Binary, 34

 ~ Binary: Application ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 and #32 in this series.]

 

Important Note  ~  We are currently in a binary sub-series of quoting short sections from books that draw parallels between physical light (the sun) and spiritual light (the Son) by Robert Lloyd Russell.

 

Quote  ~  We have looked at various reactions to light that are binary (there are many other binary pairs that could be reviewed). You can be either attracted or repelled by the true light of this world. You choose to mock or listen. Light can be either protective or convicting. Your heart can be softened; or by refusing to respond, you can be hardened by the truth. Divine light should cause cleansing; but if you refuse to hearken, it allows further rotting. The choice is to emit the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ or a rotten stench. Your response to light, physical or spiritual, is either that of growth or ultimate death.

 

You choose to believe the One who is Truth, or you can believe in any of many false prophets. Einstein once remarked, “God doesn’t play dice.” In the final analysis it is your choice.

 

The final result is also binary: hell or heaven, a child of darkness or a child of light, in the book of death or in the book of life, eternal regret and punishment or everlasting wonder and joy beyond anything that we can imagine.

 

Reference  ~  We are now in the process of quoting short sections from the ebook: “GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight” (https://books2read.com/GodsNature).

 

Also from the print book: “GOD LIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight” (https://booksrlr.com/printbooks/god-light-sunlight-sonlight/).  ­­­­­­­­­­

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

*****

God Attribute, 36

 ~ God Is Gracious ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Introduction  ~  The Biblical meaning of the word “grace” is to receive something good that you do not deserve.

 

Scripture  ~  And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty” (Exodus 34:6-7a).

 

“But the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence” (2 Kings 13:23).

 

“For if you return to the Lord, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him” (2 Chronicles 30:9).

 

“They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them.  But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage.  But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them” (Nehemiah 9:17).

 

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15). 

 

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Psalm 103:8).

 

Comment  ~  “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:1-3).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

* * * * *

Why Trust God? 28

 ~ The Peace Offering (Leviticus 3of8) ~

 

Introduction  ~  “Abundant Life Now” previously provided a list of Biblical of examples of fearing / reverencing God (217 posts).  In this current series we look at Biblical accounts that demonstrate that we can fully trust God.  Initially we posted seven general reasons for trusting God.  We are currently looking at passages from all 66 books of Scripture which demonstrate a reason for trusting our Creator. 

 

Note  ~  In chapters 1—5 of the Book of Leviticus God establishes a detailed set of sacrifices that enabled His people to worship Him.  Following that He gave additional laws and rules for His people to follow.  God’s directions to His people throughout the centuries have always been for the good of His people.  He is in complete control and He cares for us, therefore we can trust Him! 

 

Scripture  ~  The entire chapter 3 of Leviticus is about the Peace Offering.  It’s purpose was the consecration of a meal between two or more parties and God.  It was the sharing of a meal together in fellowship emphasizing peace and a commitment to each others.

 

“When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.  And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar.  Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the Lord.  The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is on the wood that is on the fire, as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

 

“If his offering as a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord is of the flock, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.  If he offers a lamb as his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord.  And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.

 

“Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as an offering made by fire to the Lord, its fat and the whole fat tail which he shall remove close to the backbone.  And the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

 

“And if his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord.  He shall lay his hand on its head and kill it before the tabernacle of meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.  Then he shall offer from it his offering, as an offering made by fire to the Lord.  The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord’s.

 

“This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood” (Leviticus 3).

 

Closing Comment  ~  The importance of blood is a reoccurring theme in the Book of Leviticus.  In Chapter 17 the sanctity of Blood is the subject.  Note for those wishing to look deeper at the blood of Christ consider the eBook entitled: “CHRIST’S BLOOD: 7+ Amazing Benefits” (https://books2read.com/ChristsBlood) by Robert Lloyd Russell. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

***** 

Question – Jesus, 153

 ~ Regarding Understanding, 5 ~

 

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on over 160 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.  Why do you not understand My speech?  Because you are not able to listen to My word.  You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.  Which of you convicts Me of sin?  And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?  He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God” (John 8:42-47).

 

Other Scripture  ~  “And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’  Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven’” (Luke 7:43-48).

 

“Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’   “So Jesus said, ‘Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man’” (Matthew 15:15-20).

 

“But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘Why do you reason because you have no bread?  Do you not yet perceive nor understand?  Is your heart still hardened?  Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not hear?  And do you not remember?  When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?’  They said to Him, ‘Twelve.’  ‘Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?’  And they said, ‘Seven.’  So He said to them, ‘How is it you do not understand?’” (Mark 8:17-21).

 

“[Jesus speaking] ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’  Jesus said to them, ‘Have you understood all these things?’  They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord’” (Matthew 13:47-51). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

* * * * *