What Defiles

Mark 7
14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

The Battle
Something to think about, because our society is such an intense, toxic mix of information technology and purient deviency. But, then again, as in every age, controlling what comes out is a battle.

The King James Version

....Moses....David....Solomon....The Prophets....Ezra....Matthew....Mark....
Luke....John....Paul....Erasmus....The Masorites....Wycliffe....Tindale....Beza....James I....
The 1611 Version Translation Committees....Parris....Blayney....Bagster....

It's such an amazing story, how we came to have our Bible.

God chose me, and then He chose my Bible........

Spirits in Prison 2

1 Peter 3
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Odd Thought
Did the spirits lose their lives and their salvation? or just their lives?

Sparrows and Salvation

Luke 12
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Comfort
As much as I, in my darker moments, fear God, I do not worry about my salvation. I always remember:

His eye is on the sparrow
and I know he watches me.

Apostasy (and Heresy)

2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

From Chafer's Systematic Theology (Vol 7)
An apostate is one who has first embraced some creed or doctrine and afterwards turned from it. Apostasy is a total departure from one's faith or religion; abandonment of creed and renunciation of religious obligation. On the other hand, heresy refers to a belief which is held in variance with standards or accepted features of doctrine.

Billy Graham And The Issue of Apostasy
I was going to write a couple of notes on Billy Graham. I read a couple of articles from Sword Of The Lord and the Way Of Life website about him. And I changed my mind about commenting on this issue. Above my pay grade. I will give some thought to how important this doctrine is in comparison to say salvation or reconciliation or justification.

The Church

Ephesians 1
12 ....We should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Learning to Love the Church
In verse 14 the Church is God's 'purchased possession,' and Christians are a peculiar people. As I read tha Bible, the church gains more importance as a doctrine. Somehow, I used to think Christianity was less about the church and more about savation.....

1 Peter 2
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

When I Need Help

Here are my sources of help in understanding the Bible:

John Gill
C. I. Scofield
Clarence Larkin
Charles Sperry Chafer
Rashi and Kimhi
Charles Ryrie (not so much)

And when I need help just getting through a day, I can usually go to the Bible without any assistance....

Spirits in Prison

1 Peter 3
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

First Question
What were some of important points contained in the Sermon on the Mount?

Second Question
What were some of the important points made by Jesus when he preached to the Spirist in Prison?

I have spent a lot of time studying this passage. For some odd reason, studying it makes me feel closer to reality that is Jesus.

Lord Help Me Jesus

Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

I stumbled across this passage on a day that I really needed it.

Why me, Lord
Lord help me Jesus I've wasted it so,
Help me Jesus, You know what I am,
Now that I know that I've needed you so,
Help me Jesus my soul's in Your hands.

Jesus, My soul's in your hands....