Sorry - No OSAS

There is a dangerous doctrine that has infiltrated the Christian community. It's title has become the acronym 'OSAS'- 'Once Saved ways Saved'. The scriptures, taken as a whole (both Old and New Testaments), do not support this doctrine.  

Let us begin with the Old Testament, in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 18:

[21] "But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. [22] All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. [23] Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

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[24] "But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

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[25] Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? [26] When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. [27] Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. [28] Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. [29] But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right? [30] "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. [31] Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? [32] For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."

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There is a book in the Bible given specifically from Jesus Christ. This is the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus delivered this book (letter) directly to John while he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. In this book Jesus had John referrence seven different letters to seven specific churches of 'Believers'. Each letter came with a warning, and a promise, to each church. The warning was for those who were compromised, and the promise for those who were enduring in faith and obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

*The first letter was to the church at Ephesus. Warning: Revelation 2:4-5

"But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent."

Promise:Revelation 2:6-7

"Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

*The second letter was to the church at Smyrna. This church was faithful, and Jesus gave them only a promise - with the qualification of 'overcoming':

Revelation 2:9-11

'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death."

*The third letter was to the church at Pergamum.

Warning: Revelation 2:14-16

"I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth."

Promise: Revelation 2:17

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it."

*The fourth letter was to the church at Thyatira.

Warning: Revelation 2:20-23

"I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds."

Promise: Revelation 2:24-28

"But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them-I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL rule THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, as THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star."

*The fifth letter was to the church at Sardis.

Warning: Revelation 3:1-3

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you."

Promise: Revelation 3:4-5

But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

[Jesus can erase a name from the Book of Life! He can graft a person in, and He can ungraft a person! He can create a pot, and He can smash a pot. Be a Berean. Look these examples up in the Bible. The scriptures are there.]

*The sixth letter was to the church at Philadelphia. As with Smyrna, this letter came with only a promise to the faithful.

Revelation 3:8-12

"I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name."

*The seventh letter was to the church at Laodicea.

Warning: Revelation 3:15-19

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent."

Promise: Revelation 3:20-21

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

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There is a parable Jesus told of Ten Virgins. It is a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven, and it is a dire warning to those in the Church.

Matthew 25:1-13

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.' But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."

These Virgins were, each one, betrothed to the Bridegroom! Yet, only five were allowed to enter the Kingdom. Those who were prepared.

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Many years ago I had a disturbing dream. This dream began very bright and cheery. I was in the church of my childhood. The church where I was married the first time. There were many children in a room at the back of the church designated for the care of small children during the service. In the 'Sanctuary' I sat next to my best friend, and Cousin, Peggy. The church was jammed packed full! It was bright and alive.

Then I left the service for a while to go to the bathroom, located through the classrooms, and on the other side of them - farthest from the sanctuary. The church bathroom used to be an outdoor outhouse, until it was able to become modernized. To me (today) the meaning of this trip to the bathroom was my departure into the cesspool of the world, where I spent many years.  When I returned to the church service (came back to the Lord) EVERYONE was asleep in the pews. It horrified me. I woke up.

In February of 2019 God revealed to me that I was on the path to Hell if I did not REPENT (turn). I had been living in the cesspool of the world. At that time I learned the fear of the Lord. Since my return to the Sanctuary - (meanings: consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies; metaphor for the spiritual temple consisting of the saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ.) - I have found the Church asleep. And sleepers are Dreamers. And dreams are rife with fantastical themes. The Church must WAKE UP.

Matthew 24:4-13 tells us:

…Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name." (Matthew 10:22 Jesus reiterates: "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.) "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

Revelation 12:11 tells us, "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

Each day put on 'the shoes of the readiness, (or, preparation), of the Gospel of Peace (between man and God)! Do not be caught sleeping and unprepared. Endure. Overcome. Your name can be erased from the Lamb's Book of Life. See to it that it is not. Work out your salvation (with fear and trembling). Abide in Jesus, and He will abide in you. We cannot do it without Him. Let us meet each other at the banquet table on the other side, where there will be rejoicing forevermore!

Christian Nationalism

A narrative on Christian Nationalism:

https://youtu.be/R28NFC-zmGc

 

Dirt

In the Creation account Genesis 2:7 tells us, "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."  So, here we begin - from dirt.  And here we end, back into dirt - from dust to dust. 

In consideration of man's beginning, and ending, how silly then is the hubris of man.  It is better to be grounded in the dirt than to have one's head in a cloud - for such pride indeed goes before a fall... a fall back down to the dirt of the earth.  Man was not made to fly.  Man was made to walk the earth.

In John 12:24 Jesus tells us, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

Do we balk against falling to the earth, getting low as dirt, and dying?  I sure did.  And, it caused me much trouble, until I became willing.  We must come to see not only the benefit of falling to the dirt and dying, but the truth of such a thing - the utter purpose and practicality of such action.  How beneficial is a single seed apart from the dirt?  Useless.

God will humble us, and bring us low.  This is a mercy!  In Job 40:10-14 God challenges Job, saying, "Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, and clothe yourself with honor and majesty.  Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.  Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him, and tread down the wicked where they stand.  Hide them in the dust together; bind them in the hidden place.  Then I will also confess to you, that your own right hand can save you."  

These things God can do.  These things Job could not do.  None of us can!  Job couldn't even save himself.  None of us can!  One of the most cruel and ignorant sayings ever to cross the lips of man is that of telling someone to pull their own self up by their own bootstraps.  This is a ludicrous command, alongside being an utter impossibility.  Just as impossible is the idea that we can, or even should, control others.  All this is the hubris of man.  We cannot save ourselves, let alone others.  Only God can.  And, God will allow us to be humbled to this truth so we may be saved.

Isaiah 29:4 says, "Then you will be brought low; From the earth you will speak, And from the dust where you are prostrate Your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, And your speech will whisper from the dust."

1 Samuel 2:6-8 says, "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.  The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.  He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and He set the world on them."

Psalm 113:5-9 says, "Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high,  Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?  He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people."

In Psalm 119:25 the Psalmist laments, "My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word."

In Psalm 22, the Psalmist grieves saying, "I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people...  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within me.  My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You lay me in the dust of death."

Then he declares, in the same Psalm, "The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever!  All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, all those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive."

In Psalm 116 the Psalmist relates that, "The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol (Hell) came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.  Then I called upon the name of the LORD: 'O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!'  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.  The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.  Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.  For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling."

Finally, Isaiah 26 admonishes us to, "Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.  For He has brought low those who dwell on high, the unassailable city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He casts it to the dust.  The foot will trample it, The feet of the afflicted, the steps of the helpless."

It is best to consider the truth of who we are and where we came from.  It is best not to think more highly of ourself than we ought.  It is best to serve, rather than to be served.  It is best to choose the last place, and let another clamor and push to be first.  It is best to let God elevate us, rather than to seek to elevate ourself.  It is best, and grandest, to simply fall to the dirt and die that we may be born again...  Die to ourself,  and be born again into Christ Jesus (Yeshua Hamashiach), and His eternal Kingdom.  Then we shall bear much good fruit!  Amen.

the Shadow of Death

 

I asked my Cousin, Edie Kauffman-Landis, if she would be willing to share an exchange which took place between herself and her now departed husband, Paul.  She has graciously provided myself and the Reader this very important and enlightening account.  This is penned from her hand just as she shared it at his funeral:

During the years we were married, Pail showed his talent for apt illustrations.  He had insights uncommon to most.  One time he and I had been discussing death and the 'Valley of the Shadow of Death', as spoken of in the Shepherd's Psalm.  Psalm 23.  Of course we wondered what it was going to be like when either of us had to make the journey to our final home, what would it feel like?  How would we experience those final minutes of our lives here on earth?  Would there be overt sensations of pain?  Just what lies in that final valley so feared by almost every human on the face of this planet?  We talked of it, then let it go.

Several days or weeks later, when he came in from out-of-doors, he revisited the subject and said he'd had another insight into it.  He said, "I saw an airplane fly over fairly low and could watch its shadow rushing over the ground below; part of the shadow crossed over me and I thought, 'Did that shadow hurt me when it passed over me?  No, it didn't.  If the airplane had crashed on me or a piece of it had fallen off of it to land on me, THAT would have hurt or else I'd be dead, but the shadow itself caused no pain nor did death come with it.  I was safe through the time the shadow fell across my path and was gone.  It seems to me, because Jesus has taken the sting and death for sin away that is why we need have no fear when death comes to us.'"  Once more, I was amazed at the insight he had when he pondered things deeply.

Today we are again pondering Death, and the Valley of the Shadow of Death.  Paul is no longer on this earth.  He has traversed that Valley of the Shadow of Death and he IS home with our LORD God, so I will urge any of us present IF we have not accepted God's gift of grace and mercy, do it today.  We are not promised any tomorrows in life, we HOPE for them, but they are not guaranteed!  Death is final and choice is not optional afterwards.  God's provision of salvation through Jesus' life, death and resurrection will get us safely through that valley of the shadow if and when we accept it, but will profit us nothing if we refuse His gift.  We will have to bear the fullness of death and destruction when it comes our time to die.  We will know the full sting of death and sin; there will be nothing we can do to mitigate it.

I know these are strong and sobering statements but, as Paul's widow, I also know he would have told you all the same message I am giving you now.  I know how much it would gladden his [and my] heart to know you had accepted the God of Grace's free and awesome gift!  Mercy and pardon are free to all who humble themselves before Him and accept them and God is ever the willing and redeeming God!

Art Katz : Jeremiah – Prophet of the Last Days

 

The absence of persecution in the church is a statement to our shame. There is something wrong in the character of the church when it does not evoke any opposition to itself. It means that the church has been found quite acceptable in the same world that is at enmity with God. It is this contradiction that we want to examine in an account from the life of Jeremiah.

Chapter 38 of Jeremiah gives the account of Jeremiah being placed in a muddy cistern, a hole in the ground. Zedekiah was the King of Israel in those days, and in refusing to heed Jeremiah’s warnings, Jerusalem was conquered.

Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchijah heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord, ‘He who stays in this city will die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans will live and have his own life as booty and stay alive…This city will certainly be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it’ ”(Jer. 38:1-3).

The prophecy foretold the defeat of Israel, Judah, and the city of Jerusalem. Those who seek to resist such a word are warned that they are going to perish. If we were living at that time, many of us would have considered Jeremiah to be a false prophet. We would have said that he was saying things that were not in the “national interest,” or that he was “giving aid to the enemy,” or “harassing the church.”

It was exactly that indictment that came to Jeremiah, and I suspect may well be the distinguishing certification of God for the true prophet in the last days. In other words, the prophet’s message must necessarily be subversive to the vested interests of men and their traditional notions of God, and what they think is right. The message may well contradict all that they suppose is true about God and His way: “Would God destroy His own city? Would God destroy present-day Israel, having established it in 1948?”

Then the officials said to the king, “Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but rather their harm.” So King Zedekiah said, “Behold he is in your hands; for the king can do nothing against you” (Jer. 38:4-5).

A king like that who abdicates his own responsibility to make ultimate judgments, particularly about prophets of God, deserves judgment. Nothing has changed. The leaders of this world are very much of the same spirit. They work according to the polls, i.e., “Which way is the wind blowing? What are the people saying? What do they want?” And the answer to those questions is what they will do.

Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchijah the king’s son, which was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud (Jer. 38:6).

There was no whisper to Jeremiah of, “Hey, this is only temporary. Stick this out for a day or two. We will be back and get you out.” That pit was intended for Jeremiah’s death. There was no food, no water, no light and no warmth. That was to be his end. There was no thought that he was ever to be retrieved. I do not think that Jeremiah was given any encouragement that there would be a future escape from his predicament. He had the full expectation that this was his end. This needs to sink into our spirits. As far as we are concerned, we should have a realistic anticipation that when the end seems to come, that that in fact is the end. Except it pleases the Lord, it will be the end. But if it pleases the Lord, then there is no pit too deep, too remote or too hidden that He cannot find and rescue us from.

The prophet is suffering the consequences of his obedience to God. He could have been saved this fate had he been more decorous and politic, and careful what he said and how he said it. But in the kind of simple obedience that he rendered, “Thus says the Lord, ‘This city is going to be captured….,’ ” he was inviting this kind of reaction. He did not have his own self-interest at heart, but was bringing upon himself the logical response that his statement would make in his obedience to God. Persecution is proportionate to obedience. God does not call us to the things that are trifles, but to obedience in the things that necessarily will antagonize and run across the grain of the world and what men want to hear.

There was no illumination in that cistern. It was not something made for human habitation. At that time, all the water was gone, and there was only mud remaining. Can you imagine going into that mud and ooze? Where do you find a place lay down for some kind of momentary comfort? The mud is in your eyes and teeth and hair. It is absolutely wretched! I think I would rather be shot, maybe even burned at the stake, than be lowered to die from starvation and thirst in a mud hole.

But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, while he was in the king’s palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. Now the king was sitting in the Gate of Benjamin (Jer. 38:7).

“Ebed” means “servant” and “Melech” means “king.” He was a black man and the servant to King Zedekiah. He was also a eunuch. In those days, they fixed a man so that he could render service that would not in any way threaten the harem of these nobles and kings. He was a man of lowly circumstances, being black, a eunuch and a servant. Yet this was God’s provision to bring the prophet up out from death. The lowliest social cast-off is the one that God had chosen to be the instrument of Jeremiah’s deliverance.

This episode may well be a picture of the remnant of Israel in the last days; that its last experience is to be cast off and out and thrown into a pit for death. Her dispersal will again be into the nations and into the dungeons of imprisonment in the last days. And God will save them out of those pits, dungeons and confinements by some lowly thing of His choice like, for example, the predominantly Gentile church. There is a place for the despised of the world in the last days’ purposes of God, and it has to do with the final, ultimate salvation and redemption of His people Israel. This is the way of God from all eternity. It is so much the statement of His wisdom. The thing that the world looks upon as foolish and despicable is the thing that He employs for a most glorious use: to save His ancient people out from death.

And Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and spoke to the king, saying, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city” (Jer. 38:8-9).

As a eunuch, you do not just go to a king and say, “Hey, buddy, can I make a suggestion?” What an effrontery! For this eunuch to even approach the king and to make mention of a prophet, who is in dishonor, was a remarkable act of courage in itself. And he was not even a Hebrew! The lowly and despised have a greater sense for God and righteousness than the supposed people of God who will be looking the other way. Where were the faithful of God who knew that Jeremiah was going to suffer such a fate? Yet here was a man willing to take the risk of aggravating and endangering himself by encountering the king.

What one does to the prophet is what one does to God. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. When you touch the prophetic man, you are touching the heart of God. The prophet is nothing in himself. It is neither his wisdom nor his words that are being exhibited. He is the mouthpiece and expression of very God Himself. To touch him is to touch the very God who sent him. To do him disservice, or assault, is to lay your hands upon God.

Then the king commanded Ebed–melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take thirty men from here under your authority, and bring up Jeremiah the prophet from the prophet the cistern before he dies” (Jer. 38:10).

It is clear that the throwing of Jeremiah into the cistern was not a momentary vacation. It was intended for his death, and probably the king’s conscience was bothering him, having given those men permission to do it. And so he was no doubt relieved that someone took the initiative to give him the opportunity to save himself from a wrong decision.

So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went into the king’s palace to a place beneath the storeroom and took from there worn-out rags and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah (Jer. 38:11).

This is not a trivial detail. God’s deliverance is carried out by employing the lowest of the low, the thing that is the least prestigious, the most insignificant, the poorest, the most despised. In this case, it is worn-out rags! Didn’t they have a decent rope harness in the kingdom appropriate to a prophet? No, they let down some old clothing and rags to pull the prophet out of the pit. This is prophetic from beginning to end. The Lord Himself has got to be our dependency, and it is He who always chooses the foolish and weak thing.

Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these worn-out clothes and rags under your armpits under the ropes”; and Jeremiah did so.

So they pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guardhouse (Jer. 38:12-13).

The king then sends for the prophet.

Then King Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance that is in the house of the Lord; and the king said to Jeremiah, “I am going to ask you something; do not hide anything from me.”

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not certainly put me to death? Besides, if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.”

But King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in secret saying, “As the Lord lives, who made this life for us, surely I will not put you to death nor will I give you over to the hand of these men who seek your life.”

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘If you will indeed go out to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned with fire, and you and your household will survive.

But if you will not go out to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given over to the Chaldeans; and they will burn it with fire, and you yourself will not escape from their hand.’ ”

Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I dread the Jews who have gone over to the Chaldeans, lest they give me over into their hand and they abuse me.”

But Jeremiah said, “They will not give you over. Please obey the Lord in what I am saying to you, that it may go well with you and you may live.

But if you keep refusing to go out, this is the word that the Lord has shown me:

Then behold, all of the women who have been left in the palace of the king of Judah are going to be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon, and those women will say, ‘Your close friends have misled and overpowered you; while your feet were sunk in the mire, they turned back’ ” (Jer. 38:14-22).

This is a prophecy of what would befall the king, his entourage, his family, and the nobles if he refused to surrender. He did in fact refuse, and everything that Jeremiah said came true. The city was burned with fire; all of Zedekiah’s sons were killed before his face, and then his eyes were gouged out. The last thing he saw was the murder of his sons, and then in chains and fetters, he was taken to Babylon to live the rest of his life in humiliation and degradation as a prisoner.

When you ask for the prophetic word, make sure you have an intention of obeying it. To hear the prophetic word, and then ignore it, will bring spiritual blindness upon yourself. In this case, the king’s eyes were actually gouged out. You cannot hear the word of God and the prophetic word casually, as if there is no consequence. Either it is going to open your eyes to greater illumination, or it is going to bring a deepened darkness. This episode is charged with remarkable significance. The Chaldeans did not know this conversation, but they plucked Zedekiah’s eyes out nevertheless. So the remarkable judgment of God took its full sway, even through Gentiles, who had no knowledge of that God, let alone of being instructed by Him.

So complete is the sovereignty of God in honoring the prophetic word that it was fulfilled right to the letter. The king was told, “If you surrender, your family will be preserved, the city will be preserved, and your own life will be preserved.” He chose not to surrender. It was the fear of man and what might fall on him through man that kept him from obedience to God. The fear of man was greater than the fear of God.

You can just read a glimpse of that judgment in chapter 39, which is the fall of Jerusalem in the tenth month. The city of God and the temple were burned, the nobles were killed. Nobles are the people of culture, refinement, education and intelligence. When you destroy them, there is not much left. In fact, the only ones who were allowed to remain in Judah were those who had no distinction, no qualification and no especial ability. But the cream of the crop that distinguished Israel as a nation of significance was destroyed. That has always been the tactic of victorious, triumphant armies; they break the back of a nation by destroying the heart and the quality of it, leaving just a residue of the poor and undistinguished. Israel could have been saved that had they heeded the prophet.

Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying, “Take him and look after him, and do nothing harmful to him; but rather deal with him just as he tells you” (Jer. 39:11-12).

The Gentiles “enemies” of Judah were more respectful to the prophet of God than God’s own people. Special instructions were issued from the very king of Babylon himself to preserve the prophet and to decently care for him.

Now the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the guardhouse, saying, “Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to bring My words on this city for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will take place before you on that day.

But I will deliver you on that day,’ declares the Lord, ‘and you shall not be given in to the hand of the men whom you dread.

For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as a booty, because you have trusted in Me,’ declares the Lord’ ” (Jer. 39:15-18).

God went out of His way for this black man to inform him that he was to be preserved. What a statement of how much God honored that self-initiated thing that preserved the life of his prophet, and therefore became life for that black man himself.

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard had released him from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains, among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah, who were being exiled to Babylon.

Now the captain of the bodyguard had taken Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God promised this calamity against this place;

And the Lord has brought it on and done just as He promised. Because you people sinned against the Lord and did not listen to His voice, therefore this thing has happened to you (Jer. 40: 1-3).

Imagine the captain of the guard, a Gentile Chaldean, recognizing the prophetic truth, and even the cause of the judgment. It is like God was punctuating the message of judgment out of the lips of a Gentile, who would have been completely removed from the understanding of the God of Israel, yet recognizing nevertheless that this was a judgment for sin against that city and nation.

So the captain of the bodyguard gave him a ration and a gift and let him go.

Then Jeremiah went to Mizpah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land (Jer. 40:5f –6).

Though Jeremiah had been thrown into the pit, a most shameful and degrading way for man to end his life, yet he was preserved. The Lord brings him out, spares his life, gives him honor even with the enemy, and is released from chains, given food, a present and told to take his liberty as he felt led and directed. The fact that the thought would come to a Gentile to give a gift to the prophet has got to be the inspiration of God to a man who is not even regenerate. It is almost like God is saying, “Look, you were obedient to me and took every risk, and it came close to requiring your life, but I have saved you out of the pit, and I have set you free, and here is a final token of My esteem, My affection and appreciation for your uncompromising devotion to Me.”

There is nothing that men can do, however fierce and bitter their anger, against the servants of God that can in any way triumph over God’s own will. He can undo the most diabolical intentions. For those saints whose lives were not spared death, the reader may raise a question, “Was He unable to do for them what He did for Jeremiah, or was their death in His will?” My answer is that they were not to be delivered from it, but delivered in it. The testimony of many who have been burned at the stake is a visible demonstration of joy in their final suffering.

Jeremiah’s time in the pit did not in any way compromise him. In that, we are given a glimpse of what makes a prophet a prophet; his character has a selfless unconcern about his own life. It did not matter what befell him. Two value systems are demonstrated. The one seeks its own life, the material thing, and the benefits of this life, as against the prophet who disregards what the consequence would be for himself.

The Lord is gracious and gentle in giving warning of His judgments. They come in installments, but when people keep refusing to hear, there remains only sudden judgment: Zedekiah blinded and losing his sons, the nation itself destroyed, the temple and city burned, and the final survivors being pursued with the sword and famine and pestilence into Egypt.

We are either going to live from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, or we will perish. The people did not live by the word of the Lord from the mouth of the prophet. Had they heeded it and received it, it would have been life for them. The rejection of it was their death. They calculated their security along other lines, which is, in the last analysis, idolatrous and God-rejecting. It must bring judgment, especially being the people of God. They were under a double indictment because they had the greater responsibility—the knowledge of God and His provision for them throughout all their history. They had forsaken the Law and the commandments, despite the warnings that God had sent them through His prophets of what the consequence of that rejection would be.

Jeremiah was obedient to God despite any visible evidence that he was being heard by God’s people or being received. It is an excruciating form of suffering. It is like having your guts torn out. There is something in our humanity that cries out for some recognition, “Well done, brother, I appreciated that word.” But for Jeremiah and any true prophet, there was nothing. He had to bear that, though it was death for him.

The two great prophets of restoration are the prophets who brought the words of doom and judgment: Ezekiel and Jeremiah. They were given the privilege of speaking about a last days’ restoration: “It shall come to pass in the last days that God will…” That honor was given to those who had to bear the dishonor and shame. Only a true prophet is willing to bear the reproach of it in the suffering of it. The question for us as the church is whether we will be identified with something that is true in the last days, and that speaks of the judgments to come.

Zac Poonen : The Weakness Of God's Elect

 

In 2 Chronicles 20, we see a picture of how we can wage this warfare against Satan. There we read of a great multitude that came against King Jehoshapat. But Jehoshapat did the right thing, when confronted by so many enemies. He got the whole nation of Judah to seek God in fasting and prayer. Then he prayed to God acknowledging their weakness, their foolishness and their faith. He said, "O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee" (v.12). This is the secret of all effective prayer - to recognise our weakness and our foolishness, and to trust God utterly to fight the battle for us.

Jesus pictured "the elect"(the church) as a poor, helpless, old widow who has to fight against a strong enemy, with no human help or resources (Lk.18:1-7). It is only when we recognise our weakness like that, that we can depend on the Lord. Only then can we exercise faith. God curses those who lean on human resources, with barrenness. He has said, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, for he will be like a barren bush in the desert" (Jer.17:5). Many are constantly defeated by sin, and overcome by Satan, only because they are strong in themselves. They have strong opinions about everyone and everything, they speak stinging words, and they are quick to judge others. God leaves such believers alone, and they never ever become overcomers. Those who argue and dispute are certainly not weak and powerless. They are strong, and are therefore easy targets for Satan - for he always wins the battle with those who argue. That is how he won the battle with Eve in Eden. Don't ever get into an argument therefore with your husband or your wife or with anyone else - for you will never win. It is always the Devil who will win in such cases.

Those who take revenge on others also prove thereby that they are strong people capable of handling their problems themselves. The weak widow needs to plead with the judge (Lk.18:2), but strong people don't!! They fight themselves! Others are strong because their bank-accounts are large, or because their employers can be trusted to pay them faithfully on the first of every month. Their trust is not in God, but in man. And so they are barren. It is only when we come to the end of our resources that God works to help us. Jesus waited until Lazarus had died - when he had lost all his strength - before He came to help him. He waits on high even today, for us to come to the same zero-point.

Jehoshapat confessed that he did not know what to do - and that is a good confession to make, for God has promised to give wisdom to all those who acknowledge their lack of it. But we have to ask for it in faith (Jas.1:5,6). And that was what Jehoshapat did. He did not merely acknowledge his impotence and his lack of wisdom, He concluded his prayer with an expression of absolute trust in God. He said, "But our eyes are on Thee". In other words, he was telling God, "We are expecting you to work on our behalf". AND GOD DID!!

Thunder & Reign

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.  

The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. (Psalm 29:3&10)

The night before last I was awoken in the middle of the night by nearly the loudest thunder I have ever heard. The only other time comparable was years ago in Donnelly, Idaho. My children and I were sitting in the trailer house where we lived as it was storming outside. All of a sudden there was a blindingly brilliant flash in the window where I was sitting, simultaneously accompanied by an unbelievably loud BOOM. The children and I jumped up and looked out the window to find that the tree standing about 6 feet outside our home had been hit by lightning, leaving a large branch on the ground next to our trailer.  

The thunder the night before last was nearly that loud. Our little Maltese dog, Mugsy, went into his usual angst reserved for the sonic booms of the 4th of July. I brought him into bed with me until the thunder passed. The boom of the thunderings could be heard rolling across the land and out over the ocean for miles. The tumbling, rumbling, sound was palpable, and nearly visible.  

Immediately upon being awakened from the tremendous blast of sound I thought of Jesus' return. I thought to myself, "The whole world, at once, will hear the sound of His return! Will it be much louder than this?" What an inescapable storm that will be for so many.

The day before the storm John and I had met Dave LaBelle. Our Brother Mason, in Christ Jesus - who refuses to be called 'Pastor' - is a second father to Dave LaBelle. Mason wanted John and I to share our testimony with Dave. Dave is well known for his contributions as a Photographer and Writer. As per Mason's request, John and I sat for an hour and a half with Dave, sharing as much of our story as we could during that brief time. Mason would like for Dave to write something of our story.

During our visit, and because of my shared interest in Photography, Dave LaBelle gave me two Photography books he has written, and a novel. The novel is called, 'Bridges and Angels: The Story of Ruth'. This novel is the story of his mother, and her tragic drowning in a flood in 1969. The flood is referred to as 'the great flood of Ventura County, 1969'. The novel is partly truth, and partly fiction.  

The first part of the novel is true, and beyond heart-rending. Dave tells it so well that you are there in person as it transpires. I envisioned Dave writing this wretched account through stinging tears that make it difficult for eyes to see the words on the page as he wrote. I imagined this as an exercise in catharsis. I imagine it so…  

The second part of the novel is what Dave wishes would be true - if he could have wished for the outcome. I have only just begun on the second half of the novel, so that part I cannot yet comment on.

This morning, as I finished my part of cleaning the church we attend, I read the Bible while waiting for John to finish vacuuming. It was Psalm 29 - the scripture I used at the beginning of this blog. When John and I got home from cleaning the church (the local parking lot in the Mandalay Plaza at Port Hueneme), I opened an email sent this morning from Brother Mason. Another Brother from the church congregation, Patrick, has written a poem which goes along with the Wednesday night Bible Study lesson. The poem is called, 'AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL'

It begins…

Being tossed about on a boisterous sea,

Will cause grown men to quake,

The violent waves that rock the ship,

Will cause their knees to shake.

(Acts 27:20)

When we don’t know the outcome,

Of how the storm will pass,

Or if we’ll perish in the depths,

Will this day be our last?

(Acts 27:13-35)

Your face will betray the fear,

That’s seized your very soul,

Does salvation lie before us,

Or is death to take its toll?

The fear will last for hours,

Or sometimes many days,

We can’t navigate by stars,

Nor can we feel the sun’s warm rays.

(Jonah 1:4-5; Acts 27:20)

We have to drop the anchor,

When we’ve lost sight of our position,

The anchor down below,

Is the only hope for our condition.

The anchor will hold us steadfast,

We won’t crash onto the rocks,

We’ll weather out the storm from here,

It’s the only hope we’ve got.

(Hebrews 6:16-20)

In our daily lives we struggle,

With storms that seem to rage,

They bring about some doubt or fear,

Regardless of our age.

(Matthew 14:25-31)

Does God really see,

The trouble that we’re in,

Does he really, completely forgive us,

When we turn away from sin?

Can He really see my fear,

Of things that lay ahead,

Will He truly comfort me,

In all the things I dread?

Am I all alone in this storm,

Or is He really at my side,

Is He really watching over me,

Sometimes I can’t decide.

(I Peter 5:7; I John 1:8-9)

I want to believe He’s very close.

Sometimes I know He’s near,

But why does He forsake me,

In moments of deep despair?

(Luke 12:7)

You need to drop your anchor,

And place your Hope in God,

He will walk right there beside you,

Down every road you trod.

(Matthew 28:18-20)

We all face storms that are powerful beyond our ability to even save ourselves. Storms that are nearly unfathomably loud and raucous in demand of our attention and responses. Storms that remind us of a portion of the magnitude of Creator God, whom some of us call 'Father'. Storms which inform us of the wisdom of having the fear of God.  

The biblical account of Peter walking on the water to Jesus reminds us Who is in charge of the storm, and where we must place our eyes and our faith. More is beyond our control than what is in our control. Come to Jesus… He's our Rock. Trust in Him.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.  

The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. (Psalm 29:3&10)

Mental Illness?

In Mark 7:24-30 we read - 'Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs." And He said to her, "Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter." And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.'

Today the common attribution to demon possession is 'mental illness'. Counseling, Psychiatry, and Psychology have become the cure - the religion - for this condition. We have little, to no, recognition and admission of the demonic.  So, in this regard, there is no 'cure'. 

When among the homeless I witness that demon possession is rampant, as much as drug addiction. The churches in America are not equipped to help the situation because they are overwhelmingly inhabited by doctrines of demons (demons/fallen angels), as well - having loved and chosen a lie in preference to the Truth. 

One cannot begin to think of 'helping', aside from continually abiding in Christ Jesus, worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth. We cannot pass along something we do not have.  We must seek, first, God's Kingdom and His righteousness - which cannot be achieved outside the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

We must not take the scriptures as suggestive.  It is wisdom to heed their instruction.  The Way is narrow, and few find it.  This is not the fault of GOD.  He is not willing that ANY should perish.  GOD has made every provision for ALL to have life in Christ Jesus - we need only believe, repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins.  THIS is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

In consideration of dealing with demons remember and heed this warning from Acts 19:13-16 - 'But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.'

Here is another account of Jesus dealing with demonic possession, which we can learn from, in Mark 9:14-29 - 'When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it." And He answered them and said, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!" They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again." After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, "He is dead!" But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, "Why could we not drive it out?" And He said to them, "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer."'

For those of us who ask, "What can I do to help?", we can begin with prayer for those we see, or encounter, on the street.  I, personally, do not have a deeper knowledge or understanding of how I should deal with these cases I encounter on the streets, except to begin with prayer.  I cannot go off on my own self driven initiative.  I must always seek to be in the will and counsel of my Heavenly Father. 

The Book of Jude gives instruction on dealing with the demonic.  We are not to revile the demonic (fallen angels).  Rather, when in a battle (even, and often, personal), we are simply to say, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:9 - But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!")  And, we must adhere to scripture as Jesus did when tempted in the wilderness by Satan.  And, we must seek God's counsel - then to obey.  Amen.

Stumble, to Fall

I've stumbled before, plenty of times. More disturbingly, however, are the times I have fallen. There is a frightening lack of control in the fall… a point where one cannot redeem their position of safety. At this time, during the descent, the question is the yet unknown consequence of the fall.  

A fall is never without damage - either to pride, or physical damage. Some falls lead to death. I knew a young man who fell 100 feet to his death while rock climbing just a few weeks after he finished High School. So heartbreaking and devastating for those who cared. Years later his sister "fell' to cancer when she was in her 50's. Their poor mother lost two of her three children to these events. We can be sorely affected by our own, or someone else's, fall. There is never not a residual effect from any variety of a fall. A fall is never without consequence - even to many. Consider 'the fall of man'. The world is fallen, and the result is pain, brokenness, and death.

Besides physically falling I have 'fallen from grace' - fallen out of favor - experiencing loss of social acceptance, understanding, and approval. I have fallen prey to a predator when vulnerable. There are times my countenance has fallen when feelings and pride have been hurt, and I've experienced disappointment. Many times my finances have fallen - taken a dive. I have fallen to defeat - been in a slump. I fall to sleep nightly, and usually not as long as I would like. I have fallen sick. I have fallen into sin.  

I am no stranger to a fall. Once I nearly fell when tripping over an uneven area in a sidewalk. I would have fallen had my husband not reached out and caught me. There are times no one was around to catch me. In fact, every other time I have fallen I was either alone, or observed with no one able to assist me. Sometimes we can only watch the inevitable happen. 

A fall can have - or most often has - much to do with the precarious nature of a path, whether chosen, or placed upon. And, a stumble of some sort nearly always precedes a fall. Most falls are accidental. Some falls are intentional. Most falls are likely preventable, if we could all just be perfect in our steps - consideration given to terrain, not be too prideful, careless, nor go too fast!

Here are definitions of both 'stumble', and 'fall'. The Reader will see that the smaller word 'fall' has a much broader scope of meaning!

stum·ble

trip or momentarily lose one's balance; almost fall.

fall

move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control, from a higher to a lower level.

Similar:

drop

drop down

plummet

descend

come down

go down

plunge

sink

dive

nosedive

tumble

pitch

cascade

gravitate

hang down

Similar:

slope down

slope

slant down

go down

incline downward

tilt downward

drop away

drop

descend

dip

sink

plunge

decline

*(of someone's eyes or glance) be directed downward.

*(of someone's face) show dismay or disappointment *by appearing to sag or droop.

(of a person) lose one's balance and collapse.

"he stumbled, tripped, and fell"

Similar:

topple over

tumble over

keel over

fall down

fall over

go head over heels

go end over end

fall headlong

go headlong

collapse

fall in a heap

take a spill

pitch forward

trip

trip over

stumble

stagger

slip

slide

*throw oneself down 

typically in order to worship or implore someone.

"they fell on their knees, rendering thanks to God"

*(of a tree, building, or other structure) collapse to the ground.

Similar:

collapse

cave in

come down around one's ears

crash in

fall down

subside

sag

slump

sink inwards

give way

crumple

crumble

disintegrate

fall to pieces

decrease in number, amount, intensity, or quality.

Similar:

decrease

decline

diminish

fall off

drop off

go down

grow less

lessen

dwindle

plummet

plunge

slump

sink

depreciate

decrease in value

lose value

decline in price

cheapen

devalue

hit the floor

go through the floor

nosedive

take a nosedive

take a header

go into a tailspin

crash

go downhill

*(of a measuring instrument) show a lower reading.

be captured or defeated.

Similar:

surrender

yield

submit

give in

give up

give way

capitulate

succumb

be overthrown by

be taken by

be defeated by

be conquered by

be overcome by

be overwhelmed by

lose one's position to

pass into the hands of

fall victim to

die in battle

Similar:

die

be killed

be slain

be a casualty

be a fatality

be lost

lose one's life

perish

drop dead

meet one's end

meet one's death

bite the dust

croak

buy it

snuff it

peg out

bite the big one

*decease

(of a government or leader) *lose office or be overthrown.

*ARCHAIC

commit sin; yield to temptation

pass into a specified state, situation, or position.

Similar:

become

come/get to be

grow

get

turn

doze off

drop off

go to sleep

nod off

go off

drift off

crash

crash out

flake out

conk out

go out like a light

sack out

zone out

occur or take place

Similar:

occur

take place

happen

come about

come to pass

come

arrive

appear

arise

materialize

be classified or ordered in the way specified

noun

noun: fall; plural noun: falls; noun: Fall

1.

an act of falling or collapsing; a sudden uncontrollable descent.

Similar:

tumble

trip

spill

topple

stumble

slip

collapse

nosedive

header

cropper

*a controlled act of falling

*a state of hanging or drooping downward.

*a downward difference in height between parts of a surface.

Similar:

descent

declivity

slope

downward slope

downward slant

incline

downgrade

a sudden onset or arrival as if by dropping.

"the fall of darkness"

2.

a thing which falls or has fallen.

Similar:

waterfall

cascade

cataract

chute

torrent

rapids

white water

force

3. a decrease in size, number, rate, or level; a decline.

Similar:

decline

falloff

drop

dropping off

decrease

cut

lessening

lowering

dip

diminishing

dwindling

reduction

plummet

plunge

slump

deterioration

downswing

nosedive

crash

letup

4. a defeat or downfall.

Similar:

downfall

ruin

ruination

collapse

failure

decline

deterioration

degeneration

destruction

overthrow

demise

surrender

surrendering

capitulation

yielding

giving in

submission

acquiescence

succumbing

resignation

laying down of arms

defeat

*a person's moral descent, typically through succumbing to temptation.

*the lapse of humankind into a state of sin, ascribed in traditional Jewish and Christian theology to the disobedience of Adam and Eve as described in Genesis.

noun: Fall of Man; noun: the Fall

Similar:

sin

sinning

The Holy Bible speaks, frequently, of the sword falling on this person, or that. This is an outward assault. The Bible speaks of buildings, or societies, falling - collapse. Both of these are external consequences - most often judgements against - ongoing and unrepentant sinful practices. It is a way to dispense with the corrupted old, and bring in the new. It can often be a 'sign', too, of one thing or another.

I briefly mentioned the affect the terrain can have regarding our capacity to fall. Ups and downs, twists and turns, these can all affect our walk. Lately I have been praying that my mountains be lowered, and my valleys be raised, and my path be broadened so that I may not stumble in my walk with God.

In Isaiah 40:3-5 the scriptures say: "A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. "Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

This scripture is reiterated in the New Testament in Luke 3:3-6. It tells us that John the Baptist "came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. 'Every RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; And ALL FLESH WILL see THE SALVATION OF GOD.'"

Regarding these scriptures we might ask, "How do we raise the valleys, lower the mountains, smooth the rough spots, to make way for all to see the salvation of the Lord God?" John the Baptist preached 'a baptism for the repentance of sins'.  

A baptism for the repentance of sin would be an immersion in REPENTANCE. To repent one must acknowledge their fallen state, and turn from it. We turn away from one thing, and turn to another. We turn from the sinful man, and turn to God.  

Why 'immersion'? Because our repentance - our turning - is continual. The battle between the Spirit and the flesh is continual in this life. We must put the flesh to death, and live by the Spirit! We must be 'born again', dying to this self driven life and coming alive in Christ Jesus - a new man. We must immerse ourself in repentance as a practice - a lifestyle. Then - only then - will we see the salvation of the Lord.

What does repentance do? Repentance levels the mountains, and raises the valleys, making straight the way for the Lord. Repentance causes us to see the salvation of the Lord!

Contrarily, Jeremiah 50:32 tells us, "The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to raise him up…"; and 1 Corinthians 10:12 tells us, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall."  

Pride leads to no good consequence. I believe that pride precludes a fall. In pride we do not 'see the salvation of the Lord'.  

Jude 24-25 says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."

God is able, and willing, to keep His OBEDIENT Child from falling! So 1 Peter 2:8 tells us… "they stumble because they are disobedient to the word".

WE ALL STUMBLE. James 2:10 tells us that, "...whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 3:2 tells us, "...we all stumble in many ways…". Yes, we all stumble! Yet, as we live in repentance - continually looking to Jesus Christ - He is able to KEEP US FROM FALLING.

So, let us make way to see the salvation of the Lord through repentance. Let us heed these most serious and concerning warnings found here in Hebrews 3:12, 

"Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God." And here in Hebrews 4:1, "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience." Because, Hebrews 10:31 warns us, "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

God has revealed His heart and intentions for good for us in His Son, Christ Jesus. He is not willing that ANY should perish! If we perish it is because we have hated the Lord - hated the Truth - and despised His gift.

I will leave us with these verses for our meditation and consideration regarding stumbling and falling. May we learn and grow from them. Be blessed. Amen.

2 Peter 1:4-11 says, "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you WILL NEVER STUMBLE; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."

John 11:9-10:

Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

Mark 9:43:

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire…

Matthew 18:6:

…but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Hosea 14:1,9:

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.

Jeremiah 18:15:

'For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods And they have stumbled from their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in bypaths, Not on a highway…"

Proverbs 3:13-26:

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.

Psalm 119:165:

Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Revelation 2:5:

"Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent."

2 Peter 3:17-18:

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

James 5:12:

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

Hebrews 6:6:

…and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

1 Timothy 4:1:

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…

1 Timothy 6:9:

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Galatians 5:4:

You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

Romans 3:23:

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

Acts 1:16-20

Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry. (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT'; and, 'Let ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.'

Luke 20:17-18:

But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME the CHIEF CORNER stone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."

Luke 10:18:

And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

Luke 2:34:

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed…"

Luke 6:39:

And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?"

Matthew 24:10:

At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

Matthew 26:31-33:

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE scattered.' But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away."

Matthew 15:14 NASBS

Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

Jeremiah 46:16:

"They have repeatedly stumbled; Indeed, they have fallen one against another. Then they said, 'Get up! And let us go back To our own people and our native land Away from the sword of the oppressor.'"

Ezekiel 32:10:

"I will make many peoples appalled at you, and their kings will be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword before them; and they will tremble every moment, every man for his own life, on the day of your fall."

Micah 7:8:

Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.

Zechariah 11:6:

"For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the land," declares the LORD; "but behold, I will cause the men to fall, each into another's power and into the power of his king; and they will strike the land, and I will not deliver them from their power."

Matthew 13:21:

…yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

Poured Out

 

When I was baptized the first time I was 12 years old.  I was baptized in the Snake River by Amos Shenk.  When I came up out of the water I was filled with the Holy Spirit.  I didn't understand what was happening to me.  The experience was manifested in an ecstatic feeling, and an inability to speak.  How long this inability to speak lasted I don't know.  Maybe 10 minutes.  Maybe an hour.  I don't remember.  

From that point on my spiritual life took many turns and detours.  Finally, years later when I was 57 years old, the Prodigal Child returned home from the pigsty of the world to her Heavenly Father.  

Lately I was wondering about my 12 year old Baptism.  I wondered - after straying so far and returning back home to the Father - did I need to be baptized again?  I began praying about this.  Eventually God led me to a Pastor who approached me with the idea of baptism.  He told me that my 12 year old Baptism was not legitimate.  Well, I didn't know about that, but it was my answer to prayer from God that I needed to be baptized.  I was baptized that very afternoon - the day before my 61st birthday - in the church baptismal by a Brother named Steven.

This time when I came up from the water I was happy and grateful, but I felt nothing out of the ordinary.  That didn't bother me.  Yet, as the days progressed over the following week I felt absolutely fatigued and emptied out - collapsed inside, like a balloon with all the air let out.  I wondered at this.  One could say I was 'poured out'.

Two weeks later, on Sunday, the devil pounced upon my husband and I and difficulties ensued between us and the church we had just joined - the church where we were baptized.  The issues being fear, money, and expectations.  These came about, giving the devil a foothold, because they are contrary to faith.  Or, one might say, 'misplaced faith' - faith in the worldly system of things, versus faith in God.  This brought about much discord, hurt feelings, and confusion.  Yet, through this God is showing me some things...

While much is given to survival, and an American standard of living even - even in the churches - I am not on this planet to survive.  I am here to die.  In John 12:24-26 Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.  If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

I am here to take up my cross and follow Jesus.  In Matthew 10:38-39 Jesus said, "He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it".  Again, in Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it".

Jesus' cross experience is described in Isaiah 53:1-12:  [1] Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? [2] For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. [3] He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. [4] Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. [6] All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. [7] He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. [8] By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? [9] His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. [10] But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. [11] As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

First, Jesus did not open His mouth in defense of Himself. 

Second, like a lamb He went willingly to the slaughter. 

Third, in verse 12 we read that Jesus 'poured out Himself to death'.  I am here on this planet not to be defensive, fight for my rights, nor to survive.  I am here to be poured out. 

This has become, to me, the meaning of my baptismal experience this time around.  I am to be emptied.  Deflated.  I quietly and willingly die with Christ, in my cross experience, that I may share in His resurrection and live.  I do this so I may impart this Gospel to others that they, too, may live.  I must decrease so that He - Christ Jesus - may increase.  Amen.  The world doesn't need more of me.  The world needs Jesus Christ - Yeshua Hamashiach - the Messiah.

Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me for struggling and often living defensively.  Let me be willingly poured out in quiet confidence.  Amen.

Defining Legalism, by Mason French

 

Defining "Legalism"

One of the more interesting issues in modern biblical scholarship is the attempt to attain a better understanding of the Jews of the first century, the Jews with whom Jesus and Paul dealt. In spite of the fact that these Jews are mentioned often in the New Testament, the fact is that we just do not know all that much about them.

This is particularly true about the Jewish group that is most prominent in the New Testament, the Pharisees. They themselves left no historical documents which explain or describe how they understood their religion. It is true that their “descendants” (after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD) left lots of documents behind (which eventually became the Mishnah, the Tosefta, and the Talmud), but very little of those documents describe the beliefs and practices of the Jews who lived in the first century. In fact, the pedagogical descendants of the Pharisees did not even call themselves Pharisees.

In spite of this shortage of actual historical documents, it has long been assumed that the Pharisees were legalists. But there are two very important questions that go along with this. First, just exactly how do we know that the Pharisees were legalists? [We will leave this matter alone for now; discussing it would take us far from the point I am wishing to make.] The second question is even more important: just what is legalism in the first place? This question turns out to be difficult to answer.

Legalism seems to be like a poem—no one can seem to define it, but everyone thinks they know it when they see it. However, it may surprise you to know that the English word “legalism” itself was not coined until 1645. Even more importantly, there is no Hebrew or Greek word in the Bible that means “legalism.” This latter fact is seldom appreciated. In all of the debates that Paul had with Judaizing teachers, in all the responses he had to their teachings, not once did he ever call them “legalists.” Why not? Because of the simple reason that every Jew—including Jesus, Paul, the Pharisees, and the Judaizers—believed that a person’s works, his deeds, his obedience to God, was without doubt part of a right relationship with God. Within Judaism, that was never at issue. No Jew in that day and age debated whether or not “works” were part of being right with God. Everyone agreed that they were.

It was only after Martin Luther came up with his doctrine of “faith only” (which he, mistakenly, attributed to the apostle Paul) that the modern idea of “legalism” was born. Ever since that time, it has been common to refer to people who emphasize obedience to God in deeds (works) which are demanded by God’s word as “legalists.” But, as I pointed out above, in the days of Jesus and the apostles, whether or not people should actually obey God with deeds of righteousness was never an issue. One of the implications of this fact is that it is not accurate (it is, specifically, anachronistic) to describe Paul’s debate with the Judaizers as a debate over legalism. It simply was not part of the problem. They didn’t even have a word for it!

In spite of the non-biblical foundation of the term, the word “legalist” is still thrown around quite liberally in religious discussions. Protestant evangelicals routinely refer to Roman legalism nunCatholics as legalists. Liberal evangelicals routinely refer to conservative evangelicals as legalists. Some folks in denominational churches have called members of the Lord’s church “legalists,” and even within our fellowship I have heard some Christians refer to other Christians as legalists. In each of these scenarios, the term “legalist” has been applied simply because someone was emphasizing that we ought to be doing what God says we should do, to the chagrin of someone else.

Someone might say that legalism is the idea that a person can be right with God simply on the basis of obeying God’s “rules.” Usually, this is said in some kind of context where faith is being presented as the only way to be right with God in the gospel. The legalist, therefore, is supposedly the person who believes that faith (“only”; defined as a mental activity) is not enough to save a person, but that such a person must also do certain things in order to be right with God. However, note this conversation: “They [in this context, Jews] said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘ This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent’ ” (John 6.28–29). Unless I have seriously misunderstood this passage, Jesus said that having faith is doing what God requires (“working the works of God”). Faith is, if you will, one of God’s “rules.” So is the person who believes in God being a legalist for doing so? I hardly think that’s what people who use the term “legalist” would say.

So what is legalism? Is legalism a matter of being “too strict” about God’s demands? If so, where in the Bible is the list of things about which we should be strict and the things we can be lax about? Who decides when someone is being too strict? Or is legalism a failure to talk enough about the internal qualities a Christian must have, and talking too much about external obedience? If so, where in the Bible is the passage that tells me how much emphasis on external good deeds is too much? How can I measure when I have not emphasized the internal requirements of God “enough”? Am I a legalist simply because I don’t say it to another’s satisfaction? The fact is that both a right heart and good deeds are required before God. “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds” (Jer 17.10).

Or, is legalism the idea that “external” works, by themselves, will earn a person enough merit to get to heaven? I have to admit, I have never (in the thousands of pages of theological literature I have read in my lifetime) seen it defined that way, and I don’t believe I have ever met anyone who actually believes that. If no one defines it this way and no one believes it when stated that way, then the term “legalist” is nothing other than a straw-man, a caricature that has no correspondence to a real person or an actual doctrine.

One modern scholar has put it this way: “The term only has meaning within the context of a prior decision as to the relationship between faith and human response. … In Christian theology, the meaning of legalism varies with the soteriology of the individual user and his or her tradition” (K. Yinger, “Defining Legalism” Andrews University Seminary Studies 46 (2008) 91–108; at 96–97). Let’s put that into common English: the term “legalism” is so imprecise that it means nothing. It means whatever the person who is using the term thinks it means, or wants it to mean. But that’s not how communication is accomplished. We communicate when we both use words that we understand in the same way. When someone uses a word (like “legalism”) in a way that they alone define, then they are not actually communicating anything.

Very often, I suspect that the charge of legalism, when it is hurled at us by denominational folks, simply means “you think that a person has to do something to be right with God, something more than just believing in Jesus.” In other words, “legalism” often means that I do not believe in the denominational doctrine of “faith only.” Even when Christians accuse each other of being legalists, the term turns out to be empty. Christians are sometimes accused (by other Christians) of legalism who are doing nothing other than being conscientious about obedience, just more so than the person who charges them with legalism. So the charge of legalism thus simply means “you are paying more attention to that particular aspect of obedience than I do.”

To put it plainly, when someone says “you’re a legalist,” all it really means is “you do not conform to my idea of how Christianity saves us.” I suppose, then, that I’m a legalist. Whatever that means.