Perhaps you know someone, if not yourself, struggling with a particular sin or some kind of addiction.  And all the while you or that person may find yourselves falling prey to the sin or addiction time and time again, being overcome by it instead of overcoming it.

One might thus be led to ask:  Does God require us to do the impossible?  Let us examine what God’s Word – the Holy Bible – has to say about this issue, and be encouraged by it.

The obvious answer some might present is Yes – God does require  us to do the impossible.  And one well-known Scripture verse they may quote is Matthew 5:48 – “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect”  [NKJV]. The KJV renders this verse as:  “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

In the NKJV the verse seems to imply the person’s condition as done for him by another, whereas the KJV sounds like a command – which requires each of us to become  perfect like God [the Father].

One who has become frustrated with repeated failures at attempts to be or become perfect could easily feel like one is being called or required to do something impossible – and especially humanly impossible.

When we examine what God says in His Word, we can plainly understand that yes, it is humanly impossible to be or become perfect, try the hardest as we might!  Several Scripture passages tell us why.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart [of man] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”  Jeremiah 10:23 adds, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man to direct his own way.”

This is saying that, by our own smarts or talents, we humans have no way of directing our steps in the path God wants us to walk.  [See:  Is There Ever Any Good in Man? and A Law-abiding Universe – But Man!]

The apostle Paul, who had his own personal struggles with sin, declared:  “Because the carnal [from the Greek sarx, meaning fleshly] mind is enmity against [hostile to] God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 7:14-24; 8:7).

While he understood the human dilemma, Paul also understood that there is a solution to it:  “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.  And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin [death is sin’s penalty, Romans 6:23], but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him [God the Father] who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit [that] dwells in you” (Romans 8:7-11).

It is through that Spirit that it is possible for man to become perfect!  Thus Jesus told His disciple Peter:  “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:28; see also Mark 10:27).

In Mark 9:23 Jesus qualified:  “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Paul so believed, that in Christ was his hope of overcoming his dilemma (Romans 7:24-25; 8:1, etc.).

However, God does not present the solution on a silver platter!  He expects us to do our part.  We need to co-operate with Him.  And what are those ways we are to work with Him?

First and foremost, we need to be single-minded or determined to depart from the sin or sins that plague us, and walk in the way of righteousness instead.  This is what real repentance is about.  Jesus said:  “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).  He also commands those whom He forgives:  “Go, and sin no more (John 8:11; 5:14).

What if our resolve to “sin no more” is weak?  We can certainly ask Jesus to give us a strong or firm resolve.  Jesus assures:  “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14).  If we ask Him to give us the strength to resist sin – and the devil – He assuredly will!

James 4:7-10 exhorts us:  “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

God can help us find the will to obey Him and do good works (Philippians 2:13) [see: Saved for Good Works].  But He does not force us in such a way that we can no longer exercise our will or freedom to choose for ourselves; it works by giving us the power to do His will, to do good.  [See:  God’s Spirit and Obedience, The Higher Law of the Spirit and What Is This Thing Called “Will?”]

This helps us to fix our eyes on Jesus while we struggle to lay aside the sins that so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:2). As we do, we avoid the problem of Peter, who sank in the troubled waters when he took his eyes away from Jesus and focused instead on his fear. But Jesus saved him when he called out to Him for help (Matthew 214:25-31).

As we call on Jesus in faith, He will help us tear down Satan’s stronghold in our minds and hearts, to make our every thought obedient to Him (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Secondly, God also provides a “support system” for a sinner who is struggling to overcome sin.  Proverbs 17:17 says:  “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Jesus came to establish a community of believers who would so love one another as He has loved them (Matthew 16:18; John 13:34).  The Church of God provides a sinner with a friend or friends and brothers in Christ who can help bear his spiritual and other burdens (Galatians 6:2).  [See:  Where Is God’s Church Today?]

Jesus has set in His church various ministers to help build up and encourage His people toward His perfect spiritual likeness (Ephesians 4:11-13).

God knows how difficult it is for a person struggling with some pernicious sin to go it on his own.  He needs a friend or buddy who could help him go through the straight and narrow way of God.  Associating with such Christian friends helps encourage him to do good works and depart from evil works (|Hebrews 10:24-25).

Hebrews 12:22-24 shows that it is possible for Christians to come to have their spirit [the inner man] made perfect through Christ’s provisions, and make them worthy of everlasting life in God’s kingdom.

As the Feast of Pentecost approaches [to be observed by God’s people on May 16 this year], let us remember that eventful day during which God poured out His Spirit on the newly founded Church of God (Acts 2).  May you find that same Spirit, and community, to help you become perfect as God is perfect!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
23042021

 

 

 

Anyone who thinks sin is not a problem has a big problem indeed! For sin has been mankind’s problem from the very start of man’s creation up to this very minute. Sin affects all of mankind. As Romans 3:23 puts it: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 1 John 1:8 agrees: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Sin is such a big problem because it often brings pleasures that deceive us from realizing its dangers.  [For more on this, see: The Deceitfulness of Sin.]

Sin is such a serious thing, however, because – unless remedied – it has a dire consequence: “For the wages [reward or penalty] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The prophet Ezekiel had much earlier said: “The soul [person] who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).

Know the enemy!

Since sin brings death, it is an enemy we face every day. We must struggle with it as in a life-or-death battle, or else we will be overcome by it and become its dead victim!

In order to overcome our enemy, sin, we must know who or what it is. This is a basic rule of successful warfare.

What is sin? 1 John 3:4 [NKJV] says: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness [Greek, anomia], and sin is lawlessness.” The KJV renders the latter part of this verse as: “…for sin is the transgression of the law [of God].”

The law of God defines for us what, in God’s view, is sin, and its opposite – right doing or righteousness. The apostle Paul said: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said: ‘You shall not covet’” (Romans 7:7|).

God’s “law” includes not only the “Ten Commandments” (Exodus 20), which Paul quoted, but also the statutes, judgments, ordinances, and testimonies [witness] of God as found in His word (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, and as referred to in all the rest of the Bible. [See: The Law of Christ and Moses and Jesus – Are They Contraries?]

The “original sin”

The first sinner in all the universe was not Adam or Eve. Rather, it was the archangel Lucifer, who formerly was one of the cherubim that covered God’s heavenly throne (Ezekiel 28:14, 16). He chose “iniquity” or sin against God in rebellion. Thus Lucifer was cast down from heaven to earth (Isaiah 14:12; Revelation 12:7-10). He has since become Satan [meaning adversary or enemy of God], and his angels have become demons. [See:  Where Did the Devil Come From? and “Your Eyes Will Be Opened!”]

Since man’s creation Satan has been busy inciting and inducing mankind to sin against God as he has done. He is called the “tempter,” for he injects his sinful thoughts into the minds of men, who are thus deceived into sinning against God, and making them his “children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2-3).

Could God not have kept man from sinning?

Genesis 2:8-9 shows that in the Garden of Eden God gave our first parents [Adam and Eve] the choice between two trees – the “tree of life” and “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” [See: What Is This Thing Called “Will?”]

God had known from the start that it was possible for man to choose either of the two trees – the one leading to everlasting life, and the other to death ||(Genesis 2:17; 3:22). And the record shows that man did choose death instead of life! [See: “The Next Chapter of History.”]

Because He knew of such a possibility, God had thought well ahead of time a remedy to save sinning man from death. Revelation 13:8 reveals that the “Lamb” [one of the symbolic names of Jesus, see John 1:39] had been established or appointed by God the Father even before the creation of man, to be the Lamb to take away man’s sin and make man right or acceptable in God’s sight. [See: The True Christ.]

That is how God has shown His love for mankind: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The first of the seven festivals or holy days of God – the Passover – pictures this first step in God’s plan of salvation of mankind. [See: God’s Feasts in the Book of Acts: Mere Time Markers – or to Be Observed?]. This year 2021 this festival will be observed by the true people of God in the evening of March 26th.

May I then greet all of my brethren a happy and meaningful Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread!

Power to overcome

God knows that man, made of the dust of this earth, is powerless to overcome sin on his own strength. That is why He has offered His Holy Spirit of power to triumph over sin and death. [See: The Higher Law of the Spirit, God’s Spirit and Obedience, and Breaking Down Our “Walls of Jericho.”]

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
16032021

 

Last month I wrote about “A New Beginning” that God will bring about when Christ returns to claim control and rulership over the kingdoms and nations of this world.  This “New Beginning,” that will have no ending, however, will undergo two “phases.”

In this present article I will discuss the first phase [“Phase I”] of that new beginning. It is what we may call a temporary or preliminary phase, which will prepare the way for the next phase [“Phase II”] which will complete and consummate God’s “New Beginning” that will have no ending for God’s children from among mankind who will inherit everlasting life or immortality in God’s eternal kingdom.

This temporary or preliminary phase of God’s plan is appropriately pictured by the sixth of God’s seven holy days or festivals – the Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Booths [temporary dwellings]. [For more details of this festival, see: God’s Feasts and the Jews – Part 3.]

Phase I-A

The first leg of Phase I is the destruction of this present world as misgoverned by imperfect human beings under Satan’s sway (Revelation 12:9; 1 John 5:19). As Revelation 11:16-18 quotes the twenty-four elders [spirit beings who apparently serve as counselors in Christ’s heavenly court] as saying:

We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.

The succeeding chapters of Revelation detail the plagues that will destroy all the wicked from off the earth. Isaiah 24:1-8 had foretold about this dire event and its consequence:

Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it a waste,
Distorts and scatters about its inhabitants.
And it shall be:
As with the people, so with the priest;
As with the servant, so with the master;
Asw with a maid, so with the mistress;
As with the buyer, so with the seller;
As with the lender, so with the borrower;
As with the creditor, so with the debtor.
The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered,
For the LORD has spoken this word.
The earth mourns and fades away;
The haughty people of the earth languish.
The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants,
Because they have transgressed the laws,
Changed the ordinance,
Broken the everlasting covenant,
Therefore the curse has devoured the earth.
And those who dwell in it are desolate.
Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned.
And a few men are left.

As Isaiah 6:11-13 indicates, only a tenth [10%] of all Israel and all mankind will survive as mortal subjects of Christ’s rule.

Before Christ destroys sinful humanity, He will have put away Satan the devil and his demon cohorts (Revelation 20:1-3) who have misled mankind into sin and death. [See: Two Goats Together, especially the sections “Satan’s fate” and “When will Satan be bound?”]

Phase I – B

After this putting away of Satan and the destruction of wicked mankind, the next step Christ will take will be to clean up all the mess that the destruction will have left behind.

• The carcasses of dead men which are not completely burned will need to be disposed of. As Ezekiel 39:11-12 exemplifies, there will be a lot of burying to do!

• Revelation 19:17-18 shows that carrion-eating birds [vultures, etc.] will help in disposing of the flesh of dead people and horses used in battle. [See also Ezekiel 39:17-20.]

• Revelation 14:17-20 shows that Christ’s wrath will result in such shedding of human and animal blood that it will reach “up to the horses’ bridle” in depth. This layer of blood will need to be plowed into the soil to cleanse it and make it fertile for crops to grow well.

Phase I – C

Then will come the clearing away of all the damage and debris of “the battle of the great day of the Almighty” (Revelation 16:14). All the military hardware left behind will need to be melted down and used for agricultural, industrial and other peaceful purposes (Micah 4:3; Isaiah 2:4). The rubble of destroyed buildings and other structures will need to be cleared away and dumped into low places.

• The earth’s terrain, which will have been vastly transformed by tumultuous earthquakes (Revelation 6:12-14; 16:17-20), will need to be re-landscaped to make it suitable for agriculture, human habitation, and economic endeavors.

• The surviving human beings will need to be comforted and healed as necessary (Isaiah 40:1-3, 11) by Christ and His team of glorified saints who will rule with Him on earth for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 5:8-10; 20:6).

Phase I -D

The next step is to undertake a great work of building infrastructures to make life comfortable and pleasant.

• Sensible houses will be need to be built for the surviving people to dwell in.

• Safe public utilities will need to be put in place: power, water, waste management, roads and highways, mass transport and communication facilities, commercial spaces, etc.

• Agricultural activities will be undertaken to provide healthy and nutritious food that is free from all the pollutants and harmful additives of today’s self-serving farming practices. [See: When One Who  Preaches Christ Plants Corn.] God will make former deserts productive (Isaiah 35:1-2, 6-7). Having enjoyed some Sabbath or rest, lands will become more productive (2 Chronicles 36:21).

• At this time a new temple in Jerusalem will be built to house Christ’s throne as King of kings and His team of glorified saints who rule with Him. [See: The Temple in Ezekiel 40-48.] From this temple a stream of living water will flow out to cleanse and purify the seas and oceans and marshlands of pollution (Ezekiel 47:1-12). This will result in healthier fish and beaches for all to enjoy.

• School buildings will need to be provided for the formal education [or re-education] of the human survivors who will become subjects of Christ’s kingdom. So thorough will this re-education become that God’s knowledge and truth will fill the whole earth “as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). Worship centers [churches rid of idolatries] will also be set up all over the earth to hasten the learning process.

• All this transformation of the earth’s and mankind’s spiritual landscape will result in a world filled with such abundant peace and prosperity as mankind has never experienced before! [See: World Peace – At Last!]

Phase I – E

At or toward the end of Christ’s 1000-year reign with His saints, Satan and /his demons will be released for a short season in order to deceive the horde of human beings who will think to rebel against Christ’s government. But they will not go far, for Christ’s superior power will overcome and destroy them swiftly (Revelation 20:1-9).

Hopefully these rebels will be given a chance to repent and be saved, along with all other human beings who had not known and accepted Christ in their lifetime.

Phase I – F

After this great destruction and eventual cleansing of the earth, a massive resurrection to physical life of all human beings who had never received the saving knowledge of God and Christ will take place (Revelation 20:5, 11-12). This will be their time of judgment and their chance to be saved, if they would. [See: This Is Not the Only Day of Salvation.]

At the end of that judgment period, all the dead who had willfully rejected God in their lifetime will be resurrected to be destroyed in the lake of fire [the “second death”], along with those judged unworthy during the judgment period after the 1,000-year [ or millennial] reign of Christ (Revelation 20:13-15; 21:8). Those who prove righteous to the end will be resurrected or changed to immortality, just as Christ’s saints will have been changed at His return (1 Corinthians 15:50-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16).

Phase I – G

The intense fire that will destroy all the wicked of the earth will also destroy or melt and dissolve the elements of the present earth and heaven. 2 Peter 3:7, 10 describes this awesome event. It will immediately precede the beginning of “Phase II” of God’s new beginning. Unlike Phase I, Phase II will last forever and ever.

Phase II

Only the faithful and righteous among men will take part in that bright new world – the true eternal “city of God,” the “New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21-22). This is that city or country which father Abraham and other righteous people have sought for or looked forward to, one not made by human hands [such as today’s world], but made by God alone (Hebrews 9:11; 11:10; 12:20; 13:14). No wicked or evil person will be included or allowed in that city (Revelation 21:8; 22:14-15).

• Even the seas will be gone (Revelation 21:1)! The sea is symbolic of sinful humanity (Revelation 13:1). All unrepentant wicked, ungodly people will have been destroyed in the “lake of fire” (Revelation 21:8). Only righteous human beings, given immortal or everlasting life as Jesus judges, will survive the great fire of destruction and live on into eternity – forever and ever. The resulting expansion of the earth’s surface will enable the billions of the saved to have ample living space. [See:  Enough Room on Earth for the Saved?]

• God will serve as the Sun and Christ as the Moon to light the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:23-24). There will be no night or darkness at all in the New Jerusalem (Verse 25).

• Since only immortal, divine beings will live forever in that new earth, there will be no need of physical food for them to survive as we do in this present life. However, the original “tree of life” will be restored, after it had been taken away from Eden after Adam and Eve sinned (Revelation 22:2-3; Genesis 3:22-24). The immortal people of God will eat the fruit of that tree not for physical sustenance, but for enjoyment and pleasure, and to maintain spiritual health.

Phase II of God’s new beginning being what it is, it behooves those who desire to enjoy its glorious pleasures and delights to keep themselves “in holy conduct and godliness,” and “without spot and blameless” (2 Peter 3:11, 14). We are commanded to “beware lest [we] fall from [our] own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked” (Verse 17).  Instead we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Verses 17-18).

Jesus admonishes His people to overcome sin, this world and the evil one [Satan], to repent, “be faithful unto death,” and “hold fast” what Christ has given us lest we lose our “crown (Revelation 2-3).

To help in this overcoming and being faithful, see: The Higher Law of the Spirit, God’s Spirit and Obedience, Breaking Down our “Walls of Jericho,” and “I Never Knew You!”

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
21-23012021

 

As we approach a new year – such as 2021 – many of us have our resolutions to “turn over a new leaf” when the new year rolls around. [See: Happy New Year!]  It seems that God has built in us a deep sense that somehow, sometime, we can surpass our past and present troubles — our failed promises — and make a new, and better, beginning tomorrow.

And that is not far from what God’s word reveals to us!

The Alpha and the Omega

As our Creator, Jesus reveals Himself as “the Alpha and the Omega” [the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet] — meaning, the “beginning and the ending” (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:12-17; Revelation 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13).

An ancient “plain song” or chant captures this truth:

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega; He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that, that have been, and that future years shall see,
Ever more and ever more. Amen.

God knows all too well that we human beings are made of dust (Psalm 103:14) – frail and prone to sin. As Paul put it: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” and this being so, we all are condemned to the penalty of death (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Jeremiah 17:9 puts it bluntly: “The heart [of man] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” [See: Is There Ever Any Good in Man? and A Law-abiding Universe – But Man!]

Time and time again man’s wickedness has brought the whole of humanity and our planet earth to near-extinction, but for the grace of God (Genesis 6:1-8, etc.; Matthew 24:21-22). [See: “The Next Chapter of History.”]

The end of all things

As the perfect and righteous Judge (Psalm 7:8; John 5:30), Christ will destroy all wicked men who refuse to believe and repent – along with the present heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:7, 10-12; Revelation 21:8). As “the Alpha and the Omega” Christ will end all that He created that has grown sour and foul. But He also assures that, for all who remain faithful and righteous, they can look forward to His sure promise to make for them “new heavens and a new earth,” where only righteousness – no evil – dwells (2 Peter 3:13).

A magnificent new beginning

Revelation 21:1-5 describes that magnificent new beginning:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And there was no more sea [sea being symbolic of mortal mankind, Revelation 13:1-2, etc.]. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle [dwelling] of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death [that is, for these people], nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Those who desire to enjoy such a new beginning Jesus bids:

“Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

Jesus had explained that such water refers to the Holy Spirit that God gives to those who believe and come to Him (John 7:38-39).

This is the new beginning that has no ending for those who will receive everlasting life – immortality! They will no longer die, for they will be in the eternal Paradise of God, where they will partake of the original “tree of life” (Revelation 22:14) – and live forever (Genesis 3:22).

Peter urges: “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).

By our own human efforts we cannot make ourselves “without spot and blameless.” We need a higher power to become such! [See: The Higher Law of the Spirit.]

Happy new beginning!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
19122020

 

One of the deadliest lies perpetuated by Satan the Devil –the father of all lies (John 8:44) and who has the whole world deceived by his lies (Revelation 12:9) and held under his dread sway (1 John 5:19) – has come alive again at this time of year!

It is the lie about the God-man Jesus Christ having been born on December 25! If one were diligent enough to examine the Biblical evidence, one would be led to conclude that Jesus’ birth did not occur – and could not have occurred – in the dead cold of winter, but rather sometime in the fall season! [See: Feast of John the Baptist.]

So, how did Jesus’ birth come to be involved in the celebration of the gaudiest and “merriest” season of the year – Christmas?

The actual origin of Christmas

Honest researchers into the truth of this matter have traced the self-indulgent practices of this season to the old pagan tradition of the Saturnalia, which honored the pagan god Saturn. Saturn (meaning “the hidden one”) referred to the despot Nimrod who ruled over his kingdom in Babel (Genesis 10:8-10). He promoted a religion that opposed God’s true religion. For this reason God commanded the patriarch Shem to execute him. Nimrod thus fled and hid himself and became known to his followers as Saturn. He was eventually found and slain, but his devotees passed on the tradition that Nimrod was “reborn” as the sun-God Saturn. They thus celebrated this supposed “rebirth” as a festival of merry-making and gift-exchanging. [For more details, see: https://www.herbert-armstrong.org,click ENTER HERE, select“Books & Booklets,” and scroll down to the booklet titled “The Plain Truth About Christmas.”]

In the early centuries of the Christian church, many people were being converted to the Christian faith. But the Roman Catholic hierarchy decided to make it “easier” for many of these converts to transition to Christianity by dressing up their pagan traditions with quasi-Christian trappings. This is how Christmas has become a popular worldwide celebration, indulged in by “Christians” and non-Christians alike. Christmas has become a multi-million dollar business everywhere! For this reason businessmen want the old lie perpetuated!

Most proponents of Christmas would not want to part with it for the supposed “love” and “joy” that it brings to people, especially the little ones. But, as I will explain, there is far greater and more lasting joy in obeying God!

Admit it or not, Christmas is at heart a form of worship of a supposed baby Christ. Many don’t realize, however, that to God this is a most serious matter! In His law God commands:

When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you go to possess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, “How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.” You shall not worship the LORD your God in the same way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods (Deuteronomy 12:29-31).

We cannot worship the true God rightly, using pagan traditions and practices, for these are abominable to Him.

God has prescribed, in His law, how we are to worship Him. True worship that is acceptable to God is to love Him and our neighbor, as He commands in His Ten Commandments. [See: The Law of Christ.]

In Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 God lists His holy days and festivals that we are to observe as a part of our worship toward Him. These – instead of this world’s holidays – are to be observed, with rejoicing (Deuteronomy 16:14).

There is joy in observing God’s commanded holy days and festivals that no holidays of this world can ever match! [See: https://www.herbert-armstyrong.org, click ENTER HERE, select “Books & Booklets,” and scroll down to the booklet titled “Pagan Holidays – Or God’s Holy Days – Which?” See also: God’s Feasts in the Book of Acts: Mere Time Markers – or to Be Observed?]

True love for God

Those who observe God’s commandments and laws are the ones who truly love God and Jesus Christ (John 14:21, 23). That also is how we can be sure that we also really love our brother or neighbor (1 John 5:2-3). And those who love God are truly known by Him (1 Corinthians 8:3). [See: “Whoever Loves God Is Known by Him.”] Only those who are truly known by Christ will be welcomed into His glorious kingdom at His return. [See: “I Never Knew You!”]

When Christ returns – soon! – to rule the world, He will have Satan bound in an abyss, thereby disabling him from deceiving mankind again for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3). Thus all the lies foisted by Satan and his instruments on all humanity will be banished and not allowed to spread, except for a short while in order to deceive a portion of human rebels toward the end of that millennium. Afterwards he will be imprisoned again, and all of mankind will be free from his influence during the Last Judgment. Only the knowledge of God – His truth [no lies!] – will fill the earth “as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 121:9).

Those who practice and love a lie – such as Christmas – and won’t repent of it, will be banished in the “lake of fire” at the Last Judgment (Revelation 21:8; 22:15). [See: “Whoever Loves and Practices a Lie.”]

While there is time, my sincere desire is that you, dear reader, will decide to obey the truth and forsake the lie, and thus enjoy eternity with Jesus Christ and His saints. [See: True Worship.]

Your decision may cost your breaking ties with family and friends, but in the end, Jesus promises eternal blessings to those who choose to obey Him despite persecution (Matthew 5:10-12).

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
05122020

 

Years ago someone gave me a poster about “Twelve Rules for Living.” Perhaps many of you, my readers, may have also heard about this same set of rules. I believe this list could have been partly based on, or condensed from, the bestselling book by Canadian clinical psychologist and psychology professor Jordan B. Peterson, titled Twelve Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. [See: http://en.wikipedia.org>12_Rules_for_Life].

One of the rules on the list, expressed humorously, is: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” It is but plain common sense that if something is working perfectly and is not “out of order,” there’s no need to “fix” it. Otherwise, the attempt and effort at “fixing” it might actually “break” or damage it instead!

When it comes to God’s word – the Holy Bible – however, it seems that many have tried to “fix” it when, in fact, Jesus said that “the Scripture cannot be broken”(John 10:35)! God’s word is perfect and whole; it is not broken, nor can it ever be broken at all, even though some have tried to “fix” it, as I will explain further.

However, one can “break” God’s word by disobeying it, just like one “breaks” a law by violating it – and that not without a consequence or penalty, as the same law provides! Much more so, God’s word or law is inexorable, and the consequence of disobeying it – which we call “sin” – is death (Romans 6:23), the ultimate being the “second death” in the “lake of fire” in the last Day of Judgment” (Revelation 21:8; ,20:12-13).

God’s word came to mankind through Jesus Christ, who is called “the Word” (John 1:1), from the Greek Logos, sometimes rendered as “Spokesman.” Jesus came to the world to give us the message of God, our Father in heaven. [See: The Comings of Christ, The True Christ, and Peter Knew “The Holy One.”]

God’s purpose for His word

The apostle Paul, one of Christ’s faithful servants, wrote: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“All scripture” [meaning, the “written word” of God] has been preserved for us in the book we call “the Holy Bible.” In it we find a collection of writings concerning the origin of mankind, the history of the first generations of men, God’s acts in dealing with man’s sinfulness, and calling out a nation to become His people who would demonstrate to all mankind how men ought to live in a way that would bring true happiness and, eventually, life everlasting, through His own Son whom He sent.

As such, the Bible contains laws – commandments, statutes, judgments, ordinances – that define what is right or acceptable conduct in God’s eyes, and what is not. Paul said: “I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known what covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Romans 7:7). Psalm 119:172 declares: “For all your commandments are righteousness.” Thus God’s word is our guide to – our instruction about – righteousness and “good works.”

Being of divine origin, the Bible reflects God’s perfect character. In its pages we find instruction on how to become perfect as God is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

As the word of an immortal, ever-living God, the Bible will endure or remain forever [“abide” or “stand forever,” Isaiah 40:6-8, quoted in 1 Peter 1:24-25].

Every single human being will be judged, in God’s own time, by God’s word. Jesus said: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

God has appointed Jesus to be Judge of the living and the dead (John 5:22; 2 Timothy 4:1). Revelation 20:11-12 describes a great time of the resurrection of all those who have died without the saving knowledge of Christ. In that “last day” God will open “books” [from the Greek biblia] – including the Holy Bible and The Book of Life —  and all these dead will be judged by Christ according to these books and the people’s works. [See:  This Is Not the Only Day of Salvation.]

Ultimately every person will be judged according to their works – whether good or evil – and will be rewarded accordingly: everlasting life for those who have done good, and everlasting condemnation or death in the “lake of fire” [the “second death”] for those who have done evil (Matthew 16:27; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 22:12; 21:8).

This being the case, all of us should fear tampering with God’s perfect word. As Isaiah 66:2 says, “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor [humble] and of a contrite [repentant] spirit, and who trembles at My word .”

Let’s beware of trying to “fix” God’s word by tweaking it to say what it really doesn’t mean to. Christ is compared to a “stone cut out of the mountain without hands,” which will “break in pieces” all the kingdoms of this world (Daniel 2:45). Matthew 21:44 speaks of that same “stone” thus: “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

The articles which I have published on this website have sought to set straight God’s word which others have tried to “fix” even though it has never been broken. In trust that these will help you avoid the way of death and instead walk in the way that leads to everlasting life!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
21112020

 

In a few days from this writing, September 10 this year will be celebrated by some remnants and former members of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) as their seventh annual festival called the “Last Great Day” (LGD). This day – which this year also happens to be both a weekly and an annual Sabbath – is equivalent, in the Hebrew calendar, to the 23rd day of their seventh month, Tishri. Jews call this day their Shemini Atzeret, meaning “Eighth-day assembly.” [See: God’s Feasts and the Jews – Part 3, especially the section titled “The Last Great Day and the Jews.”]

The former WCG had believed that, at Christ’s return, only the “elect” of God – the “saints” [those “sanctified” by God’s Holy Spirit] or those who are “in Christ” will be saved while all others will perish when He comes to “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18) – which will include most of the earth’s population (Isaiah 24:6). Those who have died “in Christ” will rise [be resurrected] to receive immortality ahead of those still alive “in Christ” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:50-55). [See: God’s Feasts and the Jews — Part 2, and turn to the section on “The Feast of Trumpets and the Jews.”]

The key Scripture passage that supports the belief that there is yet hope for all those who have died without the saving knowledge of Christ is Revelation 20:5, 6, 11-12 –

“But the rest of the dead [who are not blessed to be among the “elect” who have part in the “first resurrection”] did not live again until the thousand years [of Christ’s reign on earth with His saints] are finished….Then I saw a great white throne and Him [Christ] who sat in it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books [from the Greek biblia] were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”

 That vast number includes all  who are yet “unsaved”of mankind since Adam and Eve, and perhaps even those after Christ sets up God’s kingdom here. [See: This Is not the Only Day of Salvation, The Book of Life, God’s “Book of Remembrance,”  and  Two Goats Together, the section on “A possible scenario.”]

So that I won’t be repeating myself here, I would like to share with my dear readers some words of hope for the dead – words which I have shared with bereaved folks during funeral services at chapels or gravesides. The following, then, are excerpts from such messages or “homilies,” with insertions of relevant website links, for the benefit of my present readers. I trust that this message brings comfort and consolation to you as it did to several who came to me after the service to express their appreciation for such an effect on them.

Why flowers at funerals?

It has been the custom or practice in the Philippines, as it is in other countries, to bring flowers to the casket of a dead family member or friend at funeral chapels and gravesides. Flowers express our love and tender feelings to those dear to us, as a young man offers flowers to a maiden he fancies. With their colors, shapes and fragrance, flowers somehow help blunt the pain, sorrow, and ugliness of the death of a loved one.

But perhaps one benefit to our souls that such flowers bring, which we should ponder with sobriety and hope, is that flowers should remind us of our fleeting status as mortals in God’s eyes. Quoting Isaiah 40:6-8, the apostle Peter declared in his epistle (1 Peter1:24) —

“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
But the word of the LORD endures forever.”

Like grass or a flower, all of us human beings die sooner or later – we “dry up” and our “glory fades away.” Whatever glory or beauty, strength, position, place or possession – all these we will leave behind; we cannot carry them to our grave. Like dried grass or flowers, we end up as ashes burned in the fire, or soil (“humus,” from which we derive the word “human”) in a compost pile. The wise King Solomon observed: “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. And they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). [See: What Happens to Man After Death?]

In stark contrast to grass and flowers, the passage from Peter’s letter (latter part) declares: But “the word of the LORD endures forever.” Of that word, Jesus said: “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Speaking of life, we all understand that we mortal creatures remain alive as long is as we have proper food to eat. But what most of us don’t realize is that there is food (“bread”) more important for our permanent survival. Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Jesus said: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Many fail to partake of that “bread” (Word), and so find themselves spiritually “malnourished,” dying, if not already dead!

That is why God invites everyone: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your heart delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live” (Isaiah 55:1-3).

The “waters” that God speaks of represent His Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39), which He will give to all who will repent of their sin, believe in Christ as their Savior, and are baptized in His name (Acts 2:39). These believers also constitute God’s and Christ’s spiritual “flock of sheep,” whom He, as their “Good Shepherd,” will feed with spiritual food from God’s word to sustain them to everlasting life (John 10:11; Isaiah 40:11). Jesus established His church and His ministry to help Him in this feeding (1 Peter 5:1-4).

The sad reality, however, is that today there are many churches and many preachers that claim to be Christ’s own, but are actually fakes (Matthew 24:23-24)! [See: Beware of False Prophets and Fake News.] It behooves every serious seeker to find the Biblical answer to the question Where Is God’s Church Today?– and be properly spiritually fed there with God’s enduring word through Christ’s faithful ministers. As 1 John 5:12 promises: “He who has the Son [Christ] has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

As we have Christ in us through His Spirit, we are assured that at His return we will receive everlasting life. [See: “I Never Knew You!” and God’s Spirit and Obedience.] We will no longer be like grass and flowers, which are here today and gone tomorrow.

We will become true children of God, and brothers and sisters of His Son Jesus, enjoying everlasting life and joy as He does, in the coming “new heavens and new earth,” where “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away … Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:4-5). [See: Are We All God’s Children?]

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
07102020

 

As I recall, it was in the 1980s when I first knew about the song “If I Ruled the World,” composed by Larry Secombe and sung by Tony Bennett [see: https://www.google.com/search?q=if+i+ruled+the+world+lyrics+tony+bennett]. The rather lilting and sweet melody melded well with the sunny lyrics, which went:

If I ruled the world
Every day would be the first day of spring.
Every heart would have a new song to sing,
And we’d sing of the joy every morning would bring.

If I ruled the world
Every man would be as free as a bird,
Every voice would be a voice to be heard,
Take my word, we would treasure each day that occurred.

My world would be a beautiful place,
Where we would weave such wonderful dreams;
My world would wear a smile on its face,
Like the man on the moon has when the moon beams.

If I ruled the world
Every man would say the world was his friend,
There’d be happiness that no man could end,
No, my friend, not if I ruled the world.
Every head would be held up high,
There’d be sunshine in everyone’s sky,
If the day ever dawned when I ruled the world.

The lyrics ooze with high optimism, if with a tinge of braggadocio. Knowing mankind’s failed attempts to bring about a bright, new world which the song eloquently waxes about, we may look at it as an expression of the deep longing and wishes of men – the kind of stuff that many a Miss Universe contestant offer as the hope they want to pursue if given the chance to wear the crown.

Actually, I got to know about the song in a rather round-about way.

In the 1980s, as in previous and later times, the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) headquarters at Pasadena, Calif., U.S.A. would help the choirs of WCG local churches acquire appropriate choral music material to provide special music during their weekly Sabbath worship services and, especially, during the “festivals” or “holydays” which the churches observed locally or as combined congregations.

The highlight of these festivals has been the sixth and the seventh – the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles [often shortened as FOT] and the “Last Great Day” [LGD] — the very season we are in right now. [See: God’s Feasts in the Book of Acts: Mere Time Markers – or to Be Observed?]

These festivals particularly look forward to the establishing of God’s kingdom here on earth after Jesus Christ returns in glory to take over the reins of government of the earth’s nations. Powerful and positive sermons usually detail the “Wonderful World Tomorrow” when Christ transforms the world – as only He can – into a utopia that has eluded humanity these past millennia.

Along this vein, the WCG headquarters’ music department provided music scores of a choral arrangement of Secombe’s song, but with modified lyrics [to fit the church’s theology], in order to enhance festival worship. That’s how, as choirmaster of the WCG’s Manila congregation for several years, I got acquainted with the song. This is how the WCG revised the song and re-titled it “When He Rules the World” –

When He rules the world
Every day will be the first day of Spring,
Every heart will have a new song to sing,
And we’ll sing of the joy every morning will bring.

When He rules the world
Every man will be as free as a bird,
Every voice will be a voice to be heard,
Take my word, we will treasure each day that occurs.

His world will be a beautiful place
Where we will weave such wonderful dreams;
His world will wear a smile on its face,
Like the man on the moon when the moon beams.

When He rules the world
Every man will say the world is his friend,
There’ll be happiness that no man can end,
No, my friend, not when He rules the world.
Every head will be held up high.
There’ll be sunshine in everyone’s sky,
As the day surely dawns when He rules the world.

There are no “ifs” and “woulds” in the WCG version of the song, befitting Christ’s title as the “Amen” [“So be it”] (Revelation 3:14). Christ will surely right every wrong there is in the world today when He rules the world for an initial one thousand years – referred to by Bible students as “the Millennium” [Latin for 1,000 years] (Revelation 20:4) — and beyond (Isaiah 9:7; Revelation 11:15).

Non-transformed mankind not able to rule

On our own accounts and resources, we human beings are incapable of truly ruling ourselves, let alone the world! Jeremiah 10:23, under God’s divine inspiration, affirms: “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps!” Even more seriously, Jeremiah 17:9 declares: “The heart [of man] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Isaiah 59:8 adds: “The way of peace they have not known, and there is no judgment in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths.”

Only as each person submits himself or herself to the transforming power of Christ will they be able to really rule themselves and, others as well.  [See: Is There Ever Any Good in Man?  A Law-abiding Universe – But Man! “The Next Chapter of  History,” God’s Spirit and Obedience, and “When He Cometh to Make up His Jewels.”]

When, finally, Christ makes mankind fit to rule with Him in His kingdom, then will Secombe’s boast – and more – come true! [See: World Peace – At Last! and https://www.herbert-armstrong.org, click ENTER HERE, select “Books & Booklets,” and scroll down to the booklet titled “The Wonderful World Tomorrow –What it Will Be Like” or the book titled Tomorrow, What it Will Be Like.]

May God hasten that wonderful day!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
03102020

 

 

 

These words of Jesus Christ (taken from John 17:22) have served as a supreme goal of many an individual or group to see all Christians, and all human beings as well, come to perfect unity. For the patent state of affairs of humanity today has been one of division, conflict, violence, and war!

Never has the world been disunited and divided since the founding of the United Nations on October 24, 1945 [see: https://www.un.org/un70/en/content/history/index.html]. According to UN statistics [see: https://www.britannica/topics/list-of-wars-2031197] over 200 major and minor wars have been recorded since October 1945 till year 2000! As the world’s resources become increasingly scarce or depleted, nations have engaged in “trade wars” that inevitably lead to military warfare! [See: “The Next Chapter of History.”]

Some have pinned their hopes on religion or moral philosophy to somehow help mankind to avoid conflicts among men and nations. But in more cases than not, religion is the very thing that has divided mankind! Extremists and radicals among religious groups rarely think twice to go to war for their religion. Notable is the I.S.I.S. (Islamic State), which could likely draw a backlash among radical and extremist “Christians” that could well bring us back to the murderous age of the Crusaders and the Saracens! [See: The Children of Abraham.]

Ironically, Jesus declared the He had not come to bring peace and unity among men, but rather “a sword and division” (Matthew 10:34). And that is because those who do not believe in Jesus naturally oppose those who do.

But in His heart of hearts Jesus desires that all of mankind come to unity in and through Him. Referring to those whom His Father had given Him (John 17:11), Jesus prayed that “they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory that You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one. I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (Verses 20-23).

How can Jesus be in us?

If the key to unity is Jesus being in us, how then can this happen? Another way in which Jesus put it is that He (and God the Father) can and will “abide” or make their “abode” – their home – in human beings who will love Him and whom the Father will love also. Jesus explained that “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will manifest Myself to him” (Verse 21). He said further: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My words and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (Verse 23).

How love Jesus and the Father?

If the key to having Jesus and the Father make Their home in or with us by keeping their commandments and words, how can we do this, when the natural (“carnal”) bent of man is that of hostility to God’s law and commandments (Romans 8:7)? The apostle Paul explained that the way to “be subject to [or obey] the law of God” is to be “spiritually-minded” – to have the Spirit of Christ in us (Verses 9-10).

How receive Christ’s Spirit?

The apostle Peter showed the “steps”: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord God will call” (Acts 2:38-39). [See: God’s Spirit and Obedience and Predestination.]

What Christ’s Spirit does

In Romans 8:14 Paul declares that “…as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” James 1:18 says that “Of His own will” God the Father “brought us forth [KJV, “begat us”] by the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” To this the Peter adds that we are “born [or begotten] not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). In John 6:63 Jesus affirms that the words He spoke “are spirit, and they are life.”

God’s word and Spirit “sanctify” or set us apart as “holy”, as Jesus prayed (John 17:17-19; Romans 15:16). “Holy” means sinless, having been cleansed of sin through word and through Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary’s cross (Hebrews 10:10).

In this there is unity among the children of God: we all started as sinners condemned to the death penalty as God has declared (Romans 3:23; 6:23). But we have been cleansed of sin, not on our own merits but by Christ’s gracious sacrifice. Thus no one person can elevate himself over another, because we are all “in the same boat!”

And we have all – as many as have true faith in Jesus – been promised the same gift of everlasting life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). [See: https://www.herbert-armstrong.org, click ENTER HERE, select “Books & Booklets”, and scroll down to the booklet titled “What Kind of Faith Is Required for Salvation?”]

God’s promise of salvation is now for those who are His “firstfruits” (James 1:18), and eventually for other human beings, in their own “season of grace.” [See:  Predestination,  The Divine Prerogatives, and This Is not the Only Day of Salvation.]

When Christ returns to earth to set up God’s kingdom here, there will be endless peace and goodwill among men. Isaiah 9:7 promises: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, and even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 11:9 adds: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

Then will take place mankind’s greatest hope, even as the United Nations hopes: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

Then also will Christ purify mankind’s language in order to rid it of falsehoods, vileness, and idolatry. “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, [so] that they may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord” (Zephaniah 3:9).

As Joel 2:28 promises:  “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…”  As such, God’s people will be able to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). As God pours out His Spirit on mankind, people will be able to understand God’s word and truth (1 Corinthians 2:11-12).  With the help of Christ’s appointed ministry to teach them God’s word, they will all eventually  “come to the  unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God [Christ]” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Even before Christ’s return, God’s “two witnesses” (Revelation 11:3-12), will preach the truth of God that will unite a sorely divided Church of God and those who will be called by God to this church.  [See:  Where Is God’s Church Today?  and Leanings.]

After Satan is put away by Christ at His return (Revelation 20:1-3), Satan and his demons will not be allowed to deceive mankind with their lies.  Only God’s truth will be taught and followed during Christ’s reign.  [See:  Two Goats Together.]

Finally, all liars among men will be removed from this earth along with Satan and his demons.  They will have their part in the “lake of fire,” which is “the second death” (Revelation 21:8).  All of surviving mankind will follow only God’s truth and thus come to full unity. [See: “Whoever Loves and Practices a Lie.”]

May God hasten that day of mankind’s total unity!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
18092020

I well remember having sung, in Sunday school, a song with that title: “When He cometh, when He cometh to make up His jewels – precious jewels, precious jewels…”

Our young minds may not have much comprehended what the song really meant.  But what we may have taken away from it, though, was that to God we children were precious, “Like the stars in the sky that look down from the heavens,” as the song went on. And also that we were loved and appreciated, even as Christ said: “Unless you are converted and become as little children you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

Now that I’ve grown older – and hopefully wiser – I understand better the profound meaning of the Bible passage, Malachi 3:16-18, from which the song was taken:

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make My jewels, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’ Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”

As we approach the “Feast of Trumpets” [to be observed  this year 2020 by God’s people on September 19, the equivalent in the Roman calendar of the Hebrew calendar’s Tishri 1, the first day of the seventh month], I want to share some thoughts about the return of Jesus Christ (often called His “second coming”), which this feast pictures or signifies. [See: The Comings of Christ and God’s Feasts and the Jews — Part 2.]

What are jewels for?

This may be a no-brainer, but there are obvious, and less obvious, purposes of jewels. First, of course, is for adornment. Just about all cultures and societies have one form or another of personal bodily adornment or ornamentation: rings, necklaces, bracelets, tiaras, diadems, crowns, etc. Jewels are especially valued to signify the person’s status in society. Because it takes some means to obtain jewels, they are associated with wealth, prestige or social rank.

Jesus Christ is coming again soon as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). As such He will surely have not just one crown on His head, but several. Revelation 4:1-11 describes a vision which the apostle John saw of Christ on His heavenly throne, where He is surrounded by 24 spiritual elders [probably His angelic counselors] who are seated on 24 thrones and each having a crown on his head. Verse 10 describes how these elders fall down before Christ and cast their crowns before His throne – signifying their subservience to Him by submitting their crowns to Him.

Revelation 19:12 shows Christ judging and making war and having “many crowns” on His head. I think this shows that there is not a “department” in our individual and collective lives that can be exempt from Christ’s rule or “lordship.” Echoing Isaiah 45:23, the apostle Paul declared that “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). In 2 Corinthians 10:15 Paul urges that we bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

What it takes to become Christ’s jewel

Malachi 3:16 lists first “Those who fear the LORD,” and adds, “and who meditate on His name.”

The essence of the fear of the LORD is to depart from evil (Proverbs 16:16; 8:13). Jesus considers it precious that we fear Him by departing from evil. Why? Because He is holy and perfect – without sin or moral blemish whatsoever – and commands that we be holy and perfect like Him and His heavenly Father (Matthew 5:48). [See: “Be Holy for I Am Holy”.]

As the perfect Judge of all (Romans 2:16; John 5:22), Christ has the power and authority to destroy all the wicked in the fire of the “second death” (Revelation 21:8), and commands that we fear Him (Matthew 10:23). [See:  Can We Fear and Love God at the Same Time?]

Meditating on Christ’s name

This will take a whole separate article to explain or expound fully. But suffice it here to say that there’s more to Christ’s names than the mere sound of them. Every name has a meaning, and herein lies its power – especially God’s or Jesus’ name.

The apostle Peter declared to the Jews: “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” – no other than the name of Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 4:9-12).

The apostle Paul adds: “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Here are some of the many names of Jesus that we should meditate on, for our salvation:

• Son of God/ Son of Man (Matthew 4:3; 9:6; 12:8; Luke 1:38; etc.) – As the Son of God, Christ “made the worlds, upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:2-3). Paul told the people of Athens about God: “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). As the Son of Man, Jesus was made mortal so that He could die as a sacrifice for purging the sin of all mankind, and ransoming men from death. [See: The Ransomed of the LORD.]
• Lamb of God (John 1:29) –“who takes away the sin of the world.” Paul explained that “…it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats [sacrificial animals offered by the children of Israel] could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). But we have, instead, “been sanctified [cleansed, purged, made holy] through the offering of the body of Christ once for all” (Verse 10). Peter adds: “…You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from, your aimless conduct, received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
• “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) – “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15)! He will rule all nations for an initial 1,000 years and then on to eternity (Isaiah 9:7).
• Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) – Christ will judge those true hristiasns who have died and those who will remain alive at His return: those who are His faithful followers will receive everlasting life, while those who are wicked will be destroyed and given their real chance to be saved, together with all those who have died without knowing Christ, after His 1000-year reign (Revelation 20:5). [See: This Is Not the Only Day of Salvation.]

Christ to rule with His saints

Revelation 5:10 says of the “saints” (Verse 8), that Christ has made them “kings and priests to God and [they] shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 20:6 adds that “they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign [with Him] a thousand years.”

What God is looking for in those who will serve as priests to Him is that they should be able to teach God’s law to others? Malachi 2:7 describes the priest’s role: “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.”  [See: Moses and Jesus — Are They Contraries? and The Law of Christ.]

Hebrews 5:12-14 shows that those who are qualified to teach others should be so spiritually mature as to “have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” – just as Malachi 3:18 says.

Malachi 3:16 also describes those whom Christ will make His jewels as those who “spoke to one another” – and a book was written to record this. [See: God’s “Book of Remembrance.”]

Healthy conversation among a group of people presupposes a healthy, loving relationship. For when two or more people are at loggerheads, they often stop talking – or talk nastily — to each other. We say, “They are not in speaking terms.”

A healthy, robust relationship is based on Godly love, which is gracious and merciful to others. 1 Corinthians 13 is Paul’s sublime description of Godly love. Notice also Colossians 3:12-15 — “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”  Furthermore: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6). To God this is most precious! [See: The Four Dimensions of Christ’s Love.]

“They shall be Mine”

Jesus claims as His own people — His precious possession (Malachi  4:17) — those who have His Spirit.  Romans 8:9 declares:  “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” It is through that Spirit that Christ would “know” us at His return.  [See: “I Never Knew You!”]

As Christ’s return hastens on, are you preparing yourself so you can become one of Christ’s own precious jewels? I hope and pray that you are!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
24082020/07092020