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Degrees of Punishment
December 14, 2010

"But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you." (Matthew 11:22)

The subject of eternal hell is so repugnant to the modern ungodly world that people desperately search for some scientific rationale to justify their rejection of God's Word. Charles Darwin was an example. He became an apostate from Christianity, not because of his scientific "discovery" of natural selection, but because of Christ's teachings that unbelievers (including his own father) would end up in hell.

Nevertheless "the fearful, and unbelieving . . . and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8}. These are words from God Himself!

But is there no difference in the punishment of, say, blaspheming and wicked unbelievers and the mere careless unbeliever? Yes, there is. As Christ said, the idolatrous inhabitants of Tyre would have repented if they had seen His mighty works, but the Galileans of Chorazin and Bethsaida who had seen His miracles and heard Him preach had not. Consequently they will suffer more.

Similarly, He said concerning those who would reject the gospel preaching of His disciples that "it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city" (Matthew 10:15). The wicked populace of Sodom, "giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh," will suffer "the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7), but even greater punishment awaits those who willfully reject God's love in Christ.

There will, indeed, be degrees of punishment in hell, but they will be determined largely in proportion to degrees of "light" rejected. This is an unwanted--but urgently needed--message in these last days! HMM

The Imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ

By David J. Stewart

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God IMPUTETH righteousness without works” (Romans 4:6).

What in the world does that big word mean . . . IMPUTETH? The word “impute” means “to pass to one’s account, to count over” It means that Jesus places His righteousness upon our record when we trust upon Him for salvation. Romans chapter four speaks concerning Abraham, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was COUNTED UNTO HIM for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). What a beautiful truth! Abraham was not saved by good works; but rather, he believed God and was saved by Christ’s righteousness. Christ’s perfection was imputed (placed) on Abraham’s record in Heaven. God the Father viewed Abraham thereafter as having the righteousness of Christ. What a Savior!

Abraham believed God concerning the coming Messiah which was to save His people from their sins . . . “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Why was Abraham able to simply believe God in place of merit or good works? It's simply because Jesus paid the price for mankind's sins. You see, Abraham could NOT please God in his own self-righteousness, nor can we (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 10:3,4; Titus 3:5). No matter how much good we may do here on earth, our sins are still recorded in Heaven. Our sins must be dealt with. This is why Jesus came to earth to pay the price for our sins with His own precious blood . . . “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” All mankind is corrupt and destitute of God. Even in our sincerest efforts, humanity is tarnished with the curse of sin and rebellion. We need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. We are saved by Jesus' righteousness through faith.

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).

We read in Romans 4:8, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not IMPUTE sin.” Not only was Christ’s righteousness imputed (counted) to Abraham’s record, but Abraham’s sinful record was imputed to Christ. Literally, Jesus became as sin for us and died a sinner's death . . . “For HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO KNEW NO SIN; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2nd Corinthians 5:21). Amen!

We read concerning Abraham . . .

“And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was IMPUTED to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be IMPUTED, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:22-24).

This is a beautiful passage of Scripture, teaching that God is willing to IMPUTE Christ's righteousness to us as well, just as He did to Abraham, if we'll simply believe on the Lord... “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

These Scriptures were written for us, that we might also have Christ’s righteousness imputed to our record, and our sins imputed to Christ’s record. He who knew no sin, became as sin, that we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God in Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21). What a wonderful truth! To think that Jesus would actually bear our sins upon Himself and sacrifice His precious blood for our sins—we are not worthy. Thankfully, God looked beyond our faults through His love and saw our need . . . “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

I cannot express in Words how much I thank the Lord for what He has done for a sinful worm like me. Do you realize all that you will miss if you reject Christ as your Savior? Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23), which anyone may have simply by acknowledging their guilt of sin and believing on the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness . . . “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved, so that God the Father may view us as having the righteousness of Christ which is imputed unto us at salvation . . .

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God IMPUTETH righteousness without works” (Romans 4:6).

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was IMPUTED unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23). Would you like to be the friend of God? It all begins when you say yes to Jesus and let Him become your Savior. Jesus earnestly wants to impute your sin to His record and impute His righteousness to your record. All you must do to be saved is admit your guilty condition before God for violating His holy Law (Romans 3:19), and then trust upon the Son of God to wash away your sins with His shed blood. Admit you’re a sinner deserving of Hell. Turn to Christ now in faith and trust Him to forgive your sins and cleanse you.

The Mount of Olives

The Urgency of Salvation
December 15, 2010

"For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Perhaps the most deadly sin of the unbeliever is that of procrastination. Satisfied with his current life, he neglects his spiritual need. Even if he understands the gospel and realizes his need of salvation, he still puts off a decision.

But it is always dangerous to count too strongly on tomorrow. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). The sin of procrastination may easily become the sin of negligence, then of indifference, and finally the unforgivable sin of irrevocable rejection and unbelief. "My spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6:3). This warning was true in the antediluvian world and it is certainly as true today, when we have far more knowledge and evidence of God's truth and His will than people did in the days of Noah.

"To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart" (Psalm 95:7-8]. This warning of the psalmist was considered so important that the writer of Hebrews quoted it three times (Hebrews 3:7-8, 15; 4:7). Such an emphasis suggests there is indeed great danger in resisting God's call to salvation. There may be another opportunity, but it is presumptuous and dangerous to impose too long on God's patient mercy.

Today is the day of salvation. The accepted time is now! "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? . . . It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:29, 31). HMM

God has a Purpose and Pleasure

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eph 1:9 Making known to us the mystery of His will according
to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself,
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to
His purpose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God's good pleasure has been purposed by God in Himself. This
means that God Himself is the initiation, origination, and
sphere of His eterna purpose. God has a plan, a desire, and
according to His plan, He has a purpose. The existence of the
universe is according to God's purpose.Heaven, earth,
millions of items, and the human race are all according to
God's purposed desire. Eventually, all these things will
issue in God's desire.

In the universe there is a desire, God's desire. Because this
desire has been purposed by God, no one and nothing can
overthrow it. Everything that takes place on earth is for
this purpose. We, the sons of God, in whom God's grace
abounds, are the focal point of His purpose, and everything
is working for us. This mystery is that God is dispensing
Himself into us to produce the church for Himself. God has
purposed this desire in Himself. He did not take counsel with
anyone else regarding it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All in Harmony When Christ Is the Head

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eph 1:9 ...which He purposed in Himself, (10) Unto the
economy of the fullness of the times, to head up all things
in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the
earth, in Him
Isa 2:4 They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and
their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up
sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard
shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have seen that because of the two rebellions [Satan and
Adam], everything in God's creation is in a heap of collapse.
There is no proper headship. For example, there is no
headship in the animal kingdom. Instead, the animals fight
against one another. There is not even harmony in the plant
kingdom. The same is true of the human life: nations fight
against nations, people against people, and race against race.
But the Bible clearly reveals that when the millennium
[kingdom] comes, all nations will cease fighting.

Today there is a great deal of negotiation about the
limitation of weapons, but in the millennium there will be no
weapons at all (Isaiah 2:4). Regarding the situation in the
animal kingdom during the millennium, Isaiah 11:6 indicates
that all the animals will be headed up and live together
peaceably. Furthermore, Isaiah 55:12 says, “All the trees of
the field shall clap their hands,” singing together in
harmony in praise to God. Psalm 96:12 and 13 declare, “Let
the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all
the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.” This is a
description of the situation when everything is headed up in
Christ. When this takes place, there will be absolute peace
and harmony in the human kingdom, the animal kingdom, and the
plant kingdom because everything will have been fully rescued
out of the heap of collapse.

Cursed or Blessed
December 17, 2010

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." (Jeremiah 17:5)

Jeremiah provides for us a striking contrast between the selfassured humanist and the one who has placed his trust in God. The man who looks to his own abilities or those of others to save him in time of trouble is "cursed." His existence will be one of futility, just as is that of a parched desert plant (v. 6). Why? Because his "heart departeth from the LORD" (v. 5), the source of strength and salvation.

Actually, Jeremiah uses a play on words here. The two words for "man" in our text are different: the first means "warrior" or "strong man," and the second a "normal man." The warrior who should be strong is cursed because he is trusting in one who is weak; in this case, any other man's wisdom or might, or even his own strength, when overestimated. What sense is there in that?

In contrast, "blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD" (v. 7). "He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, . . . and shall not be careful |i.e., anxious| in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit" (v. 8]. Why? Because his "hope the LORD is" (v. 7). Here again we see the warrior--one who might be considered strong--trusting solely in the true "strong man," the Lord.

It is a tragic fact that even many Christians fall into the mindset of the autonomous humanist and attempt to live their lives (even "the Christian life") under their own power. Do we trust in our own feeble power or in the Lord? Every heart, whether humanist or Christian, "is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (v. 9). Make no mistake! "I the LORD search the heart" (v. 10); He knows our inner motives. Let us recommit ourselves to trust in the Lord and make Him our hope. JDM

Science--True and False
December 19, 2010

"And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:9)

It is significant that the first reference to "science" in the Bible is in connection with the tree of the "science" of good and evil. The English word "science" comes from the Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge." In both Old and New Testaments, "science" and "knowledge" translate the same Greek and Hebrew words respectively. Science--properly speaking--is what we know, not naturalistic speculation (as in evolutionary "science"). Adam and Eve knew a great deal about God and His creation, and all of it was "very good" (Genesis 1:31); they did not need to have a knowledge of evil, and God warned them against it (2:17).

But they partook of the evil tree anyway, and therewith evil knowledge entered the hearts and minds of mankind. Throughout the long ages since, true science has been of great good in the world and false science has wrought great harm. The apostle Paul has warned us against it: "Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Timothy 6:20). In the context of the times, Paul was specifically warning against the evolutionary pantheism of the gnostic philosophers.

In contrast, the final climactic reference in the Bible to knowledge is Peter's exhortation to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7), and in Jesus Christ "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). Therefore, let us resolve to eschew the knowledge of evil and grow in the knowledge of Christ! HMM