Perhaps like the story of his interfering in the stoning of a woman by suggesting that the one among them that is free of sin should throw the first stone? When none felt qualified by that standard Jesus himself is said to have also declined to toss a stone as he didn’t condemn her for her sin. Is this the sort of scrutinizing judgment you had in mind? Hard to see why any would be eager to escape his attention though. When I believed Jesus was God I looked forward to the opportunity and I still don’t why anyone should fear it.
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From the end of James 2:
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Verses about gouging out wayward eyes, severing sinful hands, doing everything we can to escape the wrath of a ‘vengeful’ God are all there for you to glory in, Cody. Though when focused on as you seem to want to do, they could hardly be confused with anything remotely like “good news” or “gospel”. What you seem to be missing and neglecting from scriptures is that these most fiery words from Jesus’ lips are almost always reserved for the religious leaders and teachers - the powerful, the ones in a position to either add to the loads of the poor and vulnerable, or to help them carry those loads. Scathing judgment without mercy, it would seem, is reserved for those who themselves are not interested in showing mercy. How judgment day goes for me is irrevocably tied to how I behaved toward those here and now, to whom I was in a position to show mercy. Period.
Yes, judgment is necessary - because we do need to be saved from our sin. But that judgment is subject to love and done only with love. And when it comes to the vulnerable and needy, it is indeed a tender love that invites, that shares in those burdens - not for the purpose of luring somebody unwittingly into a place so that the hammer of judgment can now be brought down. It is to help free them and rescue them from burdens, which includes the burden of our sin that enslaves us. “Wrathful God” enthusiasts often want to jump to the end of the “caught adulteress” lesson, where Jesus tells her to “go and sin no more” because it is the only part of the whole vignette they can get to fit their still-born theology. They quickly gloss over the entire point that before Jesus refused to condemn her he sent them all packing because they were all at least as bad. He would have none of their game, and he was the only one in a position to play that game if it was going to be played at all. But God reveals his true heart in Christ. And that is the heart I hope to emulate, with friends, neighbors, and even my enemies - and yes even as I too need to go and sin no more. Now that is good news indeed.
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When Jesus came the first time it was not to condemn the world, for the world already stood condemned. He came to bring deliverance to all who would turn from sin, place all their hope and trust in Him and would turn from self love and turn to loving God. He preached the ways, nature, character of the Kingdom of Heaven. He showed us the Father; He was the exact representation of the Father.
When we listen to Jesus we need to take His whole counsel, all of His words, for it is His word that will judge us on that day. For those who see the wickedness in them and turn from it and pledge their allegiance to Jesus and submit to Him because of love for Him and because He is truth, there is salvation. He made that clear. And with that He also made clear that those who turn away from love, faith and obedience would be thrown out of the Kingdom. Only the righteous will shine as lights in His Kingdom. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. True righteousness comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus, for it is through that, that a person can be born of God, created in His righteousness. And from that new birth, God’s righteousness rises up and permeates our souls, saving us from the temptations of the flesh and thereby saving us from God’s wrath on all who continue to disobey Him.
The situation with the adulterous shows Jesus acting in love, mercy and justice toward both the people who wanted to stone her and the woman. His words did the convicting and the judging that day. With those who wanted to stone her, His words brought conviction to them. That conviction caused them to turn from the action they had planned on. He showed mercy to them by His words, for the purpose of Him preaching was to bring conviction that leads to a change. That’s still the way it is today with all of us.
With the woman, He told her He didn’t condemn her, for she was already condemned by her actions and her hearts sinful desires. She was still guilty of sin but Jesus came this time to turn sinners from their sin, not to destroy them. So because of His love, mercy and justice He said, “I don’t condemn you, go and sin no more”. At this time He did not condemn her (again she was still guilty) but told her to repent and stop sinning. If she would receive Him and accept His mercy, she would repent from her sin, and through trust and love for God, she would go and live a life of trust, dependence on God and turn from her sinfulness.
All I have ever said is that continued rebellion against God will bring a just condemnation on those who despise His word, ways and His person. That is made clear in the Word of God. But for those who repent at His word and place all their trust in Him and love and obey Him there is salvation from His just wrath. That is made clear in the Word of God. Judgment and wrath awaits the unfaithful, mercy and love awaits the humble, repentant and faithful.
So it is very, very Good News that Jesus gives us when He warns us in no uncertain terms that the rebellious and wicked will be cast out of the Kingdom but the repentant and faithful will be received. Today is the day of salvation. Do not be like the Israelites in the wilderness who had the good news proclaimed to them, they were told they could enter into God’s rest if they only trusted Him. But they did not believe so they did not obey and therefore they did not enter into the land God had promised them and they died in the wilderness. But Joshua did believe and He did enter into that land. So don’t let there be found in you an unbelieving heart that would turn away from the living God. Believe all the counsel, commands, promises, warnings and exhortations of Jesus. If we repent, trust, love and obey, we will enter the rest of God. We will cease from sin and all the cravings of the flesh and the pride of life and the righteousness of God will fill us, for it will be God that lives in us.
It is not I who said, “How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
We should all therefore pay attention to the warnings, turn from sinful thoughts, words and actions and live as free men, for it was for freedom sake that Christ set us free from sin. We do not want to continue to think, say or do anything that the words of Jesus will condemn us for on the Great and Terrible Day of Judgment. Live a life of love for God and your neighbor. If you are a true disciple of Jesus, than live your life as an ambassador, not getting caught up in this present age affections. Do good to all. Show mercy and kindness but warn the rebellious and call them to repentance and faith toward God. Warn the faithful to continue in faithfulness and love towards God and man. Point all to Christ, for it is only through His death and resurrection that true righteousness and salvation comes into the spirit and soul of a person.
Jesus added no such thing after the debacle where the Pharisees try to put the accused woman in her place; you are putting Satan’s words in Jesus mouth.
Jesus simply asks her: “Has no one condemned you?” … she replies “No one, sir.” Jesus: “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” PERIOD.
No hint there whatsoever of “…but God has already condemned you…” or “…but you were already condemned prior to this…” or any other such words of yours by which you try to undo the savior’s words, turning His good news of salvation into horrible news. This would be like one last hold-out from those otherwise dispersed Pharisees, Cody, who - not being satisfied with the ‘inadequacy’ of Jesus’ answer comes back with, “…excuse me, but … yes … she is condemned - and God has made it clear to us what is to happen here.”
And it would be at that point that this moral upstart with his stone still nearby would be brought to see what Pharisees really are, as Jesus lifts his withering glance at him (not at the woman), and there would be judgment then and there, to be sure - and it would not at all be to your liking. So many of us who presume to be moral teachers today, even after all of Christ’s words, are still slow to wake up to the fact that if we want to know what a Pharisee looks like, we have only to find the nearest mirror.
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Maybe I didn’t state it clear enough. The woman was condemned already because God’s law condemned adultery. She was guilty of it. The whole world stands condemned by the Law, it points out sin. Obviously adultery was a sin that justified stoning, God decreed it. But Jesus came to set the condemned free. So He showed her mercy, but with mercy also came the command, “Go your way, and from now on do not sin again”. When all are judged on that great day will not those who did not repent from adultery be cast into the Lake of Fire. No one who continues in adultery will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You do agree with that don’t you?
The whole world is under the power of the wicked one. The mercy of God sends His Son to call all to repentance from sin and turn to faith in, love for and obedience to God. Now is the time to receive mercy by repenting, for as Jesus WARNED US, His words will condemn us on judgement day if we do not repent and believe. Is it that difficult to understand. He came then and still is now offering mercy to the repentant, but those who continue in rebellions will receive no mercy but only wrath. Today is the day of salvation, you will not find repentance on the day of judgment.
The words of the prophets, Jesus and the apostles are filled with both mercy and just wrath. Take heed to all the Word of God.
That much I agree with. As to who merits the labels “liar” or “thief” or “adulterer” or “drunkard” or “angry” or “slanderer” or … as such an inextricable and apparently unrepentant part of their identity, so that they are barred from the kingdom, … that is something left in God’s hands and not in yours or mine (thank God!). Those are things that keep us from entering the kingdom even already now when we cling to them or fall back into them. In fact I wouldn’t even say it is God that bars them from the Kingdom at all; they have put themselves out of it. It is impossible that we should know God’s presence be a blessing (and blessed) in our new lives while we are yet clinging to old sins. Not because God made a giant “naughty” list that we have to carefully check, but because we already know in our Spirits what is pleasing to God … which we’re told has everything to do with Love - for both God and neighbor and even enemy. Failing that is to fail to be in the kingdom - to be a clanging gong or cymbal.
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I can understand how people may misunderstand my attitude and the things that I say. I can’t remember everything everyone says, so when a person makes a single statement I may react to it not fully understanding it by all they have said before.
My intent with all my words and quotes of scripture is to show both the just wrath of God on the unrepentant but also the mercy, love and grace He has shown through Jesus being executed on the cross and His resurrection. Jesus came to save the world, the lost, for they were bound and enslaved to sin and the devil, unable to free themselves. His coming was the mercy and favor (grace) of God toward us. And all who received Him, He gave the the right to become the children of God, born again by His Spirit. The new birth of our dead spirits is what works in us to save us from the corruption that is in this world. The Father’s work in Christ is what transfers us from the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom of light. It is that new birth, new creation that delivers us from the bondage to sin.
So, why should it be a surprise to anyone that God’s children continue the preaching of the Kingdom just as Jesus preached it. Both the warnings of judgment and the blessings of repentance, faith, love and obedience to God. That is a part of our call, job, privilege of being a part of Christ’s body. Before you judge me of being to harsh when I speak about judgment, remind yourself (if you have read any of my posts) of all the mercy and grace that I have spoken of through the cross of Christ. It is the cross of Christ that I lift high, for through it we can receive mercy upon mercy, if we repent and believe in Jesus. For through the cross we have received a great a precious gift, which is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.
Take this advice and see how you should incorporate it into your dealings in this life. How does it affect your interaction with the people who are still bound by the power of sin, with your entertainment, your work etc. Knowing we can’t leave this world and we must interact with those who have made themselves enemies of God, how should be in our interaction with them?
2 Cor 6: 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 "Therefore come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."
18 “I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
You will burn everyone to a crisp who doesn’t think like you and then put their charred heads on pikes. And then you can gloat.
The yoked aspect of this points to a joining of two or more together, like two oxen yoked together. Obviously this would point to a believer not getting married to an unbeliever. But getting into a yoking relationship of any kind with an unbeliever is not good. Business partnerships where the two people are co-owners would appear to fall under this.
When an unbeliever and a child of God are yoked, by their opposing natures there will be conflicting goals or motivations. The children of this age are by nature self centered, where the children of God strive to serve God and others. I am not saying that the children of this age can’t have the desire to serve others but it is not based on faith toward God, so conflicts will arise between the spirit that is in them and the Spirit of God that is in believers. God wants us to be free from that bonding relationship so we are not hindered in our following the Lord. As in a marriage an unbelieving spouse’s desire is not motivated by serving God. So the opposing spirits desires and actions would show up in so many ways, this would disrupt family and bring confusion. The believer would be tempted to be diverted from their service to Jesus.
In a business relationship the same thing could happen. The unbeliever is going to be controlled by the carnal mind which is an enemy of God and is not subject to God. Where as the believer’s desire is to take up the cross and deny themselves and follow Jesus. These two natures travel different paths, one to the broad way that leads to destruction and the other that leads to eternal life.
Close, buddy buddy type relationships with unbelievers should also be of concern. The type where you are always hanging out with an unbeliever. Caution should be taken, as you do not want your affections to be tied up in this world as the unbelievers is. If you are going together to places for “fun” and doing things that do not promote holiness, righteousness and purity of heart, then they are influencing you. Some will think, “Jesus hung out with sinners”, but it is obvious He wasn’t participating in the spirit of this world with them. He came to do the will of the Father and to seek the lost to save them from the sin we were slaves to. The point would be, are they leading you or are you leading them? Paul went to the gentiles to take them the Good News about Jesus, he could eat their food, go into their homes but he would not indulge in their works of the flesh, he would call them to repentance and faith toward God.
For sure go into all the world and preach the Good News and live such godly lives that the world will see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. But be on your guard, for your adversary the devil is looking for those he can devour. Unequally yoked relationships is a path by which he could find an avenue into your life.
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In reference to the caution that needs to be taken in a buddy buddy situation, I will bring up carnal entertainment again. We as children of God should not look at it as, “what’s the big deal, it’s just entertainment” but we should see it for the nature that is behind it. Where did it come from, who and what spirit is behind it or motivating it? If we have buddies that we go to movies with, judge what spirit is behind the movie, the spirit of this world or the spirit of God. If we are lead by our friendship and by our own desires to allow the spirit of this age to enter our minds, we are still carnal and there needs to be a turning away from that.
Paul said that through the cross of Christ we died to the law and sin, but we did not die to righteousness. We are still obligated to follow and love Jesus who gave himself to free us from this world’s ways and to create a holy people, zealous for good works. So since our recreated, born again spirit is created in the righteousness of God, let us live a life in line with that righteousness. Those who have died and rose with Christ are one spirit with Him. Should we join Christ with the foolishness and wickedness that carnal entertainment is saturated with? Should we unite Christ with the very things that He died to set us free from? So, love the Lord your God with all your MIND…… Separate yourself from ungodliness and do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Honor Christ in all that you do, THINK and say.
The Lord bless those who seek after Him with all their MIND.
Is this scripture literally, not physically though, true?
[[Gal 2:20/KJV]] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
The pastors body of our families church died New Years Eve. But his spirit died 45 years ago and was literally raised up and became a New Creation, created in the righteousness of God. He was Born Again and became one spirit with Jesus back then, so it was no longer him that was living but Christ living in him. He has left this world that he had been a foreigner in for all these years and went home. This is not religious speech, this is reality. Jesus said, “Unless a man is born again he can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven”, he was birthed into that Kingdom all those years ago.
The body is dead because of sin but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. That is now for those who are in Christ. Now our bodies are dead because of the sin nature of the flesh but our spirits are alive because of our union with Christ in His resurrection, and that life happened the moment we placed our trust in Him and His death on the cross and His resurrection. It is the very life of Christ in us now that will save us from sins temptations if we live according to the Spirit. It is Christ in us the hope of glory.
I will only glory in the cross of Christ, for through it I have died to the world and the world to me.
Glory to God. Glory and honor to the Lamb of God that took sin away from me.
The very spirit of Jesus is in me, it causes me to go to those bound in sin and point them to the only way of safety, Jesus. Let all who have the spirit of Christ follow his example and words.
It appears this thread has run its course so will close.
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