Bible Study Great Secrets And Revelation Of The Cross.

[ezrider]

Ok ezrider. I confess to you that I was wrong to address you, as my Brother, the way that I did. Can you forgive me? Lets forget about the past and treasure the future....You can ask me any question, and it will be an honor to answer your questions.

Now, for this post about me being grateful that Yahweh does not see me. He sees the Christ in me because He is holy and cannot look on sin. I am not perfected in this life, therefore there is sin lurking in my being. At any time, sin has the potential to surface in my life. There are sins of ignorance already in my being, therefore Yahweh has to look on His Son Who is in me or kill me by looking directly at me because of His holiness.

Thank you Chopper and yes, you are forgiven. Please forgive me as well. I know I have an attitude at the moment, and the stress I am under is certainly carrying through, but it is no excuse. I really wanted to address your comment about the Father seeing you, but I am not in the right mental state to address it at the moment. I have had a serious confrontation with a co-worker for the last three days running, and after this afternoon, I was so furious, that I am still shaking. So I'm not in the right mind to answer this at the moment, but I wanted you to know I will address them.

You know I tend to just write out my thoughts, but because this is a Bible Study, will try and cite the scripture references that I am referring to, or at least tag them.

I am going to go and still my mind, seek the Lord, and put to death this rage. But this topic is important to me, and I want you to know, that the cross made it possible for the Father to see you and to know you. We don't have to hide any more.

 

[ezrider]

Chopper, I am a bit more settled at the moment, so I jotted down some scriptures that I hope you will take the time to meditate on them. I am not going to make any comments on these scriptures at this time. I want you to hear them in the spirit of the voice you know as Christ. I still have much more to say from your comments, but maybe we can start here. Meditate on them, and tell us about the Father.

Matthew 5:45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Hebrews 12:6-7
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:18
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 11:27
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 5:19-20
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

John 16:25-27
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

 

[Hermit]

First of all I wish to clarify something about my understanding of changing from old to new. When Jesus was teaching his disciples about Truth, they had a lot of trouble grasping it. Jesus even got upset and said "You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."(Mark 9:19). Realizing that the people had a lot of letting go (faith to forgo one's fearful ego-self) to grasp the Truth, Jesus told them about the Holy Spirit will continue to remind them of what Truth is and how to live Truthfully. "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26). However, many believers today are still enslaved by their ego-fears and not yet placed their faith on Christ's teaching through listening to the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. I hear their fears quite often, and they even use it while evangelizing. My opinion is that they have not fully understood what it is to be humble That is, believing one's ego-self as not important, but Truth is all important.

...What would be your take on the believers hope?...

It seems that the believers hope they do not have to face ALL their ego-fears to liberate themselves from their enslavement to it. And to discover their truth as well as discovering God's Truth. The believers receive the Holy Spirit and think they are incorruptible. But Jesus, after he received the Holy Spirit realized that his humanity needed to be Real (new nature) by his facing ego-fears. Jesus faced his demons while alone in the wilderness.
1.Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2. where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4.Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone."' (Luke 4:1-4) but on the Truth as well.

I do not mean that people need to fast for forty days alone in the wilderness to face their ego-fears. What I am saying is that most people are not prepared to conduct a fearless (faith) moral inventor of themselves and expose them, secrets and all, so as to keep out their own inner temple vacant. Otherwise how are they to invite Jesus/God while fear occupies it. Jesus throws out the merchants...And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.'" (Matthew 21:13). It is the denial of our fears which robs us from 'unconditional' communion with the Lord.

Indeed Jesus knew, even if the whole earth became Christian (as most think it is) that the way will be narrow indeed.
22. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' 23.Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 24."Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:22-24)

...Chopper and I got together talking about it, both having backgrounds in ministry.

Without being disrespectful, the best way for me to explain my background, and just what I posted, is a saying I heard many decades ago. I am not saying this saying is true, but it fit my background:
'Religious people are afraid to go to hell. Spiritual people have already been there'.
Re-born.

 

[Chopper]

Recovering from knee replacement i have not montered this forum as it should be..Please stop the personal debates and attacks.
Do not reply to this post in this thread.

I wish I had known of your knee replacement. When I had both hips replaced, I watched the knee replacement patients really struggle with tremendous pain doing the exercises. I'll keep you in prayer each day Reba, for a supernatural recovery.

 

[Soul man]

The cross is Gods place of dealing a death blow to "the sin of the world." "The sin of the world" is the only sin that separated us from God, John 1:29,
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

We see alot of preaching against its fruit, but until the root is removed (the cross) the fruit just grows back.
Some of our leaders have literally wore themselves out trying to get the people to live a gospel of correction. Straightening out the flesh is the easiest message you can bring in scripture. Everyone has sin, when I was involved in the outreach ministry, drug addicts were the easiest to deal with.
You didn't have to shake them over hell, they are already there. I was involved in the Prison ministry, many of the guys/girls, that I dealt with told me, I was a Christian when I came to prison.
Point being, as a believer the mind has to be renewed, cleansed, retrained. Religion says "if you're saved you will live it," that's just not true. For some it is, it's in their character-personality to do so, but what about those that don't.
The answer has been "they must of not really been saved."
I'm sure that is true for some but not all, they cannot be lumped together. We set ourselves up as judge, jury, and executioner.
We wonder why we can't put things together, nothing working out for any length of time. Finding a comfort zone staying put, not wanting to move. Moving only works some of the time, things seem to get worse.
It is a great need to understand the cross and the gospel that goes with it, you cannot judge another, Romans 1:1-3,
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

A footnote on judgement; you have been birthed by God. He is your Father, He deals with you as a son/daughter. The judgement is the same as Pauls curse in, Gal. 1:8-9, you have trouble working things out, the world becomes your teacher, Gal. 4:1-2.

The cross is Gods finished work for humanity, the need is to understand what He finished on the cross.
The mind has many spooks in it that has developed over the years.
The HolySpirit will be your teacher, no man can teach you Christ, 'mind renewal. We can preach/teach, but the HolySpirit is the one that does the cleansing.
He shows you things, He teaches you the things of God, "yea the deep things."

 

[Chopper]

Chopper, I am a bit more settled at the moment, so I jotted down some scriptures that I hope you will take the time to meditate on them. I am not going to make any comments on these scriptures at this time. I want you to hear them in the spirit of the voice you know as Christ. I still have much more to say from your comments, but maybe we can start here. Meditate on them, and tell us about the Father.

Matthew 5:45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Hebrews 12:6-7
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:18
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 11:27
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 5:19-20
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

John 16:25-27
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Thank you for taking the time to post all those Scriptures. I have thought about them in relation to my statement that.... "I'm so very glad and relieved that the Father doesn't see me, He sees Jesus IN ME."

Now, I'd like you to consider these Scriptures....There seems to be quite a difference in the Scriptures that we have posted, why? I believe it's because we are thinking of two different events. You're quoting Scriptures that deal with a Father and His child, That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven. Where as I'm referring to the holiness of the Father, and His refusal to look upon sin in me so He looks at His Son Jesus Who is in me. Please note these verses....

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God....My present life is not visible to the Father, He can't see my sinful me because I'm hidden in Christ His Son.

1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us....Although my past sins have been forgiven thru the blood of Christ Jesus, there is sin still lurking in my old man, as I've said before.

2Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ. When the Father considers me, He sees the righteousness of His Son Jesus which covers me completely.

Exodus 33:20
But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Even though this is Old Covenant language, it's still valid today until we reach our Promised Land, the New Jerusalem.

John 1:18
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Luke 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

My studies in the Old Covenant has taught me all about the holiness of Yahweh. Holy Holy Holy. A person who does not comprehend the holiness of the triune God (Elohim) will have problems with how They respond to the sin that still abides in Christ's followers.

This is slightly "off topic" from the OP. Can we just digest what we've said and stick with how the death of Christ Jesus on the cross and shed light on how His death defeats the old nature in the old man in us?

 

[Soul man]

Without being disrespectful, the best way for me to explain my background, and just what I posted, is a saying I heard many decades ago. I am not saying this saying is true, but it fit my background:
'Religious people are afraid to go to hell. Spiritual people have already been there'.
Re-born.

None taken, my point being you deal with alot of other people's situations, by choice of coarse. Trying to help, being just as fallible and times more so.
So you do get an understanding of grace when in ministry, because you know yourself and telling others what is supposed to help them. The saying you brought up reminds me of a friend who said 'spiritual vets can recognize each other.
Thanks again for bringing out some very deep insights.
Hope we get the opportunity to share more.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Recovering from knee replacement i have not montered this forum as it should be..Please stop the personal debates and attacks.
Do not reply to this post in this thread.

Reba,
My daughter just finished receiving her second knee ad from watching her and a neighbor lady having one done, with m daughter enduring the discomfort, she went further with the exercises and the other lady would not do the exercises the advice from the Doctor and the Physical Therapist should be to exercise that leg to keep it healthy. Except for the scars she walks and look perfectly normal and the neighbor needs aid walking. Bend that leg girl

 

[reba]

Yes i hear ya! Am doing and will do thanks Bill

 

[Chopper]

Reba, I love you. Shh, don't tell Bill.

 

[Hermit]

Hello Soul man.
Liked your post, because it reveals some truths that many don't want to hear/read. It points to a deeper truth that as a Christian we are still responsible for the new nature. And not only that, but we (everybody) is responsible for their own thoughts and actions. Meaning, we have no right to blame other people, places, things and situations for our own thoughts and actions.

I wish to add to your post my experiences and understanding.

... Everyone has sin, when I was involved in the outreach ministry, drug addicts were the easiest to deal with.
You didn't have to shake them over hell, they are already there. I was involved in the Prison ministry, many of the guys/girls, that I dealt with told me, I was a Christian when I came to prison.
Point being, as a believer the mind has to be renewed, cleansed, retrained. Religion says "if you're saved you will live it," that's just not true. For some it is, it's in their character-personality to do so, but what about those that don't....

It is unfortunate that most people need to experience an ego-deflation at depth to become willing enough to surrender their old nature. However, there is often more to this than it first appears. Many have experienced ego-deflation at depth, such as facing death and ruin. However, especially these days with easier access to restoring self-esteem (ego-self) to a point of survivorhood (self-saved), the old nature returns. Many of those who returned and became Christians, and without full awareness, have only claimed Christian salvation for their old nature and not embracing and nurturing the new nature with solid food from attuning to the Holy Spirit. Of course their are the minority that are continuing to shed any old nature (such as defects of character and shortcomings) for the new nature (such as prayer and meditation on God's will) on a daily basis.

Because of this easier access of recover one-self, a different kind of 'hope' becomes present other than Truth. It is this hope which makes people think that it is they themselves that can access this whenever they need to, and therefore all previous ego-deflation at depths were perhaps not so drastic as first experienced. So they easily slip back to the old nature again, even while wearing a Christian cloak (such as a necklace with a cross while sinning). This untrue hope contributes to further slips and relapses. So many/most have to have their ego truly mangled to be willing to surrender their old nature on a daily basis.

Why on a daily basis? Because the old nature is still with us in memory. And we have the free-will to access it and re-utilize it when we believe it's okay to do so. Only a daily re-commitment to our new nature can give us a chance to stay with it, and to grow from it.

...A footnote on judgement; you have been birthed by God. He is your Father, He deals with you as a son/daughter. The judgement is the same as Pauls curse in, Gal. 1:8-9, you have trouble working things out, the world becomes your teacher, Gal. 4:1-2...

Just an added footnote, or other way of seeing it:
We can only judge others by using our self, by what is both true and untrue in us. If there is the slightest sense of fear in that judgement then it is based on untruths. If the judgement is based on unconditional love, then that judgement is based on Truths which can only be of understanding in either support or forgiveness.

...The HolySpirit will be your teacher, no man can teach you Christ, 'mind renewal. We can preach/teach, but the HolySpirit is the one that does the cleansing.
He shows you things, He teaches you the things of God, "yea the deep things."

My understanding is that the Holy Spirit does not speak on its own behalf, but relays the Truth from the Father/God/Jesus. In this regard, the Holy Spirit is the Truth transceiver (so to speak) between us and God. However, we only get cleansed with and when we incorporate the Truth received into our new nature.

Also this implies that it is still up to us to pay attention (tune in) to the Holy Spirit. However, this required intention in normal circumstances requires us to be humble (soft and gentle) enough to tune into the Truth. As mentioned earlier, this takes faith to become unconditional. It is when we remove our self from consciousness (podium) do we allow (through proper use of free-will) Truth to take over and become conscious of God's will (Truth) for our new nature.

 

[Chopper]

Well now, we've been addressing what the death of Jesus on the cross should mean to us in keeping at bay the old man and his old nature. Now lets toss back and forth the "Life" that the cross gives to us in Christ Jesus.

First of all, because Jesus died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, and three days later, rose from the dead, His promise to return to the earth....
John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

O my, it all worked out just like Jesus said it would. Therefore His coming back for us is guaranteed.

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.".... So, Jesus and I died on the cross. Strange thing though I'm still living. I just pinched myself to see if it was true, at 77, I never know.

Now, considering Galatians 2:20, Soul man and I would like to see what our Forum Friends see what difference does "Christ living in us" make? When Jesus came to live in your life, did everything remain the same? Or did some things change?
After Soul man makes his comments, he and I will be excited to hear from you all....Ezrider had some good idea's early on.

 

[Soul man]

. So, Jesus and I died on the cross. Strange thing though I'm still living. I just pinched myself to see if it was true, at 77, I never know.

Lol I know that feeling all to well!!
From death to life sounds good to me.

 

[ezrider]

Chopper, I can tell that this isn't going to be easy, so we should probably be careful in how we respond, but I believe our conversation can be beneficial to others. I hope we both can exercise some patience. Lord knows I need to.

Now, for this post about me being grateful that Yahweh does not see me. He sees the Christ in me because He is holy and cannot look on sin. I am not perfected in this life, therefore there is sin lurking in my being. At any time, sin has the potential to surface in my life. There are sins of ignorance already in my being, therefore Yahweh has to look on His Son Who is in me or kill me by looking directly at me because of His holiness.

John 14:20 "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." I'm posting this verse of Scripture because traditional Baptist doctrine is because Christ is in me, the Father sees Him, not me. Once I die and go to the New Jerusalem, I'm perfected and for the first time, God the Father can see Jesus' Bride of which I'm included.

Now, I'd like you to consider these Scriptures....There seems to be quite a difference in the Scriptures that we have posted, why? I believe it's because we are thinking of two different events.

I highlighted those two comments that you made. If there seems to be quite a difference in the scriptures, it's because I am not trying to defend a Baptist doctrine. I don't know what the Baptist teach. I don't know what the Catholics teach. I am not learned in the scriptures, I've never been to seminary. So when you say it's because we are looking at two different events, we are not. We are both squarely looking at the Cross, but I have no doctrine to defend.

You have discussed in this thread dying with Christ. What does it mean to die unto Christ? Please don't take offense at this, but it also means dying to the doctrines and traditions of men.

 

[ezrider]

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God....My present life is not visible to the Father, He can't see my sinful me because I'm hidden in Christ His Son.

This is not so my friend. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ. My life is not hidden from the Father, nor is my death hidden from the Father.

For I am dead, and my life is hid with Christ. I am dead to the law, I am dead to sin. My flesh bears in me my death. When you look upon me, you see my sins, you see my death. But my life in Christ is hidden from YOU. You can not see the Kingdom of Heaven within me. You can not hear the Spirit of the Lord within me, because they they are hidden from you. When you look upon my flesh, you look for sin, and you behold my death. When a conversation get heated, and you can sense my attitude and point to pride, then my life in Christ is hidden from you, and you behold my death in sin.

(Please know that I am using the word "You" in the general sense. It is not meant to be personal)

 

[ezrider]

John 16:25-27
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Chopper, would you please explain your understanding of what Jesus was saying here.

 

[ezrider]

Chopper, before I go any further, and touch on any other verses. Let us bring our attention right back squarely on the Cross.

What was the purpose of the Cross?

Was it to provide you a blood sacrifice for your sins so that you might continue to walk under the law?

Or was it to confirm and seal the new covenant? A covenant that was sworn and promised to Abraham.

 

[ezrider]

Another great secret and revelation of the Cross. The Cross brought blindness.

Psalm 69:21-23
They gave me also gall for my meat;
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let their table become a snare before them:
and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not;
and make their loins continually to shake.

Romans 11:9-10
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.


The same might be said about Pentecost

Isaiah 29:9-13
Stay yourselves, and wonder;
cry ye out, and cry:
they are drunken, but not with wine;
they stagger, but not with strong drink.
For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep,
and hath closed your eyes:
the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed,
which men deliver to one that is learned,
saying, Read this, I pray thee:
and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
And the book is delivered to him that is not learned,
saying, Read this, I pray thee:
and he saith, I am not learned.
Wherefore the Lord said,
Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth,
and with their lips do honour me,
but have removed their heart far from me,
and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Acts 2:12-16
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

 

[ezrider]

The Cross is part of the new creation. From Calvary to Pentecost, the Lord has closed your eyes and poured upon you the spirit of deep sleep. He pours upon you the Spirit of a deep sleep so he may bring forth his new creation. When Eve was created, Adam was placed into deep sleep.

Through the cross, the Lord has brought you into a deep sleep to that he might bring forth a new creation.

 

[ezrider]

Now, it seems to me that the "Law" includes all the commands of God thru thru Moses. What about the 10 Commandments? Are we supposed to just dismiss them as obsolete?

What about the 10 Commandments? They are not obsolete. They still work there intended effect in you. You are DEAD to them. That means you have concluded yourself to be GUILTY before all the law.

What shall I say to the first commandment? For I have worshiped idols. I have graven images in my house. A carved Buffalo, and ceramic Eagle. How many people carry a crucifix with them? Or have a picture of Jesus hanging from a wall? I have been angry with my brother, I have committed murder in my heart. I am a thief, I am an adulterer. The law is indented to work its death in me. Once you have accepted the knowledge of your death under the law, then the Cross is there to set you free.

Isaiah 44:9-17
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity;
and their delectable things shall not profit;
and they are their own witnesses;
they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image
that is profitable for nothing?
Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed:
and the workmen, they are of men:
let them all be gathered together, let them stand up;
yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals,
and fashioneth it with hammers,
and worketh it with the strength of his arms:
yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth:
he drinketh no water, and is faint.
The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line;
he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass,
and maketh it after the figure of a man,
according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak,
which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest:
he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
Then shall it be for a man to burn:
for he will take thereof, and warm himself;
yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread;
yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it;
he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
He burneth part thereof in the fire;
with part thereof he eateth flesh;
he roasteth roast, and is satisfied:
yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha,
I am warm, I have seen the fire:
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image:
he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it,
and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.


Isaiah 44:18-20
They have not known nor understood:
for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see;
and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
And none considereth in his heart,
neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,
I have burned part of it in the fire;
yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof;
I have roasted flesh, and eaten it:
and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination?
shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
He feedeth on ashes:
a deceived heart hath turned him aside,
that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say,
Is there not a lie in my right hand?

Isaiah 44:21-22
Remember these, O Jacob
and Israel; for thou art my servant:
I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions,
and, as a cloud, thy sins:
return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.