Do you see anywhere in the Scriptures, after Christ's death, that one asks God to forgive him? No, He did that at the cross. He knew our future sins as well as our past, and forgave them all. To ask forgiveness again is to re-crucifies the Savior. We are asking Him to repeat something that He already did.
We do, however, repent but this does not have the meaning that one might think. Its definition is: to rethink, reconsider or think differently. (Strongs)
Repent is to rethink what has been done, nothing more.
February 25, 2007
February 23, 2007
How would you describe a parent who made rules that their child could not keep, rules that, when broken, resulted in punishment?
Would you say they were mean, evil, a saboteur or maybe someone who wanted to exasperate or see their child fail?
What about a God, who makes ten commands that no one could keep, Laws that when violated, resulted in punishment? 1
The Law, in reality, causes us to sin.
The Law came that transgression might increase, and sin, taking the opportunity through the commandment, produced more sin. 2
If true, we can conclude that this is an evil, mean God who frustrates His people OR He had another purpose for the Law.
I suggest that God's purpose for the Law was accomplished, once it produced sin in us. When we saw our depravity, that there "is none righteous, not even one", the Law had no further purpose. We now know we are sinners and our righteousness is as filthy rags and the relief is Christ, and His death on the cross.
Once the Law has shown the need for a Savior, its purpose is complete. 3
If we continue to live under the Law, it continues to cause us to sin "the law came in that the transgression might increase".
Now, what happens is noteworthy. The Law brings about sin, sin causes us to feel guilt, to relieve guilt, we get back under the Law. Then, the Law brings about sin, sin causes guilt, we get back under the Law to relieve the guilt… Do you see the cycle?
The Law then remains, for the unregenerated sinner. It keeps him in line and points him to the Savior.
As Believers, we fulfill the Law through love. If God is love, and we have His Spirit, we will then walk in love. Love fulfills the Law.
Even in society, this would be true. For example, a stop sign is used to maintain order, however, a Believer would not need stop signs, or any other law, for that matter, because they would prefer one another. They would yield to another at an intersection. They would maintain speed limits to prefer others. They would not tailgate etc. in preference to another. The Laws governing theft, murder or Domestic Violence would be of no value to the regenerated man who loved.
Now, when we sin, what do we do? Do we ignore it, do we plead forgiveness, do penance?
1) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 1 Cor 15:56
2) And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Rom 5:20
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. Rom 7:5
But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. Rom 7:8
3) But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Rom 7:6
Would you say they were mean, evil, a saboteur or maybe someone who wanted to exasperate or see their child fail?
What about a God, who makes ten commands that no one could keep, Laws that when violated, resulted in punishment? 1
The Law, in reality, causes us to sin.
The Law came that transgression might increase, and sin, taking the opportunity through the commandment, produced more sin. 2
If true, we can conclude that this is an evil, mean God who frustrates His people OR He had another purpose for the Law.
I suggest that God's purpose for the Law was accomplished, once it produced sin in us. When we saw our depravity, that there "is none righteous, not even one", the Law had no further purpose. We now know we are sinners and our righteousness is as filthy rags and the relief is Christ, and His death on the cross.
Once the Law has shown the need for a Savior, its purpose is complete. 3
If we continue to live under the Law, it continues to cause us to sin "the law came in that the transgression might increase".
Now, what happens is noteworthy. The Law brings about sin, sin causes us to feel guilt, to relieve guilt, we get back under the Law. Then, the Law brings about sin, sin causes guilt, we get back under the Law to relieve the guilt… Do you see the cycle?
The Law then remains, for the unregenerated sinner. It keeps him in line and points him to the Savior.
As Believers, we fulfill the Law through love. If God is love, and we have His Spirit, we will then walk in love. Love fulfills the Law.
Even in society, this would be true. For example, a stop sign is used to maintain order, however, a Believer would not need stop signs, or any other law, for that matter, because they would prefer one another. They would yield to another at an intersection. They would maintain speed limits to prefer others. They would not tailgate etc. in preference to another. The Laws governing theft, murder or Domestic Violence would be of no value to the regenerated man who loved.
Now, when we sin, what do we do? Do we ignore it, do we plead forgiveness, do penance?
1) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 1 Cor 15:56
2) And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Rom 5:20
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. Rom 7:5
But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. Rom 7:8
3) But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Rom 7:6
February 03, 2007
Lot's Daughters Bear Children
v.31 Lot's daughters began reasoning "there is not a man in the land to come to us after the manner of the earth". They start with a false assumption and build on that assumption.
Have you ever done this? When you start with a false assumption, you will always come to a false conclusion, as they did. Again, we see Lot's failure as a father as he never taught his daughters to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding".
Now, living on the mountain, they could have said "there is not a man in the land to come to us" and that may have been true, in their present circumstance however, they added "after the manner of the earth". Here we see that they have lived in the land of sin, a place of seeking one's own desires. It is the heart's desire of every woman to find a husband. They wanted to go after a husband and not wait on God for Him to bring it about. Remember, it was God's direction that they flee to this place.
The custom of the time was for the father to initiate the courtship. This man had not taught his daughters the traditions of his forefathers but he allowed them to observe "the manner of the earth" or the 'ways of the world'. They, therefore, wanted to find their own husband.
The daughters thought this was the right way. They learned this 'dating technique' by watching the people of Sodom. Lot should have sat with them and observed the people of Sodom, their actions and behaviors and helped them interpret these actions. It is one thing to allow our children to watch the ways of the world but totally different to sit with them and help them interpret these ways. If they look upon the world from their own perspective, they will misinterpret what they see and begin to emulate it. If they look at it with a wise person to help them understand people's behaviors and the consequences of their actions, only then will they see it as a warning and lesson in life.
This is one of the problems with youth today. They play and associate unsupervised with their peers. They have no way of processing what they observe so they model their own ways after the dress, speech and behaviors of their peers. As a parent supervises the child and helps them process what they observe and hear from the wise perspective of the parent, then the child can judge right from wrong and model their own behavior after that which is right.
Taking matters into their own hands 'after the ways of the earth'; they get their father drunk and lay with him. Not only did they follow the tradition of the world but also of their father.
Didn't Lot wonder, "Where did these babies came from"? Yes, he did for there were no other men on the mountain. But, continuing with his dysfunction, he did not bring to light the sin but rather ignored it and went on as though it never happened. Isn't this the sign of a dysfunctional family today, they see and ignore? And, was it so 'common place' for him to get drunk that he allowed his daughters to get him drunk two nights in a row?
As to the abuse of alcohol, compare what happened to Lot with what happened to Noah after each got drunk. There was a situation of sensuality. It happened with their children. It encompassed the entire family. It had far reaching results for generations. The curse of the act was that the generations of the offenders were always at odds with God's people, bringing worldliness to God's people and death.
The act of drunkenness was by the father but the result was a lack of protection for the children. Finally, it was the last we hear of the men of God. Even though Noah lived several hundred years more. That was the last of his "ministry".
Next, the children they bore and the conclusion of Lot's life.
Two men were born of this iniquity. It is of interest that neither were girls and both were the forefathers of great tribes of people, the Moabites and the Ammonites. These were men who lacked hospitality an important characteristic both to men and God and men who hired Balaam to curse the people of God Deut. 23.
We often don't see the far-reaching effects of our iniquity and in this case, it took generations to be revealed.
The only other time Lot is mentioned is in 2 Pet. 2:7 where he is described as "righteous Lot". At first, it does not appear from the O.T. account that this was God's feeling about Lot because of the way that he is portrayed in the Scripture. However, this is consistent with the curse on Sodom. God said He would withhold judgement if He could find 10 righteous men. There were only six found, three of who fell with the judgment, Lot's wife and the two men promised to his daughters.
"Now these things happened as examples for us" and "what was written in earlier times was written for our instruction". *
This "righteous man" is a type of worldly believer. He lives a life of leisure, identifies with those who are "exceedingly wicked", jokes to the point he is not believed, and is responsible for the death of others. He fails to train his children, which results in a curse for the people of God.
How do you want to be characterized?
A Joker, a Christian who "identifies" with the world, a person whose friends and family don't seek him out for counsel, one who never teaches his children in the ways of the Lord or one whose life long accomplishments and treasures are destroyed in an instant.
*1 Cor. 10:6 and Rom. 15:4
Have you ever done this? When you start with a false assumption, you will always come to a false conclusion, as they did. Again, we see Lot's failure as a father as he never taught his daughters to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding".
Now, living on the mountain, they could have said "there is not a man in the land to come to us" and that may have been true, in their present circumstance however, they added "after the manner of the earth". Here we see that they have lived in the land of sin, a place of seeking one's own desires. It is the heart's desire of every woman to find a husband. They wanted to go after a husband and not wait on God for Him to bring it about. Remember, it was God's direction that they flee to this place.
The custom of the time was for the father to initiate the courtship. This man had not taught his daughters the traditions of his forefathers but he allowed them to observe "the manner of the earth" or the 'ways of the world'. They, therefore, wanted to find their own husband.
The daughters thought this was the right way. They learned this 'dating technique' by watching the people of Sodom. Lot should have sat with them and observed the people of Sodom, their actions and behaviors and helped them interpret these actions. It is one thing to allow our children to watch the ways of the world but totally different to sit with them and help them interpret these ways. If they look upon the world from their own perspective, they will misinterpret what they see and begin to emulate it. If they look at it with a wise person to help them understand people's behaviors and the consequences of their actions, only then will they see it as a warning and lesson in life.
This is one of the problems with youth today. They play and associate unsupervised with their peers. They have no way of processing what they observe so they model their own ways after the dress, speech and behaviors of their peers. As a parent supervises the child and helps them process what they observe and hear from the wise perspective of the parent, then the child can judge right from wrong and model their own behavior after that which is right.
Taking matters into their own hands 'after the ways of the earth'; they get their father drunk and lay with him. Not only did they follow the tradition of the world but also of their father.
Didn't Lot wonder, "Where did these babies came from"? Yes, he did for there were no other men on the mountain. But, continuing with his dysfunction, he did not bring to light the sin but rather ignored it and went on as though it never happened. Isn't this the sign of a dysfunctional family today, they see and ignore? And, was it so 'common place' for him to get drunk that he allowed his daughters to get him drunk two nights in a row?
As to the abuse of alcohol, compare what happened to Lot with what happened to Noah after each got drunk. There was a situation of sensuality. It happened with their children. It encompassed the entire family. It had far reaching results for generations. The curse of the act was that the generations of the offenders were always at odds with God's people, bringing worldliness to God's people and death.
The act of drunkenness was by the father but the result was a lack of protection for the children. Finally, it was the last we hear of the men of God. Even though Noah lived several hundred years more. That was the last of his "ministry".
Next, the children they bore and the conclusion of Lot's life.
Two men were born of this iniquity. It is of interest that neither were girls and both were the forefathers of great tribes of people, the Moabites and the Ammonites. These were men who lacked hospitality an important characteristic both to men and God and men who hired Balaam to curse the people of God Deut. 23.
We often don't see the far-reaching effects of our iniquity and in this case, it took generations to be revealed.
The only other time Lot is mentioned is in 2 Pet. 2:7 where he is described as "righteous Lot". At first, it does not appear from the O.T. account that this was God's feeling about Lot because of the way that he is portrayed in the Scripture. However, this is consistent with the curse on Sodom. God said He would withhold judgement if He could find 10 righteous men. There were only six found, three of who fell with the judgment, Lot's wife and the two men promised to his daughters.
"Now these things happened as examples for us" and "what was written in earlier times was written for our instruction". *
This "righteous man" is a type of worldly believer. He lives a life of leisure, identifies with those who are "exceedingly wicked", jokes to the point he is not believed, and is responsible for the death of others. He fails to train his children, which results in a curse for the people of God.
How do you want to be characterized?
A Joker, a Christian who "identifies" with the world, a person whose friends and family don't seek him out for counsel, one who never teaches his children in the ways of the Lord or one whose life long accomplishments and treasures are destroyed in an instant.
*1 Cor. 10:6 and Rom. 15:4
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