PIC: the-Dead.the-Book-of-Life.and-eternity. Pete Garcia. rev310.net
Disturbing in the Old Testament
I look at what God has done, with disturbing events as recorded in the Old Testament, and I find Him quite disturbing. His anger, his violence, the deaths He caused, the revenge, the punishments…. I just can’t always get my mind around Him.
See: God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today
PIC: Palehorse74_four_horsemen_of_apocalypse. Art by Pete Garcia. Rev310
I resolve these, my issues with God, by reading in the Bible about His innate nature, His amazing grace and mercy, His love for those who follow Him – and His utter rejection of sin. God is Holy and Righteous, which means He never sins, never errs, never fails, never changes, is always just, always loving, innerant in all He says.
I find similar issues in the New Testament: At times God is very disturbing with what He does, even with those who follow Him today. However…
* “I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity], and I am persuaded….” 2 Timothy 1:12
* God is faithful and absolutely trustworthy.
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Got Issues?
Maybe you have issues with God? It appears Paul had my same issues with God. And he said this about that: Paul grew to know God, he eventually believed God, and he came to a decisive point in his life where he was persuaded by God. Paul shared:
2 Timothy 1:12 “This is why I suffer as I do. Still, I am not ashamed; for I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity], and I am persuaded [beyond any doubt] that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him until [a]that day [when I stand before Him].
_________
Be receptive and let God persuade you. Give Him a chance.
Just because I do not understand Him fully – is not reason enough for me to doubt Him. Jesus saved me. The Bible is full of reasons, and logic — to believe in the Name of Jesus and resolve to follow Him.
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Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
________
Who am I, in my limited scope of existence, me with my pea-brain as compared to His omniscience — that I would find fault with Almighty God? And those that do – Who do you think you are, anyway?
That is like Satan, who was so proud and self-confident… that He rebelled against God and sought to BE God. Not a good place to go. Don’t be the god of your own life. Many in Hell will have that type of inflated ego.
So does God ever say “What do you think, Joe? Jane, What should I do?” Not a chance in Hell He will ever need us to explain what’s what. How audacious, vain, and proud anyone is to doubt God all their life.
He has shown us what is what in His recorded Words of the Bible. I will rather prefer to trust Almighty God — than reject Him because of my limited understanding of Him. 1
Reading the Bible we come to know God, believe God, and become persuaded by God to accept Him for all He is.
Disturbing in the New Testament
It is disturbing but true today – what God does.
1. Take, for example, the New Testament account of “hypocrisy and deceit” and “to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test” and “Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit” – the account of Ananias and Sapphira.
Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11.
Ananias and then his wife – lied, telling everyone they were donating 100% of the proceeds from a land sale. But in their greed they held back a portion, lying to God.
Ananias and Sapphira were taken out, dropped dead, because of their “hypocrisy and deceit“. God did that. Peter said, You “conceived this act [of hypocrisy and deceit] in your heart” and acted on it. Peter said, “…you two have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test“, and “Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit“.
Acts 5:3-5 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and [secretly] keep back for yourself some of the proceeds [from the sale] of the land? 4 As long as it remained [unsold], did it not remain your own [to do with as you pleased]? And after it was sold, was the money not under your control?
Why is it that you have conceived this act [of hypocrisy and deceit] in your heart? You have not [simply] lied to people, but to God.” 5 And hearing these words, Ananias fell down suddenly and died; and great fear and awe gripped those who heard of it….
Acts 5:7-10 7 Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me whether you sold your land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How could you two have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 And at once she fell down at his feet and died….
It starts in the heart: “you have conceived this act…in your heart“. Scripture warns: Guard your heart. See: 4 Bible results for “Guard your heart”.
See more about “Guard your heart” in these references in one link or singly: Proverbs 24:12, Luke 21:34, Philippians 4:7, 1 John 5:21.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
2. Take, for example, God’s warning about taking communion without respect for Him – keeping your sin unconfessed. Do you know what God says He does because certain folks at church failed to prepare for communion? Failed to confess known sin to Him?
See: 1 Corinthians 11:20-34. What a scary thing God does here.
1 Corinthians 11:26-29 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].
27 So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not [a]recognize the body [of Christ].
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Excerpt from: God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today
* Careless and unworthy participation in communion
Partaking of communion, participating without a repentant heart, or without repentance when you are in active sin, or having an attitude “without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ” (v30)… can bring-on God’s very real and present punishment upon you, physically.
This does not mean you loose your salvation, but – He may allow sickness or actually take you Home “before your time”, so to speak.
– Source: God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today
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The consequences
This is a warning to us – even in this modern day: “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord.”
The act of communion is a spiritual act of commemoration. Some so-called Christians partake carelessly. Ignorance is no excuse.
Scripture warns us: If you disrespect God’s sacrifice with “careless and unworthy participation” then you “will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord.”
It is no small thing to disrespect God. We owe it to God to and fellow believers to “respect Christ’s sacrifice and his fellow believers for whom Christ also died.”
The consequences are disturbing, and happening even to this day: You eat and drink a judgment on yourself.
1 Corinthians 11:29-30
29 For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not [j] recognize the body [of Christ].“
30 That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death].
The BibleGateway Footnote for verse 29 [j] explains we must recognize the body of Christ properly, in the sense of: “respect Christ’s sacrifice and his fellow believers for whom Christ also died.”
If we participate in a communion service with unconfessed sin in our heart, then we disrespect Christ. That is a huge offense with Him, obviously. With it we diss and insult God and others. See: MerWeb: diss and insult. Really want to do that?
Avoid the displeasure of God. Simply confess your sins before partaking. Simple.
With a sincere heart, and godly sorrow for sin — we then stand perfect before God in that moment. God is that forgiving. He is more than willing to forgive and restore fellowship with Himself.
Don’t hide sins in your heart. “Great fear and awe” is quite the motivator, you think? Verse 5
Paul warns us: Many Christians are “weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death]“. Are you weak or sick, or…soon to be dead? Maybe this is why. The consequences are easy to miss (because it does not happen on the spot like with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11.)
It is not ours to judge others, of course. We don’t know the why’s and wherefore’s. We can’t know the heart of man, nor know what God is doing, nor what He isn’t doing.
Verse 30 That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death].
3. Take, for example, God’s warning about falling into apostasy. Connect the dots to Jesus who said “Depart from Me”.
This prophetic word from Jesus is recorded by both Matthew and Luke. The context is Matthew 7:15-24 and Luke 13:23-30.
Luke 13:27
but He will say to you,
‘I do not know
where you are from;
depart from Me,
all you evildoers!’
See: Speaking with love about what is true and what is false
4. Take, for example, God’s warning to not mess with His Word. The warning from God is a warning to NAR-type Charismatics who are changing what Jesus started – to the point where it doesn’t save you
Excerpt from: The logic of “If this – then that” to explain useless faith
If what your preacher preaches is not truth, then what you believe is “vain [imaginary, unfounded, devoid of value and benefit—not based on truth]” – 1 Corinthians 15:14-15.
This is what is happening in the apostate church of today.
Respect God Almighty – don’t reject Him
Do you reject your child when he or she is disturbing to you? Of course not. And even less so – God Almighty who is so far beyond our ability to understand fully. What a tragedy beyond imagining – to end in Hell because of a rebellious streak you kept beyond your childhood.
FOR MORE:
Do you find events in the Bible to be disturbing? I do. But I resolve my issues with God by reading in the Bible about His innate nature, His amazing grace and mercy, His love for those who follow Him – and His utter rejection of sin.
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TAGS for this post
God is disturbing, what God did, issues with God, your rebellious streak, childhood rebellious streak, falling into apostasy, key Bible references, still sneering?, follow Him, faithful and trustworthy, God is faithful, God is trustworthy, your own god, inflated ego, what God does, NAR-type Charismatics, speaking the truth, speaking with love, God’s crazy grace, into my soul, spiritual commemoration, Communion, unconfessed sin, unrepentant heart, disturbing to me, disturbing to God, 1 Corinthians 11:20-34, 1 Corinthians 11:26-29, 1 Corinthians 15:14-15, 1 Corinthians 10:1-14, God declassified sins!?, Hebrews 13:5, 2 Timothy 1:12, Matthew 9:13, Romans 1:16, Matthew 7:15-24, Luke 13:23-30.
Ways that displease God and end in destruction
God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today
Nancy’s careless and unworthy participation in communion
The tragic error many live in all their life – What a tragedy beyond imagining Excerpt: The Truth of God, sent to us by His Spirit with the Bible, is: God cannot accept “sin” into His Holy Kingdom. Makes sense. Simple.
Are you a repentant sinner -or- “self-proclaimed” righteous? – Matthew 9:13
Warnings from God
Connect the dots to Jesus who said “Depart from Me” Excerpt: This prophetic word from Jesus is recorded by both Matthew and Luke. The context is Matthew 7:15-24 and Luke 13:23-30.
Changing what Jesus started – to where it doesn’t save you
When God warns you An ultimate threat Excerpt: Good options often do not exist when an ultimate threat is imminent. You take it or leave it. Win or lose. Survive or die. Go on to live another day. OR, keep The Bummer…and forever regret not having heeded the warning.
Site Search Results for: warnings
God’s biggest warnings to us today Excerpt: See this short list of 4 passages in one link or: 1 John 2:18-19, 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:3-7.
For a bigger list, see: About False Teachings of Today listing these passages.
References warning against following “different doctrines” and false teachers: See in one link, or:
PIC: Palehorse74_four _horsemen _of_apocalypse. Art by Pete Garcia. Rev310.net
2 Peter 1:20-21, Jude 3,4, Titus 1:9, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 1 John 2:18-19, 1 Timothy 1:3-7.
Also see in one link all these “Warning” references:
1 John 4:1, 2 John 1:7-11, 1 Peter 4:17, James 3:1, James 5:19-20, Acts 20:28-31, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Galatians 1:6-10, Galatians 2:4-5, Romans 16:17-19, 2 Corinthians 2:17, Ephesians 5:6-13, 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, Titus 1:10-11, Colossians 2:18, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 2 Peter 3:15-16, 2 Timothy 2:16-18, 2 Timothy 2:19-26.
Also see in one link or: 1 John 4:5, 1 John 4:6, Luke 11:52, 1 John 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:3, Isaiah 29:13-16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Luke 21:33, Hebrews 4:12, Acts 17:11, Genesis 3:1-6, Ephesians 4:14, Matthew 15:6-9 and Isaiah 29:13.
And don’t miss Luke 13:27 and this – Ephesians 4:17-19.
Following “a faith of the same kind as ours” in 2 Peter 1:1
Pure Gospel verses about Salvation
Pure Gospel – nothing added, nothing taken out
What Jews are to do, according to Peter in Acts 2
God is “faithful and absolutely trustworthy” to you in your salvation
Acting on Misinterpretations of Scripture
Changing what Jesus started – to where it doesn’t save you
The Better Way brought by Jesus
Because He is God and I am not
Be a smart carpenter. Build on The Rock.
What clearly saves and what obviously does not save
Being receptive – Still sneering? Excerpt: Are you receptive to God? Are you open to having God reveal Himself to you? Or: Have you built your high walls to shut Him out, refusing to hear-Him-out MerWeb: hear out — stonewalling Him? Are you narrow-minded?
Christians are the most open-minded in the world, because they follow the open-minded God of the Universe, Creator of all that is. (Why would Creator God need to be close-minded?!)
God can do anything He decides to do…what God does
Oh my God so mighty and beyond comprehension Excerpt: Jesus Saved Me
Since the day I turned to Jesus, the Holy Spirit came into my soul and He resides inside me, fulltime (“all the time”). And Holy Spirit will never leave me. Hebrews 13:5 Crazy, this grace of God.
God’s wonderful blend of dynamic power, immense love, divine forces, and human transcendence
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If we do not think like God Almighty thinks
Was Jesus actually God Almighty?
Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Accepting all that Jesus Christ is and does…accept Him for all He is
My simple frequent practice of repentance
In this moment right now Jesus makes me perfect…through repentance
Only my God makes me perfect in this moment…He restores our fellowship
…Each day and through it all
I bow my heart and say to You:
I confess my sinfulness
I repent of sins I’ve done
I reject every sin that pulls me
I ask you to show me where I’m failing You.
Cleanse me and make me perfect in this moment.
Signs of an unrepetant heart Excerpt: The unrepentant heart makes excuses for sin (vile things before God). What do I support – that is “not of God”? …in my personal practices, in my politics, in my relationships, in my mind and heart? We rationalize so well, we fool ourselves!
Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.”
“Therefore be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men but as wise…
because the days are evil.
So then do not be foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
– Ephesians 5:15-17
Pure Gospel Verses about Salvation
Oh how marvelous Excerpt: Marvelous grace. To a sinner, what else could be so marvelous? God’s grace, that “un-merited” bestowing of a blessing on me. Just because of Him. Just because He chooses to do so within His Heavenly legal system.
What marvelous grace of the damning God, who would go so far out of His way to “un-condemn” me, to “un-do” His “God damn”, His damnation of me, to save me forever for Himself. To love me – at all. That is the grace of God.
So, what about a real God damn? In contrast with a damning by a person: What’s a God damn like? What will it be like to stand before Creator God on Judgement Day, and receive His wrath? …Can you feel the finality of it all in that moment?
What it means to repent…confessing your sins
Being God Damned *believe folks who blaspheme and don’t believe in Him
The sins we can practice to go to Hell. Just so you know.
Are you a repentant sinner -or- “self-proclaimed” righteous?
If you allow a grudge, hate, slander, gossip, racism, anti-any-race
So does God ever say “What do you think, Joe? Jane, What should I do?”
God’s List of unAcceptables Excerpt: God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19). It is unacceptable to Him. But He died for the sinner (John 3:14-18). So obviously God does not hate the sinner.
This is why God shows us His list of what is not acceptable to Him: because God loves all sinners and wants each of us to get forgiven and be made ready for His Holy Home Heaven. 1
Unless we reject our sins, we have no forgiveness. We remain damned. God is asking each of us: repent of your sin — and follow Him.
Good News! God declassified certain sins!?
God’s Sin List – God’s Sin List is filled with…
“…whatever… is
contrary to
the sound doctrine
that conforms to the gospel
concerning the
glory of the blessed God….”
– 1 Timothy 1:6-11
___________
“Such were some of you.”
– 1 Corinthians 6:11
___________
What it means to walk in the Light – not in Darkness
Double-minded means both loving Jesus AND loving a different gospel…What it means
The logic of “If this – then that” to explain useless faith – …looking into 1 Corinthians 15:1-23 Excerpt: …Both would be a farce. Both (1) the preaching by Paul, and (2) the belief by the Corinthians. How very very important is truth.
The very same effect, “If this – then that“, is true of our personal preaching and faith. If what your preacher preaches is not truth, then what you believe is “vain [imaginary, unfounded, devoid of value and benefit—not based on truth]”.
This is what is happening in the apostate church of today.
Spontaneous illogicality and double speak…Why is the world seemingly getting more and more evil? What’s with all the illogical doublespeak (merriam-webster.com)?
Speaking with love about what is true and what is false
Being saved means forever never again condemned
God has promised – I will never, no never, leave you – Hebrews 13:5
The Bible
What knowing the Bible does for you
Why was The Message version of the Bible written?
What happens when you do not know what the Bible says on a matter?
What God asks of us in the Bible
Does God give new revelations or is the Bible enough?
Prophecies in the Bible: A Perfect Track Record
The Bible is the standard for Christian thought and practice. Not me. Not you.
It is what it is: The Bible Is God’s Word To Us
The Bible is “able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”
Application – How To Study The Bible | Bruce and Asbill
The Scariest Verse in the Bible – Matthew 7:21-23
Transgenderism as seen from the Bible
Key References in the Bible
Pure Gospel Verses about Salvation
References about the Holy Spirit
List of References to the Rapture
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