Cited from Ps. 14:1-4 are the words that clearly spell out the condition of people who are separated from God. As again referenced by Rom. 3:11-18, the specifics are about what people are predisposed to. To reinforce the fact that no one is righteous.
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, Not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 3:11–18).
Set apart and called for a purpose isolated, narrow, and exceedingly difficult to live. To press and to strive, to be willing to go and do. To produce and make certain the miracle of obedience born within.
Having just finished a slow-walk study of Acts where the ancient manuscript ends with the Apostle Paul in Rome, I have again undertaken a careful effort to go through the book of Romans. To retrace steps earlier taken. On the hope that the words will bring life and they are life and echo well beyond where we are.
I am newly awakened that the next 16 chapters are loaded with deep meaning from the Eternal and Most High. Far beyond my ability to absorb too much at once, I find myself going in reverse quite a bit. A rewind and retake of sorts to ponder, “Father what did you just say?” or “what was that again?” Numerous times anew to push me back in my seat and just mumble ‘wow’. Revealed are the words falling afresh. To newly accept what is accomplished as reality from a perspective that is not my own.
Out of my isolation, I am made aware and informed. Of a truth that I have seen before but have not recognized.
These are the words:
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
For some reason, especially certain and assured that these words will have the greatest bearing in the afterlife.
On the verge of shipwreck, Paul the Apostle as a prisoner of Rome is with a crew of sailors, soldiers, and prisoners on a vessel bound for Italy. They were about 276 persons in all. By the revelation of the Lord Jesus’ presence that Paul was to go before Caesar. To answer false accusations, but also to bring his testimony before Gentiles. Some Gentiles of which were of considerable influence and were being made accountable before the living God. They were made accountable in the hearing of Paul’s testimony while appearing before king Agrippa, governors Felix and Festus, and emperor Caesar. He witnessed that the Lord Jesus was pressing upon them the meaning of God’s kingdom as spoken of by Himself and the prophets.
Throughout Acts, from Pentecost all the way to Paul’s missionary journeys, the Holy Spirit was bringing to life Gentiles throughout numerous far-off locations. As the good news of redemption through Jesus made its way beyond the Jews, Paul the Apostle through great hardship carried the gospel to the common person.
So as commissioned by the Lord, Paul fully obeyed and sought to honor our Most High King. Among 276 souls and through distress, fear, uncertainty, beatings, imprisonment, and poisoning, he was brought through by what Jesus had him do. For His glory and for the people claimed for His kingdom.
That even when the Lord’s originally chosen people would not accept the prophets or Himself, His apostles would take the gospel to the common people, and the Lord would breathe His Spirit among them and bring them to life.
As it is written:
“Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” [When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.] And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.” -Acts 28:28-31
The Lord Jesus, our King, once forsaken by not only God the Father in our atonement but by His apostles beforehand. First Judas, when Satan entered into him to betray the Lord. Then Peter, with his denial of Jesus three times. Upon finishing the Passover supper, the Lord’s suffering began not at the point of His entrapment. His trials began well before that and became pronounced mainly from the time of the Last Supper onward.
(a.) Forsaken – Satan demanded to sift Peter to ruin Jesus’ work and His followers (b.) Forsaken – Satan entered into Judas where he would afterward betray Jesus to religious leaders (c.) Forsaken – While Jesus prayed at the Mount of Olives in severe agony from his sorrow, His apostles were asleep nearby (d.) Forsaken – Peter denied Jesus three times while with others in the Lord’s presence (e.) Forsaken – By God the Father upon the Lord’s crucifixion
The will of the living God sets in advance eternal outcomes. It is made sure through all of creation and through the faith of His people. More specifically, it is faith as a spiritual dimension bestowed that somehow resonates with the will of YWHW.
Yet there are those who come and there are those who will not. In refusal, a choice of a will is enslaved to sin. To the eternal glory of God one way or another.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
For the weary and burdened, for those who are given to abundant life. Because, we bear His image, because of His infinite love, for His glory, and for His purposes.
Come to Christ to find rest for your soul.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.” In sadness and darkness and terror did the unhappy wretch set out upon his wanderings. Yet not in solitude. Even in this punishment, God had mercy; He gave Cain human companionship to soften and sustain him. The Bible makes no positive statement of any daughters born thus early to Eve; but Hebrew legends mention them, and the Scripture leaves us to assume them. For presently it speaks of Cain’s wife as accompanying him, and then of a son and grandsons gathering around the pair.
The little party fled from the more fertile regions of earth. Part of the curse upon Cain had been that when he tilled the ground he should get but little return in crops. This implies that his journeying was through a barren land. Hence the artist has here pictured Cain with fear fixed forever on his brow, leading his unhappy band through a wilderness, that dark and mysterious “land of Nod” wherein the Bible tells us that he dwelled.”
The Bible and its Story, Volume 1: The Law, Genesis to Leviticus Bewer, Julius; Horne, Charles
In Matthew 17, an amazing thing happens. Centuries ago four men head up to a high mountain where they came upon a situation that brought about wonder, deep reverence, and distress. While three of them were among themselves, the fourth one transformed into a being of a glorified appearance. Specifically, the man’s face emitted an intense shine like the sun. The man’s clothing became white as light. That man was Jesus the Messiah, the son of the Most High God.
Thereafter, two additional men who were once dead from thousands of years ago appeared with Jesus. To speak with Him, those men were Moses and Elijah. The two men that were speaking with Jesus as He was transformed into His glorified state. Who had his attention while a bright cloud appeared among them.
It was a cloud that appeared also among Jesus’ apostles as they were concerned about shelter and safety on the mountain where the encounter occurred. It was a cloud from which the Voice of YHWH spoke. The voice with a message to the negligent and reckless, “Listen to Him.” As the living God gave His reason; He was and is well-pleased with Jesus. By infinite wisdom and grace, it was a message to listen. A message from the living God about the man whose face shone like the sun. Listen to Him.
The winnowing fork in Matt 3:11-12 refers to the separation of both the repentant and the unrepentant. In my study today, it occurred to me that the chaff thrown into the unquenchable fire is the unrepentant. The unquenchable fire is not temporary as by baptism, but a “fire” everlasting.
Those who repent and trust in him will receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-21), while the unrepentant will receive the judgment of eternal fire, and even the repentant may undergo purifying fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” -Mt 3:11-12
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