1) The dead cannot intercede on behalf of the living or heal them because they are dead. 2) Prayers to the dead are forbidden (1 Sam 28:7-19). It is called necromancy. It is a Satanic practice. 3) If Mother Teresa could heal, why didn’t she heal herself? She had heart, lung and kidney ailments. It is utter absurdity to believe a dead woman could heal the living, but she cannot heal her own body. These are the lengths that pagans will go through to receive answers to prayer – they will pray to the dead.

Mother Teresa’s accomplishments, which were many and praiseworthy (click the above link for a biop of her life), will not automatically get her into heaven. For by grace we have been saved through faith. It is the gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast (Eph 2:8-9). The Pope cannot make anyone a saint – whether they are alive or dead. To do so is to stand in the place of God which is blasphemous.

If the two people mentioned above were actually healed, they were healed by God, not Mother Teresa. Also, even if she was alive and healed them, that would not make her a saint. No amount of work can sanctify an unrepentant sinner. The writer does not know if Mother Teresa was truly a child of God, but I want to make a clear distinction between who is a saint and who isn’t. A saint is based on who you are in Christ, not based on what a person does.

 

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[1] Beatification is a recognition afforded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person’s

entrance into heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their

name

Are Christians Antinomian?

 

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he word Antinomian is not a term we use in everyday language. It is a theological word. It is a compound word. The prefix anti means against. The suffix is nomos which means law. So, an Antinomian is someone who is against the law. In particular the law of God. The apostle Paul was accused of teaching Antinomianism.

In Romans 8:1-2 we read:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of the life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.

The child of God should always give praise to God for this above reality. Because we are saved, we are also free from sin and death. To be judgment free speaks of the mighty power of God. Prior to Christ’s salvation we were bound by sin. Now we are free to serve God instead of sin. We have a new Master.

Sadly, many Christians have taken terrible advantage of God’s grace. They believe our freedom gives us license to sin; to do anything we want because we are in Christ and our salvation is secure.

Paul in Romans 6:1-12 says:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized in Christ Jesus were baptized unto His death? Therefore were buried with Him in baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its lusts.

The preceding twelve verses gives the believer the formula for a victorious Christian life.  Paul gives the child of God revelation knowledge of why Christ died: 1) to destroy sin’s power (vs 2). 2) To put to death the old man of sin in baptismal death (vs.2). 3) Provide us with new life in His resurrection (vs 5). As a result, we are to no longer serve sin and its evil desires but serve Christ (vs 12).

A Christian that lives anyway they want is an immature believer. A friend of mine long ago called that type of person a Fire Insurance Christian – a Christian that only wants salvation so they can escape hell. They have no desire to live holy and submitted to the law of Christ. A person who claims to have been a Christian for a while that lives anyway they want to need to examine themselves to see if they are truly in the faith (1 Cor 13:5).

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iving a lawless life as a Christian is an oxymoron. Freedom to sin is not freedom at all; its bondage. It’s the old unregenerate nature that Christ nailed to the cross when He died to destroy sin. A proud sinner is a Satan pleaser, not a Christian! 1 John 3:8 says he that practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifest that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Notice the word practice. When one practices something their intent is to become an expert at whatever they are practicing so you do it over and over again. Those who practice sin become masters of evil proving they do not belong to God, but to the devil. 1 John 3:7 says he who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous.

So, Christians cannot live a life as an Antinomian. We are free in the sense that we are free to NOT serve sin but free to serve God in righteousness.

Let us not frustrate the grace of God and treat the death of Christ as something common by living ungodly. Remember, those who are in Christ are new creations. Old things have passed away; all things are new. We are not the same people anymore. Let’s act like it (2 Cor 5:17).

 

Are We to Take the Bible Literally?

With no direction from learned and skilled theologians, the Bible can be a very difficult collection of books to understand. The Bible is indeed a collection of ancient documents written thousands of years ago. Because the books are so old, many say they are antiquated, outdated and not relevant for today. Others are convinced the Bible contains numerous errors, and that it contradicts itself. The ones that have this attitude toward the Bible are those who do not want it to be true. For if it is, it will bring certain conviction and judgment on those who hate its truth.

Social Media has allowed many to easily become critics of the God of the Bible. Many people no doubt are parroting others who discount its truth having never investigated the claims of the Bible for themselves. These individuals are the ones that are making a fool of themselves – thinking that somehow blaspheming God and His word is a virtue. It is important that the writer point out why so many are quick to ride on the unbelief train of scriptural truth. It is in the sinful nature of rebellious man to reject holy writ. Man by nature is an enemy of God. So, it is no wonder that he would resist Biblical truth - it goes against the dictates of his corrupt mind and heart.

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible contains actual history, not fables like many claim. Because many deny the words of the Bible originated from heaven, they conclude it was written by flawed imperfect men. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that the word of prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished for every good work.

So, what we have is God revealing His words to men that transmitted them to books. The words in the Bible are not men’s words, they are God’s. Men are the human authors only. They are not the original authors. Think about it, why would sinful man who hates God write about his own sins and his need for a Savior? Evil people do not bemoan their sins, they celebrate them. Men called by God like Moses, Daniel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, and John all wrote embarrassing details of their lives because they were moved by the Spirit to record precisely what God told them to write. Wicked men would never do that, but flawed holy men of God led by the Holy Spirit did. Once we realize the holy God we are dealing with, then we can rest assured that nothing is impossible for Him. He has all the power to make weak people strong.

So, with all the aforementioned I want to help the reader understand some of the literary genres that are in the Bible.

·         Parables – This was one of the literary devices Jesus used in the gospels to explain and hide mysteries regarding the kingdom of heaven. The word parable means to throw alongside. Jesus would tell a short fictional story to explain a literal truth about the kingdom.

·         Hyperbole – Is exaggerated language to amplify an existing reality [(e.g. it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle than for it is a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matt 19:24; Luke 18:25)]. What Jesus was saying just like it is impossible for a camel to go through a needle’s eye because of its size, it is equally impossible for a rich man (or anyone) to enter heaven without the Lord.

·         Metaphor – This is when a person may be described in different organic and inorganic forms. For example, Jesus refers to Himself, as bread, light of the world, a door, a vine. John The Baptist described Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus is likened unto these things based on the context under discussion, but He is not literally any of those things. Jesus is comparing Himself to items to amplify His sufficiency to us. It is like He is using His life and character as a parable – throwing it alongside earthly objects that we can relate to.

·     Allegory – The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures or events in narrative, dramatic or pictorial form. An allegory would be the beasts that John sees in the book of Revelation chapter 13 of the antichrist and false prophet. The beast is described as a veracious composite animal with seven heads and ten horns. This was obviously not literal, but a vision the apostle saw. The allegorical image described the nature of this future evil ruler that will be possessed by Satan.

·         Poetry – Biblical poetry was often set to music. Unlike modern poetry, it doesn’t have that rhyme and meter feel. The majority of the poetic verses appear in the books of Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Solomon. The psalms have varied moods. Many are joyous. Some involve pain and sorrow. Some are penitential – meaning they involve confession of sin. Some are imprecatory – meaning the writer is pronouncing a curse on their enemies. Others are Messianic, dealing with the life of Christ. These psalms are also prophetic.

·         Anthropomorphic – This is when human attributes are used to describe God in the Bible. In other words, God is described as having ears, a mouth, hands, feet, etc. Jesus said in John 4:24 that God the Father is a Spirit. This means God the Father does not actually have these features. But since we do, it makes sense for the Bible writers to describe God in language that we humans can understand. Anthropomorphic comes from the word anthropology which is the study or doctrine of man.

When a writer of scripture is using one of these literary devices, it will be a representation of something or someone that is real. There is no section of the Bible that is fable. For example, there are those that say Adam and Eve were not actual people, but they are allegory along with the creation account. If we are saying Bible origins are not literal, then one can compromise on other parts of the Bible they do not like or understand. That type of schizophrenia has massive disastrous implications.

The Bible is to be taken literally for it is historical narrative. The OT is dealing primarily with the nation Israel and their relationship to God. The NT is primarily focused on Jesus, the apostles, and the First Century Church. The purpose of these literary devices was under the direction of the Holy Spirit to the men of God who wrote the books to explain to their audience what thus says the Lord. God sovereignly chose to use different methods to communicate His truth to mankind.

All of these genres should come as no surprise to us as we use the same communication methods today.

Touch Not My Anointed

 

This phrase is often echoed by those in the charismatic movement. When their Pastor / Elder / Bishop is criticized for unbiblical teaching, they will cry out, “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm!” This phrase is referenced in 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15. Who was in view when this phrase was uttered? Was it the Pastor Elder or Bishop? No. Let’s examine 1 Chronicles 16:22 in context.

Starting at 1 Chronicles 16:19-22 (Amplified Version) we read from King David “When they (the nation of Israel, parentheses mine), were but few, even a very few, and only temporary residents and strangers in it; when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes. He reproved kings for their sakes (Gen 12:17; 20:3; Exod 7:15-18). Saying touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm” (Gen 20:7). David is praising God and giving a brief history of his people; how they began very small in number when they were in Canaan.

Psalm 105:12-15 repeats the same language.

So the anointed discussed above are the patriarchs the prophets and the nation of Israel specifically. God warned the enemies of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to leave them alone because they belonged to Him. God prevented Gentile nations from harming them. The Hebrews are a chosen people because God decided of His own un-influenced will to make a covenant with one man, Abram (name later changed to Abraham Gen 17:5).

David recognized that his enemy and father-in-law King Saul was the Lord’s anointed. David on two occasions had opportunity to kill him when Saul was pursuing David and wanted to kill him. David refused to take Saul’s life stating to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? Surely as the Lord lives, the Lord Himself will strike him down. But the Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed (1 Sam 24:6; 26:9-11).

David understood that vengeance belongs to the Lord, not him (Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19).

Paul Rebukes Peter

In Galatians 2:11-16 we read:

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain men came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles; but when the were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their hypocrisy.

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you being a Jew live in a manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

We see that Peter was rebuked for his hypocrisy by Paul to his face in public although Peter was anointed of God. Why? Because Peter and Barnabas along with other Jews were being two faced regarding the gospel. When Peter and others were with Gentiles they behaved like them, but when the Jews came around they withdrew from the Gentiles.  

Although Peter was a leader in the Church, he was not beyond correction. He of all people knew better. What Peter probably was expressing is that Gentiles had to keep the law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul reminded Peter and those with him that no one is justified by works of the law but faith in Jesus Christ only (sola Christos)[1]

David Spares Saul’s Life and desires God judge between he and Saul

In 1 Samuel 24:8-15 we read:

David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My Lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul; “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm?’ Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand!

For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil or rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. Let the Lord judge between you and me, and the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you.

After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue?

A dog? A flea?

Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case and deliver me out of your hand.”’

David knew Saul was the Lord’s anointed, but he pled his case against Saul because Saul was wrong in trying to kill David. The point I am making again are those who are anointed of God are never beyond rebuke. In a recent video clip T.D. Jakes states that no one can, put their mouth on God’s anointed; implying he is anointed. I respectfully disagree with T.D. Jakes; the anointed of God do sin occasionally and if necessary should be lovingly corrected, including him. This recent video is most likely in connection with recent allegations of indiscretions he is being accused of. If he is found guilty (and I truly hope he is innocent for his sake and his family), he will suffer the consequences of his actions just like any of us should.

Everyone that is saved is God’s anointed (1 John 2:20). The world could care less about that. God can and does sovereignly protect us. He also can warn the unbeliever not to harm us if He chooses. But in keeping matters in context, the Church cannot lay claim to that same Abrahamic Covenantal promise. Touch not my anointed was literally dealing with not harming or killing the king or the Lord’s prophets. We have to learn to stop playing fast and loose with the Biblical text. Those that are unskilled in handling God’s word often will insert themselves into passages that do not pertain to them because they fail to carefully examine the text within its context. Touch not my anointed is one of those that has been misused to uselessly insulate Pastors from constructive scrutiny when they are in error. Just because one is anointed does not make them like the Pope when he speaks ex-cathedra.[2] Anyone of us that are in error should be lovingly corrected as the word of God teaches (2 Timothy 3:16).

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[1] Latin means Christ alone

[2] Ex cathedra is a Latin phrase which means “from the chair.” It refers to binding and infallible papal teachings which are promulgated by the pope when he officially teaches in his capacity of the universal shepherd of the Church a doctrine on a matter of faith or morals and addresses it to the entire world. The writer’s brief commentary: With all due respect to the Catholic Church the Pope has never nor will he ever speak infallibly. He is a sinner like all men and thus is fallible.

Do You Also Want To Go Away?

 In John chapter six Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand people with five barley loaves and two fish. This sign should have clearly shown them that He was the Messiah. Jesus has to get away from them because they try to make Him their King by force (vs 15). Jesus made it clear later to Pilate in John 19:36 that His kingdom was not of this world. Jesus and His disciples make their way across the sea to Capernaum. The multitude finds Him and inquires when He arrives there (vs 25).

Jesus rebukes them and says, “Most assuredly you did not seek me because you the saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life…”(vv 26-27a). What the Lord was telling them is not to look only for temporary fulfillment, rather seek everlasting fulfillment which only He can provide.

The conversation takes a drastic turn when Jesus tells them that He is the true bread come down from heaven that gives life to the world. When the crowds request that Jesus gives them this true bread, He replies I AM the Bread of Life (vs 35). Jesus declared these wonderful words, “He that comes to Me shall never hunger, and He who believes in Me shall never thirst” (vs 35b). Clearly Jesus is talking spiritually. Those that place their trust in Jesus are eternally secure; not only in this life of sin, pain, and death, but in the eternal life to come.

Now I believe that Jesus offends the non-committed disciples on purpose by stating, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" (vs 54). The crowds being spiritually dense didn’t realize Jesus was speaking metaphorically regarding His flesh and blood. They became offended and thought he was offering his literal body and blood in a cannibalistic way instead of a salvific one (vs 52). Jesus said in verse sixty three said, “My words are Spirit and they are life.”

The Catholic Church has taken Jesus’ word literally. When they perform Mass or Eucharist, they believe the elements are supernaturally transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus. This process is called transubstantiation. Problem with this doctrine is that when Jesus made the statement about eating His flesh and drinking His blood Communion had not been invented yet. Our Lord instituted Communion at the last supper (Matt 26:26,27; Mark 14:22-23; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25). Communion is a sacrament that commemorates the Lord’s death.

As a result of this hard teaching by the Lord, those who followed Him for the wrong reasons, withdrew and followed Him no longer (vs 66; 1 Peter 2:6-8;1 John 2:19). None of this surprised Jesus so he asked the twelve, “Do you also want to go away” (vs 67)? Peter in one of his greatest moments replied, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (vs 68).

The twelve got the true message Jesus was teaching to everyone else and they remained. We know that Judas betrayed our Lord later. Jesus knowing this also said, “Did I not choose you, the twelve and one of you is a devil” (vs 70)?

I wanted to chronicle the above because it is essential that we understand that in order to follow Christ, we must come on His terms, not ours. He determines the rules of engagement. We must follow His example. For instance, Jesus declared in John 6:38-40 his mission from the Father, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up on the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Just like Jesus had His assignment to fulfill from His Father, we have our assignment we must fulfill from Jesus; preach the gospel and make disciples (Matt 28:19).

The question we must ask ourselves is, “Are we going to serve ourselves or serve our Lord who died for us?” Those who are true, will remain faithful to the end like the disciples minus Judas and all the faithful men and women throughout Church History up until the present. Those who only desire temporary handouts from Jesus will soon walk away when God does meet their ungodly lusts upon demand proving they were not true. Jesus said it plainly, “Those who are of the truth hear my voice (John 18:37). A similar passage is in 1 John 4:6 says, “We are of God. He who knows God hears us. He who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

We know God by studying His Holy Word. God’s Word is His Self Revelation.

In connection to John 6:66 the great theologian F.F. Bruce penned these words:

“What they wanted, He would not give; what He offered, they would not receive.”[1]

 

That quote sums up the sinful rebellious nature of mankind toward God and His response to that rebellion.

 

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[1] F.F. Bruce, The Gospel of John [Grand Rapids:Eerdmans, 1983], 164