Baal-Peor Prophets Killed.

Bible Questions Answered:

“Elijah killed 450 prophets because they worshiped Baal. We can differ in our views, but we don't kill people. I think this was wrong, and not from God...”

John/ Portland, Oregon U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

I Kings 18:40 KJV (Read the whole story I Kings 18:1-40/ See also Numbers 25.)

And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Baal-Peor (lord of the opening) was the pagan idol god of the Moabites. Baal worship involved sexual immorality and perversions, idol worship and the sacrificing of infants to the fiery god Baal.

Though the Baal prophets cried aloud and cut themselves, for 9 hours, their false god, did not, would not answer them!

Note of warning to those who, yes, even today, worship Baal-Peor! Satan, is Baal, and the reward Satan will give someone who has faithfully served him all their life-is pain and never ending torment in hell!

Satan is faithful to no one. Satan's heart is not filled with “love,” but hate! And Satan hates God, and all those who have been fashioned in His image!

Elijah's prayer to The Living God, was answered immediately, not only that but....

*Fire came from heaven, and burnt up the...

*Sacrifice

*Wood

*Stones

*Dust and

*Water

And all the people cried out saying

I Kings 18:39 KJV

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.

Then we read:

I Kings 18:40 KJV

And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Now it doesn't take very much imagination, to realize that the prophet Elijah could hardly slay 450 men single handedly! They would all run for their lives.

But what is it that we read-

“And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them:”

This was “not,” the sole action of just one man! All of Israel, realized that they had sinned against

The Living God! “all the people saw it, they fell on their faces:”

This was a community action.

The Israelites killed the prophets of Baal.

Now was this unjust? We will not take the time to reemphasize the hellish sins of Baal worshipers, only to say, that they because of their hellish ways, had sent many thousands of souls to hell!

“Where a people have no morals, they will live immorally!” Joseph J. Reine

Now what about today.

Where is the state, or country where “the death sentence,” does not exist?

Capital Punishment, exists around the world for the hell bent being who, rapes, tortures or kills at will!

And it is safe to say, that it always will.

Why? Because decent, men, women and precious little children have every right to live, and that in freedom from the very demons of hell.

And what of our world today? Our world is doing its best to shake off any idea of morals. Morals are for those who are not free (they would say).

Romans 6:16 NLT

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

Joel 3:14 KJV

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of The Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Psalm 95:6-11 NLT

6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before The Lord our maker,

7 for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care. If only you would listen to His voice today!

8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.

9 For there your ancestors tested and tried My patience, even though they saw everything I did.

10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from Me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’

11 So in My anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter My place of rest.’”

• Salvation Prayer

Christ Would Profit Them Nothing!

Bible Questions Answered:

“...Paul said that Christ would profit them nothing!....”

Ericka/ Bangalore, Karnataka (India)

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

Galatians 5:2 KJV

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Yes, Paul said those words, but what was the context of his speaking!

The Apostle was talking about keeping the injunctions and prohibitions of Jewish Law.

Galatians 5:1-6 NLT

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.

3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.

4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

5 But we who live by The Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.

6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

To believe in the law, (Mosaic Law), for salvation,

is to separate yourself from salvation by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ!

One cannot believe in both!

The keeping of the Law, and the life of faith in Jesus Christ, these two are mutually exclusive of each other, that is they cancel each other out.

Homily:

On one side of the coin is The Law. On the other side of the coin is Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ.

OK, toss the coin!

It cannot land on both sides, either it will be one or thee other, but certainly not both!

One must either believes in salvation by works-the law or not.

And if that is what one believes The Word tells us....

James 2:10 KJV

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

No one could, perfectly keep the law, all failed!

Galatians 3:24,25 KJV

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The Law, taught mankind one thing, no man could be perfect before the Law.

Galatians 3:13,14 NLT

13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing He promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

Romans 6:14 KJV

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Galatians 4:21-31 NLT (The two sons of Abraham.)

21 Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says?

22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.

23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of His promise.

24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them.

25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law.

26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother.

27 As Isaiah said, “Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband!”

28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.

29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of The Spirit.

30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” (Ed. Note-that is the keeping of the law.)

31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.

So, did the Apostle say “Christ shall profit you nothing”? Yes, but he said it in light of some. who thought they could earn salvation by the keeping of Jewish customs and ordinances.

Galatians 2:16 KJV

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is The Gift Of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Homily:

Salvation to the Jews, was to be constantly, earnestly, attempting to keep the law.

Something akin to workers in a boat yard making and crafting great boats, for sea worthiness.

There was no end to their work, for to have salvation, they must relentlessly, fail or no, be at the work of craftsmanship. Oh, they could not sail, for there was no time for that, for they were bound to their work.

The Christian, is at sea in liberty. The winds may howl and blow, yet the ship of faith, holds them, and they have seen the face of their Captain, and are not afraid.

Isaiah 61:1 KJV

The Spirit Of The Lord God is upon me; because The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

• Salvation Prayer

Guardians Of The Sacred

Bible Questions Answered:

“In Matthew its words we are not to cast pearls before swine. Whats Christ's meaning here?...”

Mert/ Mansoura, Egypt (Daqahlia)

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

Matthew 7:1-6 NLT

1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?

4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy (KJV- Give not that which is holy unto the dogs). Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

These were our Lord's words to His disciples, His emissaries of The Good News.

Three short parables regarding:

1) Criticism 2) Hypocrisy and 3) Sacred Guardianship.

The Messengers Of The Gospel, Must Not Criticize Others.

1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

Psalm 82:1-4 KJV

1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty..."

2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Isaiah 53:6 KJV

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

John 8:7 KJV (The story: 1-11)

So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Romans 3:10,23 KJV

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The Messengers Of The Gospel, Must Not Be Hypocrites.

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?

4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Matthew 7:21 KJV

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.

I Corinthians 9:13,14 KJV

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14 Even so hath The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

The Messengers Of The Gospel, We Must Be Guardians Of That Which Is Sacred.

6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy (KJV- Give not that which is holy unto the dogs). Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

As messengers of the New Covenant, we must guard well the things of God!

The Apostle Paul:

I Timothy 4:7 NLT

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales..."

I Timothy 6:20,21 NLT

20 Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge.

21 Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness..."

II Timothy 2:15,16 NLT

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains The Word Of Truth.

16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.

17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.

18 They have left the path of Truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

19 But God’s Truth stands firm like A Foundation Stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and “All who belong to The Lord must turn away from evil.”

Christians Are To Be Guardians Of The Sacred:

The Name Of God:

Exodus 20:7 KJV

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Leviticus 19:12 KJV

And ye shall not swear by My name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God:

I am The Lord.

Matthew 6:9 KJV

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed (Holy) be thy name.

The House Of God:

Leviticus 19:3o KJV

Ye shall keep My sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am The Lord.

Psalm 89:7 KJV

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.

John 2:13-17 KJV

13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15 And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father's house an house of merchandise.

17 And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten Me up.

Ephesians 1:22,23 KJV

22 And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be The Head over all things to the church,

23 Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.

The Gospel Of Jesus Christ:

John 5:39 KJV

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

II Timothy 3:16,17 KJV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

II Peter 1:20,21 KJV

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by The Holy Ghost.

Revelation 22:18,19 KJV

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 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.

God's Messengers Must Guard Well, The Rite Of Marriage:

Genesis 2:18-24 KJV

18 And The Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

19 And out of the ground The Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21 And The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which The Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Proverbs 18:22 KJV

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of The Lord.

I Timothy 5:14 KJV

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Hebrew 13:4 KJV

Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whore mongers and adulterers God will judge.

God's Messengers, Must Guard Life:

Genesis 2:7 KJV

And The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Job 33:4 NLT

For The Spirit Of God has made me, and The Breath Of The Almighty gives me life.

Psalm 22:9 KJV

But thou art He that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

Psalm 71:5,6 NLT

5 O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.

6 Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!

Psalm 104:30 KJV

Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created..."

Psalm 139:13-16 NLT

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Isaiah 44:2,24 KJV

2 Thus saith The Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb..."

24 Thus saith The Lord, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am The Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself;

Isaiah 46:3,4 NLT

3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob (True of all God's people.), all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.

4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

Isaiah 49:5,15,16 KJV

5 "... The Lord that formed me from the womb..."

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.

Jeremiah 1:4,5 NLT

4 The Lord gave me this message:

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart..."

Acts 17:29,29 KJV

28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

29 "...we are the offspring of God..."

Our Lord knew well, there were, and there would be, those who lived to blaspheme the things of God.

Their fate sealed by their own hands. God's Messengers, Be On Guard!

“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy (KJV- Give not that which is holy unto the dogs). Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

I Timothy 4:1,2,11-16 KJV

1 Now The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Apostle Paul's closing words:

11 These things command and teach.

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in Spirit, in faith, in purity.

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Salvation Prayer

Self-Righteousness

Bible Questions Answered:

“...I've seen some of those holier than thous and I don't want any part of it...”

Kelly/ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 KJV

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?

17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

The Preacher (King Solomon), seems to be saying, (Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise:) don't be overly righteous.

At first glance, it would seem as though Solomon is against going over board in any spiritual direction, and that middle ground living is what is called for.

Actually Solomon had seen some holier than thou's in his time, and he was speaking of “Self-Righteousness.” People who are holy in their own eyes.

Proverbs 12:15 KJV (Solomon)

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 20:6 KJV (Solomon)

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Proverbs 30:12 KJV (Solomon)

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Well, if Solomon was talking about the dangers of self-righteousness, what did he think about serving God, with all ones heart?

Proverbs 2:1-9 KJV (Solomon)

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of The Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

6 For The Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a Buckler (Shield) to them that walk uprightly.

8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints.

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

Proverbs 3:5-10 KJV (Solomon)

5 Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear The Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honor The Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Proverbs 30:5 KJV (Solomon)

Every Word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 KJV (Solomon)

For God giveth to a man that is good in His sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy..."

Ecclesiastes 7:18 KJV (Solomon)

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

Ecclesiastes 8:12 KJV (Solomon)

Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before Him:

Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 KJV (Solomon)

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Self-Righteousness, is sin, living obediently to The Lord, gives life, and honors God.

Jeremiah 2:35 KJV

And yet you say,‘I have done nothing wrong. Surely God isn’t angry with me!’ But now I will punish you severely because you claim you have not sinned.

II Corinthians 10:12 NLT (Apostle Paul)

Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

Leviticus 20:7 KJV

Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am The Lord your God.

Matthew 7:21 KJV

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.

I Peter 1:15,16 KJV

15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

• Salvation Prayer

Bible Lesson: Parable-Our Lord's: The Patched Garment.

Bible Lesson: Parable-Our Lord's: The Patched Garment.

Occasion: Jesus Spoke To The Pharisees.

Lesson: A Change In Heart Is Needed!

Bible Text:

Matthew 9:16 NLT

"...Who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

Mark 2:21 NLT

"...Who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

Luke 5:36 NLT

Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment.

Any tailor will tell you, when it comes to clothing there are some basic rules! One of these basic rules is, you may not patch an old garment with new cloth! And of course the reasons are obvious. When washed, the new cloth will pull away from the old (shrinkage).

An other reason why is because the color which is bright in the new cloth, will stand out from the older cloth, which is faded, because of washings and age.

Now why, oh why, would The Savior be lecturing the Pharisees on clothes repair?

He was using several illustrations to show that holding to Jewish Mosaic Laws as their salvation, they could never enter the kingdom of heaven. And why, because to enter the kingdom of heaven, they had to become New Creatures, created in Christ.

John 3:1-21 NLT

1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.

2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you The Truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and The Spirit.

6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but The Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of The Spirit.”

9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?

11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony.

12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But The Son Of Man has come down from heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

15 so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.

16 “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

17 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and Only Son.

19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s Light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than The Light, for their actions were evil.

20 All who do evil hate The Light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

21 But those who do what is right come to The Light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

The Apostle Paul spoke to the Galatians concerning the law and Christ.

Galatians 2:16 KJV

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:21 KJV

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:6-29 NLT

6 "...“Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when He said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”

9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under His curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”

11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”

13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing He promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive The Promised Holy Spirit through faith.

15 Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case.

16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his Child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his Child”—and that, of course, means Christ.

17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking His promise.

18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.

19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of The Child who was promised. God gave His law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.

20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when He gave His promise to Abraham.

21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it.

22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.

24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.

25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

• Salvation Prayer

Men And Animals Alike?

Bible Questions Answered:

“...men or animals we are all alike, come and pass and thats it. Solomon said that.....”

Winnie/ Cardiff, Wales (United Kingdom)

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 NLT (Solomon spoke of the unfairness of Life.)

16 I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt!

17 I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”

18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals.

19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless!

20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust.

21 For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.

Are men, mere animals? Is there nothing after death?

Is that what these words are saying?

Never!

Here is what King Solomon has said.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 NLT

I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”

Yes men will live as they wish, but after death, there will be a great reckoning, one day with God!

Acts 10:34 KJV An Honest Judge (See: James 2:1-13)

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a Truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Hebrews 9:27 KJV

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Will the spirits of man go up? (“ human spirit goes up”.)

Yes, one day all will stand before and give an account of his life and his works before God.

I Peter 4:4-6 NLT

4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.

5 But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.  

6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.

King Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 12:6,7,13,14 NLT

6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well.

7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

This is what King Solomon believed!

But if he believed this what did he mean when he said.....

Ecclesiastes 3:18-20 NLT

18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals.

19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless!

20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust.

Are people like animals?

Do we share the same fate?

Do men and animals, go to the same place?

In what regard, Solomon tells us!

We are all “mortal (of the flesh), meaning, we all will die!

Yes we share the same fate, as far as death is concerned!

In this regard, there is no difference for we all die, we all return to the dust (or the grave).

But as shown above, King Solomon believed “men,” not animals, would one day after death stand before The (Honest-and-Godly) Judge Of All The Earth.

Dear friend, do you know Him, are you living for Him?

Psalm 96:13 KJV

Before The Lord: for He cometh, for He cometh to Judge the earth: He shall Judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His Truth.

• Salvation Prayer

Perfection- 2

Bible Questions Answered:

“How does God expect us to be perfect as he is?”

Cassie/ Exeter, England United Kingdom

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

Matthew 5:38-48 NLT

38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.

41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.

44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Let there be no doubt as to the absolute holiness of God!

Exodus 15:11 KJV

Who is like unto thee, O Lord...who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Psalm 99:9 KJV

Exalt The Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill; for The Lord our God is holy.

Isaiah 6:1-4 NLT

1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw The Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple.

2 Attending Him were mighty Seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is The Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!”

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Revelation 15:3,4 KJV

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of The Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King Of Saints.

4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

When our Lord stated in ….

Matthew 5:48 NLT

But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Was He saying that His followers must become as God?

No, for in this world, sinless perfection or absolute sanctification, is impossible.

We live in a sinful world, and though we try, our spiritual best, the honest truth is, we fail!

Else, why would our Lord have taught us to pray.....

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Well, what then did Jesus mean, when saying “be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

The Apostle Paul, explains....

Philippians 3:12-14 NLT (Pressing on to the goal.)

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

OK, dear readers, if the beloved Apostle Paul, said he was not absolutely sanctified, (or had reached sinless perfection), who today, can say that “they,” have? Answer, NONE.

But the point here is, if Paul, had not reached any kind of spiritual perfection, what had The Lord called us to?

And the Apostle goes on to give us his answer.

Paul “pressed on to possess that perfection (vs. 13).”

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Perfection for God's child is that of always “striving,” always “pressing on,” to be like our Living God.

Being separate from sinners, and pressing on for the holiness of God.

II Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath Light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of The Living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith The Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith The Lord Almighty.

Leviticus 20:7,8 NLT

7 So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am The Lord your God.

8 Keep all My decrees by putting them into practice, for I am The Lord who makes you holy.

I Peter 1:15,16 KJV

15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Will we ever reach perfection in this life, the Apostle has already answered that, but we have a wonderful hope...

I John 3:1-3 KJV

1 Behold, what manner of love The Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

Luke 6:36 KJV

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

John 13:15 KJV

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

I Timothy 4:12 KJV

"...be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

I Peter 2:21 KJV

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:

Salvation Prayer

Job-Given To Satan?

Bible Questions Answered:
“Why did God give Job to the devil?...”
Jeff/ Hampton, Virginia U.S.A.

Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
James 1:13 NLT
"...God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else.

Reading Job's story, we realize that it was Satan, who brought about all Job's problems, not God!

Job 1:8-12 NLT
8 Then The Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed My servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
9 Satan replied to The Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God.
10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is!
11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
12 “All right, you may test him,” The Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left The Lord’s presence.

Satan's plan was two-fold, first to prove God a liar, and to destroy Job.

Now as a Bible Prayer Line reader, check the flyleaf of your Bible. There is our answer.

Psalm 145:17 KJV
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.
Now although God did not precipitate Jobs dilemma, yet He did have a purpose to “allowing,” Satan's challenge.

Satan's agenda was all too clear, but God had something in mind too, and it was that, though Job was a righteous man, God wanted Job to have yet a better image of just who He was.

Servants, animals and children gone, through all Satan's evil destruction, Job remained faithful.

Again Satan appeared before The Lord.

Job 2:2-10 NLT
2 “Where have you come from?” The Lord asked Satan. Satan answered The Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
3 Then The Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed My servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged Me to harm him without cause.”
4 Satan replied to The Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life.
5 But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
6 “All right, do with him as you please,” The Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.”
7 So Satan left The Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.
8 Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”
10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
Again, Job was faithful to The Lord.
Then three friends of Job, arrived, Zophar, Eliphaz and, Bildad. Their message, was not one of comfort, but of condemnation for sin.

Job 32:1 KJV
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Then The Lord visited Job, out of a whirlwind (Chapters 38-42). Now Job would have his answers.
Job had an encounter with The Living God.
When all was said and done, righteous Job said these words....

Job 42:5,6 KJV
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job had defended his righteousness before, but when he received a visit of The Lord Of Glory, his righteousness faded away in the light of God's eternal holiness.

Satan's plans had failed, God's intentions had succeeded!
Job had received a vision of The Lord, and was blessed by Him.

Job 42:10-17 NLT
10 When Job prayed for his friends, The Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, The Lord gave him twice as much as before!
11 Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials The Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.
12 So The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters.
14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.
15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.
16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren.
17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.

Oh how easy it is to rest in our righteousness! 
Easy that is, until we humble ourselves to receive a new vision of The Glory Of God.

There at the altar, like Job of old we will “ abhor (our-self), and repent in dust and ashes.

Isaiah 6:1-5 KJV
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also The Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is The Lord Of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen The King, The Lord Of Hosts.

Proverbs 29:18 KJV
Where there is no vision, the people perish..."

Psalm 17:15 KJV
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness
Salvation Prayer