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THE STARTING LINE

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THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE: BUT FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION. PROVERBS 1:7

 THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM: AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY IS UNDERSTANDING. PROVERBS 9:10

 THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE INSTRUCTION OF WISDOM; AND BEFORE HONOUR IS HUMILITY. PROVERBS 15:33

 AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST UPON HIM, THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING, THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL AND MIGHT, THE SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE AND OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD; ISAIAH 11:2

 WHAT IS YOUR PROGRESS IN GOD’S SPIRITUAL RACE? DO YOU HAVE WISDOM?

 

THE PATH FOR BEAUTIFUL FEET

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THE PATH FOR BEAUTIFUL FEET

  1. IT BEGINS WITH THE RESURRECTED CHRIST-
  2. IT IS AS CLOSE AS YOUR OWN HEART AND MOUTH-
  3. IT IS THE SUBJECT OF EVANGELISTIC PREACHING-
  4. IT IS THE GIFT TO THE BELIEVING HEART-
  5. IT IS GIVEN TO ALL WHO HEAR AND RECEIVE IT-
  6. IT IS THE REWARD TO THOSE WITH BEAUTIFUL FEET-

“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:6-15.

TO LOVE OR HATE THE SINNER?

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TO LOVE OR HATE THE SINNER?

HAVE YOU HEARD THIS NEW AND NOVEL TEACHING?…THE TEXT

Having lived 80 years and studied the Scriptures over 60 years, I never cease to be amazed at the new and novel teachings that come out every month. One such teaching is that God hates the sinner. The teaching is that the only place God loved the sinner was at the cross. Thus, God hated sinners before the cross and He hates them now. The Scripture cited to prove the hate doctrine is “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Psalm 5:5. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19. However, the teaching that God hates sinners is not only false; it leads to greater mischief and division within the body of Christ.

IF GOD HATES SINNERS, DOES IT JUSTIFY OUR HATRED TO BE GOD-LIKE?

I have witnessed several who have fallen for the hate doctrine. Their attitude reflects their false teaching. Their preaching and teaching shows their contempt and disdain toward the lost. However, if God hates sinners, it only stands to reason that to be God-like, we too must hate the sinner. That is the conclusion many who embrace the hate doctrine have come to and do manifest. 

HOW IT IS RESOLVED…? THE USE OF THE WORD “HATE.”

The word “hate” is used many times throughout scripture. Perhaps a look at some of them will help us understand its use.

See the example of Jacob hating Leah. “And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.” Genesis 29:31. Dake says, “To hate” is an idiom of preference, not hatred as we understand it. See note, Lk. 14:26. “Hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 [An idiom of preference].

 

The example of Jacob and Esau and the nation of Israel long before the cross. “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.  I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? Saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.” (Malachi 1:1-3). Dake notes. Lk. 14:25-27, not a term expressing personal malice or jealousy in the sense we’re familiar with. This is the sixth of twelve cases in Scripture where God made the choice of the younger over the older brother. Here it was because of the disposition and attitude toward Him. Esau was a fornicator and destitute of hunger for God in his life (Heb. 12:16-17), while Jacob was the type that loved the Lord and hungered to do his will.” (Not a term expressing personal malice or jealousy in the sense we’re familiar with.

The example of the rich young ruler. “And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” (Mark 10:20-21.) We can safely assume that if Jesus loved this sinner, so did God the Father.  

The example of direct statement that God loved us while we were yet sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8.)

The example of hating father and mother. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:2. a [hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple] An idiom of preference (Mt. 6:24; 10:37; Rom. 9:13; Mal. 1:2-3; Gen. 29:30-31; Dt. 21:15-17). One must prefer God or love Him more than all else to be saved (Mt. 22:37). “God first” is the motto of the Bible.”

 

DO THESE EXAMPLE DESTROY THE FALSE TEACHING TO HATE THE SINNER?

Anyone who will not hear the Word of God and rightly divide it will never be persuaded no matter the proof. We have quoted both Hebrew and Greek scholars. We have shown passages of Scripture that flatly destroy the hate doctrine. Will the argument convince those who embrace that false teaching? Perhaps not. However, we are witnessing the damage this false teaching is doing to the body of Christ. It causes those who teach it to display anger and hatred toward the lost. It fosters a spirit of superiority and pride, and it is a false doctrine no Bible believer should embrace or teach. It should be rejected by all willing to rightly divide the Word of God. Why would God tell us to love enemies and pray for then, if hates them? “ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

 

 

God’s Courtroom

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God's courtroomSomeday we’ll all be brought into God’s courtroom.  We will all answer for our crimes–SIN!

God is the judge of all the universe.  The Bible says that we must all give an account to God (Romans 14:12).  God is the righteous judge.  He will not let sin go unpunished.

For 6000 years, man has passed judgment upon God.  Most of the time man’s judgment on God is based on feelings or prejudice.  God will not so do.  The time will come when God will pass judgment upon man and His judgment will be based on facts alone.

Witnesses will be brought forward to testify either for us or against us.  The vast majority of these witnesses will testify against us.  In doing so, they will reveal the secrets that we thought we had so well hidden.

The witnesses will not be other people.  They will be witnesses such as: conscience, opportunity and sermons.

 

Dr. Blue does an excellent job of painting a picture of God’s courtroom for you to see. You can easily imagine being there as you listen to this short AUDIO SERMON.

This is one of the best sermons ever preached. It is a classic. If it doesn’t move you, then something is deeply wrong with your life.