Tag: Judging

Articles

Knowing No Man After the Flesh

Pete

Knowing No Man After the Flesh

All mankind whether in the faith or not makes many judgments every single day.  We do this every time we respond, think and act to the various stimuli (all things) the Lord is working in our lives.  Decision making is judgment making and the Lord is working all of it, even declaring to us our very thoughts (Amo 4:13) even giving us the words we speak (Pro 16:1).  That is just how powerful our sovereign Lord truly is that the world and all in unbelief know not.

Isa 64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. 

 Php 2:13  For it is God [it is NOT YOU] which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

It is only those few given to know these truths, by coming through the fire, which are first learning to trust in the Lord.  Once the Lord starts this work in us, we grow in our understanding that the Lord is working all things and has predestinated our entire lives (Psa 139:16) declaring the end from the very beginning (Isa 46:10).

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

The title of this study comes from this well-known Scripture that tells of the complete paradigm shift those of the household of faith are to exhibit in conducting ourselves in these clay vessels.

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 

What does “know no man or Christ after the flesh” really mean from a spiritual and practical significance?  We hope to explore the answer more thoroughly in this article.

The very next verse helps zero in on what knowing no man after the flesh is all about. Those that “know no man after the flesh” are those in Christ (in the true faith in His Body of true believers) that are striving to be like the Lord and following His example.

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

The precious few given the Spirit of Christ and dragged to His spiritual body (Joh 6:44), the spiritual Jerusalem, are those given the gift, a measure of Christ’s faith, and who are now walking differently as compared to their former selves and the entire carnal world.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

We don’t even know ourselves anymore in the flesh when we walk as the new man. Faith has us no longer condemning ourselves for the things the Lord has wrought in our life.

The short answer of what it means to “know no man after the flesh” is to walk by faith and not by sight (using our carnal physical senses).

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

2Co 5:7  For we walk by faith, not by sight [physical/carnal senses]

Simply put, those “being justified “ (saved, delivered, judged, etc) by the process; are doing it BY FAITH.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

With the root of faith established, we thereby grow through the many trials the Lord brings that is continuing to teach us how to see things from God’s eyes.

Col 2:6  As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Col 2:7  rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught [in and by judgment – Isa 26:9], abounding in it with thanksgiving.

God is not a respecter of people

Contrary to the multitudes trapped by the letter and not seeing the Spirit in all Scripture, the Lord is not a respecter of persons.  All men are viewed the same and given the same judgments and the same rewards, there is NO DIFFERENCE except the timing of when we seek Him.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 

The punishments and the reward, the entire process is ONE process that comes alike to all men (Ecc 9:2) in the times appointed.

Col 3:24  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 

Col 3:25  But he that doeth wrong [we all do wrong before we are taught and caused to do right] shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 

Rom 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 

Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 

Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God. 

The Lord is no hypocrite.  Our commands are to do what He does and follow His example in how we are to judge all things.  Here is what He does.

Joh 8:15  Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 

Joh 8:16  And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 

How to do we make these judgments every day to the many stimuli in our lives yet follow Christ and judge no man?  We do it by walking by faith according to the Word rather than the wisdom and logic of the carnal world.  Judging by the Spirit is how it can be said we judge no man and even that we “know no man after the flesh”.  The Word of God is what judges every man but even that only in the appointed times, the last days, the end of the carnal age for every man.

Joh 12:47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 

Joh 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 

We judge each other today by the words of fire we speak, share and meditate on.  But we ourselves are judged not by a man but by the living Word that is Jesus Christ in us  and spoken by His Body. This is how the fire (the word) spreads among us and will, in turn, spread to all mankind in the “will be” fulfillment of the Lake of Fire.  This is how we attain the mind of Christ being raised from the spiritually dead [the carnally minded].

1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

It is Christ, the living Word within us that is doing the judging.  It is the authority of Christ within us, the Word, which we are to follow in conducting ourselves and judging righteous judgment rather than judging in the flesh.

Joh 7:24  Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

With regarding to knowing men and how we are to make those judgments; we are to judge the fruit and the Spirit in the man rather than their appearances.

1Sa 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 

Far too often we are impatient and judge hastily based on appearances, [in the flesh] having respect of persons which is contrary to the commands of the Lord in the Old Testament.  The Lord changes not!

 Lev 19:15  Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. 

Pro 24:23  These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 

Also in the Old Testament, Scriptures about balances and weights refer to much more than our just our honesty in handling money [spiritual knowledge is also money or riches].  These OT symbols on measures ultimately speak to our faithfulness to the Lord and how we judge all matters of life (1Co 6:3).

Diversity in our judgment, playing favorites or being partial is using diverse weights and measures. That is what a carnal mind does in justifying things in the flesh.

Pro 20:10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are an abomination to the LORD.

It is the mature man of Christ who has learned to measure all things by the Word of God which is how we can discern good from evil.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

James calls out the church (you and me) who in our immaturity continue to show respect of persons, knowing men after the flesh.

Jas 2:1  (NKJV) My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality [respect of persons]

Whatever is not of faith is sin and including our having respect of persons and judging according to the flesh.  James continues to give a seeming outward physical example yet remember “my words are spirit” and all of these words are signified.

Jas 2:2  (NKJV) For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 

Jas 2:3  and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 

Jas 2:4  have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges [of men in the flesh] with evil thoughts? …..

Jas 2:8  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you do well; 

Jas 2:9  but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 

Knowing men after the flesh is judging men in the flesh and is contrary to faith.  This puts us right back under the law for the lawless and in bondage to the carnal mind and its accusing and or excusing thoughts (Rom 2:14-15) about men.

Every Man is Jesus Christ

Knowing no man after the flesh includes us coming to see that EVERY MAN is Jesus Christ who is both the first adam and the last adam in every man.

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 

Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 

With the mind of Christ, we are able to look at every man and see them as Jesus Christ.  It is coming to see and live this truth that defines our maturity.

Mat 25:40  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 

Judging in the flesh has us knowing men in the flesh rather than the Spirit.  We no longer know Christ in the flesh and now we begin to see Him in every man regardless of where anyone may be in the faith or the road to maturity.

Gen 1:27  So God created [is creating] man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

Knowing that Christ is every man and that men are truly clay in His hands, we will look at some natural behaviors and reactions of our flesh, so we can be on guard within ourselves and within the brethren to help one another.

Favorites:  We need to be aware the Lord will use our preferences for people to try our faith and to teach us righteousness showing us the partiality that lies hidden in our hearts.  Having such preferences itself is not sin, it is only when we apply a different plumbline and let those carnal desires interfere with being Christ UNIFORMLY to all men.

1Ti 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 

In the end, all will be in Christ and in Christ we are told ….

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by [the free gift of] faith in Christ Jesus. 

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

The Body of Christ (All men in the end) comes from all nations, tribes and tongues there being no respect of any person, creed, race or nation by the Lord.

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Deu 10:17  For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 

Preeminence:  The Lord shares His glory with no flesh and we are told often to be on guard the spirit of preeminence.  This is the same as a Nicolaitan spirit which is also a homosexual spirit where one man has dominion over another.  Being like our Lord will have us hating this Spirit any place we see it.

Rev 2:6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

We all battle this spirit within ourselves and we have seen it in others who seek adulation from men even do many good works and using that for carnal gain.

Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 

Mat 23:6  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 

Mat 23:7  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

The Lord has established offices in the Body of Christ (Eph 4:11-12) for the edification of the church who bring only what the Lord has given them (1Co 4:7) to bring. Everything is to be done for the Lord’s glory in all things.

Col 1:18  And he [the Lord] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

Angel Worship:  Carnal minds naturally are drawn to give thanks and praise to those who bring favor to them.  It is right to give thanks and acknowledgment to those the Lord uses to bless us.  Yet we are denying the sovereign Lord when we go to far and bow before men who have done for us what was their reasonable service.  Twice we have the example of John being rebuked for bowing before his fellow servant who revealed the mysteries of Christ.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 

Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 

Recipients of such worship love their brother or sister and put them right turning the praise and worship back to God.  To Him alone goes all praise and glory and honor.

Rev 4:9  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 

Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

We are going to be tried over and over again by the Lord to burn all partiality in judgment from our heavens and earth.  We are getting to the place where we only say or do what we see our Lord doing.  That is the mature man in Christ who lives by faith and is obedient to the commandments.

Joh 5:19  Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son [you and me Lord willing] also does in like manner. 

Sincere questions are always welcome.  You can reach me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com.  Be blessed

Pete

Studies

All Things Are For Your Sakes

Pete

All Things For Your Sakes 

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

It is a real blessing when we come to realize that all things we have and do and experience in life; with no exceptions, are the work of the Lord.  We really begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord when we are given to understand and to trust in that immutable fact.  This is the hidden wisdom the world cannot see or hear.

1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

What a mind boggling concept this is to the natural man.  Everything that happens in your life, everyone you meet, every word spoken, every response given, whether good or bad or indifferent is for YOUR SAKE.  Only fools would believe such a doctrine and that is exactly what we must be to become wise in the ways of the Lord.

1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

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

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This truth is shown in scores of powerful verses those without ears to hear and eyes to see cannot see much less apply in their walk.  We that have such capacity are indeed a blessed little flock.  Here is the extent of the working of the Lord in the affairs of every man.

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Coming to see the sovereignty of God in ALL THINGS is essential for us to grow and mature in the faith.  This understanding to me is what maturing is really all about.  Until we get the knowledge of this doctrine into our walk (our actions) we will struggle in bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Love is mentioned first in the list of the FRUIT of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and for very good reason.  Lest we confuse what love truly is we are told point blank what the love of God is that represents this fruit of the Spirit.

2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

We most often seem to cite 1 Joh 5:3 but here is a second black and white witness to what the definition of AGAPE or love is.

2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

As we hopefully are learning as we abide now with Christ; living with true doctrine is not enough.  We must become doers of the Word to walk in the Spirit (Jam 1:22-23).  It is when we show respect of persons and judge things in the flesh that we are not living by the truth that all things are for our sakes.  When we are not content with what the Lord is doing, we are walking in the flesh and acting double minded.  When we whine, complain, criticize, stay angry, look down upon others and have any other reaction than THANK YOU LORD, we are judging in the flesh.

We must come to know and trust in the Lord and His promises that He is working all things for the greater good.  That is how the scourging grace of the Lord, the very thing that saves us by transforming us rebounds with thanksgiving to the glory of the Lord.

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

How often have we failed at doing this?  Many times we will fall down before we learn.  It is beyond this study to cover “judging righteous judgment” but we had best learn to make judgments but to make them according to the Word of God and not the logic of this world or the carnal mind.

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

There are many witnesses of the old and new to judging the right way vs the wrong way.  I used to think of respecting persons as simply respecting their worldly economic standing but it has a much wider meaning.  Respect for persons is judging them in the flesh and not attributing what they do to the Lord and His absolute sovereignty.  Doing so is the opposite of faith.  When we put the cause and the blame on any individual, even ourselves, we are having respect of persons and judging in the flesh.  We are commanded to do no such thing.

Deu 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Pro 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

The Elect of God are in training now for our roles in the ages to come (1 Cor 6:2, Mat 19:28).  Those roles are to rule with Christ in the Millennium and to be the judges through which all men shall be saved in the end.  We best learn how to judge righteous judgment and get past having respect of persons now. When we judge people in the flesh we are forgetting that ALL THINGS are for our sakes and were caused of the Lord.

Once we come to understand what the grace of God is and realize it is that grace that chastens us then we begin to mature.  We mature when we accept the things the Lord is causing (working in our lives) without bitterness and receive it all with joy trusting in what the Lord is doing in our remaking process.  It is so easy to be led astray by the deceitfulness of sin and the pulls of this carnal world.  Peter warned the church and warns us to beware lest we ourselves fall.

2Pe 3:17 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.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

The fail safe way of not falling is to learn to apply this principle in our walk and in all of our judgments of people, actions, events and situations.

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

When we think above what is written we will get puffed up and will soon find ourselves doing what the adversary does which is being an accuser of the brethren.

As we grow, we learn to apply all things being for our sakes.  We may not outwardly receive the chastening with joy but our inward man will receive it and we will grow in our ability to endure the trials the Lord has put before us in this age.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

The new man “Christ in us” will be called out of the darkness that is the old man.  Look at this verse again and notice why all things are for our sakes as God’s Elect and where are eyes are to be focused.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The grace of God that is poured out upon His Elect comes back to God with thanksgiving and praises to the Lord.  This is what occurs as we become mature men and the will of the Lord is being accomplished in our life more and more.  This is the will of God for all men….

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

1Th 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

When these things happen, the Lord will get all the glory and we will learn to rejoice in our trials knowing they are what is working the fruit of righteousness in us and accomplishing the Lord’s will in our lives.  We must learn to be patient and to wait on the Lord to bring it to pass.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening (Grace) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Relatively speaking our trials are considered a light affliction considering the honor we are being prepared in service to our Lord, if we endure.

Isa 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

 In the same way Jesus Christ in the flesh cried out to God and His Father while on the cross, we too if we God’s Elect feel the same at times.  And this is why we must be connected to the Body and be ministered to and strengthened by the angels of the Lord through our trials.

We can’t be reminded often enough of the sovereignty of the Lord and the endless extent to which it applies.  It takes many repetitions to drill this truth into the fiber of our every thought and action.  The sermon on Mars Hill defined the limitless boundaries of the Lord in the affairs of mankind.

Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

All things that happen in our lives, ALL THINGS, are the direct work of the Lord.    Those things, be they good or evil have already been determined by God and He has already declared what shall be from the very beginning.  We know but forget to apply these powerful Scriptures in a carnal and immature way. The sooner we get them into our walk and not just head knowledge the quicker the fruit will come.

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Our natural mind only wants to give the Lord credit (and the glory) for the good things that happen.  Even knowing the truth of His sovereignty our carnal mind will want to blame ourselves and others for their actions.  While we certainly have to learn from our mistakes the fact is the Lord is working all things, even the dark things when they happen.

Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee

Lam 3:37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

No man can enter into Christ (the temple) until they live through the judgments of the Lord against their flesh and carnal mind.  Contrary to the doctrines of man’s religion there is no other way in.  The redemption of the Lord’s people is with judgment.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Isa 1:27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

Nobody’s unrighteousness is going to get a pass, there is no respect of persons with the Lord either.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

 So we learn the truth and are given the garment of salvation by experiencing that judgment.

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments (the fiery trials) are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 Judgment is us being crucified, a living sacrifice and losing our life through the death of the old man.  Yes it hurts, it is very painful to be crucified with Christ.  Yet if we are given faith to believe we can say this about the judgment of God.

Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The new man is being saved by the destruction of the old man within us.  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God and was never intended to (1 Cor 15:50).  The Lord is merciful in that He only gives us to understand things when we are also given to bear them (Joh 14:12, 1 Co 10:13).  It is only as we mature that the Lord will give us greater understanding of His processes and truths.  With that understanding comes a greater expectation.

Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The grace of God will be dialed up perfectly for us to bring the trials and tribulations preordained for each of us to enter into the kingdom of God and be in that first resurrection Lord willing.  Here is just a small sampling of treasures from the old and the new that confirm this wonderful work of trials and suffering in our lives. This is also known as the wonderful works of the Lord to the children of men.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and thatwe must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

1Pe 4:12-13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Isa 48:10  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Jas 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The Lord is going to work all things in your life to bring about the tribulation, suffering, fiery trials and heat that furnace of affliction to the perfect temperature.  I hope all of us will grow in the knowledge of the Lord’s grace and move on to maturity.  This comes about by experiencing good and evil and learning the lesson and true righteousness of the Lord through that process.  I hope this study has reminded us all to stand on our faith and the word of God in discerning the truth of any situation and that the Lord has caused that situation for your very sake.  How we respond to these situation and circumstances is the best measure of our maturity rather than our head knowledge of Scriptures.

Rom 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

What should our response to be to these “works of the Lord” in our lives?  We could write pages to answer that, but let me just share Paul’s words to the Philippians to summarize it.

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Comments and sincere questions are welcome.  You can also email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com