Ellen white says smallest gesture with purpose to shift the truth is a lie.

Both sensationalism and truth are based on perception or knowledge or an intricate pool of facts. The only difference is that one is limited and imperfectly woven, and the other is infinite and perfectly interworking together where changing that smallest fact changes the biggest picture of it.

In the limited pool of sensationalism, such perfect interconnectivity between facts is beyond imagination — there, if you change one fact, the rest remains intact, because the perceiver does not have the capacity to track changes that occur within the whole body, so instead he treats one part independently as if it can function on its own. This allows the perceiver to play with his facts, removing responsibility for changing them as his cunning will pleases and seems necessary at the moment. Each fact is made to suit the perceiver at the moment he perceived it to sustain his sense of safety, comfort, meaning and positivity. But this sense is nothing but a product of the perceiver’s imagination, as the whole perception is. But the perceiver, absorbed in himself alone, does not perceive this bigger truth and is left a slave to his own limited imagination.

The perception of truth which is formed by the infinite facts which work flawlessly together is maintained by the Perceiver. His continuous and unfaltering faithful service gives the perception and absolute validity, enabling it to be always true, without exception, for this Perceiver is infinite in nature, thus He has the power to maintain His infinite perception unadulterated — forever. But a human cannot perceive this infinite perception for his vision is always limited. He cannot maintain it for his power is bizarre. He cannot create it for he himself was created by it. He can only tap it by faith in the infinite Perceiver. And the perceiver who cannot humble himself before the great Perceiver remains slave to his own vanity, the perception of his vain thoughts, barred by it’s limits, reinforcing his false beliefs by the power of sensationalism, in the cyclical, repetitive, and futile attempts to make it appear more trustworthy — for deep down he knows he cannot be trusted; however he blurrs this knowledge by the desperate desire to be unjustly in control of the world he did not create. This unbalanced ambitions enslave him within the hyperbolic apparition of sensationalism — bloating that which is perceivable to appear infinite times stronger than its actual value in order to make up for the lack of perception of that which only God can perceive. By this we remove God from the picture, placing ourselves in His stead, becoming the authors of foolishness, for there is no truth without the Truth-Maker, and no sustaining of the infinite without the One who always is, the Great I AM.

Sensationalism gives power to feelings, truth gives power to meaning.

There is meaning in feelings, but with short expiration date. It cannot compete with the meaning of truth which has no expiration date and stays as fresh as it is now throughout all eternity.

Sensationalism, however innocently it flickers in the beginning, is always intended to distort truth — it always ends with burning houses filled with any sort of life. It is ruthless by nature. And there is a reason for this: sensationalism always lacks value in meaningfulness. It cannot stand the test of time in the long run — it cannot fill eternity with meaning, reason to live, moral weight, or incorruptible value.

There is peace in truth because the meaning is valued, while in sensationalism there is hysteria because it can never compensate for the lack of meaningful truth it harbors beneath it. Truth needs no sensational emphasis because it harbors meaning of an eternal value. The lack of meaning and truth in sensationalism forces it to fill the gap of value with excitements of the flesh rather than of the spirit.

Whenever truth is spoken with sensations that attract the body, it is never of God — that voice, letter, or picture identifying itself as truth is not the truth. Of course, truth can NEVER be expressed indifferently, because love is never indifferent — and truth is sister to love. Thus, truth always carries within it a great dose of usefully controlled enthusiasm — there are enthusiastic ways of expressing truth. But these methods come from sheer love and are inner-driven — they flow from a heart governed by the Spirit, not stirred by the flesh. Still, sometimes — due to our fallen nature — our habits may mistakenly slip to those of the flesh, if we are not watchful enough —and this is forgivable. God forgives until we learn to become fully vigilant “of the devil, who roams like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

• 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

 But purposeful sensationalism is never innocent, nor it appreciates forgiveness when offered,  for at its core lies the intent to pull souls away from God and the truth — and with that, from His love for us in His Son Jesus Christ, the Lord of life. Those who are entangled in sensationalism without knowing its devilish origin and its power and grip it holds over them are victims of deception — not deceivers. They are not the perpetrators, though they do the work of the devil. But when truth shines its light before their deceived eyes, and they still love the darkness instead, choosing deception because their works are evil, they suddenly get promoted in the devil’s kingdom, from mere innocent victims and helpless captives —frontline workers and scapegoats — to masters of crime and corruption.

• John 3:18  — He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
  ¹⁹  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
  ²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
  ²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
• John 7:7 — The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

In music, simple chords play out divine melody — but just what makes the melody divine? Always the meaning behind the words — the truth makes the melody divine. David’s Psalms were not recorded in chords, but in words alone. It is NEVER the chords, nor the refined sound of the finely crafted instrument designed by human hands, nor the seamless skill of the musician who plays it, nor the tonal depth, richness, and mastery of his voice, nor the gifted precision of the one who rhymes, handed down by God through ancestral bloodline and excelled through tradition, that plays forth divinity, not even the eloquence of the preacher of the Gospel itself — these are all human  qualities and can always be exceeded — but the spoken words handed by the prophetic Spirit of God’s Holiness. The context of the invisible and inaudible meaning behind those Words that promises to the soul that the Immortal One, laid His immortality open for us to share because He loves us as if each of us were His only begotten Son. 

The instruments, the chords, the skills and mastery, the rhymes and tones of voice, however exalted excelented they are, however noble ,they can never save souls by themselves, even if they originate from heaven itself and are performed by unfallen holy angels. It is the message of the gospel that saves the believing sinner, not the instruments through which it is carried. Words alone can save souls, but instruments alone cannot. Whichever way we may use the instruments, the power of the Gospel does not depend on them. It is a power of itself. A power of the Word alone. Chords cannot be “BELIEVED.” They do not carry within them a meaning or an absolute meaning. They carry subjective interpretations — they stirring what is already inside, they do not bring new information to the heart of the listener. Not new understanding. They are tools, not essence. The chords are always just a nice and gracious plus, never a must, and they are always the result of believing, not the cause of it. They are the grateful enthusiasm that comes after believing, which fuels the will to share the words that saved our lives to others.

They are one of the many channels of expressing that which is the absolute channel :the way the truth and the life. They require the absolute channel for power, and the channel doesn’t require them, for it is itself the power. It is the channel that produces chords of cheerfulness and gratitude, and these chords need no refinement for they are reflection of the perfect.

Professionalism refines that which does not immerge from the perfect, in order to make it appear perfect. It washes the pot from the outside because there is no perfection inside that reflects its purity by itself, so the purity must be faked, to create the illusion that there is an internal cleansing power. But the very act of cleaning the outside shows that they do the works by themselves, not by God, maintaining the form of faith denying the power thereof.

• Matthew 23:27 — “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”
• Matthew 23:25-26 — “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
  ²⁶ Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

Professionalism never saved souls nor it was ever a product of a soul which was saved, and God never commanded it to be the means of preaching words of salvation either. If anything, He warned us against it and it has always been a stumbling block to those prone to believing. GOD CHOSE THE SIMPLE to carry out his saving message, the poor, the stepped on, the unwanted of society, the ones with ragged voices, the uneducated ones, the limb and handicapped, the children, those who cannot play the violin or know the scales of the notes, but with pure love express the power of the gospel with all they have, even with two chords or no chords. Even without speech proficiency, as Moses , who forgot the speech and was stuttering

God choose the simplest methods by simplest people so that the excellence of his power shines in the face of Jesus Christ by the light he commanded within our dark bodies made of clay.

• 2 Corinthians 4:6–9 — For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
  ⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
  ⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”
• James 1:9–10 —Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
  ¹⁰ But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”

Proficiency in music is not condemned, it is much welcomed, but it is much better to prophesy — Paul knew nine languages and yet he preferred to speak 5 words of understanding than 1000 of unknown tongues.

• 1 Corinthians 14:19 — “19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”

Paul never used his languages to brag but he humbled them, and even though he could speak them, he humiliated his speech to the understanding of the people.

• 1Co 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

He did not allow himself to do that which is allowed to him, in order to do that which is useful for the salvation of others.

• 1 Corinthians 6:12 — “12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:23 — “23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

If his knowledge of many languages was a stumbling block for the faith of others, he restrained it. And if any knowledge he has excelled in weakens the conscience of his brother in Christ who is still ignorant of his freedoms, he sins against Christ with that knowledge.

• 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 — Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
  ² And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
  ³ But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
  ⁴ As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
  ⁵ For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
  ⁶ But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
  ⁷ Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
  ⁸ But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
  ⁹ But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
  ¹⁰ For if any man see thee, which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
  ¹¹ And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
  ¹² But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
  ¹³ Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, LEST I make my brother to offend.”

And sensationalism is a stumbling block because it shifts the focus to feelings and sensations of the body which perishes, rather than the purity of the message which is spiritual and eternal.

• James 1:9–10 —Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
  ¹⁰ But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”
• God doesn’t require feelings of ecstasy for one to believe or to prove his faith. But he bestows feelings of gratitude by tuning one’s will with His when one exhibits continuous works of faith. It is not his feelings that are the proof of faith, but the works he exists. Even though feelings are results of works, they are not proof. But works are proof of faith. So works are results of faith, feelings results of works and works are proof of faith and feelings are not a proof of works. But feelings may be a proof of long term continuous exhibition of works of faith. But feelings take time to tune, so it is tricky that one uses feelings alone to check the status of his salvation. He may use them to check to development and consistency of his works.

Angels were not called to preach the gospel, but sinners were — not those who protected Christ while on the way to Golgotha, but those who killed Christ by their wretchedness caused by their sins and nailed Him to the cross. Not those who protected Him by the grave scattering away the demons who determinately intended to keep His body forever dead, but those who, after He resurrected, did not easily believed He was yet alive and were afraid of the Roman soldiers lest the persecute their corruptible flesh. These wretched men of clay were entrusted the divine Gospel of salvation that echoes throughout the whole universe as the main subject of interest where all citizens of all worlds God created are eager to tap into its marvelous mystery throughout eternity.

• 1 Timothy 3:16 — “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
• Matthew 21:42 — “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes
• Psalm 118:23 — “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”

Without wretchedness, the gospel cannot he preached. Christ came to call sinners to repentance and the sick to healing. But the healthy, the righteous, and the wise — they need no Gospel to save them — they are amazing in their own eyes.

• Isaiah 5:21 — “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”
• Proverbs 3:7 — “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”
• Proverbs 26:12 — “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”

What acknowledgment of one’s own wretchedness is left in professionalism? What place does it leave for divinity, when it allows man to already sit at the top?

• Revelation 3:17 — “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
• Philippians 3:12 — “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Only vanity dwells in professionalism — for professionalism is formality — and in formality, the power of God is denied. Nevertheless, all things with God must be done in order and with dignity, but the so-called human sciences and humanly exalted standards do not bring forth the humble and simple order and dignity in which the Gospel ought be spoken. For this is an inner order — an order of the soul, dignity of the believing heart — while professionalism is an external cleansing of the pot — a masked order, producing whitewashed graves.

We are called to let exterior clean by itself once we clean the insides of the pots which carry our souls and the Spirit of Him who laid His holy life to save them from the filth of decay. The power of the gospel is preached by the power which comes from within, from the truly believing heart, not by the power from without — the strongest man cannot preach the Gospel without the Sprit within him, and the weakest man can preach the most beautiful Gospel through the Spirit of Christ which enables him to do all things through His Master who strengthens him.

• Philippians 4:9–13 — “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
  ¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
  ¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
  ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
  ¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The wisest man cannot, the simplest man can — God catches the wise of this world in their own craftiness, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.

• 1 Corinthians 3:19 — “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

The most beautiful man in body cannot; the ugliest man in body can — for the beauty of this world is nothing compared to the beauty of the world to come. All flesh is as grass, and the flower fades. Even Christ, the Savior, the only begotten of the Father, was not given an outward beauty that we should desire Him — but that we should desire God in Him, the invisible beauty of His character.

• 1 Peter 1:24 — “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:”
• 1 Peter 3:4 — “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 — For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
  ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
  ¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
• Isaiah 53:2 — “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
• Psalm 39:5 — “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”
• Proverbs 31:30 — “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
• Song of Solomon 4:7 — “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.” [Spiritual beauty]

The healthiest man cannot; the sickest man can — for there is only death in the healthiest body that sins and immortality in the sickest body that is washed by the blood of the King.

• Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• Revelation 1:5 — “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

The happiest man cannot, the saddest man can — for external happiness without the Spirit of God is more sorrowful than external sadness with the Spirit of God, for there is hope in sadness, but in his boastful joying there is only death.

The happiest man cannot; the saddest man can — for external happiness without the Spirit of God is more sorrowful than external sadness with the Spirit of God. There is hope in godly sorrow, but in boastful joy without God, there is only death.

• Psalm 30:5 — “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
• Ecclesiastes 7:3 — “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.”
• Proverbs 14:13 — “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.”
• Romans 14:17 — “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Therefore, let the rich boast in his knowledge of how poor he is without Christ, and in his readiness to give everything away for Christ, to help a brother in need; and let the poor boast in his richness in Christ.

• 1 Corinthians 1:26–29 —
  “²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
  ²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
  ²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
  ²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
• James 2:5 — “5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

Let the strong boast in his weakness, and the weak in his strength in Christ.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9 — “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Let the beautiful boast in his ugliness, and the ugly in his beauty in Christ.

• Isaiah 61:3 — “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

The power from without, if not restrained, stumbles the power of the Gospel which is from within. It brings forth only a form of godliness denying the power thereof.

• 2 Timothy 3:5 — “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
• Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Do not forget again: it is your current inner wretchedness and natural physical misery that preach the power of the gospel — your awareness of your true value without the Lord. Your SIMPLICITY, not your professionalism, wisdom, science, high-standard knowledge, education, social standing, or eloquence with words.

Be as simple as the dust of the earth from which you were made, if you want to shine the gospel of your Creator from within outward — for He gives the dust value by His priceless light. And the less value is seen in you, the more value is revealed of Him — therefore do not overshadow His glory with your vanity.

In your weakness, God’s power is made manifest. For His power is this: that such outcasts — low in value, low in spirit, hanging on the verge of death, dead already — have the audacity to live as if they are not only citizens of heaven, but beloved sons of the King of Heaven, the Creator of the universe, and the Father of all that dwells in it.

🌎 Where is this seen in the professional settings of this world?
They all manifest but a dull spirit masked by formalities which they call professionalism.

The gospel is not formal, but personal — it speaks to the wretched individual, to the misery of his soul, not to the appearance of his body — but to the low state of his heart and spirit.

It speaks:

• to his hopelessness, that there is hope,
• to his misery, that there is richness,
• to his sin, that there is forgiveness,
• to his cunningness, that there is a place for repentance,
• to his death, that there is life.

The most beautiful musical symphonies in the world — and even in heaven — cannot speak this when they are performed without the words of life.

• It suits a fool far better to preach the Gospel than the wise to display the most precious jewels of the world.
  • Proverbs 17:7 — “Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.”
  • 1 Corinthians 1:27 — “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
  • 1 Corinthians 1:18 — “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
  • Proverbs 26:12 — “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
  • Ecclesiastes 7:5 — “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.”
  • Psalm 14:1 — “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
  • Proverbs 17:28 — “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
  • Proverbs 26:4 — “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
    ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
  • Proverbs 12:15 — “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

And when the message consists of words alone, without audible music — words that speak life, hope, and salvation — without eloquence even, or even with broken grammar, stumbling lips, or an untrained tongue and ear for language — where words are misplaced, misspelled, poorly pronounced, and shades of meaning pass undistinguished — it outperforms the most beautiful melodies ever composed: whether in heaven or on earth, whether by humans, by angels, or by God Himself.

For God made the symphonies of the birds and of all nature; but at the sound of His voice — which the Son of God discloses, that speaks life and love — the birds hush their singing:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

The melody of God that rings in our hearts is the meaning in His Words — the truth of His love for us.

“This song, with its melody, rhyme, and voice, is fully spoken — without any melody, rhyme, or vocal harmony — by a single verse in the Bible. And its sweet, sweet voice rings in the believer’s heart no more and no less than the message sung in this simple tunelet. The notes may fade, but the message remains forever. And the heart that clings to the message will never perish, like the words and meaning of the message, but whoever clings to the notes will fade — like the grass withers — with the music that fades:

• John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
• Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
• 1 John 4:9 — “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

• 1 Kings 19:11–13 — “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 
  ¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 
  ¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

You see, God’s message of the gospel — that He cares for us personally as if each one of us was His only begotten Son — cannot be expressed by the phenomena of nature, let alone by melody alone, played by hands and lips made of clay — but only by His personal engagement with us: by words proceeding from His own mouth, speaking to us individually, face to face, as He spoke to Moses — and Moses did not die, but was glowing with God’s light and glory.

Music awakens feelings — which come and go, and change as melodies change. But words of truth awaken faith, trust, honesty, holiness, love, mercy, forgiveness, and patience — and these never change. They are everlasting life.

• John 6:63 — “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
• John 17:17 — “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
• Proverbs 4:20–22 — “²⁰My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. ²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. ²²For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
• John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

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• Evangelism, p. 319 — “Those who are truly converted will be drawn by the purity and elevation of the truth, not by worldly inducements.”
• Evangelism, p. 320 — “It is better to have two or three who are truly converted to God, than to have scores who make a profession, but do not show the works of righteousness.”
• Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 162 — “We are to invite people to the gospel feast, not by appeasing their appetite for worldly amusement, but by exalting the truth of God’s Word.”
• Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 36 — “Bring men in because they are convicted by the truth, not because they are attracted by outward display, or worldly excitement.”
• Evangelism, p. 137 — “The truth should be presented with simplicity, and should be allowed to make its own impression. We are not to depend on the attractions of music, or the talent of men, to win souls.”
• Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 500 — “The world must not be introduced into the church. And married to the church, forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed corrupt, and as stated in Revelation, ‘a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.’”

The instruments, the voice, the rhymes, they only carry out the words with their meaning, giving them colorful shapes, cheerfulness, rhythm, joyfulness, outter distinction, and amplify their impression stamped in the memory of the one who ALREADY believed — they don’t help in believing because the message alone draws the person or detaches him. When complex and complicated melody overshadows the words and when the words are not of a deepest meaning, but the melody makes up for the lack of doctrine, we are tricked that we glorify God and His Son when only we become emotional slaves who sing without understanding but are carried out of the emotional wave. The focus remains on the music and the words are if secondary value, and since Jesus is the word, Jesus is of secondary value. Isn’t this devilish? We cannot worship God without truth. And truth is never left for many or personal interpretations.

The instruments, the voice, and the rhymes merely transmit the words and their intended meaning. They add external color, tonal brightness, rhythm, and auditory joy, emphatic distinctiveness for sensory impact. They give shape to the message and help it register more firmly in the memory of the one who has already believed. But they do not assist in believing, because it is the message itself—its content, its truth—that either draws the listener or causes him to turn away. When complex melodies or elaborate harmonies dominate the sound and overshadow the clarity of the words—especially when the words themselves lack meaningful depth and doctrinal weight—music falsely replaces truth. In such moments, we are misled into thinking we are glorifying God and His Son, when in reality we are emotionally manipulated overcome by our senses, enslaved by feelings, singing without understanding , carried by the emotional wave that disctates the direction of the tune. We become passive responders to musical stimulation rather than active participants in worship guided by understanding in the soul. The focus restes on the sound, and the words become secondary and are blurred away. And since Jesus is the Word, He is pushed into a secondary place and our beholding of Him is blurred away. We forget to worship God in Spirit and in truth, forgetting who God is. We replace His identity with our opinions and His words of revealing Himself to us become of secondary value, which never gets the chance to be actively considered. Is this not a deception of the devil? We cannot worship God apart from truth.

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Truth is not subject to personal interpretation — it is not a container of multiple, incompatible meanings — it has but one meaning. Nor is it stretched to carry multiple interpretations of inconsistent conclusions — it allows for but ONE interpretation.

The meaning of truth is not assembled from fragments, nor is its interpretation pieced together by private, individual opinion. Each part is recognized by the others as part of the whole, and each part is public — for the meaning and interpretation of the truth to which they belong are laid out in the open. Each part is bound to the next, joined by one divine Law that governs the whole. Nothing stands alone. Each part, through another and yet another, leads to the meaning, and the meaning to the interpretation, and back again — it is in perfect circulation. Meaning flows into interpretation, and interpretation confirms meaning.

All is formed in unity, held together by the Spirit who authored it. Truth does not contradict itself, divide against itself, or speak in double tones. It stands complete, singular, and indivisible — as unshakable as the Rock from which it came.

Consent does not change its structure.

• Romans 3:4 — “Let God be true, and every man a liar.”

The truth is firm like an immovable rock — even the Rock, Jesus Christ. Having one meaning and one interpretation, it is also given only by the One Holy Spirit of the One God, through His One and Only begotten Son. It contains no other christs within. It is one of a kind, and there is nothing like it — no other beside Him.

• Isaiah 40:18 — “To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?”
• Isaiah 40:25 — “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.”
• Psalm 89:6 — “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?”
• 1 Samuel 2:2 — “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”
• Deuteronomy 4:35 — “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.”
• Deuteronomy 4:39 — “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”
• Isaiah 46:5 — “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?”
• Exodus 15:11 — “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
• Psalm 86:8 — “There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.”
• Jeremiah 10:6 — “Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.”
• Jeremiah 10:10 — “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king.”
• Malachi 3:6 — “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
• Revelation 1:8 — “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
• John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Truth is not fluid, sentimental, or democratic. It does not negotiate, adapt, or amend. Truth brings a sword, not peace. It is not reshaped to comfort emotional fragility, to pacify psychological sensitivity, or to gain the approval of public consensus. It cannot be altered, tailored, or bent to fit group agreement, emotional pressure, cultural trends, or relational tension. It does not submit to the demands of fallen feelings or the instability of the human heart.

Truth does not make alliances with collective reinterpretation, nor does it form unions, treaties, partnership, or agreements with human consensus. It does not seek harmony through compromise, or clarity through shared uncertainty. It neither merges nor adapts to man’s unstable knowledge. Truth does not bow to emotion, tradition, preference, or fear. It is not subject to dialogue with confusion.

It makes no peace treaty with to the unstable ground of human reason built on assumptions and emotional sway — with its uncertainties, wild guesses, and frail conclusions drawn from shifting thoughts and maintained by unretained focus. It does not yield to its shallow, incomplete sight limited by the dust they were made of, corrupted by the sin they were deceived into. It walks not side by side with the instability of human understanding, shaped by fleeting emotion, personal bias, or the undefined edges of (their) fallen perception — it, rather, calmly leads their way and shows eternal patience to the humbling ear.
it has no commonality to that which is, at all times, prone to error and blind to the eternal — deaf to the divine, holy, and true.

It neither merges nor collaborates with conflicting opinions — neither human thought corresponds to another, but rather, they live by consensus and compromise. The truth is set apart — holy. and fully. Not a jot or a title is yielded to harmonize with the temporal and confined.

In the sight of the truth, every human thought, opinion, belief, whim, impulse, sensation, desire, impression, instinct, intuition, emotion, and sentiment — in all their forms — is a falsehood. Empty, unstable, and erroneous — selfish and malicious.

• Genesis 8:21 — “The intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”

It is not diluted to human interest, social preference, psychological comfort, popular opinion, collective agreement, doctrinal compromise, theological commonness, syncretistic theology, surface-level kindness, humanistic tolerance, approval-seeking piety, cultural relevance, theological trend, doctrinal revision, denominational tradition, academic framing, or institutional policies.

Truth does not submit to trends, conform to systems, or lower itself to gain access. It stands whole and self-sufficient, indifferent to approval, unmoved by rejection, and untouched by revision.

It stands on its own—pure, unchanged, unyielding, divine. Sacred. Precious.

It does not compromise for peace. For the truth is peace. And knowing it is freedom.

Truth stands alone — absolute, undivided, final.

Truth brings enmity with the world and war with the desires and lusts and the will and the works of the flesh.

It is eternal, and cannot die. It changes not. It was, it is, and is to come. There is nothing new under the sun. All that was ever needed the truth has it very good. No one can add or subtract from it.

Truth is not interpretive; it is declarative.
Consensus does not determine truth — nor does sincerity. But full submission and acceptance of it is sincerity and honesty and righteousness — for there is none other who is righteous: they all sinned and fall short from the glory of the Truth, the Word.

Truth Is not many-sided. It does not tolerate adjustment to fit subjective meaning.

It stands on its own, regardless of approval or acceptance.

Its tone does not soften or sharpen based on one’s readiness to receive it. its value is neither diminished nor increased by emotional interpretation or reaction. It does not acclimatize to one’s insecurities — whether offended or not, it does not acculturate to their sentiments and feelings — nor it attunes to their desires, wishes, sensations, nor to opinions and private knowledge. It is a LAW of itself, and human customs and traditions — cultures and beliefs — hold no authority or power over it. It does not reason with human ambitions. It is not compassionate to disagreement — all disagreement with the truth is causeless reasoning; vanity. It, rather, offers reasons to justify its stance and invite others to leave their sandy grounds and align themselves with it. It does not befriend disagreements nor share space with contradiction.

Truth does not explore — it calls others to explore it and rest in its certainty.

Truth is never subject to personal interpretation, collective standards, or made pliable to conflicting implications. It does not entertain fantasies but condemns them. It never surrenders to assumptions but defeats them, exposing them — every time — catching it in its cunning.

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We cannot worship God without truth. And truth is made of words — not notes, chords, voices, colors, visual shapes, auditory nuances, tangible sensations, smells, tastes, emotions, or feelings. untouched by the five senses. It is invisible, intangible, and inaudible; it has no scent, no flavor, no form. It is formed of understanding and spoken in words filled with meaning colored by self-sacrificial love.

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The focus must always remain on the meaning of the words — and on the divine law that governs their utterance. Not all words obey the divine lead — many words do not belong to the Spirit and do not carry within them the invisible substance of heaven. Yet, it is by focusing on words alone that we can discern the origin of their master — the heart, its intention.

• Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
• Proverbs 18:17 — “The first to speak in his cause seems just — until his neighbor comes and examines him [his words].”
• Matthew 12:34 — “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
• Luke 6:45 — “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good… for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
• Proverbs 4:23–24 — “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”
• Psalm 19:14 — “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord.”
• Proverbs 16:23 — “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.”
• Matthew 15:18 — “But the things that come out of the mouth proceed from the heart—and these defile the person.”
• Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

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• Proverbs 18:4 — “The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.”
• Proverbs 18:6 — “A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.”
• Proverbs 18:7 — “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.”
• Proverbs 18:8 — “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”
• Proverbs 18:12 — “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”
• Proverbs 18:13 — “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
• Proverbs 18:15 — “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”
• Proverbs 18:17 — “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.”
• Proverbs 18:20 — “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.”
• Proverbs 18:23 — “The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.”

Even the most majestic melodies of creation, orchestrated by God Himself ^{1 ⤵} — nature sings in visible color to the eyes, in audible sound to the ears, in fragrant breath to the nose, in tangible texture to the skin, in sweet ripeness to the tongue, and in living motion through every form of creation — through the flight of birds across skies, and their rustling wings among branches and hollows; the stirring of beasts upon fields and forest floors, and the scampering of creatures through underbrush and trees, the distant howling, roaring, and whispering calls of land animals weaving through the air; the hum of insects weaving through leaves and shafts of light; the glide of fish beneath waves and over coral beds, flowing rivers, hushing lakes, and clicking tide pools; the bloom of flowers and the sway of trees in mountains and meadows, dancing in sunshine and shadow, and the slow spiral drift of autumn leaves upon still ponds; the whisper of wind across hills, plains, open seas, bushes, and crispy rocky canyons, carrying scents and stirring grasses and wildflowers; the fall of rain upon rivers, oceans, soil, leaves, and grass, feeding thirsty earth and filling hushing springs, gathering as mist and nourishing hidden roots;

• Deuteronomy 32:2 — “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.”

the dawning blaze and fading shade of the sun over all that proclaims life by its pulse, marking the passage of time through shifting seasons; the soft glow of the moon and the quiet phases that govern tides; and the slow turning of stars in silent, vast acoustic heavens, echoing through endless night and touching all creation — holding intricate harmonies no composer could script, flawless rhythms pulsing through root and wing, pitch purity untouched by human voice, sustained tones echoing through valleys, modulations that shift with light and season, polyphonic textures shaped by living instruments, blending frequencies across species — all in perfect sync, without rehearsal, and never ceasing —

• Job 38:1 — “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
  ¹² Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
  ¹³ Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
  ¹⁴ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
  ¹⁵ Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
  ¹⁶ Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
  ¹⁷ When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
  ¹⁸ Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
  ¹⁹ When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
  ²⁰ And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
  ²¹ And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
  ²² Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
  ²³ That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
  ²⁴ It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
  ²⁵ And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
  ²⁶ Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
  ²⁷ Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
  ²⁸ Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
  ²⁹ Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
  ³⁰ That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
  ³¹ Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
  ³² Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
  ³³ Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
  ³⁴ By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
  ³⁵ Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
  ³⁶ To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
  ³⁷ To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
  ³⁸ Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
  ³⁹ Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
  ⁴⁰ The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
  ⁴¹ Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
  ⁴² Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
  ⁴³ Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
  ⁴⁴ Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
  ⁴⁵ Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
  ⁴⁶ Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
  ⁴⁷ Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
  ⁴⁸ When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
  ⁴⁹ Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
  ⁵⁰ When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
  ⁵¹ Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.”
  39:1 — “Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
  ¹² Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
  ¹³ They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
  ¹⁴ Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
  ¹⁵ Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
  ¹⁶ Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
  ¹⁷ He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
  ¹⁸ The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
  ¹⁹ Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
  ²⁰ Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
  ²¹ Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
  ²² Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
  ²³ Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
  ²⁴ Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
  ²⁵ And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
  ²⁶ She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
  ²⁷ Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
  ²⁸ What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
  ²⁹ Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
  ³⁰ Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
  ³¹ He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
  ³² He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
  ³³ The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
  ³⁴ He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
  ³⁵ He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
  ³⁶ Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
  ³⁷ Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
  ³⁸ She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
  ³⁹ From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
  ⁴⁰ Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.”
  40:1 — “Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,
  ² Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.”

— though full of wonder, ^{1 ⤴} do not declare the love that sings from the Cross in word, with still small voice: “Why have You forsaken Me? It is finished. Father, into Your hands I surrender My spirit. I know Your love. I feel forsaken — but I trust Your love more than my sensations.”

• John 19:30 — “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
• Luke 23:46 — “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
• Isaiah 53:5 — “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”
• Matthew 27:46 — “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
• Psalm 22:1–2 — My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
  ² O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.”
• 1 John 4:9–10 — “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
  ¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
• Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Nature sings beauty, but it does not bleed voluntarily. It moves, but it does not surrender by freedom of choice. It lives, but it does not die for another.

In that moment, when the Creator did all that nature could not, nature did not sing its melodies. No flower bloomed for Him. No bird sang for Him. But the Word — the true Word — spoke through agony what no creation ever could: perfect trust in perfect love, even when all feeling said otherwise.

These are the WORDS that define reality. That is the voice above all sound and sensation or feeling. And that is the only melody worthy of worship.

• John 1:14 — “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

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• Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
• It doesn’t say “Whoever speaks not in pleasant tones and eloquence in words”: but whoever doesn’t follow the logic of the Law by which the testimony of God’s sacrifice is founded on.

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Jesus rebuked sensationalism on the cross and on Gethsemane and in the desert. Had He given into temptation, He would have not drank the bitter cup, nor would he had left the stones as God ordained them — because even if He had turned stones into loaves of bread, they would have still only satisfy a temporary hunger but would never nourished the soul with words of eternal trust: which can only be uttered by the immortal Spirit of mercy beyond measure.

• Matthew 4:3–4 — “And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
  ⁴ But He answered and said, IT IS WRITTEN, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
• Luke 22:42 — “Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.”
• Matthew 26:39 — “And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
• John 6:27 — “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.”
• Hebrews 9:14 — “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
• Titus 3:5 — “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

Divinity is beyond measure and mercy is laying this divinity on the cross for the sinning soul to find repentance.

• Philippians 2:6–8 —
  “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
  ⁷ But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
  ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
• Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Titus 3:5 — “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
• Isaiah 55:7 — “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
• Romans 2:4 — “Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Oh mystery of divinity!

• 1 Timothy 3:16 — “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
• Romans 11:33 — “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”

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Why does receiving the message because of eloquence fail? Because if they receive it for eloquence, they do not receive it for the message’s true value — not out of love for the message itself, but for the preacher’s skill. They love the preacher, not the One he represents. The preacher has no outward beauty to attract desire, only inward knowledge of God and His Word. He must count all things as loss for Christ’s sake and forsake them when preaching Him, lest these become stumbling blocks to seeking souls.

• Healthful Living, p. 23
  “The health reform is the right hand of the third angel’s message, and it is just as important as the message itself.”
• Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, p. 370
  “We are not to forget that the laws which govern our physical life were ordained by God, and we must obey them if we would live.
• Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 48
  “Our Creator designed that the laws of health should be obeyed. The principles of health reform are as much a part of the gospel as the Ten Commandments.”
• Temperance, p. 45
  “We cannot be temperate in our practices and disregard the laws of health. It is a contradiction to profess to serve God and yet violate His laws that govern our physical being.
• Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 510
  “If we would properly represent Christ, we must have clean habits, and we must take care of the body which is His temple.”

In a time when light has been given in abundance, it is no small thing to willfully remain in darkness. There is a class of professed Christians who walk with confidence in their moral uprightness, yet scoff at the simple, foundational laws that govern the body. They claim to uphold God’s commandments while affirming the importance of physical law with their lips, yet undermining it in their actions. They speak of health, truth, and self-control, but do not walk in it. They say, “It is important to be honest,” yet twist truth to justify themselves. They say, “It is important not to yell,” yet rebuke with raised voices. They say, “Health is vital,” yet downgrade or dismiss the very habits that sustain it. This is not ignorance, but refined hypocrisy—a form of godliness without the power. And they forget that to despise one law in practice is to trample the other in truth — because the two are not separable, disobedience of one cancels the profession of the other. They forget that to devalue one is to trample the other underfoot—for to treat one law as optional is to undermine the authority of both.

• Romans 1:21 — “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

They call themselves wise, yet they deny the very elements by which life is sustained. They refuse sunlight. They detest pure water. They prefer suffocation in stale rooms over the invigorating air of God’s free creation. The texture of manmade cakes and burned flesh of animals is more welcome than the fruits of the garden which God made very good. And they do all this in the name of “feeling unwell.” If a person said they felt ill while breathing oxygen, we would question their sanity. Yet such statements are made by educated adults—by professionals, by parents, by members of the church—without shame. 1

• Corinthians 3:19 — “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”

What these individuals miss is not merely logic, but reverence. Reverence for the God who made man not only in soul, but in body. The health laws are not suggestions. They are divine commandments, woven into creation itself. Ellen White wrote:

• Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 17 — “The laws of nature are the laws of God, for nature is the servant of her Creator.”
  “The laws of nature are the laws of God, for nature is the servant of her Creator. In the harmony of the natural world, we are constantly reminded of the order and the law of God. The laws governing the animal kingdom and all that is created are so fixed that if they are violated, there are consequences that bring suffering and even death. It is just as important to obey the laws of God in nature as it is to obey the moral law. We are all subject to these laws, and it is essential that we yield to them for the preservation of our health.”
• The Ministry of Healing, p. 235 — “A failure to care for the living machinery is an insult to the Creator.”
  “The body is the most wonderful piece of machinery ever made, and it is to be cared for and kept in the best condition. The failure to care for the living machinery is an insult to the Creator. The human body was designed for efficiency, and we are to work with God’s plan to preserve our health. By improper habits, such as overeating, indulgence, and neglect of proper exercise, we dishonor God’s handiwork. God has given us clear instruction on how to care for our bodies, and neglecting that care affects both the body and the mind.”
• Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 161 — “It is as truly a sin to violate the laws of our being as to break one of the Ten Commandments.”
  “It is as truly a sin to violate the laws of our being as to break one of the Ten Commandments. The body is the temple of God, and we must not allow anything to defile it. Every abuse of our health through sinful habits is an offense against the Creator. God has given us clear instructions in His Word to take care of our health, and to disregard these instructions is sin. Just as violating the moral law is sin, so is violating the physical laws that God has established.”

To claim obedience to the moral law while violating the physical law is to live in contradiction. The moral law tells you not to kill. The physical law tells you how not to kill: by breathing fresh air, drinking clean water, resting, exercising, eating that which grows from the ground. When you destroy the body by rejecting these laws, you deny the spirit of the commandment: Thou shalt not kill.

Some will say, “But I am not killing anyone.” Yet Jesus said:

• Matthew 5:21–22 — “Ye have heard that it was said… Thou shalt not kill… but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.”

Likewise, whosoever abuses their body through willful neglect is murdering slowly, and worse—setting an example for others to follow. The parent who rejects sunlight teaches their child to do the same. The professional who mocks the body’s needs lays a snare for their clients.

• Galatians 5:9 — “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

The rebellion against truth often comes clothed in softness. “I don’t feel well when I eat fruits.” “I get headaches in the sun.” “I can’t drink water—it upsets my stomach.” These statements sound harmless, but they are rooted in a deeper disease: the heart that sets up feeling above faith, emotion above obedience, self above the Word of God.

Ellen White is precise:

• Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 443 — “The indulgence of perverted appetite is the reason why moral power is so weak.”
  “The indulgence of perverted appetite is the reason why moral power is so weak in many people. Those who yield to perverse appetites weaken the will and impair the moral character. It is a law of nature that when the appetite is indulged to excess, it has a detrimental effect on the mind and character. We are to teach people that their habits of eating, drinking, and dressing are not trivial matters but have a direct influence on their spiritual and moral well-being. The indulgence of appetite is a form of self-indulgence that leads to a weakening of the spiritual power and the ability to resist temptation.”

Faith is not the acceptance of what is easy. It is the clinging to what is true when everything in your flesh rebels against it. Obedience means trusting that the law is good, even when your body says otherwise. To follow Christ means to carry a cross, not a couch.

• Romans 8:13 — “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

To believe in the moral law while rejecting the physical law is like trusting that gravity is real, but insisting that jumping off a cliff won’t hurt you because your intentions are pure. This is not faith—it is presumption. And presumption is sin.

• The Desire of Ages, p. 126 — “Presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith.”
  “Presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. True faith in God never leads to presumption. Faith is based on trust in the promises of God and leads to obedience to His will. But presumption is an attitude that claims God’s promises without regard for obedience. Presumption places confidence in one’s own will and desires, while true faith relies on God’s will and power. The difference between true faith and presumption is that true faith works through love and obedience, while presumption disregards God’s commandments.”

It is no small sin to misuse the body, for the body is the temple of God:

• 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 — “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God…? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy.”

You cannot worship God with defiled instruments. You cannot honor God while dishonoring His creation. The air, the light, the water, the food—these are not optional. They are the channels of His sustaining grace.

When we treat the physical laws of God as optional, we do more than damage the body—we disorient the soul. What begins as physical neglect soon becomes spiritual confusion, because the channels that feed the body also stabilize the mind. When the body is neglected and the instincts are followed, the mind loosens its hold on truth. So what begins as an excuse to avoid sunlight or pure water becomes a life of bending truth, for if one ignores the created laws that sustain life, he will eventually ignore the spoken laws that define it.

To reject God’s physical law is to undermine obedience to His moral law—for the two stand together.

Ministry of Healing, p. 116
“God is the author of both the moral and the physical law; He gave both to us for our happiness and well-being.”

The moral law defines what must be done; the physical law reveals how it must be done.

Education, p. 17
“The laws of health and the laws of morals are inseparably

To claim obedience to one while dismissing the other is self-contradiction. A person who claims, “I do not lie,” while using words with vague or shifting meanings is lying in practice. For if words are not fixed, then truth cannot be spoken, nor recognized, nor defended. A man may say, “I do not kill,” while he destroys his own body with toxic substances, or leads others to do the same. But this is a form of slow murder—done in ignorance or in rebellion, yet murder still.

Ministry of Healing, p. 143
“The body is the only medium through which the mind and soul are developed for the upbuilding of character. The body must be cared for as the temple of the living God.”

Likewise, to believe that gravity can kill a falling body, but refuse to act in harmony with that knowledge, is to deny the very moral impulse to preserve life. If you reject the physical means by which God sustains life, then you are also rejecting the moral duty to protect it. To give your child toxic pills in an attempt to cure a disease that emerged from violating God’s health laws is not healing—it is further rebellion, disguised as care. To claim goodness while rejecting the means of goodness is hypocrisy. To claim reverence for health while scorning the laws that preserve it is deception. And even those who acknowledge the means, but replace them with false ones, are no better off—for to use false means is to reject the true. There is one way where health flourishes, and it is God’s way: the way of pure food from the earth, fresh air, clean water, sunlight, movement, and rest. These are not just helpful. They are law.

And speech is part of the physical law, for definitions are visible, tangible, audible, smellable, tastable. formable, conceivable, understandable. When we speak without fixed definitions, we a babeling: we create confusion—like the tower of Babel, where language lost its meaning and unity collapsed. When we say the word “table” but are open for it to mean anything, then we are not delivering a meaning or value or anything practical or tangible. But when you say to a person “bring me the chair” and when that person obeys the fixed definitinos those words have, the tangible result of that obedience to that tangible definition of the request of the words will be “a chair in front of the one who requests it by his words”.

There is always a “what” that must be done—but there is also a “how” that governs its doing. The moral law tells us what is good; the physical law tells us how to do what is good. So when a person claims they have not lied, while twisting the meanings of words to suit their interests, they lie with every sentence. That is because truth does not live in feeling, or float in emotion—it stands firm in clear, fixed speech. And here lies the test: if a man is a liar, the use of fixed definitions will expose him. And that exposure will either change him or drive him to twist the truth further. When words are stable, our lives must conform to their clarity—or else our hypocrisy is laid bare. But when words are made flexible, then the sinner is never forced to face his sin. He can shift his meanings instead of surrendering his will.

If words are not treated as fixed and absolute, truth itself becomes undefined. To claim that you are not lying while redefining words by emotion or preference is not honesty—it is deception. When the meanings of words shift with impulse, truth becomes subjective, and sin becomes relative. But when definitions remain fixed, desires must bend to the truth. If they do not, a person will begin to twist language—to protect himself from the exposure of hypocrisy. He bends words instead of bending the will, reshaping vocabulary not for clarity, but for escape. A man cannot say, “I believe in honesty,” while refusing to treat words as fixed in meaning. When definitions shift with emotion or preference, truth becomes negotiable, and sin becomes a matter of opinion. The one who will not hold language to a standard will soon mold it to his desires—because fixed words would force him to face his hypocrisy, while flexible words shield him from the mirror. And when truth bends, righteousness collapses. Where there are no fixed definitions, there can be no law. And where there is no law, there can be no sin—only chaos, masked in piety.

But not all who err do so in malice. Some disobey simply because they do not know what is good. Some disobey the health or the physical law not out of rebellion, but because they do not know what health is or what the physical law requires in practice. But when truth comes, their loyalty is tested. Will they change their habits to match the truth—or twist the truth to match their habits? The one who lives by the Spirit does not cling to the habits of ignorance — who is surrendered to God will not justify old patterns. They adjust, they reform, they bend their ways to the truth—not the truth to their ways. They will say, “Now that I see, I must change.” For they do not live to preserve comfort, but to adapt to truth. And in doing so, they show that truth, not emotion, is their master. For they live not by ease, but by obedience to the Word — because to obey the truth gives the best results for them to enjoy not just for the time being, but throughout whole eternity. They invest—sacrifice—so that they reap later the fruit of their labor, just as a woman faithfully endures labor pains in hope and anticipation, knowing that she is delivering a child which will soon have all her temporary pains and sufferings swallowed by the eternal joy it brings.

And for those who were once ignorant—who simply did not know what God required—they may find it difficult at first to forsake the old ways. Their habits were long shaped by instinct and emotion, not by truth. But when the light of God’s will shines upon their path, the call is clear — they are faced with a decision: to submit, or to resist. The surrendered heart does not argue. It yields. It cries out, “Lord, You have shown me—now strengthen me to obey.” Once truth is revealed, love compels obedience. They are obliged by the Spirit they live by to reform and obey, not because they are strong, but because they have surrendered to God, trusting Him to know best and to give strength to succeed. They do not excuse disobedience, but walk forward in dependence, saying, “Lord, You have shown me—now strengthen me to obey.”

Their surrender breaks the power of emotion. They disbelieve their instincts, and walk by the Word, not by impulse. When their instincts say, “Water makes me feel sick,” or “Exposure to sunlight makes me ill,” or “I don’t like the way the texture of persimmon feels in my mouth.” they do not submit to the voice of the flesh. They answer with truth: “Get thee behind me, Satan! You do not care for the things of God, but of men. Water, sunlight, fresh air, movement, and the fruits of the ground—these are good for me. My Creator assigned them for my wellbeing. Your lies have no part in me. For I walk by faith—not the sight of my blind eyes, but the faith that sees through the eye of God.” They obey not because it is easy, but because it is right—and because He who commands also enables. To follow God is not to strive alone, but to walk with the Spirit who gives power to obey.

• Psalm 40:8 — “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”

But those who resist will always find arguments—until they are left without excuse. Their resistance is not born of reason, but rebellion.

• John 3:19–20 — “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light… For every one that doeth evil hateth the light.”

There is no partial obedience. God demands the whole life. To break one link is to break the chain. He who claims to keep the Sabbath but refuses the sun, He who prays for healing while rejecting God’s remedies, He who cries for peace while feeding strife to his nerves and blood—such a person is not misinformed. He is deceived.

But the deceived can be awakened. That is the mercy of God. The call is not only to health, but to holiness. The reform of the diet is not vanity—it is sanctification. The daily walk in fresh air is not legalism—it is worship.

• Romans 12:1 — “I beseech you therefore… by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.”

Let those who claim to know Christ follow Him fully—in the spirit, in the soul, and in the flesh. Let the mouth confess truth, and the body obey both the moral and physical laws of God. There is no partial obedience.
God demands the whole life — spirit, body, and will aligned — every thought, every appetite, every choice aligned with His moral and physical order.
(every thought refined, every emotion submitted, every appetite sanctified, every impulse restrained, every desire weighed, every habit surrendered, every choice made in reverence)

For the day is coming when excuses will perish and only obedience will remain. And blessed are they who have walked in the light they were given.

• John 15:14 — “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Let the church no longer be divided between spirit and body, but whole—sanctified, sealed, and shining. And let none say they were not warned.

The Church of Christ is not composed of divided members—some obeying in part, others in full—but of one united body, wholly surrendered to both the moral and physical laws of God. Those who only imagine themselves Christians while resisting the fullness of His commandments—whether in spirit or in body—stand outside the true Body of Christ, which follows the Shepherd in everything.

Such professed believers, if they remain in this state despite of the personal calls addressed to to them to repent and turn from their sin, will share the fate not of the faithful, but of those who rejected Christ outright—because to withhold obedience is not simply to break a random command—it is to dishonor the Person who requires it, because His Law reveals His glory. His eternal worth. It is to reject the character and identity of God and of Christ, because their identity cannot be found in the mere letters J-E-S-U-S C-H-R-I-S-T, but in the trustworthiness of the Father’s law—both internal and external— which reveal His loving character. His identity is revealed not in syllables, but in steadfastness, not in profession, but in performance. Jesus obeyed both, which is what proves that in Him, He carries the name and identity of God, His Father.

Those who walk in partial obedience reveal a split allegiance. They may sing praises and speak truth with their mouths, yet in practice they betray what they claim to believe—they may pride themselves for professing reverence with the lips, but in deed they betray the truth.

• Isaiah 29:13 — “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.”
• Matthew 15:8 — “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

To resist the law of God is to resist the God of the law.
And in rejecting TOTAL obedience, they reject not only one command, but the whole law — both the physical and the moral law — they reject not only the command, but the Commander. And if you reject God, will you stand next to Him on that day? And if you want to stay next to Him, will you reject ANY of His commands?

• Romans 8:5–8 — “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
  ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
  ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
• Galatians 6:7–8 — “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
  ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
• Ephesians 5:6-7 — “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
  ⁷ Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”

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[Creation Context] God did not begin His law at Sinai—He began it in Eden. There He gave man a body, breath, food, and rest. These were physical laws meant to sustain the life that He declared very good. To despise them now is not merely a health issue—it is rebellion against the order of creation.

• Genesis 2:7 — “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground…”

[Incarnation Fulfillment] In the life of Christ we see perfect obedience to both the moral and physical laws. He walked daily, rested properly, ate from the earth, kept the Sabbath, breathed the open air, and lived temperately. If the Son of God did not ignore the physical law, neither can His followers.

• Luke 2:52 — “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

[Practical Examples] The neglect of physical law often hides behind modern customs: overwork, endless screen time, ignoring sleep, relying on artificial stimulants, eating what kills, fearing sunlight. These are not small compromises. They are slow departures from God’s design.

[Spiritual Law as Skeleton] The moral law is the skeleton of the soul—it gives shape and standard. The physical law is the flesh and muscle—it gives function and power. One without the other is a corpse or a ghost. Only together is there life.

[Prophetic Warning] Ellen White warns that the health message is the right arm of the gospel. To reject it is to weaken the whole body of truth. This rejection will prepare many to fall in the final crisis.

• Counsels on Health, p. 31 — “The gospel of health has able advocates, but their work has been made very hard because so many ministers, presidents of conferences, and others in positions of influence have failed to give the question of health reform its proper attention… Let the health reform be presented as the right hand of the gospel.”

The Law Vindicated

Key Lines (click to toggle)

• That’s why, those who have given themselves to this foolishness can never reverse their choice
• thus, they have no longer freedom of choice to reverse their decision
• life without meaning is death

The responsibility of choice

The consequences of choosing

The limits of freedom

When one jumps off a cliff, he cannot stop himself reaching the destination it leads to, whether water or ground or grass. There is a free-fall that is taking place which he has no power to do anything about. He has no power to reverse his choice. No power to save himself from the fall. He has surrendered his freedom of choice when he chose to jump, and he is left without freedom of choice, but with the certain reaching of the destination whether that choice leads to — he is left with the fate of that choice, with the law that is governing that choice, in this case, the law of gravity.
When one jumps off a deadly cliff, while falling, he knows there is no return, for he no longer has the choice to choose not to jump, for he is already falling and is certain of his fate and destination — certain death. Therefore, while falling, he has no power to do good, to choose life, to love others, to self-sacrifice himself for those he loves, for HE KNOWS HE IS ALREADY DEAD.

a man who has jumped, who is falling, and who cannot stop himself. He knows what will happen. He cannot reverse the fall. He cannot act differently. He has no power anymore. He is slave to the law which governs the consequence of his choice. He cannot fight it back, however hard he tries.

(they put leaves of fig to cover their nakedness — they couldn’t cover their sin, their nakedness, that they betrayed GOd’s righteousness and that they were stripped of His holy covering, that they no longer have the freedom of choice to do right, but they were constantly blaming one another, haunted by their guilt, running away from the inevitable consequences that surrounded their choice. they had no longer eyes to discern truth from error, good from evil, but each word and thought of their heart was evil continuously — like the free-fall of the falling man — a free-fall of evil)

So freedom of choice is only valuable only BEFORE one chooses certain death (after one chooses death, he no longer has the ability to choose life again — an intervention from without must be made instead.) — freedom of choice is only valuable when one continuously refuses to choose certain death BY FREEDOM OF CHOICE. 
(do not choose to eat of that tree, for the day you eat thereof, you shall SURELY die)
Freedom of choice is valuable so that you have the power to say NO to SIN and DEATH and DECEPTION. After using the freedom of choice to choose these evil attributes, freedom of choice is a thing of the past — it is no longer valuable and useful — it is a concept of imagination, an illusion, a Fata Morgana, a mirage. 

Physical laws work in the same manner as spiritual laws. They are both God’s laws. You break them, you pay the consequences — each spiritual transgression brings the corresponding consequence as each physical transgression does. There are gradations, but the value of the consequence corresponds to each gradation — like in a balancing scale, you put one measure on one side, the other side lifts exactly for that measure, whether it is 1, or 100, or 1000, or infinity.

This picture of the falling man is what happens to us when we to sin. Just like the man who jumped, we too made a choice. And after that choice, we were no longer free to it.

When we yielded to sin, we surrendered our freedom of choice to do right, and we know that there is no return from that point on — we fall into the abyss of sin, and can no longer escape its inevitable consequences, which is reaching the bottom of the bottomless pit: eternal falling into the vacuum of darkness. While falling, we are slowly perishing into non-existence, and meanwhile, we attempt to escape that consequence, but futilely.

By yielding to sin we became prisoners to sin, resulting in living life on automation — the prisoners have no choice but to comply with the rules of the prison, no power to resist. They are overcome by the laws of the prison.

By yielding to sin, we lost control. We are still alive, but not truly free. We move, but not by our own power. To become overcome by sin means to become its slave, which means not to have power to fight back, which means not to have freedom of choice to act any differently than the principles of the dominion of sin.

We begin to live like that man who is falling — doing what sin commands, with no power to stop it, no way to escape.

It is so powerful that it suffocates our will for righteousness and holiness that we completely lose our identity of who we are, breaking our link to God, forgetting we were made in His image to reflect His glory.

We do not just lose control — we forget who we are. We forget why we exist. We forget God. We forget that we were created to reflect Him.

We become puppets, brainwashed, like somebody can control us from a joystick, as players do to characters in a video game. The character does not have a will on his own, but does what command of the button, which the player presses, tells him to do. He does not have an individuality of his own. No freedom of choice to choose to resist the command of the player. He is programmed to do exactly what the buttons dictate that he will do.

This is what slavery to sin looks like — a video game character that cannot resist the button press. Like a person moved by someone else’s control. No freedom. No choice. No power.

• Psalm 89:44–49 — “Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
  ⁴⁵ The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.
  ⁴⁶ How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
  ⁴⁷ Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
  ⁴⁸ What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
  ⁴⁹ Lord, where are thy former loving-kindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?”

The master of all sinners is the devil. For he was the first one to jump in the free-fall of the abyss, aware of its consequences, but disbelieving that God will be faithful to his word, which he knew to be true. He blasphemed God for lacking the Backbone to sustain his truth — he blasphemed against the Holy Spirit. But he is the biggest slave out of all slaves. He commands the sinners where to turn, but he is being commanded by the inevitable fall of the abyss itself and of the imminent reaching of its destination — death. 

• Revelation 12:12 — “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
  ¹² Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”
• Romans 16:20 — “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
  ²⁰ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

He commands others because he knows best of the nature of the abyss, where others are partially deceived by him, which is why they still have hope for a Savior. And the Lord will not let anyone die in vain, unless he freely chose regardless of having the true light about Who God is and where sin leads.

While others are falling, they have no power to resist the commands of the devil and the commands of the abyss.

But something changes when God steps in surrounded with all His glory. He adds life to the video game, bringing the characters into the realm of existence, outside the television, the screen, up to the level of the player — he breathes life into the animated picture, and now the picture animates on its own, by its own willpower, and has the freedom of choice to oppose the commands of the players.

This means that when God intervenes, He breaks the control of sin. He gives us back the ability to move on our own. We are no longer puppets, no longer programmed. We are alive.

*So what is the situation of the falling man? From where should his help come if not from himself? A man who has jumped, who is falling, and who cannot stop himself, on his way to reaching the ground, creating a hole when he hits it, which is his grave. He knows what will happen but cannot reverse the fall, cannot escape his doom, cannot act differently — has no power to defy the law of gravity. He attempts to use his clothes as a parachute, but this attempt is no less vain than the attempt of Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness with fig leaves. He is guaranteed  slave to the law which governs the consequence of his choice.* Oh what a wretched man he is…

• Romans 7:1–25 — “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
  ² For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
  ³ So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
  ⁴ Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
  ⁵ For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
  ⁶ But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
  ⁷ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
  ⁸ But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
  ⁹ For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
  ¹⁰ And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
  ¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
  ¹² Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
  ¹³ Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
  ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
  ¹⁵ For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
  ¹⁶ If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
  ¹⁷ Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
  ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
  ¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
  ²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
  ²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
  ²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
  ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
  ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
  ²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

But when God steps in, while that man is on his way to hit the ground, free-falling, He promises him that he will not die when he hits the ground, but will live forever, if he believes upon His Son’s name and chooses to act on faith and, even though falling, to do the things of life — rather than things of death dictated by the free-fall. This seems impossible to the free-falling man.

• Matthew 19:26 — “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
• Luke 18:27 — “And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
• Mark 10:27 — “Jesus looked upon them, and said, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

God does not pull him out of the fall — instead, He gives him a promise: 🌟if you trust Me while falling, you will not die.🌟. This is a test of faith.🌟If God did pull him out of the fall, it would no longer be trust and faith🌟 — for the man would have already SEEN his rescue. He might then disobey again. But even if he obeyed, it might be 🌟from fear of dying rather than from love for the Life-Giver and love for living embraced with His divine glory and fatherly presence.🌟He might even credit his rescue to some imaginary force, leaving God out of the picture once more — 🌟and so re-enter the free-fall of sin.

Therefore, the man must trust 🌟without seeing🌟 — trust while falling — that he will live, even though 🌟every sound, sight, and sensation — every perceivable evidence of his carnal mind — declares his death is certain.🌟

We did not see God creating the world, let alone the universe. We did not see God creating men, us, let alone the angels. We know He did because of the authority and trustworthiness of the Creator, whose Word declared it. Yet, many do not believe, for they do not trust the Creator. Instead, they invent their own theories and call them science.

• 1 Timothy 6:20-21 — “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.”
• Colossians 2:8 — “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
• Romans 1:21-22 — “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:19 — “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

It is The Word alone that tells us God created both heaven and earth, and all that fills them. This Word also tells us that He created them by His Word alone — that He spoke them into existence. And it is  this Word that now speaks to the man, declaring: “you will live by faith — you will live if you believe — if you trust what I say to be true”. If the man believes this Word, the Word is faithful to fulfill His faith and bring the promise into existence — as it one brought the heavens and the earth into existence, and there was not one particle out of order, but all was declared — by the Word — to be “very good.” And in that perfection, God rested — and now also bids the falling man to rest with Him, in His love and in His Word — in the certainty of His promise: “Rest with Me — in My love, in My Word, in the certainty of My promise.”

• Mark 9:23 — “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

It is not obedience that will save His life, but the invisible faith in the heart. God reads hearts and knows the inmost thoughts of men — thoughts that escape even their own conscience.

The visible fruits of obedience are not the condition of salvation — but the inevitable evidence of a heart that truly believes.

• Matthew 16:26 — “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
• Psalm 49:7-8 — “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)”
• 1 Samuel 16:7 — “For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
• Jeremiah 17:10 — “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

If this Word is enough for the man’s faith, his trust will manifest acts or works of faith. By these works, we may discern whether his trust is genuine or merely professed — whether or not He obeys the Word of God which directly contradicts the prevailing mirages — the Illusions perceived in front of his carnal eyes.

This changes everything. The man is still falling — but now he has a promise. And with that promise comes a choice. A choice to, even though falling, act as if he is not falling — but rather, as if standing firm, trampling on solid ground — just as Jesus walked on the raging sea in the heart of the tempest. 

• Matthew 14:25–27 — “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a spirit’; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.’”
  [they perceive illusions, Jesus speaks truth — some believe some disbelieve]
• Matthew 14:29–30 — “And He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, ‘Lord, save me.’”
• Matthew 14:25–30 — “Jesus walked on the sea in the midst of the storm — and called Peter to walk too.”

And when the falling person truly believes this, even though he doesn’t see, he acts as if he is not falling — by the faith that is imparted to his heart by the trustworthiness of the Word of God. He lives as if the promise were already fulfilled — acting not by sight, but by faith. For He knows his, and all future is history to God.

And when the falling person truly believes this — even though he doesn’t see — he acts as if he is not falling, by the faith imparted to his heart through the trustworthiness of the Word of God. He lives as if the promise were already fulfilled, acting not by sight, but by faith. For he KNOWS that his future, and all future, is mere history to God.

• Isaiah 46:9–10 — “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
  ¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure”
• Isaiah 41:4 — “Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.”
• Revelation 22:13 — “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

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• 2 Corinthians 5:7 — “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
• Romans 8:24–25 — “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
  ²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
• Hebrews 11:1 — “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
  • John 20:29 — “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

And he surrenders — his faith placed in God’s hands — leaving the outcome to Him, knowing that God, who promised, is trustworthy and cares, and will bless his efforts. And God, in turn, renews the man’s spirit with hope — not expecting to land abruptly, shattering into pieces, but to descend gently, whole, into the new — spiritual — uncorrupted city of the heavenly Jerusalem. ^{17 ⤵}

He descends rather than ascends, for his fall began by lifting himself in pride above that which is highest — but now, through humility, he returns downward to the top. For he has learned that anything beyond the truth is of the devil.

• Luke 14:11 — “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

This is the turning point. The man chooses to act as if the promise is true — accomplished and fulfilled — even though it SEEMS untrue — unaccomplished and unfulfilled. He chooses, NOT because he sees it — but because he believes it.

• Luke 17:20-21 — “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation ^{17 ⤴}:
  ²¹ Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

By mere sight he acts like a fool, but by reality, God, reading the faith and the trust in the man’s heart, blesses his attempts of faith, surely fulfilling the promise. Because, let us not forget,  when God speaks, His words become reality — for by His Word alone He created all things, whether it be mountains or skies, or death or life, or angels, or principalities, or powers, or things present, or things to come, or height, or depth, or any other creature.

• Romans 8:38–39 — “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And such person has restored his freedom of choice back to his life because HE HAS BELIEVED GOD’S PROMISE, that HE WILL LIVE — before he had no freedom of choice to act as if he was living and alive because he knew he was dead and dying — because he yielded his freedom to sin, disobedience, and disbelief and chose death by deception, and could not, by himself, undo the doom of his choice. But now, because God intervened and reversed his doom, he is able to choose life and acts of life because of God’s intervention — however, he once again has the freedom of choice to yield his choice to death, only this time, there will not be a second intervention, and this time, it will be by fullness of light that he chooses, not by deception as the first time was.

• Romans 6:8 — “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
  ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.”
  ¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”
• Hebrews 9:26–28 — “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
  ²⁷ And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
  ²⁸ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
• Hebrews 10:10-12 — “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
  ¹¹ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
  ¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God””
• Hebrews 6:4–6 — “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
  ⁵ And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
  ⁶ If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
• Hebrews 10:26–29 — “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
  ²⁷ But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. ^{18 ⤵}
  ²⁸ He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
  ²⁹ Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Such person, who was empowered by God to live by faith and choose life, now continually chooses, freely — day by day, hour by hour, action after action, step after step — to never surrender his freedom of choice to anyone or anything again, because doing so is to renounce the image which he was made in — and why would he renounce the image that he loves?

God gives us sense of responsibility for our choices, which is what makes us humans. Such person will never again abuse this freedom of choice — not because he cannot, but because he freely chooses not to, for he has seen the fruits of careless living — and loathes them.

The devil wants to control us by force, God wants to trust Him, and, by self-control, to follow His path. The devil wants to surrender him our freedom of choice, while God wants us, by our freedom of choice, to do His will — not because we must, but because we trust. The devil has no power to make us free-willingly choose his lead for ONE reason alone — he is not trustworthy. So he must use force instead — and since God limits his force which he exercises over us, he must use deception. But God, by His truth, and His love, limits this also. For our God, precicely because He is trustworthy, every other way to win our obedience, but by freedom of choice, is beneath His dignity and glory — which is love by readiness to die for His servants and call them sons and daughters.

Yet, many people do not appreciate the responsibility God bestows upon us as sons and daughters of God through the freedom of choice He gives us — they do not desire to carry within them the image of the Holy One. They will get, therefore, what they will, what they freely chose — it will be unto them according to their faith in God, which is none. They will be left without a choice indeed.

• Matthew 9:29-30 — “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
  ³⁰ And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, Seethat no man know it.”
• Mark 10:52 — “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
• Matthew 15:28 — “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”
• Matthew 8:13 — “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”
• Luke 17:19 — “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
• Matthew 9:29 — “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”
• Mark 10:52 — “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
• Matthew 15:28 — “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”
• Matthew 8:13 — “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”
• Matthew 17:20 — “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

• For true love bears consequences, and belief awakens the soul to both the glory and the gravity of what is at stake: life, death, and the eternity between them.
  

This is what believing does — it restores what was lost. It gives back the power to choose, breathing life into a falling soul. But believing comes with responsibility: that if you make the wrong choice, a loved one will die, and you will lose an eternity with them. That is weight. Fullness. Substance. It is awe-inspiring. It is the substance with which love is filled — trust that empowers the right choice — FAITH. The trust that chooses truth, even when it costs everything.

Faith is the trust that chooses the Hands beneath you while falling the steepest slope, with the fastest gravity pulling you into nothingness — the unseen thread that binds love to eternity. Trust that turns the unseen belief into living reality.
Not a feeling, sensation, emotion, an instinct, an impulse, a reaction, a reflex, or a sentiment, caprice, whim, or an urge, but the INVISIBLE POWER that drives the decision for the right choice.

Trust is the sacred burden of freedom. It is burden because our choice does not bring independent consequences to our life alone, but to the life with which all heavens and earth are filled with. This is the burden of love — one wrong choice can murder all life — an act of disbelief and distrust. And one self-sacrificial choice — and act of faith and trust — can save all life.

Faith binds one soul’s decision to another soul’s destiny.

When we trust, we save lives—when we disobey God, we destroy lives, for all life is intertwined with His. To turn from Him — by disobedience and distrust — is to send shockwaves through every soul.
God is the sure cushion beneath us, with His hands outstretched, to catch us when we fall, laid before the bottomless abyss. Every life that refuses that cushion — by distrust and disobedience — shatters into nothingness—and in that shattering, all life trembles. But when one life — Jesus Christ — trusted that cushion, all life found rest in harmony. Even the one who has splintered can be held again—God offers a second chance to reckon with our reckless choice and embrace the faith that gives life. When the falling man fell off the cliff beneath the supporting cushion, He was shown the trust of Jesus Christ. God has placed another cushion for the trembling souls just before the bottom of the bottomless pit, so they do not have to break into nothing. And they are bidden to follow the example of trust of Jesus Christ. And now, by one man’s trust, all life came back into harmony from the disharmony caused by one man’s distrust. Adam was the falling man. The Second Adam is the restorer of faith.

Trust does not rescue you from the fall, from the consequence of your choice, but it teaches you to trust the Hands that wait to catch you. It does not rescue you from the information that your senses communicate to you. To your senses, the consequences are fully developed and present around you, and trust teaches you to rest in the Father’s love, rather than fear His “correctness.” For His justice is in His mercy, not in His punishment. Yet, punishment He uses to teach you to fear choices to evil. And this punishment, to your senses, is as if no mercy is available to save you from the fall. Yes, trust enables you to act beyond that which your carnal senses dictate. It enables you to live with responsibility, feeling its weight on the senses while making choices, while proactively choosing faith, but knowing its lightness that adorns the end.

FAITH — that is the trusting fire in the heart of love that refuses to let go of the promise of the Father which rings its divine melodies in out believing hearts — “I will be with you even to the end. Trust in Me unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

• Matthew 28:20 — “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
  ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
  ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
• Revelation 2:10 — “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Faith is what gives love its consequence, its urgency, its life-or-death reality.

by love we seek to act on benefit a relative, by faith we overcome the fear of failure (here)

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Step 1: Love is a desire to benefit another — the inward disposition or intention to seek another’s good.

AND A consequence is the real‐world effect that follows an action or decision. WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE LOVE CANNOT bring benefit to another.

A mere feeling of love, without outward movement or action, produces no real effect. It cannot benefit another. it remains internal. Remains inert. Without consequence of an action. It is dead love.

Decision leads to action which leads to consequence. Without decision, we cannot move. Without freedom of choice, we cannot decide. Freedom of choice empowers decision-making.

BUT WHAT EMPOWERS DECISION-MAKING?

THAT IS FAITH

3: Faith is the trust — CONFIDENCE IN A PROMISE OR REALITY YOU CANNOT YET SEE,

THIS CONFIDENCE OR TRUST ENABLES YOU to act based on the promises made — that, IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACT SACRIFICIALLY, your action will not be devastating, even when it seems or sounds or feels so. THAT THEY WILL BEAR many FRUITS for harvest. FAITH IN THIS HARVEST ENABLES ONE TO CHOOSE AND DECIDE UPON THE ACTIONS THAT demand much effort and sacrifice to carry forward. Without faith in this harvest, such actions are impossible to be performed.

When you trust someone or something, you choose to act on what you trust.

Step 4: When love is guided by faith, it moves from desire to decision to act on behalf of the benefit of another. Love gives you the desire to help; faith gives you the confidence to decide how and when to help.

Step 5: This decision, motivated by pure love, fuels the performing of the self-sacrificial action.

Every decision born of love+faith becomes a concrete action (e.g., a word spoken, a hand extended, a sacrifice made).

And if the decision lacks faith, but claims that it is out of love – this is not yet love. And if the distrust is never overcome, this is hate. And if it claims faith but lacks actions of faith, this is not yet faith. And if the the risk to choose the action is never overcome, then this is unbelief. And unbelief is sin.

Step 6:

Every action carries real-world effects — consequences—it blesses, heals, protects, or (if misdirected) can harm or injure.

By transforming love’s desire into confident decisions and actions, faith is the engine that generates real‐world outcomes—i.e., the consequences of love.

STEP 7: Therefore, faith is the catalyst that transforms loving desire into self-sacrificial actions and gives beneficial consequences to another.

7.5: While contrary to faith, distrust gives actions that harm the wellbeing of another.

Result

Without faith, love has no pathway to produce effects.

With faith, love becomes powerful, urgent, and life‑changing—because it must result in tangible consequences.

The actions motivated by pure love carry consequences—the consequences of love.”

Step9: So when love is united with faith, it necessarily yields consequences by means of urgency, responsibility, sense of impact.

Step 10: Without faith, love never crosses the threshold into the world; with faith, love becomes world‑shaping.

Without faith, love remains inside, projecting on the outside by indifference. Thus, without faith, love becomes hate — because to be indifferent to a newborn child, is to despise the child, and murder it. FOR THERE IS NO ONE WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF THE BABY’S NEEDS. AND WHEN A FATHER AND A MOTHER IS WILLING TO STEP OUTSIDE THEIR INDIVIDUAL COMFORT ZONE, THEY ACT BY FAITH, WITH THE HOPE TO BENEFIT THE CHILD AND GIVE THEM A LIFE WORTH LIVING.

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Faith restores responsibility.
Faith opens the door to eternal impact.
Faith connects your decision to real outcomes — even involving others.
Faith is not just personal — it’s relational, eternal, and costly.

Faith is the unseen thread that binds love to eternity.
It is the substance of choice, the anchor of hope, the breath behind obedience.

Not ease or escape, but the quiet strength to endure.
To believe is to stand still while the world shakes, to wait when nothing is seen, to love when nothing is felt.
It is not the absence of fear, but the refusal to act on it.
Belief doesn’t rescue you from the fall — it teaches you to trust the Hands beneath you.

Not sentiment, not softness, but the sacred burden of freedom.
For true love bears consequences, and belief awakens the soul to both the glory and the gravity of what is at stake: life, death, and the eternity between them.

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By freeing us from the bondage of sin, God restores to us the freedom of choice we had lost when we yielded to sin.

Sin makes us lose the freedom of choice, and that forgiveness gets our freedom of choice back, to be ABLE or HAVE THE POWER ONCE AGAIN. To CHOOSE RIGHT GOOD HOLINESS.

So now we understand this: sin takes away our freedom. Forgiveness gives it back. And this freedom is not just a feeling — it is power.

By accepting the forgiveness of God we receive that which we had lost, the freedom of choice, and then we have the POWER to again CONSTANTLY CHOOSE RIGHT OVER WRONG.

It is this POWER OF CHOICE that comes in the SPIRIT OF GOD — by living by faith, we have power that is of heaven and not of this body and of this world.

Because it is the FAITH that ENABLES US TO USE THIS FREEDOM OF CHOICE, because WE BELIEVE IN HIS FORGIVENESS AND LOVE, and of the NECESSITY TO LIVE BY HOLINESS because that is the only way to love.

GOD gives us the power to do what is right by returning to us the freedom of choice that we lost by yielding to sin and therewith becoming prisoners thereof.

Now we have once again the freedom of choice to do what is right, which means we have power to do holy things, even though we feel weak — He gave us the Spirit of righteousness by which we act by faith and not by sight — we believe we are forgiven.

That is the final step — living by this restored freedom. Not because we feel strong, but because we trust that God has given us the Spirit of righteousness. We walk by faith, not by sight. And we believe we are forgiven. Therefore, we are free.

The Rock: the Foundation of Truth and Law and Logic

All understanding, all reform, all clarity must begin from discerning who and what the Rock is: the sharply defined absolute base, the fixed cornerstone, the solid ground on which all common sense—truth and reason—is built.

Plainly: the Rock is Love. God’s Love. Self-sacrificial love.
The Rock is God in identity and Love in nature.

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Now, invite the Holy Spirit to evaluate and delve into this deeper:

Building on love

God is love. The Law is love — this is the foundation.

• 1 John 4:8 — “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
• Romans 13:10 — “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Therefore, God is the Law—not in cold vain human legality, but in character, essence, and truth: His Law is the expression of His loving character.

The Word is truth, and the Word is God.

• John 17:17 — “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
• John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

God is truth. The Word is God’s will revealed. The Word fulfilled is God’s will fulfilled. God’s will fulfilled is the revelation of His glory.

• John 1:14 — “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Jesus fulfilled God’s Word. Jesus is God’s Word. Jesus is God’s glory. He is the exact expression of God’s character— as the Word tells us, “the brightness of His glory.”

• Hebrews 1:3 — “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Jesus is love and truth. The character of God is love and truth.

• 1 John 4:8 — “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
• John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

There is no other like Him. There is no other like Jesus. There is only one way, one glory, one truth, one life, one character, one God, and one Son of God—the radiance of His glory. One Spirit of God.

• John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

He who enacts that one character of God carries the Holy Spirit within Him.

• John 16:13 — “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
• Romans 8:9 — “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

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And when this foundation is truly seen, the heart is drawn to obey—not by force, but by love. By freedom of choice.

Love is a freedom of choice.

The Abyss, is a concept that is not abstract, but it is real. It is in the first pages of the Bible. Darkness fills it. And emptiness is its substance. It has an ever-falling slope to it. When one surrenders his freedom of choice to it, ^{9 ⤵} he enters a free fall.

Freedom of choice is fullness of conscience, care, love, light, service, maintanence, creativity, organizing, building, perfecting, measuring, putting together, improving — living. But when one’s freedom of choice is surrendered, he enters the free-fall of death. This is the darkness of the abyss — the rolling on its ever-falling slope. We do not effort, but it does the work for us. Little amount is reqired from us — to jump. ^{9 ⤴}

Like jumping off a cliff and then letting gravity pull you down the steep slope of the mountain covered with naked and seamless rock with nothing to hold onto, and even if there was, the speed of falling is so fast that grabbing yourself to a branch will either break the branch or tear the arm apart.

When the fall takes over, we have no control over it. The first adrenaline we feel from changing state from stable ground to free-fall fades away until we fully fade away with the emptiness that fills that place.

To be fully aware and conscious — constantly discerning ^{14 ⤴} right from wrong — demands effort, energy, devotion, dedication, clarity, and light and visibility; it demands ongoing willful observing —an immortal interest — thoughtfully processing, principled decision-making, and faithfully performing. These are the building blocks of life ^{10 ⤵} . This is willpower¹.

Can a lazy person do this?

Can a dead person?

Can a narcotic? An alcoholic?

Can the unhealthy one?

Can an indifferent person do this?

Can the weak one? The barely alive?

Can someone who is not utilizing his God-given freedom of choice do this? One who lives by circumstances, not by principles? Who has no firm backbone, but bends his will to whatever comes — adapting his morals only to survive? Is survival living? Can someone who merely subsists by mechanical instinct — automatically reacting to survival challenges of circumstances — secure an eternity of living — a vibrant life, rich in purpose, reason, and priceless worth?

Can someone with unclear objective do this? With silent motive? With unfocused intention? Someone who lives on a habit? Who take no responsibility for his actions? Who lives by instinct? By feeling alone?

Can someone with weak willpower do this?

Can the liar do this? The thief? The murderer? The adulterer? The blasphemer? The mocker? What purpose do they constantly keep before their eyes? What vision, what moral aim, what future plan — what certainty — are they following? What sustainability awaits the thief, the murderer, the adulterer, the blasphemer, the mocker? What do they live for, to sustain? To excuse their existence? Love? To which treasure is their heart given? If not to love, then to what?

That’s right. There is no answer — because nothingness fills their vision, and their heart clings to emptiness.

• Ecclesiastes 1:2 — “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
  ³ What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
  ⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

And if someone has jumped ^{9 ⤵} — and is yet falling — how can he get away? Who can save him? Only the One who is greater than the abyss.

• Psalm 40:2 — “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.”
• Psalm 18:16 — “He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.”
• Psalm 30:3 — “O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.”
• Lamentations 3:55–57 — “I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.”
• Jonah 2:6 — “I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.”
• Acts 2:24 — “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”
• Revelation 1:18 — “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
• Hosea 13:14 — “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction…”
• 2 Timothy 1:10 — “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:55–57 — “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin… But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Romans 7:24–25 — “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• Isaiah 43:11 — “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.”
• Psalm 3:8 — “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people.”

To live life on automation is suicide. It is to yield the building blocks ^{10 ⤴} the sanctuary of will — the seat of judgment, the command post, the office of authority — by which your life operates and from which it finds direction.

• — Proverbs 16:9 — “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”
• — Psalm 75:7 — “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

It is to renounce the authority over your life.

• — Jeremiah 17:5 — “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…”

And if you renounce it while you are still alive, where will your life receive governance and direction from?

• — Proverbs 14:12 — “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

There is but one place left: the abyss — the bottomless pit.

• — Revelation 9:1 — “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.”

To live life on automation, renouncing your authority over it, is to throw those building blocks down the drain of that abyss — of that bottomless pit — draining them, by decay, into non-existence.

• Isaiah 14:15 — “Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the sides of the Pit.”
  [their free-willing choice is their punishment]

To yield control of your life is to have another — not you — act in your stead. And that ‘another’ is not God — because God never controls your life without your continuous cooperation.

• Revelation 3:20 — “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”
• John 14:15 — “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

He does not force Himself upon you, although He is your Creator and the Architect of the circumstances around you. Even though He is the Invisible Protector of both good and evil people, His condition to be ever present in your life is that you have a freedom of choice — not on paper, but in practice.

• Deuteronomy 30:19 — “I have set before thee life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…”
• Joshua 24:15 — “Choose you this day whom ye will serve…”

And by yielding this choice, you let go of His presence. Because it was God who assigned you the control of your life, the responsibility over your actions, the freedom of choice over your decisions.

• James 1:5 — “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…”
• seek and you will find

You were created in His image.

• Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image…”

These are attributes of God.

• Matthew 7:7 — “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find…”
• Leviticus 11:44 — “For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy…”

And to live on automation is to surrender these attributes to the enemies of God.

• Romans 12:21 — “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
• Genesis 4:7 — “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

In our case it is the devil.

• 1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about…

And who did the devil surrender his attributes to? His own vanity, his nothingness, the abyss of his death, the abyss of his worthlessness.

• Ezekiel 28:17 — “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness…” (The fall of Lucifer)
• John 8:44 — “He was a murderer from the beginning…”
• “God made him [Lucifer] good and beautiful, as near as possible like Himself…” from The Review and Herald, September 24, 1901 (TA 26.4) 
• “Though God had created Lucifer noble and beautiful, and had exalted him to high honor among the angelic host…” from The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, p. 317 (TA 27.1)
• Lt 42, 1910, par. 3 — “They had come to exalt themselves, and they forgot that their beauty of person and of character came from the Lord Jesus.” 

To the concept of living life without God, a life without self-control, without freedom of choice. To the darkness that is there when God is not. To the slavery of his own nothingness. To non-existence. To death, darkness, and deceit.

To live life on automation is to say “No” to life and its components — the very building blocks of which it is made.

• Psalm 103:14 — “He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
• Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
• Genesis 2:7 — “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
• Job 33:4 — “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”
• Ecclesiastes 12:7 — “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
• John 20:22 — “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
• Isaiah 42:5 — “Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out… he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.”
• Romans 8:5 — “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

It is to disown the divine image stamped upon your soul — to erase the face of God from your will. You become a motionless picture. An icon carved from dead wood.

• Jeremiah 10:3–5 — “For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest… they are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go…”
• Isaiah 44:13–17 — “The carpenter stretcheth out his rule… he maketh it after the figure of a man… he burneth part thereof in the fire… and the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image… he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it.”

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We were made of the dust of the earth. What useful instinct can we have if we allow our own nature dictate our decisions? What good are the instincts of the dust of the ground? Can a mere clay lay its life for the clays it loves? The pot moves only there where it is taken by him who has control over it. It cannot move on its own. If it is thrown in the garbage, it moves with the garbage, if thrown on the shelf — it stays there. God gave us His control over our natural bodies of dust and flesh. If we disown God from our lives, we disown that control we have over them, and we surrender to the base instincts that a mere dust can have — nothingness — death — purposelessness — worthlessness — the free-fall of the never-ending abyss, the bowels of the bottomless pit.

It is the Spirit of the LORD that gives the pot a freedom of choice, an authority to move on its own. When we surrender this authority, which is divine authority, we become mere mortals who are of no greater value than a grain of sand, or a cup thereof. 

Did God choose the dust of earth to be our nature by which He made us by mere coincidence?

Hay is of higher value.

Wood is of higher value than dust.

Bronze is of higher value.

Silver.

Gold.

Diamonds.

But He chose the lowest material, the dust — fragile, dry, scattered, stepped on — so that He can decorate us with DIVINE value and worth, which is of higher value than

jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, chrysoprasus, jacinth, amethyst, topaz, carbuncle, onyx, — and all the jewels combined together.

These were the very stones that adorned Lucifer in Eden (Ezekiel 28:13), that were engraved on the breastplate of the High Priest (Exodus 28:17–20), and that formed the foundations of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19–20).

But we were not decorated with mere stones — we were clothed with the righteousness of God Himself: with divine wisdom: with the ability to choose rightly. Our Father clothed us with the value of good over evil, of life over death, of freedom of choice over the worthlessness of puppets.

And to throw away this authority by which He has stamped us, is to go by the instincts of the dust — of that which is virtually of no value.

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A useless clay, made for dishonorable use — dust without the breath — without the Spirit of the Lord imparting His life, and sanctifying and eternalizing it with His reason. ^{12 ⤴}

• Genesis 2:7 — “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…”
• Isaiah 11:2 — “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him… the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. ^{11 ⤵} ”
• John 20:22 — “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

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We have freedom of choice to renounce that choice and live on automation. Whoever yields that choice yields the purpose of living, and his mere survival is of no value.

The freedom of choice enables us to constantly choose between right and wrong, and to incessantly choose right. It enables us to discern between the value of life and the emptiness of death, between the value of goodness and the worthlessness of evil. It enables us to constantly recognize the worth of life and the glory of the One who gave it to us, even on the cross. It enables us to perpetually recognize the reason for living, for choosing life. It is an act of effort, and this effort is done willingly ^{14 ⤵}, because we love the fruits ^{13 ⤴} thereof. It is a willing self-sacrifice because we love the benefit — the profit ^{13 ⤵} of our life investment. To obey is to self-sacrifice. ^{15 ⤵} To obey is to GIVE AN EFFORT, not because your works will save you, but because they give others reasons to live — because they save others. You work through Jesus Christ Who saved you, and by His salvation, you save others — by carrying your cross, and following Him, the Lamb, wherever He goeth.

The effort is the sacrifice. The effort is the constant choice to die to ourselves. The effort is by the freedom of choice. This freedom of choice is investment for eternity. Whoever yields this freedom of choice yields love and its efforts to self-sacrifice for others. He lives for himself, and thus, he has no reason to live — because the LORD hasn’t given him this reason, and he is, therefore, not sharing that reason with others.

• Matthew 10:7-8 — “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

And every body that does not circulate with blood, whose organs do not exchange that blood that is streaming in the veins, is a dead body. For life is in the blood.
To live life on automation is to live for survival — to live to save yourself — to live for yourself — to live selfishly. But it is also to live foolishly — for how can you save yourself from the ever-falling devouring bowels of the abyss? ^{18 ⤵} From the bottomless pit?

• Genesis 2:17; 3:4–5 — “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
  …⁴ “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
  ⁵ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
• 1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

And living life on automation is doing exactly this impossible thing — by your own effort — trying to run away from the darkest and deepest fall — while falling straight into it.

• Proverbs 14:12 — “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

It is a life of constant fear and blindness, where your primal worry is attempting not to die — and your concern maximizing your survival value before dying — while overlooking the stable truth that you are already dead.

What benefit is there to maximize the wellbeing of a dead person? That’s why, those who have given themselves to this foolishness can never reverse their choice ↑ — because they have given their freedom of choice, the authority of their life to nothingness — they have destroyed the authority and the freedom of choice that God has initially given them — thus, they have no longer freedom of choice to reverse their decision ↑. That’s why, once they freely give into the rushing slopes of the bottomless abyss, their fate is forever sealed — they have no longer power to choose life, because they used this power of life to choose death.

• Jeremiah 13:23 — Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Therefore, we can only choose to do good — or choose life — when we believe that God has restored our life.

• Deuteronomy 30:19 — “I have set before thee life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

This is obedience by faith.

And how can we believe without the resurrection of Christ?

verses

• Romans 10:9-10 — “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
• Romans 1:17 — “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
• Hebrews 11:6 — “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:14 — “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”
• Romans 6:4 — “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
• Ephesians 2:4–5 — “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ…”
• John 5:24 — “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life…”
• Philippians 3:10–11 — “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…”
• Romans 8:11 — “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies…”
• Luke 12:8 — “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,”
• Acts 16:31 — “And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’”
• Matthew 10:32-33 —
  “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
• 1 John 4:2-3 — “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”
• 1 Peter 1:21 —
  “Who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
• Romans 8:34 —
  “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
• John 12:42-43 — “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
• 2 John 1:7 — “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
• John 9:22 — “(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)”
• John 20:26-29 — “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
• Acts 8:36 — “And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’”
• Acts 2:24 — “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”
• John 6:69-71 — “And we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.”

The word faithful is obedience by faith.

• Romans 1:5 — “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.”

To be faithful is to do what you are told — and you can only do exactly what you are told because you love your master.

• John 14:15 — “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
• Luke 16:10 — “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
• Matthew 25:21 — “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
• John 15:14 — “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
• Deuteronomy 11:1 — “Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.”
• 1 John 5:3 — “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
• 1 Samuel 15:22 — “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

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• Deuteronomy 6:5; Exodus 33:13; Numbers 12:7–8; Hebrews 3:5 — “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
  — “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight…”
  — “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth… and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold…”
  — “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after.”
  [Moses DESIRES intimate knowledge of God’s inmost parts, that he may know Him as a if he is part of God — that he might find the knowledge to obey Him by the smallest, most invisible, detail, so that his obedience toward His Father may be made perfect; because the son longs to receive the favor of his father — “to find grace in His sight.”] [A son always wants to impress his father because he loves to bask in his loving protection and enjoy the comfort only his father can give. ]
  • Matthew 11:28–29 — “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
  • Exodus 33:14 — “And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”
  • Deuteronomy 12:9–10 — “For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.
    But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit… then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there…”
  • Isaiah 32:17–18 — “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
    And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
  • Isaiah 63:9 — “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”
  • Psalm 91:1–2 — “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
    I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
  • Psalm 23:1–2 — “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
  • Psalm 95:11 — “So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.”
  • Hebrews 4:1, 9-10 — “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. … There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

And you can only love your master if you know that he loves you first — despite your faults.

• 1 John 4:19 — “We love him, because he first loved us.”

Since your master is greater than you, it is only fair that his love for you precedes your love for him.

• John 13:13–14 — “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet…”
• Malachi 1:6 — “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you…”
• Isaiah 55:8–9 — “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
• Psalm 103:13–14 — “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”
• Deuteronomy 32:6 — “Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?”
• Jeremiah 3:19 — “But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.”
• Proverbs 3:11–12 — “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

And only a father can be such master.

• Matthew 23:9 — “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

So faithfulness comes by love because love births trust — because we trust them who love us, because they want to keep us well and alive.

• Psalm 91:14–15 — “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him… He shall call upon me, and I will answer him…”
• Deuteronomy 10:12–13 — “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes…”

To be faithful is to remain in your master’s love.

• John 15:10 — “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
• John 15:9 — “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
• Revelation 2:10 — “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
• Revelation 3:11 — “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
• 2 Timothy 4:7 — “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
• Hebrews 12:1 — “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
• James 1:12 — “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

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• Jude 1:21 — “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
• 1 John 4:16 — “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
• John 14:21-23 — “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
  ²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
  ²³ “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
• Romans 8:38–39 — “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
  ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• 1 John 3:24 — “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”
• John 15:4–5 — “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
• John 15:9–10 — “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
• John 16:27 — “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”
• Romans 5:5 — “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
• John 17:26 — “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
• 1 John 3:1 — “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…”
• 2 Thessalonians 3:5 — “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
• Psalm 91:14 — “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.”

Obedience is love. ^{15 ⤴} 

• Romans 1:5 — “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.”

To obey is to love, because to obey is to trust.

• 2 John 1:6 — “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”
• James 2:17 — “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
• John 15:14 — “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

And to trust is to love, because you love Him who loved you first.

• 1 John 4:19 — “We love him, because he first loved us.”
• Luke 7:47 — “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

God loves us not because He trusts us, but because He trusts Himself — He trusts us in His perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, knowing that, after witnessing His perfect love, we cannot sin any longer, for the truth doesn’t allow us — which is our conscience.

• John 8:31–32 — “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
• Romans 2:13 — “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

This is only true if we live by the truth. It does not apply to those who do not live by the truth.

• 1 John 2:4 — “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
• 1 John 5:3 — “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
• Deuteronomy 11:1 — “Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.”
• 1 Samuel 15:22 — “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

So to obey is to love. To love is to live by the truth ^{16 ⤵} — that is, to trust.

• Galatians 5:6 — “Faith which worketh by love.”
• Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
• 1 John 3:18 — “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 — “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

And to trust is to believe that God loved you first. ^{16 ⤴} This is the truth. If you love Jesus, you will obey Him because He loves you.

• John 14:21 — “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
• John 15:10 — “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

And obeying Him means doing what is best for you — because what Jesus requires of us is what is truly best.

• Jeremiah 7:23 — “But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”
• Ezekiel 20:11 — “And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.”
• Deuteronomy 10:13 — “To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”

We trust His love not to fail us. We love His love, which takes care of us. Therefore, we trust, and because we trust, we obey. And we obey to benefit. ^{13 ⤵}

• Deuteronomy 30:16 — “In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee…”
• Psalm 119:45 — “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.”

And obedience defines whose servants we are — because to trust means not to know by evidence, but by the reputation of the trusted; and trust means yielding to his will and knowledge, which we do not receive by sight, but we accept by faith. And yielding is surrender, surrender is submitting, submitting is submissive, and submission is humility. Therefore, trust is humility. Obeying is humility. And humility is willfully transferring —surrendering— your dependence to Someone Else, Who is bigger and knows better than you, and yet, loves you, and is willing that you do not perish, but have everlasting life.

• Romans 6:16 — “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey…”

Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” 

• John 14:15

But what He really meant was: “If you love yourselves, keep My commandments.”
“Because My commandments give you what is best for you — because I love you.”

And if we love ourselves, we will love our brothers and sisters who are in our image.

• Ephesians 5:29 — “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.”
• John 13:34 — “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
• 1 John 4:21 — “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
• 1 John 2:9 — (NIV) “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.”

And we will love Him, according to whose image we were made — and reborn in.

• Romans 8:29 — “For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”
• Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
• James 3:9 — “With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.”

---

Freedom

Obedience is love. 

• Romans 1:5 — “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.”

To obey is to love, because to obey is to trust. And to trust is to love, because you love Him who loved you first. God loves us not because He trusts us, but because He trusts Himself — He trusts us in His perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, knowing that after witnessing His perfect love, we cannot sin any longer, for the truth doesn’t allow us — which is our conscience. This is only true if we live by the truth. It does not apply to those who do not live by the truth.

• 1 John 4:19 — “We love him, because he first loved us.”
• 1 John 2:4 — “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
• 1 John 5:3 — “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
• Deuteronomy 11:1 — “Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.”
• 2 John 1:6 — “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”

So to obey is to love. To love is to live by the truth — that is, to trust. And to trust is to believe that God loved you first — this is the truth.

• 
  ✅ Galatians 5:6 — “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

If you love Jesus, you will obey Him because He loves you. And obeying Him means doing what is best for you — because what Jesus requires of us is what is truly best. We trust His love not to fail us. We love His love, which takes care of us. Therefore, we trust, and because we trust, we obey. And we obey to benefit. ^{13 ⤵}

• 
  ✅ John 15:10 — “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
• ✅ Psalm 119:44–45 — “So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.”
• John 14:15 — “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
• Deuteronomy 10:13 — “To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”
• John 14:21 — “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
• Luke 7:47 — “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
• Ecclesiastes 12:13 — “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
• Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
• Jeremiah 7:23 — “But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”
• Deuteronomy 30:16 — “In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments… that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee.”
• John 8:31–32 — “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” But what He really meant was: “If you love yourselves, keep My commandments.” Because My commandments give you what is best for you — because I love you. And if we love ourselves, we will love our brothers and sisters who are in our image. And we will love Him, according to whose image we were made — and reborn in.

• John 13:34 — “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
• 1 John 4:21 — “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
• Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
• Matthew 22:37-39 — “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

---

It is pointless to live by the law once you break it.

For what use is a law if it allows for departures? If two people live in a house, and the law of the house is “do not kill,” and if one of them departs from the law for the time being, then how has this law protected the victim? What good of living by the law, which says, Do not kill, after killing the only one sharing the law? There is no one left to kill anyway. And if there is, how can this other person have peace knowing the law cannot provide him 100% security? So he would render the law of no value — useless.

The usefulness of a law is that it would leave no transgression left unpunished — the utility of any law comes from the mercilessness of its punishments for departures. The punishment might have different degrees of recompense of the damaged, or stolen, or destroyed. But if there is no recompense, the Law is a mere decoration of justice, rather than empowered justice. Every law must be like a balancing scale, where on one side there is an eye, and on the other side, also an eye — tooth for a tooth, eye for an eye.

The only exemption from a punishment must be if the victim allows it. But if the victim is dead, who will allow for the mercy? It must be the Creator of that soul, which is killed.

• Romans 3:20 — “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Does Paul here refer to the Ten Commandments (the Moral Law) — the Law of God which condemns us to death after transgressing it?

• Romans 6:32 ^{1 ⤵} — “For the wages of sin is death…

Is he saying that the Law opened his eyes to his sinfulness —made him aware he was a sinner(?) that knowing this Law only points to us as sinners, rather than making us sinless? For the Law is there to show that we have sinned, and enable us to realize the extent of our sinning — it is not there to help us sin not, nor to call us to obey it; ^{7 ⤵} for why would we obey it when we already broke it? When it already condemned us to death, what is the point and the benefit of living by it ^{13 ⤵}?

• Romans 7:7 — “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

But rather, the Law is there to show us how deep into sin we have fallen, that no obedience to ‘a Law’ can save us from the wages of the disobedience to it, except God’s grace — the mercy of the Lawgiver…

But rather, the Law is there to show us how deep into sin we have fallen: that no obedience to a Law can save us from the wages of disobedience to it, except by God’s grace… the mercy of the Lawgiver… unless it is Someone higher than the Law who takes the blame upon Himself — either by professing imperfection in His Law, saying, “My Law is imperfect; I was wrong to demand such holiness from you,” or by bearing our guilt upon His back (carrying the cross). And since the Law represents the very character of this Higher Being (everything He stands for, all that He is, the core essence of His being, the fullness of Who He is ^{2 ⤵}), any transgression of it falls on Him: casting doubt on His name, diminishing His glory, flawing His essence — questioning the very purpose of His eternal existence. And what is worse pain than to know your existence is meaningless, useless, vain, empty, of zero value?
Meaningful death is better than a meaningless life.²

• Ecclesiastes 9:5 — “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”

But when all hope and reward of life is lost, when life has no holy purpose of eternal value:

• Job 3:16 — “Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.”

Our sin puts shadow on God’s dignity, sovereignty, integrity, wondering whether He should exist as such, and whether He is truly God, and the Creator of everything. How base and prideful sin is? Sin requires recompense of the damage we cause to God — Who can recompense damaged divinity? God alone. Surely not beings made out of the dust of the earth. We are worthy of non-existence. And if it wasn’t for the love of God, and for His eternal patience, we would be “of untimely birth who know not any thing“.

God’s character is His image and the purpose of His existence — the soul of His immortality, the face of His unseen nature. And faith in this Character is the evidence of things unseen, the purpose of His eternal existence, and the substance of things hoped for — the tangibility of His love: that God is our Father, that we bear the image of our Creator, that He has given us His essence — the essence of His Being, the essence of His existence, the essence of His purpose and will: the knowledge of His Law, which is His character — giving us a free space for choice, to be like Him — to freely choose to live by it and reflect the glory of the One Whom we have received as our only true Father, Whom we trust and honor.
The Law says, Love your neighbor — or rather, love Him who bears the same image you bear: that of God, your Father and Creator.
The Law says, Do not kill: ➔

➔ If we kill them who God made in His image and who carry the purpose God designed them for — the murder is against God; because, to destroy the one who bears God’s image and carries His purpose is to strike at our God-given essence and render God purposeless — a fool unable to discern useful from useless, good from bad; to assign him the character of the devil. If we create our own purpose, we place ourselves higher than God. And we give God a purpose rather than trust God for the purpose He gave us, that it is perfect for us throughout eternity.

• Isaiah 5:20 — “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
• Mark 3:28–30 — “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.”
• Luke 12:10 — “And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.”
• Hebrews 10:26–29 — “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. ^{18 ⤵} He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
• Hebrews 6:4–6 — “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
• 1 John 5:16 — “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”

Every act of murder is not merely against flesh, but against the glory of the One who gave that life of Himself and assigned a meaning to it — the same meaning which God’s existence bears/carries — which is to love and be loved; to do service to others and receive service from those greater than you. If you disbelieve the Lifegiver, you commit a murder. ^{3 ⤴}

• John 11:25–26 — “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
• John 5:26 — “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself”
• “Still seeking to give a true direction to her faith, Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer’s assurance of eternal life. “He that believeth in Me,” said Jesus, “though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?”” The Desire of Ages, p. 530
• “In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as his personal Saviour.” Selected Messages, Book 1, page 296

Disbelieving God’s purpose is to count every life He gave as of no value — useless — and thus to count God Himself as of no value; for He has that life of Himself… ^{4 ⤵}

• Psalm 118:22-23 — “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”
• Matthew 21:42 — “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?”
• 1 Peter 2:4 — “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.”
• Psalm 14:1 — “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
• Romans 1:21 — “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
• Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
• Ephesians 2:10 — “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
• Psalm 138:8 — “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
• Luke 7:30 — “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.”
• Romans 8:28 — “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.“
• Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:8 — “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”
• Matthew 12:31–32 — “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

… ^{4 ⤴} and gave that life to His Son to have of Himself, and through His Son, He shared it with all of us, to have it through faith in His holy name, which He spoke to Moses, face to face: “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” — Exodus 34:6–7
This speaks that we are alive because God is love; we are alive because of God’s Law, Character, Purpose, Name, Glory, Will…: we are alive because of the meaning of God’s life — We are alive because of God’s purpose. Because of His reason ^{12 ⤵} to be alive..

verses

• Proverbs 8:22–23 — “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.”
• Proverbs 8:24–25 — “When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.”
• Proverbs 8:26–27 — “While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.”
• Proverbs 8:28–29 — “When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth.”
• Proverbs 8:30–31 — “Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”

Without this meaning, ^{5 ⤵} God cannot exist, and His life is of no value — dead.

verses

• Revelation 1:17–18 — “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.”
• Revelation 22:13 — “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
• Luke 20:38 — “For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.”
• Romans 14:11 — “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
• Ezekiel 18:3 — “As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.”
• Hebrews 10:31 — “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
• Job 19:25 — “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
• Psalms 18:46 — “The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.”
• Ezekiel 33:11 — “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”
• Ezekiel 5:11 — “Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary… therefore will I also diminish thee.”
• Numbers 14:28 — “Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you.”
• Galatians 2:20 — “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”
• 2 Samuel 22:47 — “The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.”
• Mark 12:27 — “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.”
• Matthew 22:32 — “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
• 1 Samuel 25:34 — “For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee…”
• 1 Samuel 26:10 — “David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die…”
• 1 Samuel 28:10 — “And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.”
• 1 Samuel 29:6 — “Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright…”
• Revelation 15:7 — “And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.”

And He gave that meaning ^{5 ⤴} for us to also have, and we can only access it by faith. And whoever destroys this meaning ^{2 ⤴} and murders a brother who shares in this meaning of life—which God has imparted and appointed to him—revokes both his life and the meaning which God has given him. He refuses to accept that life without meaning is death ↑, and that, to revoke the meaning which God has assigned to him, is to revoke the life God has given him—for God’s life never coexists with the absence of its meaning.
And to give our own meanings is to create our own lives. And who among us has ever created life? Why do we believe so determinately that we have the power and the right to create a meaning to a life we did nothing to receive nor did we contribute anything to bring into existence? Its almost as if an external, devilish force, is forcing this unreasonable beliefs upon us, to render fools out of those who bear the image of the Holiest, Most Reasonable and Most Loving and Caring Being out there: the Ruler of kings and Creator of world and Father of spirits and the Exemplar of perfection, the Cornerstone of laws, the Beginning of time, the Measure of infinity, the Trainer of light, the Model of beauty and glory and the Warmth of love and care, the Firmness of truth, the Counsel of wisdom, the Essence of hope, the Straightness of righteousness, the Breath of life, the Voice of joy and salvation and purpose, the Space of infinity, the Time of eternity…
We only borrow this life; and we can only keep it when we fully accept the meaning it comes with. And that happens when we surrender our own meanings and when we die to ‘our lives we have created in our fantasy and illusion’—lives we blindly cling to with supernatural strength, gripped by deluded fear, as if our eternal salvation depended on them, committing idolatry towards our Creator and Father: the gravest sin. Murder.

Thus, either our life or His life will be required to recompense the damage caused by the transgression. ^{2 ⤵} in both cases, Divinity must bear the punishment—the full pain of the cost: if you kill those who bear God’s image, God bears the pain; if you kill the Son of God, Who is the express image of His person, the brightness of His glory, torn from God’s bosom, God bears the pain.

So when the devil killed Adam by his lies, he killed the Son of God, and caused God’s heart to bleed the blood of forgiveness shed on the cross, to recompense Adam’s sin — else, Adam, and all of us who came from him, would have been long lost in oblivion, like the memory of last year’s snow.

So, the Law is there to show us the value of our life, and thereby, to reveal the knowledge of sin: that, being made in God’s image, by our sin — breaking the Law — we have killed the Law Giver³, destroying everything He stands for and upholds ^{2 ⤵}: And now, the punishment requires either our life, or His life. One is mercy, the other—strict justice. Is our God a legalist, or is He our Father? His Law is perfect, holy, and just, and death was inevitable; therefore, He took our death upon Himself, because He loves us. For the value of any sin equals death. And if 2+2=4, God cannot say “sin does not equal death,” because it does. Thus, the wages of sin is, indeed, death…

• Romans 6:32 ^{1 ⤴} — …but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.“

HERE or

God is the value of our lives. And the cost of sin is the value of God: it is the value of His life which He gave us to live in the full measure of His value.

• John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

So if God withheld nothing back when giving us life, and with that life, His full glory, He will withhold nothing back

• Revelation 14:10-13 — “He shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

when we sin against Him—against His Law and His character—in this life He gave us; and we will be compelled either to accept the death of His Son as recompense, and never sin again, or to face our own death for holding onto the sin that destroys the life of Him who gave us life.

• John 3:36 — “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Jesus is the Life,

• John 11:25 — “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

the Truth,

• John 1:17 — “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

the Law,

• Romans 8:3-4 — “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us…”
• Matthew 5:17 — “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

the Word,

• John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
  ➝ …but by faith in God’s name, glory, purpose, image, character. Jesus is the full expression of God and is God’s Will manifest.
• John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
  • John 1:14 — “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
• Matthew 3:17 — “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
  • Mark 1:11 — “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
  • Luke 3:22 — “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
  • Matthew 17:5 — “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
  • Luke 9:35 — “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”
  • 2 Peter 1:17 — “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
• Psalm 2:7 — “I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”
• Colossians 1:19 — “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.”
  • Colossians 2:9 — “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
  • John 1:16 — “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”
• John 1:18 — “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
• John 14:9 — “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”
  • John 14:10 — “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

the Promise,

• 2 Corinthians 1:20 — “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
• Acts 2:39 — “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off…”

the Love,

• John 15:13 — “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
• 1 John 4:9 — “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world…”

the Name by which God made Himself known to us—which means ‘God Saves‘.

• John 17:6 — “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world…”
• Philippians 2:9-11 — “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”
• Isaiah 9:6 — “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

In other words, as God is His Glory, so is Jesus—being the brightness of His Glory—God. We knew God by witnessing His glory.

• Hebrews 1:3 — “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
• Revelation 21:23 — “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”
• Colossians 1:15 — “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”
• Psalm 36:9 — “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:6 — “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
• John 17:24 — “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

We knew God by beholding Jesus. By believing in the Son, we believe the Father.

• John 12:44 — “He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.”
• 1 John 2:23 — “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”
• 1 John 5:1 — “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…”

• Isaiah 49:3 — “And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

In Jesus, on Calvary, we see the death of God’s glory murdered by our sin. And In His resurrection we see the value of our lives.

• 1 Corinthians 6:20 — “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
• 1 Peter 1:18-19 — “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
• Acts 20:28 — “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
• Revelation 5:9 — “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”

The identity of God is His glory, His Law, His Character, His Image, His Will, His Name — and His Son carries God’s name in Him, executes His will, shines His glory, makes visible the spotlessness of God’s character, makes His intentions visible, gives His love tangible value,

• Exodus 23:21 — “Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.”
  • Deuteronomy 18:15 — “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.
    • 18–19 — I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
      And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearkenunto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”

• John 1:3 — “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
• John 3:34 — “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”
• John 5:30 — “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
• John 17:5 — “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

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God is calling us to repent

• Acts 17:30 — “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.”
• 2 Peter 3:9 — “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

through His glory

• 2 Corinthians 4:6 — “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
• John 1:14 — “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

through His love

• Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
• John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

through the right hand of His righteousness

• Isaiah 41:10 — “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
• Psalm 98:1 — “O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”
• Acts 5:31 — “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

through His patience

• Romans 2:4 — “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
• 2 Peter 3:15 — “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…”

through the power of His Word —

• Hebrews 4:12 — “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…”
• John 6:63 — “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

— the Wisdom, who was made flesh

• Proverbs 1:20–23 — “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
  She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
  ‘How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
  Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you…’”
  • 33 — …But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
• Proverbs 8:1-3 — “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? ^{6 ⤵}
  She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
  She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
• 1 Corinthians 1:24 — “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:30 — “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

and came to dwell upon us: the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father. ^{6 ⤵}

• John 1:14 — “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”
• John 1:18 — “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” ➝ Wisdom has declared the value of God.
• Matthew 1:23 — “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
  • Exodus 33:18–23 — “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.”
    • Exodus 34:5–7 — “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

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In other words…

• God’s character as His image and purpose — His Law is an expression of His character
  • Romans 7:12 — “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
• The Law is Love:
  • God is love.
• GOD is the Law -for the law is merciful, trustworthy, perfect, truth, loving.
• So to break God’s law, you kill God — or at least attempt a murder on His holy image, which is the same. To put shame on God’s name is equivalent of a murder, because His name is pure, perfect, holy, good, reliable, truthful.
• The law of God is the Law of love, because God is Love. “Love thy neighbor as thyself and love God with all you have.” Because God has created man in His image and His likeness. God is love. Who doesnt love his neighbor doesnt know that God is love. If God is love and man is created under the image of love then men is created to love and be loved). Whoever commits crime against the image of God, against His law, against Love, refuses the purpose which God created Him for, and he chooses to live a life without purpose, denying His Creator and his Father. And what is the use of a person who denies His purpose of creation? What is the use of a computer who acts not according to what it was designed for? Who eats apple to receive the taste of a strawberry? Who buys goats to get orange juice? Who trains dogs for singing? If a man loses his purpose, it is better for him never to have been born or milestone to be hung around his neck and be tossed in the midst of the ocean.
• Murder as an offense against the image of God — (Genesis 9:6 — “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”).
• God bearing the pain when His image is attacked — Isaiah 63:9 — “In all their affliction he was afflicted…”

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To continue…

• Romans 7:12 — The law is holy and good

But the law is like a mirror — it shows the dirt, but it cannot wash it off.
It reveals sin, but cannot remove sin.
It defines what is right and wrong, but cannot give us the power to obey.

But isn’t the Law God Himself? Isn’t the Law the very Character of the Almighty? And isn’t Jesus the embodiment of God’s Character and Law and Grace and Mercy? Aren’t God and His Word One? And isn’t Jesus the Word of God? And If God is His Law, and His Word and His Law is God and His Word is God, who can make us obey God if not God Himself?

The Law cannot save us, but the Law acted upon us can save us. The Tablets of the Ten Commandments are not God, but they speak who God is—they reveal our Saviour. They promise that God is good. Jesus is the enactment of this promise, the fulfillment of its value — the Word who was made flesh and came to dwell upon us. The knowledge of God’s existence and righteousness and holiness and perfection cannot save us, but its enactment upon us gives us the faith of salvation.
Looking at the Law cannot bring us salvation, nor can it give us the power not to sin anymore than looking at the sun can give us the power to shine. But when the light of the sun, which is the light of the Son of God, comes to dwell upon us, we will be enlightened as if a lamp is shining upon us.

And this love of God, the Light of His Law, Word, Character, Name, Image, can only live in us when we witness God doing great things for us — and what greater things can we witness if not seeing God dying for our filth of sin?

• Psalm 118:23 — “This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”

undeniable realities that transform the Law from being a mere opinion to an absolute authority .

The Law of God DID save us, in that it’s real value was exposed in the death of its Giver sacrificing His own life for the benefit of ours — the Law was nailed on the cross because it was the life of the Lawgiver. And by nailing Itself on the cross, it breaks its own condemnation towards us, that the sinner must die — It does not break the weight and validity of it, but, rather declares and reminds the lowly in spirit with the same weight and validity that the sinner who repents will live.

And it further affirms that the sinner who,
—AFTER KNOWING SIN,
—and AFTER KNOWING WHAT SIN DID TO HIM WHO KNOWS NO SIN,
—and AFTER KNOWING THE VALUE OF HIS LIFE,
—and AFTER KNOWING WHAT GOOD IS,
YET CHOOSES TO LIVE IN SIN,
WILL SURELY DIE.

• John 9:39–41 — “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”
• Matthew 12:31–32 — “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
• Mark 3:28–29 — “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.”
• Luke 12:10 — “And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.”
• 1 John 5:16–17 — “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”
• Hebrews 6:4–6 — “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
• Hebrews 10:26–27 — “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” ^{18 ⤴}
• Matthew 7:6 — “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
• Proverbs 29:1 — “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

For the wages of sin is INDEED death, HOWEVER, the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ, who did not come to destroy the law, or the word, but to fulfill its value — to make it shine, to give reality to it, to validate a theory by putting it to practice in the exact words it was hypothesized.

Thus,
—God’s Word becomes a LAW.
—God’s love becomes a LAW unto which all living must live.

Why it becomes a LAW?

Because before we had seen both the fruits of sin and the fruits of God’s grace, the Law was a mere opinion to us.

But after seeing the undeniable realities, the inevitable consequences, and the irrevocable value from transgressing the Law:

1. its irrefutable correctness
2. Unassailably irreproachable justice,
3. its eternal worth which cannot be made unknown,
4. the irreversible outcome from a free life of disobedience to it,
5. the unquestionable finality,
6. its unchangeable standard that gives life fuel,
7. the inescapable truth,
8. its unshakable authority due to its undeniable witness of its seamless perfection,
9. the witness that stamped our soul with unerasable ink,
10. the testimony which cannot be unseen…

…after seeing the undiminishable worth and witnessing its irrefutable majesty,

then, from being a mere opinion, the Law becomes a DICTATOR, a TYRANT, THE ONLY WAY, the aboslute authority: the Law becomes the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And no body would go to the Father, but by bowing down to its irrefutable majesty — glowing with love and mercy and forgiveness in the face of Jesus Christ.

• John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:6 — “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

 By asserting its indelible witness of its seamless perfection, and the unchallengeable glory of its design, the Law forces us
to bow to it, engrave it to our hearts, and yield our flawed and fantasized authorities to that of God.

• Mathew 5:17 — Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

The Law itself is but a combination of words, put together: they may sound nice, harsh, true, false, overwhelming, easy to bear… in themselves, the words carry no value, for they are uphold on nothing. Jesus came to uphold the value of the Law throughout eternity, and engrave it on His eternal palms and nailed feet.

The Word is a promise, and the fulfillment of the Word is the value of that Word.

The Law doesn’t provide a recompense for sin, once it is broken. It requires the death of the sinner—not forgiveness of the sinner. It shows that he who breaks it deserves no life.

But the fulfillment of the Law provides the recompense there is but One who is sinless and who has fulfilled the requirement of the Law. He is the requirement. He is the value, much like God is love, Jesus is the Word, their character is God’s Law: and the Law is life, a life full of love and joy.

The Law teaches us what sin is, so that we can understand and value the sacrifice of God, Who paid our sins. Therefore, the Law points us to Christ, calling us to repentance.

• Galatians 3:24 — “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

To be sinless by our own effort would require that we had never sinned at all — not even once. But the law, though it reveals what sin is and shows the standard of sinlessness, it requires a state of sinlessness, of holy perfection, to start with, which we no longer have. It cannot remove the record, the stain—nor the guilt—of past sin. Thus, the law shows us how to live without sin, but it cannot restore us to that state once broken.

But rather, the indwelling of the Law—its fulfilled righteousness—can restore us. For the Law shows that “Greater love hath no man than this…”

• John 15:12–14 — “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Since God is love and His Law is love, Greater Law hath no man than this, to lay down His life for his friends. Greater god there is none else, for God has laid His own life for His children.

And who will give his life for his friends unless the Law of God dwells in them? And how would the Law of God dwell in them if God doesn’t dwell in them? And How will God dwell in them, if God doesn’t first die for them, and thereby fulfill the requirement of His Law?

And who will better fulfill the requirements of the Law, if not He who is the value thereof?

The Lawgiver knows best how to live by it. He knows and understands every jot and title He spoke thereof, similarily like He knows every cell of our bodies, and how they work together, in perfect harmony to sustain us physically alive. Every jot and title of His law are the spiritual cells of our Spiritual Body which is Christ.

Only by being washed in the blood of Jesus Christ can we be brought back into a state of righteousness. And only then can we use the Law to REMAIN in that state ^{7 ⤴}: after the pardon of sins does the law serve its rightful purpose — not to justify us, but to guide and keep us in the way of holiness, which we have received by the grace of the One who kept every jot and title of it intact. We have received pardon by the grace of the Law which points at us as sinners and condemns us to death.

O mystery of godliness!

• 1 Timothy 3:16 — “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Before sins, the law serves a purpose to teach us not to sin.

• Genesis 2:17 — But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

After sinning, the law serves a purpose to pardon our sins—by Him who fulfills it and who is full of it: and, also, who is filling us with it.

• Romans 8:3-4 — “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.”

After pardon of sins, the law serves, once again, its initial purpose — to teach us not to sin.

• Romans 6:15 — “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”

After it has taught us not to sin, and we sin still, the law serves a purpose to condemn us to eternal death — a place of no return, everlasting darkness and purposelessness, throwing us in the abyss of non-awareness, where we will not know we ever existed, nor that the Son of God has given us a reason to live and a life of no sin and the joy of eternity.

• Hebrews 10:26-27 — “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation.”
• Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So how did the law reveal to us we were sinners?

• Romans 7:7 — “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law.”

By God’s grace. By transgressing against the one Who kept the Law — for the Law is grace and mercy. And when you sin against holiness, when you torture mercy, when you kill somebody who is capable to do that which you are not, it reveals within you a testimony that your reasons and excuses for doing evil are false and cunning — that you have no excuse to do sin — that you are indeed capable not to sin amidst a sinful world, however, you chose not to, because you are evil, selfish, and self-absorbed.

• John 15:22 — “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.”

Before Jesus, we thought we were good, that we were only defending ourselves against evil — but Jesus, who did not defend Himself against evil, showed us the true value of goodness — that it is to turn the other cheek when somebody slaps you, to give the shirt to him who steals your jacket, and to walk two miles with him who forces you to walk one.

• Matthew 5:39-41 — “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil…”

He taught us never to do evil for evil, but to overcome evil by doing good.

• Romans 12:21 — “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Never to avenge, but to put our hopes on God’s justice, which will come in due time. That patience is crucial to wait on a fallen brother to turn from his evil ways.

• Romans 12:19 — “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Love overcomes evil by allowing evil upon you — because love is the only way that can turn a sinner from his dark ways. That God’s vengence only steps in when a sinner refuses a self-sacrificial love.

• 1 Peter 2:23-24 — “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again… by whose stripes ye were healed.”

For what is his purpose of living then, if he hates love? What will he do throughout eternity? A life without self-sacrificial love is a life of self-torture, not only torture of others.

• 1 John 4:8 — “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

So how did the law revealed to us we were sinners?

• Romans 7:7 — “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law.”

By God’s grace. That God allowed us to put His Son to shame and death through sinning, while blinded by sin, not knowing we were sinning. And how did we find out we were sinning? There was no fulfillment of justice, after killing the One Who we thought deserved death. Rather, there was horror, an infesting eating doubt that we might have committed a murder towards the One Who gave us life and who gave us a second chance to live again (another life). And there was this silence that no sense of our own righteousness could fulfill. But this terror did not convict us — but it was rather the beginning of the testimony. The resurrection of Jesus convicted us, by giving us choice to repent. The fact the we had place to reflect, that we were not killed right away, that we did not get eye for an eye, showed us by our own eyes how big sinners we were.

It was the fact that God had us realize we killed the Life-Giver of our life and that we killed the one who is holy and just and innocent like a newborn baby.

• Acts 3:15 — “And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead.”

• Colossians 1:16 — “All things were created by him, and for him.”

But His Word, the Truth, remains as when it was first spoken — for the first Word was perfect, and the last Word is the same as the First: for perfect needs no change.

• Nothing New Under the Sun
  • Ecclesiastes 1:9 — “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
  • Ecclesiastes 3:15 — “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”
• Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End
  • Revelation 1:8 — “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord…”
  • Revelation 21:6 — “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”
  • Revelation 22:13 — “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
• He is the Truth, the Way, the Life
  • John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
• He Changes Not
  • Malachi 3:6 — “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
  • Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
  • James 1:17 — “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

“My way is the Only way. My Law is the only Law. My life is the only life.” And if it is the only, that means all others are flawed copies of the original, which failed to preserve its full purpose and true essence. If the first is perfect, there is no need for a second.

• Galatians 1:6–7 — “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
• Matthew 7:13–14 — “Enter ye in at the strait gate… because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
• John 10:1 — “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold… the same is a thief and a robber.”
• Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
• 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 — “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness…”
• 1 John 2:4 — “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

This does not mean that what God originally made was flawed — for He made it very good. But anything that comes to challenge or replace the original perfect Word is, by definition, a flawed counterfeit.

Not that God created a bad copy — but he did create a copy, nevertheless. A copy meant to shine with His glory — which is what makes it a perfect copy. That is, when He is present in it, the copy will reflect His glory. And His presence remains when the copy, which we are, welcomes and maintains His presence through faith, trust, and obedience. This is how faith, trust, and obedience in His Word build God abode to dwell in and give His original glory the opportunity to shine through the copy which God designed for this very purpose.

But without God’s presence, without our surrender to His perfection, which is His love and truth, the copy is flawed: because in the place of His glory, our ignorance and shame is added — thus, it becomes a flaw. Wanting to put ourselves in the place of the Perfect, we become flawed— and we chase away Him who makes us perfect, the Only One who is perfect. Thus, we are second if, to us, the First, which is perfect, is not enough. And everything which is second is new and flawed, for the Original doesn’t change because He is perfect, the First and the Last. And if the First is enough to us, or perfect, we are not seconds or substitutes, but extensions; extensions of His perfection. Extensions of the First. We are kings of the King. Not rebels.

• Revelation 1:6 — “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
• Revelation 5:10 — “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
• 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 marvelous light.”
• Romans 8:17 — “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Those who are seconds put themselves in the place of the Most High:

• Isaiah 14:13-14 — “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
• Ezekiel 28:2 —”Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God.”

And we all know that there is nothing “new” under the sun. All that is advertised for “new” is a flawed copy of the original.

• Ecclesiastes 1:9-13 — “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
  ¹² Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
  ¹³ There is no remembrance of former things: neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

Maybe that is why Jesus is God’s ONLY Begotten Son, for He was perfect, and there was no need for a second one.
We are the second ones, for we are not perfect — being made out of the dust of the earth — but we are made perfect through the First One and the Last One: for God made us in Their image, the image of the Father and of the Son, and gave us His breath of life. And we became perfect reflections of His perfection — living souls.

• Genesis 2:7 — And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
• 1 Corinthians 15:45 — And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

By faith, we see the Invisible. By seeing Him, we are changed — by seeing Him He enters in us and changes us. And by His indwelling, we reflect His glory. So by faith in Him we reflect His glory

For faith opens the door. Vision beholds His beauty. His beauty is His presence in us. His presence transforms us. And His life becomes ours.

So by seeing the invisible we become changed — by faith we see. By faith we become changed. By seeing He enters. By faith He enters. By entering, He shines and we reflect. By faith we reflect. 

• by beholding we become changed.
• We walk by faith not sight.
• Faith is our sight, we look at the invisible as if it is visible
• faith is the evidence of things hoped for… substance of things unseen
• Without faith you cannot satisfy Him
• Believe in me and I will make My abode with you.
• Here I come knock, open the doors.
• Hebrews 11:1 — “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:7 — “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:18 — “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
• Hebrews 11:27 — “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”
• John 20:29 — “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
• 1 Peter 1:8-9 — “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
• Romans 8:24-25 — “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
• Romans 10:17 — “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
• Matthew 5:8 — “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
• Ephesians 1:18 — “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
• 2 Corinthians 3:18 — “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
• John 1:14 — “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
• Psalm 34:8 — “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
• Isaiah 6:1-5 — “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings… And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory… Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips…”
• Hebrews 12:2 — “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
• John 14:23 — “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
• Revelation 3:20 — “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:16 — “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
• Galatians 2:20 — “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
• Colossians 1:27 — “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
• Matthew 17:20 — “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
• Matthew 9:29 — “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”
• James 1:6 — “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
• Proverbs 3:5-6 — “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
• Isaiah 43:19 — “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

Then, by sin, we became broken copies; And again, through the First and the Last, we were made perfect — like the Original.

So there is but ONE perfect and ONE perfection, and all are by Him, and through Him. He died for us all for we were all dead: “There is none righteous, no, not one,” but “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

• 2 Corinthians 5:14 — “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”
• Psalms 14:3 — “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
• Psalms 53:3 — “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
• Romans 3:9-20 — “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin:
  ¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
  ¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
  ¹² They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
  ¹³ Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
  ¹⁴ Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
  ¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood:
  ¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways:
  ¹⁷ And the way of peace have they not known:
  ¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes.
  ¹⁹ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
  ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
  Romans 3:21-23 — But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
  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;

We were all short of His perfection, and He took from His and gave it to us, so that we can have a part in His glory and perfection — by His mercy and love, not by our own making. That is why, “if anyone wishes to glory and boast, let them glory with God and boast with His perfection which was given to you by the blood of the Perfect Son who is according to God’s will.”

• Jeremiah 9:23-25 — “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;”

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• Luke 22:21-22 — “Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.”

• Isaiah 64:6 — “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”

• Luke 23:36-37 — “And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar.”

• Jeremiah 3:20 — “Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord”
• Hosea 3:1 — “Love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress… according to the love of the Lord.”
• James 4:4 — “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?”
• Romans 7:2-3 — “If… she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress.”
• Romans 5:8 — “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

• Revelation 1:18 — “I am he that liveth, and was dead… and have the keys of hell and of death.”

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We did not know such things were evil then. Because we didn’t know of anyone who doesn’t do these things. Now that we know Him, we cannot be indifferent to our sins…

• John 8:32 — “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
• Jeremiah 9:24 — “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”
• John 10:4–5 — “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”
  John 10:26–27 — “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
• Luke 6:46 — “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
• Ezekiel 34:31 — “And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.”
• Matthew 7:21–23 — “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
  ^₂₂ Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
  ^₂₃ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
• Jeremiah 23:1–2 — “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
  ₂ Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.”

• Hebrews 3:18–19 — “And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
  19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
• 1 Samuel 15:22–23 — “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
  23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”
• Isaiah 30:9 — “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord.”
• Zechariah 7:11–12 — “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
  12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath ^{8 ⤵} from the Lord of hosts.”

For His innocence sheds light on them, and shows them for what they really are. His holiness whiter than snow is a contrast to our devious hearts darker than night. Without His light, we did not know our darkness was darkness, that our evil was evil, that our hearts were cunning, that our selfishness was selfish. We believed that we do evil for the greater good (link), that the end justifies the means.

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Jesus is my glory. He is the reason why I’m living. He gives Me a purpose for my life. He is my treasure,

• 1 Peter 1:18–19 — “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
  ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
• Hebrews 9:12 — “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
• Hebrews 9:14 — “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
• Hebrews 10:19 — “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.”
• Revelation 1:5 — “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.”
• Revelation 5:9 — “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
• Ephesians 1:7 — “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
• Colossians 1:19–20 — “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
  ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
• 1 John 1:7 — “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
• Romans 5:9 — “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”
• Acts 20:28 — “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

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• Deuteronomy 7:6 — “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” [We are His treasure because His worth is to give His life for us, which is our treasure — we are His treasure because our treasure is His self-sacrificing love for us. Because He died for us, we know we are His treasure.]
• Malachi 3:17 — “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.“
• Isaiah 43:4 — “You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.“
• 1 Peter 2:9 — “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
• Revelation 21:19–21 — “The foundations of the wall of the city [the spiritual Jerusalem, which is in heaven] were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,
  ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst [symbols of its eternal worth].
  ²¹ And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.“
• Ezekiel 28:13 — “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;
  and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.” [These previous stones symbolize God’s glory in Jesus Christ which was given to reflect all His creatures, including Satan before His fall. But he, Satan, and third of the angels, denied these previous stones — the stones which the builders refused, which became the head of the corner]
  • 1 Peter 2:7 — “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,”
• 2 Peter 1:1 — “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” [faith is given by God’s grace — this faith is our precious treasure, and it is given in Jesus Christ, that He gave Himself for us, to BELIEVE. Believe what? How much He and God love us!]

and it is kept where immortal angels and their Father are guarding it, where no thief can steal or worm decay.

• Colossians 2:3 — “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
• Psalm 119:72 — “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
• Psalm 16:5–6 — “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
  ⁶ The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”
• Lamentations 3:24 — “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Jesus is my Law, Christ is my name, the Son of God is my truth, my life, and my way. There is no body who can steal me from His love for me and from His Father’s love for me in Him.

• Isaiah 28:16 — “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
• 1 Peter 2:4 — “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,”
• 1 Peter 2:6–7 — “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
  ⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,“
• Psalm 118:22–23 — “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”
  ²³ “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”
• Ephesians 2:20 — “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

His Father is my Father — I belong in His embrace. Held tight by the might of God. Nailed to the palms of His hands. That is my hiding place, where my treasure is. My Greatest Love.

• John 1:18 — “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
• John 16:28 — “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father.”
• John 6:38–39 — “And this is the Father’s will which sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”
• “The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave His only begotten Son, tore from His bosom Him who was made in the express image of His person, and sent Him down to earth to reveal how greatly He loved mankind.” — Review & Herald, July 9, 1895, par. 13 
• Luke 22:69 — “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.” 
• Acts 2:33 — “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
• Acts 7:55–56 — “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
• Hebrews 1:3 — “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person… sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” 
• “He was now to Heaven, to sit down at the right hand of God… through the prophet John He said, ‘To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.’ … So He has not yet received His kingdom, but also upon His Father’s throne, which is a throne of grace… procuring pardon and salvation for all who come unto God by Him.” — Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, August 1, 1889 
• Psalm 32:7 — “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”
• Psalm 119:114 — “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”
• Isaiah 32:2 — “And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.”
• Psalm 91:1 — “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

If we invite Him in, we will reflect His glory.
If we live His purpose, we will be cleansed by His righteousness.
If we make Him our treasure, we will be the richest.

• Matthew 13:44 — “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
• Matthew 13:45–46 — “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
  ⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
• Luke 12:33–34 — “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
  ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
• 1 Timothy 6:17–19 — “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
  ¹⁸ They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
  ¹⁹ thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
• Proverbs 8:10–11 — “Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,
  ¹¹ for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.”
• Proverbs 2:4–5 — “If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
  ⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
• Exodus 19:5 — “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.”
• Philippians 3:8 — “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
• 2 Timothy 1:14 — “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”

So what is sin? Treasuring that which is of no value — the temporal.

“Why is the temporal of no value?”

— “Because it fades away.

“Can’t I temporarily value it then?

— “And what will you value when its time expires?

“I will value the the eternal treasure then!”

— “And why didn’t you value it before then?”

“I did, but I also value this thing. And there was no time to dedicate for both.”

— “Why didn’t you dedicate all the time for the eternal treasure then?”

“I was waiting for the temporal to pass away.”

— “Why would you, when the eternal one was at hand and ever unfolding in plain sight?”

• Isaiah 65:1 — “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation that was not called by my name.
  2 I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices.”
• Psalm 16:11 — “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
• Luke 19:42 — “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”
• John 1:11 — “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.”
  Matthew 21:31 — “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.”
• John 1:11 — “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.”
• Matthew 21:31 — “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.”
• Matthew 11:12 — “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”
• Wisdom crying calling!:
• Proverbs 1:20–21 — “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,”
• Proverbs 8:1–4 — “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.”
• Isaiah 55:1 — “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
• Matthew 11:28 — “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
• John 7:37 — “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
• Revelation 22:17 — “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

“So I do not miss the value of this which is passing! The eternal is always there! But the temporal one is gone — and I want to take advantage of it while it lasts!”

— “Doesn’t that show which treasure you love more?”
— “The eternal one is there, lasting, all the time, and you do not want ат all timeс to take advantage of it? Is that love towards the eternal one?
— “If there was no necessity to spend your time with temporal things, and yet, you choose them over the ternal one, then why do you take advantage of them over the eternal ones who hold infinite advantages over the temporal ones?

• Luke 19:22 (20-24) — And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
  ²¹ For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
  ²² And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
  ²³ Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
  ²⁴ And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
• Matthew 6:24 — “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
• Matthew 13:44-46 — “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
  ⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
  ⁴⁶ Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

---

• Psalm 17:10 — “They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.”
• Proverbs 27:2 — “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.”
• Jeremiah 23:16 — “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”
• Jude 1:16 — “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”
• Matthew 25:26–27 — “His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.”
• Job 15:5–6 — “For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.”
• 2 Samuel 1:16 — “And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.”
• Matthew 12:37 — “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
• Proverbs 26:27 — “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.”
• Proverbs 28:10 — “Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.”
• Psalm 7:15–16 — “He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.”
• Ecclesiastes 10:8 — “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.”
• Psalm 9:15 — “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

The only true value is in the eternal, for it never fades away. If you don’t take that which you value with you in heaven, don’t value it — use it if you must, but don’t place your heart in it, because when you lose it, your heart will be broken. You cannot break your heart with that which is always there.

• Matthew 6:19–21 — “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
  ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
  ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
• Matthew 12:34–35 — “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
  ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”

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Footnotes

1. Willpower — Enthusiasm, Will to Live, Vigor, Joy, Caring, ↩︎
2. Even Solomon wrote, ‘the living know that they shall die,’ and ‘a living dog is better than a dead lion,’ — because where there is life, there is still hope.
   But Job cried, ‘Why did I not perish from the womb? Why was I not as a stillborn infant?’ — for a life without meaning, a life of pure torment, is worse than never existing.
   Thus, we say: Meaningful death is better than meaningless life.
   For the value of life is not in breath alone, but in purpose. And without purpose, life becomes a torment.
   But in Christ, even the suffering has meaning — and the dead shall rise with hope.
   Torment is that which has no fulfillment for the soul and the spirit. Physical torture filled with spiritual purpose and justice and truth and hope of love and joy and peace is light on the soul. Thus, Jesus said,
   
   • Matthew 11:28–30 — “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” ↩︎
3. Breaking the Law means disobeying God’s divine purpose, distrusting His loving Character, hating His good Will, killing life itself: because life is sustainable only by perfectly nurturing faith in that which expresses God’s value, which is His image or glory: His purpose, will, name, character… Jesus is the express image of His person. Jesus is the Word, the Law, the Truth, the Love, the Brightness of God’s glory…
   Breaking the Law is killing Jesus. Breaking the Law is killing God, because God is love, and the Law is Law of Love. We kill Him because we do not have faith in His love for us. But since God is immortal, He offers forgiveness: not accepting this forgiveness, we kill our own life instead, which is in the image of God. ↩︎

Call not common…

That which God has sanctified, let no one defile.

• Acts 10:15 — “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

I do not judge myself, for God is my judge.

• 1 Corinthians 4:4 — “For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.”

In me there is a will to do good, but no power to carry it out.

• Romans 7:18 — “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.”

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

• Romans 7:24-25 — “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Christ died for me while I was still a sinner.

• Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

If God has forgiven me, who am I to condemn myself for my weaknesses?

• Romans 8:33-34 — “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?”

If He has promised to put a new heart in me, who am I to consider myself an evil person?

• Ezekiel 36:26 — “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”

If He has promised to purge me from all iniquity, who am I to say I am perfect already, or that I cannot reach the perfection He calls me to?

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 — “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
• Philippians 3:12-14 — “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on… I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

But I will run as if I am the only one in the race who must win.

• 1 Corinthians 9:24 — “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

If God is for us, who can be against us?

• Romans 8:31 — “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Stand still and know that He is God.

• Psalm 46:10 — “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Who can separate us from the love of God in Christ?

• Romans 8:35, 38-39 — “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?… For I am persuaded that neither death nor life… nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And if I say to myself, “God doesn’t love me,” I blaspheme His holy name with which He has called me His son through the death of His Son.

• 1 John 3:1 — “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”

And if I say, “I am not worthy of His love,” I devalue His sacrifice and diminish His love.

• 1 John 4:10 — “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

And if I say, “I am an evil person,” I distrust His righteousness, which He has imparted to me.

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 — “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 — “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

⇩

• Revelation 7:14 — “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
• Zechariah 3:3-5 — “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.”
• 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.”
• 1 Peter 1:19 — “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
• Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
• Zechariah 13:1 — ” In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”
• Ephesians 5:26-27 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Isn’t the water of the word the blood of the Lord?
• 1 Corinthians 6:11 — “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
• Mark 7:20–23 — “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

Therefore, say not with your mouth, nor think with your heart, God doesn’t love me, I am not worthy of His love, and that I am an evil person…

• John 3:16 —  “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
• Romans 4:5 — But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
  3 —  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
  2 — For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
• In the flesh evil dwells. Whatever work we do, it is by the motive of selfishness — never of self-sacrificing love resembling that of Christ. Only though Him we can be selfless, and “without Him, we can accomplish nothing”
• Romans 7:18 — “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth (evil) no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
  • However much I try to accoplish good, the flesh is triumphing over me.
• The flesh knows not good. It is the enemy of God, and its heart is deceitful beyond measure, no one can reason with it, or uncover it for its underhanded nature which exclusively seeks personal pleasures at the cost of the suffering of others, and the decay of our own bodies, mind, and soul, while having us believe it is of a noble character which is exalted in the highest heavens.
• Romans 7:23 — “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
  • The works of my own effort, that is, the effort of my flesh, are evil from youth, from the core essence of my deceitful heart. I do not have knowledge of goodness within me, except the love of God in Christ Jesus.
• Romans 8:7 — “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
  • Whoever tries to impress God by his works, rather than by faith in the works of His forgiving love, is equalling himself with God, which is blasphemy. God accepts only those who trust Him to cleanse them from pride — the humble soldiers of the cross.
• There is none that doeth good, no not one. We are all given to sin, and deadened by it. And we may live through the death of the sinless One, for it is this Holy Death alone which can make us fully whole. We should die with Jesus to live with Jesus.
• Romans 3:12 — “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
• Psalm 14:3 — “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:14 — “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”
  • No body will reach heaven by their own goodness (which is like filthy rags unto God — Isaiah 64:6), nor anyone is justified by their own righteousness:
    • Galatians 2:16 — “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…”
    • Romans 3:20 — “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
  • but rather, all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
• The thoughts of men are evil from youth. There is no hope in men except the hope of the cross. And if you leave men alone, without the cross of Jesus, the result will be that of the pre-flooded world, without Noah, Abel, Seth, Enoch… and the other sons of God. And if God did not destroy them, they would have killed each other with much more suffering death that the merciful flood which God gave them.
• Genesis 8:21 — “…the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”
• Genesis 6:5 — “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
• 4 — Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
  1 — What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found (grace)?
• Was Abraham justified by his own works of his flesh? The ones like conceiving a child out of wedlock with his wife’s maid, by the wise-in-her-own-eyes counsel of his unbelieving wife? Was Ishmail the gift of God’s promise, the heir to God’s grace? Or was he the offspring of his own evil works, and Isac, the offspring of God’s righteousness, the heir of His promise, which was bestowed upon Abraham by faith in His Word?
• Ishmail was a sign that Abraham did not believe God, and Isac — a sign that he believed Him.

is to enter the rest of GOD: the rest which the Sacrifice of His Son has given us: to enter in His love: to enter in His rest. (What is His rest? ^{1 ⤵}) Moreover, end the blessing of rest: to believe that He loves us ⮕ The blessing of faith: this is the blessing of rest… to rest in His love, knowing that He is GOD, and the Father of us all — to remain still, in peace, in humility (humility is resting upon a greater power than ours), knowing that there is a Greater One than we, and that He loves us — that the Creator of heaven and earth is our Father. And what will a Father do for his children who are made in His image? Everything! He would give His life for them from the creation of the earth.

• “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” — Revelation 13:8
• “And when God finished with all His works, there was no work that was left unfinished”—He finished with His work of love: He finished with the cross,
• “And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” — Genesis 1:31
• “It is finished.” — John 19:30
• “And on the seventh day God ended his work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day ^{1 ⤴} from all his work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all his work which God created and made.” — Genesis 2:2-3
• Hebrews 4: 1-5
• Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. (Gospel was preached, those who believed in Jesus Christ entered God’s rest, although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. This obviously implies that the Sabbath was a symbol of God’s love in Jesus Christ since the foundation of the word. The Lamb was slain then! Right before God rested. Right before He established the Sabbath so that we can enter His rest in Jesus Christ, a rest of love Revelation 13:8) (who will not enter in His rest? Those who worship the dragon, who is causing them to rest on a day when God worked, and work on a day when God rested. Revelation 13 continued ) (He who has ears, let him hear…)
• On the sixed day, Jesus was crucified. Before He died, He exclaimed that all His works are now done:
• “It is finished.” — John 19:30
• “And God rested on the Seventh Day.” — Genesis 2:2-3
• The whole Sabbath Jesus rested in the grave, and the apostles also rested, according to the commandment. Luke 23:54-56 “It was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. “Because they loved the LORD, who was their Sabbath, who bid them, “keep My commandments if you love me.”
• Jesus laid at rest, asleep in the grave, the whole Sabbath. And on the first working day, He arose a Victor. Calling us to repentance, to die to ourselves, and lay our dead bodies along with His, in His grave, on the Sabbath day, and thus, enter in His rest, where God died for all our sins, and God resurrected Him, and everyone who died with Him, and lay with Him in His grave – all who are washed by His blood.
• When God symbolized the importance of His Sabbath with the falling mana from heaven, He let double portion to drop on the sixed day, and the additional portion that was gathered for the Seventh Day did not undergo spoilage as it did with the surplus of mana on other days. Jesus compared this mana to Himself declaring that He was the Bread of life that fell from heaven, and that unlike other people who die and get spoiled before Him, before His last work, He will die, and not undergo spoilage on the Sabbath, so that we can freely eat on that day, and live, entering the Sabbath of the Lord, entering the rest of God.
  and thus, unlike the fathers in the wilderness, who ate on the Sabbath and died, whoever eats of the Bread, which the mana was a type of, on the Sabbath, will never die and will never hunger, and will have eternal life: Here is the patience of the saint; here are those who keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus which they had received by love, and thus, are able to keep His commandments and rest on His holy Sabbath day, without any murmurings, distractions, or naggings as those who are perishing have on that day – we will call the LORD’s Sabbath a delight! For that it is to Him, as He Himself has called it so! Who are we not to? We love you LORD, on this holy Sabbath day!
• Hebrews 4:8 “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.
  9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
  10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
  11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”
• Paul makes clear that when it is written all works, this implies that there was nothing left unfinished, accenting the cross, as the doorthrough which we enter GOD’s Sabbath rest, which was completed as God’s final act of love. “It is finished, into Thy hands I command My Spirit. And He gave up His Ghost…
  • “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:28-30
  • “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:44-46

Thus, the Sabbath is a symbol that God loves us, and that He gave His life and His Only Begotten Son for us, so that we will live by believing in His love — as His love is eternal, our life will be eternal (and that requires an eternal faith) — “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10) Trust eternally in His eternal love, and you will receive eternal life. No matter what the situation, the suffering, the temptation, know His love, possess it, and give up your ghost in His hands. Will not GOD who is trustworthy hold your ghost tight? Will not He keep it safe until the second coming of His Son, Jesus Christ, and renew it with undelaying body, removing our old garments and clothing us with immortality?

It is the Sabbath that shows that “God is the Creator of heaven and earth” (Revelation 14:7, Exodus 20:11), but it also shows that GOD is the Father of us all, and that, through Jesus Christ, He loves us, and gave us His rest … ⤵

• “Enter into the joy of your Lord.” — Matthew 25:21

⤷ … because He gave us the Sabbath AFTER God finished with ALL HIS WORKS on the sixth day. After He finished with His ultimate work of love, the cross of His Son, God gave us the Sabbath to rest in His love. How amazing? Won’t we keep His Sabbath if we love Him because He first loved us? … ⤵

• “We love Him because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
  He first loved us before the earth was created.
• “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” — Ephesians 1:4
  Won’t we keep His commandments if we love Him and His Son?
• “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15
• “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” — 1 John 5:3

⤷ … Who wouldn’t? Only those who don’t believe, and don’t love God, and don’t appreciate His sacrifice, His shed blood. Those who hate love will hate all symbols of love, led by their hatred of the Sabbath, and thus, receive the mark of the beast, which speaks on their foreheads, saying, WE HATE THE LORD’S SABBATH!!!

• “Speak also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.” —Exodus 31:13
• “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” —Exodus 31:16-17
• “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” — Ezekiel 20:12
• (How do we know tha the Lord had sanctified us? This verse says, By the Sabbath… But don’t we know that the LORD has sanctified us by the blood and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ? Doesn’t Jesus say, By Thy Word sanctify them!? Which word is this? To believe He is the Son of God slain from the foundation of the world, which is the promise of our salvation before Adam sinned. This promise is the Word that sanctifies us, And this Word was given on the sixth day, (Jesus was given us on the sixth day) and the Sabbath was given as a sign/proof to help us remember that on the sixth day, God promissed; because God’s promises are true; on the sixth day, He died to sanctify us by His blood, and called us on the Seventh Day to rest in His love. “And on the Seventh day, He rested from all His works:” Jesus waits for us in His grave each Sabbath to go to Him, all of us who are weary and heavy laden, so He can give us rest. The Sabbath rest is the rest of His death — the gift of our life, the promise of His love! His be the glory forever! Amen.)
• “And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” — Ezekiel 20:20“
• “And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, (where do memories form?) that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.” — Exodus 13:9 (The Sabbath is a sign that God’s love has brought you out of the land of sin and slavery – the sabbath is a sign of the eternal Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And it is this sign of faith that we have on our right hand and forehead, that distinguishes us from the world, declaring with our mouths who do we belong to – declaring the Law of mercy and love and justice and freedom and peace from our lips; declaring the blood of God that has sanctified our souls – And God says it is the Sabbath that sanctifies, because the Sabbath is the sign of the blood of His Son. Resting on the Sabbath we get washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Resting on the Sabbath we are leaning/resting on the Sacrifice. And if the Sacrifice is love the Sabbath rest is resting on love.)
• “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.” — Deuteronomy 5:15 (To remember His love. To acknowledge the time He dedicated for you to enjoy His love fully, from all completed works, to rest in His love)

But “The dragon was enraged with the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” — Revelation 12:17

“And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads.” — Revelation 13:16

Do you collect with Jesus or do you spoil?

• “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” — Matthew 12:30
• “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” — Matthew 6:24
• “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” — James 4:4
• “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8

You cannot have “two laws,” “two days” of rest, like the world has (“weekends”) because you will hate one, (Saturday) and love the other (Sunday), you will be despise to the love of GOD in the Sabbath and be faithful to the love of the world on the first day of the week, resting when God worked, and working when God rested — didn’t God say, “Be holy for I am holy?” “Be ye perfect, for I am perfect!?” “Do everything that I do!” Didn’t the Lord say, “and don’t have any friendship with the world, for the devil and I have nothing in common. He was a murderer and a thief from the beginning, in him there is no good — he is the father of all lies.” “Don’t ye know that a little yeast leavens the whole loaf?” “Don’t have any compromise with the world. You are in the world BUT NOT OF the world.” “Ye will judge angels; therefore, while in the world, seek, utilize, and employ heavenly courts to overcome conflicts, implementing and deploying divine wisdom in your actions, engaging in trials as the unseen heavenly angels do in heaven above the seen world. Be representative of the unseen world of God, so that through you, it will be seen in this world, so that people will believe in miracles, the very miracle by which God saved you and converted you and calls others to turn away from sin, saying, “As I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’ — Ezekiel 33:11 “O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Come! Let us reason together; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” — Isaiah 1:18”

You cannot have two Sabbaths, you cannot have two symbols of love. There is One God, the Father of us all, and One Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom all things are, and one Sabbath of the Lord, in Which Both God and His Son rested from Their work, because it was very Good! And God blessed and sanctified the Sabbath day! ☀

• “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” — Romans 8:7
• “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” — Malachi 3:6
• “But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” — Psalm 102:27
• “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” — Numbers 23:19

I want to give you a few simple things to consider tonight—about law versus beliefs.

The Reality of Life

• You were born.
• You have a life ahead of you.
• No one asked you if you wanted to be born, if you wanted to be a boy or a girl, or what kind of life you would have.
• You were placed in a specific time and place, given certain traits, and now you live.

But what is the point of this life?

• Is there a goal?
• Is there a destination?
• Is there a reason?

If there is a reason, who placed it?

• Can we choose our purpose, or was it given to us?
• How can we answer this question?

The Source of Truth

Only the Creator—the One who made us—can answer this.

• Your parents cannot answer it because they struggle with the same enigma.
• Philosophy and opinions may speculate, but they cannot create truth.

If we want to know why we are here and the right way to live, we must understand:

1. Who the Creator is.
2. What His will is for us.
3. What His purpose is for our lives.

The question is: Can we understand this?

Only if He has made it possible.

• If He has made us blind, we will never understand.
• If He has given us vision but hidden the answer, we still will not understand.

So, how can we understand?

Only if He has provided the truth for us—somewhere we can access it—and given us:

• Eyes to recognize it.
• Ears to hear it.
• A mind to discern it.
• A heart to understand it.

The Law and Its Verdict

Now, what is the LAW that exists beyond our beliefs and opinions?

• If Jesus came to give us life and had to die so that we may live, then the LAW condemns us to death.
• Why? Because we are sinners, criminals before this Law.
• Who defines this? The Lawgiver—God Himself.

Do we agree? It is irrelevant whether we agree or not.

• We do not have the power to stand against Him or change His verdict.

So, what is this unchanging Law?

1. God gave us life.
2. Sin leads to death.
3. Jesus paid for our sins, taking our death upon Himself so that we may live.

This is love.

The Question of Truth

Now, we must ask: Is this the truth?

• If it is, do we want this truth?
• If yes, then we must live according to the way God has chosen for us to live.

How do we know His way?

By reading the text He left for us to understand.

But which text?

• The Qur’an?
• The Upanishads?
• The Bhagavad Gita?
• Or is it the Bible?

This requires exploration. It takes time.

But most people do not care enough to take the time to seek and satisfy their Creator.

The Consequence of Ignoring the Law

If this Law is real, then those who ignore it will not have the blood of Jesus applied to them as a ransom for their sins.

• They will remain in their death.
• They will lose eternal life.

The Purpose of Our Lives

So, if we want to live according to the will of our Creator and find the point of our existence, then we must:

1. Seek to know Him.
2. Seek to understand His Word.
3. Make time for Him.

If we do not care enough to seek Him, then we do not truly care.

It would be like having a husband but never making time to be with him—what kind of love is that?

The Final Question

So, what is the point of our lives?

Jesus died so that we may live.

• Do we believe?
• Is this the Law?
• Are we sinners?

And if so—what will we do about it?

Will the truth move us to live by it? Will the Law cause us to obey it? Does our faith in its worth produce works in our lives?

Belief is not enough; response is required. Be reminded of what the Word says in James 1:22, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Romans 2:13 – “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

• Righteousness is shown through obedience, not just knowledge of the law.

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

• Mere profession of faith is not enough; one must do God’s will.

Luke 6:46 – “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

• Jesus rebukes those who claim to follow Him but do not obey.

1 John 2:3-4 – “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

• Obedience is the proof of truly knowing God.

Faith and the Law Working Together

John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

• Love for Christ is shown in obedience.

James 2:17 – “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

• Faith must be active and obedient to be real.

Deuteronomy 11:1 – “Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always.”

• Love and obedience are inseparable.

Psalm 119:44 – “So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever.”

• God’s law is eternal and should be kept always.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”

Obedience as Evidence of True Faith

James 2:24 – “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

• Many think faith alone is enough, but faith must be expressed in action. Just as Abraham showed faith through obedience (Genesis 22), believers must act on God’s commands.

Matthew 5:19 – “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

• Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). True followers of Christ respect and teach obedience to God’s commandments.

Titus 1:16 – “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

• Words mean nothing without obedience. Many claim to follow God but deny Him through their actions.

The Law Defines Sin and Righteousness

1 John 3:4 – “Whoever commits sin also transgresses the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.”

• Without the law, we wouldn’t even know what sin is (Romans 7:7). The law defines right and wrong.

Romans 7:12 – “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”

• Some claim the law is a burden, but Paul calls it holy, just, and good. Obeying the law is part of walking with God.

Proverbs 28:9 – “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

• This is serious: if we ignore God’s law, even our prayers are rejected.

Love and Obedience Are the Same

1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

• The world teaches that obedience is restrictive, but true love is expressed through obedience.

John 1:6 – “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”

• Love is not just emotion—it is walking in God’s truth.

Romans 13:10 – “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

• The law of love is about treating others as God commands—not just as we feel.

Jesus Taught and Kept the Law

John 15:10 – “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

• Jesus kept the law as an example. Following Him means doing the same.

Luke 16:17 – “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.”

• Some say the law was abolished, but Jesus says the law is permanent.

The Final Judgment Is Based on Obedience

Revelation 14:12 – “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

• In the last days, true believers are identified by their faith and obedience.

Revelation 22:14 – “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”

• Eternal life is promised to those who obey.