The Forever Paradox

Judge not, that you be not judged.

For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, 
it shall be measured to you again. 

And why behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, 
but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? 

Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the mote out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? 

You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; 
and then shall you see clearly to cast out 
the mote out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5





Every day, every hour, every minute ... we all make judgments. 

It is in our DNA ... It is how we are wired. 



There is no getting away from judging. 
You made a judgment when you decided to read this post … or Not. 
And I made a judgment when I decided how to title the post. I considered using a title that was more about judgment, but I decided that many would be more apt to be drawn to a post about Paradox than with a title about judgment.

So why the picture of Barney Fife above?  
Well ... he is a caricature of all of the foolish people that think that they are qualified to judge you and I, which quite often includes you and I ... being Barney Fife. 

Besides ... I also judged that Barney is much more likely to bring smiles than Ruth Bader Ginsberg; at least for most of us.

You see most of us have already settled or judged this issue in our minds and have concluded we are not to judge, but then within minutes we make one judgment after another. In fact some of you might begin to feel put off by where you feel this post might be headed, and make a judgment to move on, and to read something else. 

Don’t do that ... I promise not to judge you and call you a hypocrite.

Are you understanding, what I am saying here? 

None of us can totally follow this instruction from Christ. 
We make decisions or judgments all day long. 
Somehow our brain shifts onto autopilot and then we are just off to the races ... making one judgment after another. 

So, what’s the point? 

Well, my contention is that we must all judge what Jesus meant and did not mean when He said ... 

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” 

Did Jesus really mean that we are to stop making judgments; 
or was He speaking to specific types of judging?

Jesus has given us an Every Day Paradox that we will try to better understand here ... and what it means for each of us.

I’ll give you two specific examples. 
Not long ago, I ran into an old friend who used to serve in an ongoing ministry at a church where I also attended in the past. We sat down over a cup of coffee, and in the course of our conversation, I asked; “why did you change churches?” 

His response caught me off guard. 

“Well ... I had a meeting with a pastor, who had been reviewing my giving record, and he told me that I am a hypocrite, and that I'm not qualified to serve there." 

Now I don’t want to judge my friend or the pastor, since my understanding is totally out of context. But what if I told you that my friend had one of the most faithful and thankless ongoing ministries in the church kitchen, and that my friend is an epileptic with minimum wage income? 

Your mind can hardly keep from jumping to a quick judgment ... can it? 

Later the same day, I went to a church meeting where a large local Presbyterian church was discussing the dilemma that their church body is faced with as a result of a decision made by the Presbyterian Church USA to change church bylaws instructing them to ordain homosexuals and others who are active sexually outside of a man/woman marriage. This church body and their leadership will eventually be forced to judge their organizational leadership’s decisions. Will they follow the clear doctrine of the Bible; or will they follow the shifting whims of a society at large that chooses to disregard God’s Word? The consequences of not being tolerant, politically correct, and just going along with the crowd could include the loss of pastoral pensions, and a large church facility that has been built over the past 50 years.

Now, if you think like I do; the judgments on both of these examples are quite clear. There is not much need for discussion. Why is it clear? Well, I just know, you say? That answer my friend is not good enough. This is what any good legalist would also say, and the legalist Pharisees were the ones Jesus was talking to in text above. Jesus does not want us to judge like they judged.


Well, you ask; “what are we to do?”

Now I beseech you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

Christians must have a Biblical foundation of beliefs that goes beyond ourselves in order to be "perfectly joined together." When men in a ministry context establish their own rules, contrary the Biblical foundation our Lord has given us ... the next thing you know, large numbers of pastors and ministries become open to evolution, abortion, amorality, and false religions.

In a free society, we must be tolerant to others beliefs, non-beliefs and religions; but there is a difference between being tolerant and not drawing the line between what is true and false, and between what is good and evil. to be tolerant of a false religion or someone else's right to believe and live an amoral lifestyle does not make those false religions of value. 

Our personal opinion or the laws of our society has no effect whatsoever on those issues that are eternally true or false. Evolution, amorality, and murdering unborn babies will always be wrong ... regardless of what a majority believes or has ruled.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds ;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

These two verses clearly explain Paul’s understanding and instruction. Speak the same thing; no divisions; perfectly joined together; in the same mind; in the same judgment. Oops … there’s that word again, Paul is leading us to make judgment. And then he says: casting down imaginations; bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

How can we do this you ask? Through prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit and with the Truth of God’s Word (our primary weapon: the sword of the spirit, the Word of God) we can know God’s will in all things. Only when we are perfectly joined together in the same mind, following the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word will there be no divisions and we can then make judgments that will be pleasing to Him. This comes when believers humble themselves to God's Word. 

Does anyone really think that if Jesus was here advising any church that He would choose an adulterer or a homosexual to be the pastor?

Some would say, god gave me a mind to think, and I intend to use it; but His Word says: "to cast down imaginations and to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." That's not hardly an instruction to follow your logic, feelings, experiences, and the teachings of the world ... is it?

That is heavy; many will say: I didn’t buy in for mind control. And some actually did grumble when Christ presented them with things that were difficult for them to accept and what did He tell them?

"Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said; this is a hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said to them, does this offend you? What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that vivifies; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, therefore said I to you, that no man can come to me, except it were given to him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." John 6:60-66

The bottom line is that His teachings were not optional, they either followed or they walked no more with Him. 

But there was one Pharisee whose judgment Jesus honored.

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said to him, truly, truly, I say to you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:1-3

Nicodemus made a judgment that was contrary to all of the other Pharisees. He judged that Jesus was a teacher from God and that God was with Him. This was the exact opposite of the judgments directed at Jesus by the other Pharisees. And how did Jesus reply to Him? He simply gave Nicodemus more Holy Truth from above. Nicodemus; “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

You see, the problem that the Pharisees had was that they were basing their judgments on their own understanding and worldly wisdom. Like the church leaders noted above the wisdom of the world, and not God's Word was guiding them. They were following the leading of their flesh and their pride. Their false beliefs, pride, and lust were the gods of their judgments. And these worldly forces ultimately lead to wrong judgments and decisions. Sometimes they might stumble across an obvious truth and piously stand there; but most often worldly wisdom leads down wrong paths to destruction.

Jesus then went on to explain more about God’s plan for reconciliation and eternal life. He then gave Nicodemus God’s ... "either/or" choice: “He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

These are hard words that would never be considered loving by many who call themselves Christians today. But I ask; how is it being loving to NOT share these words with those we love? The truth here is that we should never be accused of judging others where those whom Jesus the Creator has clearly explained are ... already judged and condemned.

Jesus was giving Nicodemus instructions in how to take the log out of his eye. 
Nicodemus followed the instructions, and the rest is history.

There is much more to be said about judging others in future posts. 
I suggest you read and meditate on all of Matthew 7:1-28

But the first thing we must all do is get right with Jesus Christ and His Truth. We must all test or judge ourselves to determine where we stand with Christ. Are you a born again believer; or are you a religious person like Nicodemus trying to live the life of a good person? 

Are you Born Again or are you a reprobate living a pretend type of Christianity? 


"Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates? … For we can do nothing against the truth; but for the truth." 2 Corinthians 13:5-8

Are you committed to stand up for the Jesus Christ and the Truth of God? 


This is the Truth: 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:1-14

The Presbyterian Church USA would not be struggling over this idiotic idea of ordaining reprobate clergy if they had not made a decision in the past century to follow the teachings of men over the teachings of God. This is all about the inerrancy of Scripture. There are many people who love Christ, but who have compromised His Word. Now is the time for all to stand on the inerrant Truth of God’s Word.

To disregard God’s Word is to disregard Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of all.

God bless you my friends, Bob 

Church of Tares 2

Continued from: 

Church of Tares

“The enemy that sowed them is the devil” 




We must beware of those who do not accept or understand the Truth of Christ, and instead follow and promote teachings of men and the wisdom of the world. They have been deceived and enslaved by the devil, the wicked one and his message has been sown in their hearts.  I know many of you might get angry here … but for Christians to stand, clinging to a message that is the opposite of what our Lord and Savior has given us is gross hypocrisy, and to teach this plan is contrary to the mission that Christ gave us.

Remember Jesus said: “Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you” What is this message that the wicked one has sown in their hearts? I could write a whole post on this question. But beware of the terms: "political correctness and tolerance." These words have been twisted by the enemy of Christ to entice the Disciples of Christ to be silent, accept, stand with, and agree with those who are promoting evil. The end result is believers who now reject God’s Truth and accept the teachings, philosophies, and false religions of men which include evolution, abortion, amorality, homosexuality and the idea that there are no absolutes except evolution, abortion, and now of course … man-made global warming.

We can easily conclude that Jesus is not politically correct, or tolerant to false religions, false teachings, amoral beliefs, and the wisdom of men.  Jesus says: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love it’s own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”  John 15:18-19

So the answer to the pastor’s question is: 

No, most surely not, we cannot … “all just get along.”

We now are in the midst of a movement that includes hundreds of Christian mega-churches that are convinced that they are ushering in a new reformation. They are promoting a different gospel which says we must focus on doing good works; rather than sharing the gospel of salvation by grace through Jesus Christ, and Him alone.

The temporal has replaced the eternal as the primary focus of these leaders that have guided their followers in this new direction.

Though sincere, they are sincerely wrong and would have us join together with big business, governments, and the false religions of the world to solve the five greatest problems that confront mankind … in order to heal the world. This is a worthy goal for government, big business, and loving people; but it is not the mission that Christ has given each and every one of us for eternity.

The only thing that can heal any of us is the saving grace of Jesus Christ … Period.

We cannot find common ground with Islam, atheism, and other world religions and philosophies; or with any unbiblical teachings. We are called to evangelize the false religions … and should never pretend that we have common ground with them spiritually. Their beliefs have no Truth or validity according to Jesus and His Truth. Biblical Christianity is monotheistic.

We are commanded: “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?” 
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

“the harvest is the end of the world” The tares will be separated and burned. I will be standing with Christ, on His Truth, and with His followers. Where will you be standing?  The Christian’s salvation is secure eternally by the blood of Christ alone … so I am not questioning anyone’s eternal salvation. But I am convinced that all believers should be convicted by the Holy Spirit in their hearts and God’s eternal truth to reject teachings that are contrary to the Truth that Jesus Christ has given all of us.

There is so much more here and I suggest you carefully read the parable and the explanation given by Jesus carefully. Meditate upon these words, praying that Christ will reveal to you any teaching, false leading, false religious doctrine, or worldly wisdom; that you, your pastor, your church, or denomination may have been deceived into accepting or believing. Some major denominations have embraced teachings that are the opposite of God’s Word and promoting these doctrines as compatible with Christianity. There are currently thousands of churches that are leading their followers in the wrong direction.

 2 Timothy 4:1-5 tells us “to preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine” and“ watch you in all things” and “to not turn our ears away from the Truth” and  “to do the work of an evangelist, and make full proof of your ministry.” Since the claim is that this is the new direction and (New Reformation) of the collective evangelical church for the next century ... don't you think it would be wise to see where the mega churches plan to take all of us and our children's children? But more importantly, we are compelled "to not turn our ears away from the Truth ... we need to make full proof of our ministry."

But this is clearly the understanding of that which is temporal, and that which is eternal.  In other words … all the difference in eternity. 

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ with a ministry of reconciliation. The reconciliation is between the creator of all things and fallen man ... not Christians and false religions. Jesus has given us a mission and it is not about delivering the world from the five greatest problems that face mankind. That is a great secular plan, but it has nothing to do with preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus would not give us His plan for the reformation of His church through a non-Christian business guru. That idea is just another clever idea of a fallen man.

This is not about our shape. For Christians "old things (our shape) have passed away, new things have come" "All men are like grass and all of their accomplishments are like the flowers of the grass, the grass withers and the flowers fall off, only the Word of the Lord abides forever." 

Business guru Peter Drucker clearly decided to use Christianity as one of the legs on his three-legged stool in order to achieve what he believed to be his purpose ... solve the five greatest problems facing mankind. An admirable goal for a man with worldly objectives, but without a Savior. But unfortunately, for Drucker ... this man-made goal is not God's Plan for him or for all of mankind. Drucker disregarded God's plan for all of us: Matthew 28:18-20.



There is an all important difference between applying the Truths of Christ to solve the major issues of the world; and receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, having your sins forgiven, and living for the Creator of all things throughout eternity; ... versus living to accomplish the plan of a business guru who has rejected Christ's free gift of eternal life by His Grace.

And how can this mass national conversion be reconciled with Christ and not violate the plan’s commitment to NOT use this “good deed doing” working relationship with Islam, atheists and others … and NOT evangelize them? Does anyone really think that Islam will calmly accept what will be viewed as a betrayal in Rwanda? The response of the Islamists is very predictable.

I guess it might be time for us to meet with these Christian pastors, and have them explain to us how Islam, atheism, and these other philosophies and religions that reject Christ are compatible with Biblical Christianity and the teachings of our Lord and Savior, and His Word. One watchman ... Paul Smith tried to challenge this false teaching and was fired for his efforts. Read: Paul Smith

We are called to be Bereans ... 
and we are called to be Watchmen. 
The Gospel is our best and only ... "good deed doing" plan.
Everything else without the Gospel is temporal.

I suggest you watch and pray for guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit and the Word of Truth. God is calling you to challenge that which is false, and not be silent or just get along. The church appears about to enter the apostate period prior to the return of Christ. 

In the end, the tares will be separated and burned. 
Jesus teaches that there will be tares among us.

I will be standing with Christ, on His Truth, and with His followers.

Where will you be standing? 

The Church of the Tares

"Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution rises because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundred times, some sixty, some thirty." Matthew 13:18-23

"Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came to him, saying, Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said to them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear? Let him hear." Matthew 13:36-43

In closing … 

for Biblical Christians this Truth is not up for debate.

God Bless you, my friends, Bob

Church of Tares

I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 


preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. 

But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-5

The End of the World

You may have heard some often say: “I have tried to read the Bible but it doesn’t make any sense to me.” 

Well most often, what they mean is that they did not like what they were reading because the Bible challenged them to change. 

Today we will look at Matthew 13:18-43.  This is a most important message to all of us. Jesus clearly explains His meaning of a most important parable for us. So we are without excuse … if we do not understand. This Truth is not something that might or might not happen. The all-knowing; all powerful; ever present Creator of all things; is never wrong, and He never lies, or even slightly twists the Truth. 

We can plan on this reality coming to pass.  The question is: not if, but when will this established Truth come to pass?

Before you read this post please note: The purpose of this post is NOT to judge anyone; but rather to expose false teachings wherever they might be. All teachings by Christians must be held accountable to the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God’s eternal Truth.

Mathew 13:36-43 A key phrase pointed to here by Jesus is: “the end of the world” He is giving us the context of when this teaching will come to pass. He repeats Himself for further emphasis.

So since we who have received His gospel are his disciples … let us consider what we can easily learn from the teaching of Jesus about what will happen in the end times.

   “Then Jesus sent the multitude away” We are told in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving” The god spoken of in this verse is the enemy of Christ. The teaching Jesus was about to explain was not up for discussion or debate. Jesus sent the multitudes away. He was about to explain Truth that those who had not received Him would not understand; and would most surely be offended and reject the Truth because of the influence of the evil one. This explanation of the parable was for His disciples … not doubters and those who twist the Truth. Please note that those who claim to be Christians, but instead choose to follow the wisdom of the world, rather than the Truth of Christ will most likely not accept this teaching of Christ either. It is clearly not what they will want to hear.

   “and went into the house” To expand on the previous point, Jesus had been speaking to the multitudes. Jesus and His disciples went into the house in order for Him to give explanation and instructions to His disciples in private … and not to the rest of the crowd. Everyone else would have the ability to understand and receive this truth as well, but only after they chose to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. and they could then believe and understand His Truth as established Truth; and not just various topics that are open for worldly debate.

   “and his disciples came to him, saying, Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field.” Now, these first disciples were not much different than you or I. They were only human and at this point, not unlike the multitudes, they often unconsciously processed much of what they heard including what Jesus taught through their human logic and reason. Their natural tendency was most likely to be confused by these parables when viewed from a human perspective. But they had learned that Jesus spoke only Truth, and they wanted to understand the difference between His Truth, and their human understanding and worldly wisdom. This is one way that we can know if someone is truly a disciple. Is this person seeking to understand and follow the Truth of Jesus only … or is he or she following their own wisdom, or the wisdom of the world and teachings of mere men?

   “He that sows the good seed is the Son of man” The Son of man is Jesus. God sent His Son to be born of a virgin who was somehow impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Son of God came to us in the form of a man for the specific purpose of dying on the cross for our sins, and reconciling those who believe in Him to God for eternity by His grace or free gift. Jesus was the fully divine Creator who came in the form of a human. He has always existed as the eternally begotten One. Jesus is not just a good person and teacher who was martyred as the enemies of Christ would have us believe. Jesus is God.

   “The field is the world” The Truth of Jesus is for all the world and everyone and everything in the world. The people of the world are the mission field that the Savior has given all of us who have received His free gift of eternal life.  “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20. Notice that in this verse Jesus continually uses the word “all” He has “all power”  and we are to “teach “all nations” to observe “all that He has commanded” and He is with us “always” … from the beginning, to the end of time, and every moment in between. Men in their humanness and the teachers of the world will never and can never accept this Truth, apart from Him.  According to Jesus … ALL wisdom and knowledge … everything must be humbled to Him.

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men.” 1 Corinthians 3:18-21

   “the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares the children are of the wicked one”   Jesus teaches us that there are two groups of people: “children of His kingdom” and “children of the wicked one.” Now from a human perspective, you or I might think some who do not know Him are good people but Jesus says they are “the tares the children are of the wicked one” 

    It is no matter or consequence how much you or I love them or what we think about them ... God will judge us all eternally. This is for God alone to decide. Now do you understand why Jesus sent the multitudes away and went inside the house to explain what His parable meant? He did not want to start a riot. It was not time for Him to make the ultimate sacrifice yet.

Only Jesus will determine who are the tares. So do not be confused … I am not judging anyone. But false teaching and all pastors or teachers leading millions of Christians away from the true gospel; and to any plan of men that is contrary to the teachings of Christ must be exposed. Regardless of how sincere, loving, or committed it appears; or how much sense it might make to all of us.

Promoting reconciliation sounds spiritually minded; but spiritual reconciliation is not building bridges between Christianity and Islam, other false religions, and atheistic philosophies. Changing the first goal of the Peace Plan from:  P = Planting Churches to: P = promoting reconciliation ... is very telling about the un-biblical motives, and the playing on of words. 

Attempts to reconcile truth with falsehood is in no way related to the call we have been given by God to be ministers of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.

I ask you a question: how is it possible for Christians to join together with atheists, Muslims, and other worldly philosophies and false religions to solve the five greatest problems facing mankind? This plan has been promoted and declared as a “New Reformation” … so some would have us believe? This new reformation is explained as: “not about what we believe; but rather it is about what we do.” 

Is this plan leading followers away from Christ and the Word of Truth?

Continued: Go to ... Church of Tares 2

God Bless you my friends, Bob

Immanuel: God With Us

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”


Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translates, “GOD WITH US.” Matthew 1:18-23


Miracle of miracles … how can we even comprehend this story to be true? I really can understand how some of my more skeptical friends say … no way. The Bible is just fairy tale, they say ... another spiritualized version of the Santa Claus story; or as one of my best friends for life recently replied to me; “when I die, all that’s left is dirt.” The great thing about Christianity and living in America is that we can strongly disagree and still love and respect each other. Respect and love for the other person has nothing to do with political correctness or pretending that we respect or consider the other person's beliefs as true or of value. We tolerate each other, but on this subject, each of us believes the other to have believed a foolish teaching. I really can understand why we have irreconcilable differences. Our beliefs and loyalties are committed to rulers of opposing views. One true, one a lie. Good versus evil. Both can never be true.


Think about it. Meditate on it. A recently engaged virgin woman; from a very religious family; impregnated by the Holy Spirit; the child in her womb is God, the Creator of the universe coming to earth in the form of a man; for what purpose … to die on the cross for the sins of mankind; the prospective husband who had not touched his future bride gets a visit from an angel that tells him, “don’t worry about the fact that your fiancé is pregnant … God is inside of her.” Jesus is born and lives a perfect sinless life, performs many miracles, walks on water, raises the dead, and teaches a gospel of peace, love, forgiveness, and repentance; the Messiah will be killed by His own people, whose prophets clearly foretold His coming, but they did not recognize Him; He freely delivers Himself up to suffer the worst of deaths imaginable; buried under guard for three days only to be resurrected from the dead; victoriously ascends into the clouds; and this Savior now waits at the right hand of the Father interceding for His followers who do not deserve forgiveness … but are forgiven, justified, and redeemed and receive eternal life in heaven because He … Jesus Christ , Immanuel, the Messiah, God with us, the Savior of the world paid the penalty for all of the sins of man … once for all.

Are we all part of God’s plan created before time began? Did this all knowing, all powerful, ever present, Creator God, consider my innermost parts before the beginning of time? Am I important to God? ---------------------- Or am I just an accident … dirt, as my friend from childhood believes and contends?
And are we actually no more important than the bait we would put on a fishing hook, or a leaf blowing in the wind?

Can you see how those unbelievers see all of this as fiction? The source of the problem is clear to me: "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4


A few days ago, I was in a discussion with a “Christian” friend online who tries to reconclie these opposing beliefs. This is clearly impossible. I asked him the following question: “Hundreds of millions of fossils have been discovered ... but none of them are transitional organism fossils. Fish are fish, birds are birds, cattle are cattle, and T-Rexes are T-Rexes ... in the fossil record. There are no fossils that reflect the gradual change from one animal kind into another." Darwinian evolution is a big lie being taught to our children and grandchildren; and any scientists who question this forced system are singled out, and their career is destroyed. Doesn't this injustice bother you? I asked. He responded with drawings of supposed transitional animals. When I rejected this fantasy as obvious drawings of science fiction … he sent me a series of pictures of human skulls. Obviously they were clearly not transitional fossils and there was no evidence of any linkage other than that they all appeared to be human. I responded with the following: “This shows me nothing --- slug to man is a fantasy. For you to contend otherwise is heretical. Birds are not men ... there is no connection ... period.” He responded; “So you believe all of the fossil remains of early man are fake? “I replied: “nope ... I just don't believe that what they have tried to do with them ... to make them fit into their false theory; but in any event they do not and cannot take you or me; or any other animate thing, for that matter ... from a slug to anything else. I'm surprised you would ask me such a silly question. Creating a hypothesis and then arranging things to try to fit these preconceived notions is not science. It is atheistic wishful thinking.” It is also a violation of true science, and legitimate scientists call this unscientific practice: "circular reasoning." He ended with; “Okie, Dokie” … in other words: “you are foolish, Bob.”

Of course my position is that I have accepted Jesus Christ and all of the other Truths of the Bible by faith ... it is not necessary for me to be able to explain all of that which is beyond anyone's human comprehension ... I am not God.

My final questions to him which he did not answer were: “who do you say Jesus Is? Are Jesus and the Creator one and the same? Or do you think there was no creator? Apparently his answer would be: No Creator ... but I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. Do you see the disconnect and contradiction? The next question for him would be: how then can you (a Christian) accept these false teachings of men that are contrary to the Truth of God which is your basis for salvation?

“So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.”

Jesus said; “truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” … and the Jewish leaders tried to stone Him and plotted his death from that point on. Why was what Jesus said so inflammatory to the Jews? Because, in their culture, this was the same as saying; “I am God.” Actually, God called himself “I Am” when He said to Moses; “tell Pharaoh … "I Am" sent you.”

I doubt this Christian will even bother to answer my questions. Similar to the scientists who are rejected because they question Darwinism; he has disregarded me. It is so much easier for unbelievers to write people like me off as foolish. Isn't that also what they did to Noah when he began building the ark? The obvious problem is that if someone does not believe in a creator, then the entire Bible is nothing more than just another fairy tale. Think about it … is it harder to believe God created the universe, the world, and man, and everything in it, as well as the story of Jesus Christ outlined above; or is it harder to believe that man evolved from a mistake in the mud and then trillions of more mistakes happened with the end result: being a slug, and that after a trillion more mistakes it became a crawling or flying creature, and that after a trillion more mistakes it became an ape, and that after a trillion more transitions it became a man?

In a recent post, I mentioned where Bill Maher called Christians ignorant and hypocritical while using the story of Noah and the Ark as evidence. Maher’s logic was that people who believed the Noah story are either ignorant; or that those who say that they are Christians, and that God’s Word is truth, and then disregard the hard to believe Biblical stories ... such as Noah and creation are hypocritical. Maher, an atheist is clearly right. If we say that we do not believe in creation or the story of Noah … then how can we say we believe the (equally hard to believe)story of the virgin birth above, or more specifically … the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ?

Immanuel means: “God with us” … Jesus is not just another Jewish prophet or good teacher here. It is hypocritical to say we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but at the same time accept only those parts of His Truth that make sense from a human perspective. Either God the Creator is Jesus Christ, and either this verse is true, or it is a lie: “and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. We cannot have it both ways. Either the Savior is the Creator of the universe, or He is not. Either His Truth is absolute Truth, or it is not. Either His Word became flesh and dwelt among us, or it did not.

I am a Biblical fundamentalist in the original sense, and I am proud of it. I believe in the fundamental Truths of the Bible. All of God’s Word is Truth. Everything else is false when it conflicts with this Truth. It doesn't matter what the universities or the scientists say ... when they are contrary to God's truth, it is just so much more babble. To believe in God's Truth is to believe in Jesus Christ … To not believe in this Truth is to not believe in Jesus Christ.

If you are a Christian and you have chosen to believe otherwise ... to follow the teachings of men rather than God the Creator, I challenge you this Christmas to reconsider. Jesus has much more for you to learn but you cannot humble the Creator and Savior of the world to the teachings of men.
He is your God ... it cannot be the other way around.

To my atheist friend from childhood, as well as my online Christian friends with conflicted beliefs, my prayer for you is that God the Creator, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit will make the Truth clear to each of you. Whether it is the teachings of men or the teachings of God, the belief you receive is always, in the end, accepted by faith. It is not about evidence. This is a faith decision. Place your faith in Jesus Christ totally and completely, this Christmas and always ... and then peace, joy, and blessings beyond comprehension will be yours always throughout eternity.

PEACE AND JOY TO YOU ALL.

God Bless you my friends, Bob

The Law Of Faith

"For all have sinned, 

and come short of the glory of God" 

"being justified freely by his grace 

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 
Romans 3:23-24

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. 

By what law? Of works? 

No: but by the law of faith. 

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 
Romans 3:27-28

Some time ago I listened to my pastor ask an intellectual what his view was on justification. The man replied that; “he believed that he is a good person and had lived a good life, and that if there was a God that he hoped he would take the totality of his life into account and judge him as worthy of favor.”

Here is a question for you. Who is the one person that from a human perspective you would consider to be worthy because of who they are, or because of all of their good deeds or the loving life that they have lived? I know this might seem impossible but name the one person you admire the most. Please stop here and write the person’s name in the comments below or email to me at talavera.bob@gmail.com

It will be interesting to read those comments. The person I will name here is a great scientist and inventor. His philanthropic work has saved literally millions of poor people from suffering and death. And the foundation he has established will most likely continue saving millions more lives for the remainder of this century. 

His contribution to the health of poor and suffering children is beyond what most of us can even dream about. Any decent person would give anything to be able to save ten lives ... let alone millions. He is the one person in the world I would most like to have a conversation with. Can you guess who he might be? I have begun to pray for his salvation daily. Here is the article that clearly explains how I came to this conclusion based upon my logic and feelings. (must read click here)

The most important fact being missed here is that the amazing work and humanitarian efforts of Bill and Melinda Gates are temporal. This is the most an unbeliever can hope for.

How much more infinitely valuable is one life saved for eternity?


Here is another interesting one. I don’t know if it is true, but I have read that the most famous and charitable American entertainer Bob Hope once said; “if there is a God, how could he not consider all of the wonderful things that I have done?”

I really did admire Bob Hope and all that he did for others; and he brings up an interesting question. But God has already spoken clearly on this, and if that truly was Mr. Hope’s belief and not just a clever quip … he was sadly misguided. The fact is that by the world’s standards Bob Hope is most admired and beloved but we are all just sinners in need of a savior in God’s eyes. God’s Word tells us that no man measures up to God's test of righteousness.

Are you beginning to now understand why after speaking to the rich young ruler, Jesus said?

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking on them said, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:25-27

Here is the problem that all men and women face.

As Jesus said; “with men it is impossible” … to receive eternal life.

“As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands; there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way; they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12

Who meets this test of righteousness and a sinless life that God has for us all? How about Mother Theresa? She was a most religious, charitable, prayerful, faithful, most loving, and humble person. She may be in heaven, but not because of any or all of the charitable things she did … no, not one.

No matter how good we might try to be … daily good deeds for an entire life, or living out the life of a loving person can never make us right or acceptable before God.  All of mankind has the exact same problem and there is only one solution to the problem and the solution is the same for us all. That is faith in the blood of Jesus Christ as the payment for our sins.

“Now we know that whatever things the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ to all and on all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:21-28

I know many understand this but we need to understand well enough that we all can help others understand, we have all been given the ministry of reconciliation.

What does this mean? 

We are justified by Jesus who lived a sinless life here as a man and who delivered himself up to the cross as the payment for our sins once and for all. The law of faith Paul speaks of is the belief in God’s free gift of grace for those of us who have believed and trusted in Jesus Christ for our eternal forgiveness and salvation.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, 
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 
2 Corinthians 5:20-21

 Here is another one of those Biblical absolute Forever Principles. 

“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

“… By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:27-28

So ... does this leave us free to do nothing or whatever we wish? NO, No, No.

We will discuss this next.

God Bless you my friends, Bob

Forever ...

"For all flesh is as grass, 

and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. 

The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: 

But the word of the Lord endures forever."

"And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you."  1 Peter 1:24-35

What can anyone say to this mighty truth?

It is either:  Forever Truth ... or it is a total lie.

Hypocrite ... is the last thing anyone wants to be called. 

So the question is: Are churches full of hypocrites? 

You be the judge. A Barna Research Group study found that only 9% of Born Again Christians hold to a Biblical worldview on life. 

In other words, they have chosen not to use the Bible as the moral standard and guide in their lives unless it happens to agree with what they want to do. They have chosen to be the god of their day to day activities while at the same time proclaiming to follow the God of eternal Truth.

“What is truth?” is not a new debate. Jesus said to Pontius Pilate: “I came into the world, to testify to the truth". "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” The Jews had rejected his claims and brought him to Pilate who simply asks in response to Jesus: “What is truth?” 

Today, over 90% of Christians are not standing with the Truth that Jesus came to proclaim. They have chosen instead to follow a religion concocted by men often centered around good deeds and works rather than the Gospel of salvation by grace alone and the absolute Forever Truth God has given us in His Word.

This is blatant hypocrisy.

And their rejection of His absolute Forever Truths is a rejection of the Savior as well. 

They may as well be standing with Pilate and the Jewish leaders who delivered him up.

How did so many Christians get to this hypocritical low point? 

The American public school system has established an atheistic position on absolute truth and Judeo Christian values, and have rejected God and His Truth in total. And a majority of Christians allow their children to be schooled in this heresy… the results are predictable.  After a hundred years of this atheistic brainwashing of several generations of adults, we then wonder why the unbelieving world is convinced that Christians trying to live by standing on the unending eternal Truth of God's Word are judgmental hypocrites.

Well for sure all men are hypocrites on one point or another, and as the verse clearly explains we are all (in our flesh) like the grass and the flowers of the grass.  In our own strength, all me will eventually fall. But the Gospel of Christ that is preached to us cleanses all unrighteousness and His blood is the atonement for our sins.

The word of the Lord endures or abides …

FOREVER

This is the dividing line.

If we want to know the answer to all of the problems of mankind … they can all be resolved with this one verse. Men are endlessly divided by this one absolute word: “forever”. The Christian church has also been divided by this word for centuries. The majority of “Christians” in America who have been educated by atheists have chosen to reject the “forever” Truths of Christ in order to be tolerant of the beliefs of others, the feelings of others, and the teachings of men over the eternal Truth of God's Word. 


Hypocrisy runs rampant on this point. This is where our kingdoms will continually crash together … this is the battle line. It is one thing to be tolerant on anothers views or values. It is something totally different to have politicians force thoses views and values upon us in the name of tolerance. 

When a Christian quietly accepts these views that promote or support the idea that the the truth is ever-changing and evolving, and that right and wrong varies from time to time and culture to culture ... 

he is a hypocrite. 

The end result is women killing unborn babies carried in the their womb; and others promoting any and all forms of amorality; or rejecting the Creator and promoting evolution. This is hypocrisy for Christians ... plain and simple. This is promoting doctrines of demons. 

Two obvious questions are: 

How can they call themselves Christians and disregard the teachings of Jesus Christ?

Why would a seeker of spiritual Truth trust someone who is a blatant hypocrite?

Politicians or preachers will never resolve this dispute. In the end, you have deceivers like Nancy Pelosi playing politics with babies lives, and actually saying she is practicing her Catholic religion when promoting gay marriage ... or with the hourly the killing of unborn babies at nine months. She then paints anyone who questions paying for this evil: a right wing extremist.

Only the victorious return of Christ will settle this battle, once and for all.

When I say that I believe in Biblical absolutes, men who see themselves as wise … judge me as being foolish. Like those who crucified Christ, they laugh at the Savior and at my claim to His absolute Truth.

“There is no absolute truth” … “everything is relative” and "right and wrong varies from one culture to the next” … so they say.

Well God’s Word claims to endure forever.

And God’s Word responds to the intellectual egotists as follows:

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men.”

1 Corinthians 3:18-21

Forever has many definitions and the Bible speaks to the reality of forever in many different ways such as eternity, everlasting, always, endlessly, enduringly, eternally, evermore, forevermore, unchangingly.

There are unending verses that speak to this truth.

Therefore, this leads to the conclusion that:

God’s Word is forever truth, or

 God’s Word is forever a lie.

For a majority of Christians to compromise on this fact is at the heart of their hypocrisy. The paths that lead to the liberal definition of tolerance often lead to evil disguised as good. The compromises required leave them standing with atheists and false religions against Christ and His eternal Truth.

Below are only a few of the forever Truths that all born again believers must stand on or suffer from the consequences of unbelief. Building a Christian belief system on the “forevers” of God’s Word is the duty or service that God’s Word urgently requests or (beseeches) of us.

“I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

And who among us … does not desire to live out the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of the Savior and Creator of all things?

Be encouraged in the Spirit of Christ by a few these absolute eternal “Forever Truths” … there are a thousand more.

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.”

“I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.”

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.”

“O give thanks to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.”

“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament … this man, because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Why he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated for ever more.”

“They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”

“For the truth's sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us for ever. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I found of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father … that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.”

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God stays for ever.”

“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

“But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” Daniel 7:18

“And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life.”

Forever Truths?

True or false … where do you stand?

God Bless you my Friends, Bob