Let’s talk about FORGIVENESS today. The Bible is full of forgiving, and loving, and being merciful. It talks about it all the time! I couldn’t possibly number the sermons I’ve heard on forgiveness. On putting up with a sinning brother’s faults. On remembering that you have a beam in your own eye. On showing Love to others. And you know what? EVERY SINGLE SERMON WAS DEAD WRONG!

That’s right. The Bible does talk a great deal about forgiveness, but odds are it DOESN’T mean what you THINK it means when it says “forgiveness”!

The Bible uses a lot of terms. Love, grace, mercy, peace, forgiveness, righteousness, judgment, etc. And these terms were translated from the respective Greek and Hebrew into English words about 400 years ago. But languages grow and change, and just because *I* use the term “mercy”, and YOU use the term “mercy”, it doesn’t mean that we are saying the same thing. For example, in England “a lift” means an elevator. Here it means a ride to town. So if you go to England and say “I need a lift”, they’ll try to sell you an elevator when what you ACTUALLY wanted is to hitch a ride!

It’s the same with forgiveness. When God says “mercy” in the Bible, He means something very specific, and very definite. And quite simply, the church needs a dictionary. A dictionary that defines words as GOD defines them, not as our language or our society defines them. Mercy, to us, simply means forgiving someone. “Letting go”, of a wrong that they did you. And this is very close to what God means - but critically different…

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Mercy rejoices against judgment. Mercy is excited and is happy and defeats Judgment. But mercy MUST be a step that happens AFTER judgment, because mercy can’t rejoice AGAINST judgment, IF JUDGMENT WAS NEVER MADE! Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by natnee, filed under Basic. Date: October 22, 2009, 8:29 am | No Comments »

Practically every single Christian out there concludes their prayers with the phrase “In Jesus’ Name”; many also conclude letters and other things with it. This of course is based on the scripture that says “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14) - A promise which is repeated several times in various forms throughout the gospel. And God meant exactly what He said - but no one seems to UNDERSTAND what that is! Asking for something, and concluding your prayer with the words “In Jesus’ Name” IS NOT WHAT GOD MEANT! God had more in mind when He said that than mere words, and He was not just giving you some sort of a prayer formula to follow!

When you ask for something “In the name” of Christ, what are you asking for? If you believe that it just means you tack a little “In the name of Jesus Christ” at the end of your prayer, then you have to consider this scripture:

Acts 19:13-15 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are YE?

But these people USED the name of Jesus. And they used the RIGHT name, and they used it CORRECTLY! But it DIDN’T WORK FOR THEM! Because using the phrase “in the name of Jesus Christ” does nothing for you! Doing something “in His name”, or being gathered someplace “In His name” (Matthew 18:20) cannot mean that you mentioned His “magic” name in a prayer, because they tried that, and it didn’t work!

It didn’t work for them, and it WON’T work for you, because just “signing” your prayers “in Christ’s name” is little better than the gentiles who believe they will be heard because of their many words, and repetitious speaking! Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by natnee, filed under Intermediate. Date: October 6, 2009, 9:36 am | No Comments »