Independent Forgiveness

As we forgive those who sin against us...

Matthew 6:12, 14-15 KJV
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Dearly beloved, when we read the Bible, it is highly IMPORTANT that we "rightly divide". If you carefully examine this statement of Jesus, it expresses an effort based forgiveness from God. Simply put - LAW. The law was still very effective at this time and this is why this came up.

However today, it will be foolish for any man to think God's forgiveness is based on his self effort. God's forgiveness is independent of you or your actions. It is purely an act of grace and not by how well you have been forgiving others but because of Christ.

Everything changed when Jesus resurrected! This is what our Lord said about God's forgiveness after resurrection (the law having been done away with)

Luke 24:46-47 KJV
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

After resurrection, God had already FORGIVEN ALL SINS (remission) of ALL men without first giving them a test to see if they will forgive those who sin against them or not. He forgave us independent of us.

God's forgiveness had now become something preached, not demanded anymore. To preach means to announce, to proclaim the news of what happened somewhere. Jesus after resurrection said, God's forgiveness will now be an announcement among all nations. We are therefore to go and bear witness of the news of the forgiven world; of how that all sins have been paid for by Christ Jesus.

See what the apostles said after resurrection,

*[[Col 3:13]] KJV* Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

*[[Eph 4:32]] KJV* And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you [not will forgive you, but has already forgiven].

Note that they didn't preach Matthew 6:14,15. They didn't preach that "forgiving one another so that God can forgive you" rather, it is "even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" You're not sent to preach Matthew 6:14,15, you're sent to preach Luke 24:47, to announce "how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them" (2Cor5:19)

*[[2Co 5:19]] KJV* To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

It is no more "if thou will forgive us our trespasses as we forgive..." because today, God is not imputing their trespasses unto them, another word for complete forgiveness we have. A knowledge of this we make us know we have no option but to forgive our brothers when they offend, whether they acknowledge their sins or not; whether they apologise or not. Christ did not negotiate with us before dealing with our sins for us. We love Him!
Alleluia!

"Once Purged" Should be Enough

The word "once purged" is a phrase that can be found in Hebrews 10 and it gives a picture worth paying attention to.

*[[Heb 10:2]] KJV* ...the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Did you see anything in that? Or you want to read again?

worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins

Let me put it this way for better picture.

worshippers once purged should [be enough to remain purged for all times and] have had no more conscience of sins [for ever and ever and ever]

Hmm...
So it means the proper, normal thing should be "once purged, always purged" and always without "conscience of sins".

It means it is actually ABNORMAL and IMPROPER a situation where "once purged is NOT always purged"; a situation where you must be forgiven as it were "daily" or as time call for it. Hmmm...

Please let this sink if you believe the bible. Or would some other versions of the bible help?

New Living Translation
If they could have provided PERFECT cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified ONCE FOR ALL TIME, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared

ISV Otherwise, would they not have stopped offering them, because the worshipers, cleansed ONCE FOR ALL, would no longer be aware of any sins?

Lay your hands on other versions that may be of help: the language is the same: ONCE FOR ALL.

It simply means the pattern of perpetual "confess your sins" as established by the law (or even "The Lord's Prayer which came under the law and not grace) was to God abnormal and due to something that was MISSING. What was missing? "the perfect" had not come! (Hebrews 10:1). But if the "imperfect" be so effective as to keep millions in the world away from wrath, how much more when the perfect and normal has come!

Dearly beloved, God wants you to live holy but not by neglecting or reducing what Christ did for you. Those worshippers were right to have keep coming annually to seek forgiveness of sins because what they had was only a shadow of things to come. But for us today, the very image has come. Why then should we prefer the shadow of things to come to the real thing to come?

What Mankind Really Needed

The law came as though men were angels, demanding a perfection which cannot be achieved by flesh. (Even angels could not keep common estate! Jude 6; how much more mortal man who is sexually alive unlike angels?)

Man needed a righteousness to keep the devil away and to close in with His Maker.

Man had laws to keep and live
Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD.

But…
It is evident that all man could have by this way is a temporal/conditional righteousness. If Israel is said to be righteous now, just wait: it's only a matter of time, they'll soon break the law and become unrighteous. We thought Moses to be super law keeper but that also did not last: he soon lose his temper and oh Moses! but you shouldn't have acted that way. Oh Moses! But we face the same condition too. We make up our mind, dedicate and rededicate; make resolutions; make vows not to break the law: but the next moment, we've broken our vow. Temporal, "coming-and-going" righteousness.

So man needed a remedy for sins.

Now the law stipulates a remedy when man sins. It's called sacrifices and offerings.

Fantastic!

But again, this would be cost the sinner something much: what if the sinner is poor? Should a law of God favour the rich making heaven and disqualifying the poor even when the Lord is the maker of both people?

Besides, this method could not take away sins.

*[[Heb 10:4]] KJV* For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Even this that is called "forgiveness" by sacrifices is valid only till next sin point or at most next year.

*[[Heb 10:1]] KJV* For the law...  with those sacrifices which they offered YEAR BY YEAR continually...

Man could only reach out to righteousness which is scoped by human abilities - that which can be called "muscular righteousness"; forgiveness which is temporal, time bound, perpetual and non perfecting; sins which cannot be completely buried but must be remembered annually. The priests therefore had a busy schedule making offerings continually to keep wrath away.
Oh the rich, oh the poor, the scribes, the gentiles: none could give an eternal ransom. A man who gains the whole world cannot sell the whole world to save his soul. Man needed something lasting.

*[[Psa 49:6-9]] KJV* They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

Here comes Jesus! Resolved to do the Father's will. If He that must come comes bringing the same temporal righteousness, temporal forgiveness, temporal sanctification, such that we must still go to the temple daily confessing for sins and needing forgiveness daily, then He need not come at all! Man had been doing that before. But mankind needs something better! If my acceptance before God will still be premised upon how well I've behaved, then there's no difference.

Introducing...
A "new and living way" in contrast to the erstwhile "dead works"

Jesus! He did it! Not perpetual anymore! Once! Once and for all!

Today, ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS is available!

*[[Dan 9:24]] KJV* Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an END OF SINS, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

*[[1Co 1:30]] KJV* But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness...
*[[2Co 5:21]] KJV* For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

*[[Psa 112:9]] KJV* his righteousness endureth for ever

*[[Psa 112:3]] KJV* ...and his righteousness endureth for ever.

And having a STABLE eternal righteousness now, the blessings we get from the Lord on basis of righteousness can now be eternal too.

*[[Heb 9:15]] KJV* And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of ETERNAL INHERITANCE.

ETERNAL LIFE is available!

*[[Joh 11:26]] KJV* And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

*[[1Jn 5:11-13]] KJV* And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

ETERNAL REDEMPTION is available!

*[[Heb 9:12]] KJV* Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

ETERNAL SALVATION !

*[[Isa 45:17]] KJV* But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an EVERLASTING SALVATION: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world WITHOUT END

*[[Isa 51:6]] KJV* Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be FOR EVER, and my righteousness SHALL NOT BE ABOLISHED.

*[[Heb 5:9]] KJV* And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Ahhhh!!!Mankind joy will no longer be short lived. Moses' law could not give this. Our joy is everlasting.

*[[2Th 2:16]] KJV* Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us EVERLASTING CONSOLATION and good hope through grace,

No wonder David will always say "I will bless the Lord FOREVER AND EVER".
Ahhh! Just what mankind needed! But ignorance/unbelief will keep many away.

The man is called Christ Jesus!
The requirement is hear and believe it's true for you! (Romans 10:9-10)

In conclusion,
If it's all the same laborious keep-the-law-to-make-heaven, righteous-till-next-sin or forgiven momentarily, then I'm sorry for Jesus: Jesus' death is NOT WORTH IT

The Validity of Hebrews 9:12

Heb 9:12 KJV Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

If the above verse is anything to go by, then the following conclusions are valid.

1. He entered in once...for us..

Meaning I don't have to worry anymore about the dilemma of "who shall ascend into God's hill?", "who is qualified?" Etc. Someone has done that for me. I already have a rep there. If my rep is there, then I'm there too.

2. He entered in ONCE...

If I must enter (and my entering is not by the blood of bulls and calves), one time entering is ALL that is needed. Lest it's not different from the way it is practiced under the law. That means if I need a forgiveness of sins to enter, then I need the forgiveness ONCE. If it's justification I need, then I need it just ONCE. If it's salvation I need then I need it just ONCE...
why?
Because only ONE TIME ENTERING IS needed (in the new covenant). Also, we all don't have to go everyone INDIVIDUALLY since one man Christ Jesus can do that for us and get whatever we must get from the holy place.

3. Having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Meaning, Jesus going there for us is not to "try" if He can get us eternal redemption and if He's unable to, maybe we find alternatives. No! But it says,
Having [already] obtained eternal redemption for us, He entered in once into the holy place.
So it's not a 50-50 chance. He already got it settled.
Therefore, ascension could not have preceded redemption, but redemption made ascension possible in as much as He ascended to sit.

4. Eternal redemption for us.
The kind of redemption Jesus got whichever people He got it for must be ETERNAL. If yours is conditional, maybe you're not one of them Jesus got for. Because there seem to be many "saviours" in this world. (Your saviour is anyone you entrust your eternal destiny into.)
It's only when it's conditional will you need to go into the holy place again and again each time you sin.

As for me, I'm glad to be among the "us" for whom Jesus got the eternal redemption. I have believed in Jesus! I'm born again and filled with the Holy Ghost! I have believed ONCE to enter ONCE. I have received forgiveness ONCE to enter ONCE. I'm glad I'm born again! What about you?

Who shall enter into God's Holy Hill?

Psalms 15 posed a serious question of concern:

Psalm 15:1-5 KJV
Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? [2] He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. [3] He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. [4] In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord . He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. [5] He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

It was buttressed by Psalms 24

Psalm 24:3-4 KJV
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? or who shall stand in his holy place? [4] He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

A pure heart... a pure heart... a pure heart... God is holy. God's hill is holy. A man that must ascend here must be holy in and out.

The outward holiness was still very likely as at the time that scripture was written. The Pharisees wash outside hands habitually (Matthew 7:5). They wash the outside of the cup..

*[[Mat 23:25]] KJV* Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
(Also Luke 11:39)

External qualities of good conduct, praying and fasting regularly, giving to the poor and having good deeds, they are so excellent so much that Jesus dedicated them a righteousness saying "THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES"

*[[Mat 5:20]] KJV* For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 18:11-12 KJV
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are , extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

However, the inside has always been a problem because THE HEART IS INACCESSIBLE by deeds.

Jeremiah confessed.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked: who can know it? [none but] I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

The inside is deceitful and tricky: you could be deceived to think you're clean if you count on your gullible eyes.

Such was the case of the "holy" Isaiah who used to think he's pure above others until Isaiah 6 when He that can try the heart to know it's true state made him see his wretchedness. Then he cried.,

Isaiah 6:5 KJV
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.

Psalm 14:1-3 KJV
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. [2] The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. [3] They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

So the question: who shall enter into God's hill is magnified. Who is qualified? Remember God, who alone knows the heart, has concluded all under sin: you may think you're OK to go in, but Isaiah tried it and he saw how true God's conclusion is. "Holy" Moses attempted the same. He asked to see God's glory but he saw God's "back" showing him God's not at peace with men including himself. So who shall enter into God's hill?

The answer?

Hebrews 9:8 KJV
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

The Holy Ghost was passing a message in all these scriptures that man cannot come... Yes, your sins have separated you from your God (Isaiah 59:1-2) but a man will soon come and make peace by His blood and will bring many sons unto glory, the glory Moses was begging to see.

So when you read those verses and similar ones, you'll be a good Bible student to interprete that was because the way into the holy hill was not yet manifest. But today,

Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood HE ENTERED... Alleluia!

Did he entered just for himself? No!

he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption FOR US .

The verse is saying, we don't need a repetitive entering. In fact, we don't need to enter individually... so NO PERSONAL ASSESSMENT or personal examination must be passed.

Once He entered and that is just ENOUGH! Oh great joy He entered having secured eternal redemption for us! Today we have an eternal redemption if the above scripture is anything to go by. This is the glory of the new covenant. Alleluia!

EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD?

*[[1Sa 19:9]] KJV* And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

It's clear today that that account is an imperfect revelation because we have seen Jesus, the brightness of God's glory and express image of His person and we found there is NO EVIL in Him.

The people of the old testament had certain limitations in their insight because man was yet spiritually dead. The devil was able to hide in their ignorance that when he does his work (to kill, steal and destroy), the people will still think God is the doer.

But because of the new creation, we have an unction from the holy One, and we know all things (1John 2:20). We can now boldly declare that evil is not the work of God! Sickness was never created by God! God does not use satanic tools: evil, sickness is satanic.

*[[1Jn 1:5]] KJV* This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

EasyEnglish Jesus Christ gave us a message and this is the message: God is good and *clean like light. There is nothing dark about him.

*[[Jas 1:13]] KJV* Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But in the old, you'll see things like:
*[[Amo 3:6]] KJV* Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

*[[Isa 45:7]] KJV* I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

No! God did not create evil. James says God tempts no one with evil. we see all that God created in Genesis: ALL were pronounced as good. Evil came later through another means.

More explanations on the origin of evil will come in subsequent posts. Share.
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The Gospel that is Balanced

Someone said,

a balanced gospel teaching is when you teach that making heaven / salvation is only when you believe in Jesus and also obey the law: not just believing in Jesus alone, or just not doing evil alone: but believing Jesus and also keeping the commandments. That this is balanced gospel.

Hmm... Sounds appealing? Nodding your head too?

It's not a balanced gospel: it is a balanced error!

Every believer should be of good conduct (Matthew 5:16); live holy lives (1Peter 1:15-16 2Cor 7:1); and should be careful to maintain GOOD works (Titus 3:8).

However, they are not saved (or going to make heaven) by their good conducts!

If there is any of the good works you've been doing before they got born again
(such as being respectful to elders, not fornicating, being honest, maybe you don't even take alcohol nor smoke)
and despite those good works you remain UNSAVED, it goes to show you those things CANNOT effect a salvation in you. They could not write your name in heaven!

That's the misery of good works.

And if you only started to do good only after they got saved, it goes to show you those things know NOTHING and have NOTHING to contribute to your salvation... since they came after salvation has already happened.

Only what effected the salvation can affect it. Only what brought the salvation can keep or withdraw it: WORKS HAVE NO SAY in the matter because good works is only an AFTERMATH of salvation.
Salvation abounds in much fruit in some people, and have less fruit in some others depending on individual receptiveness. Believers should walk more and more in the Spirit so they give more and more fruit unto holiness. The fruit however does not decide the tree, rather, the tree decides/affects/sustains the fruit.

What then is "balanced teaching"? Balanced truth teaching is:

Titus 2:1-14 KJV
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: ...be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. ...be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things...to love their husbands, to love their children... be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to...husbands... In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; For (because) the GRACE OF GOD that bringeth SALVATION hath appeared to all men, (and because we have received this, it is) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

A balanced gospel honours Christ redemption as eternal (Hebrews 9:12); does not refer to Christ's blood-purchased salvation as incomplete. it achieves zealous people by magnifying Grace.