Romans 1 - Warning to a Judged Generation

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

Beginning our study of the Book of Romans.

Matthew 24 - The Olivet Discourse continued

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:4-8.

I'm back from the Christmas holidays and ready to resume our study of Matthew 24. Unlike many denominational pastors and teachers who present a futurist view of End Times prophecy, we will see that Jesus' discussion of the Last Days was referring to the days in which He was living.

The generation alive during His time were the last Jews to live under the Old Covenant Temple Age -  which was the current world system at that time, ruled by Satan, the god of that age. Jesus told His disciples (and us, the church) that the New Covenant age was coming - the spiritual Kingdom of God - which came in its fullness in 70AD. There would be signs of its coming, and historically, we find that, indeed, those signs happened exactly as Jesus predicted!

Don't let anyone dupe you into believing that Jesus' predictions are for some future date long into the future. It has all been fulfilled, the Kingdom has come, and all of the Old Testament prophecies regarding Jesus' coming in judgment have been fulfilled! The church is His body, operating in the full authority and power of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ!

Links:
https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/unheeded-or-misinterpreted-signs-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-70ad/

http://bible.christiansunite.com/jos/warindex.shtml

http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/

Matthew 24 - the Olivet Discourse

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:3-5.

The disciples came to Jesus wondering when He would return in accordance with Old Testament prophecies (as well as His own teachings), judge the Mosaic temple system, and usher in the new age. 

His answer was very different from what they were expecting. He first warned them to be careful of deception, which is a warning we in the church today must heed. Many would come in the last days of that age and proclaim themselves to be Christ, deceiving and tempting new-found believers to shrink back from their faith and go back to the temple/sacrificial system.

We know today that there are so-called leaders in the Christian church who desire to rebuild a temple in Jerusalem so that temple sacrifices can be reinstituted. This is not biblical, as we shall see in studying God's Word!

Matthew 23 - Woes to the Pharisees, Part 2

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Matthew 23:37-39.  

Once Jesus stilled the mouths of the Pharisees and Sadducees, it was time to pass judgment. These scriptures where Jesus prophesied the impending doom of this wicked Jewish generation are particularly hard to read and study, but they are important because they show the righteousness and holiness of our God.

After numerous opportunities to repent and believe, the leaders of the nation of Israel would not accept this spiritual kingdom that God was offering. They still reject it today, but it is available! Still available...anyone who believes with their heart and confesses Jesus as Lord is born again as a new creation in Christ Jesus, they become a child of God with all the rights, honors, and privileges that come with being part of the godhead.

That's right! Salvation means you become filled with His spirit, you are part of the body of Christ, you have the mind of Christ, you spiritually hear His voice leading you and guiding you, and, amazingly, in the spirit realm, you are seated with Jesus Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God the father! Study the Bible on your own and discover these wonderful truths!

Matthew 23 - Woes to the Pharisees, Part 1

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23:13-15

Once Jesus stilled the mouths of the Pharisees and Sadducees, it was time to pass judgment. These scriptures where Jesus prophesied the impending doom of this wicked Jewish generation are particularly hard to read and study, but they are important because they show the righteousness and holiness of our God.

After numerous opportunities to repent and believe, the leaders of the nation of Israel would not accept this spiritual kingdom that God was offering. They still reject it today, but it is available! Still available...anyone who believes with their heart and confesses Jesus as Lord is born again as a new creation in Christ Jesus, they become a child of God with all the rights, honors, and privileges that come with being part of the godhead.

That's right! Salvation means you become filled with His spirit, you are part of the body of Christ, you have the mind of Christ, you spiritually hear His voice leading you and guiding you, and, amazingly, in the spirit realm, you are seated with Jesus Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God the father! Study the Bible on your own and discover these wonderful truths!

Matthew 22 - Jesus Answers the Pharisees

Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. Matthew 22:42-46.  

The Pharisees tried one last time to trip Jesus up in His words, but it was He who used their subterfuge against them to still their mouths. He asked them a very simple question - what did they think of Messiah - whose son is he? They knew from 2 Samuel 7 and other scriptures that David was the father of Messiah. Jesus then asked, how then could David, in the spirit (Psalms 110), refer to Messiah as his Lord? In particular, David spoke of a vision where he heard God the father tell Messiah to sit at His right hand until He had made His enemies a footstool.

David lived a thousand years before the time that Jesus stood there speaking to the Pharisees, and still (as far as the Pharisees believed), Messiah had not yet been born. How then could David have spoken of Messiah as his Lord? David was king and would never refer to any man as his Lord, much less an unborn son of his. No, this Messiah must be more than a flesh and blood son of David. He must also be a God-man, a spiritual being that existed long before David.

That makes most of us stop and think, doesn't it? And it made the Pharisees think as well. They shut their mouths and did not question Jesus again. I believe they knew He had crossed over into the spiritual realm, the realm of God, where they had absolutely no understanding and never would.

Religious people will always clam up when spiritual truths are espoused!

Matthew 22 - Resurrection into a Spiritual Kingdom

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22:29-32.

When the Pharisees failed to entrap Jesus in His speech, the Sadducees tried in their own way. They did not believe in the resurrection, and yet they came with a hypothetical question regarding the resurrection. In their scenario, a woman who marries seven brothers in quick succession after their untimely deaths dies herself and is then resurrected with all of her husbands. They asked, "Which husband would she belong to in the resurrection?"

Jesus answered by informing them that they erred, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. Can you imagine how insulting that was to these learned men of the Law? They probably smarted at being put in their place by such words, but Jesus was correct in His assessment. As He explained, in this new kingdom, people would not be given in marriage as in their earthly lives. Women would not be subject to their husbands with very little rights and privileges as was the practice in the Levitical/Mosaic system. As a new creation in Christ, all born again children of God become a new man in Christ without regard to gender, ethnicity, or religious background. Like the angels, new creations in Christ are only subject to God.

Jesus also challenged their beliefs regarding the resurrection, explaining that God is the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, the God of the living and not the dead. God had always referred to Abraham as being alive and not dead, even though his soul had left his earthly body long ago. Death was and always has been an enemy of God. God has always spoken of and embraced the preciousness of life.

The multitudes marveled at Jesus' teaching while the Sadducees were silenced into submission.

Matthew 22 - Surviving these Evil Days

Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. Matthew 22:19-22.  

Because the Pharisees could not kill Jesus in their own timing, they sought to discredit Him by entangling Him in His words. Anyone who has taught the Word for any length of time has come across modern-day Pharisees who desire to entangle us in our speech in order to discredit us as teachers, but more importantly, to discredit the truth of the Gospel.

The Pharisees came to Jesus with flattering words, a Roman coin in hand, and a question for which they believed there was no good answer; they showed Jesus the coin which bore Caesar's image and superscription and asked whether it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar. (We saw earlier how they had come to the disciples earlier and asked for their temple tribute, which Jesus paid). Their desire now was to have Him speak insurrection against Rome, thereby giving them a reason to call Him a traitor and lawbreaker. Jesus, knowing their wicked motives, called them hypocrites, and instead asked them a question - "Who's image and superscription is on this coin?" Well, of course, they answered "Caesar's." Then came the answer - "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and what is God's to God."

This answer astonished them - they could not accuse Him of any wrongdoing with this reply. But what was He really saying to them? He was telling them that this kingdom of God was a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly kingdom where He, the Messiah, would come as a vanquisher, set on putting the Roman Empire down and restoring the earthly kingdom that Solomon once had. No, this was a spiritual kingdom that would coexist with the evil, earthly kingdoms of the world. All men would have the opportunity to exercise their free will, believe in Messiah, be born again and enter into this glorious spiritual kingdom.

We see that this has been true for the past 2000 years. As the kingdom advances, nations are influenced by the Gospel, and in turn, physical manifestation of spiritual truth is manifested on the earth! The problem is that so much false doctrine has crept into the church over the years, mixing the truth of God's wonderful grace with law, legalism, works, and heretical teaching called dispensational or end-times theology. None of that is supported by the Word!

Matthew 22 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matthew 22:4-9.

Jesus continues His confrontation of the Pharisees' unbelief with the parable of the marriage supper of the lamb, which is described in chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation.

In this parable, a king makes a marriage for his son and sends his servants to invite those who were bidden (Israel) to come, but they would not. The king sent other servants to the remnant (the last days generation of Israel during the time of Jesus), but they rejected the invitation and killed the servants. The king was very angry and poured out his wrath on the remnant, sending his armies to destroy their city. We  know from history that this is exactly what God did in 70 AD. The Roman armies came and destroyed the city and literally dismantled the temple. That wicked generation who rejected their Messiah was destroyed and the kingdom was given over to those who would believe - mainly the Gentiles of the world.

What a tragedy! And yet, in the parable, a man improperly dressed tries to sneak into the marriage supper, obviously thinking that his lineal heritage and/or good deeds will get him a place at the table. But Jesus explained that the proper wedding garments are crucial; anyone found without the correct attire will be thrown outside, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. God calls this the second death, which is a horrible spiritual demise that continues forever in the lake of fire.

God was offering something so wonderful and beautiful for His people, but they wanted nothing to do with it. As Paul explains in Romans 9-11, they sought a righteousness of their own, based on works and not faith.

All of us who have been born again IN HIM are clothed with the robe of God's righteousness, and we have a place at the table of this marriage supper! Dig into this Bible and find out all you have inherited IN CHRIST as His bride, the wife of the lamb!

Matthew 21 - Jesus, the Rejected Cornerstone

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Matthew 21: 42-44. 

When the Pharisees were unable to tell Jesus whether John's baptism was from God or man, Jesus responded by telling them several parables which prophesied their doom in 70 AD. He told the story of a husbandman who had two sons, both of whom were asked to work in the father's vineyard. One initially rejected but then repented and did the work, while the other son agreed to work but then failed to honor his word. The Pharisees knew that the obedient son was the one who would enter the father's kingdom, but Jesus surprised them by saying that this son represented the publicans and harlots who repented and believed - not the Pharisees and leaders who took pride in their seemingly rightous acts . While these publicans and harlots were obvious sinners and clearly broke the law, they were willing to change from their wicked ways and follow Christ.

Another parable was even harsher in that it told of the landowner who rented out his vineyard, watchtower, and winepress to men who rejected and beat the landowner's servants, stoned and killed his other servants, and then eventually killed the owner's son, the heir. Jesus declared that the owner would destroy those wicked men and rent his land to others who would bring forth fruit in its season. Jesus went further by declaring that this event would be the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy (Psalms 118 and Isaiah 28:16) of the stone that the builders rejected becoming the chief cornerstone for this new building God was erecting (the church); that all men would come to that stone, either to stumble upon it and be humbled (repent) or be crushed by it (judged).

The Pharisees perceived Jesus was speaking of them and desired to lay hands on Him and kill Him. Ironically, they sought to fulfill the very evil deed that Jesus had just spoken of in the parable! They had hardened their hearts, blinded their eyes, stopped up their ears, and stiffened their necks. They would not believe, and there was nothing to be done about it.

How tragic! God desires that no one perish and be lost to Him. Pray that the father would use you to be that light in a dark place to help someone in your sphere of influence who is blind, deaf, and ignorant of God's wonderful salvation!

Matthew 21 - Withered at the Root!

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21: 19-22.

As Jesus prepared to enter the city of Jerusalem again, He did something very strange - He cursed a fig tree beside the road. The Bible says that He was hungry and desired to eat some of the fruit resting under the green leaves, and yet when He lifted the leaves, there was nothing there. And so He cursed the tree, declaring "No man eat from you ever again!" The tree dried up from its roots and died, astonishing the disciples.

Why would Jesus do this? It was another metaphorical, spiritual teaching that revealed a profound truth. The fig tree represented Israel, God's holy people who were to shine forth His truth to the whole world; they were the ones charged with spiritually feeding the nations around them. But sadly, like this tree, they had the green leaves, but underneath all the artifice and religious rituals, there was no fruit. None of their law keeping and religion could save people and set them free from the bondage of sin.

Jesus, acting as God, cursed that system at its root, because it bore no fruit and it never would. Sure, the system would linger for a time, just as a tree or plant will do when its root dies, but eventually destruction came. The temple system lingered from 30 AD to 70 AD, a full 40 years, before it was destroyed by the Roman armies. God judged it for its unfruitfulness and ushered in the New Covenant.

Jesus told His disciples that the things that are impossible with man are possible with God. He told them that they, likewise, could be able to speak to the mountain of persecution, oppression, and hindrance IN FAITH, and tell it to be removed, and it would come to pass as they believed. This entire teaching of the fig tree was a prophecy that the cursed temple system would be destroyed, but that before its final removal, the world/religious system would be vehemently opposed to the Gospel message. We know this is true historically, as many in Jesus' generation were martyred for their faith and suffered terrible persecutions from their fellow Jewish kinsmen and the Roman government (the Antichrist, Nero) before 70 AD.

Today, there are many Christians who suffer terribly for their faith in Jesus. But praise God, we can speak to those mountains that stand in the way of the kingdom, tell them to be removed, and they will be removed. It may take some time, but that mountain must go. All of us must stand firm and believe! Our heavenly father will show us exactly how to pray and reveal to us exactly what we are to do. He has not left us as orphans - we have His wonderful spirit living inside of us!

Matthew 21 - The Triumphal Entry

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:6-9

When Jesus entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He announced Himself as Messiah in a way that may seem very strange to us Americans living in our day and time. Instead of making some huge proclamation and stating, "I am Messiah, I am the Son of David, etc." He announced Himself in the proper Jewish way, in that He entered in fulfillment of prophecy. Israel had always been told that the true Messiah (and there were many false ones!) would come in fulfillment of what God had told the prophets of old. God always delivered His Word through the prophets and then manifestation of that Word would come later - sometimes thousands of years later, as is the case with the prophecies speaking of Jesus.

And so, as Jesus entered the city gates, He did so riding a donkey (a sign of peace), in fulfillment of Old Testament scripture. He was also proclaiming Himself as the promised Anointed One who the prophets of old said would be rejected by His people. Acting on behalf of God, He then did something that might seem strange at first, but it makes perfect sense - He went to God's house and examined what was going on there. Instead of finding a house of prayer, He saw sin, corruption, thievery, that the leaders of Israel had turned His house into a nasty, evil business! As any of us would do in seeing filth in our houses, He set out to clean His house - and if we would react with violence in seeing corruption in our houses, how much more a holy God!

Jesus took the spiritual authority He had as God in the flesh and declared judgment against that wicked generation who had forsaken their obligation to be God's representatives on the earth. They turned a blind eye to God's truth, hardened their hearts, stiffened their necks, and stopped up their ears, ignoring God's pleas for them to repent. Finally, His great patience ran out, and all was destroyed in 70AD!

Matthew 20 - The Last Shall be First!

And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:11-16

Jesus' parable of the goodman of the house hiring workers to work the field at various times during the harvest period is a great explanation of how the kingdom of God is NOT like the hierarchical system we know here on earth. In this spiritual kingdom, anyone who desires to be great must be a servant to all. That flies in the face of what we are accustomed to here on this planet. Many people, even professing Christians, claim that their greatness requires others to serve and dote on them, to offer them money, gifts, special treatment and the like. There can be nothing further from the truth when it comes to God's kingdom.

Jesus is the prime example of the master, king, son, and heir being servant to all. Regardless of when one comes into the kingdom, he or she becomes a child of God with the FULL rights and authorities that come with that status - immediately! Those who have labored and done good works in this world under religious systems are upset when they hear this, because they believe their righteousness is a reward for all of their goodness. The reality is that there is no reward for goodness - only a reward for BELIEVING in the goodness that was done by Jesus on the cross.  This is a total paradigm shift from the norm under the Mosaic temple system of the Old Covenant!

Matthew 19 - The Rich Young Ruler

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19: 23-26. 

The rich, young ruler is one of my favorite Biblical characters, mainly because I so relate to his plight to DO all the "right things" in order to be righteous before God. All of us who are Type A, first-born, high achievers can relate to this fleshly desire to complete our checklist of "to dos" in order to feel good about ourselves. Many times, we look over all our accomplishments and accolades and pat ourselves on the back, convinced that God must be equally pleased with us. While it may be true that God is pleased, it certainly will NOT be because we have kept the law. On the contrary, it will be because we have BELIEVED with our hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead and CONFESSED that He is lord!

Jesus, in His compassion, did not turn this ruler away when he refused to humble himself and own up to his shortcomings. I believe this ruler was sincere in his belief that he had kept the law as best as one could keep it, and that his riches and prestige were proof of such obedience. And yet, he came to Jesus, calling Him the Good Master, inquiring as to what more must be done to gain eternal life. Jesus did not rebuke him but, instead, led him down the path of revelation - that it was his riches and worldly accolades that were the hindrance in receiving truth. By selling all of his stuff and giving away the proceeds to the poor, this man could rid himself of those worldly things that weighed him down and kept him tied to the yoke of the Law and from ACCEPTing BY FAITH the grace Jesus offered. But unfortunately, this was too much to ask, and the man went away sad.

In that wicked generation of Jesus' day, there were many like this young ruler who viewed what Jesus was offering as too great of an obstacle to overcome. Can you now see how God, through the prophet of old, defined Jesus as the capstone upon whom men stumble? There are those today who cannot accept what the Gospel offers; they, too, are unable to throw away their religion, with all of its rules, laws, and traditions, and accept the Truth of salvation solely and completely BY GRACE!

Matthew 19 - Marriage, a Picture of the Church!

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matthew 19:4-6

By the time we reach Matthew 19, we see a continual pattern of Jesus healing and delivering the multitudes who throng Him, the disciples being amazed at His miracles and teachings, and then the Pharisees trying to trick Him with the Law. I'm sure Jesus experienced frustration in having to deal with these stubborn, nonbelieving, religious zealots who refused to open their spiritual eyes. I know I suffer from this frustration today from the modern-day Pharisees who cross my path!

In this chapter, we see the Pharisees come to quiz Jesus on the issue of marriage and divorce. Moses allowed the Jews to divorce, but Jesus explained that God's best from the beginning of time was for marriage to be forever --  male and female would leave the families of their youth and be joined together as one unit to procreate and fill up the earth with God's holy people. Paul explains to us in his many letters that this institution of marriage is a picture of the wedding between the bridegroom, Jesus, and His bride, the church. As a wife becomes one with her husband, the church becomes one with Jesus Christ, with all the rights, privileges, power and authority of her husband. That is very good news!

Those who desire to redefine marriage are in direct contradiction to God's Word and the Gospel message. Yes, people may feel love with the opposite (or same) sex and/or experience fleshly desires that mimic love, but the divine, marital love between husband and wife is very different. It is a union that is firstly spiritual, being God ordained, and then manifested in the physical through intimate consummation and procreation.

We need to look at the Word and the Gospel message with spiritual eyes and put away the thinking of the flesh. After all, we are born again, spirit-filled children of the Most High!

Matthew 18 - The Blessing of Forgiveness!

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22.

Jesus described this new kingdom as one where man would be forgiven by God and then he, in turn, would be able to share that same power of mercy and forgiveness to his brethren. Peter, still with an Old Covenant mindset, wondered how many times one would be required to forgive his brethren under this new paradigm, and Jesus answered 70 times 7, which was the exact number of years in Daniel's prophecy that God would deal with His people (490 years) before everlasting righteousness was ushered in. This was a spiritual clue that the end times of that old world/temple system were upon them; forgiveness in this new kingdom would be ongoing, never ending, eternal.

Forgiveness is a blessing that is available to us as new creations in Christ Jesus. With the Holy Spirit living inside us, we now have the power and authority to do that which most of us could never do in our own flesh -- forgive those who have hurt us deeply. But in this new kingdom, with the Spirit of God living in us, we now have the privilege and joy of releasing OURSELVES from the bondage of anger, bitterness, and hatred toward others. We now become truly free, which is exactly what God did with us. While we were His enemies, He obtained forgiveness for us so that there is now NOTHING separating us from His love. He holds no record of wrong against us, He does not count our sins against us, He does not want us to be even conscious of sins but to be conscious of our righteousness IN Christ. This is one of the wonderful beauties of the Gospel! Such good news!

Matthew 18 - Don't Cause the Little Ones to Stumble!

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Matthew 18:4-7

Jesus explained to His disciples that this new spiritual kingdom was one that had to be received as a little child. We as parents understand how a little child believes anything a parent will tell them. The kingdom works in like fashion - one must believe what God says about His plan for righteousness; it is a plan that comes by believing and resting in the finished work on the cross, and NOT on the works of man under the Old Covenant/temple system.

Jesus also has harsh words for those during His day who would put obstacles before God's little children who had come to believe. The Bible and history tell us that many Jewish people who came to believe in Jesus were subject to great pressure from their families, community, and the rulers of the synagogues to fall away from their faith and go back to the sacrificial system. 'Woe unto that man by whom the offenses come,' is what the Lord said. Judgment was waiting for these people in 70AD.

Today there are many who put obstacles before believers to give up on their faith and go back to religion and the world's way of doing things. All of us must stand firm under opposition and hold fast to the truth, no matter the cost!

Matthew 17 - A Coin From a Fish's Mouth

He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. Matthew 17:25-27.

Jesus taught his disciples a spiritual lesson regarding payment of tribute to the kings of the earth. In the natural, it is understood that the earthly kings levy tributes and taxes against their subjects in exchange for protection, peace, harmony, etc. and NOT from the royal family. Therefore, the sons of a king are free from tribute obligation because they are able to bask in the blessings of being part of the monarchy.

The same is true in the spiritual realm. Sons of God are free from any payment or obligation but partake in all the rich inheritance of their Heavenly Father. This is made clear through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. By Him going to the cross, He took all of our payment, penalty, obligation for sin, leaving us free to live as children of the Most High God. Religious people and people of the world have no understanding of this freedom and so they will demand  from us, many times in the form of work or deeds and even an earthly tribute or tax.

Jesus told Peter to go ahead and pay the tribute, lest they offend the leaders of Israel who had no understanding of spiritual things. For us today, who live some 2000 years after the cross, we also must pay earthly tributes and taxes to the governments of the countries in which we live. Even though we are spiritually free sons of God, we must abide by the natural laws of the land in which we dwell.

God will provide all of that for us, and He will do it through the world system, whether it be through a job, business, or discovering treasure, or perhaps receiving a windfall of some kind. But it will not create harm to the world, in that He will not be taking from the world in order to bless us, like some divine Robin Hood.

No, as He blesses us, we in turn will be a blessing to all those around us, such that everyone will have an abundance that exceeds anything they could ask or think! The Gospel always brings prosperity in greater abundance than anything the world could do in their own strength. God is so good!

Matthew 17 - The Mount of Transfiguration

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. Matthew 17:5-6.

The Pharisees had asked Jesus for a sign from heaven proving He was Messiah, but He refused, stating that the only sign to be given Israel was the sign of Jonah. Fortunately, for three of the disciples, Peter, James and John, they were about to witness an amazing sign from heaven that would've made the Pharisees salivate! On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus was transfigured before them as the God-man, His face and clothes brighter than the whitest white, just as the prophets of old had seen in visions and dreams! And what's more, even Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. What an amazing opportunity for these three men!

Peter, in his zeal to worship the Lord, made the mistake of putting Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. As he was proclaiming his seemingly wonderful plan to build three tabernacles, the Heavenly Father interrupted his speech, declaring, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"

What a wonderful message that is so true for us Christians today. We are to listen only to Jesus, for He is the exact representation of God the Father. Moses and Elijah are wonderful, but they are not on the same level as Jesus; instead, they point to Jesus! They represent all the Law and Prophets, which lead us to the person of Jesus. Praise God for that!

Jesus is the most wonderful gift that the Heavenly Father could ever give mankind. Sadly, there are many who are blind to this truth and needlessly suffer in sin, condemnation, and death. That's why it is so important for born again believers to advance the kingdom and share the good news of the Gospel!

Matthew 16 - Take Up Your Cross!

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26.

Peter's wonderful revelation of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the Living God was somewhat short-lived. As Jesus began sharing His future persecution and death on the cross, Peter used his natural thinking, as all of us would under the circumstances, and was understandably confused. In a moment of pride, Peter turned to Jesus and rebuked Him. Jesus, in turn, spoke back to Peter and rebuked Satan, claiming that he had in mind the things of man and NOT of God.

Satanic thinking always desires righteousness with God based on MAN's WORKS and not on GOD's WORK. God's righteousness comes from Jesus' final and complete work on the cross!

At that moment, Peter was speaking from his natural thinking and not from his newfound spiritual revelation. Because he wasn't yet born again, he had no true revelation of the coming spiritual kingdom, and so Jesus' death and resurrection made no sense to him. The natural mind cannot understand the things of God, because God is spirit and requires spiritual revelation.

The plans of God are always better than anything we could plan for our own natural lives. At the time Peter rebuked Jesus, the cross sounded like the worst plan in the world! But the reality is that it was the BEST plan in the world! It would establish the church and bring forth a multitude of born-again children of God filled with His Holy Spirit!

To be part of this wonderful spiritual kingdom, all of us must lay down our earthly dreams and desires and live the life the Heavenly Father has planned for us. When we "lose our lives" and take up our cross to follow Jesus, we FIND our spiritual lives. The spiritual life is what matters, for it will live on forever!