01/31/26 USE THIS TIME FOR GOOD

01/31/26 USE THIS TIME FOR GOOD

I was in Cleveland, Ohio, during the Blizzard of 78. While helping someone shovel out, the radio reported the wind chill was 100° below zero. The drippings from the neighbor's nose formed a long icicle while we were shoveling.

That being said, let me say in the vernacular of my home folk, about our present situation, "this is a bad time." Be careful, be considerate, be in prayer for yourself and others. Use this time for you and your family to draw near to God.

01/31/26 THE WHOLE PACKAGE

01/31/26 THE WHOLE PACKAGE

You have probably heard the illustration about the hitchhiker who caught a ride, but instead of placing his heavy backpack in the backseat, he held it on his lap.
The driver asked him why he didn't just put it in the other seat. The hitchhiker said, "It was nice enough of you to give me a ride, but I did not want you to carry my baggage too?

Sometimes, believers have the same mistaken view of salvation. They trust Jesus to forgive their sins, but they don't trust Him to carry their burdens or to relieve them of their sinful nature.

Either that person does not have a pastor leading them into full salvation from all sin, or they love their Carnal (Double) Mind, or they refuse to exercise the faith in Christ's sacrifice that will set them free from ALL SIN (actions and nature).

Full salvation, "being saved to the uttermost" in this present evil world, does not save us from being human. ln fact, we cannot be saved from being human, (nor should we want to be saved from being human.) Full salvation (aka Entire Sanctification, Ephesians 5:23) does not save us from being human, it saves us from the inherited corruption, pollution, and inclination to sin. Salvation saves from sin by cleansing the sinner's hands (from disobedience) and purifying the hearts of the DOUBLE MINDED, CARNAL MINDED believer (from the Law of Sin and Death, the Old Man).

Jesus did not die and rise again to leave us in our sin; He died and rose again to save us from our sin. Jesus forgives, cleanses, purifies, empowers, and enables believers to walk in victory over sin, not in sin.

01/31/26 AVAILABLE TO ALL, POSSESED BY FEW

01/31/26 AVAILABLE TO ALL, POSSESED BY FEW

I know you have read this passage many, many times, but I want to repeat it and highlight a specific point.

This passage states emphatically and often that salvation is salvation from sin and sinning. Living righteously and obediently by faith is the norm, the standard life of a Christian. Being saved, living the saved life is not "doing the best I can," it is being and doing that for which we were saved. Salvation is God's transforming and enabling power for sinners to become new creations and to live lives that are becoming to a child of God.

Notice that in this passage (as in all of Scripture), the Divine directive is to live righteously, and there is a backup plan for a believer who might sin. We have a Savior from sin (Jesus), and an Enabler to follow Christ fully (the Holy Spirit, but IF ANY MAN SIN, WE (believers) HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS. Earlier, we were told, "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 (the Father's) Son cleanses us from all sin." Everyone has sinned, and all were born with a sin nature, and confession is essential to salvation. Therefore, John also said,
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." God has a standard He requires, and He also has a provision for unwarranted and unnecessary sin that a believer may commit.

The provision is part of salvation, but it is not the norm of salvation. The norm is deliverance from sin, the norm is walking in the light, the norm is obedience, being more than a conqueror, the norm is keeping His commandments and doing that which is pleasing in His sight, the norm is having clean hands and a pure heart. When failure to follow takes place, God is able to forgive and restore, but He requires confession, faith and reconciliation.

Don't get confused, returning to God, reconciliation with God is not an automatic; it is a choice. Just as disobedience is a choice, restoration is a choice, made available by the grace of God.

In this passage I designate the portions that indicate victorious living with (*) and I designate the portion that indicates failure with (x).

1 John 2:1-6
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not (*). And if any man sin (x), we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments (*).

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (dlg note... victory over sin is the standard).

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected (*): hereby know we that we are in him (*).

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked (*).

01/30/26 GOD'S PROVISION FOR YOU

01/30/26 GOD'S PROVISION FOR YOU

The unsaved, by the millions, have found forgiveness, newness of life, deliverance from sin, cleansing of the mind and the life, and the conscience by trusting in the sacrificial death and physical resurrection of Christ.

In the same way, God will cleanse and purify the heart of any believer from the corruption and the pollution of inherited, sinful nature. Just as cleansing the hands of the sinner is a Divine act, so too is the purifying deliverance from the Carnal Mind a definite work of grace for the believer.

If you are living a life of spiritual ebb and flow, victory and failure, then you need to believe God, surrender fully, and die to the world, the flesh, and the devil, and come fully alive in Christ. There is no need to carry around the Carnal Mind. You can have the mind of Christ constantly abiding, and He will always lead you in triumph in Christ.

Why do I repeat this message so often? Because most of the time that I talk to Christians and ask them if they are walking consistently in Jesus, they say, "I am trying," or "I do, most of the time," or "I am doing the best I can," or "It is so difficult," or "I am only human."

Remember, I am not referring to those who are trying to work their way to heaven. I am talking about people who have been saved, and they sincerely want to please God. But they have been told they cannot live victoriously over sin. They have been lied to and thereby held captive to Satan's power.

What would be your response if I ask you, "Are you following Jesus as closely as you can, every day?" Anything less than a heartfelt, "Yes," is a confession that you need to be filled with God's Spirit, and you need to walk in faith.

1 John 2:1-6
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

01/30/26 DON'T GET ROBBED

01/30/26 DON'T GET ROBBED

There are people (who call themselves Christian) who will tell you that you cannot quit sinning, that you cannot obey God's commands, that God's saving grace cannot make you holy, pure, righteous, or conform you to the image of Jesus.

They probably also tell you that Romans 7 is "PROOF" that Christians cannot be delivered from the Old Man, the Carnal Mind, the Double Mind, the Law of Sin and Death (also referred to as the Sinful Nature.) However, Romans 7 actually says that God does deliver faithful believers from the Adamic nature. Then Romans 8 gives details on this deliverance from "all sin."

Don't think that such a misrepresentation of God's salvation is unimportant. Faith is key to salvation. Lack of faith is key to lostness. ("Without faith it is impossible to please God", and, "He that knows to do good, but does not do it, to him it is sin."

Knowing that God's salvation actually purifies the heart of the faithful Christian is key to victorious living and spiritual productivity. Knowing the truth sets us free.

I used the following method when I read and when I study a passage of Scripture.

As you read a passage, insert a mental marker (*) next to comments that declare (indicate victorious Christian living over sin in this present evil age. This is how I would set markers for Romans 8.

Romans 8:1-14
1 There is therefore now no condemnation (*) to them which are in Christ Jesus (*), who walk not after the flesh (*), but after the Spirit (*).
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (*).
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us (*), who walk not after the flesh (*), but after the Spirit (*).
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh (*); but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit (*).
6 For to be carnally minded is death (*); but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (*).
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God (*): for it is not subject to the law of God *
(*), neither indeed can be (*).
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (*).
9 But ye are not in the flesh (*), but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (*). Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you (*), the body is dead because of sin (*); but the Spirit is life because of righteousness (*).
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (*).
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh (*), to live after the flesh (*).
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (*): but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body (*), ye shall live (*).
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God (*), they are the sons of God (*).

Now, if these verses mean what they say, then Romans 7 cannot mean what sinning religions says it means. In fact, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gave us a very clear insight into the problem of inherent sin and then gave us the solution to the problems of the sinful nature in 7:24-25, which is addressed in much more detail in Romans 8.

01/30/26 A TREASURE TROVE OF TRUTH

01/30/26 A TREASURE TROVE OF TRUTH

I re-read this passage recently and was amazed all over again. I hope you read it now. It is a great truth, a great reminder, a great encourager. It is also stunning in its overthrow of sinning religion. As I read it, I inserted a marker (*) next to comments that declare victorious Christian living over sin in this present evil age. I also thought about folks who don't believe in total deliverance from sin. Maybe they should read it and put a marker (x) next to comments with which they do not agree or comments they think are refuted or "explained away" by other passages in the New Testament.

Here is an example of what I am saying, using John 3:16

John 3:16 (my response)
16 For God so loved (*) the world (*), that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever (*) believeth (*) in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (sinning religion's response)
16 For God so loved (x) the world (x), that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever (x) believeth (x) in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Here is my response to the Colossian passage.
Colossians 1:9-23
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you (*), and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will (*) in all wisdom (*) and spiritual understanding (*);
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord (*) unto all pleasing (*), being fruitful in every good work (*), and increasing in the knowledge of God (*);
11 Strengthened with all might (*), according to his glorious power (*), unto all patience (*) and (*) longsuffering with joyfulness (*) ;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (*) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (*):
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness (*), and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (*):
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood (*), even the forgiveness of sins (*):
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross (*), by him to reconcile all things unto himself (*); by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (*)
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy (*) and unblameable (*) and unreproveable (*) in his sight:
23 If ye continue (*) in the faith grounded and settled (*), and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel (*), which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

01/27/26 PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

01/27/26 PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

I decided to venture out to check my "trail cam," while it was still warm outside. It is supposed to get down into the 20s at night this week.

On days and nights like this, I think about the folks who have no shelter, and folks lost at sea. I don't take my comforts for granted. I know that some folks enjoy comforts that they don't deserve, and some folks suffer desperate circumstances that they don't deserve. Even believers are subjected to unimaginable conditions. History is filled with believers who have suffered for Christ's sake. Current conditions afflict believers who are suffering for Christ's sake. Who knows what any of us may face in the days ahead, for the sake of the gospel?

But this we know, God is for us, God is with us, God is within us. He will never leave nor forsake us, whether we suffer because of personal trials, or attacks and persecution by the enemy of our souls.

Romans 8:18-19
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6-18
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.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.