October 23 – 28^th (that’s how long it took me to actually put this together!)

Gino!

We’re glad you’re still posting here at Doves.  Man, you ask the most thought-provoking questions!  Good for you!  Some of the things you ask cause me to ponder on them throughout the week ~~ and to even top that, something else you recently posted (I’ll get back to this later) caused me to think on it a lot longer than merely a week!  In fact, it’s not left my mind.  You are such a deep thinker!  A theologian at heart and the best kind, because you go straight to God’s Word!

Now, this past week you asked:  http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2017/gino1022-1.htm

And I’d like a shot at addressing this, best I can, as I handle God’s Word with love, care, and utmost caution.  I want to be a Berean & check everything against Scripture.  I do not want to be thought of as a teacher (teachers are given to much stricter judgment!) so unless I am teaching THE TRUTH only, then I’ll not be a teacher at all.  But I will be a Berean!

Matt 12:32 you pointed out and we can all tell speaks expressly to those who do blaspheme the Holy Spirit, as you know, that will not be forgiven in this life OR in the life to come.  The unpardonable sin.  Personally, I do not think this particular Scripture addresses “other” sins that will not be forgiven in the world to come. Yet, let’s look at other Scriptures…

First off, let me confess that if that were to happen – I’m pretty sure I’d be spending all eternity “sitting in a corner” of heaven.  You see, I did something I greatly regret, something that’s haunted me time & again… and though it’s been a whopping 25 years ago…. I am STILL SHUNNED by the “grudge-holding, pious self-righteous people” of  (insert any name really)______  Laodecia Baptist Church!!  Quite honestly, I’m more than tired of being prosecuted & persecuted for something from that long ago that I repented of long ago as well & moved on.  I’ve had to bear up this far longer than an imprisoned rapist & often times even murderers!! 

And besides, all the eager tongue-waggers there heard only ONE SIDE of the story, [his wife’s no less… all the while, he got off scot free though he was vested every much in the flirtatious frenzy as I was, if not more so.  I was made to be the 100% fall guy (uh, gal) And no, it was not a physical affair, only an emotional one, but b/c the dude was a high & mighty “minister”…. Well, HE “could do no wrong”, ya’ know?!! But the old adage always applies:  it takes 2 to tango….]   Everything started out so innocently (doesn’t it always?!) as we worked “under the radar” to raise $ to help his wife pay for an out of the country mission trip… but, this is also the reason one woman & one man should never be alone together – even in “a church setting” or perhaps even more so in a church setting.

So anyway, these people [pretty much everybody in the whole church] chose to believe the worst about me (not him) & then started all the tale-bearing, gossiping, backbiting, and whispering….. which in themselves ARE SINS!!!  Yet, they wag bony fingers of condemnation at me…. Because in their eyes, I WAS THE SINNER!!!  What they are doing is “merely passing on information”!!  “have you heard the latest???”……  G A S P!!!!  Yet interesting to note how often the Bible speaks AGAINST gossip, tale-bearing, slander, and whispering!!

When I run into these people in public – well, first I admit, I get hurt over their shunning, after all I’m only human.  The very ones who used to treat me like they thought the world of me, now (continue to) treat me like I’m the dreg of the universe!!  Quite frankly I’m tired of it & want badly to bring honor to myself by telling the whole truth!  Yet I’m not sure that’s what the Lord would have me do. How would bringing a reviling accusation (truthful) or defending myself be, show, or produce the fruit of the Spirit?  I mean, if I ever “directly asked” then I’d offer the truth.  However, heh, can hardly see myself seeking someone out who clearly looks the other way & walks past me in a quickety-quick hurry (treating me like a leper)… to say, “hey!!  I want you to know….”  THAT would “go well”…. /sarcasm   Would certainly give them MORE to talk about then, huh?!

So when these pious people hurt me over & over again in this manner and as I take time to process it (deep thinker like you!)  then though it smacks my flesh to do so, with all the might I can muster -- I pray for them!!  Yes, I pray for them!!  That the Lord will not hold their pointy fingers of condemnation & whispered hurtful words about me “against their account”.  This is Biblical.  [ref 2 Tim 4:16]  JESUS, Stephen, and Paul ALL prayed for the ones working against them – or even in the act of killing them at the moment (Jesus & Stephen) that this would not be held against their account!!  That doesn’t mean the people were instantly forgiven, just shows the mercy of the Lord & of heaven & that they are still given that opportunity.

For the people who -- to this day -- continue to haunt & taunt me, I “could” pray they’d go straight to hell….. goodness knows, “THEY” have sent me there tons of times!!

But I don’t.  I know I will not see reward for praying FOR them until we arrive in heaven.  And I know they will not understand fully until we get to heaven.   No one can see my heart but God.  Aren’t we thankful HE can??!!   Anyway, enough about me & all that mess.  I regret my part in it, but I can’t go back & have do-overs… none of us can.

Honestly, I’ve held this in for so long, don’t even know why I’m confessing it now.

“So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God's approval are effective.”   James 5:16  God’s Word translation

Heaven WILL BE so nice!!!  Because just as the Father CHOOSES to not remember our sins…. My “slate” will be wiped clean, too!!  I will have no more recollection of it either.

From 1 Timothy 5:24

The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.

You know why this is, Gino?  Because some men/people APPEAR so holy…. As though they can do no wrong, and that’s just because they are just better at HIDING their sin/s.   Yet the Word says these hidden sins will be clearly evident/visible on Judgment Day.  Would that be the case if these very people would have fallen on their knees & repented before God BEFORE having to appear in front of Him??

A good repentance prayer for us to look at & remember is David’s plea/cry of repentance found in Psalm 51.  This is good if, if, “IF” a person can HUMBLE himself in order to pray such a prayer – and of course that includes first ADMITTING….

Another thought to consider as well as 1 Tim 5:24 already stated above, let’s look at Romans 2:16 which states:  ¹⁶ On that day when, as my Gospel proclaims, God by Jesus Christ will judge men in regard to ^[g]the things which they conceal (their hidden thoughts).  (Amp.)

From CEV:  ¹⁶ when God appoints Jesus Christ to judge everyone’s secret thoughts, just as my message says.

God’s Word translation:  ¹⁶ This happens as they face the day when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge people’s secret thoughts. He will use the Good News that I am spreading to make that judgment.

Okay, 3 diff. translations on Romans 2:16.  I’ve read commentaries this week about how the sins of Christians will not be revealed on Judgment Day (Only IF already confessed & repented of “down here”).   Yet I wonder about this Scripture of Romans 2:16.  Does this apply to everybody?  After already repented of?  And how/where does 1 Cor 11:31-32 come into play?  “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”   Or, is it possible I’m taking 1 Cor 11:31 & 32 out of context?  More study time needs to be appropriated here.

Let me say though and this is often the part people do not want to hear.  Our sins (even sins though we’re already Christian)  are forgiven only when we stay in a continual repenting mode…. In other words, ask that He will wash our feet every day!!   Look, we don’t need a full bath once we’re Christian as we’ve already been regenerated, cleansed by His blood, and are wearing our clean white garments.  We have bathed & we are clean.  HOWEVER, living in this stinkin’ dirty filthy world, we can’t help but get dirt on us as we muddle through day to day.  So we need our feet washed!!

 

John 13:1-17

13 It was before Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world, and he loved them to the very end.

² Even before the evening meal started, the devil had made Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,^[a] decide to betray Jesus.

³ Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. ⁴ So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples' feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing.

⁶ But when he came to Simon Peter, that disciple asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered, “You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

⁸ “You will never wash my feet!” Peter replied.

“If I don’t wash you,” Jesus told him, “you don’t really belong to me.”

⁹ Peter said, “Lord, don’t wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head.”

¹⁰ Jesus answered, “People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you.” ¹¹ Jesus knew who would betray him. That is why he said, “except for one of you.”

¹² After Jesus had washed his disciples' feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again.^[b] Then he said:

Do you understand what I have done? ¹³ You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am. ¹⁴ And if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other. ¹⁵ I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. ¹⁶ I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them. ¹⁷ You know these things, and God will bless you, if you do them.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.   1 John 1:9

Often times, Christians do not want to hear that word, “IF”…. Yet it’s there!!!  We cannot blot it out, for if we did we’d be in danger of messing with His word (subtracting from it) and thus in grave danger of having our own names blotted out of His book of life.

More to help answer your question:

"I--yes, I alone--will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.   Isaiah 43:25

God “could” of course remember…. After all HE IS GOD!!!!!

But He chooses NOT to!!!!!    People may have that one snapshot of something they heard about you that happened 25 years ago…. People will not forget (even if they claim to forgive)… but thankfully it will not be brought up before the Father on Judgment Day once we have confessed it & moved forward (repenting of such a lifestyle as well).

Let’s gloriously praise Him for that!!  Ahem, “no sitting in the corner” of heaven!!

 
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."   Hebrews 8:12

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.   Psalm 103:12

As long as we live in these bodies and live on this mudball called earth, we will continue to sin.  Remember how Paul said he struggled?  So we struggle.  We’ll never achieve perfection “while here” or if we did – then we’d have trouble with the error of failing to be humble & honest!   /smile

Difference is – do we sin ON PURPOSE??  Do we WALLOW in the “sin of the month club”??  Or do we try to NOT sin ~ and yet goof up & fail often?? 

This essay is written only to real Christians!!  Anyone who chooses to not honor & obey the Lord with his/her life and to not live a repentant lifestyle – for these people the sins from this life WILL be remembered & not forgiven in the life to come!! 

Because if God just automatically forgave everybody (without repentance, remorse & confession)  then no one would go to hell.  Yet Scripture is clear that most people will go to hell (then Lake of Fire)   See Matthew 7:12-14, Revelation 21:8, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Tim 1:9-11, James 3:16

Being saved is not a LICENSE to “freely sin on purpose” and it’s these very people who do such things whom the Lord tells them (on Judgment day)  to get away from Him – b/c He “NEVER KNEW YOU”….  Why?  Matt. 5 clearly says because they are workers of iniquity.  They never stopped sinning.  They continued living like worldly people in this world.  No one could tell the difference.  They chose to name the name of Christ but did not depart from iniquity.  [ref 2  Tim 2:19]  And so, these are the very people who DO wallow in the sin of the month {week/day/hour} club…. And will not be raptured…. And will not even see heaven at all unless they bow their knees & wash their robes during the Tribulation.  Notice!!  They ALREADY have robes…. It’s just that they’re spotted, dirty, not white & clean.  They must “be washed” in the Tribulation.

The Lord is coming for a clean bride.  And in Jesus’ name, we ask Him to help guide us even down to our very thoughts because too often, our enemy (adversary) is only too happy to “plant thoughts” into our heads that we than have the choice to act on.  [can write more about that later if you’d like …time permitting]

Eph 5:27

that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;

Eph 5:27 from KJV

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Each week (except for when Tng needs a break… & I say good for you, John!)  we “meet here” with the pre-trib rapture (uh, few distractors from that lately, I’ve noticed…) predominantly on our minds.  WHAT does this blessed hope, knowing we could see Jesus at any time do for us?  Or supposed to do for us?

“All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as [Jesus] is pure” (1 John 3:3). The believer anticipating Christ’s blessed return will seek to live, with the leading, guiding and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, a life of purity. We will all stand before the Lord and give an account of how we lived for Him on earth (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The Lord’s soon coming should be our key motivator to living a godly life (not an easy task in such a super ungodly world).  Just tell yourself this world is NOT your home!!  We are merely pilgrims passing through.  The rapture brings us cheer, joy, hope, peace as we muddle through daily trials in this life. And of course it should also help us to examine ourselves, our motives, thinking, actions, and words.

From studying Truth (Scripture) I believe that for real Christians (not the tares, but the wheat… in other words, the real deal….)   I believe that immediately as we confess our sins to the Lord He instantly blots them from our accounts…. Thus they will not even be brought up on Judgment Day nor shown to the world.

As far as being forgiven in the world to come, well we recall a whopping one third of the angels “fell”….. why??  Because they SINNED in heaven!!   I know – something we don’t think about, right?!

Let me encourage you to read ALL of 2 Peter 2…. As I realize my writing is getting quite long here, so I will not post the entire chapter, just this one (partial) verse…

2 Peter 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;…

ACK!!!   Can you imagine being an angel – tricked by the prideful lucifer …. Joining him in revolt, and instantly going from the glories of heaven, the Sonshine, as well as sunshine, roses, beautiful colors, tasty food, incredible fellowship, heavenly melodies ….. pure paradise…. And being CAST to the very pits of hell??  Knowing from there, at the time of Judgment before God, they’ll be cast into the Lake of Fire burning with Sulphur & brimstone night & day (no rest).

So now begs the thought-provoking question:  will “we” still be able to sin once in heaven??  

 

We are told heaven is where RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS….

And NO lie or abomination will be allowed in.

 

This gives me hope that we will not be ABLE to sin in heaven!!

We will be known as He is known.  We will be like Him with our glorified minds and bodies.

 

Perhaps we can talk more about this later…

IF STILL HERE!!!

Otherwise, we can just ask the Lord in person once we’re with Him!

 

REMEMBER:  One is our Advocate

one is our Accuser…. We do everything wrong, wrong, WRONG according to our accuser!!  (who btw, accuses us before The Throne DAY & NIGHT!!  Ref Rev. 12:10   And Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us!! Heb 7:25)  What’s this got to do with anything?  Nada, I guess… just a freebie, another nugget of Truth, I felt like tossing in!

Our greatest reward we want to be able to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant…. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:23).

Daily we must choose whether to serve ourselves and selfish ambitions or to serve Christ.  May we make sure our commitment is solid in putting Him first in everything we do and make it our chief aim in life (what little time there is left) to please Him in everything!  To bring glory, honor and praise to Him.

I hope someone who plays the guitar & has a nice voice will choose to take this verse & turn it into a praise song….  “From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3

 

MARANATHA!!