Considering Proverbs 12:2-3

A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved (Proverbs 12:2-3).

What is the meaning of Proverbs 12: 2-3 from a Christian perspective? As Christians, we know that all things hinge on grace, which is the undeserved favor of God. How should we deal with a proverb like this one?

I believe that the correct approach is to know that although there was nothing we did to earn God’s grace, He still rewards those who live in an upright way. In-fact, He expects us to.

Sincere faith that is given by God will cause us to turn away from all “wicked devices” out of our love and fear of Jesus Christ. If we are not doing so, then the faith we seem to have is a mockery of God, and we might be among those who are told, “depart from me, you who work iniquity, I never knew you.”

We cannot use the gospel of Jesus Christ as an excuse for sinful living. We will never be established in the Kingdom of Heaven this way. We would instead be like the fig tree that Jesus cursed, and it immediately withered (Mark 11). He expects us to be “fruitful,” as the work of the Holy Spirit is done within us.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-25).

When we have deep roots that are watered by the Holy Spirit, then we will not be moved. Although we need to be new wineskins, always seeking more knowledge of the Lord and His righteousness, there are going to be things that we never turn away from.

First and foremost, we will not deny the gospel of Jesus Christ. From there, we will grow in faith, and in so doing we will be made stronger in all righteousness, good Christian doctrine, and what it means to contend for the faith in an upright way. He will establish us, and we will work alongside Him to see His work in us done—not because we are earning His saving grace—but because we have received it truly.

There will always be “devices of the wicked” that we have to deal with and fight against. We cannot back down from these challenges, but face them head on in faith, knowing that those who do wickedly are condemned, and they will never succeed ultimately.

Yet, we do not condemn others. As Jesus said, those who reject Him are “condemned already, because they have not believed in the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). It is never our place to condemn. We do not have that authority whether we are talking about those who seem to be of the faith but are corrupting the faith or those who are outside of the faith. Jesus will judge. We can judge in the sense of putting forward Jesus’s judgments, and we can seek Him to give us righteous judgement. However, we cannot judge in the sense of condemnation, as those who are in “Satan’s Seat.”

Sometimes it seems as if the wicked are established in this world while we struggle. However, the promises and judgement of God are sure. He will be victorious over our enemies, and those who abide in Him will one day rule with Him—and we will never be moved.

This article is part of a bible study series, Considering the Proverbs. The purpose is to consider present-day events from a Christian perspective and to offer practical lessons that we can apply to ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ.

Previous Post Within This Series: Considering Proverbs 12:1 – Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish (Proverbs 12:1).

Jesus says to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation, “I will remove your candlestick out of its place, unless you repent.” Some things seem to be firmly established, but if they are not wrought in God truly, then they will not be established in His Kingdom forever. In the online book, “These Things Saith He,” we explore areas of weakness within the faith that are not acceptable to God–and we do so in faith–trusting in His mercy as well as in His righteous judgments. We want to be as the two olive trees ( the faithful ministers who are not “stars” that want to shine as some great leader, but servants who are not moved in the good things of God, and as the two candlesticks (the faithful congregation of all who are called out of this world and into the true church of God).

Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins one of Jesus’s parables of the kingdom of heaven. There are a few symbols to look at here. In this article, we are looking at one section at a time and considering what Jesus is teaching us. First, here is the parable in its entirety. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins can be found in Matthew 25.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh (Matthew 25:1-13).

Now, let’s break it down.

Meaning of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

As Christians, we are “espoused to Christ.” This is a symbolic espousal that demonstrates our loyalty to Jesus above all others and our promise to keep ourselves “unspotted from the world” until He returns.

In this parable, there are two sets of virgins, and both are carrying lamps. What do these lamps represent? As Christians, we are supposed to “let your light shine” so that the glory of God can be known to others. This light is the light of Jesus Christ and His gospel, as well as the light of a faithful Christian whose life demonstrates His teachings. The lamp is the container for the light, but there is no light without oil to fuel the lamp.

In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, the foolish had no oil with them, but the wise had oil for their lamps. What does the oil represent?

The oil in the lamps might have a couple of meanings, though they are related. The oil can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit and symbolic of a life lived in Christ that is formed by having a true and loyal relationship with Him. How is this accomplished? We will get to that in a moment.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

The tarrying of the bridegroom symbolizes the promise of Jesus’s return. As Christians, we are waiting on His second coming. Why is it that they all slumbered and slept? One of the things that Jesus taught was that we should be watchful and ready for Him. We should also “occupy until He comes,” preserving His teachings and living a life in service to Him. That doesn’t sound like sleeping—however, they all slept, even the wise.

This makes me think of something in the scripture about “awakening to righteousness.” The wise had knowledge of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, but perhaps something about their lives in Christ needed to be woken out of sleep.

What is the midnight cry made in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins? This is a cry to wake up and be ready because the coming of the bridegroom—the coming of Jesus—is soon.

Christians have debated about the coming of Jesus. Many times, they get carried away with false predictions and teachings, including the teaching that Jesus can come at any time and carry His church away. However, Jesus teaches us what we should look for before His return. See Mark 13.

Jesus says that there will be wars and rumors of wars, but these are not the signs of His return. He also says that nations will rise against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes. He instructs that we should “take heed to yourselves” because many will be persecuted for His sake.

We should focus on our salvation first, get to know Jesus, and trust in Him because He will give us a testimony against those who persecute us. This is of the Holy Spirit, so we do not have to worry about what we will say.

Next, He says that the “abomination of desolation” as spoken by Daniel will be revealed. This idea is reiterated in 2 Thessalonians 2.

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).”

Is the coming of “the son of perdition,” or the false Christ and false prophet, the wakeup call? I do think that is a sure-fire sign that Jesus’s return is soon, but I do not think that is the wakeup call. I think that the Wise Virgins should be ready before that day.

So then, what is the wakeup call? I believe that the wakeup call is something that happens continually as our fellow servants in Christ stir us up out of our sleepiness and into a life that makes us ready to meet our Lord.

We should always be ready, no matter the time. Every Christian, no matter when and where they live, will have to fight against evil—and in a Christian way—by preaching the gospel and living the gospel. Sometimes we get complacent, but right before that crucial midnight hour—right before trouble comes—God through His servants will rouse us and encourage us to be ready to meet that time in faith.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

When the time came to be ready, the foolish were not prepared. They had no oil, so they had no light to shine in the darkness. They ask the wise to share their oil, but the wise refused and instructed the foolish to go to those who sell and get their own oil. What does this mean?

Though many Christians might be asleep, the wise are not so bound up in this world that they cannot readily make themselves prepared to meet the Lord. Why can’t the wise share their oil? I think that is because it is impossible to.

Those who are foolish have spent their lives not only sleeping, but also depleted of Jesus according to His Holy Spirit. Why are they depleted? There must be something about their so-called faith that is empty, and never truly given by the grace of God. If we have sincere faith, then that is an act of grace. We cannot simply give faith to others, and we cannot impart the grace that God gave to us to others. As Jesus said, “many are called, but few are chosen.”

It is interesting that the wise tell the foolish to “go to those that sell.” Christians cannot buy the grace of God that provides us with faith in Jesus Christ that leads to a life lived in Christ. However, there are many who attempt to sell faith, many of which do not lead people to the true faith, but an empty version of it.

Back to the question about how living in Christ is made possible. For those who receive God’s saving grace that grants faith in Jesus, they will eventually find themselves living a faithful Christian life because this is the work of Christ in them. His work is the true oil. Sometimes, we need to wake up and be ready, but this is only possible because the grace of God is for us in the first place. Grace cannot be bought or sold, and neither can the Christian faith.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh (Matthew 25:1-13).

Jesus is patient with all who the Father has given Him, and He will not lose a single person. Faith comes by grace, and grace comes by the Father who draws us to Jesus. We cannot receive Christ unless it is first given to us by God. The Holy Spirit teaches us who Jesus is so that we can repent of sin and be forgiven. The Holy Spirit also empowers us to live for Jesus, freeing us from sin in this present world by writing the righteousness of Christ in our hearts.

However, there are many who seem to be Christians, but they do not truly have faith. Jesus deals with this patiently, not willing that any of His should be left out. However, this patience will one day come to an end. He does not know them because He never knew them, and they never truly knew Him.

Jesus says that we should be ready because we do not know when He will return. He says a lot of things, and if the grace of God is for us, then we will hear and obey. The fact that we can hear and obey is already an act of grace—all things are by grace and through faith.

Grace is a gift from God, and one that not only means forgiveness, but relationship with Jesus that leads to a life lived in Him as He works in us to free us from our sinful natures overtime in this present world, and we will be joined together with Him forever. This is a process, so we patiently pursue Jesus knowing that he is a “rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” So, let us seek Him in faith, and He will work all things out. Trust Him. Turn to Him with your whole heart, and don’t let anyone get in your way or corrupt your relationship with Him.

There are many who “sell” Jesus that have corrupted the simplicity and power of the gospel, and many buy from them. This is not just about Christian merchandise, but also about instruction. There are many who claim to fill Christians, but they only leave them depleted. However, many who have listened to them are not foolish, but simply the wise who need to wake up and make themselves ready. If the grace of God is for them, then they will.

Those who faithfully fill other Christians will instruct them in the true simplicity of the gospel and what it means to live out our faith. They will provide correction as needed, compassion for their struggles, and trust in the grace of God to work out all things in their fellow servants according to His timing rather than pushing traditions and false teachings that are not oil, but more like hot air.

This is part of a series of articles discussing the Parables of Jesus. You can visit the link for quick access to more articles within this series.

In the free digital book, “These Things Saith He,” you can find a discussion on the 7 churches of Revelation. Within the churches, 5 are rebuked. Could this be a link to the 5 virgins? In any case, I do believe that it would be wise to repent of these errors, and in doing so, we can be better prepared to serve Jesus no matter what times of darkness might be ahead.

Considering Proverbs 12:1

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish (Proverbs 12:1).

The meaning of Proverbs 12:1 is straightforward. A person that welcomes instruction gains knowledge, and this is a good thing. However, a person that hates reproof—or correction—behaves in a brutish manner when that instruction is given.

When considering this proverb, there are three things that I want to think about. First, is something that Jesus teaches about rebuking a difficult person. Next, is how we as Christians should handle rebuke ourselves, and thirdly, the power given to us to rebuke our Adversary—the brute of all brutes—in the Name of Jesus.

As for the first, we might think of something that Jesus said: “Don’t cast your peals before swine, lest they turn again and rend you.” Sometimes, our instruction and correction are not wanted, and the person we attempt to reach becomes angry, or slanders us, or worst yet, violent.

It helps if we deliver the correction carefully, with attempts to persuade rather than condemn. However, even a “rebuke in the spirit of meekness” can be despised. It is an act of love to correct someone, and to “not suffer sin upon them.” This can be challenging because we don’t want people upset with us. However, we should love them enough to deal with the discomfort and possibility of upset, especially if the matter is serious. We don’t want the blood of others on our hands because we were too afraid to confront them. If we are hated, then remember what Jesus said: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake.”

We should also be careful about using the above saying of Jesus as an excuse for avoiding difficult discussions. If we are mindful and seeking the Lord, He will lead us. Sometimes we speak up. Sometimes we wait for a better opportunity. Sometimes we say nothing. But in all things, care for the person should be our motivation, rather than getting carried away with our own pride, fear, and other ungodly motivations and emotions.

As for the second, we Christians should be willing and ready to receive rebuke. I know that not all Christians believe this way, but I have heard it taught on multiple occasions that any feeling or thought of guilt that a Christian has about current sins that they commit is an attack from Satan himself. They are told that because they are forgiven, they should never feel concern about their sin, and they should rebuke Satan—which in reality, could be a rebuke of they Holy Spirit of God. God forbid.

We should never characterize sincere conviction over our sins as Satanic persecution. “God chastens every son that He loves,” and Jesus says that He “stands at the door and knocks, and if any man will hear, He will come into them and sup with them.” We should tune our ears toward hearing the correction of the Holy Spirit, not reject Him.

It is true that the Adversary can use our sins to tempt and accuse us. He can tempt us to feel so ashamed and condemned that we doubt Jesus’s love for us and the awesome power of His mercy toward us. We can rest on the grace of God and the faith given to us, knowing that nothing can separate us from Him.

The Adversary can also tempt us to run from God. We might be tempted to use the forgiveness received as an excuse to refuse the correction of the Lord, or we might be tempted to justify our sins.

We should not be brutish, but rather happy that God cares enough to correct us. It does not feel good at first, but in the end, this is one of the most loving things that He does. He does not leave us blind to destruction, but lights the way toward true repentance, mercy, and power to overcome in His Name.

As for the third point, through the power of the Name of Jesus, we can “resist the devil, and he will flee” from us. That is an incredible thing. The brute of all brutes must submit himself to the authority of the Son of God. When we feel tempted to sin, we can turn the tables on our Adversary by telling him to leave and invoking the teachings of Jesus Christ.

For example, let’s say that we tend to resent, accuse, or be fearful of others because of their sins or false perceptions that we might hold about them (I speak the following from personal experience, so I know this works). We might start to think badly of them, and before long, we feel that they are deserving of our hatred, begin to wish evil upon them, or become afraid or mistrusting. Are these our thoughts, or is the Accuser using this weakness that we have to do what he does so well: causing division and conflict or destroying our peace?

What if we turned the tables on him, rebuking those thoughts and instead defending the person? The Accuser tempted them to sin, and maybe they did sin, then he accuses them to us. What if we rebuked Satan for tempting them, leading them to destruction, then daring to tempt us also? What if we stated some good thing about them, or found some other way to change the accusations through mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and faith in Jesus’s Name? He will have no choice but to leave us alone.

Let’s not forget, the Accuser does the same to us. He tempts us, and when we sin, he accuses us before God. He is and will be defeated by the Lamb of God, and having received this assurance, we should be on-guard against ways in which the Accuser tempts us to falsely fear, judge, or condemn others—even if it seems just.

We can resist all temptations if we are careful to watch for the enemy, who is “as a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour.” We should be on guard, knowing that all weaknesses we have can be used by our Enemy. God allows this so that we can learn to resist, and this also forces us to face our weaknesses. This is another reason why it is good for us to be ready and willing to accept the correction of the Holy Spirit when it comes. The stronger we are and the less sin we have to contend with, the less room Satan has to get a foothold over us.

In addition to receiving rebuke directly from the Lord, we should also receive correction from others who are also following Jesus. We have a duty to help one another grow in the things of God, so we should both be willing to correct and to receive correction. Correction equips us against the Adversary and makes us stronger in Christ so that we can serve Him and not Satan—the Accuser, Slanderer, and Adversary of mankind.

If we are not sure about whether the correction given should be accepted, then we can take it to the Lord Himself. If we are seeking Him in honesty and humility, then He will always lead us in the truth. “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

He will also teach us how to tell the difference between the voice of the Accuser and the convictions of the Holy Spirit. Satan mimics Christ in many ways, but through faith in Him we can grow in the gift of discernment and better hear our Lord and resist the Enemy. Let’s not resist the Holy Ghost, as some resisted, and were further hardened. Let’s learn how and when to give correction, and how to receive it, and we will grow in good knowledge of what it means to be the children of God.

This article is part of a bible study series, Considering the Proverbs. The purpose is to consider present-day events from a Christian perspective and to offer practical lessons that we can apply to ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is always speaking to us, and if we ask for “ears to hear,” then we will have them. Sometimes we don’t want to hear, but hearing is good for us, especially if we are not only hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word. If you want to hear a Christian’s take on what Jesus is speaking by His Spirit to His church, read the free online book, “These Things Saith He.” As with all things, take it up with the Lord yourself, and see what He might say to you personally.

The Parable of New Cloth and New Wineskins

30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better (Luke 5:30-39).

This parable is also found in Matthew 9 and Mark 2.

Jesus came to save the world from their sins, calling many to repentance. However, it can be easy for people to assume that they are righteous, especially when following their traditions. Tradition can be important, but not so important as following Jesus Himself.

Jesus and His followers were accused because of their association with sinners and for doing things differently than was expected of them. However, what they had was something far better. They had Jesus. He had a lot to teach His disciples and all who would hear His words. These teachings were for the teachable, not for those who were stuck in their ways.

As Christians, we too have many traditions. Sometimes, tradition is good. For example, we need to preserve the truth about who Jesus is and what His gospel means. We should do our best to preserve sound doctrine, searching the scriptures with humility and seeking the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to us. Even so, no matter how much we think we know, we too must remain teachable.  

This does not mean that we accept any new thing. Any truth that is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit will not contradict the truth of the gospel, the truth of who Jesus is, and what it means to follow Him. The truth will not contradict the scriptures, but there are many ways in which the scriptures have been interpreted, and how many of these interpretations are true and how many are mere traditions that many have accepted and hardened?

Regardless of our areas of disagreement about interpreting scripture, there are things that matter most for us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ. These hinge on pursuing a life lived in Jesus Christ. If we are committing ourselves to Him, then He will provide us with faithful instruction in all things in His own time—instruction that has more to do with the way we repent of sin and live righteously than instruction in keeping traditions.

Jesus calls sinners to repentance, and that is a mindset that we must always keep. Repentance is not merely a one-time act, but an active mindset as we continue to see our failings, acknowledge them to Jesus, and set our minds on doing what is right by the strength of His Spirit given to us.

We should always remain new to Him.

He gives us new, white robes of righteousness, and we put our faith in Him for our salvation. However, as sign of good faith and obedience to the one we call Lord, we do not allow our white robes to become old through a life of neglect over the state of our soul. The way we live matters, and we should strive to seek out all sin in our lives and repent—not to earn our white robes—but in respect of them.

He gives us new wine—new teachings by the power of the Holy Spirit that instruct us in the Christian way, including all soundness of doctrine. However, there are many old wineskin forms of Christian religion who cling to tradition too tightly, unable to receive correction for falsities that have been hardened to such an extent that it is a fearful thing to have those ideas challenged.

Opposition causes pain as their old wine skin begins to suffer under the pressure of the new wine. I pray and trust in Jesus to provide new wineskins for all who have the humility to seek them, so that we can grow in our knowledge of the truth—truth that many traditions have hardened us to.

Sometimes the old is better. Sometimes not. Just because a system of Christianity is old, doesn’t mean they are so perfect in all their doctrines and traditions that they have no more need for teaching. We all have room for teaching, because Jesus is alive, and His Spirit is alive, and the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, hear Him.”

Don’t let anyone rob you of consistent pursuit of Jesus—pursuit of a faithful and righteous life and pursuit of knowledge of sound doctrine which not a single institution of the faith has correct in every measure—no matter how old.

I’m going to resume discussing the Parables of Jesus and the Proverbs, which I was working on before writing These Things Saith He.

Many have come in the name of Jesus, and they all have something to say about what it means to be Christian. What does Jesus say about His church? Read the free online book, “These Things Saith He” for a look at who Jesus is and edifying words that He spoke by His Spirit to His church.

Why I Support All Christians

Who is the true church? Is it the Catholics? The Orthodox Christians? Or is true church found among one or some of the many Protestant or Apostolic denominations? Is the true church those who stand outside of all organized forms of Christianity?

Who are the true heretics? Are they the Catholics? The Orthodox Christians? Or are they found among one or some of the many Protestant or Apostolic denominations? Are the true heretics those who stand outside of all organized forms of Christianity?

As Christians, the truth matters to us, and it should. We should all strive to come to a clearer understanding of who Jesus is and how His church should conduct herself. There are many opinions about this matter, but what does the Holy Spirit, the Sprit of Truth, say about this matter?

This is a question that I have wrestled with in some from for nearly 10 years. That’s just a wisp of time compared to the time that others have devoted to the faith, but it is something that I have wanted to get right and have prayed about sincerely many, many times and continue to pray over.

Early in this journey, after committing myself to Jesus outside of any institution of Christianity, I believed that all forms of institutionalized Christianity and those who were among them were not real Christians. I believed that they were all heretics.

Over the years, I have heard the testimony of many believers in Jesus Christ—believers of various Christian denominations and sects—who have experienced the transformative power of the gospel and have been touched by the grace, mercy, and power of God.

Jesus once said that all manner of blasphemy against the Son of Man would be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is not forgiven. Jesus made this statement after He was accused of casting out devils by the prince of devils. Am I to discount the experience of many Christians, attributing their encounters with Jesus as demonic? If they lived a life that was aimed at knowing, serving, and trusting in Jesus, and were fruitful in that, who am I to judge them?

Over the years, I have also come across many who judge other Christians very harshly. This judgment is vast and varied. Some praise their particular Christian denomination or sect while condemning all others, or certain others. Some stand outside of all institutionalized Christianity and do as I have done and condemn them all as unbelievers.

From my perspective, people can be very good at seeing the fault in others, but they become blind to their own, and some are all too eager to tear people down for disagreements over matters for which I believe we can sincerely disagree for good reason without denying Jesus and His gospel.

The conclusion that I have come to is that the true church comprises all who seek to worship Jesus sincerely and trust in Him for their salvation. Of course, much is included in this. Who is Jesus, and what do we have to believe about Him to be of the Christian faith? What does it mean to worship Him?

Jesus is the fully divine Son of God who became man, died for our sins, rose again, and it is He who has power over life and death. He will judge all things, so if we want a favorable, gracious judgement, then we submit ourselves to His service and trust in His mercy as well as His ability to work in our hearts to make us faithful and profitable servants. We should also show mercy to our fellow servants of Christ, knowing that we all “see in part and know in part.”

I also believe that our institutional devotions can blind us to that truth. However, Jesus is incredibly merciful, and He works with many people despite their misunderstandings, so we should not judge one another too harshly. I believe that Jesus does not honor any of these institutions.

I believe that His true church includes people of various Christian backgrounds who are sincerely devoted to Him, so to Him, the brand of their faith is of little to no importance. It is only of importance when that brand becomes more of a god to them than He, thereby leading to a false sense of superiority and many accusations of the brethren while failing to acknowledge their own shortcomings.

This is the focus of the letter to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2. Our first love is Jesus, and in Him we are the true church. If our loyalties are to an institution above Him, then there is a problem. These institutions will be removed because they are not the true church. However, that does not mean that we persecute them or ostracize them. We patiently wait on the Lord to do His work.

I do believe that it is possible to find the truth, and we should seek the truth. I believe that if we strip away our biases that were imposed onto us by the various forms of the Christian faith, then we can come to a clearer understanding. However, what matters most is the way we live our lives out as Christians, which is hinged on “loving the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself.” A lot is wrapped up in that, and we can spend a lifetime learning what that means—and our blind loyalties can get in the way.

There are heresies, and they should all be rooted out, but with patience and humility to know that we don’t know anything as well as we should and can—so we keep seeking Jesus in faith to reveal more of Himself by the Spirit given to us.

One heresy that I cannot accept is the one that accuses the brethren falsely, or places an institution (including those outside of any formal institution) above Jesus Christ , our Lord, thereby doing the very thing that Jesus said we should not do—blaspheming the Holy Ghost who works in us all according to the measure of faith and grace afforded us by the Father.

Let’s not grieve the Holy Spirit with our strife, division, and lack of faith in His ability to do all things in His time and to judge all things rightly.

I understand the concern that many might have when I do not shun the group that they feel should be shunned. I also understand the concern that many might have because I do not join a church. I cannot join a church because I would be in hypocrisy, because as far I as I have experienced, they do tend to force their members to conform to all their ways—ways that I disagree with in part among them all.

Jesus is servant of all, and He walks among us all. I would like to do the same, as far as He will graciously allow, and I will encourage others to do the same. I do encourage people to come out of dogma and into a more devoted worship of Jesus Christ in Spirit and in Truth, but I refuse to condemn any of them.

I will not accuse them, and I do not think it wise for any of us to. I also do not think it wise for any to accuse me of my stance. I have worked this out carefully, and unless the Holy Spirit convicts me otherwise, I will not back down. “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.”

This matter and more are discussed in the online book, “These Things Saith He,” which takes a Christ-focused look at the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation.

These Things Saith He – Edited

Below is the edited version of the digital book, “These Things Saith He.” Feel free to download and share freely. I hope that this book is helpful for fellow servants of Jesus Christ who want to build faithful, profitable ministries–and most importantly–faithful and profitable Christian lives in service to He who is above all things. Glory to God in Jesus Christ in who we faithfully fear and put our trust in for all things.

“And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day (Isaiah 2:17).”

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These Things Saith He – Churches of Revelation Discussion – Conclusion Part 2

• To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. • To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. • he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. • He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. • Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. • To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

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Complete, 62-Part These Things Saith He Discussion Playlist

These Things Saith He – Churches of Revelation Discussion – Conclusion Part 1

These things saith… • He that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. • The first and the last, which was dead, and is alive. • He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. • The Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass. • He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars. • He that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth. • The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

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Scripture for Laodicea & Conclusion – Church of the Laodiceans Discussion Part 10

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.”

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Letter to the Laodiceans Summarized – Church of the Laodiceans Discussion Part 9

“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

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