A Few Thoughts on Eliezer of Damascus

Genesis 24:1-4 NET Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything. Abraham said to his servant, the senior one in his household who was in charge of everything he had, "Put your hand under my thigh so that I may make you solemnly promise by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth: You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living. You must go instead to my country and to my relatives to find a wife for my son Isaac."

Eliezer was the CEO of everything Abraham owned. He was the chief servant, for Abraham was very, very rich. (See this article and Genesis 13:1-2 NET So Abram went up from Egypt into the Negev. He took his wife and all his possessions with him, as well as Lot. (Now Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold.)

Abraham sent Eliezer on a mission, a very important mission. A mission to find a wife for his son, Isaac. Arranged marriages were the norm in those days for both family and financial reasons. Note however, that Rebekah had a choice in the matter: Genesis 24:57-58 NET Then they said, "We'll call the girl and find out what she wants to do." So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you want to go with this man?" She replied, "I want to go."

We learn from this

• Delegation. Abraham did not do this himself
• Trust in Eliezer to accomplish the mission
• Importance of knowing the people around you, for Eliezer had to have proven, godly character traits
• Knowledge of what was needed, because Abraham gave specific instructions
• Ultimate trust of Abraham in Yahweh to guide Eliezer
• Importance of knowing the societal standards and characteristics of the people whom a potential wife could be found

Genesis 24:5-8 NET The servant asked him, "What if the woman is not willing to come back with me to this land? Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?" "Be careful never to take my son back there!" Abraham told him. "The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my relatives, promised me with a solemn oath, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' He will send his angel before you so that you may find a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to come back with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!"

Eliezer asked some questions of Abraham, namely what to do if she does not agree to come, and could I go to your hometown to search for a wife?

Abraham shows faith to obey God’s instructions concerning where to live. Abraham is in that land.

Abraham trusts God to send divine guidance to Eliezer.

We learn

• It is wise to ask questions to clarify the mission and of alternate possibilities in case the mission cannot be completed as ordered.
• Trust in those under our authority to accomplish what is requested
• Faith in God’s Words. Note, Abraham understood God’s word in the plain, normal sense and determined to obey God. This shows trust and a reasonable faith, for Abraham had many dealings with God.
• A plan how to proceed, if the initial plan does not work
• Trust that God will in some way make the mission successful
• Acknowledgement that humans do have a measure of libertarian free will

Genesis 24:9 NET So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his solemn promise he would carry out his wishes.

The servant takes a vow. We don’t need to take vows today, for Jesus said: Matthew 5:37 NET Let your word be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no.' More than this is from the evil one. Nevertheless, if we are required to take an oath, it must be an honest oath. The difference between an oath and a vow. An oath is a solemn promise that one is telling the truth. A vow is a promise to perform some act.

We learn

• Sometimes a situation is very formal, and we give our promise with a vow.
  • An oath, a formal, legal affirmation of telling the truth: Hebrews 7:19-21 WEL For the law made nothing perfect, but bringing in a better hope [did], by which we draw near to God. 20 And none of this happened without an oath, 21 For indeed, they were made priests without an oath, but this one with an oath by him who said to him, "The Lord swore and will not repent, 'You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.'"
  • A vow, a formal, legal affirmation to keep a promise: Matthew 5:33 WEL 33 "Again you have heard it said by those in the past, 'you must not make a solemn promise but must keep your promise to the Lord concerning your vows.'
• A godly servant will keep faith and perform what was required. Hebrews 3:14 NLT For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Genesis 24:12-15 NKJV Then he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. "Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. "Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink'--let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master." And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.

The servant prays for wisdom. Here, he asks for a sign. Remember this is descriptive, not prescriptive. It is what he did. We are not to seek signs.

• 1 Corinthians 1:22-23 WEL For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, 23 But we preach Christ crucified. To the Jews [this is] a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness
• Mark 8:12 NLT When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign."

The test for her comes Rebekah. The servant sticks to his plan and watches.

We learn

• To pray for wisdom: James 1:5 WEL If any of you lack wisdom, then ask the God, who gives to all profusely and doesn't scold, and it will be given to him.
• Let us not be foolish: Proverbs 10:21 NET The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.

Genesis 24:16-21 NKJV Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher." So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

The servant observes closely.

John Trapp in his commentary writes on verse 21: Wondering at her.] At her courtesy; but more at God’s good providence, and so sweet a return of his prayers. The Greek hath it, He considered her, and held his peace.

We learn to observe and wait for God’s will to be done. Sometimes the answer comes quickly and sometimes later, but it will come.

Genesis 24:26-28 NKJV Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD. And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren." So the young woman ran and told her mother's household these things.

The servant is thankful and worships Yahweh.

We learn to do the same.

Genesis 24:55-56 NKJV But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go." And he said to them, "Do not hinder me, since the LORD has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master."

The servant is successful and wants to hasten home to his master as he has been told.

The servant also wants to follow Abraham’s wishes so does not decide to enjoy himself with a few days of feasting.

We learn to complete our promise.

Genesis 24:57-58 NKJV So they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her personally." Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."

Rebekah confirms her will to go and fulfill God’s wishes.

We learn to agree with God’s will. Note, it must not be an experience we trust in but evidence. The evidence was in what Eliezer said and in the riches of his gifts.

Genesis 24:66 NKJV And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

The servant gives his report of all that happened.

We learn to give an accounting.

In summary,

• The servant was sent on a mission.
• The servant clarifies what his master wants.
• The servant gave his word, his promise.
• The servant prays for wisdom.
• The servant tests what is happening to see if it fulfills the facts.
• The servant observed and waited for all to happen.
• The servant is thankful.
• The servant worships.
• The servant tells the truth.
• The servant does not keep the riches for himself.
• The servant hastes to complete his mission.
• The servant gives his report. He gives an accounting of how he fulfilled the mission.

We are servants of God.

Let us in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds be good servants of Jesus Christ.

Mother's Day Message 2019

John 19:25-27 CSB Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The Lord Jesus was in His early 30’s. His mother, Mary, was at my guess, was 45 years old, probably older.

We note Jesus’s concern

For His mother

Her physical well-being

Her financial well-being

Her emotional well-being

John was the only one to write about this.

John was asked by the Lord Jesus to take care of His mother.

Opinions

B1 Short term care of Mary as taught by Bob Deffinbaugh (Also see at the bottom of the article).

C1 Families are Scripturally required to provide for their widows: 1 Timothy 5:3-4 NLT Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

C2 Mary’s other children did not believe that Jesus is Messiah. Mary did believe.

C3 Later it is said that His brothers were present among the believers: Acts 1:14 NLT They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

C4 Since the brothers were not believers, it would have been uncomfortable for Mary to be provided for by the unbelieving children. As Bob Deffinbaugh states it: We do not know for certain that Mary’s other sons were present in Jerusalem (though we would expect so—see John 7:1-9), but if they were, can you imagine what kind of comfort these unbelieving sons would have been to their believing mother?180 I can almost hear James trying to comfort Mary after the death of Jesus: “Mom, you know I told Jesus to give up His insane talk about being the Messiah. He must have been out of His mind. And now, all of this foolishness was for nothing, except to shame us.” I believe that Jesus assigned John to care for Mary because he was the one closest to the heart of our Lord, and because he was the first disciple to believe (see John 20:8). He also seems to have had the means to do so. Who better to look after Mary in the next dark and difficult days than John?

B2 Long term care of Mary

C1 Roman Catholic

D1 Mary had no other children.

D2 Jesus would not be present physically to take care of Mary.

D3 Mary was a widow.

D4 ...He took compassion on His desolate mother, and provided for her future. If St. Joseph had been still alive, or if Mary had been the mother of those who are called Our Lord's brethren or sisters in the gospels, such a provision would not have been necessary. Jesus uses the same respectful title with which he had addressed his mother at the marriage feast in Cana. Then he commits Mary to John as his mother, and wishes Mary to consider John as her son. (Source)

C2 Third Saying of Jesus on the Cross (John 19:25-27) (“Greyfriars Free Church of Scotland by its pastor, Malcolm Maclean”) : But it was not merely a temporary arrangement, for she was to live with John for the rest of her life. One tradition says that Mary lived for twelve more years under the care of John.

Jesus

C1 Shows

D1 Compassion

D2 Love

D3 Care

D4 Obedience to God

C2 Demonstrates

D1 Delegation

D2 Trust (of John)

D3 Responsibility

D4 The meaning of the 5th commandment: Exodus 20:12 NLT Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

C3 What the Lord Jesus showed and experience was accomplished even while experiencing

D1 Physical pain

D2 Spiritual pain

E1 The weight of sin’s punishment

E2 The Father’s wrath

E3 Feeling forsaken

Others

B1 J. C. Ryle writes (commenting on John 19:26): Finally, we should mark how Jesus honours those who honour and boldly confess Him. To John, who alone of all the eleven stood by the cross, He gives the high privilege of taking charge of His mother. As Henry pleasantly remarks, it is a sign of great confidence, and a mark of great honour, to be made a trustee and a guardian by a great person, for those he leaves behind at his death. To the women Jesus gives the honour of being specially named and recorded for their faithfulness and love, in a Gospel which is read all over the world in 200 languages.

B2 Pulpit commentary: The minuteness and. tenderness of his loving care. While we contemplate this, his last act of filial love, under the circumstances in which it was performed, we are ready to exclaim, "How human! how Divine! how comprehensive! how minute! how God-like! How like the Father of all!" While he governs and sustains the vast universe, he forgets not a single object not even the smallest. He lights the sun and guides the stars, but forgets not the glow-worm nor to smile on the rose and the lily. And so the Divine Son now on the cross, while he made an atonement for sin, satisfied justice, and honored the Law; still, at the very time, his mother is not forgotten.

We learn

B1 The meaning of love towards believers. Let us do the same.

B2 The meaning of love in the family. This includes the physical, human family, as well as, the spiritual family of the church.

B3 The superiority of Christianity over human systems.

B4 To give highest honor and praise to our savior, Jesus Christ.

B5 The need to show grace to our mother as well.

B6 When there is opportunity spend time with your mother, honor her, help her, and pray for her. If your mother has died, as mine has, still honor her. If your mother is evil, then pray for her salvation and still be kind (avoiding her might be the kindest thing to do); perhaps she will repent and place trust in the Lord Jesus. If she was evil and has died, use her as an example of what not to be, not in anger but in concern for others who may have one similar or be similar.

B7 How to do what is right even if we are suffering.

—oOo—

https://bible.org/seriespage/44-crucifixion-john-1917-37 Bob Deffinbaugh

The common Protestant interpretation of this incident is that Jesus, knowing He was about to die and to return to the Father, made arrangements for the long-term care of His mother.179This “long-term” element does raise some questions in my mind. We are told in Scripture that it is the responsibility of the immediate family to look after their own:

3 Honor widows who are truly in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God (1 Timothy 5:3-4).

Why, then, would Jesus assign the responsibility of caring for His mother to John, who is not one of her sons? The answer most would give is that none of her other sons were believers (see John 7:5). This is true, of course, but not for long. We know that within days or weeks, James, Jesus’ half-brother, will come to faith and eventually become a prominent leader in the church at Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:19). Why would Jesus assign the long-term care of Mary to John, knowing that James, her son, will soon come to faith?

I would suggest that our problems are solved if we see Jesus providing here for Mary’s short-term care. Surely we would agree that Jesus knew James was one of the elect. If James is one of our Lord’s “sheep,” then Jesus would know it and would not act in a way that was contrary to this knowledge. I would suggest to you that Jesus was providing for the care of His mother for the next few days or weeks. We know that John immediately began to care for Mary, because he tells us so in verse 27 (“from that very time”—literally, “from that hour”). There are those who believe that John (or his family) may have actually owned a home in Jerusalem. This could explain why John (“the other disciple”) was known to the high priest and to the servant girl at the gate (18:16). Mary, like the disciples, could have been in danger and would certainly need to be looked after for a while. John would have been the one most able and willing to carry out this task.

The next few days were going to be pure agony. We do not know for certain that Mary’s other sons were present in Jerusalem (though we would expect so—see John 7:1-9), but if they were, can you imagine what kind of comfort these unbelieving sons would have been to their believing mother?180 I can almost hear James trying to comfort Mary after the death of Jesus: “Mom, you know I told Jesus to give up His insane talk about being the Messiah. He must have been out of His mind. And now, all of this foolishness was for nothing, except to shame us.” I believe that Jesus assigned John to care for Mary because he was the one closest to the heart of our Lord, and because he was the first disciple to believe (see John 20:8). He also seems to have had the means to do so. Who better to look after Mary in the next dark and difficult days than John?

1 Peter 1:1-2

B1 Greetings to addressees 1 Peter 1:1-2

C1 The letter is written to strangers

D1 The Greek word is παρεπίδημος parepídēmos. It refers to someone who lives in their native country and moves to another country.

D2 It might refer to

E1 Their earthly existence and moving from Israel to the foreign lands that are mentioned here.

E2 Their heavenly home and citizenship compared to their living here on earth. Compare: 1 Peter 2:11 NLT - Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

E3 Both

C2 Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia:

C3 The addressees were of the διασπορά diasporá, scattering. This is most likely from the church:

D1 Acts 8:1 NRSV And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.

D2 Acts 8:4 NKJV Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

D3 James 1:1 NRSV James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

C4 Elect

D1 The Greek word ἐκλεκτός eklektós means chosen.

D2 Elect is the noun for the phrase according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. This is the reason some translations place the word in verse 2 instead of verse 1.

C5 Foreknowledge

D1 The Greek word is πρόγνωσις prógnōsis (G4268) and means

E1 in its plain, normal sense a knowing beforehand (Bullinger’s Critical Greek. Also see Vine’s NT notes and Adam Clarke note on this passage).

E2 in Calvinist understanding pre-arrangement, thus, nearly that same as predestined (Thayer’s Lexicon. God foreknows what will be because He has decreed it—Pink. Source).

D2 Compare

E1 Acts 26:4-5 WEB “Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5 having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. (Emphasis is mine. It is the word προγινώσκω proginōskō (G4267) which is the verb form). There is no hint of predestined. The word simply means know before.

E2 2 Peter 3:17 CSB - Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. Same comment as the verse above.

C6 The Trinity in 1 Peter 1:2

D1 Foreknowledge mentioned with the Father

E1 Romans 8:28-30 LITV But we know that to the ones loving God all things work together for good, to those being called according to purpose; 29 because whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers. 30 But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

E2 Romans 11:2 (HCSB) God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew...

D2 The blood of His Son, Jesus Christ

E1 Hebrews 12:24 (HCSB) to Jesus (mediator of a new covenant), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

E2 Ephesians 2:13 (HCSB) But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

D3 The sanctifying work by the Holy Spirit

E1 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

E2 Romans 15:16 (NKJV) that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

C7 Application

D1 Without God’s intervention, all people will go to hell and be tormented forever and forever.

D2 It is God’s desire that all be saved.

E1 1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

E2 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

D3 God, in His sovereignty, decreed that humans would have a measured, limited libertarian free will.

D4 People can resist or not resist.

D5 When God works in your life are you going to resist or not resist.

Trials

James 1:1-8 WEL James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 My brothers, consider it all joy when you find yourself surrounded by various trials.

3 Know this that the testing of your faith brings about endurance.

4 Let endurance have its full, complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, then ask the God, who gives to all profusely and doesn't scold, and it will be given to him.

6 But one must ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 Do not let that person think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded person [is] unstable in every way.

Some translations have temptations instead of trials.

The Greek word is πειρασμός peirasmós (Strong’s G3986) and means adversity, hard things to experience, temptation depending on the context.

It makes no difference if the word is temptation or trial, because both are difficult experiences.

Can any good come from these trials/temptations?

Is not God in control?

The answer is “yes” to both questions.

The trial/temptation leads to endurance and completes in us more maturity. We also are faced with our true self instead of a facade. We may think that we can face anything because of God’s help. Now we know instead of think.

God’s grace is needed to overcome.

So

1. Ask God to relieve, take away, this trial/temptation.
2. Ask God, “What can you teach me from this?”
3. "Thank you, for you grace to help me."
4. "Give me wisdom to respond correctly."
5. Then, rest in God’s care and go to sleep if it is bedtime.

Easier said then done, but God is faithful.

Paul writes it this way: Romans 5:3-5 NLT We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Peter writes on the same topic: 1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

John 16:33 NLT I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

1 Samuel 30:6 NASB Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Psalm 62:1-2 NLT For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David. I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.

A Few Thoughts on Proverbs 28:13

Proverbs 28:13 NASB He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

Perhaps, the context of these various proverbs would include verse 14. Proverbs 28:13-14 NASB He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

There is one thing a person does wrong in verse 13—conceals.

There are two things a person can and should do in verse 13—confess and forsake.

The words:

B1 Conceal

C1 The Hebrew word is כָּסָה kâçâh (Strong’s H3680) and means cover up something, conceal, hide from view.

C2 Genesis 18:17 NASB The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

B2 Transgression

C1 The Hebrew word is פֶּשַׁע peshaʻ (Strong’s H6588) and means leaving loyalty and rebellion.

C2 1 Samuel 24:11 NIV See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.

B3 Prosper

C1 The Hebrew word is צָלַח tsâlach (Strong’s H6743) and means to succeed, profit, to accomplish what one sets out to do.

C2 Genesis 24:21 NLT The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission.

B4 Confess

C1 The Hebrew word is יָדָה yâdâh (Strong’s H3034) and means to throw stones in various contexts. It is a revealing, not a denying. Depending on context it can also mean praise.

C2 Daniel 9:20 NLT I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.

B5 Forsake

C1 The Hebrew word is עָזַב ʻâzab (Strong’s H5800)and means to loosen, leave, forsake, stop, and quit doing something.

C2 Examples

D1 Ruth 1:16 NASB But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

D2 Proverbs 2:13 CSB from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness,

B6 Compassion/mercy

C1 The Hebrew word is רָחַם râcham (Strong’s H7355) and means to show love and compassion.

C2 Psalm 103:13 NASB Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

The meaning

B1 Covering up sin, denying it, damaging those who revealed it and those asking questions.

B2 God will be against this person. God will get His revenge sometime, some place.

B3 Confessing sin, admitting, and acknowledging the damage to others, brings God’s compassion.

B4 Note both admitting one’s sins and forsaking sins are needed. Just confessing means little. The forsaking shows repentance and change. This is seen in action both in public and private.

An example

B1 Unfortunately, there has been sexual sins committed by pastors, ministers, and religious workers. These have been denied, excused, and covered up. If that isn’t bad enough that the sinner covers it up, the other leaders, sometimes the highest positions in a group or denomination cover it up, too.

B2 Politicians, teachers, medical, etc. do the same with money, fraud, etc.

Notes

B1 Just confessing is not enough. A change, a repentance, needs to be noted.

B2 Three examples

C1 2 Chronicles 33:9-12, 15-16 NLT But Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the LORD had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land. The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings. So the LORD sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the LORD his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. ... Manasseh also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the LORD's Temple. He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it. He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.

C2 The whole book of Jonah: God commanded that Jonah go and preach in Nineveh, but he rebelled, was being chastised, repented, and instead of running away from God’s command to preach, he went and did preach. The city of Nineveh was evil, doing evil, and thinking evil. Hearing of the judgment of God coming upon them, they humbled themselves, repented, and that generation did not do those evil things (but their descendants did and were punished ~150 years later).

C3 Luke 18:9-14 WEL He told this parable to certain [people] who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on others.

10 "Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed this way with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 “‘I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.'

13 "The tax collector standing in the distance wouldn't even as much as look up to heaven but beat on his chest saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner.'

14 "I tell you—this man went down to his house justified instead of the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

B3 If I sin

C1 If I sin and only God knows, I confess my sin to Him and forsake my sin.

C2 If I sin against one person, and they alone know it, I confess my sin to God, go to the offended, confess my sin, make amends, and forsake my sin.

C3 If I sin against one or many, and many know about it, I confess my sin to God, go the the offended and publicly confess my sin, make amends, and forsake my sin.

B4 Some notes about forgiveness and after care:

C1 Do not seek revenge. (NOTE: If a crime has been committed in private or public, it MUST be reported to law enforcement. Abusers often claim, reporting a crime is seeking revenge. Abusers are liars. Don’t let any pastor, pastors, elder board, etc. tell you, “Leave it here. We will take care of it. Those pastors and/or elder board are LIARS).

C2 Leave the punishment to God. (NOTE: God’s choice of punishment might be a judge sentencing the guilty party to prison).

C3 There is no such thing as forgive and forget. Sin leaves scars, permanent scars. Don’t believe such a lie.

C4 Seek counseling. Do not seek so-called Nouthetic Counseling, now termed Biblical Counseling, for they tend to revictimize the victim and comfort the abuser, criminal, sinner, etc.

C5 Beware of false promises, fake tears, fake commitment, fake solutions, and so-called peace offerings (gifts and other nice things).

C6 Abuse must be gotten away from. Divorce is necessary.

C7 We must confess. It is acknowledging a truth. Healing starts with acknowledgment.

C8 The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin. John 16:8 CSB "When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:

C9 We must not resist God’s Spirit, when He convicts us of sin.

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin-sick soul.

Two Worldviews

1. Flesh/Word
2. Spirit

Basic Verses

Romans 8:1-10 WEL There is now not any condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, [those] who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit. [97.7% contain the whole verse]

2 For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh because of sin, condemned sin in the flesh,

4 So that the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in us who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit.

5 Those following the flesh are interested in the things of the flesh, but those following the spirit [are interested in] the things of the spirit.

6 To have a carnal mindset [is] death, but to have a spiritual mindset [is] life and peace,

7 Because the carnal mind [is] hostile to God, because it does not submit to God's law, nor indeed can it.

8 So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if it is so that God's Spirit lives in you, and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

10 And if Christ [lives] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin, but the spirit [has] life because of righteousness.

Flesh versus Spirit

B1 Some general thoughts

C1 Flesh usually refers to physical flesh as muscles, bones, skin, etc. 1 Corinthians 15:39 NKJV All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

C2 Sometimes it refers to heritage.

D1 All humans: Romans 3:20 NKJV Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

D2 Israelites: Romans 9:3 NKJV For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.

C3 Occasionally it refers to worldview.

D1 Romans 7:5 NKJV For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

D2 Galatians 5 is the main chapter for this. Galatians 5:16-26 WEL I say, "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you cannot do the things that you want to.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual sin, moral corruption, unrestrained lust,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

24 Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be longing for empty praise, irritating one another, and envying one another.

D3 This passage teaches

• The flesh worldview is opposite the spirit worldview.
• They desire to overcome, overpower the other.
• The flesh is under the law. The spirit is not (it is under grace).
• The actions of the flesh worldview in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds are
  • Adultery
  • Sexual sin
  • Moral corruption
  • Unrestrained lust,
  • Idolatry
  • Witchcraft
  • Hatred
  • Strife
  • Provoking jealousy
  • Hot anger
  • Pushing to be first
  • Selfish scheming
  • Dissensions
  • Heresy,
  • Envyings
  • Murders
  • Drunkenness
  • Wild partying
• Those living the flesh worldview do not go to heaven.
• The fruit of the Spirit worldview are
  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Longsuffering
  • Gentleness
  • Goodness
  • Faith,
  • Meekness
  • Self-control
• There are no laws against this fruit.
• Those who live the spirit worldview have killed the flesh worldview.
• Those who live the spirit worldview do not desire
  • Empty praise
  • Irritating one another
  • Envying one another.

B2 Some concluding thoughts

C1 The natural state of every human is depraved. It is both in an active and passive sense.

D1 In the active sense, it is everyone is addicted to sin, just as surely as those addicted to anything. John 8:34 CSB Jesus responded, "Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.

D2 In the passive sense, it is everyone does not and can not seek God. Romans 3:11 CSB There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

C2 God seeks us. If God did not seek us, we would be lost to God’s judgment and eternal, conscious punishment.

D1 Luke 19:10 CSB "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

D2 Matthew 25:46 NKJV "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

C3 To those who believe the Gospel and place their faith into Jesus as the only Savior will have everlasting life. John 3:36 NKJV "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

C4 We are now dead in Christ. The old nature and self are dead. There is now a new creation and new heart. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

C5 The new creation and new heart seeks to glorify God and do His will through God’s grace. Matthew 5:16 NKJV "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

C6 By God’s grace we can live for Him every day.

D1 Hebrews 13:9 NLT So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.

D2 1 Peter 5:12 NLT I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.