How is Jesus God but also the Son of God?

John 1:1-2 reads “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.”

When Jesus lived and walked on this earth in the flesh he lived by and taught nothing but the Word of God.  Jesus was the word sent.  Considering that the Word was with God and that the Word was God, we know once again that Jesus Christ is God and was God manifest in the flesh.

John 1:14 reads “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.”

God the creator brought himself, the word, to life in the flesh and in the bodily form and name of Jesus or in the Jewish language “Yeshua.”

1 John 5:7 reads "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

The future birth and coming of Jesus was prophesied about in the Old Testament:

Isaiah 9:6-7 reads “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.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Who is the child born?  Who is the Prince of Peace?  It is Jesus, once again Jesus is God (everlasting Father), and we see even in the Old Testament he was prophesied and foretold about before he came.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 reads “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth.  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTOUSNESS.”

Isaiah 53:5-10 reads “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.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.  He was taken from prison and from judgement: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.  Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”

John 4:24 reads “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

We see from this verse that God is a Spirit.  To save us, he had to come in the flesh in bodily form in the name of Jesus Christ and die on the cross.  He had to go through and experience everything we go through in different ways to be as a man.  He was born of a woman whom was a virgin, making him in the flesh the Son of God.

You can read the story, birth, life, teachings, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  They all give the same account but through different views. 

Jesus was born called the Son of God even though he was in fact God, because he was born of a woman and made flesh and gave his life unto the will of the father.  He was the express image of God (Hebrews 1:2-4).

Jesus was in every way tempted as we are today.  We know that he was tempted by the devil during his forty days of fasting.  You can read in Luke chapter 4 how he was tempted by the devil and how the devil tried to tempt him to turn stone into bread. 

Jesus was in fasting during these forty days, so you can just imagine the temptation to eat that was before him.  Jesus was also tempted with kingdoms and power, which would have included riches and wealth by the devil.

Funny, the devil didn’t realize that all things already belonged to the Lord Jesus.

I’ve never heard a pastor say this, but I believe Jesus was also tempted by women.  I haven’t read this directly in the word, but if he was tempted in all ways as us, then indeed he was tempted by women and also resisted the temptation before him.  He was and still is perfect, spotless without sin.  Here are some scriptures to support this.

Hebrews 2:18 reads “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

Hebrews 4:15 reads “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” 

He is the God of Israel.  He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all people.  He was a spotless or sinless lamb led to the slaughter to be crucified. 

Talk about humility.  God humbled himself to be as one of us, to die a horrible death of crucifixion and be tormented, bruised and whipped even before he was nailed to the cross.  He deserves our full heart, praise and worship. 

He bought us all for a price, and a great price it was that he had to pay.  We are his creation.  He died for his creation to save us from eternal damnation by providing us reconciliation unto himself.

John 5:43 reads “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not:  if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”

Once again, I’m showing a verse giving the fact that Jesus came in the name of God.  The name of God is Jesus.  Jehoshua (Yehoshua) means Jehovah is salvation.  Jesus came from the name Joshua, which in turn came out of the name Jehoshua.  The Hebrew word Yeshua is the original name for the English name Jesus.  Yeshua the Mashiach means Jesus the Messiah.  The name "Jesus" is an Anglicization of the Greek Ίησους (Iēsous), itself a Hellenization of the Hebrew יהושע (Yehoshua) or Hebrew-Aramaic ישוע (Yeshua), meaning "YHWH rescues". "Christ" is a title derived from the Greek Χριστός (Christós), meaning the "Anointed One," which corresponds to the Hebrew-derived “Messiah.”  We clearly see that Jesus means God is now my salvation.

We know that God has many names such as Jehovah, The Great I am, The Alpha and Omega, Elohim and so on.  All power in heaven and earth was given to Jesus.  No one cometh unto the Father but by him. 

Matthew 28:18 reads “And Jesus came unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Romans 14:11 reads “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

For example, Jehovah means Lord.  The term “EL” from Elohim means God.  Elohim means God the Creator.  The term EL Shaddai means “God Almighty.”  Jehovah is referred to by the Hebrews as Adonay, which means “The Lord.” 

The Lord is God.  For example, Jehovah Jireh used in a sentence means the Lord will provide or the Lord will see.

Genesis 22:14 reads “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” 

This is where the Lord provided a ram sacrifice for Abraham when he was tested in faith if he would obey God and sacrifice his son Isaac unto the Lord.  The Lord of course was only testing Abraham.  Abraham obeyed God in his heart, and physically was about to sacrifice Isaac when the angel of the Lord called out to him and stopped him.  You can read this in Genesis 22:11-14.

As God tested Abraham and saw his obedience, we clearly see God’s obedience in letting his only begotten Son Jesus be offered up as a sacrifice, but also see that he went all the way through with the sacrifice for us all.   God took it one step further than Abraham had to go. 

Jehovah-raffa means the Lord is our healer.  There are many more names of Jehovah (God) in the Holy Bible.  What matters most now is that God has become our salvation through Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 12:2 reads “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah (God) is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”  The name Jesus is interpreted as “Saviour.”

John 6:33-35 reads “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

John 6:38 reads “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

Jesus showed the example for us to follow to submit and seek first after the will of God and not our own. 

John 8:58 reads “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus was telling them in this passage that he existed before Abraham, because he is God.  He is the express image of God.  He is the word of God robed in flesh sent to them. 

1 Corinthians 10:2-4 reads “And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

Jesus Christ was even the Rock that followed Moses and the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years.

John 10:30 reads “I and my Father are one.”  Once again, Jesus is letting them know that he is God in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).  The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one.  They are three manifestations-operations of the same body (Spirit).

How come many Jews then and today did not believe Jesus was the Son of God and Messiah?

For starters, if the Jews had known who Jesus really was they would have fought for him and kept him from his purpose, which was to fulfill the Old Testament and law, lay the first starting groundwork for ministry and forgiveness, die on the cross to shed his blood for the atonement of sins for all mankind.  The Jews would have protected Jesus if they knew and wouldn't have let him be crucified, so you see the Jews didn't really kill Jesus.  He could have been delivered with ease by legions of his angels, but instead he chose to give his life willingly so all mankind could receive true salvation and eternal life with the Father.

The Jews were also not looking for their Messiah to come as a man who wasn't great in stature or could not lead them in battle to overthrow Roman rule.  Jesus was seen as a man who wasn't wealthy and the son of a carpenter.  The Jewish people were partly blinded, so his identity had to be hidden so the will of the father would be accomplished.

Romans 11:23-27 reads “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in:  for God is able to graff them in again.  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree:  how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.  And so all Israel shall be saved:  as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  For this is my convenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” 

The Jews are beloved of the Father, and they are his election or elect.  They were blinded for a reason, but their eyes will be opened at the appointed time and they will see their coming King whom is Jesus Christ.

Romans 11:28 reads “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes:  but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Fathers’ sakes.”

Isaiah 45:4 reads “For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.”

This blog contains some writings that are copyrighted from my old self-published book called Drawing a Line in the Sand.  The new more professionally written version is contained within my new manuscript called "Drawing a Line in the Sand Revisited". 

By Daniel Staneart

Are we once saved always saved?

Matthew 24:13 reads “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”  This scripture along with (Revelation 3:5) is referring primarily to the coming of the Lord, while some will be left behind having to endure and overcome the Great Tribulation to be saved.  Those left behind to endure the Great Tribulation will have to overcome the beast (antichrist), his image and mark to be saved.  To overcome, meaning not to worship the beast, his image or take his mark.

It is the blood of Jesus Christ and his grace that saves us, but as we live our life, we still have to endure the sin, temptations, trials and persecutions of this life unto the end and not fall away.  We cannot live in and give into sin and never repent. 

This proves the “once saved always saved” scenario is not completely true.  We need to have a repenting heart.  We have to endure the trials and sufferings of this life and not turn our back on the Lord and deny him or our name could be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life.  When a person denies the Son (Jesus), then that person will be denied by the Son before the Father (Matthew 10:33).  We all sin and make mistakes, but we have to repent daily and try to walk obedient in the Lord Jesus Christ even in our thoughts.  We can never be perfect and everyone has sin in their life, so be thankful unto the Lord Jesus Christ whom died for our sins and shed his grace and mercy upon us all for forgiveness.

A person saved can indeed fall away through sinful seduction and receive a hardened heart denying and turning away from the truth.  There are many people who sincerely serve the Lord and then stray from the Lord or “backslide” who God will win back even if it means their flesh receives destruction to save their spirit.  We read this matter in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5.

1 Corinthians 5:5 reads “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

God loves his creation (the human race), and he is jealous over us and does not want Satan to have us.  Regardless of this truth, God still gives us free-will and the right to choose.  When a person begins to choose sin and the lust of their flesh over being obedient to the Lord then they begin to slowly fall or fade away.  Then, after many convictions of the Holy Spirit upon them, they will have to make a choice.  This choice will be to repent or to not repent.

God will show mercy to that saved believer that fell away and go after them.  God shows mercy to sinners according to Luke 15:1-7.

Luke 15:4 reads “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”

There are other cases we can view of those who are saved in Jesus and then fall away.  Here are some related scriptures:

Hebrews 10:36-38 reads “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

Can you fall from grace? The answer is yes.

Hebrews 12:14-17 reads “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  Looking diligently lest any man fail (fall from) of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled:  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

Galatians 5:4 reads “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

We are only saved by the grace and justification of God through Jesus Christ and not by our own works or by the following of ordinances.

A person can indeed fall from grace, especially if they justify themselves by the letter of the law or any standard, custom or ordinance.

James 1:12 reads “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.”

James 1:14-15 reads “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then 
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (eternal damnation).”

James 4:17 reads “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

2 Peter 2:20-22 reads “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcame, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

2 Peter 3:17 reads “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”

There is a lot of debate and speculation on the phrase “once saved always saved.” Through scripture I believe that there are certain circumstances where this statement is true and this statement is false.  The scriptures in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 and Luke 15:4 show it to be true, but only for people who sincerely love the Lord and somehow fall away (backslide), but do not actually deny the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Spirit or commit blasphemy.  These people can be brought back to the Lord because they have a heart that will repent.  There are other circumstances to examine from scriptures I’ve written. 

There might be someone who believes in the Lord and the truth of salvation who is lukewarm, or they are completely consumed of their own lust or maybe they are led away from the gospel of Christ and seduced by others and Satan causing them to fall away denying the Lord and refusing to repent.  This might cause that person to be in danger of losing their reward of salvation, unless they repent.  Regardless, a person has to be willing to repent, which means to turn away from our wicked ways or sin.  This doesn’t mean that we will never make a mistake and sin.  This means we have the willingness in our spirit and the love in our heart to please God and try our best to be obedient.  We are given choices in this life.  We can choose this day and everyday blessings or cursing (Deuteronomy 30:19). 

2 Chronicles 7:14 reads “If my people , which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Here is a specific scripture that may disprove the “once saved always saved” scenario, thus possibly making it a false statement only because of this specific circumstance: 

Hebrews 6:4-6 reads “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.”

The above scriptures are revealing what it would be like for people who once received the truth & knowledge (enlightened by the good news of Jesus) of the heavenly gift (salvation in Jesus Christ) and received the impartation of the Holy Ghost (baptismal with fire) knowing the word of God and the power (kingdom that is to come and reign forever) and then completely fall away and intentionally denying the power thereof (the Holy Ghost-Jesus). 

Could you imagine a person receiving and experiencing these things in the Holy Spirit (Ghost) and then falling away as if it never happened?  It would only become blasphemy if that person completely and intentionally denied Jesus, his existence or even worse denied the Spirit and power of the Holy Ghost inside them as if it never took place and they no longer believe.  Then, as Hebrews 6:4-6 reveals, it would be impossible to renew them again unto repentance after they received and completely denied the power thereof committing a type of blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.

This is a type of blasphemy of the Holy Ghost just like when the Pharisees said Jesus had and worked through devils casting out devils (Matthew 12:24-28). They denied the power and fullness of the Holy Ghost manifested within Jesus who was born of the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:35) which caused them to commit a type of blasphemy.

1 John 5:7 reads “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

The Holy Ghost (Spirit) is much more easily grieved and offended---Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

There is another way that a person’s name can be blotted out of the Book of life and here is the scripture:

Revelation 22:19 reads “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

We have to be very careful with the word of God.  A person who denies the word of God or takes away from it has no idea the destruction and path they are choosing for their life and their soul.

Here is a question that always comes up:  If a person falls away from the Lord, then were they ever really saved to begin with?

First, we have to realize salvation came from something God did for us through Jesus because he loved us so much.  The Father draws us and the Holy Spirit gives us the knowledge of the gospel of Christ.  No man can even say that Jesus Christ is Lord, expect it be by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:3).  We are saved by the gospel of Christ by grace with faith (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 2:8).  A person who believes the gospel of Jesus and receives it in their heart is saved. 

Let’s ask the question again:  Was a person really saved to begin with if they fell away? Did they really have any love for God at all if they fell away?  We can’t save ourselves, so these are the wrong questions to ask.  I have heard this question asked so many times.  Do you want the truth about this matter?  Here are the two questions that you really need to ask instead:  Did that person truly seek after the kingdom of God and the spiritual things of God?  Was that person prepared and ready for the coming of the Lord? 

This is what the Lord spoke to me in my mind and spirit concerning all these questions:  The Lord said unto me, “Daniel, I saved them because I first loved them, whether they had a love for me or not.”  Then the Holy Spirit led me to this scripture:

1 John 4:9-10 reads “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.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The question concerning a person who was saved in Jesus and then fell away is irrelevant.  Jesus saved that person regardless of what future choices they would make.  That person may fall away because they choose not to seek after the Lord and the spiritual things of God.  This will ultimately cause a Christian to slowly fade or fall away. They were saved because Jesus loved them not because they loved God. 

By knowing this, a person can indeed fall away even if they were really saved in Christ Jesus.

Jesus saved them and they believed, but they are caught up in the cares of this life which will cause them not to be ready and watching for the coming of the Lord.  That person who received salvation in Jesus and then fell away may miss the coming of the Lord and may be left behind to endure and overcome the Great Tribulation.  This is one of the dangers of “backsliding” from the Lord.   What is backsliding?  To backslide is to stray from the ways and the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  To backslide is to seek after your own lust and will and not the will of the Father (God).  To backslide is to willingly sin and keep doing it knowing in your heart that it is wrong.  To backslide is to become a rebellious person who once lived and sought after the Lord Jesus Christ and his word but now seeks after the things of this life. 

Proverbs 14:14 reads “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.”

This blog contains some writings that are copyrighted from old self-published book called Drawing a Line in the Sand.  The new more professionally written version is contained within my new manuscript called "Drawing a Line in the Sand Revisited".

By Daniel Staneart

What really separates God’s true children from religious unloving children?

Why do some “Christians” walk in pride, arrogance and haughtiness?  Why do some “Christians” walk puffed up with vain knowledge?  Why do some Christians walk high-minded or puffed up spiritually as a Pharisee?

What really separates God’s children from religious unloving children or even children of evil…from darkness and light…from the goats and sheep?  Here is that answer…

The answer is so much simpler than many claim.  You Will Know Them by Their Fruits:

Matthew 7:15-21

¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
²¹ 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.

EVEN if you are Christian who performs miracles, prophesies, heal others through the power of Jesus or speak in tongues but you do not walk in the fruits of the Spirit—chiefly charity (love) then according to the Word of God you are nothing and you are compared to a tinkling brass which is just a racket of noise.

Apart from receiving salvation in Jesus as well as the baptism of water and of the Holy Spirit with fire, teaching people to seek and walk in the fruits of the Spirit is one of the most important lessons and attributes that we can receive from GOD.  Our fruits are how we are known and how we bear fruit not only in ourselves but in others as good fruit-producing seeds.  THIS is what separates us and Apostle Paul makes that point very clear in 1 Corinthians 13:1-10.  

This all coincides with the first two commandments: To LOVE the Lord God with your heart, strength, mind and soul and to LOVE your neighbor as yourself (your  neighbor is anyone you come in contact with).  This is how to walk Christ like which also is related to walking not by the seeing of your eyes or hearing of your ears (Isaiah 11:1-3).  By walking in this manner also implies that we don’t judge the outward appearance.  If God (Jesus) never judged the outward appearance and even taught against it why would we? (1 Samuel 16:7, John 7:24)

How will we know if we have the seal of the Holy Spirit? By performing miracles or healings? By speaking in tongues? Or by being an apostle, or an evangelist, or a prophet? No. You could have one or more of these gifts but still grieve the Holy Spirit. It is by producing good fruit - "for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth" (Ephesians 5:9). And, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). 

But the greatest of these is love.

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails" (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

Gifts of the Spirit are wonderful to have but they all will fail and cease.  The only gift from God that will continue on even into eternity is LOVE.

1 Corinthians 13:1-10

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
⁴ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
⁶ Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

What does God mean by seek the kingdom first?

It first means Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Final answer:  We first seek Jesus (salvation) because we are the righteous of God through Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Now let’s bring it all together.  God and Christ are love and when we receive him we must walk in love and peace.  HOW?  By obeying the 1^st and 2^nd commandments of God.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body and soul –

Love your neighbor as yourself –

By doing these two things we will have peace, love and joy in the Holy Ghost ultimately  causing us to obey the rest of God’s commandments.

Do you love your neighbor as yourself?  Even gossip, backbiting, slander and putting down others are sins and breaking the 2^nd commandment.

This scripture below is one of most important scriptures for the last days and how Christians should walk and treat others.  As Christians we always suffer trials and tribulations but children of God going through trials aren’t the only ones being tested.  Who else is being tested? People not in the trial on the outside looking in are also being tested and the biblical story of Job proves that.

 Here is the important scripture:

Matthew 25:40

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

We have to be very careful in these last days especially if we claim ourselves as God’s children (Christians).

This blog contains some writings that are copyrighted from my old self-published book called Drawing a Line in the Sand.  The new more professionally written version is contained within my new manuscript called "Drawing a Line in the Sand Revisited". 

By Daniel Staneart and another contributor

Is WINE wrong to drink from a Christian and biblical point of view?

Matthew 11:18-19 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.”

Jesus was speaking how the hypocritical Pharisees were not satisfied at all who God sent to the people.  John came neither drinking nor eating and they condemned him and then Jesus came eating and drinking and they also condemned him.  The Pharisees like many religious people today wanted control and the final say-so over people.  Problem is, God didn’t ask for man’s advice or opinion.

What did Jesus say about the Pharisees?  He said they were hypocrites that appeared holy, clean and righteous on the outside but are dead men’s bones and unclean.

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.”
 

"You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men'" (Matt 15:7-9).

Why did the Pharisees say (gossip-slander-backbite) that Jesus was a winebibber?  They said this because they heard about his first miracle of turning water into wine.  If it would have been grape-juice then there would have been no gossip. 

If Jesus even drank some of the wine at the wedding that he supernaturally created who are we to question the Son of God.  He would not have gotten drunk and it would have been the best naturally fermented grape juice anyone has ever tasted.

Most likely the Pharisees also took the scripture in Proverbs 23:20 against Jesus misusing and misinterpreting it.  Proverbs 23:20 “Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:”

What is naturally fermented wine? It is fruits such as grapes, blueberries, lemons, etc… that naturally contain simple sugars that break down after setting in a container aging most likely in water.  The longer it ages the better or finer it becomes. The sugar molecules break down naturally into alcohol.  This kind of alcohol does not contain ethanol, which is found in alcoholic beverages. There is nothing added to this type of alcohol to enhance its potency and make it lethal. However, cane sugar can be added as a sweetener and this may enhance the alcohol content to some degree.

Fermentation is a natural process by yeast bacteria in the absence of air that changes sugar to alcohol. Man has controlled this process since Noah (Gen. 9:21) to produce intoxicating beverages. In the Old Testament, fermented juice was described by several words, but the two most common, yayin and tirosh, are translated into the Greek language of the Septuagint as oinos – Truth Magazine

The Bible says that God gave wine to make men glad (Psalm 104:15). Why have some people turned this blessing of God into a curse? The answer is that many people do not follow God’s instructions.

A blessing of wine was prophesied as a heritage to the chosen people in Genesis 27:28: “May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness — an abundance of grain and new wine [tirosh].” The Hebrew word tirosh, meaning “new wine,” is used in 38 places in the Old Testament. People sometimes conclude that this word means grape juice, or fresh-pressed juice of the vine. However, Hosea 4:11 states: “Old wine [yayin] and new wine [tirosh] take away their understanding.” Grape juice could not have this effect. Tirosh is an intoxicating wine if used in excess. – Grace Communion International

Jesus’ first miracle was to change water into wine (oinos). Some people who preach total abstinence claim that this miracle was to turn water into grape juice. Imagine if you can a Jewish wedding banquet where everyone drank only grape juice! (The ancients did not have refrigeration or any other method of preventing grape juice from fermenting.) On this occasion, Christ turned six jars of 20 or 30 gallons each into wine (oinos). This was no small miracle. This wine was of the finest quality — “You have saved the best till now” (John 2:10). At wedding feasts, the hosts normally started with the best wine, and they would bring out lesser-quality wines later.

Jesus gave a parable involving the fermenting process of oinos in Matthew 9:17. At that time, instead of having metal or glass bottles to enclose wine, the skins of animals were used. The fermentation of the wine could burst an old skin, but it would not break a new stretchable skin.

Another proof that oinos is fermented wine is the fact that the apostle Paul said, “Do not get drunk on wine [oinos]” (Ephesians 5:18). Paul did not mean to avoid getting drunk on grape juice! Paul instructed Timothy, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine [oinos] because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23). He said to use only a little wine, not a whole lot. The purpose of this wine was Timothy’s frequent stomach ailments; small amounts of wine can help some stomach problems. – Grace Communion International

Let's take a close look at 1 Corinthians 11:17-34:  Paul came in to find all the men together at the church possibly trying to take part in the Lord's supper.  Paul tells the men that they were not taking part correctly, because they were coming together but separated doing everything out of order.  Some were hungry and some were drunken on the wine.  Paul showed them how to perform the Lord's Supper correctly and told them that they should eat their own food and drink (wine) at home in private especially so they would not offend a weak brother.

I don’t drink alcohol, but I may would try some natural wine (fermented grape juice). Apostle Paul did tell Timothy this:

1 Timothy 5:23 “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.”

Plain grape juice doesn’t kill infirmities and does not have the properties to kill germs or bacteria but alcohol does.

I have tried alcohol and beer before a very long time ago and did not like the taste and was always afraid of losing self-control that could cause embarrassment and harm to myself or others.

In 2008 I tried some pure natural homemade blue-berry wine (naturally fermented) that someone in my wife's family made and it was okay but kind of bitter.

Naturally fermented wine is between 10 percent and 14 percent alcohol, but once again does not contain ethanol.

How many of you would compare yourself to Noah?  He was a righteous man in God’s eyes.  The bible says that Noah planted a vineyard, drank wine and he got so drunk (not on grape juice) that he lay naked in his tent.  Here is the scripture:

Genesis 9:20-21 “And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine (yayin), and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.”

GOD also commanded the Levitical priests to include in the sacrifices a portion of wine (yayin) as a drink offering in this scripture:

Exodus 29:40 “And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine (yayin) for a drink offering.”

There are certainly more scriptures and examples that I could post, but here is the point.  These scriptures make it clear that there can be a right and a wrong use of wine (fermented grape-juice).  It also does a Christian good to learn a little Hebrew/Jewish especially when trying to interpret the Word of God, namely the Old Testament.  There is another Jewish word for alcohol used for the term “strong drink.”  That word is shekar.  This would be a much more potent kind of alcohol or rather strong drink.

The Holy Bible teaches against drunkenness but does not teach against having vineyards or making/producing/selling natural wine.  The Holy Bible mentions wine and vineyards quite a lot.  There is however a line drawn for priests, deacons, teachers of the Word, preachers and evangelist.  They are not to ever have strong drink, but in 1 Timothy 3:8 the bible says that a deacon is to not be given too much wine.  It doesn’t say given no wine, but just not too much (moderation).

Once again, natural wine is fermented grape juice.  Even if fermented grape juice is the juice pressed out at first if it sits for a little time the sugars will begin to break down into natural alcohol. We have to realize that over 2,000 years ago wine was certainly not viewed or seen the same as in society today.  Today wine (alcohol), especially beer and hard liquor, is intentionally enhanced (made lethal) as well as commercialized for partying, having a good time and drunkenness which can ultimately lead to sin, foolishness and death. 

Jewish weddings (even in New Testament times) traditionally are also known for having wine or rather breaking out the best wine for the wedding.  In the Greek text of the New Testament the word for wine is oinos.  Did Jesus turn water into oinos (wine not grape juice)?  The answer to that is yes (John 2:1-10).  The term oinos also means fermented grape juice, which is wine with natural low alcohol content.

This primary reason why is because wine and the use of it in the Holy Bible is completely misunderstood.  It could also offend a weak brother in Christ.  Apostle Paul tackles this subject and here is the scripture:

Romans 14:21 “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

The implication is that there’s nothing wrong with the wine in itself, only if it offends a weak brother or if it is used for drunkenness (addiction).

Christians and truthfully all people have to be wise about the use of alcohol. Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

Here is my final point:

For many years Christianity and even society has held certain things up as a standard of sin:  Drinking, smoking, dipping, cursing, rock-n-roll and gambling.  The problem is that none of these things are weightier matters of the law.  Let me just point out that there is a difference in types of sin as well as consequences. 

If you believe drinking natural wine in moderation (not getting drunk) is more sinful than gossiping you are sadly mistaking.  In the book of “Proverbs 6:16-19” which list six things that God hates: gossip, slander, backbiting are some of the things listed that God really despises.  Drinking fermented grape-juice (natural wine) is not even a sin nor condemned in the Holy Bible but encouraged for its healing use.

Even casting lots, gambling or betting is not mentioned as a specific sin either in the Holy Bible, but it is foolish.  Do you gamble to get more money?  Then you could fall under the sin of “the love of money” which is the root of all evil. 

You see, these things can lead to sin.  That is why you must not do things in front of a weaker or even new Christian (or for the whole world to see on TV) because it can cause a stumbling block for others and hinder your own witness.  The bible doesn’t even specifically pinpoint the use of tobacco.  This is one of the reasons why Christians have to ask God for wisdom. 

God did create tobacco leaves, but mankind certainly has abused its purpose (creation) and this goes the same for wine (alcohol).

I don’t smoke or gamble either, but let’s also keep in mind that God judges man’s heart and intentions only so even if  the outward appearance could appear wrong in man’s eyes it may not in God’s (1 Samuel 16:7 and John 7:24).

Many of these things can fall under doubtful disputations from the book of Romans.

Romans 14:21-22 “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”

Christians should study and understand what the Holy Bible considers a sin or just considers something to be foolish or a shame.  Short hair on a woman in the bible is frowned upon and long hair on a man is a shame but these are not sins.

You will never win others to Christ by beating them over the head with the bible.  When Jesus walked on this earth in the flesh he hung out with sinners and publicans and was criticized for it.  His purpose was to save, impact, change, restore and heal every person (sinner) he came in contact with.

As I mentioned in my writing some things that people believe are sin actually are not. For example, some Christians believe that long hair on a man is a sin, but it isn't. It was only considered a shame. Some Christians believe that if a woman wears pants it is a sin, but it isn't. God doesn't judge the outward appearance.

Now more specifically on weightier sins: These are sins that have greater impact and consequences than others. Adultery destroys multiple lives, families as well as faith and a person's witness especially if they are a Christian. This sin of adultery would have more weight behind it than telling someone you had a Ferrari when you actually didn't but instead you had a fiat. Sin is sin, but weightier sins bring more consequences and destruction.

 

The Ten Commandments as well as other weightier sins are what God is specifically concerned with and here are those sins:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 5:19-21 “ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Ephesians 5:3-5 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

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.”

Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

Luke 24:47 “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

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.”

BELIEVE in JESUS he is real.  HE is the only God (Son of God-God manifest in the flesh) who came to earth to be like us and die for us.  There are many religions but true and pure Christianity in Jesus Christ is not a religion but a relationship, experience and revelation.

This blog contains some writings that are copyrighted from my old self-published book called Drawing a Line in the Sand.  The new more professionally written version is contained within my new manuscript called "Drawing a Line in the Sand Revisited".  I did not have a topic or chapter in my old self published book on subject of wine but it may be added.

By Daniel Staneart