Lion and Lamb Ministry: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

LLM Question for 5-1-2012, and, The Law of the Spirit…of Life in Christ Jesus

First the Question: Was Judas saved before he was lost? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-29-2012

Question: The New Life of the Believer in Christ can never be forfeited. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Adam forfeited his life by sin, but the believer's new life can never be forfeited, for this life is nothing less than the Life of Christ, in whom the sinner has already died and paid for his sins, and in whom he now stands perfect and complete before God. Now, out of the 703 responses we received to this question, an 80% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

The Law of the Spirit...of Life in Christ Jesus

The believer's new life in Christ can never be forfeited. Now, in Romans 8:2, when correctly read, is a wonderfully fantastic passage of Scripture. To get the true sense we should place a dash between the words "Spirit" and "of." Doing that it would read, "For the law of the Spirit - of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

When a sinner places his trust in Christ as Savior he is justified before the bar of God, because Christ's death and righteousness are imputed to him. This is a judicial matter. We have to remember that.

But, at the same moment, something else happens. The Spirit regenerates us and gives us new life (Titus 3:5). This is a law, an unstoppable, unchangeable law. The sinner who sincerely places his trust in Christ as Savior is given life by the Holy Spirit. It is always this way, it is never otherwise.

1 John 5:12 says, "He that hath the Son hath life" John 3:36 says that "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" and Colossians 3:3 declares that the believer's life is "hid with Christ in God."

Therefore, the Apostle could say, "The law of the Spirit, [that of] life in Christ, hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Adam forfeited his life by sin, but the believer's new life can never be forfeited, for this life is nothing less than the life of Christ, in whom the sinner has already died and paid for his sins, and in whom he now stands perfect and complete before God.

It is a law, a fixed unchangeable law, that sin brings forth death (Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23; and so on). This is called "the law of sin and death", but the believer has already died for sin in Christ and has been given new life by the Spirit. Thus "the law of the Spirit", that of "life in Christ", has made the simplest believer "free from the law of sin and death."

Thank God for "the law of the Spirit", everlasting life through the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Sunday, April 29, 2012

LLM Question for 4-29-2012, and, Does the Law of Moses Apply to the Body of Christ

First the Question: The New Life of the Believer in Christ can never be forfeited. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-26-2012

Question: Are Members of the Body of Christ Under the Law of Moses? Yes or No?

Answer: NO! The Children of God, the Members of the Body of Christ, have NO holy days, NO feast days, NO meat ordinances, NO Sabbath, NOR Sabbaths. Abram did not rest in a particular day; he found rest in a Person. So likewise does the Child of God today. Matthew 11:27. Hebrews 4:10. The Sabbath was a covenant between God and Israel. Exodus 31:12. There could be no universal Sabbath out of the Holy Land. When Christ became the end of the law for righteousness He was dead and buried on Israel’s Sabbath day, the seventh day. He arose on the First Day of the Week, the first fruits of them that slept, to start something new. He that keeps the Sabbath, like he that is circumcised, or water baptized, is debtor to keep the whole law. Galatians 5:3. Now, out of the 744 responses we received to this question, an impressive 95.5% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Does the Law of Moses Apply to the Body of Christ Today?

We receive many questions about The Law (of Moses) and whether or not it applies to members of the Body of Christ today. So let's take a look...

The word “Law” appears 523 times in the Bible of which 223 are in the New Testament. The Hebrew word “TORAH” appears 219 times in the Jewish Bible and primarily refers to “teaching.” To Jewish people, the “law” refers to both “oral” and “written” Law.

There are several synonymous terms that include the following:

commandments...Hebrew word “mitzvah”....used 181 times
testimonies.......…Hebrew word “yedah”.......used 25 times
statutes..............Hebrew word “choq”........used 126 times
judgments...........Hebrew word “mishpat”....used 417 times
word...................Hebrew word “dabar”.... used 1447 times

The “Law” refers to 613 commandments, the Ten Commandments, the first five books of the Bible, and to the entire Old Testament (Jewish Bible - TANAKH). The “Law” is forever settled in the heavens (Psalm 119:89) and is “perfect, right, pure, clean, true, righteous, holy, good, just” and “endures forever” (Psalm 19:7-9; Romans 7:12). The “Law” cleanses, revives, warns, gives direction and understanding (Psalm 119). It does NOT refer to tradition, be sure to read Matthew 15:6-9. The “Law” is more desirable than gold (Psalm 19:10).

THE PROBLEM WITH THE LAW

1. It CANNOT give spiritual life - 2 Cor. 3:6; Galatians 3:21

2. It CANNOT make us righteous before God - Romans 3:20, Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16; James 2:10

3. It CANNOT take away our sin - Hebrews 10:1-4

4. It CANNOT cancel the promise of God to Abraham - Galatians 3:16-17

THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW

1. It relates primarily to Israel - Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Deuteronomy 4:8, Deuteronomy 4:44-45; Deuteronomy 5:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:1-3; Romans 9:4

2. It removes our ignorance of sin - Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7; Galatians 3:19; 1 John 3:4

3. It reflects the character of God Himself - Romans 7:12, Romans 7:22, Romans 7:25; Romans 8:7

4. It regulates society - made for the non-believer - 1 Timothy 1:9-10

5. It reinforces our need of a Savior and that Justification is by Faith ALONE - Matthew 5:17-18; Galatians 2:19-21; Galatians 3:19-25

TWO GREAT DANGERS

It is difficult to be “balanced” in our understanding, interpretation, and application of the “Law.” A person can wind up falling into one of two great ditches in relationship to the “Law.”

The First Ditch: LEGALISM - This is the belief that keeping the Law and its requirements is essential for salvation and/or Christian life and growth.

Galatians 3:1-3 speaks of this danger and warns the believers about it.

The Second Ditch: LIBERTARIANISM - This is the belief that our freedom in Christ allows us to sin without facing any consequences.

Pay attention….Believers are NOT free to sin or to disobey God. We don’t make up the rules...God does! But, we also need to understand that our forgiveness comes through the shedding of Blood, the Death, and the Resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ, and NOT through our works or performance. We cannot earn, maintain, or deserve the Grace of God, and we cannot be Righteous, or maintain righteousness, by what we do or do not do. That comes solely through the work of our LORD Who declares us righteous on the basis of our exercising of The Faith in the finished work of our LORD Jesus, Who died for ALL of our sins, and rose again for our justification.

MAY GOD GIVE US ALL WISDOM FROM HIS WORD ALONE!

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Thursday, April 26, 2012

LLM Question for 4-26-2012, and, When Ye Pray, BELIEVE. Mark 11:24

First the Question: Are Members of the Body of Christ Under the Law of Moses? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-21-2012

Question: It is the privilege, and responsibility, of Christians to know what the will of God is. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! It IS our privilege, and our responsibility, to know what God’s will is! “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is”. Ephesians 5:17. It is the REVEALED will of God which is in view in these passages AND in Mark 11:24, because, in respect to His “SECRET” will, we have nothing to do with that...it’s none of our business. Now, out of the 714 responses we received to this question, 84% of you got it! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

When Ye Pray, BELIEVE. Mark 11:24

“What things soever ye desire when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” Mark 11:24.

By the words “believe that ye receive them” we understand, expect God to give them to you. But it is at THIS point that so many of God’s people fail in their prayer lives.

Look, there are THREE main things to be considered when praying, and here they are...

First: Make sure that you are asking for something that is in accordance with God’s Word: see 1 John 5:14.

Now, right here, the devil will foil you unless you are on guard. He will come as an angel of light and preach a sermon to you on God’s Holy Will. Yeah, the devil is quite capable of that! Now, it is our privilege, and our responsibility, to know what God’s will is! “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). It is the REVEALED will of God which is in view in these passages and in Mark 11:24, because, in respect to His “SECRET” will, we have nothing to do with that; it’s none of our business.

God’s revealed will is made known in His Word, The Bible. Fix this in your mind; never allow Satan to inject a thought (Ephesians 4:27) to shake you on this, that everything God has commanded you to do, every precept and exhortation addressed to you, is “God’s will” for you, and is to be turned into prayer for enabling Grace. It is God’s will that you should be “sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:2), that you should “rejoice” (Philippians 4:4), that you should “make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10), that you should “grow in Grace and in the knowledge of the LORD” (2 Peter 3:18).

SECOND: Having made sure that what you are praying for is according to God’s revealed will, then plead His promises, such as Matthew 7:7, Philippians 4:19, and so on.

Plead them in the name of The LORD Jesus Christ, asking God to give you the “desires of thine heart” (Psalms 37:4) for The LORD’s sake, that He may be honored in and by a Godly walk from you, and that His people may be helped and encouraged by your example. Those are prayers which God cannot, and will not, deny.

Third: Expect God to do what you have asked.

Unless there is an expectancy, Faith isn’t being exercised. It is this expecting from Him which honors and pleases God, and which always draws down from Him answers of peace.

There might be some difficulty, problem, and trial, which takes on the size of a mountain. Never mind that: do not let it depress, discourage, or confuse you. Praise the LORD it stands written in the eternal Word of Truth, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith and doubt not, ye shall say unto this mountain be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; It shall be done” (Matthew 21:21).

Now, take note, it is not “If thou doubt not and have faith, BUT, “if ye have faith” and then (while you are awaiting God’s answer) “doubt not”.

When you first get down on your knees, beg God in the name of The LORD Jesus Christ, and for His own glory’s sake, to work in you, by His Spirit, that expectancy of faith which will not take “NO” for an answer; but confidently says, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me” (Genesis 32:26). That is what honors God. Then, let’s not forget that we have, “A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24) and “Thou hearest me always” (John 11:42). Then, make use of Him, and ask Him to present them to His Father and your Father, and, if they are for God’s glory and your (REAL) good, be assured that they will be granted. The LORD Jesus Christ, will be honored and you will be strengthened in the Faith.

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Saturday, April 21, 2012

LLM Question for 4-21-2012, and, The Resurrection of Christ and The Apostle Paul

First the Question: It is the privilege, and responsibility, of Christians to know what the will of God is. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-18-2012

Question: We are surrounded by overwhelming evidence that resurrection is a fact. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! We can go around and point out all the reasons why resurrection is impossible, but after all is said and done we are still surrounded by overwhelming evidence that it is a fact. Every blade of grass, every ear of corn, every beautiful flower, bears witness to the fact of resurrection from the dead. Now, out of the 780 responses we received to this question, an excellent 92% of you got it! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

The Resurrection of Christ and The Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul, in discussing the resurrection of the dead, came to the simple and valid conclusion, "If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen" (1 Corinthians 15:13).

But the Apostle Paul does not stop here. Listen to what he says as he presses a further argument home, "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14). And this leads to yet another conclusion, "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (1 Corinthians 15:17-18).

These are frank words about stern realities. If there is no such thing as the bodily resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised from the dead, and if such is the case we have NO living Savior.

But granting all this, can we believe in what is palpably impossible? Ah, but is resurrection palpably impossible? The Apostle Paul answers this question quite simply in this same discussion, in 1 Corinthians 15:

"But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" (1 Corinthians 15:35).

Mark well, this is not an interested inquiry, but a challenge, meant to prove that resurrection is impossible, and the Apostle answers it this way:

"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die" (1 Corinthians 15:36).

What a devastating reply! We can go around and point out all the reasons why resurrection is "impossible," but after all is said and done we are still surrounded by overwhelming evidence that it is a fact. Every blade of grass, every ear of corn, every beautiful flower bears witness to the fact of resurrection from the dead.

Yes, Christ is alive from the dead, and, "able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Hebrews 7:25).

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

LLM Question for 4-18-2012, and, The Words of Christ and the Words of the RISEN Christ

First the Question: We are surrounded by overwhelming evidence that resurrection is a fact. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-15-2012

Question: Are we to exalt the teachings of Jesus during His earthly ministry above those of the RISEN Jesus through the Apostle Paul? Yes or No?

Answer: NO! But then why? Why do these hypocritical fundamentalists and modernists set the teachings of Jesus, while on earth, over and against the teachings of the RISEN Jesus through the Apostle Paul? Well, it is NOT because they are determined to obey Jesus, but because they are determined to minimize that which God has MAGNIFIED! And that is, the authority of the Apostle Paul as "the Apostle of the Gentiles" (Romans 11:13). Now, out of the 741 responses we received to this question, a very good 81.5% of you got it! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

The Words of Christ on Earth and the Words of the RISEN Christ

There has been, and even today still is, MUCH controversy over the teaching of The Mystery, which the Holy Spirit first revealed to and then taught through the Apostle Paul.

MANY “Christian” Fundamentalists have joined with Modernists in attempting to exalt "the teachings of Jesus" (while on earth) above the Word of God through the Apostle Paul. They ask, "Which should bear the greater weight with us, the words of Jesus, or the words of Paul?"

This is the classic straw-man argument. Because, see, they do not ask this because they truly desire to OBEY these "words of Jesus" and to see them obeyed. NO! For they flagrantly disregard and disobey them, from the Sermon on the Mount to the Great Commission.

With regard to the Sermon on the Mount, they do not subject themselves to the Law of God given through Moses (Matthew 5:17-19). They do not bring gifts to altars of sacrifice (Matthew 5:23-24). They do not give freely to all who ask of them, quite the opposite (Matthew 5:42; Matthew 10:8-9). They do not refrain from laying up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19, and Matthew 6:25-26); And they certainly do not sell what they have and give alms (Luke 6:30; Luke 12:33).

Let's not stop there...then, these hypocrites, while professing obedience to the so called "Great Commission" as "the Church's marching orders", they do not proclaim faith AND baptism for salvation (Mark 16:16); they do not, (they cannot), perform miraculous signs (Mark 16:17,18); they do not give the Jew first place in their ministry (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8), and they certainly do not teach others to observe all things that Messiah on earth commanded (Matthew 28:20).

So why? Why do these hypocritical fundamentalists and modernists set "the teachings of Jesus" (on earth) over and against the teachings of the RISEN Jesus through the Apostle Paul? Well, it is NOT because they are determined to obey Jesus, but because they are determined to minimize that which God has "magnified", and that is, the authority of the Apostle Paul as "the apostle of the Gentiles" (Romans 11:13).

They seek to exalt the teachings of Jesus during His earthly ministry above those of the RISEN Jesus through the Apostle Paul BECAUSE they have closed their ears to the often repeated and Holy Spirit inspired teaching of the Apostle Paul that the glorified RISEN Christ spoke from heaven, to and through him, committing to him "The Dispensation of the Grace of God". THE program for the day in which we live (Acts 20:24; Acts:22:6-10, Acts 22:17-21; Acts 26:12-18; Romans 11:13; Romans 15:15-16; Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:16; Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:11-12; Galatians 2:7-9; Ephesians 3:1-9; Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 4:9; Colossians 1:23-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Timothy 2:5-7; 2 Timothy 2:7-9; Titus 1:2-3).

But MORE than this, they have forgotten the STERN rebuke the Galatians received for failing to recognize the Apostle Paul's teachings as a message from the RISEN, Glorified, Exalted Christ (Galatians 1:6-12). They have taken lightly Paul's words to the Corinthians, "if I come again I will not spare: since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me" (2 Cor. 13:2-3).

These hypocritical fundamentalists and modernists have, as well, distorted the Holy Spirit's admonition through the Apostle Paul as to His own writings, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, from such withdraw thyself" (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Sunday, April 15, 2012

LLM Question for 4-15-2012, and, The Incarnation of Christ AND The Body of Christ

First the Question: Are we to exalt the teachings of Jesus during His earthly ministry above those of the RISEN Jesus through the Apostle Paul? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-12-2012

Question: Even 7 years AFTER the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ it was NOT lawful for the Apostles to preach to a Gentile. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Seven or eight years AFTER the Resurrection of Christ it was NOT lawful for the LORD’s apostles to go to a Gentile. Acts 10:28. THEN the Apostle Peter preached to Cornelius. A few years later the Apostle Paul said to the Jews, it was necessary that the Word of God should first be preached to them; BUT that he turned to the Gentiles when, and because, the Jews would not receive it. Acts 13:46. Now, out of the 723 responses we received to this question, only 51.7% of you got it! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

The Incarnation of Christ AND The Body of Christ

If you have been keeping up with the messages on the Lion and Lamb Ministry you now see that we have two stumbling blocks, the TWO Mysteries, the Mystery of the Incarnation and the Mystery of the Body of Christ described in Ephesians and Colossians. How important it is that the Children of God should understand the important statements of John 1:11 and then Romans 11:30, “Christ came unto His own and His own received Him not. Because they received Him not, and believed Him not, the Gentiles received mercy from God.” KNOWING THIS, eliminates the need for ALL denominations. So, let’s continue…

In comparing the Kingdom of Heaven with the Dispensation of the Mystery these are good verses with which to begin: John 1:11 and Romans 11:30. “His own received Him not.” Christ came unto His own. God raised Christ up in incarnation to be Israel’s Saviour. Acts 13:23. Meditate upon this. Believe it one hundred percent.

Now, the LORD Jesus Christ, gave very positive instructions to His messengers, “go NOT into the way of the gentiles.” Matthew 10:5. Christ, in incarnation, declared that He was sent ONLY to Israel. Matthew 15:24. Christ was raised from the dead to be Israel’s Saviour. Acts 5:29-32. Acts 13:31-39. Believe this; for this truth is so IMPORTANT.

Now, pay attention to this point: Seven or eight years AFTER the Resurrection of Christ it was NOT lawful for the LORD’s apostles to go to a Gentile. Acts 10:28. THEN the Apostle Peter preached to Cornelius. A few years later the Apostle Paul said to the Jews, it was necessary that the Word of God should first be preached to them; BUT that he turned to the Gentiles when, and because, the Jews would not receive it. Acts 13:46. Then the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul wrote, that when, and because, Israel was cast away, reconciliation was sent to the Gentiles. Romans 11:15. Then followed that most important statement concerning the Mystery of Israel’s TEMPORARY blindness, that it should last until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. Romans 11:25-26. And then the all‑important declaration of Romans 11:30, when and because of Israel’s unbelief, the Gentiles obtained mercy from God. Why did the Gentiles obtain mercy? When did they obtain mercy? You only have to turn to the Word of God, The Bible, for the answers.

Christ’s own received Him not. But many of His own DID receive Him, in incarnation and in resurrection, and the Apostle Paul declared about the year 60 AD that there was a remnant according to the election of Grace, and that the rest of Israel was blinded. Romans 11:3-9. So Israel stumbled, and fell Romans 11:9-26, and God set that religious nation aside and brought in “the Reign of Grace.”

LATER ON the LORD revealed to and through the Apostle Paul, His eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus BEFORE the foundations of the world, that is, the hidden wisdom which was ordained unto the glory of members of the Body of Christ before the foundations of the world, but which was kept secret and not revealed to the prophets of Israel or to even the twelve apostles of Christ! Romans 16:25-26. Colossians 1:25-27. The Apostle Paul called this, “The Mystery of Christ,” “the Mystery of the Gospel.” Ephesians 3:4. Ephesians 6:19-20.

Now take note, just as the bewildered Jews during the years of Christ’s incarnation cried out, “Who is this Son of man?” (John 12:34), and crucified Him, the Lord of Glory, because they knew not, EVEN SO the bewildered Church leaders today are saying, “What is all this talk about “the Dispensation of the Mystery?” “What is this new message some are trying to impose on us?”

The answer is, “We speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery.” The wisdom that would put an end to denominations, isms, and schisms! And the question to be asked is, Why should it be a mystery after God made it known?

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

LLM Question for 4-12-2012, and, The Grace of God, part 9 of 9

First the Question: Even 7 years AFTER the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ it was NOT lawful for the Apostles to preach to a Gentile. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-10-2012

Question: THERE IS NO UNPARDONABLE SIN IN THIS AGE OF GRACE. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! In Ephesians we learn how dead sinners became living saints, “by Grace through faith." (Ephesians 2:8-10). Those living saints had been dead sinners, alienated from the life of God, by nature the children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 4:18). BEFORE they received God’s Grace and God’s Son ALL of their sins were unpardoned; but not one of them unpardonable. When they BELIEVED the Gospel of Grace, ALL of their sins were PARDONED. NOT believing, however, produces VERY different results. (John 8:24). None of them had to obey Acts 2:38, the message which the Apostle Peter reached on the day of Pentecost. They, the Ephesians, believed the Gospel of Grace. The Dispensation of the Grace of God did not begin with Peter and Pentecost; but with the Apostle Paul AFTER the (temporary) FALL of Israel. Now, we realize this question might have been a tad confusing. Hence the responses. Out of the 791 responses we received to this question, only 38.1% of you got it! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

The Grace of God, part 9 of 9

TAKE NOTE:

THERE IS NO UNPARDONABLE SIN IN THIS AGE AND DISPENSATION OF GRACE!

In the Epistle to the Ephesians we learn how dead sinners became living saints, “by Grace through faith." (Ephesians 2:8-10). Those living saints indeed had been dead sinners, alienated from the life of God, by nature the children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 4:18). Before they received God’s Grace and God’s Son all of their sins were unpardoned; but not one of them unpardonable. When they believed the Gospel of Grace, by which they were saved forever and seated in the Heavenlies, all of their sins were pardoned, and, by Grace, they stood in the presence of God as though they had never committed one sin. None of them had to obey Acts 2:38, the message which the Apostle Peter reached on the day of Pentecost. They believed the Gospel of Grace. The Dispensation of the Grace of God did not begin with Peter and Pentecost; but with the Apostle Paul AFTER the (temporary) ‘FALL’ of Israel.

If this message should reach a guilty criminal in the prison, OR, a nice, respectable, moral, upright, sincere, benevolent, active unsaved religious church member, in good standing with the pastor and the official board, it might prove profitable to read Luke 7:36-50, and learn what Christ, in the house of the religious Pharisee, said to that self‑righteous man, and what He said to the sinful woman who was most unwelcome visitor in the Pharisee’s home. Christ referred to both of them when He said concerning the two, “when they had nothing to pay, He frankly forgave them both.” “Her sins which are many are forgiven.” (Luke 7:47). “And Christ said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48).

The sins of that guilty woman were not unpardonable; BUT if that Pharisee did not receive Christ as Saviour, he will spend eternity with the unbelievers, murderers, whoremongers, drunkards and thieves and the rest of the self righteous, Christ rejecting, nice religious, people. (Revelation 21:8).

We learn, in Acts 3:12-26, that the murder of the eternal Son of God was not an unpardonable sin; for those guilty murderers, who subsequently obeyed Acts 2:38, were saved. That one sin outweighs all of the other sins that the human race has committed. Come with all your sins and crimes, or with your self-righteousness, to Christ and Calvary and learn that where sin abounded Grace did, and doth, ‘much more’ ‘over‑abound’.

THE GRACE OF GOD TEACHES AND ENABLES CHRISTIANS

In Titus 2:11-12 we read that the same Grace of God, which has brought God’s salvation for all who will believe the Gospel and receive Christ as Saviour, teaches Christians that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

In Titus 2:12 the word ‘teaching’ is translated in other verses, ‘discipline’, ‘chasten’. To live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world is a very large order. In the language of 2 Cor. 2:16, “who is sufficient for these things?” The answer is in 2 Cor. 3:5: “not that we are sufficient of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” God says, “My Grace is sufficient for thee.” (2 Cor. 12:9).

What God’s Grace TEACHES Christians to do, that same all‑sufficient, much more over-abounding Grace ENABLES them to do. “God is able to make all Grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8).

When the LORD Jesus, by His Divine Grace and power, was merciful to that guilty, sinful woman in John 8:1-11, saying “neither do I condemn thee,” He added, “go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11). As we think of Christ’s dealings with that sinful woman, we first think of Romans 5:20 and then of Romans 6:1-2 and Romans 6:15, “Where sin abounded Grace did much more over‑abound.” “Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are ‘dead to sin’ live any longer therein?” “Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under Grace?” “God forbid.”

God’s mighty power, exceeding abundant power, is available for every redeemed person (Ephesians 1:19-23, Ephesians 3:20). The “all Grace’ of the God of all Grace is likewise available.

“Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.” (Jude 24-25). “Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21).

“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, be glory, and dominion forever and ever.” “Amen.” (Revelation 1:5).

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So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

LLM Question for 4-10-2012, and, The Grace of God, part 8 of 9

First the Question: THERE IS NO UNPARDONABLE SIN IN THIS AGE OF GRACE. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-1-2012

Question: Self righteousness can be a sin far more deadly than murder and adultery. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Self-righteousness can be a sin far more deadly than murder and adultery. The greatest blunder that any person on earth can make is to reject the LORD Jesus Christ as Saviour, the Saviour from the awful, terrible wrath of God. Luke 12:15 and Luke 16:15, “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”, and, “God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Now, out of the 1040 responses we received to this question, again, 87.5% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

The Grace of God, part 8 of 9

The Grace of God enabled the Apostle Paul to labor more abundantly than other saints (1 Corinthians 15:10); to be the wise ‘masterbuilder’ or ‘head-carpenter’ (1 Corinthians 3:10), and to preach to Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Ephesians 3:8). This was the Apostle of Christ, who used the word ‘Grace’, 105 times, who found that Grace all sufficient for every task, every test and every trial. Can you join with Paul, saying, “I do not frustrate the Grace of God?” It was Paul who referred to God’s Grace for saints and for sinners as the ‘much more’, ‘over‑abounding’ Grace. (Romans 5:20, 2 Cor. 9:8).

Perhaps after reading Romans 5:21 one thousand (1000) times prayerfully, in the Spirit, we should begin to comprehend its meaning, “that as sin has reigned unto death, even so might Grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our LORD.”

Understanding Romans 5:17, first, helps us to understand Romans 5:21. Note Romans 5:17, “MUCH MORE they which receive ‘ABUNDANCE OF GRACE’, and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by ONE JESUS CHRIST.”

The God of all Grace wants to bestow His ‘ABUNDANCE OF GRACE’, His ‘ALL SUFFICIENT’, ‘MUCH MORE’, ‘OVERABOUNDING’ Grace upon every person on this earth. The great majority of Adam’s race do not have the willingness or desire to receive this marvelous, matchless, Divine Grace.

We wonder how many Pastors, Evangelists, Preachers, and Bible teachers, are responsible, at least in part, for the nationwide ignorance of the Grace of God, which the Apostle Peter defines as the “true Grace of God wherein ye stand.” (1 Peter 5:12). Thousands of preachers, in pulpits and over the radio, occasionally call the message which they are proclaiming ‘the Gospel of Grace’, when the truth is they are preaching a perverted Gospel, which subverts the soul. (Acts 15:24).

How few Christians really experience and rejoice in the truth of Ephesians 4:7, “unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

What a tragedy that thousands upon thousands of religious church‑members fall from Grace by adding their religious doings to the Grace of God to keep from falling from Grace! (Galatians 5:4).

Just think of the spiritual crime of bringing over front Leviticus and Exodus and Numbers into this present age and dispensation and program of Grace some of the religious sacraments and ceremonies to make the Grace of God and the perfect redemptive work of the LORD Jesus MORE efficacious and effective! They do this even though, when the omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, Divine, sinless Christ cried ‘FINISHED’ on the cross, and then entered heaven and by His own precious shed blood He obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12), God blotted out the handwriting of ordinances, nailing them to the cross of Christ, the Christ Who then became the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. (Colossians 2:13-16, and Romans 10:4).

God is a jealous God. Be very, very careful about perverting His ‘GRACE’ Gospel or frustrating His ‘GRACE’. It is indeed a spiritual crime, for which everyone who claims to be the LORD’s steward will surely give account. Read Paul’s testimony in Galatians 6:14, Philippians 3:7-8, and Philippians 1:21, and make it your testimony and experience.

Do not be afraid of the Grace of God. Read, believe, and carefully and prayerfully consider the truth of Romans 11:6, “If by Grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise Grace is no more Grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more Grace; otherwise work is no more work.”

ARE YOU REPEATING ISRAEL’S GREAT BLUNDER?

Millions of religious Gentiles are today making the same serious, fatal blunder, that God’s religious nation, Israel, made in the first Christian century, the blunder that brought their downfall, “Israel hath not attained unto the law of righteousness. Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. They stumbled at that stumblingstone.” (Romans 9:31-32).

Why is it that the religious Gentiles of 2012 do not profit by or learn from the great blunder of religious Israel? Why do they not believe and receive at full face value the glorious truth of 2 Cor. 5:21 and 2 Cor.8:9, the truth that the sinless LORD Jesus Christ was made sin in our behalf when He yielded up the ghost on the cross, that believers might be made ‘THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD’ in HIM. “For ye know the Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”

Then concerning the riches of Christ and the riches of God’s Grace for all the human race, note the truth of Romans 11:12, which tells of the diminishing and fall of religious Israel, because they refused to be saved by the infinite Grace of the God of all Grace, “Now if the FALL of them (Israel, albeit temporary) be the ‘RICHES’ of the world, and the DIMINISHING of them the ‘RICHES OF THE GENTILES’.” The blinded Israelites in this Age and Dispensation and reign of Grace are spiritually very poor. Many of them are rich in worldly possessions. Together with many Gentiles they are but little influenced by the words of their own Messiah in Luke 12:15 and Luke 16:15, “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”, and, “God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

Self-righteousness can be a sin far more deadly than murder and adultery. The greatest blunder that any person on earth can make is to reject the LORD Jesus Christ as Saviour, the Saviour from the awful, terrible wrath of God.

Although Satan, the god of this age, is responsible for the unbelief of lost, condemned sinners (2 Cor. 4:4-5, and John 3:17-19), to every rational man or woman in this land of Bibles God is today repeating the charge of Romans 2:1; “thou art inexcusable, O man.” In Romans 1:20 we learn that before the LORD Jesus and the Holy Spirit came down from heaven, long before the risen Christ gave to Paul the Gospel of Grace and the dispensation of Grace, the human race was without excuse.

Remember the great truths of John 3:17, 1 Timothy 2:4-6, and Ephesians 2:8-10, “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved”; “God will have all men to be saved; ONE GOD, ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for all”, “by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast; for we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Only people who have been redeemed in God’s way, “justified without a cause by God’s Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 3:24-26), can ‘walk in the Spirit’ and thus fulfill the righteousness of the law. (Galatians 5:25 and Romans 8:4). Unless, and until a person is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that person cannot please God. (Romans 8:8-9). When the believing sinner meets God at Calvary and receives Christ, that believer receives freely God’s righteousness and the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 3:14, Ephesians 1:13-14). There are NO other requirements: NO ordinances, NO religious ceremonies, NO worthiness, NO merits, NO good deeds on the part of the believing sinner. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly”; “God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”; “being now justified by His blood.” (Romans 5:6-10).

Justified believers are saints and are temples of the Holy Spirit. They are exhorted to “walk as becometh saints” (Ephesians 5:l-4); to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22); to be shining lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, holding forth the Word of Life. (Philippians 2:14-16).

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Saturday, April 7, 2012

Christ is RISEN! The Fruits of the Resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ

Hallelujah! Praise God! HE IS RISEN! "WHEREFORE HE IS ABLE ALSO TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM" (Hebrews 7:25)

HE IS RISEN!

The fruits of our LORD's resurrection from the dead are many and important.

First, there were immediate results. It silenced those who had ridiculed His claims, and struck terror into their hearts. It explained how the prophecies would be fulfilled which predicted the death of Christ and the kingdom glory to follow. It heartened His followers, making cowards bold, turning their fear into Faith, their sorrow into joy and their despair into glorious victory.

Then there were also long range results, for our LORD's resurrection is a warning to unbelievers everywhere and always, "Because He (God) hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31. Also see John 5:22-27, and Acts 10:42).

AS TO BELIEVERS:

First, Christ's resurrection from the dead assures us that our debt of sin has been fully paid…

"WHO (CHRIST), WAS DELIVERED FOR OUR OFFENCES, AND WAS RAISED AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION. THEREFORE BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" (Romans 4:25; Romans 5:1).

Second, His resurrection gives us a living Savior to help us in our daily walk.

"WHEREFORE HE IS ABLE ALSO TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM" (Hebrews 7:25).

Third, His resurrection is the pledge of our own:

"FOR IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO THEM ALSO WHICH SLEEP IN JESUS WILL GOD BRING, (FROM THE DEAD), WITH HIM" (1 Thessalonians 4:14; see also Hebrews 13:20).

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He (God) quickened TOGETHER with Him (Christ), having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His (Christ’s) cross; And, (if that wasn’t enough), having spoiled principalities and powers (Satan, the fallen angels, and the rest of the Satanic hierarchy), he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Colossians 2:13-15

Therefore…

"BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO, ACCORDING TO HIS ABUNDANT MERCY, HATH BEGOTTEN US AGAIN UNTO A LIVING HOPE BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD" (1 Peter 1:3).

So that now,

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Ephesians 1:17-23

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN! OUR GOD REIGNS!

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Friday, April 6, 2012

Holy Week Message, Part 3 of 3

THE TWO PARACLETES THE SON OF GOD AND ANOTHER COMFORTER

In the Gospel of John 13 to 16, we have the record of the ministry of the two Paracletes in behalf of the saints of God. Let us note the words of Christ in John 14:16-17, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

“Another Comforter.” The Greek word translated “Comforter” is “Paracletos (Paraclete)”. Jesus Christ the Righteous is in God’s presence to appear for saints. Hebrews 9:24. Now note Hebrews 7:24-25, “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Christ is in God’s presence in Heaven representing the believers. He is the believer’s Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate. Christ ever lives to make intercession for saints.

Now note Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Here we note the wonderful intercessory work of the other Paraclete. Each Paraclete has a very definite ministry for the child of God.

Note Ephesians 1:13-14, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye BELIEVED, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” The indwelling Holy Spirit is the believer’s guarantee of his inheritance, the earnest, until the redemption of the purchased possession.

CHRIST WASHING HIS DISCIPLES FEET

Now let us note the word of the believer’s Advocate in John 13:1-11, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, LORD, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, LORD, not my feet, only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.”

“He loved them unto the end.” With this let us read Philipians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Now, we call your special attention to two statements of Christ in connection with the washing of His disciples’ feet, “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” John 13:7. “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.” John 13:10.

“Thou knowest not now.” “Thou shalt know hereafter.” Two different Greek words translated “know.” The second one means to understand, that is, after Christ’s resurrection from the dead His disciples would understand the real meaning of the washing of their feet. This cleansing spoke of Christ’s work as the believer’s Advocate. “If we sin we have an Advocate with the Father.” 1 John 2:1.

“He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.” Again we have two different Greek words translated “wash.” The first has the meaning of a washing all over; the other a subsequent cleansing. First the believer comes to Christ on the cross, the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. There the believer is cleansed all over and there he becomes the child of God. His relationship is established by the once for all work of Christ. At God’s right hand Christ continually intercedes for the redeemed and maintains their fellowship.

Let us remember His words in Luke 17:3-4, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven time in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”

And now look at, Matthew 18:21-22, “Then came Peter to him, and said, LORD, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

Certainly Christ would not expect one of His disciples to do more forgiving than He Himself would do. Let us remember that 1 John was addressed to believers and that 1 John 1:9 is for God’s children, “If we confess our sins, he is Faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

CHRIST INTERCEDING

Now carefully read and study John 17, for it is one of the greatest chapters in all the Bible. There we have Christ as Priest, interceding. Note John 17:9, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” Now note Hebrews 9:24, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

Christ, in heaven, appears, NOT for the world of unbelievers but for those who have been washed by His precious blood. Note John 17:15-24, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are NOT of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

If these petitions of the Son of God speak of the present intercessory work of the LORD Jesus Christ in heaven, we can understand the why of the uttermost salvation in Hebrews 7:25, and we can understand Hebrews 6:19-20.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:19-20.

CHRIST AS PRIEST IN JOHN 17

John 17:11, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.”

John 17:14, “I have given them Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

John 17:15, “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

Christ said, “I pray not for the world.” John 17:9. The believer is in the world but not of the world.

In 1 John are found these words, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15.

Christ’s desire for His disciples was that they would touch the world but that the world would not touch them. Note again John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We read in Hebrews 11:38 concerning God’s men of Faith, “Of Whom the world was not worthy.”

CAIAPHAS’ PROPHECY

“Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” John 11:50-52.

It was expedient that Christ should die for His own Nation Israel and also that the children of God should be gathered together. Note the words of Christ in John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Also note Christ’s words in John 12:31-33, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” Also note Christ’s words in John 3:14, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”

Christ must be lifted up. He came to be the rejected King and the Corn of Wheat. “For this cause came I unto this hour.” John 12:27. As Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:6) that the Israelites who were dying with the bite of the serpents might look, believe and live, so the LORD Jesus Christ was lifted up and nailed to Calvary’s cross, that Jews and Gentile descendants of the first woman and man beguiled by the serpent in Eden might be saved from sin. “I, if I be lifted up”…“Signifying what death He should die.”

ISRAEL’S BLINDNESS AND UNBELIEF…THE GENTILES OBTAINED MERCY

We learned in John 1:11-12, that Christ’s own rejected Him, but as many as received Him and believed on Him were born of God. We learn a most important truth in Romans 11:30, “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief.”

Note again Romans 11:15, “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” Here we learn that the unbelief and casting away of Israel brought mercy and reconciliation to the Gentiles. After this Divine truth is stated, note the words of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul in Romans 11:33-34, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the LORD? or who hath been his counsellor?”

What shall we Gentiles say? “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.” Romans 11:19. Before we quote again from John 12, let us note Romans 11:7-8, “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.”

Now look at John 12:37-40, “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, LORD, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the LORD been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” And here we might say again the words of Romans 11:33-34, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the LORD? or who hath been his counsellor?” Therefore Israel could not believe.

Here we think again of Acts 2:22-23, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.”

When Israel, with wicked hands, slew Jesus of Nazareth, when the rulers crucified the LORD of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:6-8), when Israel’s rulers killed the Prince of Life (Acts 3:14-15), the Son of God was delivered according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. If Christ was God’s spotless Lamb foreordained BEFORE the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:18-21), and if His death was in fulfillment of Scriptures (Acts 13:29), then we say that Christ’s death was not only inevitable but Christ had to die at the time that He died and in the manner that He died by the hands of His own Nation.

But even so, God did not minimize or excuse the guilt of the men who had Christ put to death. Note Acts 7:51-52, “Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.” And, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, “of the Jews: Who both killed the LORD Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always.“

By carefully reading Acts 3:12-26, we learn that God was willing to forgive Israel for their terrible crime if they would repent. To those murderers the message was, “I know that through ignorance ye did it” (Acts 3:17). But when they refused to repent the crime was charged against them. But note what they did when they killed Christ, “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” Acts 4:28.

THE KING AND THE CORN OF WHEAT

“On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna, BLESSED IS THE KING OF ISRAEL THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. And Jesus, when He had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF SION: BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH, SITTING ON AN ASS’S COLT.” John 12:12-15.

“And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, ‘Sir, we would see Jesus.’ Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, That the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” John 12:20-24.

In the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of John, the LORD Jesus presented Himself to Israel. “Blessed is the King of Israel.” He did not present Himself to the Greeks but sent word to them that like the corn of wheat must abide alone or die, so He must die and be buried to bring forth much fruit. About twenty years later, note what happened, “And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.” Acts 14:1. The few Greeks were not permitted to see the King of Israel, but the multitude of Greeks were SAVED by BELIEVING that the Corn of Wheat had died and risen again.

WILL DRAW ALL MEN

When Christ said, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me,” He most assuredly was not saying that all men would be saved. The doctrine of universal salvation or universal reconciliation is repudiated by many Scriptures such as John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth NOT the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

When Christ was on earth, He uttered these words, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:40. And remember His words of warning in John 8:24, “If ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins.”

God’s will in this matter is expressed in 1 Timothy 2:4-6, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is ONE God, and ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.”

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Holy Week Message Extra. When was Christ Crucified and Resurrected?

There is an unbelievable amount of conjecture as to when exactly was the LORD and our Savior Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected. The following message is taken up to put an end to that conjecture, and determine when these events took place.

So, we are furnished by Scripture with certain facts and fixed points which, taken together, enable us to: 1. Determine the events which filled up the days of "the last week" of our LORD's life on earth; 2. To fix the day of His crucifixion; and, 3. To ascertain the duration of the time He remained in the tomb.

The difficulties connected with these three have arisen from 1. Not having noted these fixed points; 2. From the fact of Gentiles not having been familiar with the Law concerning the three great feasts of the LORD; and, 3. From not having reckoned the days as commencing (some six hours before our own) and running from sunset to sunset, instead of from midnight to midnight.

To remove these difficulties, we must understand the following:

1. That the first day of each of the three feasts, Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, was “a holy convocation", a "Sabbath" on which no servile work was to be done. See Leviticus 23:7, Leviticus 23:24, Leviticus 23:35. Compare Exodus 12:16. "That Sabbath" and the "high day" of John 19:31, was the "holy convocation", the first day of the feast, which quite overshadowed the ordinary weekly Sabbath. It was called by the Jews Yom tov = (Good day), and this is the greeting on that day throughout Jewry down to the present time. This Great Sabbath, having been mistaken from the earliest times for the weekly Sabbath, has led to all the confusion.

2. This has naturally caused the further difficulty as to the LORD's statement that "even as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40). Now, while it is quite correct to speak according to Hebrew idiom of "three days" or "three years", while they are only parts of three days or three years, yet that idiom does not apply in a case like this, where "three nights" are mentioned in addition to "three days". It will be noted that the LORD not only definitely states this, but repeats the full phraseology, so that we may not mistake it.

3. We have therefore the following facts furnished for our sure guidance:

a) The "high day" of John 19:31 was the first day of the feast.

b) The "first day of the feast" was on the 15th day of Nisan.

c) The 15th day of Nisan, commenced at sunset on what we should call the 14th.

d) "Six days before the Passover" (John 12:1) takes us back to the 9th day of Nisan.

e) "After two days is the Passover" (Matthew 26:2. Mark 14:1) takes us to the 13th day of Nisan.

f) "The first day of the week", the day of the resurrection (Matthew 28:1), was from our Saturday sunset to our Sunday sunset. This fixes the days of the week, just as the above fix the days of the month, for:

g) Reckoning back from this, "three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40), we arrive at the day of the burial, which must have been before sunset, on the 14th of Nisan; that is to say, before our Wednesday sunset.

h) This makes the sixth day before the passover (the 9th day of Nisan) to be our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.

Therefore Wednesday, Nisan 14th (commencing on the Tuesday at sunset), was "the preparation day", ON WHICH the crucifixion took place: for all four Gospels definitely say that this was the day on which the LORD was buried (before our Wednesday sunset), "because it was the preparation [day]" the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, "for that Sabbath day was a high day", and, therefore, not the ordinary seventh day, or weekly Sabbath. See John 19:31.

4. It follows, therefore, that the LORD being crucified on "the preparation day" could NOT have eaten of the Passover lamb, which was NOT slain until the evening of the 14th of Nisan (that is to say, afternoon). On that day the daily sacrifice was killed at the 6th hour (Noon) and offered about the 7th hour (1 p.m.). Then the killing of the Passover lambs began directly afterwards. Therefore it is clear, that if the killing of the Passover lambs did not commence until about four hours after our LORD had been hanging upon the Cross, and would not have been concluded at the ninth hour (3 p.m.) when "He gave up the ghost;" then no "Passover lamb" could have been eaten at the "last supper" on the previous evening.

5. So, with these facts before us, we are now in a position to fill in the several days of the LORD's last week with the events recorded in the Gospels. By noting that the LORD returned to Bethany (or to the Mount of Olives) each night of that week, we are able to determine both the several days and the events that took place in them.

THE SIXTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 9th DAY OF NISAN. (Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.)
.	MATTHEW.	MARK.	LUKE.	JOHN.
The LORD approaches Jerusalem from Jericho.	.	.	19:1-10	.
He passes our Thursday night at the house of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5) And delivers the Parable of the Pounds.	.	.	19:11-27	.
He proceeds toward Jerusalem.	.	.	19:28	.
He sends two disciples *apenanti* for an "ass" and a "colt" (two animals).	21:1-7	.	.	.
And makes His first entry from Bethphage (not Bethany).	21:8,9	.	.	.
He is unexpected, and they ask "Who is this?"	21:10, 11	.	.	.
He cleanses the Temple.	21:12 - 16	.	.	.
HE RETURNS TO BETHANY.	21:17	.	.	12:1
THE FIFTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 10th DAY OF NISAN. (Our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.)
.	MATTHEW.	MARK.	LUKE.	JOHN.
The LORD passes the Sabbath at Bethany; and after sunset (on our Saturday), the first of three suppers was made, probably at the house of Lazarus, in Bethany.	.	.	.	12:2
At this supper the first of two anointings took place.	.	.	.	12:3 - 11
THE FOURTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 11th DAY OF NISAN. (Our Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset.) the Gentile "Palm Sunday".
.	MATTHEW.	MARK.	LUKE.	JOHN.
The second, or triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He sends two disciples (*katenanti* for a colt (one animal).	.	11:1 - 7	19:29 - 35	12:12-
The LORD starts from Bethany (not Bethphage) and is met by multitudes from Jerusalem.	.	11:8-10	19:36-40	12:12-19
He weeps over the city.	.	.	19:41-44	.
He enters the Temple, looks around.	.	11:11-	.	.
And RETURNS TO BETHANY	.	11:11	.	.
THE THIRD DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 12th DAY OF NISAN. (Our Sunday sunset to Monday sunset.)
.	MATTHEW.	MARK.	LUKE.	JOHN.
In the morning (our Monday a.m.) the LORD returns to Jerusalem.	21:18	11:12	.	.
The Figtree cursed.	21:19-22	11:13-14	.	.
The Temple. Further cleansing.	.	11:15-17	19:45, 46	.
In the Temple. Further teaching, "Certain Greeks".	.	.	19:47	12:20-50
Opposition of Rulers.	.	11:18	19:47-48	.
He goes out of the city (probably to Bethany; see Luke 21:37-38 below).	.	11:19	.	.
THE SECOND DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 13th DAY OF NISAN. (Our Monday sunset to Tuesday sunset.)
.	MATTHEW.	MARK.	LUKE.	JOHN.
In the morning, (our Tuesday a.m.), on the way to Jerusalem, the question of the disciples about the Fig Tree.	.	11:20-26	.	.
In Jerusalem again: and in the Temple.	21:23-27	11:27-33	20:1-8	.
In Jerusalem teaching in Parables; and questions.	21:28-23:39	12:1-44	20:9-21:4	.
The first great prophecy, in the Temple.	.	.	21:5-36	.
(Parenthetical statement as to the LORD's custom during the last week).	.	.	21:37-38	.
The second great prophecy, on the Mount of Olives.	24:1-51	13:1-37	.	.
The second great prophecy, continued.	25:1-46	.	.	.
"After two days is the Passover".	26:1-5	14:1-2	.	.
HE RETURNS TO BETHATNY, and is present at the second supper in the house of Simon the leper. The second Anointing.	26:6-13	14:3-9	.	.
THE DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 14th DAY OF NISAN, "THE PREPARATION DAY", THE DAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION. (Our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset.)
.	MATTHEW.	MARK.	LUKE.	JOHN.
The plot of Judas Iscariot to betray the LORD.	26:14-16	14:10-11	22:1-6	.
The "preparation" for the last supper.¹	26:17-19	14:12¹-16	22:7¹-13	.
"The even was come" (our Tuesday after sunset) when the plot for the betrayal was ripe for execution.	26:20	14:17	.	.
The last supper, commencing with the washing of the feet.	.	.	.	13:1-20
The announcement of the betrayal, etc..	26:21-25	14:18-21	.	13:21-30
The supper eaten, the "New Covenant" made (Jeremiah 31:31). The lamb abolished, bread and wine substituted.	26:26-29	14:22-25	22:14-23	.
The first prophecy of Peter's denials.	.	.	.	13:31-38
The strife; who should be the greatest, etc..	.	.	22:24-30	.
The second prophecy of Peter's denials.	.	.	22:31-34	.
The final appeal to His first commission (Luke9:3).	.	.	22:35-38	.
The last discourse to the eleven, followed by His prayer.	.	.	.	14:1-17:26
They go to Gethsemane.	26:30-35	14:26-29	22:39	18:1
The third prophecy of Peter's denial.	.	14:30-31	.	.
The agony in the garden.	26:36-46	14:32-42	22:40-46	.
The apprehension of the LORD	26:47-56	14:43-50	22:47-54	18:2-11
The escape of Lazarus.	.	14:51-52	.	.
The trials: continued throughout our Tuesday night.	26:57-27:31	14:53-15:19	22:54-23:25	18:12-19:13
About the sixth hour (our Tuesday midnight) Pilate said "Behold your King".	.	.	.	19:14-15
Led away to be crucified.	27:31-34	15:20-23	23:26-31	19:16-17
And "led with Him" two "malefactors" (*kakourgoi*)	.	.	23:32-33	19:18
Discussion with Pilate about the Inscriptions.	.	.	.	19:19-22
The dividing of the garments.	27:35-37	15:24	23:34	19:23-24
"It was the third hour, and they crucified Him" (our 9 a.m. Wednesday).	.	15:25-26	.	.
"Then were there two robbers" (*lestai*) crucified with Him"	27:38	15:27-28	.	.
The revilings of the rulers, both "robbers", and one "malefactor".	27:39-44	15:29-32	23:35-43	.
The LORD's mother and John.	.	.	.	19:25-27
"The sixth hour" (our Wednesday noon) and the darkness.	27:45-49	15:33	23:44-45	.
"The ninth hour" (our Wednesday 3 p.m.) and the expiring cry.	27:50	15:34-37	23:46	19:28-30
Subsequent events.	27:51-56	15:38-41	23:47-49	19:31-37
Buried in haste before sunset (our Wednesday about 6 p.m.), before the "high day" (the first day of the Feast began), our Wednesday sunset.	27:57-66	15:42-47	23:50-56	19:38-42

"THE FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST" - "THE HIGH DAY" (Yom tov) - THE 15TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset.)
THE FIRST NIGHT AND FIRST DAY IN THE TOMB.

THE SECOND DAY OF THE FEAST - THE 16TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.)
THE SECOND NIGHT AND SECOND DAY IN THE TOMB.

THE THIRD DAY OF THE FEAST - "THE (WEEKLY) SABBATH" - THE 17TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Friday susnset to Saturday sunset.)
THE THIRD NIGHT AND THIRD DAY IN THE TOMB.

"THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK" - THE 18TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Saturday sunset: "the third day" of Matthew 16:21, etc.;
not the third day of the Feast.)

	MATTHEW	MARK	LUKE	JOHN
Thus, the Resurrection of the LORD took place at our Saturday sunset, or thereabouts, on "the third day"; compare "after three days" (Matthew 27:63. Mark 8:31).	28:1-10	16:1-18	24:1-49	20:1-23

It will be seen from the above that we have neither power nor authority to alter or shift any day or date; or to change the order or position of any of the events recorded in Holy Writ.

Each day is marked by a return to Bethany during the last week (up to the Preparation Day); and each day is filled with the recorded events.

It follows, therefore, that the LORD was crucified on our Wednesday; was buried on that day before sunset; and remained "three days and three nights" in the tomb, as foretold by Him in Matthew 12:40; rising from the dead on "the third day", "the first day of the week".

The fixed days and dates, at either end, hold the whole period as in a vice, and place the whole subject on a sure foundation.

NOTE:

¹ The words in Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7 refer to "the first day of unleavened bread", which was the 14th day of Nisan, and therefore "the preparation day". That is why the LORD goes on to tell the two disciples to go and make preparation for the Passover

*This Is Appendix 156 From The Companion Bible. The Notes above were written by E.W. Bullinger*

***

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook