Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Come let us reason together

Seed and Sacrifice

By

On January 9, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Jesus Christ - The Ark, Jesus in the N.T., Noah's Ark (and Jesus), Through the Bible

Children’s books that give the account of Noah and the ark he built, often depict the animals going into the ark two by two. Seldom do any of them make the distinction that there were seven pairs of clean beasts and the fowls of the air, both male and female, while there was only one pair of unclean beasts, both male and female that entered the ark.

Some speculate that it was for the sustenance of Noah and his family, but there is a fallacy in this conjecture as meat was not given unto man for food until after the flood (Genesis 9:4). So if the clean beasts and clean fowls were not for sustenance, why were they to be taken into the ark, in more numbers than the unclean ones.

The Bible says that God wanted the seed to be alive on the face of the earth (Genesis 7:3). It was also necessary to worship God by offering him a sacrifice, when the time was due (Genesis 4:3) and so if there was only pair of clean beasts and clean fowl in the ark, there would have been none left for the seed to be alive after they were sacrifice.

Having seven pairs of clean beasts ensured that even after a sacrifice was made (Genesis 8:20), there was still that kind of beast available for replenishing the earth to keep that seed alive.

Though the distinction of clean and unclean beasts was not given until the time of the Levitical law (Leviticus 11) during the time of Moses and Aaron, from Genesis 4:4 we see that God had certain expectations of what a sacrifice to him should be like – one like that of Abel and not as that of Cain.

Points to ponder:
God wants us his seed to be alive in Christ Jesus, the Ark of God, but he also expects us to worship him by sacrificing ourselves as a living sacrifice that is clean i.e., pleasing and acceptable unto the Lord (Romans 12:1-2). Would you consider your life clean? In other words, have you been washed by the shed blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully resting in his grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

If not, “Come now, and let us reason together,  says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18).

Genesis 7:2-3 (KJV)
2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

Genesis 8:20 (KJV)
20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The Blood of the Lamb :: Conciliatory

By

On October 5, 2012

In Christian, The Blood of the Lamb

The word ‘conciliate’ has its roots in Latin and comes from the word ‘conciliāre’ which means ‘to unite or to assemble or to bring together’. It is synonymous with words such as ‘appeasement’ and ‘propitiate’. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the word ‘concilate’ as ‘to gain (goodwill) by pleasing acts’.

Romans 3:25 affirms that Jesus is the One, God has sent forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. In other words, the Blood of the Lamb of God conciliates or brings us back to God. When Jesus was born, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, peace and good will toward men.” (Like 2:14) Colossians 1:20 states that Jesus made peace through the blood of his cross. This establishes that what the angels sang, though it gives men (mankind) a reason to celebrate, it was in fact a death sentence, proclaimed on Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God without blemish. The Blood of Jesus appeased (made peace) and gained the good will of God, reuniting mankind, who was separated from God (in the garden of Eden on account of man’s own disobedience and sin) back with God.

Points to ponder:
Have you believed in Jesus, whom God sent to bring (conciliate) you back to God? The Blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God is conciliatory.
Glory to God in the highest, the Blood of the Lamb, which makes peace and gains God’s good will, be on you and me.

Romans 3:22-26 (KJV)
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [conciliation] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Colossians 1:19-23 (KJV)
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The Blood of the Lamb :: Covering

By

On October 4, 2012

In Christian, Reuben, The Blood of the Lamb

Denis Diderot (1713-1784), who is best known for serving as contributor and chief editor of the Encyclopédie was a prominent French Philosopher, art critic and writer, during the 18th century cultural movement (known as Enlightenment or Age of Reason) among the intellectuals in Europe and America. Diderot is quoted to have said “The blood of Jesus can cover a multitude of sins, it seems to me.” Interestingly even though we often hear such a phrase in our churches, the Bible never directly talks about the “Blood of Jesus” as something that covers. However, extrapolating from a few other verses in the Bible, we see that the “Blood of Jesus is a Covering.”

1 Peter 4:8 says, “… Love covers a multitude of sins.”
Proverbs 10:12 affirms “Love covers all sins.”
1 John 1:7 states that if we have fellowship with God, the blood of Jesus his Son, cleanses us from all sins.
John 3:20 informs us that God loved the world so much that he gave us Jesus, his Only begotten son. Jesus is therefore God’s expression and personification of  love and by substituting the word ‘love’ with the Name ‘Jesus’ in the before mentioned verses, we get “… Jesus covers a multitude of sins” and “Jesus covers all sins“. Jesus covers all sins because his blood cleanses all sins. In other words, the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, covers all sins.

James 5:20 reads “.. he who converts a sinner from the error of his ways shall save his soul from death and hide a multitude of sins.”
During the exodus of the Israelites from the land of Egypt, the LORD passed over the houses that had the blood of an unblemished lamb on their doorposts. The blood of the lamb hid the residents and saved them from death. (Exodus 12:13, 23)
Only Jesus can convert a sinner from the error of his ways and save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins, because Salvation is [solely] of the Lord (Jonah 2:9). The Blood of Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb hides and covers all those who believed in his Name.

Points to ponder:
The Blood of Jesus is a covering. Have you believed in him, for in doing so, your sins shall be hidden from God’s wrath and your soul saved from death. In other words, Are you under the covering of the Blood of the Lamb?

1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity [love] shall cover the multitude of sins.

James 5:20 (KJV)
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1 John 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Jonah 2:9 (KJV)
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

The Blood of the Lamb :: Clear and Cleansing

By

On October 3, 2012

In Christian, Reuben, The Blood of the Lamb

Wouldn’t you think that if you wash something with blood, it would leave the object being washed stained in red? While reading a book from the Magic School bus series, with our beloved 6 year old Reuben, I was surprised to learn that the actual color of the fluid part of blood is not red (as I thought was the case) but instead it is ‘clear’. The presence of red blood cells gives the red color to blood. Now hold that thought, please.

One of the 2000 timeless classics written and edited by Elisha Albright Hoffman (1839-1929), a Presbyterian Pastor, is the famously sung hymn – ‘Are you washed in the Blood?” which originates from the Scriptural reference in Revelation 7:14 which states.”… and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

We wash our clothes with clean (clear) water,  not water that is dirty (or colored), do we? Now only something that is clear can clean.

With sin man became corrupt and impure. Blood had to be shed for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22), but not just anyone’s blood. The blood that was to be shed, which would satisfy God’s justice, was that of a Lamb without blemish – in other words clear (of all sin) (Exodus 12:5). Jesus is the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God, sinless without blemish (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22) who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and his blood cleanses us of all sins (1 John 1:7). Yes, all sin. If you are wondering that your lifestyle has been such, where you are beyond the reach of God’s love and grace, and unpardonable for the sins you have committed in the past, Jesus is saying, “Come let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, I will wash them white as snow, though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18). There is absolutely no one, no matter how sinful they have been, that is beyond the reach of the love of God and the cleansing power in his ‘clear’ (pure) blood.

Points to ponder:
The Blood of Jesus is clear and it cleans. Are you washed in the Blood – in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless – Are they white as Snow? Are you Washed in the Blood of the Lamb (of God)? Are you Washed by the Blood of Jesus Christ?

Matthew 26:28 (KJV)
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

1 John 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 7: 14 (KJV)
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Professional Speaking :: Jesus The Janitor

By

On August 14, 2012

In Christian, Professional Speaking

While the title of this article may seem demeaning of Jesus, the God of the universe, I pray you read the entire article before drawing any conclusions. Unfortunately, Janitors are considered to be a sub-class of society because of the nature of work that they perform, but early in my career, I came to learn that we ought to respect everyone within our corporate world, for who they are in life and not necessarily for what they do for their livelihood. Infact, I would argue that a janitor is equally important, if not more, than the President of a company, because if the President does not show up to work for a day, the company may be able to still operate optimally, which cannot be said of a janitor whose absence can have some serious repercussions (soiled toilets, unclean workspaces, stench, etc.), decreasing the productivity of the workers.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the word ‘Janitor’ as someone keeps the premises of a building clean and makes repairs. When a Janitor is done with cleaning the mess in the building, there is no remanence of any mess and the building is in a state as if it was never unclean. When things don’t function properly, the Janitor fixes the broken things to make them function again. Can we consider Jesus Christ to be a Janitor then? Absolutely.

The Bible tells us that we are God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:9) and Jesus keeps our lives clean. No matter how messy our lives are or have been, Jesus’ blood washes all sin (1 John 1:7) and makes us clean. If you have had a totally messed up life and you think that you don’t stand a chance, think again (i.e., repent) for the Lord says, “Come NOW, let us reason together; though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though your sins are red as crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Even adulterers, those in addictions, cheats, fornicators, the immoral, the impure, idolators, liars, murderers, and for that matter any kind of sinner (the chief of whom is me), has a chance with Jesus Christ, if they repent. Not only does Jesus, The Janitor, clean us, but he makes repairs of our life, so that we are no longer broken and no longer slaves under bondage to the former ways of our sinful lives. He mays us function again. Jesus is The Janitor.

Points to ponder:
Have you reasoned with the Lord, for he says, though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, when you believe in Jesus, for by faith (belief) and repentance is one saved and made to function again. In other words, have you been cleaned and repaired by Jesus, The Janitor?

1 Corinthians 3:9 (KJV)
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

1 John 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Cease and Cease Not

By

On June 14, 2011

In Christian

The Bible counsels us to Cease from doing evil and to repent by reasoning with the Lord  (Isaiah 1:16-18).
The Bible also counsels us to Cease not from praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

And come to think of it, these two counsel are related. We can learn from Jesus’ words that to cease from doing evil, we must cease not from praying.
If we watch and pray (without ceasing), we will not fall into temptation (to do evil) (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38).

Isaiah 1:16-18 (KJV)
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Pray without ceasing.

Mark 14:38 (KJV)
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Blessed “Be” attitudes :: Be Pure (in heart)

By

On June 8, 2011

In Be attitudes, Christian

Matthew 5:3-12 lists eight Beatitudes that were spoken of by Jesus. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

To be blessed, one must have an attitude of being pure (in heart).

The Creator God is not interested in an outward showing of piety or penance as many doctrines of men and world religions prescribe, but God is interested in inward purity i.e., purity of the heart. When the scribes and Pharisees in an accusatory manner questioned Jesus that his disciples did not wash their hands before breaking bread, Jesus astutely yet sternly cautioned them of their double standard and hypocrisy, and expressed a fundamental truth, that it is not what one consumes that defiles a man, but what comes from within (from the heart) (Matthew 15:11). Later when his disciples approached him and asked him if he was offended by the Pharisees and sought clarification of his response, he asked them “Are you also yet without understanding?” before explaining that out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; things which defile a man (Matthew 15:19-20).

So if by nature our heart is prone to defile, then how is it that one can be pure in heart? To be pure means to be untainted, unstained, unblameable, unreproveable, without spot or wrinkle. In other words, to be pure is to be set apart and it is to be holy. This is an impossible edict for man to accomplish by his/her own efforts. No matter how impressive and thorough a self-help program prescribes, no one can be holy by his or her own accord, for in sin are we conceived (Psalm 51:5). There is one only Way to be holy. Jesus said He is THE WAY (John 14:6). The Bible teaches us that Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, can present us unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of God (Colossians 1:22), because he who knew no sin, became sin for us, and died in our stead, so we can be imputed the righteousness (purity/holiness) of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). In other words, only Jesus can make us holy i.e., only Jesus can make our hearts pure and clean; without spot or wrinkle. King David’s recognized that out of his heart came thoughts of – evil and murder toward Bathsheba’s husband Uriah, – adultery and fornication (extramarital sex) with Bathsheba, – stealing Uriah’s wife, – false witness and lying (covering the murderous plot of Uriah’s death) and – blasphemies (for what David had done displeased the Lord) (2 Samuel 11). Upon this recognition, king David repented and sought that God would create in him a clean (pure) heart; one that is holy and blameless, in God’s sight. When we repent of our sins, believing in Jesus Christ, he makes us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), replacing our old heart that defiles with one that is pure and clean (Ezekiel 36:26). Those who are pure in heart are those who have recognized that Jesus is the Only Way to Holiness and have repented asking Him to create in them a clean/pure heart. These are blessed for they shall see God.

What does it mean that one shall see God? God is Spirit (John 4:24),  God is invisible (1 Timothy 1:17), God dwells in an unapproachable light, which no man can see, nor has seen (1 Timothy 6:16).  Then how can God be seen? There is a multi-faceted answer to this which we find in the Bible. First, Jesus is the image of the invisible God, in whom the fullness of God dwells (Colossians 1:15,19). Second, Jesus said, He is THE LIGHT of the world (John 8:12). Third, when we walk in the light, desiring to be pure (in heart), repenting of our sins, believing in Jesus and asking Him to create in us a clean heart, we have fellowship with God as He is light and is in the light now approachable through Jesus, for Jesus said, all who see me (have fellowship with me) have seen God (the Father) (John 14:8-11). Fourth, all who have believed in Jesus, have been delivered from the power of darkness and been translated to the kingdom of Jesus Christ, God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13), and they shall see God face to face, when He establishes His kingdom on new earth (Revelation 22:4). We see God now through Jesus Christ, we will later see God in Christ, face to face.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. God is pleading, “Come now, let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, I will wash you whiter than snow.” (Isaiah 1:18). The vilest offender (of whom I am chief) is not out of the reasoning and reach of God. Reason with Him. Reach out to God.
2. Have you/I heard God’s plea and have we repented of our sins, asking Him to create in us a clean/pure heart? For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:29) and Only Jesus Christ can make you/I holy, unblameable and unreproveable.
3. God opened the heart (understanding) of Lydia so she could believe in Jesus and be baptized into His kingdom of light (Acts 16:14). Ask God to open your heart (of understanding) so that it can be made pure!

Matthew 5:8 (KJV)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Colossians 1:12-23 (KJV)
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son [Jesus Christ]:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

GRACE defined …

By

On April 8, 2010

In Christian

2 Corinthians 5:18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Ephesians 2:7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén