Jesus Christ Must Be Free To Possess Us More And More

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 being.

Genesis 2:7

So Jesus said to them again,

 'Peace to you! As the Father 

has sent Me, I also send you.'

And when He had said this, 

He breathed on them, 

and said to them,

 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'

John 20:21-22

     Notice these two verses and their similarity inasmuch as God breathed on Adam and Adam became a living being. God gave to Adam life, not life as a plant, or tree, but life as a man, not as an animal, but to be a thinking man who has attributes that are of God, and man can think, act, and move due to his being able to think as a human being. When Jesus Christ breathed on the disciples this similarity cannot be overlooked, for it was this breath, the breath of God that would invigorate the disciples to do things that only God could do because now the Holy Spirit would reside in man, influencing man, guiding man, and as man would exercise this power God would do miracles. These two acts of God were assigned to certain people and never to given in such manner to anyone else. Eve did not receive the breath of God by God directly, and Christians do not receive the Holy Spirit directly as did the disciples who were breathed upon by Jesus Christ. Eve was a living being, a human being and could do all that Adam could do, she could bring forth life in her children, her progeny. The disciples could teach about God, His Son, what God had accomplished through Jesus Christ and those who were given grace and faith as a gift from God could also have the life given to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. God was the First Cause and in this life we are producers of second causes. God has never taken away our humanity. We are responsible for our actions and we will be judged according to what we have done: (Revelation 20:12-13). God as First Cause brought forth life, and Adam and Eve brought forth children; second cause. God is Providential and while allowing us to be human, to use the power of thought to do things according to how we think, we are the cause of second causes, but God has never released this world from His Providence. It was His will to create and His will is never thwarted, He controls all that happens so that His will is accomplished even though we make wrong choices. How can this be? It is due to one fact: God is God! God is not man, even though we often anthropromorphize Him. God is not as the Deist would have: sitting back allowing things to just happen. God is the First Cause and all else are second causes. God is not in everything as Pantheist would teach and believe. God is separate from all else that is created and all exists due to His power and control. All that happens is under His Providence and all will accomplish His purpose. That purpose is to have a people that will bring Him glory and live accordingly to His righteous commands. 

     There are those who teach that Jesus Christ is an angel, yet they ignore the facts that He breathed power into the disciples, as God breathed power into Adam. Could an angel do this and have the ability to not do this? Did God create a robot? No! This is God's world and we are a part of that world, but it is God's world and He controls all that happens while allowing us to be human. Then there are those who teach that somehow the soul of man is eternal, and then that soul is planted in a human body. Scripture never speaks of the soul of man as being eternal for if it was eternal then all that has been said is that the soul is a first cause. Where is God? Is not God God? Is not God the First Cause and is eternal? Yes? When are thinking is so askew by theology that is not Scriptural, when the Scriptures are said to be true according to correct interpretation and the interpretation is not allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture, then heresy is formed and people are misled and they create a set of standards according to their beliefs and not of Scripture. When Scripture is not the guide of man and only man's improper interpretation then Authentic Biblical Faith is not allowed to expand and possess more of the individual's life. The influence of the Holy Spirit, even though residing in a person, is limited and ineffective. 

     We are warned to take care of our hearts, our very lives by examining all things, and not to be weighed down by the cares of this world. Yet, there are those who would weigh down those who do not examine what is being taught by rules that are not of Scripture, but seem to be for they misuse Scripture to meet their ends. Jesus addressed such people whose goal is to further their causes and not His: "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and or a pretense make long prayers. these will receive greater condemnation." (Luke 20:46-47). Oh! These people put on a show of righteousness, but are nothing more than ravenous wolves: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits...." (Matthew 7:15:16a). 

     Does Jesus Christ possess you more and more? Does the truth of Scripture invade and control every part of your being? Are you willing to live for Him? Or, are you just so satisfied with where you are, all sounds so good, your emotions are so placated, that you will not do as Scripture has commanded: examine, change where it is needed, to live for Him and not for yourselves. If you allow yourself to be possessed by Jesus Christ and grow in sanctification, then you will be most blessed.

But Jesus said to him,

     'Follow Me, and let

the dead bury their 

    own dead.'

                        Matthew 8:22

God is Great And He Blesses Righteousness

Richard L. Crumb

 

Complancency Destroys Passion--Eliminates Committment

I opened for my beloved,

but my beloved had turned

away and was gone. 

My heart leaped up when he spoke.

I sought him, but I could not find him;

I called him, but he gave me no answer.

Song of Solomon 5:6

     There is a famous song that says: "Looking for love in all the wrong places..." and how many are looking for truth the One to love but are looking in all the "wrong places."  When you are seeking truth in the "wrong places" and you believe you found it, then so often does one become complacent placing their commitment to that which is not truth. But it sounds so true, so good, our hearts are just overwhelmed, we have found the One to love. But have you? Or is it that you are just satisfied and don't want to seek any longer?  Many people have fallen into that trap of complacency and desist from any other searching as though they need nothing more, as though they need not to examine all things. Scripture does not give us this relaxation, a time to just accept and acquiesce to whatever is said to us; for we are to study to seek the truth and to do this continually for if we do not then error will have and open door to creep in and if possible destroy all in its path. The writer of Proverbs gives this admonition: "My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands with you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up our voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5). It is a matter of the heart:  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). When our thinking is based on false information then our understanding of the nature of Authentic Biblical Faith becomes askew. True faith is something that so invades our lives that it affects everything we do. It is a matter of the heart, where its reality becomes our supreme influence. If our thinking is based upon the truth of Scripture, and our lives are attuned to follow Scripture no matter the consequences then we seek the truth, no matter where it be found, maybe it is in our "Church" our theology, but maybe not, how would you know if you do not search, not just read, not just accept, but truly search for an answer. When you do you will root out anything that is contrary to the truth of Authentic Biblical Faith, and by doing so you will bring all the heart's desire and affections under control. 

     The foundation of true Authentic Biblical Faith is that Jesus Christ comes to dwell in our lives by the presence of the Holy Spirit and by this then we are forced to measure all we do against this reality. If any thought or action that is inconsistent with Scripture, against this reality, this truth exists in us then our truth is defective and must be resisted. Our motivation is due to the Holy Spirit in us, and His presence then penetrates our every fiber, our being. 

     How often when discussing theological matters or things that others believe they become silent on the simple issues and are not addressed. This is complacency, it fact it is a matter of pride, as though they have the truth and they have not be mislead, but have they personally sought the truth, what is, or who is your love? Do you really want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Jesus gives us this as to what a disciple is: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot by My disciple" (Luke 14:26-27). This life attitude cannot be yours or mine if we have any other thing taking the place where Jesus Christ should dwell. If our heart is complacent; then our commitment is to something other than Jesus Christ. If your beliefs, your theology is not Authentic Biblical Faith then you are teaching what is offensive to God, to our Savior Jesus Christ. We may not be able to know everything, and we may make mistakes, but that is not to excuse us, for we are sentient individuals and we can examine and teach what the Bible actually states: "Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come'" (Luke 17:1)! We are to do all we can so that we are to be offensive, that is, to not allow Authentic Biblical Faith to rule our lives.

Prepare your outside work,

     make it fit for yourself

in the field; and afterward

    build your house.

                             Proverbs 24:27

Praise God For He Is Our Help!

Richard L. Crumb

God Is The Supreme Object Of Our Worship

Listen, O daughter,

consider and incline your ear,

forget your own people also,

and your father's house;

so the King will greatly ]

desire your beauty;

because He is your Lord,

worship Him.

Psalm 45:10-11

     Worship, a word tossed about with the winds, flowing this way and that way, and for many the definition is not what the Scriptures teach: "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4: 22-24). The Jews were the elected nation of people who were chosen by God, elected by God to be a people for His name and the nation from which would come the Messiah. John is relating the event when Jesus met the Samaritan women at the well, those who believed in Jehovah God, but did not worship Him in spirit and truth. They thought they did, they even had a mountain set aside for a temple, but their worship was not acceptable to God. Worship, so misunderstood and exercised in the same way that the Samaritan nation did, and even though they believe that they are doing right worship, they are not. Cultural "Christians" have added to their worship of God that which is not Scriptural. They ignore, or explain away the clear teaching of Jesus Christ. They follow the culture of the day. This is not something new, for it has been the problem for centuries, heresy is formed from such cultural leanings. Do you want to worship God rightly? Or do you want it your way? God is not interested in sharing His glory with any competitor. To place the glory of anything over the glory of God is idolatry: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me" (Exodus 20: 1-5). Does God take  worship seriously? Do you have things that are not in agreement with God in your home, in your life? If you do then you are those that God says: "of those who hate Me" (Exodus 20:5b). Whatever draws our hearts away from Him to do other than what He has revealed to us so that we do not destroy in us His glory, that which holds our affections is an idol. Only God is to be the object of our supreme worship.

     Culture "Christian" are so liberal in their theology because they make the culture their worship. How? They accept the current non-Scriptural culture as part of their lives by assenting to that which God has condemned. One of the largest movements today, you can find it in almost every TV program, ads, in school books, in secular teaching, is that of homosexuality. How clear does God have to make it so that a person would know how God views this lifestyle? Man with man, woman with woman, committing sin, living an abnormal lifestyle, and making excuses for doing so. It is lust, nothing more, and by the population being fed such swill they have come to accept this as normal, as the new TV program is espousing: "The New Normal,"  what sin, normal is normal it is not new, it is normal and it has always been normal. Moses wrote this two the nation of Israel: "You shall not led with a male as a woman. It is an abomination" (Leviticus 18: 22). God was protecting Israel by these commands so that they would not be as the nations around them, they were not to accept the culture of those nations: "Therefore you shall keep My ordinance,so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 18:30). You say: "That was the Old Testament." Yes it was, but God is unchangeable and His commands are for everyone, especially for those who believe on Him. Paul makes it clear: "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-foooted animals, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, mane with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due" (Romans 1:22-27). How much clearer and plain do you need? Both the Old and the New Testaments teach the same exact thing, God is unchangeable, and to live this lifestyle is "LUST" is due to their "PASSIONS" and this is an idol, themselves, this lifestyle and God will bring upon them for their error a just penalty. For those who accept this lifestyle are just as in error and their worship of God is diluted with sin. How can anyone who says the believe the Bible, or use the Bible to teach others, ignore the plain truth of Scripture. And if you are in such organizations that teach that this lifestyle is acceptable, RUN! 

     God is clear and it is baffling at how frequently Scripture is disregarded. It is as if a person believes that they can do anything they want and then just ask God for forgiveness and they will receive forgiveness. This is true God forgives, but God will not be mocked, continue in sin and God will take action: "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses" (Hebrews 10:26-28). You have been given two witnesses to the truth, one by Moses, the other by Paul. To believe that which is not Scriptural is to have a debased mind (Romans 1:28). If you approve of such things that are so clear and plainly written is to be party of their sins (Romans 1:32).  This is a matter of the heart: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Authentic Biblical Christians have a hard life, this is so because we are so adverse to this culture, the lifestyle of this culture that God opposes making us to be opposed by them. It is as if they want to bring into their lifestyle others as to give validity to what they do. Lastly, Jesus makes this statement and we should take heed: "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:37). 

     As St. Augustine said: "Love God; live life." Our worship is to be pure undefiled. God will bless those who do such as He has revealed to us, and that blessing is everlasting life with Him when He comes back for His people on the LAST DAY! HALLELUJAH!

Come to Me, all you who labor

     and are heavy laden, and I

will give you rest. Take My yoke

     upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

    and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

                                         Matthew 11:28-30

The Sabbath is Coming: Prepare To Worship Him

Richard L. Crumb

Our Lives Are To Be Lived To The Glory Of God

Or do you not know that your

body is the temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you, whom you have from God,

and you are not your own?

For you were bought with a price;

therefore glorify God in your body

and in your spirit, 

which are God's.

1Corinthians 6:19-20

     You act accordingly to who you think you are and that belief is your theology, and this is your religion, and this is your character, and this is how you act. This is true of everyone and it is this fact: you must know who you are and whose you are. To be an Authentic Biblical Christian you must believe, completely believe, to be converted to this belief as Paul so aptly puts it: we are not our own for we have been bought with a price and this by God. You are the temple of God. You belong to God. Cultural Christians, those that are liberal in their beliefs are not God's people for it is themselves that they hold dear, God seems to take a second place. Oh! They may admit to being a Christian, they may even talk about salvation, they may even speak of heaven; but they are not Authentic Christians because they are not God's, they are for themselves. All Authentic Christians are to be servants and children of God: "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...." (Matthew 5:45a). Authentic Biblical Christians are children of God, and as we so often say, most of the time this saying is just that, a saying, the importance having been lost: "Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Paul in writing to the Roman Church says: "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.... For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'" (Romans 8:9, 14-15). Who are you? Whose are you?

      It is true that each individual grows differently from another in Sanctification; but there must be growth, or you are dead, useless, anything you do is not of God, it is for other reasons. How do we grow? First; you must come to the knowledge and awareness of how inadequate you are to achieve this goal without grace and empowerment. This is your starting point, and knowing this we then come to God humbly, and ask Him for the guidance to become what He has told us, to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. We pray, and then, we get up, and then, we move forward one step at a time, applying His word in all we do and all we say. Our devotion to Him will grow and this well be a sign that our Sanctification is growing and we are becoming more and more to be the very image of Jesus Christ. No one is exempt from this rubric, we must grow, and this we do be studying His word, applying what He has told us, no matter what, even those hard things, such as putting Him first before our loved ones, and others. This is our motivating principles that is our logical response to God. 

     Yet, for cultural, liberal "Christians" there are many problems; for one, they don't believe the Bible to be inerrant, infallible, and preserved by God. Wow! If this is so, then all we done is limit God, that He cannot, or will not say things and control how they are recorded. If God inspired men to write what He wished to be written, first for those immediately that needed this word, and this word is applicable to all generations to come. God did promise to preserve His word, did He not? It is inspired, is it not? Why would God give His word and not protect it? Yes, men are the ones writing down His word, and some men have corrupted His word, but not all, for God would not say something and not do it: "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, on jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). One jot, this is a period looking mark in the Hebrew language by which we have vowels, even our period at the end of a sentence is a jot. A title, the best I can describe is; take an "O" and but a " ' " on it as "Q" and you have a title. Humanity of man is not destroyed by God, He allows us to use our common sense, and He is in us so that we are influenced by the Holy Spirit and those God has chosen will not corrupt the Scriptures, they are very careful of what they wrote. For instance the Hebrew scribes counted every word on a page, they knew the number of words and letters for each line, and they knew the center word, and letter. So careful were they in writing down God's word that if they made a mistake on the last letter of the last word on a page, they destroyed the page and started over. This was true of the Greek speaking people, who knew Greek and had copies of the original writings, and with more that 5,000 manuscripts, and 24,000 pieces of manuscript we can find that they are in harmony, and are in agreement and scholars have made the determination that there is no Doctrine that is affected if a word was not in the same order, i.e., Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus. To Be an Authentic Biblical Christian, to have Authentic Biblical Faith, then the beginning is to believe and have faith in the God, in His preserved word. Of our belief starts there, then our theology would conform to His word, and our religion would be in accordance with God's plan for His people and then we we have a change in character and act as Authentic Biblical Christians. 

Therefore be imitators of God

     as dear children. And walk

in love, as Christ also has loved

    us and given Himself for us, 

an offering and a sweet-smelling aroma.

                                        Ephesians 5:1-2

Praise God: He has chosen You

Richard L. Crumb

    

Authentic Christians Are Sworn Enemies Of Sin

But you, O man of God,

flee these things and pursue

righteousness, godliness, faith,

love, patience, gentleness.

 Fight the good fight of faith,

lay hold on eternal life, to which

you were also called and have

confessed the good confession

in the presence of many witnesses.

1Timothy 6:11-12

     Pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love,patience, gentleness, is to die to the old way of living and rise to a new way of life. Baptism being one of the two sacraments endorsed by Jesus Christ represents our death to our old self, and our new life in Him. Notice this; we are not to be apathetic, lazy, or assume that you are now saved, and being saved your salvation is set, you have no need to do anything more. This is not what Paul had to say for we are to pursue... and this effort of pursuing is a fight against sin, in our lives, and to inform others as to sin. We are enemies of God against sin, and we are not to allow it to have any opportunity in our lives. It is commitment to Jesus Christ, and we are to yield ourselves, without reserve to the service of our King. We are not our own, for we have been bought with a price by Jesus Christ and we belong to Him. God now uses us as His instruments as one being set apart for the honor and glory of God. This principle should be the rule of our lives and our guide in all we do. What motivates you? What is the force in your lives before Jesus Christ? Are you abandoned to Him? Or as many are; He takes second place with you in the first place. We are to be submitted to Him as having Lordship over us, and this is all we do and say: "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1Corinthians 10:31).

     What is the driving force for your convictions? The Holy Spirit lives within you and you have the seeds of true virtue within your hearts. You make the decision whether or not to allow those seeds to be the driving force. Sanctification is a progressive work in a child of God and as it is used there is application from God that grows deep within your hearts, your inner life, and God then is the base, the very foundation for your commitment in all you do. You will grow fruit, in your life in accordance with His word, and you will be a light that grows fruit in others. This is the source of Authentic Christian morality. The poet Virgil wrote: "Fiery is the vigor and divine the source of those life-seeds." (Virgil, The Aeneid, bk. 6, lines 730-731).

     I wrote about character and that it is derived from what you believe, and your character is the source for what you do, but character is what will thrive forever in the eternal presence of God. Do you think that God is going to change who you are? Do you think and believe that this new life is to make you an entirely different person? It is not! You are forming yourself for eternity with God. This is not some light manner, something that you can avoid in some way; you can't! Yes, it is hard, to live this way. It has challenges! But, have you forgotten? It is Jesus Christ who lives in you by the Holy Spirit and this by the will of the Father, you have the Godhead living in you. What will be removed by God in heaven is our fallen nature for those two natures cannot live together and it is the fallen nature that will be removed, but who we are, our character will remain. We must, therefore, become determined to pursue this life that God has planted in us by giving us faith to do so, and this pursing is to become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ who revealed to us what is means to be an Authentic Biblical Christian. When we become resolved to be an Authentic Christian then we are distinguished by this Authentic Biblical Faith from cultural Christianity. 

Let as many bondservants as are

       under the yoke count their own

masters worthy of all honor, so that

       the name of God and His doctrine

may not be blasphemed.

                                 1Timothy 6:1

Keep God's Commandments: You Will Be Blessed

Richard L. Crumb

Note: Had a great vacation, did not catch fish, oh well! Great to be with son and daughter, granddaughter, great grand sons, Carson, and Brice, with Valerie daugter-in-law, and my granddaughters' husband Jason. God is good!

God Has Requirements For Practical Christian Living

For I through the law died

to the law that I might 

live to God.

I have been crucified whith Christ;

it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me; 

and the life which I now live

in the flesh I live by faith

in the Son of God, who loved me

and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:19-20

     It is a matter of who is Jesus Christ to you. Is He just an angel? Is He another God? Is He a brother of Satan? Was He just another prophet? Or, was He the Messiah, the Savior long expected by the Hebrews? Did Jesus Christ die on the cross in vain? This He would have done if He is not what He claimed to be: the Son of God and His death changed everything in regards to our personal relationship with God. It is now that Jesus Christ lives in a person who has committed himself/herself to Him and converted to Him so that His love in me causes me to live for Him. When it is said that Jesus Christ lives in us;  then it is His living in us and that by the Holy Spirit: "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise and of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14). This is the Doctrine of the Bible, Jesus Christ came as Savior, the Son of God, God in human flesh to pay the debt of sin. If a person does not believe this to be truth, and follow Him, then their lives can be lived anyway they may desire. It is the very foundation of our faith that determines what we believe and how we live. You see, if Jesus Christ died in vain, how can we say that hose who believe have been given eternal life while those who reject Jesus Christ are objects of the wrath of God? Would not this be unfair? Jesus Christ is the foundation of Authentic Christian faith. Yet, many today who have accepted cultural Christianity practice a faith that often produces no greater morality than the that which is practiced by those who categorically deny the essentials of the Christian faith. The problem lies in faulty understanding of God and what He requires of us in term of practical Christian living. 

     What is practical Christian living according to Scripture? The Bible teaches that we are to be holy and even perfect as God Himself is perfect. Don't confuse being perfect with the false teaching of Perfectionism, they are two totally separate teachings. We grow in Sanctification, arising to the work of becoming perfect, and when we fail to do it we have intercession of Jesus Christ by whom God the Father forgives our sins. Don't confuse this we obstinate continued sin, and no change is occurring in a person' life because he will not stop his sin. God will deal with that: "Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.' Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame" (1Corinthians 15: 33-34). John makes it plain and clear we have forgiveness of our sins if we confess this, and we sin therefore we need a Savior who forgives: this we have: "but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins,He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned,w e make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1John 1:7-10). Living for Jesus Christ who is our teacher, our guide in how to live in this life that is pleasing to God, and is the very principle of God that His children should live according to what He has taught. If we continue to sin willfully, then God will deal with us because we throw defamation on God. Do not confuse God's patience to be His permission: "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26-27). God's teaching are not some isolated instructions, no, when a person carefully studies the Bible they will come to the fact that there are plain teachings, by Jesus Christ, by the Apostles, and those whose writings are inspired for us to know how to live, and that the Bible has strict standards for Christian morality and behavior. It is our Christian character that is a reflection of living in relationship with a Holy God. 

     God has revealed His doctrine, that is His system of particular principles, that relate to what He has done through Jesus Christ, and His doctrines advocate as to how we are to live, how we are to be converted to His Son Jesus Christ. We can know the truth of His doctrines because they are revealed to us in His Word, impressed upon us by the Holy Spirit. The question is: Do you believe the Bible, or is it just another good book some good moral teachings. Did a Holy God give us by revelation what we need in this life so that our living is according to His will? Yes! 

Watch, stand fast in the faith,

     be brave, be strong.

Let all that you do be done

     with love.

                           1Corinthians 16:13-14

Prepare Now To Worship God In Fellowship

Richard L. Crumb

Note: I will be on vacation this Monday and Tuesday and will resume this blog on Wednesday.  Have a great Sabbath, rest in Him.

Accepting Biblical Doctrines On The Work Of Jesus Christ--Is The Basis For Righteous Living

Blessed is the man who walks not

in the counsel of the ungodly.

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night...

For the LORD knows the way of the

righteous, but the way of the 

ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 1:1-2,6

     It has been pointed out several times in these blogs; what a person comes to belief determines their theology, and their theology determines their behavior, and their behavior determines their character. It is a person' belief that determines their doctrines, and their doctrines determine their theological understanding. If your beliefs are inadequate understanding of Jesus and the work of the cross, often then a person' faith causes that person to accept God on performance, religious experiences, and legalism would be generated. A hallmark of those believing in doctrines that are not Authentic Biblical Doctrines is one of control; do this, or do that, i.e., you must give 10% of your income, or, You must go from door to door, or, you must have a second baptism of the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, and do wonders, etc. Look into the New Testament and try and find that there is doctrinal warrant for such control. Are you living for Jesus Christ because this is what is mandatory by some Church, or some organization, or is it because of the work of Jesus Christ and your acceptance of what He taught, which is doctrine, doctrine that makes cause by your acceptance to live seriously righteously. If this is not what is driving you to be what God has revealed in Scripture, and you are following a Church, rather than Jesus Christ then there is a production of standards of behavior that fit theirs/yours own lifestyles. When a person comes to believe in the way that make cause to live which is not Authentic Biblical Faith then the outcome is a way of life that is characterized by ignorance and conceit. It is prideful, there is no desire to listen to reason; hold the course no matter whether it is right or wrong, it is what they have come to believe because it seems so right. Is it? A person will never know if they do not investigate and be an honest person that they will follow the truth no matter where it takes them. Think of the disciples of Jesus Christ, Peter, John, Matthew, etc., they were good Jews, they kept the Sabbath, they believed in Jehovah God, they expected the Messiah to come, but all in all they were Hebrews who love God as they were taught. Then Jesus entered into their lives and they made the changes necessary as they learned the truth, not just that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, they learned what God intended for them to be and do and this they did leaving behind their Jewish practices. What good examples for us that we can as they did when we learn the truth to make the necessary changes.  In this dispensation of the New Testament, with the Messiah that was promised having come and did the work that He was assigned to do, we live under this dispensation and not the old dispensation that the Jewish nation was under for so many years. The Law is the same, the promises of old that are yet to be fulfilled will be, did He not keep other promises, yes! Our hope is sure, built on the foundation of the doctrines of Jesus Christ for His people in this dispensation. A caveat: when I speak of dispensation do not confuse this with Dispensationalism which is taught in some Churches; dispensation is a word that means organization. It would be just as well to speak of God's economy, the Messiah has come, we are under the work of Jesus Christ. We are to live as Jesus Christ instructed.

     How many people today say that they are "Christian?" Having admitted to this they do not know what it really means, but if that person, whether they are truly "Christian," lives accepted cultural morals, no one questions whether or not that person is truly "Christian;" an Authentic Biblical Christian. For many people to be "Christian implies no more than some general assent, to have some sense or degree of morality, but this life or moral acceptance of the culture or what is accepted by their Church is akin to a good Hindu, or Muslim, or Buddhist. 

     Oh! You are so harsh, you might say, to state this that some are nothing more than good people of other religions that don't believe in the Bible. Am I? Ask yourself, would most cultural Christians experience any change in their behavior if it were irrefutably proven that Christianity is wrong? Would they still attend church as a social responsibility? Would there be a change in the way people sought counsel, or a way of modeling of their behavior, or a seeking for some sense in purpose if the knowledge that the Bible is not true? The world is full of examples of people that don't believe the Bible is the word of God who live wonderful moral lives, even to have a morality that is superior to those claiming to be "Christian." Just because we have a superior moral system ever to be in existence; what good is it if we do not live by that system?

     Have you ever said, "Jesus is my Savior?" Did you forget that He was also our example? We are to believe on Him, this He taught, but also He taught that we are to follow Him. As mentioned about the disciples and others, they lived as Jesus lived, and the world took notice. Are you living in such a way that the world in which you have influence taking notice due to you living as Jesus Christ? These are important questions to ask and examine, for if we are honest and desire to live for Him, then we must be ready to change from the inside out.  It is the heart that God judges, then the heart must, if it is to be acceptable to God, have flowing from it the truth. It must be Authentic Biblical Faith. Here is the good news: we are not left destitute to do this on our own; we have the Holy Spirit living within us to guide us in truth. We must be open and ready to accept the truth and to examine what we now believe so that our theology is correct, and our behavior is according to His word and not due to influences outside of His word. We study, as God said we should, we listen to preachers who are assigned by God whether or not what they are preaching is Biblical, we are not apathetic, we don't just accept without taking the time to examine what is being taught. This is work! Think of it as too what has been taught us from His word: we are in a war, we must put on the full armor of God, the Devil is seeking to destroy God's people. Our children are affected, our friends are affected, and even those who watch us from afar. God has entrusted us with His work, what a privilege. Don't take it lightly.

I will praise You, O LORD, 

     with my whole heart;

I will tell of all Your 

     marvelous works.

I will be glad and rejoice

    in You;

I will sing praise to Your name,

    O Most High.

                           Psalm 9:1-2

God Is Your Refuge: Praise Him

Richard L. Crumb

 

From The Beginning Of Christianity We Have Been Exhorted To Attend To The Doctrines Of The Faith

Jesus answered them and said,

"My doctrine is not Mine, but 

His who sent Me. If anyone wills

to do His will, he shall know 

concerning the doctrine, 

whether it is from God or

whether I speak on My 

own authority."

John 7:16-17

     Doctrine, the very word is considered pejorative by many Churches, especially those that are liberal and are cultural. Hide from doctrine and when the light of understanding is lit, you will find that they who oppose doctrine have a doctrine. Authentic Biblical Christians have a responsibility to know when a doctrine is not Scriptural. It is by trickery of men that certain doctrines, no matter how Biblical they may sound, with even some evidence that is convincing, yet we must know the Scripture and by prepared to address these false doctrines: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of he body of Christ, till we all come to he unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ..." (Ephesians 4:11-15). Many people practice a form of Christianity, as they would call it, which is only a form of ethics, and of certain behaviors, such as to be found in cults, and the conclusion is: that this form of "Christianity" is an unScriptural religion.   

    Let us make application to our lives. Here are some questions to consider: Have you/we cast ourselves completely on the grace of God and the work of Jesus Christ? Do you/we consider these the only source of hope in life? Are we progressing in our affection for the Lord and taking advantage of all resources provided by Him to deepen our lives? Our prayers in humbleness to God ask for pardon and grace given by our Savior Jesus Christ. Asking God for repentance, for those sins we have committed and those we commit by omission. It is by striving continually in these things and growing in love and sanctification that then we can be filled with joy and peace and hope, by the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Seek to study the Bible, diligently making cause for rational thinking that is rooted in the truth of the Bible, and not some doctrinal position that is forced to fit the Bible to prove that which is not Scriptural. 

     It makes no sense to take the name of Christian and not cling to Christ. Jesus is not some magic charm to give us good luck, or to be used as a vending machine to give to us all that we want or desire. Our desire is to practice the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives continually. Let us have His name written on our hearts creating in us and through a powerful and profound experience, an experience of peace and a heart that is full with His praise. 

But all things that are exposed

    are made manifest by the light,

for whatever makes manifest is light.

     Therefore He says:

'Awake, you who sleep,

     Arise from the dad,

And Christ will give you light.'

                                   Ephesians 5:13-14

Give Praise To God---You Are Alive

Richard L. Crumb

Our Resolution Should Be To Learn From The Bible And To Live A LIfe Of Obedience

Therefore by their fruits 

you shall know them.

Not everyone who says to Me,

'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the 

kingdom of heaven, but

he who does the will of 

My Father in heaven. 

Many will say to Me in that day,

'Lord, Lord, have we not 

prophesied in Your name, 

and done many wonders in 

Your name?'

And then I will declare to them,

'I never knew you; depart from Me,

you who practice lawlessness!'

Matthew 7:20-23

     This Greek adverb translated "never" is a strong declaration, for Jesus' statement has no other meaning than "I never", not ever have known you. This is in harmony with other such statements in Scripture. There are to be outward demonstrations of one's faith, and it is by: "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:....But anyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand....(Matthew 7:24;26). It is then, by necessity that we come to know the sayings of Jesus Christ and live by those statements no matter how hard they may seem to be. One such statement that drove many away was that we were to love Him and place Him above all, even our families. Are we living temporal or eternal? Do you believe the truth, the promise of God that He would save His chosen people, and that He never denies His promises, or is it just a hope, a desire that He would do such a thing. It sounds so good, but we do not live according to His sayings: we want it our way! This is a problem for many people when it comes to their belief in God, His Son and the Holy Spirit, they do the most unthinkable thing when it comes to translation of the Scriptures and their interpretations.  What is done is isogesis, that is they make cause for Scripture to say what they want Scripture to say, or they allegorize Scripture to mean what they want to promote. This is what the Corinthians were doing and they were making all sorts of rules, and teaching things that Jesus never taught, they were not following His sayings, so they misused even the Lord's Supper, they were allowing for people to be called Christian even when their lifestyles were not in accordance with Scripture, therefore Paul had to write them and correct them, and so did Clement of Rome who wrote to the Corinthians about some things they were doing that were not Scriptural. Proper interpretation of the Bible is by means of exegesis, that is, to allow the Bible to say what it says, to mean what it means and not apply our presuppositions, or our predeterminations to be the correct interpretations.  This is the problem with cultural Christianity, for they have isogesis Scripture with the current culture, a culture that is far afield of God's word, that which He said, and it is clear, that we are to follow His word, His sayings. We are to live a life of obedience to His commandments. We are to preach and teach others exactly what the Bible says, not what we say, it is Scripture and Scripture alone that is our guide leading us to live the life that God gave us, for we exist by His decree, and we are to follow Him, and no others. Yes, there are men who teach the word of God as God intended, but there are others who teach what they believe is a better way; it isn't! Only God's way is best. 

      It is a matter of the heart, the true state of yours, and mine, hearts. We grow in sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit for sanctification as justification, free gifts of God's grace. We are preparing now to live eternally with Him. If we are not willing to follow Him now, how can it be expected that we would do so in Heaven? The Wisdom of God is so exalted above all things, but man holds fast to his wisdom as though it is better, but it is foolishness, it may be that they are simple-hearted in a worldly way, and then  led astray by this world, it's cares, it's seductions of ambition and worldly grandeur, it's pleasures. To be simple-hearted for God is what we are to become, as children, even though we may not fully understand all things, this we can understand; Jesus Christ is God, He is the Savior of this world, and that God is love, and He will save His people, and we are to convert to Him, and believe on His Son, and then allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us.  In time if you search Scripture and as you grow in sanctification those hard to understand things of the Bible will become clear, just as a child does not always understand the requests, and demands of their father, in time, as they mature, they come to understand.

     The basic articles of our faith is the death, resurrection, and the workings of the Holy Spirit, these are to be affirmed in us even though they may be beyond our comprehension. What is understandable is the simple truth and we can turn our attention on that truth and practice what is so simply stated. We must not do as others have done, and that is, to reduce the Gospel to a system of morality and discount the importance of the mysteries of the Bible. Don't buy into false philosophy, and vain wisdom. Christianity is not just a system of ethics, it for us to convert, not just simply believe, on the one God sent: "Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent'" (John 6:29).

It is the Spirit who gives life;

    and the flesh profits nothing.

The words that I speak to you 

    are spirit, and they are life.

                                   John 6:63 

You are God's glory and joy

Richard L. Crumb

Authentic Christianity Is The Way To Enter Into A Right Relationship With God

But now the righteousness of God

apart from the law is revealed,

being witnessed by the Law

and the prophets, even the 

righteousness of God,

through faith in Jesus Christ,

to all and on all who believe.

For there is no difference; 

for all have sinned and fall short

of the glory of God, being 

justified freely by His grace

through the redemption that

is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:21-24

     Authentic Christianity is simply a belief in the propitiation sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died in our place to pay the debt of sin that man in no way could pay for himself. It by the free grace of God that this event, the crucifixion, was decreed by God through His mercy. God is a just God and justice demanded one of two things in regard to sin. God being Holy, sin cannot be sustained, it had to be removed and this removal could only happen that God would destroy all sin which means to destroy all sinners. Sin having been passed down from Adam to all men then all men are sinners and by the justice of a Holy God they deserve to be destroyed. Thank God for His mercy and grace. By His mercy God gave to man freely righteousness, and by His grace He gave that righteousness which man did not deserve. Man in no way can earn this free gift. Man cannot be good enough or do enough good things to become acceptable to God, righteousness and acceptance by God is not because God is predisposed to do so, it is only by His Mercy and Grace and this is predicated upon the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The death of Jesus Christ was the payment necessary that destroyed sin making the way possible for man to be a child of God. This is done by God seeing man through the Person of Jesus Christ who is sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us. God was not done with just this intercession for man for He sent to live in man the Holy Spirit to aid and guide man. 

     To be a child of God a person must believe upon this efficacious work of Jesus Christ. But there is a question that must be answered; if man due to being a sinner, totally depraved, how can he believe. If his fallen nature is truly fallen how can he come to put faith in a Holy God? Paul give us the answer: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). God did not lower His standards to save us and this would have been the case if salvation could in any means by achieved by anything we could do. Yet, many will tell others that this is the message of the Gospel. If this is the message being preached and taught then the results are predictable. Any who operate under this system will fail to come to the true knowledge of their state. They lessen their gratitude for what Jesus Christ has done for them and the fact that Jesus Christ never ceased to do for man so that they might be reconciled to God. So many men have struck a deal with God: "I'll do my part and You accept me." 

     When men do not adhere to the clear teaching of God then many errors occur and the message is no longer the message of God's word; it is a message of man, one that they can accept on their own terms. There is an abandonment of the true message and their communication is not that of Authentic Biblical Faith, and the requirement to be what God has outlined for His people is somehow changed; they forget that we are ambassadors of Christ. We are to be prepared to give a defense for our faith (1Peter3:15), the faith of Christianity that is written by men of God who were inspired of God to lead the new movement of Christianity. God's people are a new creation, a separate people, called by God to be His people, a people for His name. 

     It is a matter of the heart. Our lives should reflect what the Bible tells us about who we are and whose we are, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Cultural Christians in so many ways disregard this plain teaching of God's word. As true Authentic Christians we do not boast in ourselves and as Paul stated: "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14). Authentic Biblical Faith is always evidenced by changed lives, those lives that cast away all falseness and live in abandonment for our Holy God and Savior.

But God, who is rich in mercy, 

     because of His great love

with which He loved us, even

     when we were dead in trespasses,

made us alive together with Christ

    (by grace you have been saved),

and raised us up together in the 

    heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

that in the ages to come He might

    show the exceeding riches of His

grace and His kindness toward us

    in Christ Jesus.

                               Ephesians 2:4-5

We are affronted on all sides: but God is with us

Richard L. Crumb

Faulty Thinking Is The Result Of Holding Mistaken Conceptions Of The Basic Principles Of Christianity

And Moses said to the people,

"Do not fear; for God has come

to test you, and that His fear

may be before you, so that you

do may not sin. So the people

stood afar off, but Moses drew 

near the thick darkness

where God was. Then 

the LORD said to Moses,

"Thus you shall say to the

children of Israel: 'You have seen 

that I have talked with you

from heaven.'"

Exodus 20:20-22

      Liberal Christianity or cultural Christianity have this in common: they are influenced by the culture and society inasmuch as their theology is more about the congregant that on Jesus Christ. Oh! They may mention His name, even profess to believe on Him: this I will leave to God, for we are not to judge the heart but we are to judge the outward expressions. Far too much emphasis is placed on the person and their feelings, and their efforts to achieve their own ideas of what it takes to live in a proper relationship with God. What is needed is to focus on Jesus Christ and what He accomplished and His sacrifice. Misconceptions on the basic principles of Christianity are formed by misconceptions of God, and of man; further there are misconceptions of His word. The Bible may be used in service, even read, but their theology does not, at least in totality, have its basis in what God had written, they choose to accept some of God's word, and reject, or ignore other parts of the Bible. I believe we all have at one time or the other, but, when we come to know the will of God then we are to make the necessary changes. Do you believe that the Bible is the infallible, the inerrant word of God, that He has preserved His word even unto this day? If so: then why not do what it asks of us? Do you keep the ten commandments? Or, do you think that those commandments are only for the Jewish nation? Oh! you may keep the one on "do not murder," you may keep the one on don't commit adultery, or "do not steal," and you may not take " the name of God in vain," but: you do not keep away from idols, or you do not keep the Sabbath. So many Churches today just do not keep all of God's word for you find idols, pictures of Jesus, or course they are "grainy" right for the cameras of His day were not all that good, Ha! Some have little "saints" on their dashboard, or statues of saints, etc.. Some Churches teach that we are not under law: really, kill somebody, or steal something and see just how you are under the Law. Jesus did not come to destroy the law, He fulfilled it, not abolished it. We are under the law; so why not keep it? When Jesus spoke to the multitudes on the Mount He made this statement as He gave a larger and better explanation of the Law: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulill. for assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19). How much clearer, or plain do you want God to teach you His commandments, His will? What are you planning for this Sabbath? Boating, shopping, swimming, etc.. Are you planning a day of rest so that you do you shopping for necessary things before the Sabbath so that you can worship God, and keep His commandments. Or are you as cultural Christians are: do whatever makes you feel good. As a business owner: do you open your store on Sunday? Or do you believe that if you do not you will fail? Here is a harder question: do you believe that God will care for you, bless you when you keep his commandments? If the stores were not open on the Sabbath would you buy the necessary things on other days? We are not Jewish, but we are Jewish in this manner: we believe in Jehovah God, the great I am, and though we are not under their economy, we are under the Law of God that He has plainly stated that will not be abolished until this world ends. Period! Authentic Biblical Christians when the truth is presented and they see that they have fallen short, do something about their omission. Will you if that is true? 

     Focusing on ourselves, our desires and place them above the will of God may seem impossible but did He not say: "For with God nothing will be impossible" (Luke 1:37). From the earliest of time God has made it clear that there is nothing to hard for Him: Is anything too hard for the LORD?...(Genesis 18:14). The prophet Jeremiah continue to preach this truth: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You" (Jeremiah 32:17). Paul adds: "and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purposes" (Romans 8:28). We may face persecutions, be misunderstood, but who can stand against God's people? Paul writes: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us" (Romans 8:31). We are conquerors because God loves us: "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us" (Romans 8:37). I made a mistake, we are not just conquerors, we are "MORE Than CONQUERORS." So, what is the problem, you either have faith in God, or faith in yourself; faith in other things, or faith in God. Which is it? Authentic Christianity is a way for the most wayward of men and women to enter into a right relationship with God based solely on the fact that: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Cultural or Liberal Christians are confused as to how to get right with God, their means is not in accordance with God as He has revealed to us in His word. God has not lowered His standards to meet our desires, we are to raise our standards and meet His desire, His will. Then we will be blessed on matter what occurs here on earth, we know for a fact that we are children of God, His ambassadors, His mouth, His arms, His legs, and we have an eternity with Him in heaven: whatever that means for us but we know for sure that it is better than here: "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passes away'" (Revelation 21:3-4). 

     Does this not make you want to get up and shout? Do you not want to dance around for joy? Does this not make you want to live for Him? I hope so!

And Jesus said, "For this judgment

    I have come into this world,

that those who do not see may see,

    and those who see may be made blind.

                                        John 9:39

Remember: You Are God's Witness!

Richard L. Crumb