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The Greatest Ironman Triathlete ever!

Posted by John Richeson on March 31, 2009 at 12:00pm

Is in a wheelchair. Love makes things possible and makes the problems of this world seem insignificant. When I first saw this it changed me. (That is, after I dried my eyes.) Then I Called my Dad to say hi. He is 84 years old.

Good news

Posted by Steven E. Lowder on March 31, 2009 at 8:57am

Hello, How are you all today? I wanted to let some of my friends know that I'm engaged and am planning to get married this summer to Karla Morris. She is a first grade school teacher, so she knows how to keep me in line. I've only had time out once. (so far) She loves the Lord and has a great heart.Thank you for your prayers and blessings.Have a great day.Love, Steven

Jesus Christ Become Public Enemy Number One

Posted by Steve Jaynes on March 30, 2009 at 1:53am

The Passover lamb was killed at about 3:00 pm on Wednesday, the 14th of Nisan, as we know from previous study. We also know that Jesus Christ was our Passover. So counting six days back we get to the eighth of Nisan. (Biblical calendar) We see that Jesus is having supper at the home of Lazarus and Martha.KJV John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.To see how Jesus became public enemy number one we have to go back a few verses to John 11:45.KJV John 11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.It is shocking when you see what men will do to other men in the name of doing God’s work. People will even to go against the plans of God in the name of saving their religion or what they believe. You can even think you are doing God’s will and still be fighting against the will of God. How important is it that we read the Bible and let it interpret itself. We should learn how to let the Word speak for itself and keep our opinions out. At this time Jesus became public enemy number one. He was now a wanted man. He could no longer walk around openly. But Jesus still did what he needed to be doing. He still did the will of the Father to carry out the plan of salvation for us.KJV John 11:54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.The common people that came to the feast were wondering if Jesus would go to the feast or not because he was a wanted man. We know that he did. He was about to carry out God plan.The complete Teaching is on my web site on the Live Recorded Teachings Page. I am doing a series on the “The Days Just before the Last Supper”. For the complete teaching you can download the teaching from the web site. www.howtoreadthebible.netOn the web site there is also available the Audio Teaching and Syllabus on the Class I did on.“The Last Supper through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ”This is a Biblical research study in chronological order of the records from all four Gospels of this is a most Momentous time in history. ‘The Last supper Through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ’.The syllabus is designed for you follow along with as we read the Scriptures that deal with this most momentous time in all of history. This syllabus has all the Scriptures written out for you so that you can fellow along as we rapidly change from one Gospel to another. We will be reading all the records about each event from all four Gospels in chronological order. I know no other section in the Scriptures that has as much written about them as is in this time from the last supper through the burial of Jesus Christ. With the Audio class you can stop and rewind as you need to. The Syllabus is designed to guide you through the Class and gives you an easy way to follow along and to keep your place.My desire for this class is that it would help you to get to know all that happened in this crucial time in history. That when we hear that “Jesus died for our sins”, you could start to understand what he went through. I thank God for His plan and for all that Jesus Christ did for us all. God has always wanted you to have His very best every day and all the time. He had His Word written so that you and I could know how to live and how to live abundantly and victoriously. By understanding the Scriptures, the Bible, you can live the life you always wanted to live.Table of SegmentsThe IntroductionThe Last SupperReview of the Last SupperThe Mount of OlivesThe Garden of GethsemaneThe Night TrialThe Morning TrialThe Crucifixion DayThe Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Give me liberty or…maybe like a paper cut

Posted by Billy Britt on March 25, 2009 at 10:29am

This week marks the anniversary of the Patrick Henry’s speech in which he said, “Give me Liberty, or give me Death!” The speech was given before the Virginia Convention, on March 23, 1775, at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia.Henry’s oratory was credited as having swung the balance in convincing the Virginia House of Burgesses to pass a resolution delivering the Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War.Liberty or DeathIt would be difficult to imagine a politician of today’s ilk uttering these words without a bout of uncontrollable laughter.One would be hard pressed to find what, if anything, a modern politico would die for, much less liberty.Liberty can generally be described as the freedom to act or believe without being hindered by unwarranted force.The U.S. Constitution was intended to provide a framework for laws that sustained individual freedom.In political philosophy, it is the condition in which an individual has the right to act according to his or her own will as long as it does not infringe the rights of (or do harm to) others.In contrast, collectivist political theories, socialist or communist believe that rather than leaving individuals to pursue their own ends, the state must ensure that the individual serves the whole society. This coercion by the state is anathema to our system of government, but a creeping collectivist agenda seems to always be at play.From the collectivist perspective, liberty is replaced by a false equality; therefore, in an effort to bring state ordered equality the government assumes primary responsibility for the welfare of its citizens.Democracy is often sadly misunderstood, and the will of the people becomes the tyranny of the masses.Therefore, limits on the decisions that can be made by such majorities are put in place, such as constitutional limits on the powers of government as in our “Bill of Rights.”Ayn Rand, wrote in Atlas Shrugged, “My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”While I would add that we have a spiritual obligation, we must as a nation stresses independence and self-reliance.Furthermore, a laissez-faire government that has little or no state intervention in economic issues, including the use of free markets, minimal taxes, minimal regulations and private ownership is most able to promote liberty.A government that takes capital from the most productive sectors of the economy and gives it to the less productive sectors by enforcing economic egalitarianism, will reduces productivity and the incentive to work.Many believe that Henry’s words were inspired by a line spoken in the play Cato, a Tragedy, “It is not now time to talk of aught/But chains or conquest, liberty or death” (Act II, Scene 4).Whatever the source, it would be good for us to remember his words, “It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”I am not laughing but praying for a renewal of our nation’s purpose.

The Right to Your Own Opinion

Posted by Ken & Sue Brown on March 25, 2009 at 10:17am

“Everyone has the right to his own opinion.” We hear this line used from time to time, and in certain contexts, I don’t disagree. But is it always true? Has anyone ever verbally maligned you, lying about you or about your friends or family? What was your response? Were you angry, hurt, or disgusted because “no-one has the right to talk about me or my family that way”? Or were you complacent, acknowledging “every one has the right to his own opinion”? Each of these quoted statements has a valid basis. It depends on what “right” we are talking about.In the USA there is something called “The Bill of Rights.” One of these rights is freedom of speech. People in our nation have the legal right to speak their minds whether they are correct or not. They do not necessarily, however, have a moral right to have what is in their minds to begin with. No one has a God-given moral right to mistreat other people. How much less so regarding the treatment of and statements about our wonderful heavenly Father?When we see our friends maligned, we tend to take exception to their treatment. We stand up for them and fight back. We recognize the evil for what it is and say so. Too many Christians, however, do not give our heavenly Father the same kind of consideration, respect, and love they would give to their friends or even perhaps to their family dog. When they hear our Father maligned, they just sigh and say, “Well, everyone has the right to his own opinion.” I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 11:Verse 3: But I am concerned that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted and turned away from the straightforward simplicity of teaching about Christ.Verse 4: Because if someone comes along preaching another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive originally, or if you receive a different gospel which you did not originally accept, you put up with these things too easily. [TWI: "Literal According to Usage"]Like the first century believers in Corinth, many Christians today “put up with these things too easily.” They are complacent about others viciously maligning our wonderful Father. Some even celebrate the supposed right to do so. There is a legal right in our nation to express anything one wants about our God (as long as it is not an openly displayed written positive statement in a government funded facility), but there is no God-given moral right to having your own opinion about God and the things of God. God commands all men to believe on the name of His son, Jesus Christ, not have their own opinions about him.1 John 3: 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.Those who reject Jesus Christ are liars and they are calling God a liar.1 John 2: 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.1 John 5: 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.We must not confuse what one has the ability to do with what one has a right to do. In our nation, there is no legal right to commit murder even though people have the ability to do so. Likewise, there is no God-given moral right to reject the one true God just because people have the ability to do so. I don’t celebrate diversity when it comes to the things of God. I celebrate when people accept the Truth. We have an obligation to believe Him. All other options are not called “rights” in God’s Word; they are called “sin”.John 16: 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.Actually, there should be no “opinions” at all about the Scriptures whether those opinions are correct or not. Opinions are conclusions thought out but open to dispute (as per Merriam-Webster’s on-line dictionary). We are not to have “conclusions thought out but open to dispute” regarding the Scriptures. We are to know the things that are freely given to us of God.1 Corinthians 2: 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.Believers or anyone else can have an opinion about who might win the next World Series or whatever, but not about the things of God. When it comes to God’s Word, we are to study to show ourselves approved unto God. That leaves no room for opinions and certainly not the opinions of those who reject Him.God has shown and extended his love to all mankind in giving His son as a sacrifice for us all (But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8). God loves, but He has never compromised on what he expects people to believe. He has never offered an excuse for unbelief, and certainly not an excuse as lame as, “Well, they have the right to their own opinion.” We should follow God’s example rather than the example of those who are more concerned about offending people than they are about offending God.Bless.Ken

The End of Days (Part 1)

Posted by Steven Budlong on March 24, 2009 at 7:30pm

Dear Way Corps,In the early seventies, when I was quite young in the Word, I spent my weekends and summers up at The Way International around the Ohio believers, the first few Way Corps and around Uncle Harry. Uncle Harry was Dr. Wierwille’s older brother. What I loved about Uncle Harry was his simplicity. He took God at his word and he really, really yearned for the Return of Jesus Christ to gather together the Church of the Body. He kept things simple and praised God continuously for his blessings. God prospered him through his re-upholstery business and he put up the seed money for Dr. Wierwille to start his ministry. He was not grandiose or egotistical; he was simply authentic and honest. A real breath of fresh air. In fact, he sat with my father through the PFAL class and tried to help my parents through some rough patches in their marriage.He also taught things his brother didn’t teach, but V.P. never stopped him. Uncle Harry taught me latter day Bible prophecy. He had a very good dispensationalist understanding of the difference between the Bride (Israel) and Bridegroom (Jesus Christ and the Church of the Body), along with an understanding of the sequence of events that would lead up to the Gathering Together. And like the Seventh Day Adventists, he looked at the biblical thousand year spans of time, starting with Adam, to be numerically significant to God’s plans for man. I grew rich on that. I really did. It allowed me to expand my scope of the word.Back then the big thing was Hal Lindsey and his book, "The Late, Great Planet Earth". People were gobbling it up and trying to figure out who Gog and Magog were. Who was the anti-Christ (Henry Kissinger, no doubt) and what about the ten-nation confederacy? Was it the Warsaw Pact or a Unified Europe? First you had books, then movies, then televangelizing and Crusades! The Mark of the Beast (666) must be the beginning of digital surveillance via a microchip implanted in your head to keep order in the one world government.Well, we in The Way didn’t jump into the national hysteria because Dr. Wierwille kept us out of all those prophetic books (even though “J.C. divided the Word into the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms… or the rest of the writings”). But Uncle Harry was into it and he taught what he knew. Because of who he was he could get away with an awful lot! And then again there was always the back door into the topic.The back door was, "Are the Dead Alive, Now?" Which I think is probably Dr. Wierwille’s most original work. And I mean that because to understand the resurrections you have to understand the sequence of events leading up to them. And that is all there in that book if you work it.In the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, being well taught in the scripture and attune to the world (for I have traveled extensively and felt the pulse of the world working in the heart of NYC, or modern day Babylon) I knew the latter days, or end times were not yet. I felt those decades were leading up to something, like a preamble to rapture. I too, like Uncle Harry and many fringe Christians, felt that there was something key to our understanding in the verse that says one day is as a thousand years to the Lord and a thousand years as one day.I couple that awareness with the first four verses in Habakkuk Chapter 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.We could discuss these four verses for days and not exhaust the riches of God’s plan for the ages. But lets not do that. The point I want to make is that a prophetic vision “speaks” at a specific appointed time. That specific appointed time is when it occurs. As with all biblical prophecy, it is not and cannot be fully understood until it is actually fulfilled. I am reminded of the anticipation that a movie trailer generates for a release. You finally go to the movie, you think you know what you’re getting for your ten bucks, but hey “that’s not like the trailer!” Anticipation and realization are two very different things, no matter how well you’ve been informed.Note the figurative use of language in these verses. How can a vision speak? Well, the watchman, who has been looking from his tower for the enemy for 2,000 years, finally sees something moving on the horizon. And it hits him like a ton of bricks that, “this is it!” He then gathers his wits and opens his mouth to announce to those who will take action that, “this is it!” It will be hammered home, it will be spread abroad, it will be obvious, and it will be a media blitz! And the media will say to all the people rich and poor, “This is it!” Now that’s how you get a sound byte!That my friends, is the first thing you have to know about prophecy. So, you can speculate and you can guess and you can get your calendar out and set dates for the Lord’s Return but… it is all for naught because no man knows the time or season, for the Lord Himself shall come as a thief in the night.So, what do we do? Do we ignore the things not written to us, like Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation? Or, do we do what the watchman does and “watch”? Do we stay awake or do we sleep? Do we get drunk or stoned and escape into our addictions or do we sober up and crack open our Bibles and say, “hey… you know that stuff on TV, what’s going on between Iran and Russia… it sure reminds me of those verses in Ezekiel 39.”Now, if Uncle Harry were alive he and I would probably agree that it is not too long before the clock strikes seven to commence The Lord’s Day. Personally, I feel like we are sailing right into God’s “perfect storm.” But remember, feelings are no guarantee for truth. So we just keep doing what we’re doing and hopefully making full proof of our own ministries, yes? Are you awake? Are you sure? Remember, Jesus Christ said, “When I come again, will I find faith in the earth?” That is a question for you. How will you answer it?When I come back to you, lets discuss the idea that prophecy, like God’s Word, can ripple and echo across time and speak to situations that are similar or like (but not identical to) the fulfillment of the real deal.Finally, let me leave you with these verses from Hebrews 10, which tie in nicely with what we read in Habakkuk:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.God bless you richly through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Oh, yeah!Truly Yours,Steven C. BudlongCopyright 2009 -- Sojourner Media LLC

To Your Health, Gods Way

Posted by Steve Jaynes on March 23, 2009 at 6:56am

To live with health we have to look at what God’s Word says about being healthy. The Scriptures say that God has giving us eternal life.KJV Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Before we had eternal life we had death, a result of Adam’s sin. Something to keep in mind is that eternal life is NOT in our earthly bodies. We will get new spiritual bodies that will be incorruptible or be immortal.KJV 1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.What then is our goal for healthy living? It is not to make our bodies live forever. That’s never going to happen. God has a better plan. The goal is for our earthly bodies to be in health so we are blessed and can therefore serve God and by love serve one another.KJV 3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.God wants us to be healthy and God has a plan and a way for us to be healthy and I will show you that, but first lets look at these verses from 1 Timothy 4:7&8.KJV 1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.We are to refuse profane and old wives’ fables and the best way to do that is to keep our heads into The Word. By reading and thinking about what does the Word say. That is the exercising of our minds to thoughts of what does the Word say. This builds a true vital relationship with God. Bodily exercise profits some. I am all for exercising our bodies and eating good food so that we can serve God and by love serve one another. There is some profit here but the greater profit is in exercise thyself rather unto godliness. One key to healthy living is to live according to the wisdom God’s Word provides us. That is to renew our minds to what the Word says and to walk in love and to live love.KJV Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.To stay in God’s Word is to live in health. We should not think that we are so smart and have all the answers. Instead we should reverence God and His wisdom. In the Bible the words naval and belly are symbols of health, since the baby is nourished in uteri thru the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord carries the blood and life is in the blood. (Lev 17:11)Also the words marrow or bone marrow is symbols of health in the Bible. Most of the blood products are formed in the marrow which is inside the bones. Marrow is wet which means healthy. In the Bible the words “dry” bones means sick marrow and eventually death.If you want to get into a health kick, get into God’s Word that the real health kick.KJV Psalm 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;The word early means earnestly and diligently as if you were thirsty in the desert and needed water. That how we should go after God.2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.That is how you get health, by thinking about God. What we believe and what we confess or speak with our month is critical to our health. (Remember Rom. 10:9&10)These are some thoughts from my weekly teaching “To Your health, Gods Way”. For the complete teaching you can download the teaching from the web site. www.howtoreadthebible.net

Talking

Posted by Frank Abissi on March 21, 2009 at 4:56pm

Although it hurts a bit I am now talking and having a blast. My Jokes are as good as ever, The Word is I've been speaking is sharper than a two edged wilkonson sword razor blade without electra shave and I am having a good time. I am still having a very hard time making transitions between some words especially the ones where you go from pronouncing to words that are not spoken like words that start with sh or words like puppy where the vocal chords start and stop during the words.Life is great. I stopped by work today for a few minutes and ended up leaving 9 hours later. I am climbing huge numbers of feet like I am trying for a minimum of 1000 feet a day. I am now the vice chairman of the National Climbing Wall Association Standards committee and that is keeping me very busy, not to mention how it has increased the consulting side of my business.Lena is in the midst of Tax Season and really wants it to end soon. She is working 7 days a week and is a little tired to say the least.My son Paul and I both passed the International Rope Access Trade Association Level 1 certification and soon hope to be traveling internationally doing some High Rope Work. I was offered work already in Libya but declined it as not a destination I really want to go to now.I still consider Jesus Christ to be not only my brother but also my best friend. My heavenly Father, I am trying to imitate and be like Him. Life is good.If anyone would like to hear someone who hasn't been able to speak in 9 months feel free to call me. Just expect to hear how God worked with so many people to get me to this point. Just recently it has been God working with 9 different doctors who actually ended up EMailing each other almost daily and who really worked together to come up with some wild things to try. Not only that but I don't know how many saints were out there praying for my healing. At this time I feel as though i am just around the corner from being whole. Our God is good.

Chinese Mystery Dinner Theatre

Posted by DonnaJo (Langford) Dembinski on March 19, 2009 at 1:30pm

Saturday, March 14th some of us met for dinner at Randy & Cheri's home. They welcomed us and we ate big! Stir fry, Pot Stickers, Egg Rolls, Won ton Soup. . . are you detecting a theme? If you said Chinese you would be correct- right down to your sweet little fortune cookies!We broke bread, ahem egg rolls together, then we began a wonderfully fun game. Murder ala Chinese Take out. I've heard of parties like this where dinner attendees play a part in a Who-dun-it and you don't know until the end of the play who did it, but I had no idea what great fun it would be.The idea is for each character to dress their part if possible, then, following a booklet script and an audio recording, act out their parts. No one knows who the murder is until act two, and then only the murder themselves.We took a few tries to figure out how we were supposed to play it, and which parts to read out loud but even that caused peals of laughter. Our hopeless attempts at Chinese accents caused belly laughs the entire night, too.After the "play" we enjoyed Lemon Cake and everyone went home full, tired and very very blessed- looking forward to our next Dinner Theater.

Behold, The Invisible Hand

Posted by Billy Britt on March 18, 2009 at 11:21am

...every individual necessarily labours to render the annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He generally, indeed, neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it. By preferring the support of domestic to that of foreign industry, he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was no part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.This is a passage, from the 1776 book by Adam Smith entitled, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.Many credit Smith with being the father of capitalist economics, and his writings are still influential today.His basic principle is that as each individual works to become wealthy “intending only his own gain.” However, because he must exchange what he owns or produces with others who see value what he has to offer; in this way, by division of labor and a free market, the public interest is advanced. This mechanism Smith referred to as “the invisible hand.”In the United States Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”The “pursuit of happiness” was intended to mean the right to economic freedom.In Butchers' Union Co. v. Crescent City Co., 111 U.S. 746 (1883), the U.S. Supreme Court considered Jefferson’s phrase in the Declaration of Independence to refer to one’s economic vocation of choice rather than the search for emotional fulfillment.U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Johnson Field, in his concurring opinion to Associate Justice Samuel Freeman Miller’s opinion, wrote:“Among these inalienable rights, as proclaimed in that great document, is the right of men to pursue their happiness, by which is meant the right to pursue any lawful business or vocation, in any manner not inconsistent with the equal rights of others, which may increase their prosperity or develop their faculties, so as to give to them their highest enjoyment.”It is believed that Jefferson based his words on the writings John Locke, who expressed that “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions,” in his Two Treatises of Government, 1689.Smith, a devoutly religious man, believed the “invisible hand” was the method by which God ordered the world so that human happiness was increased.Of course this assumes that moral norms by way of rule of law are in place for the system to work properly.For example, property rights must be strong, as well as contract law; there also must ample punishment for cheating and theft.The public must also have good access to information about the products and services available.As of late, all of the above necessities for the invisible hand to work have been lacking from the system.Enforcement, punishment and even truthful information have all been stripped from Wall Street and the body politic. The rule of law must hold for there to be widespread prosperity.Contrary to this rule of shared prosperity through ability and labor, our government has embarked on a grand plan of wealth redistribution under the guise of leveling the playing field.A redistribution of wealth by means of taxation is unlawful and is the antithesis of the invisible hand process.History has shown that vast income redistribution creates a dependency culture and a society that is not a based on talent and work.Economist Milton Friedman argued that the Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need” turns ability into a liability, and need into an asset.The Founding Fathers warned against the dangers of redistribution of wealth. Samuel Adams stated: “The utopian schemes of leveling [redistribution of wealth], and a community of goods, are as visionary and impracticable as those which vest all property in the Crown. [These ideas] are arbitrary, despotic, and, in our government, unconstitutional.”I will leave the last word to a president who is often memorialized as a champion of the poor.“Property is the fruit of labor. Property is desirable, is a positive good in the world. That someone should be rich shows that others may become rich and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently to build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence. . . . I take it that it is best for all to leave each man free to acquire property as fast as he can. Some will get wealthy. I don't believe in a law to prevent a man from getting rich; it would do more harm than good.” A. Lincoln.

No More Conscience of Sins

Posted by Ken & Sue Brown on March 11, 2009 at 1:43am

Nearly 20 years ago, not long after leaving TWI, I came across a section of Scripture that astounded me. I was stunned because the section seemed to contradict something I had long held to be an important and fundamental doctrine. I must have read this section before, but apparently I had never seriously considered what it was saying.The section to which I refer is in Hebrews.Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.The Israelites could get forgiven of their sins, but they had to keep coming back to the temple year by year to get forgiven again. If they had had a sacrifice that made them perfect (telios), the Children of Israel would not have needed to offer any more sacrifices; and having been “purged” (cleansed), they should therefore have had no more conscience of sins. The record goes on to say that we DO have such a sacrifice, a one-time sacrifice that perfects us forever.12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.The obvious conclusion is that we should have no more conscience of sins. How can this be? Israel had to be reminded of their sins once a year and God wanted to deliver them from that. I was remembering my sins and confessing my broken fellowship multiple times every day! I would gladly have traded that for only needing to be reminded of my sins once a year. And yet if I was correct about what I understood 1 John 1:9 to be saying, what I was doing was needful.1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.What Hebrews seems to clearly say contradicts what 1 John seems to clearly say. If I have to remember my sins to confess them, asking God for his forgiveness, thus obtaining His forgiveness and getting cleansed of my unrighteousness, I cannot have “no more conscience of sins.” Either my understanding of Hebrews was incorrect, or my understanding of 1 John was incorrect.In 1972 at the HQ Advanced Class, I talked to Dr. Wierwille about the practical application of 1 John 1:9. We were under the apple trees. I said:“Sir, I know there are sins of omission as well as sins of commission. I may have missed the revelation or not thought something through. Since this is true, I do not necessarily always know when I may have just sinned. Since all sin is broken fellowship, and since the only way to repair my broken fellowship and be forgiven and cleansed of my unrighteousness, is to confess my sins, and I never know when I may have just sinned, I confess my broken fellowship before the father whenever it comes to my mind. It might be 5 or 10 or 20 times a day. Is this what you do?”He looked startled. Then he leaned back in his lawn chair and stared toward the sky for a moment or two with his hands clasped behind his head. Finally he looked at me and said, “Oh no son. You’ve got to get out of your sin consciousness. I go to bed at night and I thank God for forgiving me for sinning all day long, and other than that, I just never think about it.” I appreciated his practical advice, but I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the doctrine to back it up. From what I was taught and believed, what I was doing was the logical response.It took a quest lasting many years before I understood the correct doctrine from God’s Word that freed me from sin consciousness. Reading Hebrews chapter 10 that morning was a major stepping-stone in the right direction.In PFAL we learned a principle. If there are 50 verses that apparently say one thing, and one verse that apparently says something else, believe the 50 and take a second look at the one to see if you understand it correctly. What do other Scriptures have to say about forgiveness, about righteousness before God, about our fellowship with Him, about confession of sins, etc?Let’s take a few examples. Ephesians says we have already been forgiven.Ephesians 1:7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;Ephesians 4:32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.These verses say we already have the forgiveness of sins and that we have already been forgiven. They do not say we have been forgiven for some sins but still must do something to gain God’s forgiveness for others. I used to read that into these verses because of what I thought 1 John was saying, but they don’t say that. They just say we have the forgiveness of sins and have been forgiven.Colossians states the same truth.Colossians 1:14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:Colossians 2: 13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;Colossians 3:13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.Romans says we are dead to sin and freed from it.Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.1 Peter tells us the same.1 Peter 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.How can it be said that we are dead to sin(s) and freed from it if God is holding certain of my sins (the ones I haven’t confessed yet) against me; these sins causing a separation between us such that God will not answer my prayers. That doesn’t sound like dead to sin(s) to me. (Incidentally, the words “sin” and “sins” are not used in God’s Word to distinguish between the state of sin and the acts.)1 John seems to say I must do something to get cleansed of my unrighteousness. The Church Epistles say I don’t have any unrighteousness. They say I have been made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Righteousness basically just means rightness. Our righteousness is our rightness before God. The Church Epistles say I have that rightness before God as a gift (Romans 5:17) because Jesus Christ paid for my sins.If it were true that any given sin would cause you to be “out of fellowship” with the Father, causing you to be in a state where He does not hear, much less answer, your prayers, and that the only way to get out of this condition is to confess your sins, doesn’t it seem like that would be important to know? What else could be any more crucial for the born-again believer to know? Why is it then that confession of sins is not discussed in Romans, the foundational book of doctrine? Why is it that confession of sins is never once so much as alluded to in all the seven Church Epistles? Confessing your sin to God is never mentioned ANYWHERE in God’s Word relative to the grace administration other than 1 John 1:9!This whole doctrine of “broken fellowship” and the need to confess your sins to get back “in fellowship” and explaining away clear verses that say we have been forgiven, made free from sin, and made righteous is all based solely on one verse outside the Church Epistles. I had previously, without ever really considering what I was doing, redefined scores of clear verses “in light of” 1 John 1:9. When I read, for example, Ephesians 4:32, “… even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you,” I would automatically think “yes, for the sins I committed before being born again but not for the ones after until I confess.” But this verse does not say that.Acts 13:39 has a piece of interesting information.Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.“Justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” What was it that people could not be justified from under the law of Moses that they can justified from by Jesus Christ? David was under the law, and God forgave him for murdering Uriah. There are many examples of heinous acts that God forgave people of in the Old Testament under the law. What exactly was it people could not be justified from under the law of Moses but can be justified from by Jesus Christ? The verse in Acts tells us. It is all things. The children of Israel could be forgiven of any one thing or a number of things, but as Hebrews shows, they did not have a one- time sacrifice that justified them from all things. If we today still have to piece meal getting forgiveness from God, confessing one sin at a time to gain God’s forgiveness, we have nothing better regarding forgiveness than did the children of Israel.Let’s think about this from a practical point of view for a moment. It is simply not possible to confess all your sins. The verse does not say to acknowledge your state of broken fellowship; it says (or seems to say) that being cleansed of your unrighteousness is dependent on confessing your sins. Would you agree that willfully, knowingly violating the Word of God is sin? What about the verse that says to lead every thought captive to Christ? Is there anyone who honestly believes that it is possible to identify and confess every bad thought? What about the guy who goes out in “left field” for 20 years, and then has a change of heart? He decides to come back to God and follow Him and love Him. Unfortunately, he will always have unrighteousness before God (thus being “out of fellowship”) no matter what he does, because there is no way he is going to be able to remember all his sins for the past 20 years to confess them and get forgiven. 1 John 1:9 just cannot be telling born-again believers that they must confess individual sins to gain God’s forgiveness and get cleansed of their unrighteousness. That would be an absolutely unattainable standard for righteousness.For a long time, I didn’t know what the story was with 1 John. I just knew that what I had believed it was saying was contradictory to many other Scriptures. For years I chose to believe the many clear records from the Church Epistles and other places regarding righteousness and forgiveness and hold 1 John 1:9 in abeyance, having no explanation. Whether I had an explanation for 1 John or not, it was life changing to finally begin to believe the Church Epistles: that I am righteous before the Father, not just righteous in one way but not another; that I am dead to sin(s) and freed from it; and that I have been forgiven all trespasses, not just some of them. (Also, not needing to spend half my prayer life apologizing and asking for forgiveness freed up a lot of time and mental energy.)To understand what 1 John 1 is talking about, we must first understand what “fellowship” means as it is used in God’s Word. We must determine to whom the book is addressed. We must learn the meanings of the idioms: “walk in light” and “walk in darkness.” We must also examine what the sin is that is referred to, among other matters. These will be the subjects of future articles.

Heaven on Earth

Posted by Dan Haas on March 9, 2009 at 8:04am

“Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done...”The first chapters of Genesis show the creation going from chaos to perfection, or, as some would have it, from perfection to chaos to perfection, as things go in the rest of history. The remaining part of the Old Testament tells the story of covenant and law, and the unfaithfulness of a people to that covenant, and their ruin, culminating with their Anointed, their promised-seed Messiah, savior, God-himself-who came “unto His own” in the person of His Son, departing from Herod's temple with the words, “your house is left unto you desolate.”The perfections of Paradise and of the law should not be mourned as “not so perfect after all.” God knows the beginning from the end, and that's (as Paul Harvey used to say) “the rest of the story.” Having read the end of the Book, I believe that indeed God will dry every tear, the lion will lay with the lamb, and “a child shall lead them.”The miracles of Jesus, and penultimately, the resurrection, declare the power of God to do what is “impossible,” presaging the restitution of all things, “the healing of the nations,” and the believers' hearts groan within them for that redemption, that manifestation of God's transformative/creative power to make things right; to feed the hungry, raise the dead, console the mournful, that their tears would turn to laughter and joy, and so we mutter and yearn, again and a gain, “Thy kingdom come.”But my friends, what power we've got, if we only knew it! For God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Nor is He merely God for some day, but for today, while we now live and breathe.There is a pearl of great price, precious but free, lying in plain sight for two thousand years, for all who have eyes to see. It is written in the Bible, but not just there. The whole creation speaks of it, and it is written not only in the stars, but in our hearts. It can be found anywhere, and missed everywhere.It's not far from any one of us, for as the poet said, “we are His offspring.” A child is born, and we hold her in our arms, and marvel at the newness of this life. And we worry – oh how we dread! For she is born into this marvelous but corrupt world. She yet knows nothing of war and crime and perversion, but she will soon learn. We will protect her from it whatever way we can, and we will do our best to offer her riches and honor and glory, just as our parents wished for us – peace and safety and prosperity.Now we know precisely the will of God, for now we too have “offspring.” We will fight any of her foes and work our fingers to the bone – sacrifice and save – that she might have the best life has to offer. And yet, the wisest of us will have to let her lose at times.Whatever blessings we may have had bequeathed to us, or which we have produced, we will leave to her. These include material things, to be sure, but also what Jesus called “the true riches.” Some of us know the value of faith and hope and love, and the dignity of work.We will take her to the beach as our father took us, and wonder again, this time with her as she wonders, as we did the first time our father pulled a horseshoe crab from the surf, and turned it over for us to see his underbelly.We'll bequeath to her the value of “being there” for friends – of helping them move, sharing their joy at their weddings, and of standing with them in adversity and tragedy. We know the thankfulness we had when we were knocked unconscious and awoke to find a friend at our bedside.Since we want the best for her, we do not take lightly our responsibility to pass on whatever truth and whatever goodness that has been passed on to us, or which we have discovered. So we teach her, not with words only, of course, but by doing. Our love is not reserved for friends and family; we've been broke down on the side of the road, and a stranger stopped to help us.And surprises! As we hold our newborn in our arms, we begin conspiring to bless them with the unexpected. Maybe when she's seven or eight, we'll wake her up for a “Christmas in July” complete with wrapped presents and stockingstuffers and a special breakfast, just because. And we'll plan and carry out the biggest blessings, no surprise about that.

What do we want for her? All that is good – not just for her, but IN her, and we resolve ourselves to be good, not merely for her but for itself. And the prayer is answered. God's kingdom does come. His will is in fact done upon earth, as it is in heaven, for it is done in us. We cooperate with God. We conspire with Him to bless. And light comes into this world and the darkness cannot comprehend it; neither can it overcome it. Though evil is all around us, we defy it. We remove our foot from it. Though “everyone is doing it,” we do not.We praise God. We're thankful for our daily bread. We mourn our mistakes and foolishnesses and thoughtlessnesses, grateful for the opportunity to change, to grow, to live anew, and we extend understanding and forbearance and patience to our little girl – to everyone we can, because this is vital, and precious as it is, it is free.And, we will pray that down the road, we might not stumble again. Oh, we will; we know that. If the past is any indication... But we pray not, and must resign ourselves that when we do, we'll find grace again to see it, to stop it, and once again to start anew.We have this treasure in earthen vessels. God is in heaven, and we are on earth. But my friends, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, which is manifest in the flesh.The labels that define us in our diversities by birth and by choice can also separate us, but this is not the will of God. No, His will is done on earth when we love one another. Every one of us is different from the other, but we are all His offspring, all created in His image, all made of one blood.Here's the secret as Paul wrote it in another place: whoever is led by the spirit of God, they are the children of God. John says it another way: little children, don't be deceived. Whoever does the right thing is right. Jesus did the right thing (“and in him there is no sin”) and how did he do it? Not as Cain, who took his brother's life, but by giving his own life, and we ought to give our lives for our brothers.We'll fail in this endeavor, and then, in shame – for our hearts will condemn us – we will have to reassure our hearts before God, who knows all things. He remembers that we are dust. But there will be times, too, when we are firing on all eight cylinders, and here's a precious promise: our dreams will come true. The system works.This corrupt world, this dark and sometimes terrifying place is inhabited by divinity. Unto us a child is born, and upon his shoulders shall be the government – the irresistible power derived from the right, exercised justly and humbly. This is our calling, that good might be done in us. It is really that simple.

Ultimately, we will teach our little girl, as she is ready, and this moment will not come at once, but incrementally, and she cannot learn it once, but as a knife is sharpened by many strokes, we will have to show her and tell her again and again, and it is this: Yes – oh-so-emphatically yes – she is the apple of our eye. But she is not the only one. She is marvelous, astounding, beautiful, unique. In her we see God, just as we see God in Jesus. But she will have to grow out of selfishness, and learn responsibility, to obey the law, and to love. Oddly enough, it will probably be she that teaches this to us as much as it may be the other way around.

Integrative MD's Getting Heard in the Senate

Posted by Cheryle Geiger on March 6, 2009 at 4:15am

If you have not listened to this, you are missing a BIG change in OUR history....The possibilities are endless....Anyone and everyone needs to see and hear this message.....This will make some major changes here in the USA and will travel across the planet.This is a huge beginning......Thank You All for all the support that you have given in this endeavor....BlessingsCHECK IT OUT! It’s really great to see forward thinking, integrative MDs getting heard in the Senate.http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_02_26/2009_02_26.html

Psalm 23: Surely!

Posted by Dan Haas on March 5, 2009 at 3:06am

Do Something!

Posted by DonnaJo (Langford) Dembinski on March 5, 2009 at 2:42am

I am a procrastinator. I want to think everything through in my head so I know each detail before I begin a project, chore, job, etc. I get anxious and have actual physical reactions to the thought of beginning a new task. It is debilitating, and I'm so tired of it. My dad, God rest his soul, used to tell me, "Honey, do something! Even if it's wrong, do SOMETHING!"He was right (of course). The key for me to limit my procrastination is to trick myself. I tell myself I really don't plan on completing ______________ (whatever the task is) I'm just giving it five minutes, or fifteen minutes- whatever my schedule will allow. Then, if I set a timer I feel myself calming down, as if I really mean I'll only work on it for fifteen minutes because, "Look, I set the timer! See, only fifteen minutes, I promise"Then, I do only fifteen minutes. Later that day, as time permits, I may opt to tackle another fifteen minutes. You'd be surprised what can be accomplished in fifteen minutes of concentrated effort! Yes, my daddy was right- Even if it's wrong, do SOMETHING!

Kingdom of the One-eyed King

Posted by Billy Britt on March 4, 2009 at 9:42am

To rule or be ruled appeals to the human’s innate, albeit feral, instinct. “If I don’t rule over you, you will rule over me. I must, therefore, try to dominate you for fear that you will dominate me.Nature teaches we can either be slaves or masters.As Athenian remarked to the Melians “Those who can do what they will and those who can’t suffer what they must.”There is a story of a peasant who finds a magic lamp, he rubs the lamp and a genie appears and offers the man one wish, but the condition of the wish is that whatever the peasant wishes for his neighbors will receive double. The peasant thinks for a moment and says, “I wish to have one of my eyes put out.” This begs the notion that in a land of the blind a one-eyed man is king.We see in nature the rule of dominance; this is why people have over the years devised a system known as the social contract.The idea of the social contract implies that the people give up some rights to a government or other authority in order to receive or maintain social order.That legitimate state authority must be derived from the consent of the governed.The United States Constitution bases these on natural rights, also known as moral rights or inalienable rights. These are rights which are not contingent upon the laws, customs, or beliefs of a particular society, but are an endowment that is not subject to, nor can be amended by men.But like John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government 1689, we should recognize that even with a social contract people will still live in fear of one another.This is why such articles as the Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution exist.It is also why a just rule of law is paramount in a free society. Therefore, a strict adherence to the U. S. Constitution is the only way that a guaranty of rights can be trusted. Individuals must believe that a fair system of justice exists to protect them and what is theirs.Consequently, the laws or rules of the contract must be consistent with neutral judges whom neither adds to, takes away from nor changes the rules based on shifting social mores or political pressure.This brings us to the Tenth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution and its meaning. Amendment X: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”This on its face would seem rather clear however this amendment has been tested by law and tried in blood and still the matter is not settled altogether.In theory, the constitution prescribes a government that is as close to the people as possible.This was understood as a small federal government, with strong local and state governments. Thomas Jefferson said, “When all government shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will… become as oppressive as the government from which we separated [the government of England].”As the new president and congress press an ever-growing federal agenda many states are pursuing legislative action to assert their sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment.Several states are trying to ward off demands from Washington on how to spend money or enact policy locally. The most comprehensive resolution may be found in the state of New Hampshire’s House Concurrent Resolution 6.It reads as follows, “any Act by the Congress of the United States, Executive Order of the President of the United States of America or Judicial Order by the Judicatories of the United States of America which assumes a power not delegated to the government of United States of America by the Constitution for the United States of America and which serves to diminish the liberty of the any of the several States or their citizens shall constitute a nullification of the Constitution for the United States of America by the government of the United States of America.”Acts that would cause the state to invoke this extreme measure include:“I. Establishing martial law in a state of emergency within one of the States comprising the United States of America without the consent of the legislature of that State.II. Requiring involuntary servitude, or governmental service other than a draft during a declared war, or pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.III. Requiring involuntary servitude or governmental service of persons under the age of 18 other than pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.IV. Surrendering any power delegated or not delegated to any corporation or foreign government.V. Any act regarding religion; further limitations on freedom of political speech; or further limitations on freedom of the press.VI. Further infringements on the right to keep and bear arms including prohibitions of type or quantity of arms or ammunition.“That should any such act of Congress become law or Executive Order or Judicial Order be put into force, all powers previously delegated to the United States of America by the Constitution for the United States shall revert to the several States individually. Any future government of the United States of America shall require ratification of three quarters of the States seeking to form a government of the United States of America and shall not be binding upon any State not seeking to form such a government....”While this is a laudable stand, it begs the question of, “Too little, too late?”Is there away back to Jeffersonian principles or are we to be ruled by a one-eyed oligarch of Washington?Only a steadfast resistance by principled leaders, a vigilant and active citizenry and a faith in Him that has bestowed us with inalienable rights will stand in the face of this libido dominandi.This lust to rule is at the heart of our current strife and must be confronted with courage, wisdom and faith.As it was once born in blood, let it now be adjudicated in justice.

Who is "The Old Man" and What is He Doing?

Posted by Ken & Sue Brown on March 1, 2009 at 11:36am

There have been at least two problems with some past teachings most or all of us have been exposed to regarding the “old man” referenced in the Scriptures. One has been teachings that have been contradictory: teaching from Romans that the old man is dead, and teaching from Ephesians that we must continually and vigilantly put off the old man. Both cannot be true. The other problem has been a misunderstanding of who or what the “old man” is or was. A common teaching has been that the “old man” is your old sin nature, and the “new man” is your new spirit nature. The Scriptures, however, don’t say that. The purpose of this blog is to provide Biblical documentation as to what the story is with the “old man.”The term "old man" is used only three times in the New Testament, all three in the Church Epistles. The first occurrence is in Romans. Let’s look at the context of this occurrence.Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?Verse two begins to answer this question.Romans 6:2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?What follows is an expansion of the answer given in verse 2, expounding on the premise that we are dead to sin.Romans 6:3-73. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:6. Knowing this, that our old man is [was] crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.Who or what is the "old man"? First, this record doesn’t say “THE old man.” It says “OUR old man.” Your “old man” is specific to you. The above verses are personal. Verse 2 says WE are dead to sin. In the verses that follow: WE were baptized into his death; WE were buried with him by baptism into death; WE have been planted together in the likeness of his death; WE shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. These verses don’t say there was some nature in us that died. They say WE died. Your “old man” is you, not some part of you or some nature within you. It’s you. It is the person you were before being born again. That person died. You are now a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Compare also these records in Galatians:Galatians 2: 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Galatians 6: 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.In these records Paul says HE was crucified with Christ. HE was crucified unto the world and the world unto HIM. The records do not say that some nature within him was crucified. They say HE was.OK, so what does this mean? Obviously, Paul did not literally, physically die with Jesus Christ on the cross. To die to something (or be dead to it or for something to be dead to you) is an expression whose meaning departs from its literal sense. It qualifies therefore as a figure of speech; in this case an idiom, though that does not detract in any way from the solid reality of what the expression communicates. The meaning is shown in the context of its first occurrence above. Romans 6:7 states that he that is dead is freed from sin. You are dead to sin, freed from it. You are no longer bound by it, no longer under its power.God’s Word also tells us that we are dead to the law. The meaning of this statement is described in the opening verses of Romans chapter 7.Romans 7: 1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.Being dead to sin does not mean that a sin nature within you died any more than being dead to the law means that a law nature within you died. Being dead to the law is like a woman whose husband dies. She is no longer bound by that relationship. Indeed the relationship no longer exists. Being dead to the law means we have been delivered from it (verse 6). There is no more a connection of any kind between us and the law.When God’s Word states that we (our old man) were crucified (died), it is talking about our having become dead to sin, i.e. no longer under its rule.In Colossians 3 is the next use of "old man" we will consider. This record is consistent with the truths we have seen from Romans.Colossians 3:1-81. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:6. For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:7. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.8. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.The book of Colossians is addressed to "the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse". These people were born-again and verse 3 above states that they are dead. (They are dead to sin and dead to the law.) From the above record, however, it is apparent that at least some among them were quite impressively lacking in the category of changing their thoughts and actions.Colossians 3:9-149 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave [ f-o-r-g-a-v-e: This is past tense. We are dead to sin ] you, so also do ye.14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.The Colossian believers are not told here to put off the old man or put on the new man. They are told to change their behavior in a certain way because they have already done so. We see from this record that there are certain actions that are associated with the old man, and there are also certain actions associated with the new man. These actions, however, are not the old man or the new man himself. These believers had already put off the old man and put on the new man, but still needed to change their behavior accordingly. The fact that they were still capable of doing bad things did not change the truth that they were dead to sin. They just weren’t acting like it.Compare also the following records from Galatians.Galatians 3: 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.Galatians 5: 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lustsColossians 3...................................................................Galatians 3v.9 “have put off the old man”.............................................v.27 “have been baptized into Christ”[ He was crucified with Christ-Rom 6:6 ].............................[ baptized into his death-Rom 6:3 ]v.10 “have put on the new man”..........................................v.27 “have put on Christ”v.11 “where there is neither Greek nor Jew..”.......................v.28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek..”We saw from Romans that our old man was crucified with Christ and from Colossians that even believers who don’t act like it have already put off the old man. Please note also that Colossians 3:10 above states that the new man was created by God. The new man is the new you, a new creation. It is not your behavior. The putting on above, like putting off, is past tense. It occurred when you got born again.[Some of you reading this may be aware that a well-respected Bible researcher we know has recently written that the Aorist Participle forms of the Greek words for putting off and putting on in Colossians 3:9 and 10 should be translated as present tense verbs in these verses. Perhaps dealing with this argument in full should be the subject of another writing. For now, I’ll just give a few comments. I have read these verses in 21 different English versions. They were unanimous. All 21 render these verbs from the Greek as past tense. Doing otherwise would contradict Romans 6. A Greek grammar will tell you that Aorist Participles are normally considered to indicate a point in time (NOT a continuing or repeated action) ANTECEDENT to the leading verb (in this case the present tense verb “lie”). Translating otherwise would require a compelling reason and no such reason exists in this context.]The only remaining Biblical occurrence of the "old man" is in Ephesians 4. If Ephesians tells us we must battle against the old man, constantly putting him off, and that having or putting on the new man is a matter of our work rather than God's, we will have a major Biblical dilemma. It doesn't.Ephesians 4:17-2317 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.20 But ye have not so learned Christ;21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation [behavior] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;Ephesians does not tell us to put off the old man. How could it? He was crucified with Christ. It simply tells us to put off the behavior associated with the old man. The fact that “old man” is the direct object of “put off” does not change the sense of the sentence that it is the behavior associated with the old man that is to be put off, not the old man himself. It is ONLY as concerning behavior that we are to put off the old man.Let’s take another example of this grammatical construction. Suppose team A and team B are two soccer teams in a match. Team A achieves an unprecedented 50 shots on goal while team B registers only one shot on goal. A significant factor, however, is that team B’s one shot on goal scored, and team A was denied by the goalie all 50 times. Team B won the game. One could not honestly say team A annihilated team B. They didn’t. Team A lost. But AS CONCERNING SHOTS ON GOAL team A annihilated team B. The direct object of the verb “annihilated” is “team B,” but team A did not annihilate team B. The action is limited to the modifier. So it is with Ephesians 4:22. The action, putting off, is limited to the modifier, behavior. To say that Ephesians tells us to put off the old man would be as misleading as to claim that team A annihilated team B in our example.Verse 24 must be understood in the same context with the figure of speech ellipsis employed in this verse.Ephesians 4:24And that ye put on [ellipsis--as concerning behavior] the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.The modifier is still in play. The Apostle Paul just didn’t repeat it. As concerning behavior put off the old man and put on the new. The new man is created in righteousness and true holiness. We cannot piece him together. He is God's work, not ours; but we can change our behavior. The behavior of the ellipsis in verse 24 is stated specifically in verses 25 and following.Ephesians 4:25-3225 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:27 Neither give place to the devil.28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven [This is past tense-- already forgiven] you.ConclusionBelievers are certainly exhorted in God's Word to put away behavior that is associated with the old man and put on behavior that is associated with the new man. We are not, however, still dealing with the old man himself. He was crucified with Christ. He is not still rearing his ugly head to make our lives miserable. He is not a sin nature still at work within us. Our old man is dead. We are dead to sin.

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