Is It Faith Or Works?

What then shall we say that Abraham

our father has found according to the flesh?

For if Abraham was justified by works,

he has something to boast about,

but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say?

“Abraham believed God, and it was

accounted to him for righteousness”

(Genesis 15:6).

            Judaism strove to place circumcision upon non–Jews, to Christians that were Gentiles, even so to those Jewish proselytes that had not followed the custom of circumcision due to the fact that they were several generations from Israel due to their parents dispersion. “So, you want to be a Christian, do you?” “Well! You must be circumcised as this was the promise to Abraham, was it not?” This is the demand of the Judaizers. Now, if a person was not of the seed of Abraham, then, it was most important to be followers of Abraham, and the promise of the covenant, they must be circumcised. Is this what it means, be circumcised, to become an heir of the promise? Let us then look back to the account as to why God promised anything to Abraham. Abraham called out to God because he did not have an heir, therefore the heir to receive all of Abraham’s good, property, etc., would go to Eliezer of Damascus; (Genesis 15:2), and not to one of his actual heirs. God then took Abraham aside and showed him the stars and gave this promise: “Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ “And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’” (Genesis 15:5). Abraham was childless, therefore this promise was not based upon what Abraham had done, produce an heir, no the promise was based upon: “And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Circumcision played no part in the promise. Faith, is the basis for this promise by God to Abraham. If Abraham had received God’s promise and the righteousness of God by anything that he had done then: “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Romans 4:4). If God had given this promise to Abraham because of some work that Abraham had performed then God would become a debtor and all God had done was to pay the debt He owed. God, the creator of all that exists is not ever to be accounted as owing a debt. All things are His, and He owes nothing for anything that He does. Therefore it is not works that brings righteousness: “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those who lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin’” (Romans 4:5–8; cf Psalm 32:1–2).  Salvation, righteousness is not of works, it is not of anything we do, not even to say that we believe (not that our belief is unimportant in our salvation, it is not the basis for our salvation), it is God who imputes, imparts, righteousness due to our faith, faith alone. We are saved, by grace, not of ourselves: “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7). Jesus Christ is truth and grace, and by Him, not the law, not working of the law, but from Him: “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Our faith, given to us as a gift is Jesus Christ and our faith is shown to all, to us, to assure us, to make our salvation sure, is: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience does not save us, our works are not told to us what to do, other than keep His commandments, no, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit never makes the means for us to be obedient. We must be obedient due to our faith, out of the oneness we have with Him, by our spirit joining with the Spirit. Faith is not in what we do: faith is apart from what we do, and is according to our disposition towards God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. You may say that you have faith, but, is that faith really faith in God, or some other form of faith? Will you obey God in those haphazard dark places in this life? We will see God in those dark haphazard circumstances if we are faithful, and obedient to God. Faith in God is to deny self. One cannot have two masters, you as one, and God as the other. It by our obedience, not circumcision, not works, not some revelational experience, no, it is by obedience to our Savior Jesus Christ that the redemption of God, the righteousness of God will rush through us as wildfire upon dry brush, and other lives will see the glory of God. Do you want the reality of God, the Almighty? Then it is obedience to His commands, and those commands clearly outlined for us in His word. Obedience is the reality of God in us. God gives grace, and God gives salvation, and God gives faith, it is all a gift of God. This is where we falter if we attempt to be pious, righteous by works. Obedience is not work, it is simply what is us, obedient, and those commands are not burdensome, unless you do not desire to follow them. They are burdensome to those who find some fault, or some reason not to do what Jesus has commanded. You struggle with what you know is revealed to us in His word, with our own desires to be autonomous. Finally: “Does this blessedness hen come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised” (Romans 4:9–10).

            Do not follow after those who demand works, and there are many churches that demand works, or teach works. Yes, you do works but that is works of faith, and not of yourself, it is not in what you boast. You boast in Jesus Christ who has given you salvation and not due to anything that you have done. PRAISE GOD!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD!

            Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among

            The peoples.

                                    Psalm 105:1

Give God the Glory

Richard L. Crumb

Faith Or Common Sense

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified

by faith apart from the deed of the law.

Or is He the God of the Jews only?

Is He not also the God of the Gentiles?

Yes, or the Gentiles also, since

there is one God who will justify

the circumcised by faith and the

uncircumcised by faith. Do we then

make void the law through faith?

Certainly not! On the contrary,

we establish the law.

Romans 3:28–31

            No one can boast that they are without sin! No one can boast they are of God without the faith that is of God. Keeping the Law does not make a person saved or justified. Paul makes this statement that man is justified by faith, and that apart from the deed of the law. Does this mean that the law is of no use in a person’s life. That the law is “past tense?” Are we now under a new law? Is this so because we are not Jews? And then Paul asks this question: “Do we then make void the law through faith?” The answer: NO! We establish the law by faith, and that faith is of the law, that is, by faith we keep the law believing the God gave the law for all of man and especially this is true of His children. God’s elect keeps the law. The law points us to God, to the Savior, and without the law then we are a law unto ourselves. It is not the works, or deeds of the law that saves us from our sins. It is God who saves, and it is God who justifies, it is all of God and not any of man. We cannot boast about our works: “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith” (Romans 3:27). Are we to be as the Deist that believe that God created then sits back and allows everything to occur without His Providence? Are we to be as the Pantheist that believe that God is in everything, trees, dirt, animals, man, etc. and their faith is that God is present literally? Or that God works in modes as the Apostolic movement which is Modalism which is a faith in God but not in the Trinity? Or is faith as that of the Atheist which puts faith in whatever they determine to be good, and teaches that all truth, no matter whose, is valid and not to be questioned? God requires faith: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is in principle an opposing force against common sense and is therefore is uncritical enthusiasm as can be seen in religions that promote enthusiasm by means that are not Scriptural. Yet common sense when opposed to faith is rationalism which makes common sense the supreme authority. Does this mean that common sense plays no part in a Christian’s life? No! It is true that common sense is not faith, and that faith is not common sense (Oswald’s October 30^th, article on faith, My Utmost for His Highest). Common sense and faith are of two substances, common sense is natural, and faith is spiritual. One is impulsive; the other is inspiration.

            Faith, if then is required of God how do we understand why faith is necessary if we can and do use common sense? Faith is different from common sense inasmuch as faith is not based on common sense, that is, those things which we can perceive, touch, empirical and faith is revelational inasmuch as it is based on that which cannot be seen, touch, or is empirical. Can the finite understand or know fully the infinite? No! We cannot see God. We have faith in the unseen, and our faith must be tried, and no matter what are our circumstances God teaches us that He is Good and that by His Providence all things work together for good: (Romans 8:28). The law then is what leads us to know the goodness of God by our keeping the law in faith and not by common sense. We keep the law so that the purpose of God through our faith makes our faith real in us. We prove our faith in everyday practical experience as God shown to be what we believe Him to be, a revelation by God to His children by means of His word, His law and not by works. Works is not faith! On the surface faith is so unreal to us as we attempt to use common sense to prove faith. Common sense cannot! Faith must have a basis and that basis is Jesus Christ, and by this fact or base of our faith, we have the principle that is actively working in our lives and that principle is faith; not blind faith, rather faith that is active, assured, and is not based on common sense, it is based on Jesus Christ. Make your works based upon Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the basis of our faith and by such we do not rely on works for justification; we rely on God who justifies. Our works is only what God requires of His children.

            For many who claim to be Christian God is only some abstraction and to have faith, a faith that they perceive as blind, is unjustified. This is the position of the Deist, and it is how a Pantheist sees God, no faith, just materiality. God is not an abstraction for He can be seen, real, and present, in our circumstances and this is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. Faith then is for us to be rightly related to God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are rightly related to God when we do what He has revealed and commanded, that is, keeping the Law given to Moses for all of God’s people, and even extending to the world at large.

            God justifies, God saves, God chooses, God is all in all, and this we have faith in through His Son Jesus Christ who is the propitiation for sin, our sin. It is God who draws, enables, and it is God who give to His children eternal life. Our question then is: Are we using only common sense to attempt to live for God, or are we applying the faith He has given (Ephesians 2:8), and living by faith, and then allowing this faith to be the basis for our disposition in all we do?

But without faith it is impossible

            To please Him, for he who

Comes to God must believe that He is,

            And that He is a rewarder of

Those who diligently seek Him.

                                    Hebrews 11:6

Give God Praise For Your Faith

Richard L. Crumb

The Righteousness Of God Through His Son Jesus Christ

Now we know that whatever the law says,

it says to those who are under the law,

that every mouth may be stopped,

and all the world may be guilty

before God. Therefore by the deeds

of the law no flesh will be justified

in his own sight, for by the law

is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:19–20

            The Law of the prophets was not only the guiding law of the Hebrews, it is, that is, the Law of the Ten Commandments, still our guiding law for all Christians. The Law did not cease to be law for God’s children with the incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven by Jesus Christ. He did not come in way than: “Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy the law but fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). The Law and the words of the prophets are still in force today and will according to Jesus never pass away: “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” (Matthew 5:18). It must then be admitted: we are still under the law, and all the inspired words written by the prophets of old are for us today. This being so; why then is we living as though this is not true? Why are we making excuses and reasons for not doing what the Law has commanded. Those are not words written by man. Those are the word of God for man, written down for us by men inspired by God. We say we keep them, but upon examination, it is to be found that all that has been done is to pick and choose the ones we wish to keep, and make excuses for the ones that we find somewhat hard or offensive. The Law will not save a person. It is only Jesus Christ who paid our debt of sin by which a person is justified: “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”(Romans 3:21–22). The Law reveals sin, due to the fact, that we do not keep the Law in perfection as we all can testify too. The Law reveals the righteousness of God and we through our faith in Jesus Christ. It is not some faith far away, not to those who might have faith. No! It is faith in the genitive singular, one person who has faith, in the present, that is, the one who has the faith of Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ and is presently having faith, the one who is believing, and believe according to Scripture. This is true due to this most important aspect of our lives: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Paul has aptly pointed this out as discussed in the previous blog. So, how then do we have our debt of sin paid? It is by the justification by His grace: “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because of His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Romans 3:24–25). God had, and has every right to destroy all of His creation. The creation is His, and His to do whatever He so desires to do. We have no say in the matter. Therefore, God by His mercy and grace passed over sins, sins that are in this world, and in our life. However, this does not mean that God will not call into account our sins as though His patience will not affect any serious judgment. This would be a mistake to believe that what you or I do will not have serious consequences, if not now, it will have them on the Day of Judgment. God demonstrates, and reveals to His children, even to the world inasmuch as creation does admit that God does exist. Yet, this demonstration of His righteousness and that He is the justifier, cannot be mistaken as He justifies only those who have faith, faith in Jesus Christ the very incarnate of righteousness: “to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). It is Jesus, first, last, and forever that by Him our sins are propitiated: “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).

            Are you struggling with sin? Are you struggling with salvation? If so, fall on your knees and repent! Change your ways, your very life, and become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ who has paid for your sins by means of His death. God, God, came to earth, not some angel, not some created being for this purpose, it was God who came, the only begotten God: “And the Word become flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grade and truth” (John 1:14). To be begotten of God is to say this: Jesus is God, the very essence of God, the Wisdom of God, and as the Second Person of the Trinity, came to save you. God has chosen you! Therefore, live as one of God’s chosen. Fight the good fight by putting on the armor of God: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

            It is not keeping some man–made law, or doctrine, as many have succumbed and believe, no, it is the word of God, that which we study, and apply in our lives. The Law pointed to sin: Jesus Christ points to righteousness and salvation. Grow your faith; ensure your salvation and election by living according to the word of God. Here is where all blessings come to a person of true faith in Jesus Christ.

And this I pray, that you love

            May abound still more

And more in knowledge and all

            Discernment, that you may

Be sincere and without offense till

            The day of Christ, being filled

With the fruits of righteousness which

            Are by Jesus Christ, to the glory

And praise of God.

                                    Philippians 1:9–11

Grace to you and Peace fro God our Father

And the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:2)

Richard L. Crumb

Trusting In True And Proper Fear Towards God

What then? Are we better than them?

Not at all. for we have previously

Charged both Jews and Greeks

That they are all under sin.

Romans 3:9

            After Paul addresses sin, explicitly pointing out specific and horrendous sins against people he ensures to us that we are not to put one group of people above another even though for the Jews God entrusted to them His oracles; rather that all men are under sin and all are in need of a Savior. Paul then applies those ancient oracles of God that entrusted to the Jews to Christians. First: in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). No one, no one, is righteous and this is due to original sin whereby the fall of Adam into sin making the soul of man to not desire God, and this lack of desire for God has grown throughout all the years. This lack of desire for God grew unchecked until man before the Great Flood made cause for God to destroy them. Yet, by the Grace of God mercy shown upon eight souls who even though having their soul corrupted by original sin. Why them? It is possible that due to the fact that men lives so long and that even Adam and his son Seth would not be far removed from them that they believed what was possibly told to them by those so close to creation that they would believe in God. Man as Paul even mentions have creation alone that shows that there is God and by this very creation can see that grace and provision of God. Yet: no one is righteous unless by the Providence of God that is in control of His creation directs a person in the way he should go and this was the case for Noah and his sons, wives and daughters-in-laws. They believed and saved. Noah sought God and found God and was saved, him and his family and yet sin still reigned in his life as would be seen in later years. Why did God allow this? God in His economy, and dispensation, may allow sin but never makes cause for sin even when: “There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who des good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Romans 3:12). It is when we have turned aside from God, and this is often done when a person believes in fables, and false teachings that they seek, not after God, rather a god that has become a reality to them and a place in which to put their faith. They lack understanding, not only from true Biblical preaching, even the things that they can see, feel, and hear. Man want to apply some goodness to themselves making themselves good enough to be saved, but there is no one good, that is all the philosophical good, while good often in itself, is not the good that God requires. Paul continues: “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips”(Psalm 5:9; 140:3; Romans 3:13). Do we not see this in our lives by the things presented in sitcoms and other shows on TV; i.e., The Modern Family, or The Big Bang Theory, and other shows that present homosexuality, adultery, fornication as being normal and acceptable? They are practicing deceit, as poisonous to the soul, as the poison of asps (A most powerful killer by poison in all of nature). Listen to the words spoken, those words of cursing, and blasphemy that are defaming the God who created them and to our ears that are in every way attempting to shield from us, and our children those harsh and hurtful words: “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Psalm 10:7; Romans 3:14). This attitude so present in the world from Paul’s day to ours only brings death and blood upon their hands. Maybe not actually killing a person, rather killing the soul of a person even going so far as to make harm upon the elect: “Their feet are quick to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace is not known” (Isaiah 59:7–8; Romans 3:15–17). Ante–Global Flood people had living those members of the family of Adam, if not even Adam and Even, their sons who would be able to teach them God was not enough for they ignored God, the preaching and teaching of God and turned to mystical and heretical views of God. They made gods for themselves, or turned to the creature rather than God; all because: “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Psalm 36:1; Romans 3:18).

            There it is in a nutshell: NO FEAR OF GOD! It is more than just a fear that makes a person to hide in the shadows, to shun fear as a bad thing; no, it is the fear of reverence, respect, to God who created all that is and all that ever will be. It is God, for us post–Global Flood, and after the coming, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, who paid for all this lack of fear. Who paid for sin that is common to man; sin that makes cause for a man not to seek after God; Christians who admit to believing to not just believe, it is to be converted to Jesus Christ, to God, and allow the Holy Spirit that God in His Providence has imparted to His children a new covenant of grace. God has never, ante–Global Flood; post–Global Flood; post incarnation of Jesus and his propitiation for sin; left His children alone and has guided all His elect, His children, to safety. If God did not elect and choose to save some, then salvation would be possible for anyone. Man is not righteous before His eyes and deserves death. This is the good news: God sees His children through Jesus Christ. In all our sinfulness, God has chosen you, not because you are good, no, rather because by His omniscience He has done so. Now, that this is true the question is: will you live as one of His chosen?

In righteousness you shall be established;

            You shall be far from oppression,

For you shall not fear; and from terror,

            For it shall not come near you.

                                    Isaiah 54: 14

Pray and Thank God for Your salvation

Richard L. Crumb

Can God Do Anything?

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates

the righteousness of God, what shall we say?

Is God unjust who inflicts wrath?

(I speak as a man.)

Certainly not! For then how will

God judge the world?

For if the truth of God has increased through

my lie to His glory, why am I also

stilled judged as a sinner?

And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that

good may come?––as we are slanderously

reported and as some affirm that we say.

Their condemnation is just.

Romans 3:5–8

            There are certain things that God cannot do. I just heard a young man who is of the persuasion, due to the teaching from his association with a religious denomination that teaches that God can do anything, therefore we are able to just sit back and let God have His way. GOD CANNOT LIE! GOD CANNOT CREATE OR CAUSE EVIL! GOD WILL NOT ALLOW EVIL TO CONTINUE UNCHECKED! God being GOOD, and that GOOD is not just an attribute, then God cannot do evil or lie. If we say that God can do whatever He desires then we have made God to be something He is not: an evil and an unruly god. God expects His children to do what He requires and no excuses, or reasons set that requirement aside. This world seems to think that it is ok to “sow your oats,” while you are young and then expect that sowing of your wild oats will not have future implications in your life is simply ignoring the truth. Our actions have consequences! Yes, we can turn from our evil ways and have God’s blessing, and yet there is no expectation that God will remove the consequences from our action(s). Those poor decisions can be mitigated by God (Paul is a good example) and you when you apply God’s commands in your life and by turning from evil to that which is truth and good. We cannot say that God will make our poor decisions good if we do not repent, and this is not, repentance, because you were caught, it is repentance to our sinning against Holy God. Therefore, when executes His justice upon this sinful world when His Son Jesus Christ returns on the Last Day there will be no excuses saying that our unrighteousness demonstrates His righteousness, No, our unrighteousness deserves to be judged unrighteous against God who is Holy, Good, Love, and Merciful. Our unrighteousness is stench in His nostrils because God does not need our unrighteousness to demonstrate His righteousness. If this was not the case then our lies, our unrighteousness should never be judged wrong and we a sinner. We are not to do evil so good may come!

            The world condemns Christianity, not for being Christian, rather for not being Christian. We say one thing and do another as though we can fall back on the mercy of God and all our sin(s) would be removed, and we would be without consequences. We allow sin in our Churches, in our lives. How! By doing that which the Bible clearly speaks against: i.e., allowing homosexuals to be leaders in our Churches, by allowing wandering pastors to once again gain fame and preach, as has been done so often and this cannot be denied just think back upon this fact. It is not that God will not forgive, it is as God has so clearly spoken: “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). Peter adds: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it to turn from the holy command delivered to them” (2Peter 2:20–21). Our great example that God’s patience is not His permission is the Great Flood in Noah’s day and the fact that God destroyed the then known world, saving eight souls who were righteous before His eyes, and reserving judgment to those He killed. How far will you push your “rights,” and your antinomy, and autonomy, thinking that God will have mercy upon you. Paul states this important fact in this regard: “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1Corinthians 3:15). Yes, you are: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defies the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1Corinthians 3:16–17). Yes, you will be saved if you are one of God’s children, elected by God before the foundation of the world, but this does not mean that you can sin without consequences. It may be that many who die, die from their sinful rejection of God’s commandments and will answer before the throne of God on the last day. “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led way with the error of the wicked; but grow in the graced and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen”(2Peter 3:17–18).

As the Father loved Me, I also

            Have loved you; abide

In My love. If you keep My

            Commandments, you

Will abide in My love, just as

            I have kept My Father’s

Commandments and abide in

            His love.

                                    John 15:9–10

Live Eternally: not Temporarily

Richard L. Crumb

We Are Conquerors By Means Of Our Victor: Jesus Christ

Who is he who speaks and it

comes to pass, when the Lord

has not commanded it?

Is it not from the mouth of the

Most High that woe and well–being

proceed? Why should a living man

complain, a man for the

punishment of his sins?

Lamentations 3:37–39

            Throughout history of the Church can be found men, and women, who either act as though they speak for God, and attempt to pass off onto the ignorant words that sound so good, so religious, so holy, even going so far as to speak prophetically, that is, to speak of future things outside of what the Scriptures state. When their prophecies fail to come, to pass, the make excuses or reasons as to why they did not occur. Why? God has not commanded their prophecies, and not their good philosophical analogies that entrap the unwary. It is so often forgotten, in a person’s rush to prominence, to be seen as godly, that their viewpoints are correct that they have forgotten that our presence on this earth is to simply be a worker for God and that our life is to become the highest it can be for God, and not for ourselves. Our viewpoints ought to come from Scripture rightly translated and applied to teach the children of God what God actually reveals. Not to gain converts, not to enlarge our congregations, rather to simply maintain our purpose for our lives on this earth until we meet with our Lord in heaven. What are we to maintain? We are to exhibit our Savior Jesus Christ to the world, in our everyday business, to our friends, family, and our children, that we are to be fully a captive of Jesus Christ. Our cause is for Jesus Christ, and Him alone, not our viewpoints that are not Scriptural, rather to live according to His commands. Our interests are to be heavenly, not earthly, and no other interests should hold us captive. We are the victors due to the victory in Jesus Christ, therefore we live for His Highest; therefore, we live as the conquerors we are in Jesus Christ. When do not obey the words of God then we should not complain of the punishment that comes to us by our sin. God is in control! This is, and we are, His creation, His workmanship; therefore, we do not complain against God, against those hard times, as God has ordained all things, not that He orders sin, rather by His Providence He allows sin, allows second causes both the good and the bad for His purpose and His purpose alone. God is Good, not just an attribute, for He is GOOD! All things therefore are from His goodness and for His glory, and we are as one of His children, a glory for God. Do we fully understand the workings of God? NO! We are not God! We are not infinite; therefore, we cannot know what God has not revealed to us. No matter! God is GOOD! Our life is to be a sweet savor to the world and all our afflictions will end with us living eternally with Him, His Son, and the Holy Spirit eternally. Wherever we go we are wonderfully refreshment to the world, and especially to our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

            The Judaizers with their insistence upon circumcision by Gentiles was to promote what was a badge to the Jews: LOOK! I am circumcised and I am a special person to God, a special nation to God and if you desire to be the same you must follow this law, this thing. OH! The Judaizers thought that they had some advantage over the Gentiles: “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision” (Romans 3:1)? Yes, the Jews had an advantage: “Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2). The Jews had the word of God committed to them so that they could be a special people for Him to have Himself revealed to the world, and yet, they held fast to legalism forgetting what was written in the oracles of God: the Messiah was to come and now had come fulfilling what they held: the oracles of God. We have the written oracles of God. Those oracles are in almost every home, motel room, and is the most selling book in the world: so why do we hold fast to those things of indifference making them to be the hallmarks of our faith? BELIEVE UPON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BE SAVED! What more do you want? What more is needed? Nothing! If you have converted to our Savior Jesus Christ then be the savor for Him in all you do and say. What if some who claim to be a believer and those whose claim to be godly only to be seen as blasphemy; does this nullify the word of God? No! “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect” (Romans 3:3)? Yes, some who are baptized, those workers in missionary work, or some pastoral office are not believers. There have ulterior motives, usually money, or sex, or power, rather than to be simply yoked to Jesus Christ for His glory. These men and women who will not repent of their sin(s) do not obliterate the truth of God: “Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged” (Romans 3:4).

            To be that light, the salt of the earth, a conqueror sending forth a sweet savor of truth you must be willing to examine all things and hold fast to that which is true. We must rid ourselves of those viewpoints we have held and allowed to become embedded into our thinking and place them under the microscope of Scripture. This will take effort, time, and it may come as baby–steps at first; but, and this is important; if you are disposed to be all that God wants you to be, and ambassador for him, then completely sell over yourselves to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study His word.

            This is blessing; not some outward show of piety.

Therefore thus says the LORD:

            ‘If you return, then I will

bring you back; you shall stand before Me;

            if you take out the precious

from the vile. You shall be as My mouth.

            Let them return to you, but you

Must not return to them.

                                    Jeremiah 15:19

You are a conqueror through Christ

Richard L. Crumb

Hindrances From The Truth: The Need To Know

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

I have confidence in you, in the Lord,

that you will have no other mind; but he

who troubles you shall hear his judgment,

whoever he is.

Galatians 5:7:10

            Lest we misunderstand and misapply those words of Paul, allow clarification, to whom and how those words applied in our present Christian life. After the release of the Hebrews by Darius the king of Persia and their return to Israel many did not return and many went to other places in the world, Egypt, Asia Minor, Rome, etc., and in later years more Hebrews left Israel and dispersed throughout the world. With those Hebrews came with them the Law, and even thought they embraced Christianity there attempted to inject the Law, especially the Law of circumcision upon all Christians. Paul is addressing them about such Judaizers. Circumcision had its place in the law for pre–Christ people, and now that the law, having been fulfilled by the life, death, and ascension to heaven by the promised Messiah, circumcision was no longer necessary. Now, in our day many also attempt and have done what the Judaizers were attempting to do, and that is to insert into Christians legalism that is above Scripture and in many cases heretical. Those who are doing such are subject to a judgment and their easy to hear words, or easy to follow as though they are Scripture when they are not, will not escape their judgment. Are you one who is following such so–called theologians who speak easy words, tickling words to the ear, and those who seem to have influence so great that many follow after them as though they have some special word from God, words that are not found in Scripture? Are you being hindered from the truth? Are you willing to leave false teaching and go to where the truth is taught? Well, how would you know if you are being hindered from the truth, or who is teaching the truth, if you, yourself do not take the time to study the word of God, and to compare with Scripture those words of men, and of women, to know what is actually being taught is truth or a lie? Do you read only literature that is of your denomination, or leaning, or are you willing to look at other writings by theologians, both past and present? If not then you have no idea what is true or false, and your understanding is faulty.

            Paul speaking about those Judaizers and circumcision as though by doing this outward performance and making that performance as being right with God making cause for others who are not doing so to be unrighteous before God; now, apply that to things that are being performed outwardly to be more “Christian” and condemning, at least tacitly, others who believe or teach differently: “For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision” (Romans 2:25–26)? For the ante–Christian Jew keeping the circumcision was profitable for this was their law given to them by God and this pointed to more than some physicality: it pointed to them that they had the need to remove all uncleanness pointing them to a better circumcision by the Messiah. It wasn’t circumcision that was profitable; it was keeping the law. Now, if a person was doing the things of the law and where uncircumcised, this too was good and counted as circumcised. How could this be? “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:27–29). There it is in a nutshcll! It is what is inside a person’s heart that determines whether, or not, he has God’s approval. How often we are doing the very things we speak against, those things that are hiding, in our hearts, and are sinful.

            Oh! You shout! I don’t harbor such sinful things, even read the Bible often, pray, and study His word, even others. Yet, you run around as do those of this world, back and forth, from this event to another. Making sure that you have the best, best home, (that is good up to a point). Making sure our children are in sports, or music, acting, etc., (those things are not all bad), and both parents work to succeed in some profession as though this is so important; and our children are left to themselves, to become involved in the culture of this world? Not knowing your children’s friends, or what they do or go, all because you are a “Christian” and you would not think of doing anything wrong. Are speaking to your children about God? Taking them to Sunday School, Church, etc., all outward appearance that you are a really good Christian: (Great!); but never spending quality time with your children, being involved, not just in some event, rather in your home, teaching them, playing with them, eating with them, listening to them, and being involved in their lives. Is showing the world how smart and how successful you are, more important to you than just being a parent? Why do I speak this way? My fingers are pointing back to me: sadly! If you or I are so caught up in this world and its culture, then those Judaizers, that sinful leaven will leaven your children, even going so far as to leaven the Church. It isn’t keeping the law that makes you to be approved by God if your heart is not right with God. We are not of this world! We are temporary residents! We are to be the light, the salt of the world! It is ok if we are different from the world! We are to be the very image of Christ! Is this important? YES!

Arise, cry out in the night,

            At the beginning of the watches;

Pour out your heart like water before the

            Face of the Lord. Lift your hands

Toward Him for the life of your young children,

            Who faint from hunger at the head

Of every street.

                                    Lamentations 2:19

God will help you make the needed changes

Richard L. Crumb

Learning And Being: The Salt Of Your Family & The Earth

Train up a child in the way

he should go, and when

he is old he will not

depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

And because you are sons,

God has sent forth the Spirit

of His son into your hearts,

crying out,

“Abba, Father!”

Ephesians 4:6

            This day above all other days I am reminded of the truth of this wonderful proverb: God has blessed the rearing that I received from my mother, and my father. This song: “There’s A Bible On The Table,” and the verse that states that dad after dinner read to the family the Bible, is exactly what I needed even though I did what I should not have done and sinned. It was that Sunday, (Don’t remember the month), pastor Dean Hudson was preaching and at the end of the service gave an altar call. That was the day that my parents who lived as Christians and taught their children what it means to be a Christian gave way to the faith God implanted into me and I as one of His sons, now believed: The Spirit crying out, “Abba, Father!” Mom died twelve years ago with the family all around her bed, and I and my Sister Susan standing at her head, even singing some of mom’s favorite hymns. Sad, of course, yet, a joy to know that my mom and later at the age of 92 my dad, both have now gone home to be with God, and were one of His sons and daughters. It is us; parents, who hare called to live and teach Christianity to our children and even when they go astray believe that God has put His spirit into them and there will come a day when they will return to God. The day is coming when they will no longer by absent and eternity will by ours with them and all of God’s children, no more death, pain, and sorrow. Joy fills my soul and heart as I think upon this fact: God will bless your and mine, effort to live our faith and to teach our children about Jesus Christ. It is not soccer, or dancing, or any sport, or anything placed above that which we as Christians called to do: teach ourselves, and our children about the Lord Jesus Christ. If there is time for other things: then do it, but do it by living the faith God has given: be the witness you are called to be and left here on earth until you either go to God in death, or be called with Jesus on the Last Day. It is never too late! Start now!

            Paul speaking to the Romans, none Jews, and to those Jews who by means of the dispersion lived in Rome said: “Ιδε” and imperative and middle word that means Behold, or look, and interjection calling to their attention: “Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and mike your boast in God and know His will, and approved the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, and instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law” (Romans 2:17–20). A major problem with the Jews and many Christians today is that of legalism. Not the keeping of the Ten Commandments, that is not negotiable; it is that there is much addition to the law and by keeping those additions to the law you boast. Look! I do this, or that, or speak in tongues, or attend meetings, shouting, dancing, and acting slain, etc., and of course the minor law of things, minor inasmuch as they are done without solemnity, that are important such as communion, when, where, how, who, can partake, and have all forms of instruction by means of such legalism that your are so confident that you are a guide to the blind. Are you? Do you study, read the early Church fathers, and others even though you don’t, or have not counsel to read, those who may oppose your suppositions? Do you inspect what you expect? Or is it just a form: “μόρφωσις” an appearance, a semblance, of knowledge of God, or do you and have your truly worked out the Scriptures so that you fully are not just making some scheme according to your presuppositions, or doctrines that you have accepted, blindly if not inspected.

            Listen to Paul: “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? for ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written” (Romans 2:21–24; cf. Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22). Is it as the old adage goes; “Don’t do as I do, do as I say;” apply to you?

            This is our yoke, it may seem heavy but it is not heavy for we have the Holy Spirit to aid us in our search for the truth, and for our daily living as a witness, and ambassador for Jesus Christ. Maybe you did not have parents that taught you the Bible, don’t fret; you have the Bible, and good teachers of the truth from God’s word and not from their own opinions, and for those who have had good Bible teaching parents and have wandered from the truth, return, NOW!

            Let me end this blog this way: PRAISE GOD! For my parents!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

            And whose hope is the LORD,

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

            Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when the heat comes; But its

            Leaf will be green, and will not be

Anxious in the year of drought.

                                    Jeremiah 17:7–8

You are the salt of the earth

Richard L. Crumb