The Gospel

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people..."

-Revelation 14:6

            Recently I was graced with the opportunity to have a dear friend of mine accompany me on one of my Bible studies that happened to be with a friend of His. The topic of discussion was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, I don't know exactly how much the person I was studying with got from the study to be honest; but John (the man who accompanied me) really got a lot out of it! in fact, when we met for our weekly Bible study together yesterday, he showed me what he has been working on. John went and found every place in the New Testament where the word "Gospel" is found and typed them all up with a little Bible study of his own.

          Having read this Bible study the Holy Spirit lead me down an interesting trail of thought, an idea to do a Bible study on the Gospel. I will not go to every place where the word Gospel is used, but I will cover many of them and I pray that by the end of this study we will learn what it means to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is the Gospel?

      "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to ever one that believeth; to the Jew first them to the Greek."

Romans 1:16

• The Gospel is the Power of God according to the plain statement of Scripture, but what power of God does it refer too? God is all powerful, to what specifically does the Gospel pertain?

Ellen White says that the power of God is revealed in the Cross of Calvary, specifically she says "Herein is His strength revealed..." and "here men see there is power in Christ to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him." (Fundamentals of Christian Education 184)

Interesting, so the Cross of Calvary is a revelation of the power of God, the power of god as it were, to take a sinner who manifests the work of the flesh Gala 5:19,20 and change the chief of sinners so that they can manifest the work of the Spirit Gala 5:21. The Gospel is the Five Solas; the Gospel is the Truth of God's Word and is the very standard of God's Word.

        In Revelation 14:6-12 the Gospel is revealed in an earthshaking way!

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God, and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountain of waters.' And there followed another angel, saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without measure 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."

              This is the Gospel which God's people are commissioned to send out to the world, in it is contained every foundational truth. Anyway that is a different study all together for another time. Lets take a little look at the study that John gave me, with added notes and commentary to build on.

  "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."

-Matt 4:23
               See also Matt 9:35

Jesus here teaches us a principle, one He teaches us about missionary work, Jesus was a medical missionary. He brought healing to the body and taught healing to the soul, and He expects us to do the same. (Matt 10:8)

It is also interesting to note that Matt 9:35 is worded almost the exact same as 4:23, Jesus' mission in preaching the Gospel was always to heal the wounded, bless the poor, share His love, and teach salvation (the Kingdom of Heaven.)

           In Mark 1:1, 13-15 we see John the Baptist lay the foundation for the gospel; but also in these verses we see something in addition to what Matthew records, another important piece of information.

"And saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel.'"

In saying this Jesus reveals the importance of repentance, true repentance which is not only being sorry for your sins but learning to detest sin as Jesus does. When we repent and ask God to make us detest sin He is faithful to do this, as Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love Me keep My commandments." and in 15:10, "If ye love Me keep My commandments and ye shall abide in My love even as I have kept My Father's commandments and I abide in His love."

         John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ both taught repentance. They taught that salvation is in no other name but that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. This salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Which will produce the works of the spirit.

"Then Peter began to say unto Him, 'Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.' And Jesus answered and said, 'Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My sake of for the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredforld now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

-Mark 10:28-30

Here Peter is concerned because John the Baptist was slain, and he comes to Jesus with the question of what will come of those mend of faith who have given all for the gospel. Jesus answers beautifully that we may have to make a sacrifice of that which is seen; But this is to receive that which is not seen, which we can receive by Faith. (Heb 11:1)

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

-Mark 16:15

This forms a part of what is called the great commission to preach the gospel of Christ. (See Matt 28:19) The gospel to be preached ti the world is found in Revelation 14:6-12! The final warning to all the earth of that glorious day of the soon coming Saviour.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."

-Luke 4:18

Reading from the book of Isaiah Jesus reveals to the Jews in the synagogue what His mission as the Messiah is.

"Then Jesus answering said unto them, 'Go your way , and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached, and blessed is he that is not offended because of Me."

-Luke 7:22,23

Jesus tells the apostles of John the Baptist to relate to their teacher the Truth that Jesus is the Messiah, and what they witnessed that helps to, along with scripture, display that fact. he also said "Blessed are they that are not offended because of Me." In Mark 1:22 it says that all were "Astonished by His doctrine" because He spoke with authority. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:1,14) if we are offended by the pure doctrine of God's Word than we are displaying the spirit of the Antichrist and not the true worship of God most High, Jesus Christ.

             Brethren, I pray that this study is a blessing to you and that the Holy Ghost makes His will plain. I pray that all will hear the true gospel of Christ, may many come out of Babylon before the doors of probation have closed.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Seal of God

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name in their foreheads."

-Revelation 14:1

            This Bible study will explore the wonderful truths of God's Word concerning the Seal of the Living God which is to be written in the foreheads of every disciple of Christ.

            "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth not the sea, not on any tree. I saw another angel ascending from the east having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, hurt not the earth, neither the seam not the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

Revelation 7:1-3

John the Revelator is shown a scene in heaven, four angels holding back the four winds (see Jer 51:1) till the servants of the living God can have His seal written in their foreheads. What is written in the forehead of the Saints?

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, (Rev 7:4) having His Father's name written in their foreheads."

Revelation 14:1

 What does it mean to have the Father's name written in the forehead? the Father has many names, Jehova Jira, Elohim, Jahova Nisi, YWHV, many names can be applied to the Father... and for what purpose would God write His name in our foreheads?

To answer this question we must ask another question, what is the actual name of God? Yes He has many names to describe His character, but surely we must be able to show from scripture that He has a name which can here be applied as being written in the foreheads of the saints.

"And he (Moses) said, 'I beseech thee, show me thy glory.' And He (God) said, 'I will make 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 show mercy on whom I will show mercy.' And He said, 'Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me and live.'"

Exodus 33:18


Woa! Did God just say He was going to tell Moses His name?!? Well, what does He say? This will answer our question.

"And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed before him, and proclaimed the name of the Lord, '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's children, unto the third and fourth generation.'"

Exodus 34:5-7

Wow! Did you see that, the Lord just said that His name is "Merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth..." What does that mean exactly? Well, this is where it gets exciting, God's name is His character! If God's name is His character, than does that mean His character is written in the foreheads of the saints? Wow, that is really wonderful, but what is the Seal of the living God?

If God's name is His character, what is a reflection of his character that was given unto man?

The Ten Commandments are just such a reflection of God's character, let's see a comparison....

this chart courtesy of tencommandments.org displays many of the examples where God's law and God's character are revealed to reflect one another.

LOVE	1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16	Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14
PERFECT	Matthew 5:48	James 1:25, Psalms 19:7
HOLY	1 Peter 1:15, Psalms 99:9	Romans 7:12, 2 Peter 2:21
ETERNAL	Romans 16:26, Deuteronomy 33:27	Psalms 111:7-8, Luke 16:17
TRUTH	Deuteronomy 32:4, John 14:6	Psalms 119:142, 151
PURE	1 John 3:3, Job 4:17	Psalms 19:7-8
GOOD	Nahum 1:7, Luke 18:19	Romans 7:12, 16, 1 Timothy 1:8
SPIRITUAL	John 4:24	Romans 7:14
JUST	Isaiah 45:21, Romans 3:26	Romans 7:12
FAITHFUL	1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:3	Psalms 119:86
LIGHT	1 John 1:5	Proverbs 6:23
LIFE	John 14:6, Psalms 36:9	Matthew 19:17, Proverbs 3:1-2
RIGHTEOUS	Psalms 145:17, Jeremiah 23:6	Romans 9:31, Psalms 119:172
TRUE	John 3:33, 1 John 5:20	Nehemiah 9:13
PEACE	Romans 15:33, Hebrews 13:20	Psalms 119:165
HONOURABLE	Isaiah 58:13	Isaiah 42:21
GREAT	Psalms 48:1	Hosea 8:12
WONDERFUL	Isaiah 9:6	Psalms 119:18
THE WAY	John 14:6	Psalms 119:30-32
SURE	2 Timothy 2:19	Psalms 19:7, 111:7
UNCHANGING	Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8	Matthew 5:18, Psalms 111:7-8
WISE	Daniel 2:20, Job 36:5, Jude 1:25	Psalms 119:98, Psalms 19:7
ENLIGHTENMENT	Psalms 18:28	Psalms 19:8
BLESSED	1 Timothy 1:11, Psalms 28:6	Revelation 22:14, Exodus 20:11
HAPPINESS	Psalms 146:5	Proverbs 29:18
MERCIFUL	2 Corinthians 1:3, Exodus 34:6	Matthew 23:23, Nehemiah 1:5
UNDERSTANDING	Psalms 147:5	Psalms 119:73, Psalms 119:99
DELIGHT	Psalms 37:4	Psalms 1:2
LIBERTY	2 Corinthians 3:17	James 1:25, Psalms 119:45
KNOWLEDGE	Isaiah 11:2	Romans 3:20
HOPE	Psalms 71:5, Romans 15:13	Psalms 119:43
OUR MEDITATION	Psalms 63:6	Psalms 1:2

  

   The law of God is a reflection of His character, but what does that mean for us?

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."

-Heb 10:16,17

God has promised to write His law upon the heart of His servants, meaning that we will have a totally changed character. God will shine through us to put His Holy character on display. God's character, His law is being written into the forehead of His saints, God wants us to be holy just as He is holy. The Lord has given each of us this amazing light, but there is more to the issue.

What aspect of the Ten Commandments exactly is the seal of the commandments? There is one commandment in particular.  Think about it, what aspects do a seal need to have?

1. the name of the sealer (they mean nothing if you don't know who is doing the sealing)
2. the title of the sealer (the title gives authority)
3. the jurisdiction of which they have authority

without these there is no seal correct, well only of the Ten Commandments has all of these together, the fourth commandment:

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it."

-Exodus 20:8-11

As you can see the sabbath has all the neccessary attributes of a king's seal

1. the name (The Lord thy God)
2. the title (Creator of heaven and earth)
3. the jurisdiction (heaven, earth, the sea, the sky, basically the universe is all His jurisdiction)

Let's see if the Word of God confirms what has just been said...

Furthermore, was this the first mention of the sabbath? Not at all! The sabbath is mentioned in Exodus 16 when God's people are reproved for not keeping true to the seventh-day sabbath (Exo 16:23-29)

The fourth commandment is the only one prefaced with the word "Remember" but why? Obviously God wants us to remember them all, otherwise why write them with His own finger onto tables of stone? Yet He gives them special instruction to remember this one, that is because this one can be traced back to the very beginning. The first sabbath was in-fact the seventh day of earth's history, when God Himself rested from His work of creation. This separates the ten commandments from the rest of the decalogue, in that the Ten Commandements point back to creation, the Mosaic law (feasts, fasts, and sanctuary service) pointed forward to Christ and therefore was nailed to the cross (Colo 2:14) These were also called "sabbaths" but these were not the weekly Sabbath, these were not the Sabbath that God established at creation.

Where does the Bible say that the Sabbath is God's seal?

   "Moreover I also gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them."

"And hallow My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you that you may know that I am the Lord your God."

-Ezekiel 20:12,20

God declares through the prophet what His sign is, and what does the Bible say that a "sign" is?

"And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also."

Romans 4:11

God declares through Paul that a sign and a mark are interchangeable terms in scripture. The sign of God being the Sabbath making the Sabbath His divine Mark, or seal.

This is not just the keeping of the seventh-day of the week, this is having the commandments written in your heart, and realizing that you cannot do it on your own, that even the sabbath you cannot keep unless you rely wholly on Christ. But that said, with Christ all is possible (Phil 4:13) we can keep the Sabbath with Christ in our hearts and be sealed by His righteousness.

New Testament References

I am going to put just a few of the important places in which the New Testament talks about the Sabbath.

         "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day."
-Matt 24:20

Jesus talking about the fall of Jerusalem about 70 years after the cross of Calvary councils His disciples to flee from the falling city, but to remember the sabbath and not to violate it in the process of their flight.

"The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath."

-Mark 2:27,28

    Jesus declares Himself Lord of the sabbath, making the sabbath and not the first day of the week the Lord's day.

     This in particular quote comes at an interesting point, the pharisees accuse Jesus' disciples of sabbath-breaking. Jesus responds not by saying that the sabbath doesn't matter, He says the opposite! First He calls out the fact that the pharisees had added on their own man made requirements to the sabbath which made it a burden, He does this by pointing out that the way the Law was written it was to be a benefit, and not a curse to keep the sabbath. He declares that the sabbath was made for man, not just Jews, referring to the fact that 2300 years before there was ever a "Jew" the sabbath was given to Adam, and kept by God. Then He crowns His argument by declaring Himself the Lord of the sabbath, meaning that not only is the sabbath the Lord's day, but Jesus is the maker of the sabbath and the one who gives the sabbath its meaning.

  

  "And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day."

-Luke 4:16

Jesus kept the Sabbath, and in Acts 17:2 Paul did as well.

     In Conclusion

As Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." John 15:10 When we love Christ and let Him into the heart to write His law there, then there is nothing we won't do for Him. Let us all be numbered with the saints who "Keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev 12:17
Dearly beloved reader, take the Seal of God upon yourself, and accept His very character into your heart and mind, to do the work He has for you. Praise God for the Words of Truth. May You be blessed by the Words of Truth.

               If you have any questions about this article please e-mail me at hugheskevin117@gmail.com.

God bless you and may His Holy Ghost be with you in your studies of His Word.

 

 

One God Three Persons, The Trinity

"Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 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 whom I am well pleased."

-Luke 3:21-22

 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen"

-II Cor 13:14

                  This is likely to be a blog that inspires some controversy... With the Christadelphian movement, Anti-Trinarian sect of SDA, Jehova's Witness, Anti-Trinitarian Pentacostal Charismatism and many other movements claiming some form of Anti-Trinitarian doctrine. This however is an attack on the plain teaching of Scripture. Don't take my word for it by any means, let's see what the plain Word of God teaches.

                 First of all my beloved reader, if you are struggling with the question of weather or not the lovely Jesus is in-fact God, I encourage you to read these two posts, they more fully answer this question specifically, laying out Biblical proof for why Jesus is God; whereas this post will be dealing with the issue of the Trinity.

   http://jesuswilldeliverhischildren.blogspot.com/2014/04/john-grosball-sermon-3-29-2014.html

http://jesuswilldeliverhischildren.blogspot.com/2014/05/jesus-friend-of-sinners-bible-study.html

     With all that said let's delve right into the Holy Word of God, I pray that You're blessed.

Important points early

  "And God said, 'Let US make man in Our image...'" 

-Gen 1:26

• Obviously God is speaking to someone when He says this, and it isn't the angels because angels are not necessarily made in the image of God, so it would not be "Our image" if it was the angels. No where in scripture are the angels described as being in the "image of God" as man is described. Christ however is described as the "Express Image" of God the loving Father. (Heb 1:3)

A Prophet's Vision!

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, hight and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twin he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another and said Holy Holy Holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earch is full of His glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that criedand the house was filled with smoke."

-Isaiah 6:1-4

•  Not only does God in verse 8 of the same chapter again say "US" in reference to Himself as a Triune Godhead, but in v 1-4 Isaiah says that he looks upon "The LORD" sitting in His throne. 

"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 1:18

• so was Isaiah mistaken, lying or was there a farther light shown? Let's explore!
• Isaiah was actually right, He saw the Son Jesus and therefore saw God, but John is also right because no one at any time has seen the Father. Even Moses was allowed to see God only from behind lest he should be destroyed (Exo 33:20)

  We can see between these verses that Isaiah did see God, but not God the Father, He saw Jesus, now this is a problem if you do not believe that Jesus is God, but the fact that He is God gives us farther light on the issue; this is also a problem for anyone saying that Jesus and the Father are the same person, because then if that's the case than who has no one seen? And who did Isaiah see? Jesus and His Father must both be God, as Jesus so beautifully said "I and my father are one." (John 10:30)

For more Trinitarian references from the old testament please send the LORD's servant an e-mail, for farther study on the issue.

The Gospel Writers Teach the Trinity.

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, 'I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?' And Jesus answering said unto him, 'Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.' And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dobe, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven saying, 'Thou art My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.'"

-Matt 3:13-17

See also Luke 3:21,22

• In this verse we can see that God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all three separate entities, Jesus being God, was dwelling in the body of a man; God the Father being God was dwelling in heaven; and the Holy Ghost was descending upon the Savior in the likeness of a dove. 
• They are obviously not all just one entity lest there would be no purpose for this display. They are all God, and yes they are one, acting in unison, but they are three separate entities.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

-Matt 28:19

• If Jesus was not God, or the Holy Ghost not God, or the Father not God, than there would have been no need for Him to list all three.
• The fact that Jesus plainly tells His apostles to teach the world of, and baptize them in the name of all three entities it can only be that all three of them are important to the function of the Godhead. Jesus, His Father, and the Holy Ghost are all necessary, not only in heaven, but for the Gospel work. 
• Notice they must all three be taught of, and are all three a part of the baptism, that means this is by no means a "secondary issue" if you reject a member of the Godhead you have rejected the whole of it beloved! (I John 2:23)

"And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness." 

-Luke 4:1

• Jesus is "full of the Holy Ghost" and lead of "The Spirit" 
• Well it doesn't make sense that He was, "full of an electrical current," or, "lead of His own breath." The Holy Ghost must be a separate entity that is one with the Godhead and is God just as the others

"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. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made."

-John 1:1

• This is referring to Jesus (Verse 14) and pointing out His divinity, but it also references the Trinity (With God... was God...)
• This means that Jesus is God, but also was with God; well it is safe to assume He wasn't beside Himself, so it is referring to God the Father being with Jesus, that they created the World together.

"Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you."

-John 20:21

• Jesus by His own divine words was sent of the Father. Making them two separate entities both aspects of the one divine person-hood of God. 

Jesus continued, "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." 

-Verse 22

• Now the Holy Ghost comes into play as well, and thus all three members of the Godhead are plainly shown

The Trinity Taught in the Book of Acts

"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 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 2:32,33

• All three members of the Divine Godhead again clearly displayed. Jesus whom is glorified, the Father at who's right hand Jesus sits, and the Holy Ghost who ministers to mankind

"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."

-Acts 7:55

• Again Jesus is seen at "The right hand of the Father" and the Holy Spirit is filling the LORD's servant Stephen. They are each displayed as a distinct entity.

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

-Acts 5:30,31

• There is no forgiveness for sins without Jesus, without the cross and the full meaning of the fact that God Himself descended and took on the filthy rags of humanity to live as a human being; and not a human being when our first-parents lived, no He took the form of a race that sin had degraded for 4,000 years and lived as a poor man. The God of heaven lived with no place to rest His head and was crucified by His own creation, humiliated, mocked, and persecuted, just so that you could have the right to the tree of life beloved! Imagine beloved! God loves you so much that even if you were the only one who would have come to Him He still would have died for your salvation!

"How God impressed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him."

-Acts 10:38

• God the Father anointed Jesus and impressed Him with the Holy Ghost.
• Well if Jesus is the only member of the Godhead that who impressed the Savior? 
• Furthermore if there is no Holy Spirit than what was our lovely Savior impressed with?
• Clearly all three were operating with one purpose and are one divine force in three distinct being

"And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us... But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

-Acts 15:8,11

The Trinity As seen in The Epistles of The Apostle Paul

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, which He had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our LORD, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead."

-Rom 1:1-4

"For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 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, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit."

-Rom 8:2-4

• Again and again the Father is shown sending His Son.

"That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."

-Rom 15:16

• Paul is declaring his work of bringing Gentiles to the fold to be the work of God, and that the offering of Gentiles may be acceptable to Him because of the ministering of the Holy Spirit. Each member of the Godhead having a separate role in the process but each one being fully God and fully needed for the process of redeeming the Gentile world.

Paul continues in Verse 30 "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the LORD Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me"

"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."

-I Cor 6:11

• we can only be sanctified in the name of Jesus through the work of the Holy Ghost.

"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man: and the head of Christ is God."

I Cor 11:3

•  This text makes no sense unless there is God the Father, and Jesus, it makes no sense to say, "the man is head of the woman, Christ is head of every man, and the head of Christ is Christ."
• There has to be God the Father and God the Son, they are both laid out in Scripture.

"Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in out hearts."

-II Cor 1:21-22

 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." 

 -II Cor 13:14

• Here all three members of the Godhead are clearly shown, and clearly distinct. Each member of the one Godhead having it's own being, again all three are revealed in this one text, this is quite possibly the most blatant of all examples of the Trinity doctrine in scripture.

The Trinity in the Epistles of The Apostle Peter.

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied."

-I Peter 1:2

• All three members of the Godhead are required to make any one of us one of the saved, or "elect"

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit."

-I Peter 3:8

• So Jesus suffered for our sins, so that He could bring us closer to the Father, quickened by the Holy Ghost. Not only is the Trinity revealed here but there is simply no way around the fact that the Trinity is Gospel Truth, there is no two ways about it. The Son is needed, the Father is needed, and the Holy Ghost is needed or else there is no salvation. 

In Conclusion

             Thank you so much beloved for reading this! I truly pray that you are blessed by this study, the world is perishing and the Gospel of love must go fourth! God bless you all! I pray that the love of Jesus will be made manifest in each and every one of you, and that you will find your eternal salvation which can only be found in the very word of God.

             Again if this study has brought up any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at hugheskevin117@gmail.com. I do not have all the answers but the sure Word of God does.  

  

  

Jesus Friend of Sinners Bible Study

"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."

-John 3:16

 I. What does Immanuel mean? (who is Jesus of Nazareth?)

               In Isaiah 7:14 the prophet writes, "Therefore the LORD Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." This was prophesying the birth of our LORD and Savior Jesus, but how do we know this and why is it important?

              Matt 1:21-23 "And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the LORD by the prophet, saying, '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.'"

• Jesus is God veiled in humanity that we would be able to behold Him.

See also: Rev 22:13, and Rev 1:8

II. Where was Jesus before the creation of the world?

               "I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, o Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with the before the world was."
-John 17:4,5

• Jesus was in all glory with the Father, and is one with the Father (John 10:30)

See also: John 1:1-4, 14

III. What is Christ also called throughout scripture?

                  "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

-I Cor 10:4

• Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation Beloved!

See also: II Sam 23:3; Psalms 18:2

IV. Why are all our race doomed to perish?

                 "For the wages of sin is death; bur the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD."

-Rom 6:23

                  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

-Rom 3:23

• All have sinned and the wages of sin is death... we are all doomed to perish. 
• But wait beloved! What about "the gift of God?" freely given that is "eternal life in Christ Jesus?"

V. Jesus does freely give us eternal life, by what means? What has Jesus done to save us?

                   "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." 

-Philippians 2:5-8

• Jesus is God, therefore to come down to this earth in the form of a king would have been degrading enough... Yet He chose not to come in the form of an earthly king, in-fact when the Jews tried to force Him to be king, He had the disciples take Him away in a fishing boat. Jesus became a poor human being.

                  "we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

-Heb 4:15

• coming in the form of sinless Adam would have been a degrading thing for Christ; yet He chose for Himself to come after sin had degraded the race for some 4,000 or more! He was tempted at all points and overcame, that in doing so He can show us how to overcome, and can teach us His ways.

                    "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy Him that had the power of death that is, the devil."

• Jesus had to be delivered unto death, despised and rejected of men (Isa 53) and made to suffer pain and death, a death for which He did not deserve, that we may live a life we do not deserve. He died for sinners of which He  was not, that sinners may take upon themselves His righteousness of which we have no part!

        Jesus did so much more than die for us though, as amazing as it is that the King of kings died for sinful human beings, without the Resurrection all else is vein! (1 Cor 15:17) More on that later on...

VI. Can obedience to the law save us?

                   "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

-Gal 2:16

                  "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."

-Rom 3:20

• The law does not save us but merely shows us our infirmities

VII. Well if not by the law or how can we be saved?

                  "'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' and they said, "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house."

-Acts 16:30,31

• We are saved ONLY by believing whole heartedly that Jesus is God, and therefore our redeemer.
• but is it enough to intellectually acknowledging this fact enough?

VIII. Is faith in Jesus simply realizing that Jesus is God and died to save mankind enough?

                   "Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, 'Thou hast faith, and I have works:' show me thy faith without thy works and I will will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: even the devils believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, o vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

-James 2:17-20

• merely knowing Jesus is God and came to save us makes us as Christian as Satan himself, who also knows those things and trembles.
• "I will show thee my faith by my works" it is true no man will be saved by works, but our good works and keeping of the commandments are the outward display of the work which Jesus Christ is doing in His servant, and if there is no change in the person than it is not Christ in their life.

There is a quote that seems to sum up this issue, "Though there will be no man saved by good works, there will be no man saved without good works."

-Ellen G. White

IX. What happens to our past sins when we give our heart to Jesus?

                 "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."

-Rom 3:24,25

                "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."

-I John 1:7

• Jesus justifies us, and removes the sin from our wicked past, He freely cleanses us from all unrighteous acts of the former life!
• whatever your sin Beloved, lay it down at the feet of the Savior Jesus Christ! Fall in love with the Son of God who first loved you! 
• Give your heart to the Savior that all that once was may be cleansed away and you may be made new!

X. How does God Cleanse from sin?

               "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 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 who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit."

-Rom 8:1-4

• The lovely Jesus cleanses us each and every one, and fulfills the righteousness of the Law of Liberty in us! 

              "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the LORD; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God and they shall be to Me a people."

• Beloved there is nothing we can do of ourselves for we are but dust, yet look at what can be wrought if you will but whole heartedly give yourself to Christ, He will write the commandments in your heart that you may live in accord with them, not of yourself, but His righteousness to be imputed!

             "For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome." 

1 John 5:3

• don't take my word for it, fall in love with Jesus and let Him keep His promises, He always does!

XI. Where did Jesus go after the Resurrection and what is the lovely Jesus doing for us now?

               "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to out profession. 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

-Heb 4:14-16

• Jesus ascended to the throne in heaven where He now sits doing a great work as our high priest! Beloved, the Good Shepherd is now tending to His flock, and knows just how to help you with whatever is troubling you!

XII. In closing, what motivates the lovely Jesus to do all this for this wretched and filthy race?

               "For God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in

Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

-John 3:16

• it is all out of love that the Savior does what He does, I pray that you're blessed by this study and that you will out of love give your heart to the Good Shepherd and come to be a part of His lovely fold! 
• if you have any questions please e-mail me, I do not have all the answers but the Word of God does and He will give His servant the answer if He wills it

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

-John 15:13

 

   

 

The Truth About Death and Hellfire

State of the Dead and Hellfire Bible Studies

            “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is under the sun.”

Ecclesianstes 9:4-6

What happens when we die?

            This is an important question, this is one of the most widely asked questions, and like all questions the Bible has an answer.

Why is this important?

            This is important because Satan is planning to deceive the whole world with miracles. (Revelation 13:14) The only way Satan can deceive us however is if we do not receive the “love of the Truth.” (II Thessalonians 2:10) Part of that is the truth of the state of the dead, and if you read on you’ll soon see that this is in-fact a big part of it.

What is does it mean to be alive?

            In order to understand what death is we must first understand the gift of life. To do this we go on a journey to the very beginning of time.

Gen 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.”

·         Here we see that life involves two things

                                 I.            The dust of the earth, the body

                              II.            The breath of God, also referred to as a spirit (Job 27:3) the words breath and spirit actually refer to the same thing.

Now we know what life is, what is death?

Ecclesianstes 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (or breath) shall return unto God who gave it.”

Psalms 146:3,4 “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”

·         Clearly when we consult the Bible and the Bible alone we can see that death is simply a state of sleep. Where there is no thought.

Are the dead in Heaven praising God?

Psalm 115:17 “The dead praise not the LORD neither any that go down into silence.”

Psalm 6:5 “In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks.”

·         The dead cannot praise God because they are simply asleep

Is the soul immortal?

I Timothy 6:16 “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

·         Only God is immortal

Furthermore “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4

·         It is interesting to note that the Bible says the word soul 1600 times but never mentions the human soul being immortal.

·         Romans 2:7 tells us that we seek for eternal life, we would not have to seek for something that we already have.

Is it possible that Jesus changed all this on the Cross of Calvary?

Acts 2:29,34 “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day…” “For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, the LORD said unto my LORD, ‘Sit thou on my right hand.’”

·         Evidently Jesus’ death did not change this fact because Jesus would have brought the patriarchs to Heaven and did not. They remain dead with the exception of Moses who was raised from the dead and brought to Heaven (Jude 9); Enoch who was taken up to Heaven as well having never felt death. (Jude 14,15) and Elijah who was taken to Heaven in a chariot of fire before the very eyes of Elisha. (II Kings 2:11)

What is the promise given to the saints?

I Corinthians 15:52-54 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”

I Thessalonians 4:16,17 “For the LORD Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air: and so we shall ever be with the LORD.”

Revelation 20:2-6 “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (see John 5:28,29) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Revelation 21:1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away”  

What is hellfire and do people burn eternally?

            To answer this question we must compare scripture upon scripture and line upon line (Is 28:10) just like we have been, but what becomes crucial here is that we understand the deeper meaning of texts and the importance thereof.

Revelation 20:9-10 “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

Revelation 14:11 “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.”

·   

                                                 *  Wow, sounds pretty serious. We know from what we’ve just studied that the souls of ALL the dead are in a state of sleep until the soon coming of our LORD and Savior in the clouds of glory. Obviously that means that no one is burning in hell right now.

·                                                 *Well, obviously there are going to be very many people who receive the beast’s mark (Rev 13) most of the world actually. That along with all the wicked and unbelieving multitudes throughout all the ages, there will obviously be a hellfire for those people, the question we must ask is this, is the hellfire going to burn eternally as in literally forever or is “for ever” a reference to a period of time?

Exodus 21:6 “Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.”

·       

                                                         *Well, unless these Israelites from Moses’ day are still slaves to dead masters despite themselves being dead, forever clearly is being used to describe the period of a lifetime.

I Samuel 1:22,28 “But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, ‘I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever...” “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD and he worshipped the LORD there.”

·        

                             *This scripture plainly states that the term forever is being used only to describe the lifetime of a person. The term “for ever” is blatantly not used to describe an eternity.

Jonah 1:17; 2:6 “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights…” 2:6 “I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earch with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought mup my life from the corruption, O LORD my God.”

·        

                             *Jonah describes his experience as having been in the great fish’s belly “for ever” and yet we know from verse 17 of chapter 1 that he was there three days and nights. Again the term forever means only a period of time not a literal eternity.

Let’s dig deeper.

            Notice in Revelation chapter 20 that after the Thousand Year Reign of the righteous with the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ the wicked are raised from the dead. (Rev 20:7) Satan convinces them to come against the New Jerusalem in verse 9, and in the end of verse 9 and all of verse 10 God destroys the wicked using the hellfire. So if hell is literally an eternal place of burning are we to believe that the saints will forever have the wicked encamped about them burning for all eternity. What kind of place would haven be if Christ’s very elect had to listen to the weeping and gnashing of teeth right outside our gates for all eternity while we enjoy the love of our Savior’s presence day and night?

            Furthermore, verse 9 describes the hell fire and “devouring” the wicked. The flames cannot devour the wicked and yet also leave them to burn. By reading farther down into Revelation we can see more clearly God’s plan.

Revelation 21:1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the old was passed away; and there was no more sea.”

·       

                                           *  God is going to make a new heaven and a new earth for the redeemed. There is not however, a new hell for people to burn forever and ever.

·                                       

                                            *  At the very least we can now see that the common consensus on hellfire is not Biblical, but in-fact is an invention of the anti-Christ which was to stir up fear and get people to pay indulgences and other ridiculous rights.

·         

                      * The Bible paints a very different picture of hellfire that is in line with the merciful and loving character of our God and Redeemer Jesus Christ and His Father.

More Scriptural evidence

            These are just a few more of the scriptural evidences that prove that the hellfire is to destroy the wicked. It is the embodiment of the second death (Rev 20:6). The effect of which is eternal because there will never be wickedness again (Nahum 1:9), and the saints will live for all eternity with the Lovely Jesus; a privilege which the wicked have sadly rejected. By the grace of God I pray that I am among the saints and not among the “dogs and whoremongers and sorcerers.”

Psalm 37:10,20 “For yet for a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be…” “But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of the lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.”

·         

                                             * “Yet a little while…” “consume away…” do these beautiful texts from God’s word describe eternal burning? They describe a necessary punishment of the wicked, one who’s effect is forever, but they describe that the torment of the wicked has a definitive end.

NOTE:

Psalms 37:36,38 also shed light on the subject, and it would be very Berean of you to search this wonderful truth out.

Malachi 4:1-3 “FOR BEHOLD, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.”

·        

                     * The wicked will clearly be utterly devoured so that it leaves “neither root, nor branch”

Isaiah 47:14 “Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, not fire to sit before it.”

·        

                     * Once the wicked are burned up the fire goes out. They will be fully devoured by the flame and then that’s it, there isn't even a coal to warm by.

Jude 7 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner gibing themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

II Peter 2:6 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.”

·        

                     *  Sodom and Gamorrha are the examples of hellfire, and they are evidently not still burning. Nay they are very much consumed.

In closing, Jesus loves every one of us. He gave His holy life that everyone should have a chance at a life so wholly undeserved. Jesus loves so much, that He will not allow sin to exist forever, and Satan, and all Satan’s victim’s will perish because they, “received not a love for the Truth.” (II Thess 2:10) So let us my brothers and sisters love the truth; let us love Jesus who first loved us! Search the scriptures for in them you shall find truth. Jesus loves us far too much to watch us burn in a literally eternal fire. He also loves us too much to allow sin to continue to exist, and because of that He will mercifully destroy sin, and those who cling to it. Yet He will be fair, and just in all His punishment. For His love is without match.