D.N. Jackson: What Must I Do to Be Saved?

Hello everyone. The following is a transcript of an old radio recording of a Baptist pastor, D.N. Jackson (July 14, 1895 – November 29, 1968).  He was fundamental in the founding of the North American Baptist Association. He was a debater and conference speaker, publisher and a prolific writer of Christian literature and theological works. I really enjoy listening to D.N. Jackson.  He explains the Bible very plainly, and makes it easy to understand.

 I used Microsoft Office 365 to transcribe this recording, and I went over it and corrected any mistakes by hand. He speaks in the beginning of the North AmericanBaptist Association. I have included it in Italics, and then he gets on to speaking about “What must I do to be saved ?”.

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 . . . Which is a national affiliation of regular Baptist churches operating on the basis of equality of ministers and churches. And promoting missions throughout America and in foreign countries.Maintaining Christian education and benevolence and issuing literature to meet all demands of the churches. The Missions and Publications offices are located in Little Rock AR and Texarkana, AR, Texas. And the Christian Education and Public Relations and Research offices are located in Jacksonville, TX. So when we speak to the North American Baptist Association.The name of our national group. Do not put words into our mouth and say Northern American Baptist Association. For as ye well know, North America stretches all the way from Central America on the South to the Arctic Circle. This is a group of many hundreds of churches with many thousands of total memberships scattered in the various parts of the United States. An affiliation of Bible believing and Bible preaching Baptist, who accept the Bible only as their creed and reject in total  the modern inventions of men in matters of religion. While these people respect the rights of others and cherish spiritual fellowship for all who are born again, still they discredit to the Nth degree all sham pretensions of ecumenicalism.They are humbly bold to reject all teachings that are contrary to the inspired word of God.We shall reserve the right to tell you more about these people in subsequent messages. About their activities in their district, state and national associations.

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But at this time, let’s answer the question.”What must I do to be saved?”

This question burst forth from the anxious heart of a penitent man in the days of the missionary activities of Paul and Silas as they were freed by divine intervention of their prison bonds.You will find the incidence of this graphic story recorded in Acts 16:25-34. Before answering the question asked by the Philippian jailer, and asked thousands of times since, I feel that it is quite in order for us to brush aside some theological cobwebs, by explaining “what I must not do to be saved”.

First, I must not depend on my dreams. I would not rob a tender soul of the preciousness of dreams that may have opened Heaven’s Gate as one lay quietly upon a bed. But it is a fatal mistake to let dreams constitute the basis or the assurance of one salvation. 

Second, I must not depend on merely feeling sorry for sins I have committed. True, I must come to the point when I feel sorry for sins, but one can do that much and still die unsaved.That feeling may arise from a ravished conscience of one who has been taught in Christian ethics from his youth.These may be classed as acquired characteristics gained under Christian influence. For instance, one may regret that he told a lie, or committed theft, or any other common sin of the day, and still not be saved. Judas Iscariot woke up to feel regret for having sold the Master into the hands of his enemies.But it was under remorse, not true repentance. This may be classed as superficial repentance.

In the third place, I must not depend on mere historical belief. By this is meant a belief about Christ, even believing that he is the Son of God and is able to save from sin. That is not the kind of belief that removes condemnation from the sinner. As we read in John 3:18, “ He that believeth on him is not condemned”. We may believe in the historical existence of a man, for instance, without putting faith in him. We must personally believe in Christ as our Savior.

In the fourth place, I must not depend on a mere resolution to turn over a new leaf. By this is meant, one resolves that from a certain time on, he will quit his sins and live a clean life. It is great to quit sins and to live honorable and upright before one’s fellow man, but that will not save the soul. 

To quit a sin does not in itself imply one has turned to God. The Israelites who were bitten by the fiery serpents were not commanded by the Lord through Moses to turn away from the serpents only, but also to look to the brazen serpent. That is what the sinner must do: Look to Jesus! The drunkard, as an example, can look away from his sin of drunkenness without looking to Christ for salvation. And so can the immoral man, the liar, the murderer, and all the other sinners. To quit sinning without believing in Christ for salvation is reformation without regeneration.

 The worthlessness of this kind of reformation is told in Matthew 12:43-45. And let’s quote: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

Notice here, if you please, the unclean spirit goes out of a man.Therefore is not cast out by the Lord. There’s the act of self reformation.The evil spirit, after being cast out, says, “I will return into my house.” It was his house. Not the Lord’s. If the Lord had saved the man the house, would have belonged to him.  For we read in I Corinthians  6:20,”For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” When the evil spirit returned, he found his house empty, swept, and garnished. Yes, it was empty. But if the Lord had saved the man, the evil spirit would have found Jesus: the strong man of the house, there on the job. It was swept of all hindrances to the evil spirit’s return. And garnished or decorated for a frollicking abode for the evil spirit, and the seven other wicked spirits that came home with him to dwell. And then we are told the last state of that man is worse than the first. For even his good resolution to quit his sins without salvation is broken down. His willpower is gone. And there is no force brought to bear against the wiles of Satan. Can you not see, therefore, that it is a hopeless effort to try to get to heaven, without Christ, without believing in Jesus Christ?

Well, in the 5th place, I must not depend on my morality. All people should be moral, whether they are saved, children of God, or not. But morality is not sufficient to save anyone. Morality is the right relationship to man, while regeneration is the right relationship to God. Our Lord in his parable in Luke 18:9 answers the question in plain terms. And we quote, “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:” They trusted in themselves, like many people today are doing. Not trusting the Lord, but in their own pretended merits.They will never be saved that way. 

In the 6th place, I must not depend on my good works.The Apostle Paul in Titus 3:5,  sets this position aright. And we quote,”Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” 

The good works on which some people rely for their salvation, usually are these: Benevolence.They seem to think they merit  a place in heaven by giving  of their means to others.  That’s number one. However commendable any act of benevolence may be, it cannot save the soul, for the Apostle Paul says.” And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor . . . and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.” And we read in 1st Corinthians 13:3.

And then in the second place, the works of baptism. The baptismal rite is often depended on by some people for their salvation. At this point, so many people make a huge blunder.They make their salvation depend on water baptism. Baptism declares salvation instead of procuring it. At his baptism Christ declared his divine sonship. He didn’t procure his divine sonship at his baptism, but only declared it. And when we’re baptized, we are declaring our sonship with God. We don’t procure sonship. We declare it. Baptism is a likeness or picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which truths constitute the gospel of salvation. So declares apostle Paul in Roman 6:4, and 1st Corinthians 15:3-4. 

Since baptism is a picture.We must not rely on it, but on the substance for salvation. Only saved people then should be baptized. In John 3: 18 we read that without faith the person is condemned. And then in Luke 13:3-5, one must repent or perish. But note if you please nowhere in the scriptures, do we read that unless one is baptized, he is condemned; unless he is baptized, he will perish.

So our salvation depends on the two conditions: Repentance and faith. And not baptism. You will look in vain to find anywhere in the scriptures, where it says “unless you’re baptized, you will perish.” And “unless you’re baptized you are condemned”.  Why, if it’s a condition of salvation? Why is it not as plainly set forth in the scriptures like that? As the Lord will tell us, unless we repent, we perish. And unless, we believe we’re condemned. 

Having cleared the field of the briars and weeds of theological errors regarding the plan of salvation, let us come boldly to the question the Philippine jailer asked Paul and Silas. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

The answer does not lie in the realm of a system of good works, as I have already shown.  But in the merits of Christ, to whom we must look for our redemption. It is by his worthiness, not ours, that we are saved. Therefore, Paul and Silas could answer, “. . .Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”, as read in Act 16:31.That is, his household would be saved if it believed on Christ, as he was required to do. This answer is in keeping with the plan of salvation as told by God’s true witnesses in all ages of man’s redemption. Adam and Eve being clothed by coats of skins made by the Lord himself, is typical of the robe of righteousness which Paul says he desires to be found wearing. And a little later, Able manifested faith in God, by the sacrifice of a lamb. Paul speaks to it as being more excellent than the sacrifice of Cain, which God did not accept. In Hebrews 11:4  we read this.

Then Enoch, Noah, and other antediluvian worthies, went about their daily life with faith in God. And although it was a long distance away, they saw the morning star as if risen upon the earth in his benign glory. In Acts 10:43 the prophets gave witness,”To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, steadied their feet and journeys in lands where they were strangers. Jacob in the closing days and after reading the dimn future of his sons Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, leaped for joy as his son Judah, stood beneath his trembling hands as he saw Calvary loom up as a scepter of power for his Christ.”The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” This we read in Genesis 49:10.

The way of life in Abraham’s time is revealed in Romans, the 4th chapter, verses one to seven, as being identical with that of the time of David and on down to our present time. And we quote “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

That was an Abraham’s day, but verse 4 explains the same way of life is today. For it says, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth . . .” Notice that belief is not works, for it says “to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” 

Then between Abraham’s day and ours is David’s. And verse six says, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,” All of that shows that salvation is obtained at the point of faith in Christ as Saviour. And the dispensation of Law, and the great lawgiver Moses, was not blinded to the cross as the only way of life. As we quote in John 5:46. “For had ye believed Moses” says Jesus to his enemies, “ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me.” Again, we read in Galatians 3:24, “[T]he law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Not justified by the law, but by faith in Christ. And as God is no respecter person, this great plan of salvation is offered to all mankind alike. As the Apostle Peter, speaking of the Jews and Gentile says, “And put no difference between us, [that is the Jews and them (that is a Gentile)] purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15.9).

When John the Baptist appeared as a forerunner of the Christ. He not only thundered forth his invectives against the moral turpitude of the day, but also pointed out the way of salvation from sin. He preached that people should repent and believe on Christ. This is affirmed by Paul in Acts 19:4 concerning John’s ministry. And we quote “John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

John demanded repentance and faith before he would administer baptism.That is the way we preach it today. Soon Jesus himself entered upon his ministry and taught the way of salvation, exactly as John the Baptist had. And the way Moses and the prophets did proclaim it. Of Jesus preaching, Mark 1:15 says Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Repentance and faith are demanded by the Lord in his own preaching.The salvation of the thief on the cross shows us that one is saved at the point of faith or trust in Christ. The thief was nailed to a pole above high watermark. Still he was forgiven of his sins. How could he have performed the works of any law in order to be saved? He did what every penitent soul does when saved:believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. His prayer for merciful remembrance, was the expression of a longing heart to be forgiven. With that background, it is easy to understand the answer given, the Philippine jailer. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.”  While the word repentance is not in this verse, still we know it is not omitted. It is implied for  it is in inseparably connected with faith.One could not believe in Christ without truly repenting of his sins.

 As an illustration.You might say to me, “Drive the automobile.” This would imply that I get into the car and drive it. I couldn’t drive it without getting into it. So to drive it, implies getting into it. Even so, the command to believe on Christ implies the other essential condition of salvation: repentance, which cannot be torn from true faith. 

Repentance changes one from the world to God, and faith connects him with God. So then faith becomes a channel through which grace flows to the soul and salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” As we read in Ephesians 2:8-10.

Yes, the marvelous grace of God can save the wicked. The most wicked of the wicked sinners. And fit them for immortal glory.It reaches down to lift the vilest  out of the pit of sin, snatches them from the flames, and sets them on the Rock of Ages with sweet melody in their heart. This grace drove away the shadows from the prostitute woman of Luke in the 7th chapter and put the Sun of a new day in her life. There was joy unspeakable in her heart as she went away cleansed from the defilement of sin. How? By faith in the Son of God as her Savior. What Jesus did for that woman, for the Philippian jailor, and for many others, he will do for you. My friends, if you will come to him and trust him for your salvation, that grace, so wonderful, so great, so full of the love of God, that we are made to burst forth and happy singing often in our churches “Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost ,but now I’m found. Was blind but now I see. Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears, relieved.How precious did that grace appear!The hour I first believed! Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. His grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright, shining as the sun. We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we first begun! Thank you. And May God bless you.

Speaking is More than Words

Ephesians 4:15 says, “But speaking the truth in love . . .”

The Bible tells us to be speaking the truth in love. But I was thinking that we don’t always speak with our mouths. And it also has been said that actions speak louder than words. Jesus wasn’t constantly speaking with His mouth. His silence is even recorded in a few places (Matt. 27.12; Mark 15.5 for instance). Yet, it doesn’t change the fact that the Bible calls Jesus, “the Word of God”. Jesus gave witness to the truth by His actions.  And that is what we Christians are supposed to do as well. 

I John 3:18 says, “ My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

My Dad once taught on John 16:25. Before Jesus went to the cross, he told his disciples that He was getting ready to show the Father plainly. Jesus said, “ [I]f I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12.32). What Jesus did on the cross, showed His Father  plainly. The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

Titus 2:10 reads, “[T]hat they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” 

Sometimes people say that they love you without ever speaking. And sometimes what they do is more clear than words. James says our “conversation” consists of works too.

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13).

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:37-40

 Sometimes just showing up unprompted with a cup of coffee or donuts says more than words could.  If you asked me how I know my parents love me, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t a particular time that they spoke those exact words to me. I think of how they took care of me all my life, and I saw so many times how they put me before their own selves.

Now Proverbs 6:13 reads, “ He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;”.

 This verse says that a man can speak with his feet. What does where our feet go say to the world? How much a person is worth to someone can be seen by where they are going. How often are our feet in the house of God?

What our fingers do, or what we are busy with teaches a lot too.

Do our actions show that our life is but a vapour that appears for only a little time (James 4.13-15)?

Do our actions show that the dead aren’t going to rise either to everlasting life, or everlasting destruction (Acts 24.15; John 3.16; II Thess. 1.8-9)?

Do our actions show to the world that it is appointed to man once to die, and after this the judgment (Heb. 9.27)?

Do our actions show that we serve a holy God? Psalm 29:2 reads, “ Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” 

Do our actions show to our brethren that every one of us will give account of himself and his labours to God (II Cor. 5.9-10).

Also the Bible says that if  our words say one thing and our actions say another it can be a dangerous thing. Proverbs 11:9 says, “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: . .” If our words say one thing, and our actions say another, it can be a dangerous thing. Ecclesiastes also 9:18 says, “Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” 

The Scripture says that the hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor. Destroy is strong word. It seems as though we could possibly send someone to Hell by hypocrisy.

Romans 2:22-24  says, ”Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”

Sometimes silence is a witness too.

Jesus’ silence had a great impact on Pilate. In John 19:9-11 we read, “And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above . . .”

God who knows all things, knows when we should speak, and when we should be silent. And He knows what will be the most effective witness.

When the Lord wouldn’t speak to Saul, it certainly spoke volumes to their relationship (I Sam. 28.6). It spoke volumes on whether or not the Lord approved of his actions.

Jesus’ silence spoke of how Pilate wasn’t the ultimate authority.

Peter needed to be silent. In Luke 9:35 we read “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

Sometimes being silent is the best witness. It shows how great a God we serve!

“ . . . Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day . . . .The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14

If God tells you to be silent in a circumstance, you can be sure that that is the best witness. Being silent doesn’t’ mean that you aren’t being a witness. And speaking isn’t the only avenue where you tell others about Jesus. 

I Peter 2:12 says,“ Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 

I Peter 3:1 also tells about winning souls through the way you act. “[I]f any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;”

God bless!

Thoughts on “What Would We Trade?”

“ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46

“They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:” Psalm 46:6-7

If given the choice there are some who wouldn’t trade their loved  one  for anything.

“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9

There are many things to think about when Jesus was tempted. But one thing I was thinking about is the love Jesus had and has for His Father. Jesus had His Father, His approval, and walked with Him. What could the Devil possibly offer to compare to this?

I was just thinking, “What about Jesus?”  What would we trade Him for? I’m not talking about blessings. I’m not talking about rewards. I’m talking about Jesus.

 The world may have more material things sometimes. But we have Jesus. What would we trade Jesus’ approval for? What would we trade His ways for? What would we trade walking with Him for? What would we trade the peace from being in His presence for?

It isn’t an either or situation. He is our shepherd (Ps. 23). He made it His job to take care of us, and worry about things. 

Romans 8:32 says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” 

I think if we keep these things in our mind the devil will have a harder time discouraging us, using us, and keeping us from what we should be doing.  

God bless.

Labourers Together With God

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:9

Many times in the Bible, the Lord compares us to a garden, or plants.
As, my family and I have been working out in the yard this year, I’ve been meditating on this.

Every year at our house, we need to clean out the dead from our flower bed, so that the new flowers have room to grow.

We need to get the deadness of sin out of our lives, so we have new growth to serve the Lord.

There is also this.  If we know that there are more flowers coming, what should we do? We ask ourselves do they have room to grow?

Will they be in an environment that will promote growth?

Proverbs 13:22 says,

” A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children…”

God’s word commands us to prepare for future generations.

” And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

”…that ye may tell it to the generation following.” Psalm 48:13

It’s not a suggestion, it is a command.

We do know that there is nothing wrong with the seed.

Matthew 13:24

And we do know at least until Jesus actually comes, there will be a generation after us. In fact it is a promise.

“One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh…” Ecclesiastes 1:4

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”  Genesis 8:22

And in gardening at least, if you don’t actually prepare, you can’t expect to get much. And if something did come up, it probably won’t reach its full potential, by the environment it grew in.

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” II Corinthians 9:6

 

Jesus said,

”…  Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:13

Have you ever worked hard on something, for a very long time, and even after putting in an extraordinary effort, what you were working on didn’t appear that much noticeably different than when you started?

”I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” Proverbs 24:30-34

Sometimes the disrepair that sin has caused in one’s life, cannot be undone in one day. One’s heart may be right, and he may have grown in the Lord. But it will take much effort before a person’s life may bring glory and honor to the Lord like it ought.

I remember those flowers, buried beneath the dead leaves and grass of last year. The Lord certainly saw them, but others didn’t. Once all the dead was cleared away, they came into view.

Something may not get done in a day, but it is certainly worth it to give the Lord the glory and honor in our lives that He deserves.

Also, not all work for the Lord gets done in a day. Great works for the Lord  may take some time to prepare. It took Noah, a while to prepare the ark. It may take a while to prepare a field, break up the ground, and get it ready for service.  We should not be discouraged, because we do not see results today.
”There is work on earth for me and you

According to God’s word

and whatsoever work we do

Should be done as to the Lord

We’ll work till Jesus comes

We’ll work till Jesus comes

We’ll work till Jesus comes

and we’ll be gathered home.” (Hymn by Elizabeth K. Mills, pub. 1837)

Unmoveable

I remember always picturing in my mind that before God made everything He was alone. But He  was never alone. John 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  This just made me happy.

 Also I used to picture it as dark in the beginning, before the stars were created. But that is not right either!

I John 1:5 tells us, “ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 

These things just made me happy to realize. But then I got to thinking that for a child of God how impossible it is for us to be alone. When I was a little girl God used my fear of being alone to call on Him for salvation.

There is something else that has always existed, and will always be around.  I Corinthians 13:8-13 says, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. . . .For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

Jesus said in John 14:31 “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.” He also said of His Father, “for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17.24).

 I John 4:18  says, “[F]or God is love.”

Love was from the beginning, and the Lord will never stop loving those that are His. And He will never leave us alone (Heb. 13.5).

Another thing that will never change is that God is on His throne! 

“The Lord is King for ever and ever . . . “ (Ps. 10.16).  He is in charge. He is in control.

He is in control of today. 

“ This is the day which the Lord hath made . . .” (Ps. 118:24). And He is  for sure in charge of tomorrow!

He has power to help us live for Him today. And He has strength for us to live for Him tomorrow.

“[A]nd as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25

Psalm 1:2-3 says,

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” 

The more we seek Jesus the more strength we have. I was just listening to a Bible program, and it was talking about how we need to get in touch with Christ and not a middle man. And a lady wrote in and talked about how she was going through a hard time, but then it just got harder and how it was the most difficult time of her life.  And she talked about how she just kept reading the Bible and listening to the Bible program and how the Lord used that and got her through.

On hard days I’ve not always turned to the Lord. But He has never let me fall when I turned to Him. (And He chased me down when I wasn’t turning to Him, and got me to stop dragging my feet).  But as I was meditating on all these good things that will never change, I remembered I Corinthians 15:58. He has done so much good for us, we ought to pray to serve Him. We ought to be stedfast in His service.

These have been just a few thoughts.

God bless!

Encourage Joshua

Did you know? Moses commanded the congregation to encourage Joshua, the man that God chose to lead them.

“But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.” Deuteronomy 1:38

And we read in the first chapter of Joshua that all the people did encourage Joshua.

“And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses . . . only be strong and of a good courage.” Joshua 1:16-18

Sometimes Spiritual leaders need encouragement too. And God does want us to encourage them.

We are to pray for all those that are in authority (I Tim. 2.1-2). 

Romans 15:30 reads, “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;” 

“Brethren, pray for us.” (I Thess. 5.25).

Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear one another’s burdens. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

The Lord told Simon Peter to do this. ”[S]trengthen thy brethren.” ( Luke 22.32). 

This applies to Spiritual leaders too. When Moses the man of God needed help lifting up his hands, Aaron came and helped him lift them up.  This was needed for the congregation to win the battle. When Moses’ hands were lifted up the people of God prevailed (See Ex. 17.11-12, and I Tim. 2.8).

Just because we think people are more Spiritual than us it doesn’t mean that they don’t need prayer or encouragement.  If we love anyone we should pray for them and encourage them! And it is clear we won’t see as many victories if we neglect this.

These have been just a few thoughts.

God bless.

Thoughts on Speaking the Truth

The Bible tells us to be “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4.15). It doesn’t use the word” speak”. It uses “speaking”. So it seems  that this isn’t a once and done thing.

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15

Sometimes it seems easier to say nothing, then cause a stir. But, what if someone never got right with the Lord because we always strive to not offend someone? 

Proverbs 29:5 says, “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” 

The Lord requires us to warn people.  The Lord said in Ezekiel 3:18, “ When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

Leviticus 19:17 commands,

“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”

Proverbs 27:5-6 says,  “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

If we don’t tell someone the truth, we don’t love them. It seems today that people are too afraid of offending someone that they won’t say anything.

But when we speak the truth it should be motivated out of love. 

When we speak it should not be because we think we are better than others, or done out of a mean spirit. God hates this. Proverbs 8:13 reads, “[P]ride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” 

Even the Pharisees spoke the truth (sometimes). Jesus said in  Matthew 23:3-5, “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. . .  But all their works they do for to be seen of men . . .”

Matthew 12:46 reminds us, “  . . . That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” We will give account of our words, whether they were from God or not.

God bless.

Thoughts on Hard Things

“For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” Lamentations 3:31-33

In John chapter 11, there were people that were wondering why Jesus didn’t come right away and heal Lazarus. Sometimes we wonder why God lets things happen. Sometimes we wonder why we have to go through things. The Bible tells us it  wasn’t because Jesus didn’t love Martha, Mary, or Lazarus.  “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” (John 11.5)

My Dad once preached that if there was any other way to bring salvation, He wouldn’t have sent His Son to die on a cross. If we could get to Heaven by being good, He surely wouldn’t have sent Jesus. Sometimes there is no other way.

The Bible tells us that God is love (I John 4.8). It tells us that He doesn’t willingly cause us to hurt (Lam. 3.33). It seems  He wouldn’t choose these ways for no reason.

Lazarus’ sickness brought about belief in Jesus (John 11.15). It perhaps saved souls from eternal damnation. 

Although the goodness of God should lead men to repentance (Rom 2.4), (and it does), sometimes it doesn’t happen this way. The Lord said that there was a danger of the children of Israel going wrong and forgetting Him when they were in the land and  were full (Deut. 8.10-14).

Sometimes God withholds material blessings so that we will depend on Him and not on them.

Riches hinder people from coming to the Lord.“  . . .Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:24

Proverbs 30:8-9 reads, “[G]ive me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

Pride stops men from calling on the Lord (Ps. 10.4). The Lord may do a lot of things in our lives so we won’t think higher of ourselves than we ought to, and turn away from the Lord.

“The Psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” (Ps. 119.67)  

 I Corinthians 16:14 tells us, “ Let all your things be done with charity.” God would not act contrary to His Word. And we can rest  assured, and be encouraged that all His dealings with His children are done with love.

I Peter 4:19 tells us, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” 

Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God bless.

Nothing But This Manna

Hello Everyone. I have been following a chronological Bible reading plan that takes a year to read. Today I am reading Numbers 11-13. I wrote a devotional on this several years back, and wanted to share it with you.

(Also in case you are interested, here is a link to the plan I’m following. https://www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading/ God bless!)

“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them. And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” Numbers 11:1-6

The children of Israel  here remembered the wrong thing, and remembered it incorrectly. They said, “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely…”
They remembered the food of Egypt, but they didn’t remember the house of cruel bondage.  It is the Devil’s work to make us forget the provisions and blessings of God, and to get us to lust after the wrong thing. He gets us to think on the wrong things, and skews our recollection.

In the Scripture, it says that the mixed multitude fell a lusting. Matthew Henry, identifies these as the Egyptians, as those who after seeing the miracles followed the Israelites in search of their own fortune (but not interested in the trial getting there). They fell into lusting, and their leaven infected the children of Israel.

^” Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” Ecclesiastes 7:10
It is the Devil’s work to make us forget the provision and great blessings of God, and to get us to lust after the wrong thing.

”And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?…” Genesis 3:1

He points to what we don’t have and somehow we sometimes fall for it. We forget the Lord’s goodness, and somehow doubt the LORD.

The LORD spoke to the children of Israel from the mount. He rained food down from Heaven! He made it so where their clothes didn’t wear out, and their feet didn’t swell.Yet they forgot God’s provision, and became unthankful.

”We have nothing but, manna!”
”Nothing, but manna!”

How often do we have all that we need, and do we complain to God?

We have nothing, but this bread from Heaven.
We have nothing, but Jesus Christ!
We have nothing!

But, look at what all the world has God?
Look at what the world has!
Look at what the world has!
Look at WHAT the WORLD HAS!

They have all that,

and all we have is Jesus.
All we have is Jesus.

“Nothing, but this Jesus.”

How does our Father feel when we turn back to look at Egypt?

How does He feel when we act like this?

How does He feel, when  we say that we have nothing?

How does He feel, that when He gave His very own Son to die for us,

and shed His very own blood on Calvary…

And we say, we have nothing.

May it never be said!!

We have more than they do!

We have more than they do!

” Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9

If they had all the kingdoms of the world, if we have Jesus WE WOULD STILL HAVE MORE THAN THEY DO.

We ought to remember where the LORD has brought us from. We ought to consider what the LORD has done for us, and remember it. Can’t we remember that the LORD has given us all that we need? Isn’t it enough?
If not, He will supply our needs.

Don’t we remember who we are, and who they are? Do we consider our end, and theirs?

He has given us, more than we deserve.
He has given us, more than we deserve.

Can’t we wait just a little longer until we get to the promised land?

D.N. JACKSON: The Law of Separation

Hello everyone! I’m very happy to be sharing with you a transcript of an old recording of a Baptist minister: D.N. Jackson. I have used Microsoft Office 365 to transcribe the old recording, and corrected it.  The software does not always pick up older words. The Law of Moses sometimes is rendered “the thermos” etc.

I hope this is a blessing to you. It was to me!

Hello out there.I speak to you on the Law of Separation based on Deuteronomy 22:9 -11. “Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.”

The Law of Separation between right and wrong, good and evil goes back to the Garden of Eden when the Lord gave Adam permission to eat of all the trees in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam’s transgression of the will of God in this instance reflects the contrast between the two laws.  In later years, we read of the first murder in Biblical history. Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.God had placed the value upon the right kind of offering, which happened not to be the kind presented by Cain. Consequently, vengeance was meted out against the man in the right for the man in the wrong.This principle is seen today operative the world over. In cases too many to recount here, we see the struggle between good and evil going on in the lives of the antediluvians. So great was it on the side of evil, that God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.The breakdown of the principles of righteousness at this time resulted in the judgment of the Flood being sent to cleanse the earth of sin.

One manner of the breakdown is seen in the intermarriages of the sons of God with the daughters of men. The sons of God with the descendants of Seth, who stood as a representative of the Godly people, and the daughters of man with the wicked female characters of the line of Cain. It meant the destruction of the sanctity of the home.Years following the flood, we see the Lord in operation again. This time in the life of Abraham, who was called to separate himself from his land, his people and his gods. Paul testifies that  ^“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8.

Some 400 years after the call of Abraham.the peculiar enactment of the Law of Separation was established by the Lord through Moses. This singular expression of it is found in the verses of our text.  But peculiar to the Mosaic law as it is not an infraction of the divine law now  to sow different kinds of seed in the same field, or plow with the ox and an ass together and wearing clothes of different kinds of threads.While the peculiar law itself is no longer in effect, the principles of it are as binding today as ever.And to these principles, we shall direct your attention.

First, there’s unmixed teaching. “Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with diverse seed.” That is two kinds of seed. The inexorable law of God is clearly seen in the prohibition against sowing the field with different kinds of seed. Like producing like, producing like was the law set up of the Lord in the dawn of creation. Here the theory of evolution is denied as we see that the Lord emphasizes this distinction of species.The New Testament echo to this is heard in the language of Paul. “All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. In the unmixed sowing, we see clearly the principle of unmixed teaching of our preaching. The power of the sower, Matthew 13:3-8 shows the sower sowing the seed, which is said to be the word of God.In this parable, the seed is the word, the soil is the hearts of people. The sower is the teacher and preacher. And the vineyard is the group of the hearts of the people. Primarily, Jesus is the teacher or sower, but all who preach his word in its purities sow good seed.

 Jesus never sowed mixed seed, as it was always the pure wheat. Neither did he ever command his followers to sow mixed seed. Speaking to his Father, Jesus says,“For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” John 17:8 

Answering the Jews and the temple, Jesus said my doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me John 7:16. Preach the word is Paul’s command to Timothy, and it should be heeded by all who teach or preach today.  Contrary to the divine principle we see much mixed sewing has befouled the fields laid out in the centuries back to Christ.  Paul  declared that the mystery of iniquity was already at work in his day, and prophesied the coming of the day, when there should be a falling away from the faith as a system of teaching (I Tim. 4.1). 

Scarcely had the bones of the Apostles become set to their graves, until the way of salvation had become confused in the minds of some by the introduction of baptism of regeneration.  Of all perversions of the truth that is the worst that has to do with the misguiding of people concerning their eternal welfare. Baptismal salvation became prevalent about the commencement of the 3rd century, and from it was developed infant baptism. There was a lot of mixed seeds sowed then hundreds of years after the time.  In the 19th century, one Mr. Alexander Campbell worked a theory of baptismal salvation.  And with little dignity set baptism as a condition of salvation. Even then it is mixed seed, or rather a corruption of the plan of salvation.The pure seed with regard to the way of salvation is found in Ephesians 2:8 and 10,  and we have used this passage repeatedly over this program. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The evil effect of mixed sowing we can easily see. “Lest the fruit of thy seed which thou sow and the fruit of thy vineyard be defiled”.  . . . And a mixture of good with evil renders the good helpless and does not cleanse the bad. Defilement or confiscation is the result.  As to the way of salvation, grace and works cannot be mixed to procure it, as salvation is obtained by one with the other left out. This we read in Romans 11 and six. “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

As works or grace must be omitted, one of them must be omitted. Which one is it? Titus 3:5 says works play no part in one salvation. Therefore, we must conclude that salvation is wholly by grace through faith.That is the pure and unmixed seed, which will never be confiscated.

In the second place there is unmixed service. Thou shall not plough with an ox and an ass together. Service is here indicated as the working of the animals is mentioned. The reason for them not being worked together is seen in the fact the ox is a clean animal under the law and the donkey, an unclean animal.  The Mosaic Law forbade the Jews eating the flesh of the donkey while the ox was not only employed for table use, but also for sacrifice.The working of the donkey  the ox together under the same yoke suggested to the Jew under the law  a mixture of the forces of evil and good.The Lord designed that the furrow be plowed with oxen, not yolked with a donkey and sowed with unmixed seed.

This pure service we shall let picture three phases of Christian service today. The 1st is the service rendered by individual Christian.” No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24. 

God does not accept the service of one who undertakes to please both the Lord and Satan.  That is known in the Old Testament as Balaamism. Originated from the Prophet Balaam, who undertook to please God, and at the same time do acceptable service to the enemy of God’s people. Such service is a stench to the Lord!

 In the second place there is the service rendered by ministers of the Gospel.“For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?” (I Cor. 9:9). That this is applied to ministerial service is shown by the context. “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” asks Paul in the same connection.The reference is to Deuteronomy 25 and 4. “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” Into the Greece, Egypt and Italy, farmers made use of oxen to tread out the corn or wheat.The oxen being tied to a pole and driven around the treading floor, thus trapping the seat out of the stock heads. In some instances the oxen were muzzled to prevent them from eating as they work. “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” Ministers should be supported by the congregation so that they might give themselves wholly to the ministry of the word. 

The Apostle Peter sounded this note clearly, when in Acts 6, they called the church together and said, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”

The lesson not only stresses ministerial support, but also the cleanliness of ministerial living. Ministers of the Gospel, Profess Spokesman for God, should live blameless before the world setting an exemplary pattern as Paul admonished Timothy to be an example of the believers in word and conversation in charity, in Spirit, in faith and in purity. This means cleanliness to be sure.  The ox was a clean animal and the Mosaic law. Again we see the lesson of ministerial sacrifice taught. The ox was used as a sacrifice under the law.

One qualification of a minister as set up by the apostle Paul is that he is not to be greedy of filthy lucre, nor covetous (I Tim. 3.3). While any minister has a scriptural right to expect a decent living both in his active days and when he has laid on the shelf, he cannot be very effective as a soul winner if he’s given or giving more attention to making money than he does to the study and preaching of the Word.

Service rendered by church is the third point here. A clean Church living itself to God, giving itself wholly to God in unmixed service, is the world’s greatest and brightest lighthouse. It is truly a city set on a hill which cannot be hit.  Unmixed church service does not mean that sinners cannot attend the worship and be benefited thereby. But it does mean that a church should be composed of, and the affairs thereof run by children of God. No! Unmixed church service does not mean that sinners cannot attend. But it means that they must not control the church. 

In this case one thing will always prevail. And at least two things will be excluded. The one thing is the will and worship of Christ our Savior. The other things excluded are notice: worldly entertainment. I know some of you gasped at this statement as you may think it takes entertainment to have a church going. It does . . . if it is going in the way of the world!  Then it will take wordly entertainment to keep it going. But if it is going along with Christ, the entertainment should be spiritual, wholesome and vigorously upbuilding to the moral life. When the tools of Satan are used, you need not expect much moral uplift from a church. Some of the tools thus employed are card parties, dancing, and the like. Can you imagine the Apostle Peter advertising cards and dancing on the day of Pentecost to draw the thousands he and his followers led to Christ?   While we have heard of boxing and being staged in churches, and some churches have turned over their basements to all sorts of worldly attractions. In such instances a church loses its power for God as did Lot, when he pitched his tent in Sodom.  Or as Samson lost his physical strength when he rested his head in Delilah’s lap. There must be a clear line of demarcation between the church and the world. If the church is to live as a saving instrument in the hands of God. 

A church in a race with the world loses the respect of the world in the end. For a time, great crowds may may flock to it, but there they hear no real gospel, they’re not taught. they must be born of God to get to heaven. They’re not warned of their awful doom that awaits the impenitent. And when they awake to the crisis awaiting them, they stand ready to scorn the very  forces that have kept them in spiritual darkness. A man in the Armed Services coming ashore off his ship being hungry for the divine food for his soul attended a certain church, but found nothing for his soul. Yet there was plenty of entertainment. He went away disappointed and sad. He came ashore to another place, but remembering his former experience, he hesitatingly went to a church with the same name. There, however, he found the atmosphere quite different. Instead of a certain brand of entertainment, he found a spiritually minded church and a minister who preached the gospel. He was gloriously  saved and went away praising God for having found the kind of food his hungry soul craved. 

But don’t misunderstand me. We must be social beings. And as we are social beings there can be clean entertainment by the people of God. I am speaking of the entertainment that emanates from the world and is patterned after the world. Then we find worldly ambitions. The church should be a place where aspiration should be raised to the skies. Not a place where tricksters take over.  A church like the temple should be cleansed of all those who use it as an organized racket. 

When one unites with the.Church, for the sake of his business, he seeks to use the church as a means to wealth.  “ . . . If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”(Matt. 16.24). Then there’s corrupt living termites boring from within usually cause greater property damage  than storms that come from without.

 A church overbalanced by the internal corruption is like a ship with bomb holes in it. In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul says, “  . . . if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” (I Cor. 5.11). In his second letter to the same church, the apostle says “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (II Cor. 6.14-17). People who handle holy things should have clean hands.

 And then in the last part there’s unmixed conduct. “ Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.” We have just spoken of corrupt living inside of a church and have noticed what the divine call to a church is respecting such matters.  Now let’s take a view of the divine will concerning our individual conduct. Under the law of Moses garments of different kinds as a woollen and linen could not be worn together. The picture we get is: As the clothes which outline the body must conform to a certain regulation, our conduct which outlines the inward motives must likewise be unmixed. The priests under the Mosaic law were strictly forbidden to wear any mixture of clothes when they minister in the gates of the inner court (Ezek. 44.17).They were to wear only linen garments. As they say, people are their own unbeliever priests and have access themselves to the great high Priest Jesus Christ. As we read in Hebrews 4:14, 16.They must administer in the sanctuary of God with an even conduct before the world. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness as we read in Psalm 132.9. As our own righteousness is as filthy rags reading  in Isaiah 64:6,  we must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ if we are to stand, acceptably before God. The apostle Paul said he desired to be found in Christ, “ . . . not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Phil 3.9.).   When we possess this righteousness, we’re saved and stand ready to manifest in our conduct a righteous life. Without the righteousness of Christ in us, we cannot manifest the righteous conduct in a true sense of the word.

Christ found people in his day on Earth who had only their own righteousness, and he tells us that our righteousness must exceed or excel theirs (Matt. 5.20). Excel it in what sense? In quantity? No! But in quality or kind. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was ritualistic; not based upon the spirit of Christ. In other words, it was not the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. Their righteousness was the  kind of Paul said he did not want to be found clothed in, as it was not by faith in Christ. When a man comes to God by faith in Christ, he is then clothed with Christ’s righteousness.  The Bride of Christ is seen by John in his  Patmos vision to be “ . . . arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Rev. 19.8). Here the view is twofold. First, the Saints, who compose the Bride, possess the righteousness of Christ and therefore are saved. Second through this righteousness they have on fine linen,  clean and white because they are not found clothed in their own righteousness, and have conformed their life to the deep flowing impulses from the Spirit of God. Day by day every Christians conduct should bespeak to others, a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God. By what is known as travel photograph, the slightest variation of tone can be detected. By the Lord’s instrument, the Bible, our conduct is measured. What we do, willl have far more weight for the world than what we say. Someone has said, What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” To the unsaved person, although he may not mean to do so, but by his conduct, he is saying to the loved ones and associates, “Let’s go to the place of torment.” This is true because he is actually going in that direction,  “[B]e not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” as Paul says in Romans 12:2 . 

Well, my time is up and thank you so very much. And may God bless you. Tune in again at this same time next week.