“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”
Isaiah 43:25
This verse contains a gracious assurance that our sins would be blotted out, and the reason why it would be done.
Perhaps also God designs it as such to show us the evil of the sins being referred to in the previous verses, by the assurance that they were committed against Him who alone could forgive, and who had promised them pardon. The passage also reminds us, that it was God alone who could pardon the sins of which, as a nation, we are all of us guilty.
The metaphor of “blotting out” is taken from the custom of keeping accounts, where, when a debt is paid, the charge is blotted or cancelled. Thus God says He blotted out the sins of the sinner. He cancelled them. He forgave them. Of course, when forgiven, punishment could not be exacted, and He would treat them as pardoned; that is, as His friends.
The regularity of forgiveness continues after being baptized and being washed of the old person. Rather than sacrificial rituals we need only seek after God’s heart in genuine prayer. Even when we ourselves do not feel as tho we deserve His mercy, we must ask for it in order to move on. Else we are overly burdened with guilt.
This is not because we deserve it, or have any claim, or that it would not be right to punish us. Not even primarily to promote our happiness and salvation, but for His own sake; to show the benevolence of His character. To promote His glory by our forgiveness and salvation (Ezekiel 36:22,23)
Our sins shall be forgiven. Hezekiah in Isaiah 38:17 expresses the same idea by saying “Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back” We can learn from this verse that it is God the only one who can pardon sin. It is vain for man to attempt it! Its arrogant and wicked for man to claim such a prerogative! And yet it is an essential part of the papal system that the Pope and his false priests have the power of remitting the penalty of transgression.
This is done by God solely for his own sake. It is not because we have any claim to it, for then it would not be pardon, but justice. It is not because we have any power to compel God to forgive, for who can contend with Him, and how could mere power procure pardon? It is not because we have any merit, for then also it would be justice, and we have no merit. Nor is it primarily in order that we may be happy, for our happiness is a matter not worthy to be named, compared with the honor of God. But it is solely for His own sake,to promote His glory, to show His perfections, to reveal the greatness of His mercy and compassion and to show His boundless, eternal love.
Those who are pardoned should live for God’s glory, and not for themselves. For they were forgiven, and it should be the sole purpose of their lives to live as to show the goodness, compassion, and love of the merciful God who has blotted out their sins.
If people are pardoned, they must come to God, and to God alone. They must come, not to justify themselves, but to confess their crimes. And they must come with a willingness that God should pardon them on such terms as He pleases; at the time when He pleases; and solely with a view to promote of God’s glory.
Unless we have this feeling of conviction and genuine remorse for our own transgressions, we can never be forgiven, nor should we be forgiven. Never assume you are an exception …
Monthly Archives: August 2017
Blessings And Actions
“For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
2 Samuel 7:27-29
David’s prayer is full of words of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits.
All we have must be looked upon as Divine gifts. David speaks very highly and honorably of the Lord’s favors to him. Considering what the character and condition of man is, we may be amazed that God should deal with us as He does.
Ephesians 3:20 states “The promise of Christ includes all; if the Lord God be ours, what more can we ask, or think of?”
He knows us better than we know ourselves; therefore let us be satisfied with what God has done for us. What more can we say for ourselves in our prayers than God has said for us in His promises?
David attributes all to the free grace of God. Both the great things He had done for him and the great things God had made known to him. All was for His word’s sake, that is, for the sake of Christ the eternal Word.
Prayer which is from the tongue only will not please God; it must be found in the heart, lifted up and poured out before God. Actions as well as words must be taken into account. What good are words if nothing is put into practice?
When Jesus was being corraled and beaten on the way to the hill, a man stepped in to help him despite the gaurds and the many haters. Today we stand by and watch and record and never interfere as people are brutalized by the police or random street thugs.
I love when someone we name a hero says “I just did what anyone else would do” … Wrong! He saved a life from a burning building or an oncoming car while 50 other people just stood around and watched
Another thing people need to understand is that “turn the other cheek” does NOT mean allow yourselves or someone else to be bullied, mistreated or worse. What it does mean is ignoring discord, rumors, malice in the church … drama on Facebook! Calling the law over civil matters usually only accelerates a situation and makes things worse …
Some will say that things such as proper baptism is not necessary because they will claim it makes Christianity a deed based religion. People with minds like that need a good swift kick of conviction from God for such ignorance. Jesus’ entire persona was deed based! He Himself was baptized. How dare you put yourself above that!
Bible says “if ye believe” Believing is an action. Just as Love is an action.
Then they say “well then we should all be crucified” … To be a true person of faith we will suffer thru persecution and trials. Not necessarily killed for it, but it can happen. One thing I have learned the hard way is that people don’t need to know what you believe in. the devil knows, and he will set them against you to hurt you.
Just as deeds alone will not get you into Heaven …
With God, saying and doing are not two different things as they often are with men; God will do as He has said. The promises of God are not made to us by name, as to David, but they belong to all who believe in Jesus Christ and plead them in His name.
We are not necessarily entitled to anything God gives us. What we are entitled to is using our gifts and blessings for His Kingdom. I know that can be difficult in a society of people who have lost all perspective or who just stopped caring. So we must plant seeds. Sometimes all we can do is water them with prayer, but that is what God expects of us …
Buy The Truth
“Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding”
Proverbs 23:23
Truth is that by which the heart must be guided and governed, for without truth there is no goodness; no regular practices without right principles. It is by the power of truth, known and believed, that we must be kept back from sin and constrained to spiritual duty. The understanding must be well informed with wisdom and instruction, and therefore, we must buy it, that is, be willing to part with any thing for it.
He does not say at what rate we must buy it, because we cannot buy it too dear, but must have it at any rate; whatever it costs us, we shall not repent the bargain. When we are at expense for the means of knowledge, and resolved not to starve so good a cause, then we buy the truth. Riches should be employed for the pursuit of knowledge, rather than knowledge for the gain of riches.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”
2 Timothy 2:15
When we are at pains in searching after truth, that we may come to the knowledge of it and may distinguish between it and error, then we buy it.
“Dii laboribus omnia vendunt” – Heaven concedes every thing to the laborious.
When we choose rather to suffer loss in our temporal interest than to deny or neglect the truth they we buy it; and it is a pearl of such great price that we must be willing to part with all to purchase it, must make shipwreck of estate, trade, preferment, rather than of faith and a good conscience.
We must not sell it. Do not part with it for pleasures, honours, riches, any things in this world. Do not neglect the study of it, nor throw off the profession of it, nor revolt from under the dominion of it, for the getting or saving of any secular interest whatsoever. Hold fast the form of sound words, and never let it go upon any terms.
Many of us will study and research truth, history, government deception and only go so far before they decide thats enough. Then they begin to deny when they are given new knowledge instead of embracing it. I know this feeling of not wanting to know any more all too well. However I cannot simply ignore truth or logic, or turn off my discernment the way many seem so easily able to do.
When you seek the truth with a genuine heart for it and also attempt to share it, you find trial, struggle and persecution (most especially from the church) even if you’re not willing or expecting it. It simply comes with the territory …
Now I know for myself that I’ve always wanted to have some wealth to be able to help people in a world where money talks. Of course I also wanted the ability to be prepared for what life threw at me. Instead I have lived a life of much failure and loss, I suppose in part as a test of my own resolve. Persecution comes in all shapes and sizes. being financially well off does not mean you will be happy or escape suffering.
Jesus said He came with a sword. Knowing that division would be the result of bringing truth to man. We are His sword bearers. His warriors carrying the light, the torch. This is why so few are chosen among the many who are called. Being chosen is not meant to be pretty or glorious. Most of the prophets in the Bible were not wealthy or they gave up their wealth.
He calls to everyone, but so many ignore. People … Lucifer hates us. He hates that God created us, and he will do anything and everything to cause us to fall. Think about how special that means we are to God.
Pick up your Father’s sword …
Apostolic Apostate
Tools Of Power (Video)
Playing Both Sides
