The Most Debilitating Defect in the Body of Christ Today

The Most Debilitating Defect in the Body of Christ Today

I believe the most debilitating defect in the Body of Christ today is the lack of understanding and application of God’s Law. The larger portion of Evangelical Christians are antinomian (which means “against law”). Yet consider this, Christians are to be conformed to the image of Christ who delighted to do the will of God, and who delighted in the Law of God.

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
[7] Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
[8] I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:6-8 (NKJV)

The book of Hebrews tells us the sacrificial and Levitical laws are done away with, or rather they are fulfilled in Christ. But never are we told the moral law (the Ten Commandments along with the “case” law expositions of the Ten Commandments) is done away with or fulfilled in Christ. Rather the New Testament authors admonish and teach the very ethic summarized in the Ten Commandments.

Paul: Romans 1:29 - Murder, Deceit, Sexual Immorality (Adultery); Romans 1:30 - Honor Father and Mother; Romans 13:9 - Adultery, Murder, False Witness, “any other commandment”; 1 Cor. 10:14 - Idolatry; 2 Cor. 11:31 - Lying; Galatians 5:19 - Adultery, Fornication, Idolatry, Murders; Ephesians 4:25 - Lying;  Ephesians 4:28 - Stealing; Colossians 3:5 - Idolatry; Colossians 3:9 - Lying; Titus 1:2 - Lying;

James: James 2:10-11 - Adultery, Murder, “all”.

Peter: 2 Peter 2:14 - Adultery.

John: 1 John 1:6 - Lying; 1 John 3:12 - Murder; Revelation 2:22 - Adultery; Revelation 21:27 - Lying; Revelation 22:15 - Lying.

If therefore there is nothing that tells us the Ten Commandments are removed from Christians as a moral obligation, but rather the New Testament writers with one voice tell us the standard of the Ten Commandments continues, how is it that so many Christians are antinomian in philosophy and often also in action?

Consider further that the New Covenant consists not only in the forgiveness of sins, but also in the writing of the Law of God upon the heart of the Christian -

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah– [32] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. [33] But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [34] No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NKJV)

Consider also that the New Testament Christian’s standard is love. Love of God and love of neighbor is the Christian’s requirement. How do we measure love? Paul measured it in this way -

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. [9] For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [10] Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.  Romans 13:8-10 (NKJV)

May God help us and deliver us from the antinomian falsehood that the Law of God does not pertain to Christians. Surely this is the most debilitating defect in the Body of Christ today!

An insightful little book I recommend on the Ten Commandments is “God’s Ten Commandments, Yesterday, Today, Forever” by Francis Nigel Lee, and may be obtained through Nordskog Publishing.

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Tags: 1 Cor. 10:14, 1 John 1:6, 1 John 3:12, 2 Cor. 11:31, 2 Peter 2:14, application of God’s Law, Christians are antinomian, clingman farm, Colossians 3:5, Colossians 3:9, Ephesians 4:25, Ephesians 4:28, eugene clingman, Francis Nigel Lee, Galatians 5:19, God's Ten Commandments - Yesterday - Today - Forever, granola delights, honor father and mother, James 2:10-11, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Law of God, love fulfills the law, most debilitating defect, Nordskog Publishing, Psalm 40:6-8, Revelation 21:27, Revelation 22:15, Revelation 2:22, Romans 13:8-10, Romans 13:9, Romans 1:29, Romans 1:30, Titus 1:2

Does Ecclesiastes Contradict Other Bible Passages?

Reading Ecclesiastes can be a challenge because it seems to teach things that contradict other portions of the Bible. The writer says things like, “For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 3:19 (NKJV)). The resolution to this puzzle is found by understanding the vantage point where the observer/writer is standing. And he has told us twenty-seven times - “Under the sun!” In other words many of his observations are taken from the vantage point of a man living without reference to heaven, which is above the sun. He is looking at things without the bigger picture of eternity, the Eternal God, and the immortality of the soul. Yet, in his struggle between the unbelieving worldview of “under the sun” and the believing worldview of God over all, including the sun, he finally comes to the conclusion, “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Eccles. 12:6-7 (NKJV)). And this, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV)).

The writer of Ecclesiastes comes out of the struggle of opposing worldviews as a believer. In the final analysis there is nothing in Ecclesiastes that teaches contrary to the immortality of the soul, of eternity, of God’s goodness, and of certain accountability in a final judgment. In the end he comes out with a Christian Worldview!

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Tags: christian worldview, clingman farm, dogs and humans die, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, Ecclesiastes 3:19, Ecclesiastes contradicts, eugene clingman, granola delights, man and animals die, man's eternal soul, opposing worldviews in Ecclesiastes, premise web, under the sun

Tags: Call to Dunkirk, christian newswire, christian schools needed, corrupt education system, decaying government education, decaying public school, exodus mandate, public school corrupt, rescue children, schools failing

Make Your Life Count,
Join in My Quest!
by Eugene Clingman

Do right My sons, do right you see
For Jesus the Christ is not Lord to be
But now reigns from heaven down here upon earth
Blessing the righteous but the wicked are cursed

He sees your actions He knows your heart
And for His Kingdom you must do your part
You’ve only two choices whose servant you’ll be
That of the Victor or of the serpent who flees

So give Me My son your heart your delight
And do what is good and just in My sight
Walk in My truth and not in the dark
For unto you My Spirit I impart

With Me take your stand ‘gainst enemy and foe
For there are many who cast off and or’throw
Jesus My Christ, His Law and His Word
Wishing the Gospel no more would be heard

Yet I in My purpose will not be denied
Blessing the nations I’ll bring to My side
And make them Christian they’ll love My Son
My zeal is certain I’ll not leave it undone

From the River to the Ends of the Earth
I will bring blessing and subdue the Curse
Go then My people carry My Word
Until every people has listened and heard

Make them disciples teach all I command
And shall great blessing come from My hand
The child shall die at one hundred you see
And lion and lamb close companions will be

Salvation for one salvation for all
To whomever will listen to my voice as I call
There’s only one name under heaven that saves
Come to the Cross, there is no other way

You my dear sons take note and be wise
Your days upon earth are short and besides
Surely the righteous alone will be blessed
So take your sword and join in my quest

Tags: child die one hundred, come to the cross, disciple the nations, eugene clingman, evangelism, fleeing serpent, god's quest, granola, granola delights, Jesus Christ, lion and lamb, Make your life count, missions, poem, river to the ends of the earth, walk in truth

What About Homosexuals & God’s Compassion?

A homosexual person sent a comment about my essay, God’s Compassion (http://diablog.postmilworld.com/?p=71). What follows is my response to him.

Andrew,

You left a comment on my blog some months ago. I was meaning to reply but lost track of your contact info when my blog went down and I had to restore from a backup.

Your original comment was something like, “What about homosexuals?”

My answer:

God’s compassion extends to all who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation; you are encouraged to repent by God, by the testimony of creation around you, by your own human nature made in the image of God, and by all who compassionately preach the true grace of God. Many homosexuals have been saved from their homosexual sin. Jesus came to save from sin, and because homosexuality is sin, you must recognize it as sin and turn away from it, calling on the Lord Jesus who is able to save you from the power of lust and the power of the fallen human mind and bodily appetites. I encourage you to study what follows:

Jesus saves homosexuals -
1 Cor. 6:9-11 (NKJV) - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

The good news above is that “such were some of you”. Jesus saves such and makes them clean and new. If however a man or woman continues in homosexuality they “will not inherit the kingdom of God” and “Do not be deceived” about this. The judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah is proof that God will not tolerate, long term, such activity, and that there will be none in his Kingdom that defile - Rev. 21:27 (NKJV) - “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Leviticus 18:22 (NKJV) - “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.”

See these helpful links:

http://churchcouncil.org/ICCP_org/Pages_General/Homosexuality_Statement,%20text.htm

http://churchcouncil.org/ICCP_org/Documents_ICCP/English/18_Homosexuality_A&D.pdf

My hope is that you will turn to Jesus and be saved from your sin and defilement. He is a gracious savior to all who call upon him, but judge to any who reject him - Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV) - “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, [31] because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Eugene

Tags: God's compassion, homosexual, homosexuality, inherit the kingdom, kingdom of christ, kingdom of god, salvation, will not inherit

The Church is Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22) and is Called - The Lord Our Righteousness

The Bible teaches that Christ is the rightful Lord of all (Ephesians 1:20-22), including every society, its state and culture. This is why Christ, in very un-pluralistic fashion commanded his people to disciple the nations (Matthew 28:18-20), teaching them to obey all that Christ taught them (which excludes all that other religions teach); this is also why judges and kings are commanded to “kiss the Son” (Psalm 2:10-12). Christ is Lord of all! This rule of Christ, to whom “all authority has been given” in heaven and on earth, comes through the “dominion” of the Church. Not a dominion of oppression and dominance, but a dominion of nurture and cultivation as she teaches and lives the Gospel of Christ and thus draws the nations (Isaiah 60) into the Kingdom of God. Jeremiah gives us a picture of this in the following verses.

“In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jeremiah 33:15-16 (NKJV)

This Branch of righteousness God causes to grow up to David is none other than God’s incarnate Son, Messiah Jesus. Most commentators agree on this (see some commentators below).

Observe these things:

• “He shall execute judgment and righteousness IN THE EARTH.”

Christ’s rule in this context has to do with time (Christ certainly also rules forever in eternity) for it is “in the earth.” A similar “in the earth” wording is used in Proverbs 11:31.

• Jerusalem shall be called, “The Lord Our Righteousness.”

God works to bring about this righteous rule of Jesus Messiah IN THE EARTH through the Church who is called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” This fits with what Paul says about the Church being God’s instrument to crush satan (Romans 16:20), and John’s description of the saints as “kings and priests” (Rev. 1:6 - KJV, NKJV, Textus Receptus).

Commentators

Gill - “…will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; not Zerubbabel, but the Messiah; who is not only a branch of David’s family…”

Matthew Henry - “Christ is here prophesied of, 1. As a rightful King. He is a branch of righteousness, not a usurper, for he grows up unto David, descends from his loins, with whom the covenant of royalty was made, and is that seed with whom that covenant should be established, so that his title is unexceptionable.”

Jamison, Faucet, Brown - “…righteous Branch - “the Branch of righteousness” (Jer_33:15); “The Branch” simply (Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12); “The Branch of the Lord” (Isa_4:2). prosper - the very term applied to Messiah’s undertaking (Isa_52:13, Margin; Isa_53:10). Righteousness or justice is the characteristic of Messiah…”

by Eugene Clingman
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Tags: Branch of David, Branch of righteousness, Ephesians 1:20-22, eugene clingman, granola, granola delights, great commission, Hebrews 12:22, IN THE EARTH, Isaiah 60, Jeremiah 33:15-16, judgment and righteousness IN THE EARTH, Matthew 28:18-20, Messiah Jesus, Proverbs 11:31, Psalm 2:10-12, Rev. 1:6, rightful King, Romans 16:20, Textus Receptus, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

God’s Compassion

Luke 4:25-27 (NKJV)

But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; [26] but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. [27] And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

Finding ourselves on this side of the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord, we might add to this - There were many funerals happening during the three and a half years of our Lord’s ministry, but he raised none of those dead except one, son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7: 11-17).

What shall we say to these things? We respond with Paul’s words in Romans 9:15 where he quoted Exodus 33:19 - “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”

“When the Lord saw her (the widow of Nain), He had compassion on her…” (Luke 7:13). Why did He have compassion on her, and not on the many funeral processions He most assuredly passed at other times during His ministry? Can there be any other reason than this - “I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion?” Has he compassion on all? In Romans 9 Paul is making it clear that He does not. “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.” Romans 9:18

The above is true, but this is also true - “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Call upon Him. His promise is sure to all who call upon Him in truth.

by Eugene Clingman

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Tags: eugene clingman, granola, granola delights, He has mercy on whom He wills, incarnation, Luke 4:25-27; Luke 7: 11-17; Romans 9:15-18; Exodus 33:, widow of Nain

Daniel - Salt of the Earth

Matthew 5:13-14 (NKJV)
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. [14] You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

When God’s people are the people we are called by God to be, we make a huge difference in the world. God’s people set a standard that both inspires and forces a greater honesty and righteousness of those around. The Prophet Daniel an outstanding example of this.

Daniel was probably a teen-ager when he along with other Jews were carried captive to Nebuchadnezzar’s army to Babylon. From the start Daniel determined to live by the standard that God gave rather than by the cultural standard around him.

Later, when in the sovereignty of God, Nebuchadnezzar was about to put Daniel and all the wise men of Babylon to death, Daniel’s salt and light showed through and changed the Babylonian culture for good.

Nebuchadnezzar was enraged with his counselors, the wise men of Babylon, apparently because when they gave the king counsel, they would tell him what they thought he would liked to hear. A crisis came when Neb had a dream.   He wanted the dream interpreted but was tired of the tricks and deception of his counselors. He said to them, “I had a dream. You wise men tell me the dream I dreamed and then tell me the interpretation. By telling me the interpretation, I will know you also have ability to tell me what it means. The wise men would have been happy to give the king an interpretation, but they could not tell the king what the dream was. These counselors had come to the end of their useless service of deception.

Daniel asked the king for some time to seek God and ask from Him the dream and its interpretation. The time was granted, Daniel and his friends sought God, God revealed the dream and the interpretation. Daniel came before the king and told him both the dream and its interpretation. By this, Daniel was salt and light and changed the face of Babylonian counsel forever.

The measure of this change can be seen later when Neb has a second mysterious dream.  Daniel 4:7 and 18 show us that the wise men, who in time past had gladly slapped an interpretation on the King’s dreams, now honestly tell the king they do not know the interpretation. This culture of honesty concerning interpretations was passed on to the next generation, for when Belshazzar the King was presented with mysterious writing on the wall  the wise men were honest to say they did not know. They had to be honest, for Daniel the interpreter, the faithful truth bearer, was still around. With Daniel, the salt and light made it impossible for the deceivers to work their craft.

You have called us, O Lord to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth. O God! Please make us as Daniels in this world of confusion and deception! Grant that for Jesus sake and for His glory that we may make a Daniel’s difference in the world around us. Amen!

by Eugene Clingman

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Tags: city set on a hill, Daniel 1:8, Daniel 2, Daniel 4, Daniel 5, deceivers craft, eugene clingman, granola, light of the world, Matthew 5:13-14, Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Prophet Daniel, salt of the earth

Ezekiel’ Temple - Picture of Spiritual Realities

I believe Ezekiel’s Temple (Ezekiel 40-48) is a picture of spiritual realities. It refers to the perfections to which the Church of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ is destined, and which she has not yet attained (Ephesians 5:26-27).

One of the marvelous aspects of this city-temple of Ezekiel is the walls and gates. It is evident that the walls are not made for defense, for they are only about 12 feet high (Ezek. 40:5). The gates on the other hand are extraordinarily large and disproportionate; much taller than necessary. The gates are about 120 feet high (Ezek. 40:14). What could this mean?

Indefensible City Walls
I believe the short walls surrounding Ezekiel’s temple-city speak of where the Church and the nations are headed, a day when the enemies of God will be subdued and brought into the Church, all nations having returned to the Lord so that fortified defenses are necessary no longer (Psalm 110:1-2; Psalm 22:27-28; Isaiah 60:12; Isaiah 2:4; Habakkuk 2:13-14).

I believe that the fact that Ezekiel’s temple-city has walls speaks to us of separation (2 Corinthians 6:16-18). The Church is to be separated from the world; she is different from the nations, and is set aside by God to be a holy nation, a one of a kind people because they belong to God and are to be holy even as He is holy.

Fantastically Tall Gates
I believe the excessively tall gates speak of the Church and how she is to be the light of the world. Just as Ezekiel’s temple-city gates towered above the city walls and could be seen at a great distance, so the Church is to proclaim salvation to the ends of the world, urging all to come and receiving them with wholehearted welcome.

I believe the gates being disproportionately tall as compared to width signifies that though the welcome extends freely to all and the nations are urged to enter, yet the way in is narrow, it is through Jesus Christ alone, for Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth (Revelation 13:8), before any other religion was invented by the mind of man or devil. These tall gates both welcome and exclude. Come one, come all! Enter by Jesus, for He is the Gate! (John 10:7-9).

The website www.sonstoglory.com has excellent scale models of Ezekiel’s temple-city. Although I don’t believe the vision of the future that this site attests (Premillennial Dispensationalism), there is a treasure chest of good information there on the final chapters of Ezekiel.

by Eugene Clingman

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Tags: 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, Ephesians 5:26-27, eugene clingman, Ezekeil 40:5 & 10, ezekiel, Ezekiel 40-48, ezekiel's city, ezekiel's temple, Fantastically Tall Gates, granola, i am the door, i am the gate, Indefensible City Walls, jesus is the door, jesus is the gate, John 10:7-9, lamb slain from the foundation, Premillennial Dispensationalism, Psalm 110:1-2; Psalm 22:27-28; Isaiah 60:12; Isaiah 2:4, Revelation 13:8

Look! The Church is Just like the Rest of Us!

But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:18 (NKJV)

The Church is in process of redemption. She is not yet perfected. This means the Church is still in some measure sinful. Yet the Church is in process, it is going forward toward perfection (Ephesians 4:13). She will finally be presented to Christ as a pure bride without spot, wrinkle or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27).

“The World” (culture outside Christ) knows the Church is different. Yet the World wants to convince itself and any who will hear that the Church is no different at all. The World, steeped in the folly of immorality, unbelief and multitudinous sins, looks at the Church, sees a sin, and points with all its fingers in delighted scorn saying, “See! You are just like us! There is no reason for us to love righteousness and hate iniquity. You, Church, say that you love righteousness and hate iniquity, but look at you! You sin! You are no different from us!”

Thus the world is glad when a righteous man stumbles. Yet stumbling reveals that the man was walking. Worldlings do not walk; they wallow in their sin like a pig in its mire (2 Peter 2:22). The righteous man walks and sometimes falls. When he falls the worldlings look up from their mud hole of sin and immoral unbelief pointing the fingers of filthy hands saying, “You are just like us!” But think clearly, O worldling! The righteous man is not like you! Though he falls seven times he arises again, and goes on toward perfection (Proverbs 24:16). His stumbling reveals he was walking. But you, you lay in the filth of your unbelief. Hear O worldling, rather than rejoice, turn from your sin and call upon Jesus the Savior. He will set you on the path of the righteous and teach you to cleanse yourself from all defilement of flesh and spirit and to perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1).

God sets his face against the world when it rejoices in the downfall of the Church. Isaiah talks about this:

Ezekiel 25:3-7 (NKJV)
“…Thus says the Lord God: “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity, [4] indeed, therefore, I will deliver you as a possession to the men of the East…”Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your disdain for the land of Israel, [7] indeed, therefore, I will stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations; I will cut you off from the peoples…and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 25:8-11 (NKJV)
“Thus says the Lord God: “Because…[they] say, ‘Look! The house of Judah is like all the nations,’ [9] therefore, behold, I will clear [their] territory…of cities…And I will execute judgments…and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

by Eugene Clingman

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Tags: 2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Peter 2:22, Ephesians 4:13, Ephesians 5:27, eugene clingman, Ezekiel 25:3-11, granola, granola delights, perfecting holiness, Proverbs 24:16, Proverbs 4:18, sin of the church, the church is just like us, world delights in church's sin, worldlings