The Doctrine of Mercy and the Great Promise

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We are not and will never justify sin and sinful lifestyles, but we cannot take anything away from the power of the blood of Christ. If we are honest with ourselves, we are all struggling with something… I know I am! It may be sexually related, it may be anger, it may be pride, greed, etc. but nobody is exempt from the desires of the flesh! That reality should humble each and every one of us.

The reality is that we all stand in need of mercy; we can’t make it without mercy. I guess that’s why His mercies are knew every morning; we need them every day. Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (NIV) Mercy flows out of God’s love for us. Because of His love we are not destroy.

The flesh is disgusting! The desires of the flesh are disgusting and everything about the flesh is disgusting. That is, whether you are a born again believer or an atheist. The flesh’s desires are contrary to everything that God stands for (Galatians 5:17).

Jesus gave us a powerful principle when he stated, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 (NIV) There is a part of us, (the flesh), that wants nothing to do with God. There is another part of us, (the spirit), that is willing to cooperate with God; it is our inner most, it is the part of us with the ability to carry on our greatest responsibility as believers, to worship God according to John 4:23. And yet, there is a part of us that stand in need of restoration; it is where the work is taking place, in our souls; that is, the seat of our emotions, our mind sand our will. That is the complexity of us humans.

In this world we have two kinds of people, the guilty and the not guilty. The guilty because without Christ we are all guilty; that is because we have all sin and fall short of God’s glory according to Romans 3:23. The non-guilty is tricky; because our innocence as believers is not based on our good works, but based strictly on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is what we are… THROUGH HIM.

I am so glad that Jesus took away the guilt for our sins of the past, our sins of today and even our future sins. I am so glad that through Him we are righteous, holy and a finish work. But also, I am glad that through the Holy Ghost, He is changing us. But in that process of changing us, because it is a process, He is dealing with us through discipline, for God discipline those He love according to Hebrews 12:6 and, through mercy.

We can’t fail my brothers and sisters! Today, we are a part of that great promise He made to the Children of Israel, as we are also, New Testament folks. That greater promise is that He is going to take the WORD, His precious Law, and place it in our hearts. He will finish the work no only through HIM, not only in a positional way, but also in US. That actual finish work, I believe, will take place in the New Jerusalem. So I end with these words from Jeremiah 31:33,

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (NKJV)

Deliverance: Is It Real? Part 5

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Glorification

This is the ultimate goal! This is where perfection takes place; this is our ultimate destination! This is heaven and life in the New Jerusalem; this is our glorious future. Romans 8:16-18 tells us,

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (NKJV) “…the glory that SHALL BE revealed in us.” That, my friend, is our ultimate deliverance!

In conclusion, we see salvation as a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8. Even as it was a gift for us; Jesus paid a big price for it as explained by prophet Isaiah.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ was wounded for our transgressions and bruise for our iniquities; He died for all of our iniquities! He paid the price in full.

Sanctification is also a gift, for we are sanctified in Christ. However, sanctification is also a process, as the Holy Spirit works in us and through us. Lastly, glorification is our future, our true home and the promise of the eternal experience. I close then, with these very appropriate words,

But as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” I Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)

Thank you all for taking the time to read about this very important topic. If you have any questions or any comments please do not hesitate to write us. If you prefer a private discussion please write me at angelcasiano@aol.com. God bless you all!

Deliverance: Is It Real? Part 4

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Sanctification

I am aware that there is a lot of controversy and division in the Body of Christ concerning our understanding on sanctification. I go as far as saying that, it is here where we become victims of bad doctrine. It is here where we see casualties. It is imperative that we get a good understanding of what sanctification is. Jesus provision is not an excuse for us to live any kind of way; that is not a legalistic statement, but a biblical one. In Galatians 5:13 Paul speaks about the liberty that we have in Jesus, but he also stated, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (NKJV)

We must understand that God has set us a part and that underneath the blood of Christ his Spirit is forming sanctification in our own hearts; one of the ultimate promises of the New Testament (Jeremiah 31:33). To better explain this concept of sanctification, we must look at three aspects: Sanctification must be seen in three fold: 1) Instantaneous sanctification, 2) progressive sanctification and 3) ultimate sanctification.[1]

I believe that brother Harold S. Martin did a remarkable job in explaining sanctification, so I will use his direct words:

Instantaneous sanctification has to do with our standing.

Progressive sanctification has to do with our spiritual growth.

Ultimate sanctification has to do with our eternal state.

To be continued…

[1] http://www.thechristianscompass.org/3_tenses.htm

Deliverance: Is It Real? Part 3

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God indeed delivered us; but what is it that he delivered from? To begin to answer this question we must look at what God’s salvation provides in three-fold: 1) justification, 2) sanctification and 3) glorification.

Justification

With justification we received a powerful gift and that is the gift that removes the guilt of our sinful condition. So we can say that in this world you have two kinds of people, the guilty and the not guilty. Born again believers are not free from sin; we all sin and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). The Bible tells us that there is no one righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10). But now, through Christ, through his sacrifice and through the shedding of His blood, we are now free from the guilt of sin. (Romans 5:9)

Feeling guilty and condemn is not of God. Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (NKJV)

Remember that as born again believers we are the only people able to walk in the Spirit, because we were born again in the spirit. Our spirits are alive now and able to have communion with God. We now have the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 3:16). We now have the best fighting tools against sin. However, we can’t forget that we still have a soul that is a work in progress. In speaking about our souls we are speaking about our minds, our will and our emotions. God is changing our way of thinking, he is forming his will in us and giving us emotional stability by providing us unspeakable joy (I Peter 1:8) and the only peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Also, I must add, we can’t forget that we are flesh and that the flesh has no promise of restoration; we will actually receive new bodies! (Philippians 3:21) Praise God again!

Romans 5:1 tell us, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (NKJV). That peace with God is granted only THROUGH CHRIST. So now, through Christ we are declared innocent for our past, present and future sins, even as in reality, we are guilty of all of them. Christ, as our attorney, presents his blood before his Father and we are, as if we have never sin before. That is because we are under his blood.

If we stop this message here, then there is no need for us to worry about sinning. As a matter fact, since Christ did all these things for us, why not enjoy sinning? But see, the message does not stop there. That is why we need to understand that we must preach and teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) and not just what we judge as convenient.

To be continued…

Deliverance: Is It Real?

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Deliverance! Do I believe in deliverance? Yes I do, but not in the sense that some are teaching it. The idea that you just go forward, somebody lay hands on you and after you repeat some prayers you come out of there TOTALLY delivered from that thing that cause you to sin and, even worst, the idea that your tendency to do that thing that cause you to sin, is now gone, is indeed a lie from the pit of hell; it is bad doctrine. Why do I say this? Because until the day we die we will struggle with the flesh and the flesh will never, ever cooperate with God. Galatians 5:16-18 tells us,

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (NKJV)

The flesh desires and will always desire what is contrary to the Spirit; that will never change! Now, we must choose what kind of lifestyle we will follow. Are we going to follow a lifestyle according to the Spirit or according to the flesh? The clear mandate from God is for us to walk in the Spirit. As born again believers, we are born again in our spirit, so the capacity to connect with God and allow the Holy Ghost to do his work in us, is now possible through that born again experience. Nevertheless, we still have a soul that needs restoration and a flesh that grants no cooperation.

Jesus established that the spirit, the inner most part of us, is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). That is a principle that we often forget. Even as our spirit could also rebel against God, it is the part of us, the born again believer, that actually desires God and his righteousness. It is the part of us that has the ability to worship God, as we worship Him in spirit and in true (John 4:24).

Beloved, there is a war going on in the inside of every believer, a war between good and evil and, we better learn the nature of that war or we will continue to see casualties; people getting frustrated, doubting their salvation and quitting on God. You can go forward and declare an idea of deliverance that does not exist; you can act as if you are walking in that level of deliverance and you can lie to others, but you can’t lie to God and, you can’t lie to yourself. You know what you are doing in your secret places. It is a matter of time before that secret becomes public or you get tired of pretending. Your hypocrisy will catch up with you!

To be continued…

La Depresión Por El Pastor Andrés Briceño Ruiz

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La depresión es la combinación de la tristeza y la melancolía. Estos dos sentimientos a la larga producen el mencionado mal de la depresión. Cuando insistimos en declarar una visión triste del mundo, cuando somos víctimas de relaciones rotas y el perder algún ser querido o algo de valor, da lugar y abre puertas a este mal de la depresión.

La persona que sufre de depresión manifiesta un carácter irritable, disminución del interés y placer de las actividades, falta de sueño, falta de energía y mucho sentimiento de culpa. A la larga, lamentablemente, también puede manifestar pensamientos de suicidio.

Clínicamente, la ciencia busca resolver estos problemas mitigando esos sentimientos con fármacos, pero su origen es espiritual. Veamos sus nombres: Depresión, nombre científico. Quebranto: nombre espiritual. (2 de Samuel 22:19, Salmo 18:18, Nehemías 2:2 y Job 21:17)  Desventura: (Romanos 3:16 y Apocalipsis 3:17) Abatimiento: Salmo 136:23, Proverbios 18:12 Lamentaciones 3:19 y Miqueas 6:14.)

Esta enfermedad tiene su origen en la desobediencia. El desobedecer produce ruptura, quebrar algo, desunión, en el huerto del Edén Dios dio instrucciones de no comer del Árbol de la ciencia del bien y el mal. La desobediencia a este mandato trajo ruptura y quebrantamiento por eso en Hebreos 4:11 dice procuremos entrar en su reposo, para que ninguno caiga en semejante ejemplo de desobediencia. Reposo sinónimo de descanso, tranquilidad felicidad.

El recurso que se usa para no tener esta enfermad es la OBEDIENCIA. Cuidar el huerto es cuidar nuestra relación a diario con Dios y si no lo hemos aceptado pedirle que entre a nuestro corazón. Descuidar es relación es ruptura, es rompimiento. La obediencia Dios y a su Palabra, nos permite estar dentro del huerto. La labranza es nuestra relación con Él a solas; cuando esto no se da la depresión entra.

Recuerda ser obediente, las personas que practican la desobediencia dan lugar al quebranto (Depresión). Un abrazo su amigo pastor: Andrés Briceño .

La Sana Doctrina 2

SANA DOCTRINA

La doctrina; eso es, lo que se enseñaba, eso es, la Palabra de Vida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que se manifestó a través de Moisés, los profetas y, a través de las melodías y preciosas letras de los Salmos, está al centro de lo que la Iglesia original aprendió y, a su vez, de lo que nosotros estamos llamados a aprender hoy y siempre.

La doctrina, eso es la Palabra que se hizo carne a través de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, quien canonizó el Viejo Testamento y quien nos dio sus propias y directas palabras, no se escribieron para ser ignoradas; son el dibujo de lo que nuestras vidas están supuestas a reflejar.

Ese mensaje… ese mensaje poderoso que el mundo rechazó y continúa rechazando; ese mensaje que el mundo tuerce, que el mundo mezcla con mentira y confusión, aún en púlpitos y salas de casa de Cristianos; ese es el mensaje que se respalda con poder de Dios para salvar almas, para romper maldiciones, arrancar iniquidad, perdonar rebeliones y pecados, redimir, transformar, sanar enfermos y liberar a los cautivos. A Tito, Pablo le ordena específicamente, “Pero tú habla lo que está de acuerdo con la sana doctrina.” Tito 2:1 (RVR 1960)

Fíjese hermano ministro, que no estamos llamados a inventarnos nada; a enseñar nuestras opiniones u opiniones de hombres; el mandamientos es claro “habla lo que está de acuerdo a la sana doctrina.”

Entonces la pregunta debe ser ¿Qué es la sana doctrina? Lo que amo de la Palabra de Dios es que, aunque no lo entendemos todo, hay ciertos temas que Dios ha hecho muy claros, la Sana doctrina es uno de esos temas.

No tenemos que inventar nada o asumir que es esto o aquello. La Sana Doctrina se encuentra bien definida a través de toda la Escritura. Mas Tito capítulos 2 y 3, como otras porciones de la Biblia, contesta esta pregunta en detalles. La sana de doctrina es un patrón de conducta que va más allá de nuestras opiniones y culturas. No es una religiosidad externa, sino que fluye del corazón del hombre cristiano en su amor por la santidad de Dios. Hermanos, la sana doctrina no es una hopicrecia, ni intentos de ganarnos la salvación y el amor de Dios mediante obras, más una respuesta natural de hijos que desean demostrar su amor por Dios mediante la obediencia a lo que El establece como verdad y mandamiento.

Titos 2:2-15

2 Que los ancianos sean sobrios, serios, prudentes, sanos en la fe, en el amor, en la paciencia.

3 Las ancianas asimismo sean reverentes en su porte; no calumniadoras, no esclavas del vino, maestras del bien;

4 que enseñen a las mujeres jóvenes a amar a sus maridos y a sus hijos,

5 a ser prudentes, castas, cuidadosas de su casa, buenas, sujetas a sus maridos, para que la palabra de Dios no sea blasfemada.

6 Exhorta asimismo a los jóvenes a que sean prudentes;

7 presentándote tú en todo como ejemplo de buenas obras; en la enseñanza mostrando integridad, seriedad,

8 palabra sana e irreprochable, de modo que el adversario se avergüence, y no tenga nada malo que decir de vosotros.

9 Exhorta a los siervos a que se sujeten a sus amos, que agraden en todo, que no sean respondones;

10 no defraudando, sino mostrándose fieles en todo, para que en todo adornen la doctrina de Dios nuestro Salvador.

11 Porque la gracia de Dios se ha manifestado para salvación a todos los hombres,

12 enseñándonos que, renunciando a la impiedad y a los deseos mundanos, vivamos en este siglo sobria, justa y piadosamente,

13 aguardando la esperanza bienaventurada y la manifestación gloriosa de nuestro gran Dios y Salvador Jesucristo,

14 quien se dio a sí mismo por nosotros para redimirnos de toda iniquidad y purificar para sí un pueblo propio, celoso de buenas obras.

15 Esto habla, y exhorta y reprende con toda autoridad. Nadie te menosprecie.

Titos 3

Recuérdales que se sujeten a los gobernantes y autoridades, que obedezcan, que estén dispuestos a toda buena obra.

2 Que a nadie difamen, que no sean pendencieros, sino amables, mostrando toda mansedumbre para con todos los hombres.

3 Porque nosotros también éramos en otro tiempo insensatos, rebeldes, extraviados, esclavos de concupiscencias y deleites diversos, viviendo en malicia y envidia, aborrecibles, y aborreciéndonos unos a otros.

4 Pero cuando se manifestó la bondad de Dios nuestro Salvador, y su amor para con los hombres,

5 nos salvó, no por obras de justicia que nosotros hubiéramos hecho, sino por su misericordia, por el lavamiento de la regeneración y por la renovación en el Espíritu Santo,

6 el cual derramó en nosotros abundantemente por Jesucristo nuestro Salvador,

7 para que justificados por su gracia, viniésemos a ser herederos conforme a la esperanza de la vida eterna.

8 Palabra fiel es esta, y en estas cosas quiero que insistas con firmeza, para que los que creen en Dios procuren ocuparse en buenas obras. Estas cosas son buenas y útiles a los hombres.

9 Pero evita las cuestiones necias, y genealogías, y contenciones, y discusiones acerca de la ley; porque son vanas y sin provecho.

10 Al hombre que cause divisiones, después de una y otra amonestación deséchalo,

11 sabiendo que el tal se ha pervertido, y peca y está condenado por su propio juicio.

Fíjense hermanos que dejé que la Biblia misma les hablara a través de Tito Capítulo 2 y 3. El mensaje es claro y, si te tomas el tiempo para leer estas cartas apostólicas te darás cuenta que los apóstoles se enfocaron en enseñarles al pueblo a amar a Dios y amar al prójimo; ese el corazón de la ley.

Tito 2:8 me da la conclusión sobre todo este asunto que he venido tratando en este artículo cuando Pablo nos afirma que, “Estas cosas son buenas y útiles a los hombres.” (RVR 1960) Somos ministros de un Dios bueno, cuyo mensaje es bueno y útil para transfórmanos y para transformar a otros… en el Nombre de Jesús.

Que Dios te bendiga… tu hermano y amigo, Siervo Angel Casiano.

angelcasiano@aol.com

La Sana Doctrina

SANA DOCTRINA

Para aquellos que continúan minimizando la autoridad de la Palabra de Dios y le dan sinónimo demoniaco a los que aman la sana doctrina, hoy tengo Palabra para ti.

Si alguno enseña otra cosa, y no se conforma a las sanas palabras de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, y a la doctrina que es conforme a la piedad, 4 está envanecido, nada sabe, y delira acerca de cuestiones y contiendas de palabras, de las cuales nacen envidias, pleitos, blasfemias, malas sospechas, 5 disputas necias de hombres corruptos de entendimiento y privados de la verdad, que toman la piedad como fuente de ganancia; apártate de los tales. Primera de Timoteo 6:3-5 (RVR 1960)

Mas aún con la evidencia de estos versos, existe un grupo de ministros que nos continúa describiendo como legalistas por nuestro compromiso de honrar la Palabra de Dios. Hermanos, la sana doctrina existe; no es un invento de hombre. Es importante hacer el punto de que el ateo no es el problema, éstos han hecho clara su posición. El problema son los que están dentro de nuestras congregaciones, activamente enseñando cosas que no son bíblicas como si fueran verdades de Dios. Primera de Timoteo 4:1 nos dice, claramente,

Pero el Espíritu dice claramente que en los postreros tiempos algunos apostatarán de la fe, escuchando a espíritus engañadores y a doctrinas de demonios; (RVR 1960)

He escuchado decir que en los tiempos de la gloriosa iglesia original, solo el cinco por ciento de los miembros de la Iglesia sabía leer. Entonces añaden que, dicha Iglesia dependía básica y exclusivamente del Espíritu Santo. Establecen argumentos en contra de la validez de la Palabra.

Déjame establecer que no tengo ningún tipo de problema con que tengamos dependencia en el Espíritu Santo; por favor no distorsionen mi argumento en contra del suyo. Precisamente la realidad de la dependencia que debemos todos tener en el Espíritu Santo es lo que hace de estos argumentos efectivos y la razón por la cual pueden engañar a tantos en la Iglesia. Eso se deben a que los mensajes de doctrinas torcidas, siempre cargan verdad. Mas esa verdad esta mezclada con mentira. Hermanos, Satanás sabe que èl no se puede presentar ante el pueblo de Dios como Satanás, sino como Ángel de Luz. En Segunda de Corintios 11:13-15 el Apóstol Pablo nos dice,

Porque éstos son falsos apóstoles, obreros fraudulentos, que se disfrazan como apóstoles de Cristo. 14 Y no es maravilla, porque el mismo Satanás se disfraza como ángel de luz. 15 Así que, no es extraño si también sus ministros se disfrazan como ministros de justicia; cuyo fin será conforme a sus obras. (RVR 1960)

Añaden y hacen argumentos apasionados para justificar que todo lo que la Iglesia necesitó para ser tan gloriosa, fue una sumisión total al Espíritu Santo sin necesidad de la Palabra, ya que, después de todo, el 95 por ciento de los hermanos y hermanos de ese tiempo era analfabeta… según ellos. Dicho argumento es débil y una falta de respeto a la Palabra de Dios.

Nada le quitó al Espíritu Santo; sin Él no somos salvos y no tendríamos nunca revelación; pero tampoco le quitó autoridad a la Palabra de Dios. No podemos divorciar al Espíritu Santo de la palabra inspirada por El mismo.

Si tomamos como verdad que el 95 de los miembros de la Iglesia no sabía leer, Pablo mismo mata el argumentó que intenta justificar este nuevo evangelio liberal. Segunda de Tesalonicenses 2:15 nos dice:

“Así que, hermanos, estas firmes, y retened la doctrina que habéis aprendido, sea por Palabra, o por carta nuestra.” (RVR 1969)

No importa si la persona sabía leer o no, lo cierto es que el mensaje fluía y penetraba para transformar el espíritu y el alma del hombre.

Continúa para la conclusión de este mensaje… La Sana Doctrina 2

Is What We Believe of God Real?

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When it comes down to God, we don’t get to invent our own reality. We go as deep and as wide as His Word takes us. We are encouraged to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord (2 Peter 3:18). So, according to Scripture, it is expected that some will indeed have a deeper understanding of grace and of the character of our Lord than others, without, in any way, compromising God’s essence. People could be in different levels of maturity, without contradicting each other.

If somebody say of me, “Angel is black,” they will be telling the truth. If others say, “Angel is more European than he is black.” Well, according to my DNA, that is also truth. Some know more about my life, my victories and my failures. Some could make this or that arguments about me that could sound like a big contradiction, however they could all have portions of the truth. However, if somebody says of me, “Angel is 6′ 4″, his skin is white, he has blue eyes and speak with a British accent.” Well, that is simply not true. If somebody say, “Angel is a woman,” they will definitely be wrong about that. Some can say good things like, “Angel, is a war hero who fought for this country courageously.” That is nice, but unless fighting in schools and on the streets of my hometown, count as being a war hero; I am totally undeserving of such complement.

People can “say” whatever they want to say about me, but not everything is necessarily reality (Good or bad). I am afraid that in today’s Christianity everybody is making God to be whatever he or she wants God to be. The influence of liberalism is doing this to us; the minimizing of the authority of Scripture, the denial of absolutes, the rejection of facts and logic and the full embrace of “feelings” are spreading like a cancer in our pulpits.

As Christians, we can’t afford to forget that through the pages of the Bible we get to see God revealed, we get to see the complexity of his character described. He is love (1 John 4:8) but he is also the author and executor of terrifying wraths described and announced through Scripture. He is merciful, but He is also a judge who will indeed declare guilty all of those who are not covered under the blood of his Son.

He can be found now, but a time will come when he is not going to be found by those who continue to harden their hearts. Some will endup in hell based on their refusal to repent of their sins; some will spend eternal life with Him in the New Jerusalem. So, if you want to embrace God as love, but deny God as a judge, you have created your own idea of God and you are up to a rude awakening!

I am afraid that many of us are picking and choosing who we want God to be outside of what Scripture tells us He is already. We have rejected anything that has to do with theology (the science of knowing about God). We have openly resisted Sound Doctrine (the science and meaning of his message). We comfortably and arrogantly throw out the original apostles’ orthodoxy (the science of what is truth) as if we are originators of anything new or any new concept of God. Therefor, we continue to expand in our errors and take liberties in our definitions of God.

Our ideas and concepts of God become Gospel truth for us, no matter what the Bible say or not, about the matter. We become our own gods; we place ourselves at the center. No longer do we study God’s Word to show ourselves approve and to learn to rightly divide His Logo Word, (2 Timothy 2:15). We insist that God is who we say He is!

Never mind that Jesus tells us that in order to be his disciples we must deny ourselves, carry our cross and follow Him. (Matthew 16:24) Never mind that Jesus also tells that in order to remain as his disciples, we must remain in His teachings and not our own. (John 8:31)

Scary thing to know that many will do great things; prophesy, preach, teach, give to the poor, write well written books, come up with well produced movies, etc. but spilt hell wide open because they never took the time to really know God (Matthew 7:21-23). I want to know and love God everyday and forever more, not based on error, but based on Holy Ghost revelation. Such revelation will never contradict Scripture; such revelation will help us go deeper in our knowledge of grace and all of the aspect of the awesome and complex character of our Lord.

What a terrifying thing for those who present God any kind of way; for those who twist and change the Gospel to accommodate their agenda of error and confusion, for indeed, without repentance, the judgment of God is upon you. Galatians 1:8 is very clear, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (NIV) Beloved, even an angel can’t get away with presenting a different gospel, what makes you think that you or any Hollywood producer can?

Does the Bible have Contradictions?

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Recently I was presented with a series of Bible verses as a way to present that either the Bible has contradictions or, AT FACE VALUE, they seem contradictory.

Perhaps people don’t understand, even in our own churches, how damaging to our faith it would be if the Scripture has errors. It would mean that we are worshipping an imperfect God. If God mess up with his Word, then his Word is not inherent; that means that he has lied to us; that means that we can add and take from His Word.

How can we follow errors? We would have to identify those errors and not follow them. That leaves the Bible open for all kinds of foolishness.

The most minimal suggestion of the inerrancy of Scripture is indeed a dangerous proposition. I want to make it clear that there are no such things as divergent ideas of Scripture; what we have are, in one hand, accurate interpretations of Scripture and, on the other hand, bad interpretations of Scripture; period!

The Bible is not the problem, we are. Our bad translations, bad interpretations and personal agendas have gotten on the way of The Message.

These were the verses I was presented with to prove that some verses states that God can repent and some that he cannot or at least appear to. I use the King James Version for all of these verses:

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6,
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17
And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. Exodus 32:14
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 1 Samuel 15:29
The Lord repented for this: It shall not be, saith the Lord. Amos 7:3

To question what we know about God and interpretations of Scripture is a healthy exercise. However, to question the character of God and the inherency of his Word is sin.

When I look at all of these verses I see the character of God; a righteous judge, inerrant and unchanging in who HE IS. But I also see something else; it does not push me to see contradictions; for in my own imperfection I am set in two things, the goodness and perfection of God.

These Scriptures should not be reasons to arrogantly question the inerrancy of Scripture, but rather, to look at the character of God in a more profound, intimate and deeper sense. When I look at these Scriptures I see the mercy of God on display. How can a perfect judge, judge imperfect people? He can, because he is also love and that love releases the quality of our God that keep us alive… MERCY!

The reason we are not consume is because of His mercies; Malachi 3:6 clearly establishes that reality. Mercy is the power of God to hold back the judgment that we truly deserve. Nothing releases God’s mercy more powerfully than true repentance; but in case repentance does not take place, God self imposed something called Covenants. It is because of His covenants that, after all that have taken place, God still have not given up on Israel, on you and on me.

So this unchanging God, for the sake of his love for us, has giving us a spirit of repentance that releases His mercy, that causes himself to hold himself back from releasing the judgment that we deserve. This unchanging God has self impose covenants that are sustained by, primarily, Him. This proves to be not a contradiction, but the rules that God imposed to himself to prove himself not as a lair, but to prove his goodness.

I can hear David saying amen to these words, for he states, “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:16-17 (KJV)

God has proven himself not be an unfair judge or an emotional one, judging one way today and a different way tomorrow just because. But the consistency of his mercy has been seen since the beginning of times. Salomon put it this way, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” (KJV)

Look at the balance as God formally introduce himself to Moses,

6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Exodus 34:6-8 (KJV)

You see words such as merciful, gracious, longsuffering, goodness and truth highlighted. But also a fair God who will, by no means, clear the guilt, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children up until the forth generation.

Beloved, thank God for his self imposed system of mercy. Who are we to question the way He does things? How dare we yell contradictions in Scripture? Do we not know that the Scripture is God’s Word? This is a Holy Book! Without the Holy Ghost it will be impossible for us to understand. Still, even when we don’t understand, we must face the reality that we know in part.

For now, let us remember the seriousness of this book as the Apostle John states,

“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:19 (KJV)

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