12/03/2022 – “God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools… and He has not been disappointed… If I brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.” Antonio Scalia // Attached – just some of the connecting verses to God’s Word, the “source”.
Gospel of John, Chapter 17 – Jesus prays:
“… I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” Verses 14 & 15.
Matthew 11: 25 – 26 under section – “Rest for the Weary”:
“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.’ “
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Romans Chapter 1: “God’s Wrath Against Mankind”:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful, they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know Gods righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them.”
A question for us:
1 Corinthians , Chapter 5 – Paul to the Corinthians: “Expel the Immoral Brother!”
Excerpt:
“… Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord…” 1 Corinthians 5: 3:-5 (*A)
Up until “Satan”, I am thinking: Whoa, what is up here? But doesn’t that last phrase give us an answer? Does that point also to the unfathomable mystery of Romans 8:28?: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” “All” means exactly that, no less.
*(A) – I’ve mentioned this before but it bears repeating because it is critical in the study of God’s Word:
This I expect is right up there for the most quoted bible verse by “future” Christians, which includes self professed christians within the church: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you…” Matthew 7: 1-2 with a suggested read through the section : “Judging Others”, ending in verse 6.
So how do we reconcile Matthew 7: 1-2 with 1 Corinthians 5: 3-5? I submit that clearly: “We are not to “judge” people outside of the church, “future” Christians. Think about it: If I cannot even take credit for my own faith, the source of my salvation, for it is a gift from God, how can I judge a “future Christian?” Now, are we not to judge a brother or sister within the body of Christ? God forbid, as Paul notes elsewhere in his gospel. A multiple note in Proverbs: “Rebuke a brother (in love) , and he or she will love you.” Is that easy? Of course not, it is extremely difficult. But if we choose the easy route and let it go, we have not shown love for that brother or sister.
Some clues for us: Please read 2 Corinthians 2: 6 – 11 & 1 Corinthians 11: 29 – 32
And, provide more connecting verses for us!; God’s Word is infallible so let scripture testify to scripture! (See 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17)
Soli Deo Gloria!
Love,
Your brother in Christ,
Jimmy