Luke 18 - Connections

As I read this chapter I wonder if there are connections between the widow and the blind man...they were both persistent. V5, 38,39

Likewise the Publican and the blind man, they both approached Jesus for mercy. Perhaps the Publican had a wider understand of the theology of salvation as he expressed very clearly his own sin.

Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

There is another John Bunyan book just on these verses:
A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
John Bunyan 1635

There are a couple of verses in todays Job 33 reading that sound very much like way the Publican is described.

Job 33:26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
Job 33:27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
Job 33:28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

I wrote about the Cost of Discipleship a few days ago.

But is there any connection between the rich man who would have followed Jesus and again the blind man who did follow after him.

Or is the rich man just another one of these:

Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Or one of these:

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

There may be shades of that trust in themselves, but from the context it’s not apparent...although he was still looking for something he himself could do to gain eternal life.

Luke 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

It seems clear that Jesus implies even for the rich this is virtually impossible and if the can not buy or work their way into Heaven how could anyone.

Lucky for us he closed this out with:

Luke 18:27  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

John Bunyan - Have we heard the call?

There is a very good call to read Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. I recall that the years of my own recent epoch of faith(<10 years ago) began when three of us read and studied this book together as the first reading in our Thursday reading group.

MARCH 1, 2018
How to think like John Bunyan
by Austin Duncan

Do we count the cost.....

Mike Ratliff raises this very uncomfortable topic and it does open our hearts to some challenges.....

Btw.. Reading it in the Original doesnt make it any easier.

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

But the use of the word “perfect” does give a clue....
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Reposting from.....

Paying the cost of discipleship
Posted on February 25, 2018 by Mike Ratliff by Mike Ratliff

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21 (NKJV)

The message of salvation that is normally preached or taught in the vast majority of churches these days has been contaminated with Humanism. The focus is on becoming a Christian for some great benefit or reward from God. Tragically, masses of people respond to that false gospel as well. The genuine gospel that our Saviour preached during His earthly ministry may have mentioned the benefits of being saved, but He emphasized the cost of becoming His disciple in such a way that it caused many of His hearers to not follow Him anymore, which was His intent. In fact, whenever He saw that the people were flocking to Him to have their felt needs met, He would speak a message to them that expressed that those who are His disciples are the ones who have counted the cost and seen that the eternal is all that truly matters.
Read more...

There are so many things to learn about this. And different degrees. Just check out the number of times Jesus healed someone and sent them back home to their own people....there is much more that could be said.

And note that in Matt 19:21 and all the other gospel accounts, Jesus was specifically speaking to this individual man. Though in the follow on context, Jesus assures his selected disciples that their own following him will not be in vain.

There is another passage about a lawyer who came to Jesus to test him, who certainly more directly wanted to justify himself, and like the Richman who can’t buy his way into heaven even with his own “giving all” payment, this lawyer found his definition of loving his neighbor was faulty.

Luk 10:25  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 10:26  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luk 10:29  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Luke 10:37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Jesus is constantly getting to the heart matters.

BTW Acts 2 seems to present a more universal call to giving away our goods. But note how John Gill, gives the context and the greater body of teaching that we actually find in the NT.

Acts 2:45 Gill
And sold their possessions and goods..... Their houses and lands, their fields and vineyards, their goods, moveable or immoveable:

and parted them to all men; that were of their society, not to others:

as every man had need: the rich sold their estates, and divided them among the poor, or gave them such a portion thereof as their present exigencies required. This was done by Jews, and by Jews only; who, when they embraced the Gospel of Christ, were informed that the destruction of their city, and nation, was at hand; and therefore they sold their estates before hand, and put them to this use; which was necessary to be done, both for the support of the Gospel in Judea, and for the carrying and spreading of it among the Gentiles: but is not to be drawn into a precedent, or an example in after times; nor is ever any such thing proposed to the Christian churches, or exhorted to by any of the apostles.

We are called though to answer the call of God when we hear it.
Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

But Mike’s text is a call to examine ourselves. And as he correctly noted in to the comment above this is also God’s work that lets us do that.

In 1688 John Bunyan wrote a little book about the deception of false profession.

The Barren Fig Tree,
or, The doom and downfall of the fruitless professor

And the words of interpretation Jesus gave about the first three soils ring as a warning of what could be called a false profession.

Mat 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Btw if you have ever had any larger sized garden you will know that the soil doesn’t just make itself good.

It’s sad about the percentages even in the church, but it’s nothing new and doesn’t take away from the joy..

Luke 15:7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

John Gill writes that these are the 99....”the Scribes and Pharisees, that murmured at Christ's receiving sinners, are the ninety and nine just persons, who were only outwardly righteous before men, and trusted in themselves that they were righteous, perfectly righteous, and without sin, and so stood in no need of repentance for it”

This is always a risk, if we fake it.

Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

One last though, since I updated this on 2/27, Mike has another good post at:
Our good works done in the Spirit do not earn our salvation, but prove its authenticity
Posted on February 26, 2018 by Mike Ratliff

Mark 15 - Save thou self!

I've been spending some time on the doctrine of election and a new one to me Final Justification by Works.

The initial question is can we actually save ourselves. Often phrased that we are saved by Grace, through Faith alone, through Christ alone...essentials of the 5 Solas of the reformed faith.....but that's only 99% of the process, we must though our own will provide the other 1%, our accepting God's gift of His election and call.

The second part...is our final salvation and entry into heaven actually based on our works....presummed to be added to our initial faith. In our post-reformation culture today this is actively debated. You can read a portion of the debate here: Trinity Foundation

Through faith alone we appropriate Christ and his righteousness, which is why the Larger Catechism provides the following answer to question 73: “How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?”

Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it (Gal. 3:11; Rom. 3:28), nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification (Rom. 4:5; Rom 10:10); but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness (John 1:12; Phil 3:9; Gal 2:16).

John Bunyan wrote a whole book on those who make a false profession, and decieve themselves and others: The Barren Fig Tree, or, The doom and downfall of the fruitless professor.

Further on the faith doctrine we read:

J. G. Vos On Good Works And Salvation In Westminster Larger Catechism 32

6. What condition is attached to the covenant of grace?
The condition attached to the covenant of grace is faith in Jesus Christ.

13. Why Should a Christian want to obey the law of God as an evidence of the truth of his faith and thankfulness to God.
A Christian should want to obey the law of God as an evidence of the truth of his faith and thankfulness to God.

14. What other reason is there why a Christian should want to obey the law of God?
A Christian should want to obey because that is “the way which God hath appointed to salvation.” This does not mean that obeying God’s law is any part of the ground of our salvation, but that being saved from sin unto righteousness, obedience to the law is the way that God has appointed for a saved person to walk in, and the person who is saved will want to forsake sin and follow righteousness more and more.

J. G. VOS, Commentary on the Westminster Larger Catechism, Larger Catechism 32.

So what does this have to do with Mark 15. It just strikes me that even Jesus as the Son of God did not take up the challenge to save himself, so how can we expect credit for doing so?

Can we save ourselves...I don't think so, but if we do hear the call and the Spirit opens our hearts to our salvation, as we read we should want to walk in that grace, both believing in faith and doing as instructed, but neither of these are what saved us. I know it is a subtile distinction....is it faith because we will it, or are we given even this by grace, the ability to have faith. If that be the case then that truly is an amazing grace.

Text.

Mar 15:30  Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

Gill writes on this in Matthew 27:40

And saying, thou that destroyest the temple,.... The Vulgate Latin, and Munster's Hebrew Gospel, read, "the temple of God"; and add "ah!" here, as in Mar 15:29, and so Beza says it is read in a certain copy. They refer to the charge of the false witnesses against him, who misrepresenting his words in Joh 2:19, declared that he gave out that he was able to destroy the temple of Jerusalem, and rebuild it in three days time; wherefore it is added,

and buildest it in three days, save thyself. They reproach him with it, and suggest, that these were vain and empty boasts of his; for if he was able to do any thing of that kind, he need not hang upon the tree, but could easily save himself:

if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. The Jews themselves say (a) that the following words were said to Jesus on the cross,

"if thou be the Son of God, why dost thou not deliver thyself out of our hands?

As Satan before them, they put an "if" upon the sonship of Christ: and seeing his followers believed in him as the Son of God, and he had owned himself to be so before the sanhedrim, they require a sign of it by his power, and to do that which they believed no mere man in his situation could do; which shows, that they had no other notion of the Son of God, but that he was a divine person: but his sonship was not to be declared by his coming down from the cross, which he could have easily effected, but by a much greater instance of power, even by his resurrection from the dead; and no other but that sign was to be given to that wicked and perverse generation,

(a) Toldos Jesu, p. 17.

Further recall...

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Plus Gill clarifies a verse from Paul.

1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 Timothy 4:16

Take heed unto thyself,.... Not as a man, or a Christian only, but as a minister; and as every minister should take heed to his life and conversation, that it be exemplary, as in 1Ti 4:12 to his gifts, that they be not lost, or neglected, but used and improved; to the errors and heresies abroad, that he be not infected with them; and to his flock, which is the other part of himself, that he feed it with knowledge and understanding: and to thy doctrine: preached by him, that it be according to the Scriptures, be the doctrine of Christ, and his apostles, and according to godliness; that it tend to edification, and is pure, incorrupt, and all of a piece; and that it be expressed in the best manner, with all boldness and plainness; and that he defend it against all opposition:

continue in them; or "with them"; the members of the church at Ephesus; or rather in the doctrines of the Gospel; which should be done, though a majority is against them; though rejected by the wise, learned, and rich; though not to be comprehended by carnal reason; and though loaded with reproach and scandal; and though persecuted, yea even unto death for them:

for in doing this, thou shall both save thyself; a minister by taking heed to himself, and doctrine, saves himself from the pollutions of the world, from the errors and heresies of false teachers, from the blood of all men, and from all just blame in his ministry.

And them that hear thee; by being an example to them in doctrine and conversation, a minister is the means of saving and preserving those that attend on him, from erroneous principles, and immoral practices; and by faithfully preaching the Gospel to his hearers, he is instrumental in their eternal salvation; for though Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, the only efficient and procuring cause of salvation, yet the ministers of the Gospel are instruments by which souls believe in him, and so are saved; the word preached by them, being attended with the Spirit of God, becomes the ingrafted word, which is able to save, and is the power of God unto salvation; and nothing can more animate and engage the ministers of the word to take heed to themselves and doctrine, and abide therein, than this, of being the happy instruments of converting sinners, and saving them from death; see Jas 5:20.

The Journey - Walking The Way of the Pilgrim's

Over the next couple weeks, I will be posting and reposting to this blog about my daughter's and my visit to Spain and our time walking parts of a couple favorite Pilgrim Paths throughout the country.

The Camino de Santiago (Latin: Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; Galician: O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as The Way of Saint James among other names. (Wiki)

This will encompass short write-ups of each day, and links to some of the route maps and tracks which we walked. I will post other links to useful materials and a few of our 1,600 pictures taken along The Way.

There are many websites giving advice and infromation and my intent is not to compete with these but just to let those who read this glimpse a bit of our experience....perhaps being useful for your own planning of a future walk.

As a point of reference, let me say that my own personal pilgrimage, began about 10 years ago when two good friends and I started a reading group and began our journey with the old book collecting dust on my shelf for some 30 years, Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. It's not a perfect analogy, but there are aspects of the lead character, Christian’s, experience that were similair to ours, like meeting various people on the way offering advice....some good and some not so good. As you read look for examples of some of these.

Mark 12 - A Scribe who got it!

In this short reading we see both commandments brought to light. What's amazing is that Jesus seems to commend this scribe for his understand of the truth. Note how the scribe repeats what he heard Jesus say affirming his correct answer, in his own words. And unlike the lawyer in the other gospels does not attempt to go on and justify himself.....where he ended up being condemned.

The Great Commandment

Mar 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth:

for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Mar 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Old John Gill comments on what Jesus means in saying he's not far from the kingdom. Not the warning Gill implys about the risk of being almost there.....

he said unto him, thou art not far from the kingdom of God:

not meaning from heaven, and eternal happiness; for right and distinct notions of the above commandments, and even the performance of the in by a sinful and imperfect creature, can neither give a man a title to, or bring him near, or introduce him into the heavenly glory, which is a pure gift of God's grace;

but our Lord's sense is, that he was not far off from the Gospel dispensation, and was in a fair way of entering into it; his sentiments were very near to such, who became followers of Christ, and embraced the doctrines, and submitted to the ordinances of the Gospel state: since he preferred those things, which related to the knowledge of the being and perfections of God, to the love and worship of God, and to the good of his neighbour; before the ceremonies of the law; which were quickly to be abolished, and make way for the setting up of the kingdom of God, or of the Messiah, in a more glorious and visible manner.

Indeed there are some persons, who seem not far off from the kingdom of God, in the other sense of the phrase, as it may respect eternal glory and happiness, who will never enter into it: there are some that seem very devout and religions; hear the word, attend on all ordinances, join themselves with a church, submit to baptism, and sit down at the Lord's table, and live a moral life and conversation, and yet are destitute of the grace of God: yea, there are some who have clear notions of the Gospel, and make a bright profession of it, and yet have no experience of the power of it upon their hearts, and have not the oil of grace there: and even hold this profession to the end, and yet come short of the kingdom and glory of our Lord Jesus: such are almost Christians, but not altogether; virgins, but foolish ones; have lamps, but no oil; come as far as the door, but that is shut upon them.

Our reading group once read a book about this by Matthew Mead.

http://www.apuritansmind.com/wp-content/uploads/FREEEBOOKS/TheAlmostChristianDiscovered-MatthewMead.pdf

John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress reports a similair occurance with one professor being turned away right at the gates of heaven. This is a sad truth.

A Brief Sidetrack on the Discernment Path

I read a blog post today that I thought was useful. It might be hard to internalize if you don't see things this way. I've added a few of my own thoughts. You can read the article at this link.

I don't think I will convert anyone, but if you read this it might spur some thought.

https://mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/discernment-is-vital-but-it-only-comes-to-those-who-are-mature-in-christ/

The opening paragraph in the linked articles above is

In 1887, Robert Shindler, a fellow pastor and close friend of Charles Spurgeon, wrote in Spurgeon’s publication, The Sword and the Trowel: “It is all too plainly apparent men are willing to forego the old for the sake of the new. But commonly it is found in theology that that which is true is not new, and that which is new is not true.” 

If we think deeply and honestly on those searing words with all humility and willingness to repent of what God shows us about ourselves, I am certain that each of us must repent of falling for the fallacy of seeking that which is new or different in our theology. If we are honestly seeking the will of God that is both good and right, but if we are looking to have itching ears tickled or are pursuing the subjective or experiential as the means of fulfillment then all we are really doing is falling for some lie and are revealing that we are indeed just infants in the Lord who are being tossed by waves and carried around by every wind of doctrine by the cunning of men with craftiness leading to the scheming of deception. I doubt if any one reading this really wants that. 

I have had my own times in the past where I have strayed down various false paths, much reminiscent of Christian's journey in Pilgrim's Progress an old work by John Bunyan, which used to be read and understood in our schools. My own journey took me into a few of the secular ways, into Richard Foster revelations of our contemplative nature, a brush with some New Age visualization or Law of Attraction material, and more recently some of the modern mega-Pastor books and writings.....Warren, Keller, Piper...and others popularized by "Chrisitan" publishers. Luckily I missed much of the error in the emergent church, NAR, and other ways to stray. I can also say that from the beginning of my walk in faith, mile makers of actually being in the Bible text consistently were along my path. I can reflect back to the early 70's to my first in depth reading of the Gospel of John, and even some early attempts at verse memorization.

In my observation there is no lack of attraction being offered along the way to draw us off the path of biblical faith. As the quote speaks clearly....there is always something new.....and if it can be sold as something old then all the better. It is true that discernment is difficult and even those who are off the path will go out of their way to rationalize their position from either the Bible or some historical figure of faith or tradition or all three. It is very difficult to figure out you are on the wrong path, even more so if your support group or spiritual guide or director is encouraging you just the opposite. 

I've found that both sides want to lay claim on having the Bible support their position. It's good to be Berean's, but hard to do so in reality.

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

As for the author's title, I might add that it is good to be mature but it is not to be taken as a gnostic idea that somehow one has a higher knowledge....that in itself if a major false path. the Biblle speaks about maturity this way.

Luk 10:21  In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Rom 2:20  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

And the old Westminster Confession speaks about how the basics/essentials of faith can be readily understood. From Chapter 1:

7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.

You can look those up in context.

Perhaps if I have any insight the following may be helpful.

1) Even false teachers will often teach something which is true. Just look at the example of Satan in the garden.

2) Read your Bible....Read all of it.....over and over. Learn the historical confessions and catechisms.

3) Read verses in Context. Read texts before and after your text. Look to all 66 books of the Bible for support or interpretation of the broader context.

4) Pray

5) Get a KJV copy of the Bible and read it.

6) Read the old Protestant teachers....I use John Gill and Matthew Henry for commentary, I avoid most modern books and try to read older works by men like Wylie, Ryle, Spurgeon. I try to avoid those connected with the historic Roman Catholic Church. Or those promoted in the new mystical revivals. But be aware that everyone has the potential to speak to false paths.

7) It can be useful to avoid the popular or maybe more likely, the advertising hyped use to promote ideas today. If you read enough in the Bible you can begin to see that the truth will not always sell or be popular or avoid persecution. Just remember though false teachers will also often say they are the ones persecuted.

8) Try to be nice....and try to not give up.

BTW in the Old KJV the author's passage reads:

Eph 4:11  ♥️  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Focus on Prayer

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I spent the morning following up on a note someone from our WCF study class send out on prayer and particularly the Lord's Prayer. As I note below our evening small group will be in Like 18 tonight so this is timely.

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

I'm looking forward to that discussion.

Anyway the passage I received and the way it was posted led to my trying again to present some perhaps useful insight. But don't lose the focus on Prayer. That is the primary thought.

One added thought, as you read about the discussion over verse Matthew 6:13, remember Jesus was once presented with another alternative:

Mat 4:8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Mat 4:9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Wow 24 hour schedule that is old school medicine! Not much free time there!

Sorry, I put too much info into this note back. Hope some is useful.

Read the whole memo through down to the John Gill comment at the bottom, then come back and work through the links I put below. It may take a while to work through. Let me know any questions you have, or if my points are useful.

Btw this does point out why I use the KJV. It took me into my 60's to come to this realization. I wrote about it a little last week. 

Monday, February 20, 2017

Reading the KJV - A useful discussion...

You can read about this further here: http://brandplucked.webs.com/matthew613.htm

One of the most notable differences between the Catholic bible versions and the Protestant Reformation Bibles has been the ending of what is commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer.  If the Bible critics and "No Bible is the inerrant words of God" crowd can get rid of these words from the Holy Scriptures by means of their so called "science" of Textual Criticism, then no verse or reading is safe and sure. 

These last words: "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen" are found in the vast Majority of all Greek texts, as well as in four copies of the Old Latin (k, f, g, and q), which point to a Bible text that predates anything we have in the Greek copies. All these words are also found in the ancient Syriac Peshitta, Harclean, Curetonian, and Palestinian, as well as the Coptic Boharic and Sahidic, the Georgian, Armenian, Gothic, Slavonian, and Ethiopian ancient versions.

In fact, of over 1000 Greek manuscripts that contain this section of Matthew's gospel, these words are found in all but 10 manuscripts. Dean Burgon mentions emphatically the 100 to one ratio in favor of the King James reading. At the bottom of this article you will find listed the manuscript evidence for this God inspired reading.

Thanks for the note. Another good verse is:

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Something I know I need to work on.

Our small group is reading this chapter 18 tonight.

I has one of my favorites.

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other menare, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

In Matthew we read...

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

John Bunyan wrote a book about that found here:

A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican

Might be best to start with Pilgrim's Progress though if you have never read it.

The Pilgrim's Progress - Part One

John Bunyan

50

Written during a brief re-imprisonment in 1675.

1678

I've read several of his little books.

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

In class on Sunday we covered,  chapter 11 of our book.

Of Saving Faith

Of Repentance unto Life

The discussion there comes out of the above scriptures...it's not our works or deeds that save us, it's when God gives us faith, and in the power of that faith God reorients us into repentance and belief, knowledgeable of our sin.

Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Btw. The passage you quoted, the KJV actual gets it right...the NIV ends here at verse 13 w/o including the final words...For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen.

¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

See John Gill comment on the whole verse below and note especially the commentary on this last phrase. Gill can seem hard to read, just pause at the ;'s & :’s he doesn't use many ".'s". He wrote this in the late 1740’s...almost 300 years ago.

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation,.... Such a petition as this is often to be observed in the prayers of the Jews (a),

אל תביאני, "do not lead me" neither into sin, nor into transgression and iniquity, ולא לידי נסיון, "nor into temptation", or "into the hands of temptation";''

that is, into the power of it, so as to be overcome by it, and sink under it; in which sense the phrase is to be understood here. We are not here taught to pray against temptations at all, or in any sense, for they are sometimes needful and useful; but that they may not have the power over us, and destroy us. There are various sorts of temptations. There are the temptations of God; who may be said to tempt, not by infusing anything that is sinful, or by soliciting to it; but by enjoining things hard and disagreeable to nature, as in the case of Abraham; by afflicting, either in body or estate, of which Job is an instance; by permitting and letting loose the reins to Satan, and a man's own corruptions; by withdrawing his presence, and withholding the communications of his grace; and sometimes by suffering false prophets to arise among his people: his ends in them are on his own account, the display of his power; grace, wisdom, and faithfulness; on account of his Son, that his saints might be like him, and he might have an opportunity of exercising his power and pity: and on his people's account, that they might be humbled; their faith and patience tried; might see their weakness, and need of Christ, and be excited to prayer and watchfulness. There are also the temptations of Satan; which lie in soliciting to evil, suggesting hard and blasphemous thoughts of God, and filling with doubts and fears; which are cunningly formed by him, and are very afflictive. There are moreover the temptations of the world, which arise from poverty and riches, from the men of the world, the lusts of it, and from both its frowns and flatteries: add to all this, that there are temptations arising from a man's own heart. Now, in this petition, the children of God pray, that they may be kept from every occasion and object of sinning; from those sins they are most inclined to; that God would not leave them to Satan, and their own corrupt hearts; nor suffer them to sink under the weight of temptations of any sort; but that, in the issue, they might have a way to escape, and be victorious over all.

But deliver us from evil. This petition, with the Jews, is in this (b) form:

"er egpm ynlyutw, "but deliver me from an evil accident", and diseases; and do not trouble me with evil dreams, and evil imaginations.''

R. Juda, after his prayer, or at the close of it, as is this petition, used (c) to say;

"let it be thy good pleasure, 0 Lord our God, and the God of our fathers, שתצילנו, "that thou wouldst deliver us" from impudent men, and impudence; from an "evil" man, and from an "evil" accident; from the "evil" imagination, i.e. the corruption of nature; from an "evil" companion; from an "evil" neighbour; and from Satan the destroyer; and from hard judgment; and from an hard adversary, whether he is the son of the covenant, or is not the son of the covenant.''

And most, if not all of these things, may be very well thought to be comprised in the word "evil" here: particularly Satan may be meant, by "evil", or "the evil one", as the word may be rendered; who is eminently, originally, and immutably evil; his whole work and employment is nothing else but evil: and to be delivered from him, is to be rescued out of his hands, preserved from his snares, and delivered from his temptations. Evil men may also be intended: all men are naturally evil, and unalterably so, without the grace of God; and some are notoriously wicked; from whose company, sinful lusts, and pleasures, to which they are addicted, as well as from their rage and persecution, good men cannot but desire deliverance; as also from the evil of afflictions, and especially from the evil of sin; as that they may be kept from the commission of it; have the guilt of it removed; be preserved from its power and dominion; and, at last, be freed from the very being of it.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen. This conclusion is left out in the Arabic and Vulgate Latin versions, as it is in Luk 11:4. It stands thus in the Jewish prayers (d),

כי המלכות שלך היא, "for the kingdom is thine", and thou shalt reign in glory for ever and ever.''

The usual response at the close of prayers, and reading the Shema, instead of "Amen", was (e) this:

"Blessed be the name of the glory of his kingdom, for ever and ever.''

Which bears some resemblance to this concluding expression, which ascribes everlasting kingdom, power, and glory, to God: which may be considered either as a doxology, or an ascription of glory to God, which is his due; and ought be given him in all our prayers to him; or as so many reasons strengthening our faith in prayer; or as many arguments with God, with respect to the petitions made; since the kingdom of nature, providence, grace, and glory, is his: 

he is omnipotent, he has power to give us our daily bread; to forgive our sins; to preserve from, support under, and deliver out of temptation; to keep from all evil, and preserve from a total and final falling away: whose glory is concerned in all, to whom the glory of all is, and to whom it must, and shall be given; and all this for ever: 

and the whole is concluded with the word "Amen"; which is a note of asseveration, of the truth herein contained; is added by way of assent to every petition made; is expressive of an hearty wish, and desire to have all fulfilled; and also of faith and confidence, that they will be answered. 

And this word being retained, and kept the same in all languages, signifies the unity of the spirit, and faith in prayer, in all the saints, in all ages. 

I leave this prayer with one observation, and that is, whereas it has been so long, and so often said, that this is the Lord's prayer, it can never be proved that he ever made use of it; and it is certain that he did not make it, as appears from what has been cited out of the Jewish records: the several petitions in it were in being and use before he directed to them; and not only the petitions, but even the very preface and conclusion, are manifestly of Jewish original: 

what our Lord did was, he took the most proper and pertinent petitions, that had been used by good men among that people; which, with some alterations much for the better, he put together in this order, and gave his approbation of; and that with this view, to point out to his disciples some of the best and most suitable petitions to be made; and to give them a pattern of brevity and conciseness in prayer; and teach them to pray after such a manner, or in some such like words and expressions. 

This I observe, not to lessen the usefulness of this excellent pattern of sound words; the whole, and every part of it, being exceedingly instructive, and worthy of imitation; but to rectify a vulgar mistake, and to abate the formal and superstitious observance of it.

(a) Seder Tephillot, fol. 3. 1. Ed. Basil. fol. 4. 2. Ed. Amstelod. Shaare Zion, fol. 73. 1. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 60. 2. (b) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 60. 2. (c) Ib. fol. 16. 2. (d) Seder Tephillot, fol. 280. 1. Ed. Basil. (e) Misn. Yoma, c. 4. sect. 1. & 6. 2. T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 56. 1. & Taanith, fol. 16. 2. Seder Tephillot, fol. 70. 2. Ed. Basil.

Acts 17 - Echo of Repentance

Our three person men's breakfast Bible study looked up all the verses in the Bible referring to repentance, a fee months ago. Good study.

But here we get a reconfirmation of this echo.

Act 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Act 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by thatman whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

You can find that Greek word used here:

G3340

μετανοέω

metanoeō

Total KJV Occurrences: 34

repent, 21

Mat 3:2 (2), Mat 4:17, Mar 1:15, Mar 6:12, Luk 13:3, Luk 13:5, Luk 16:30, Luk 17:3-4 (2), Act 2:38, Act 3:19, Act 8:22, Act 17:30, Act 26:20, Rev 2:5 (2), Rev 2:16, Rev 2:21-22 (2), Rev 3:3, Rev 3:19

repented, 11

Mat 11:19-21 (3), Mat 12:41, Luk 10:13, Luk 11:32, 2Co 12:21, Rev 2:21, Rev 9:20-21 (2), Rev 16:9, Rev 16:11

repenteth, 2

Luk 15:7, Luk 15:10

Peter like Paul says it this way..

Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

I think what is said in these verses is really the answer to a question that was raised at the end of a blog post I just read. There is a bit of an edge to the article, but the author makes a point, old John Bunyan wrote a whole book about do called "professors" of the faith, but this still applies today.

Checkout...these but do use caution, remember everyone has agendas.

Another verse from today's chapter.

Act 17:10  And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Act 17:12  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

The Self-Deceived Conference “Christian”

http://pulpitandpen.org/2017/02/23/the-self-deceived-conference-christian/

BY  BUD AHLHEIM · FEBRUARY 23, 2017

Btw these guys touch on some other timely issues like:

THE PEN

FEBRUARY 23, 2017

On The Gospel Coalition’s “Wretched Infatuation” With Culture

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

The Serpent’s Whisper: Why I Don’t See “Christian” Movies

A word about Blogs particularly for or by women....

Blogs particularly for or by women.

I’ve been wanting to write this up for some time. The more I review the many blogs that are out on the Internet the more I have run across a few women who are attempting to share a bit about women's roles and Christian life. I thought it might be good to at least capture in one place some of the resources that I’ve come across. Perhaps some women will find some of these useful.

So here are the blogs....

http://equippingeve.com/

One of the blogs by a young woman Erin Benziger who is trying to live out a faithful witness to women in the protestant churches. This one is specifically for women. Read her About section on the Blog, about the Blog, her background and her statement of faith. I could not determine if Erin is married or single she posts little about her personal life.

She also has radio posts on No Compromise Radio is a Ministry of Bethlehem Bible Church in West Boylston, MA Under the direction and supervision of Pastor Mike Abendroth

Since these are directed specifically at women, I don’t follow them.

http://www.donotbesurprised.com/

This is the second blog that Erin has. And I do follow this one. She often makes comments about many of the things going on in the public sphere of the visible church. Usually posting every Friday, and update she calls…. This ‘n’ That. I think it is fine for both men and women to read these. During the week she may make a post on a particular issue. And she tries to share a Hymn of Praise on Sunday.

https://the-end-time.blogspot.com/

I can’t really say I like the name of this blog, The blogger another woman, Elizabeth Prata follows the doctrinal positions of John MacArthur’s Grace to You website. The blog name reflects that we are in the end times….which are all the days after Jesus’ resurrection, don’t be frightened by the name it is not a prophecy blog…but it does discuss a lot of current visible church issues…and often fairly directly. She is also a photographer. Lives in Georgia but is not married.

http://christianresearchnetwork.org/

This is a major discernment research site. They cover lots of issues in the visible church and today’s culture. Several women contribute to the site. The team is headed by a woman.
General Editor

  Marsha West, Berean Research

Contributing Writers

  John Beardsley, The Beardsley Ministry

  Sarah H. Leslie, Herescope

  Daniel Neades, Better Than Sacrifice

  Christine Pack, Sola Sisters

  Mike Ratliff, Possessing the Treasure

  Amy Spreeman, Berean Research

  Marsha West, Berean Research

https://headstickdeb.com/

This one is clearly for women only. She indicates that she is physically disabled and over 60. Since I don’t read it you can judge this one for yourselfs. She does affirm Romand 1:16 and speaks of being The Outspoken TULIP.

https://onehiredlateintheday.wordpress.com/

Her name is Jennifer and says a married mother of two teenagers.  Her primary ministry is my marriage and children. She too follows MacArthur so they must be allowing women to blog regularly. She writes: “This blog will be comprised of theological essays.  I hope ladies find the posts encouraging, edifying, and good food for thought. Soli Deo Gloria!”

This is a pretty new blog only since September 2016. Mostly on theological issues.

http://growing4life.net/

http://growing4life.net/learn-discern-introduction/
This is Leslie and she puts her whole family into her blog, which is actually named Growing4Life!
I found her looking into bloggers who were teaching on how to discern think in our visible church and culture. They run a landscaping business. Her brother is a Pastor and she uses his church’s doctrinal statement.

One final note: Many of these bloggers will have links to other Christian blogs, as I mention often, always use Biblical discernment when viewing and reading any of these or their links. Even the best of teachers will perhaps stray off the narrow path. Just recall John Bunyan’s Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress, and be assured that our God will never allow any of his sheep to stay lost.

Joh 6:39  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.