Our Sanctuary study continues using this thought paper of William Grotheer's - 1989 Special 2 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 2 May God bless and keep us, guiding us to a deeper understanding of His will, of His love, of His grace.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLY PLACE -- As the sinner (except the priests as individuals) stood at the Altar of Burnt Offering, he had approached the closest he could ever come to the presence of God in the Most Holy Place. He had come willingly exercising his own will in harmony with what God required.
(Lev. 1:3-{1:3} If his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd,
let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his
own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation before the LORD.)
He had placed his hand upon the head of the sacrificial victim, confessed his sin, and had slain the animal. Then he had watched as the priest took of the blood, fingerprinting it on the horns of the Altar before him, pouring the residue at its base. He had observed the priest separate the fat from the inward parts of the animal and place it on the Altar with the kidneys. Then he heard the priest say to him - "Thy sin is forgiven thee."
He left the court to return to his daily routine. He was still a sinner by nature. He would hear Moses proclaim the word of Jehovah to all the congregation - "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy."
(Lev. 19:2- Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel,
and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your
God am holy.)
As holy in his sphere as the One who dwelleth between the cherubim is in His? How was this to be? He was not left to forget that beyond the Court, other services were being performed, and he was to be involved in that mediation both individually and collectively as a member of a covenant people.
While his sin had been forgiven him, there was an on-going atonement.
In the Holy Place were only three articles of furniture.
Into this place, only the priests could come to minister.
In the original sanctuary services, it appears that only Aaron, the high priest, could come and minister at the Altar of Incense; could fill the lamps of the Candlestick; could place the bread upon the Table of Shewbread. (See Ex. 30:7-8; Lev. 24:1-8)
{Ex. 30:7} And Aaron
shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he
dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. {30:8}
And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn
incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD
throughout your generations.
{Lev. 24:1} And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {24:2}
Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee
pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn
continually. {24:3} Without the vail of the testimony, in the
tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the
evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: [it
shall be] a statute for ever in your generations. {24:4} He
shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the
LORD continually.
{24:5} And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve
cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. {24:6}
And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the
pure table before the LORD. {24:7} And thou shalt put pure
frankincense upon [each] row, that it may be on the bread
for a memorial, [even] an offering made by fire unto the
LORD. {24:8} Every sabbath he shall set it in order before
the LORD continually, [being taken] from the children of
Israel by an everlasting covenant.
Further it appears that when the two of the sons of Aaron intended to offer incense, they were killed by a flash of "fire from the Lord." (Lev. 10:1-2)
{Lev. 10:1} And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took
either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put
incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD,
which he commanded them not. {10:2} And there went out
fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died
before the LORD.
However, when the priestly functions were set up by courses, the common priests ministered in the holy place as evidenced in the service of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. (See Luke 1:9)
{Luke 1:9} According to the custom of the priest's office,
his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of
the Lord.
Whatever the meaning of the three articles of furniture, the fact remains that the significance to the individual, who had come to the Court with his sin offering, required the mediation of a priest.
The sinner was, however, to be involved in this on-going daily and weekly service as a member of the collective community.
The congregation was to supply the "pure olive oil" for the lamps, and the "fine flour" for the shewbread. (Lev. 24: 1-8)
Among the very first directives which God had given to Moses for the erection of the sanctuary and its services was the instruction that along with the "oil for the light," the children of Israel were to bring an offering of "spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense." (Ex. 25:6)
{Ex. 25:6} Oil for the light, spices for
anointing oil, and for sweet incense
We have recognized in our perceptions of the typical sanctuary that the articles of furniture in the Holy Place were symbolic of the promised Messiah (Anointed One) as the Word or Bread of Life, as the Light of the world; and the Holy Spirit as the continuance of that Light guiding into all truth.
We have connected the Altar of Incense with prayer, even as the children of Israel did. (See Luke 1:9-10)
Luke {1:9} According to the custom of the priest's office,
his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of
the Lord. {1:10} And the whole multitude of the people
were praying without at the time of incense.
In the Old Testament, little is found giving definitive symbolic significance to these articles.
Isaiah captures the imagery of the golden candlesticks as the Spirit which was to rest upon the promised Messiah, the Branch who would grow out of the stem of Jesse. The central column was itself "the spirit of the Lord" and the six branches describe the fulness of that Spirit: - "the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." (Isa. 11:1-2)
Isa. {11:1} And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: {11:2} And
the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of
wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
The Table of Shewbread - literally "the bread of His presence" - was to be renewed each Sabbath, and eaten by the priests. Malachi states that the priest was to be "the messenger of the Lord of hosts" and that his "lips should keep knowledge" and that the people "should seek the law at his mouth." (Mal. 2:7)
Mal. {2:7} For the priest's lips should keep
knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for
he [is] the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
This was vital to the spiritual well-being of the people in the time when the instruction which God had given for Israel could not be reproduced as can be done to day, through printing presses. The priests were to function as "the messengers of the Lord of hosts," Apostasy in Judah was marked when "for a long season Israel had been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law." (II Chron 15:3)
II Chron. {15:3} Now for a long season Israel [hath
been] without the true God, and without a teaching priest,
and without law.
The linchpin in this situation was the priest and his failure to teach the people the Word of God on the Sabbath. He would eat of the symbolic bread; he would carry out the ceremonial functions; but the real need he did not meet to help the covenant people in their on-going atonement with God. Forgiven sinners they were - they had brought the penalty for their transgression - but they were still in their uncleanness. Only the word and the blood applied, cleanses. (John 15:3;
{15:3} Now
ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto
you.
1 John 1:7;
{1:7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Rev. 1:5)
{1:5} And from Jesus Christ,
[who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood
The word reveals the lost image of God in man, and the provision for its restoration - the Spirit of life sent forth because of the mediation of the true blood. (Eph. 4:23-24;
{4:23} And be
renewed in the spirit of your mind; {4:24} And that ye put
on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness
and true holiness
Rev. 5:6)
{5:6} And I beheld,
and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and
in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The same spiritual decline as was evidenced in ancient Israel is all too vivid in the experience of God's professed Israel today.
Again the linchpin are the men of the pulpit who do not understand that the gift of pastoring on the Sabbath is but one gift interlocked with teaching. (See Eph. 4:11 Greek)
{4:11}
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
The ritual is performed - the order of service or liturgy is carried out - but for the most part, the people who come to be fed the Word of God, the bread of His presence, leave the service as starved as when they came.
In the book of Revelation, Jesus on the Sabbath is pictured as walking in the midst of His people, and holding in His right hand, His messengers. {Gr. angelos; KJV - "angels," a word transliterated, but not translated] It was God's intention that His people be fed with the bread of His presence ministered by Jesus through the Spirit on the Holy Sabbath. Here is the basis for the cold formality and lukewarmness which marks many of the Sabbath services of Laodicea. And the substitution of "celebration" is but offering of "strange fire" before the Lord. There is no substitute for the preaching of the Word!
[It should be noted the seven golden candlesticks in the first chapter of Revelation are not the same as the "seven lamps of fire burning before the Throne" in chapter four (4:5). The candlesticks are defined as "the seven churches," while the "lamps of fire" are denoted as "the seven spirits of God. " That there is a close relationship cannot be denied for to each of the seven churches is given the admonition to "hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."]
In the sanctuary service of the model, God gave only three symbols to represent the means whereby the sinner could experience a victorious life day by day.
These symbols stand for prayer, the hearing of the Word, and the guidance by the light of the Holy Spirit into all truth.
Connected with each symbol was the ministry of the priest. He could not "walk" alone. The reality of this symbolism can be summarized by one verse "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him. " (Col. 2:6)
As the sinner places his full dependence in the sacrifice provided at Calvary, so he must also place his full and unreserved confidence in the Holy Spirit to guide his daily life, "for it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:23)
COMMUNICATION RESTORED -- If one word could be used to summarize the significance of the Holy Place, that word would be - communication.
This is not a communication of managed news releases, or propaganda, but rather an educational process of spiritual development.
In the on-going at-one-ment, God would commune with those who had complied with the provisions made for the penalty for sin.
In speaking with Moses concerning the Ark of the Covenant, God had said: And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (Ex. 25:21-22)
Moses was to stand in relationship between God and the people as that "Prophet" whom God would raise up in Whom He would put the words of His mouth. (Deut. 18:18; John 12:49-50)
{Deut. 18:18} I will raise them up a Prophet from among their
brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his
mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall
command him.
{12:49} For I have not spoken of
myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
{12:50} And I know that his commandment is life
everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father
said unto me, so I speak.
However, after detailing the morning and evening offering, God said to Moses: This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And I will meet with the children of Israel, and Israel shall be sanctified by my glory. (Ex. 29:42-43, margin)
{29:42} [This shall be] a continual
burnt offering throughout your generations [at] the door of
the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where
I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. {29:43} And there
I will meet with the children of Israel, and [the tabernacle]
shall be sanctified by my glory.
God would commune with "justified" Israel. It would be done from the Holy Place, and in the communication, Israel would be "sanctified" by His glory.
Even as the typical service indicated the ministration of priests in behalf of the individual, so also the reality requires the ministry of Jesus at every step of the way, even in the process of sanctification. For Jesus "is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and, redemption." (I Cor. 1:30)
He came to identify with us, to tabernacle among us as the revealed glory of God, "full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
In becoming the Substitute for the penalty of sin, He revealed the fullness of grace. ~ In being in Himself, the truth, He provided the means of sanctification.
He prayed - "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17) The Word made flesh revealing the glory of the Father sanctifies His covenant people through the truth, pure and unadulterated.
Paul puts it this way: Jesus "was delivered for our offences, and was raised for our justification. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God [and can once more communicate with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Rom. 4:25-5:2)
Due to our American system of education, we fail to grasp the significance of the communication envisioned in the typical "holy place."
In the Hebrew system, a teacher (rabbi) and his students constituted a school.
In this "school, there was communication built on confidence, love and respect.
This resulted in the pupils reflecting the ideas and philosophy of their teacher.
As a man thinketh in his mind, so is he.
Jesus formed such a school, and after three years, there were eleven graduates and one drop-out.
The same hierarchy who had delivered Jesus over to the Romans for crucifixion, when confronted with graduates from this school of Christ "marvelled; and took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:6, 13)
{4:6} And Annas the high priest,
and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as
were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered
together at Jerusalem.
{4:13} Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and
John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant
men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that
they had been with Jesus.
"In the highest sense the work of education and the work of redemption are one." Sanctification is not perfection but communication, an education whereby we come to reflect the philosophy, ideas and thoughts of Jesus.
"God ... hath shined in our minds, to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus. But we have this treasure from communion with Jesus in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (II Cor. 4:6-7)
{4:6} For God, who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts,
to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ.
{4:7} But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
The "model" reflected the simplicity of the process - just three articles - symbolic of the Word, the Spirit of truth ("a teacher of righteousness"- Joel 2:23, margin), and the science whereby we interrelate to the instruction received, prayer.
This message of the Holy Place is desperately needed today when every wind of doctrine is blowing, and "false prophets" abound professing to be teachers of "historic Adventism," seducing God's concerned people. John wrote that the alternative to "them that seduce you" was "an unction from the Holy One" and. this "anointing teacheth you all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." (I John 2:26, 20, 27)
{2:26} These
[things] have I written unto you concerning them that
seduce you. {2:27} But the anointing which ye have
received of him
{2:20} But ye have an unction
from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
{2:27} But the anointing which ye have
received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any
man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all
things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught
you, ye shall abide in him.
I have heard the voice of Jesus;
Tell me not of ought beside.
I have seen the face of Jesus;
All my soul is satisfied.
--End --- 1989 Special 2 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 2
*******
Holy Place- 3 Articles of Furniture
1. Altar of Incense
2. Candlestick
3. Table of Shewbread
1. Altar of Incense = Prayers
2. Candlestick = The Spirit
3. Table of Shewbread = Bread of life, Word of God
I particular found this enlightening--
'Sanctification is not perfection but communication, an education whereby we come to reflect the philosophy, ideas and thoughts of Jesus.'
Too often we get so caught up in how imperfect we are that we can't see past our inability to ever be all we hope to be in Christ.
Our faults and sins are thrown into our face telling us we are unworthy and that we'll never ever be worthy.
It's the truth.
We will never be worthy- only Christ is worthy.
Instead of *seeking* perfection in ourselves we need to seek to communicate with Jesus. We need to seek an education with the Master Teacher. We need to read His words and make them a part of our lives, live His words not just hear them and apply them to others.
The Sanctuary typified the reality of salvation in Christ.
Each part of the Sanctuary was to point the way to God, to Salvation.
Christ brought the Sanctuary to life.
When Christ came He embodied all the Sanctuary taught.
Where men appointed to be priests were infallible and prone to drifting away, Christ never would fail, He'd never leave us, never.
We need not go to any man to be forgiven, we need to go to Jesus. He came to be the living sacrifice needed to save us. No longer are we to bring imperfect animal sacrifices and look to priests to minister the blood of the sacrifice so that we may be part of an ongoing atonement. We are to look to Jesus, we are to accept the sacrifice He made for us and He is our High Priest, He lives and is ministering His sacrifice for us.
For our part we need to continue constantly our education, we are students that will ever sit at the Master's feet listening, learning from Him.
May God Bless and Keep us, helping us through the Holy Spirit, bringing us unto all knowledge and truth by His Grace and Mercy now and forever.
Amen.
"God ... hath shined in our minds, to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus. But we have this treasure from communion with Jesus in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (II Cor. 4:6-7)
{4:6} For God, who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts,
to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ.
{4:7} But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
The "model" reflected the simplicity of the process - just three articles - symbolic of the Word, the Spirit of truth ("a teacher of righteousness"- Joel 2:23, margin), and the science whereby we interrelate to the instruction received, prayer.
12/27/09--
Doing God's will does tend to separate us from those who choose not to do God's will. It seems inevitable. God's will and man's will clash. There is a separation that exists when one chooses to follow God's will and give up their own- even for a short period of time. The separation is very noticeable, it looms large. It's like that old saying- you can't ignore an elephant in a small room and often people do just that. It's there, it's very loud in its silence and it speaks volumes without uttering a single sound yet it is ignored because the two paths chosen are so different. Being there in that room, living in that existence there's a tendency on both sides to want to draw the other to them and their side. Forces are at work behind the scenes so to speak, forces that war against each other even though the victory has been won. The loser would have all that he can have on his side and until the Victor arrives to claim His people the loser will do all he can to woo them from the Victor's side. On the opposite side of things, the Victor wants all that will to be His as well and has laid down His life for His people no greater sacrifice exists. The Victor will not use nefarious means to seduce people to Himself while the loser stops at absolutely nothing to get people.
People think that being a Christian is some sort of cop out. People think that weak people turn to Christianity and use it as a crutch. Others believe that it's to put on airs for a 'better than thou' attitude. There are countless beliefs out there and those who choose not to follow God, doing His will, come up with the ones that suit them best to silence within themselves the small still voice that nudges them to follow God as well. Some men consider themselves too manly to succumb to God's will. Real men don't need that wussy stuff. Some women consider themselves to independent to need God in their lives. They've fought too hard to get where they are to give any of that glory to God, it was their hard work and that alone. If a person would look at their lives and ask themselves if they are doing God's will they'd be able to answer themselves too. Maybe the answer wouldn't be a positive one, but the answer would be out there for better or worse. The reason would be known.
As time winds down, as the sands in that ol' hourglass slip quickly though, the decision that ALL people will have to make on where they stand with God will have been made. Before Christ returns it will all be decided. If some people are waiting for His return hoping that He'll begin a new ministry on earth so they can turn to Him then they will be very mistaken and all Jesus will need to do is point to His word. The truth is in His word. Those people who are not following God's will, God's truth as it is revealed in His Word will hear the sad words to get away from Christ- He never knew them. KNEW them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
KNEW. Past tense. The time to KNOW Jesus is NOW! NOW! It can't be stressed enough. Seeking God, seeking to know His will, His truth is something we do now- not something we should put off for a later date.
It is easy to do God's will? Was it easy for Jesus? More and more it will be difficult to do God's will and those who stress otherwise are wrong. That path is narrow and the way is fraught with manifold temptations.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Few there be that find it. That narrow gate is something to be searched for diligently. The most precious treasure in all the world is found beyond that gate- life everlasting in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Few will find that gate compared to the number that will find and walk through that broad gate.
Jesus uses an analogy that we can all relate to-
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it
May God help us to hear the sayings of Jesus and to do them so that we may be like a wise man. Doing the will of God, not of ourselves no matter how many around us - those near and dear to us, or those far away yet still influential over our lives- choose not to do the will of God. It's not putting on airs, it's not something done to alienate others, in fact it's something that would draw people together if only the love of God would be first in all our lives.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever may His will be done in us.
Amen.
12/27/10
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Pure religion is revealed in our actions.
We can try all we want to convince ourselves and others that being a follower of God, our Creator, doesn't mean 'living' a certain way, but all we are doing is lying to ourselves and others.
Men of God do behave differently then men of the world and they always have.
Right here in this verse we are told that a man of God will keep himself UNSPOTTED from the world. The only way to remain unspotted is to realize that you can live a spotted life. The world offers us a spotted life. And our Bible - the word of God- tells us what the various worldly spotting consists of.
Read this passage-
Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober...
Be sober- not drunkards- being a drunkard is being spotted by the world.
Tit 2:2 ...grave,
Being serious- not being serious is being spotted by the world.
Tit 2:2 ...temperate,
Not being temperate means being unable to control your lusts, your passions. It also means not having a sound mind- this is being spotted by the world.
Tit 2:2 ...sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Those who are NOT sound in faith, those who have NO charity, those who possess no patience these are those who are spotted by the world.
Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers
We cannot be liars.
Tit 2:3...not given to much wine
We cannot be drunkards.
tTit 2:3 teachers of good things;
We must be teaching GOOD things, not evil things.
Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Tit 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
Tit 2:9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world
We must be UNSPOTTED from the world!
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Tit 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
These are just a couple of chapters in the Bible where we can find a message on how we are to live our lives. No where are we told that we can live as we please filled with evil ways, deliberately committing ungodly acts over and over and over again and expect that we will be saved in those acts. Forever we have to give our lives to our Savior, constantly we have to give our lives to God and pray to overcome the evil that plagues us- never accepting the evil, never calling the evil good, never believing that our sin doesn't matter. Satan would have us give up, he pounds away at us wanting us to despair of ever being the godly person, the unspotted person we are to be. We cannot despair! We must live in hope of being transformed by our Savior into the person He desires us to be and we have to live constantly surrendering our lives to Him, constantly seeking forgiveness and grace.
Please Lord help us live unspotted from the world, help us to live with love in our hearts - loving others who have had misfortunes befall them. Please Lord live in us! Clean our hearts, our lives! Please Savior, save us - all through YOUR mercy, YOUR grace, YOUR amazing LOVE!
Amen.