I wonder if it is possible that the Father was not far away that weekend and was actually waiting very close to welcome Jesus. I dont think an assumpion that He was in "paradise" is warranted...mel

So you are suggesting that maybe Jesus went back to Paradise, accompanied by the thief, and his Father was not there to meet him?

I don't think so.

Graeme

This nonsense that some dissembled part of a person, called the spirit, goes to heaven upon the death of the body is pure unadulterated legalism of the highest order! This heresy comes from the idea that the body is evil, but the spirit is good. But Paul doesn't state this. In Romans 7:18 he states exactly the opposite:

"For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh [i.e., in my being...in my soul]."

And Paul, in 1 Cor 15:50-51, says the following:

"I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood [the whole person] cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep [remain dead], but we shall all be changed...."

Why the change? Because mankind is totally void of true righteous. He is unrighteous. Even the seemingly good things he does is filthy rags.

Rob

Amen Amen Brother.

No matter what good we do ... it is as 'filthy rags'. Just yesterday a wonder sister in our church came over and mowed our lawn. I told her she was a 'saint'. Her reply was ... "No. I'm no saint. Pastor "Redwood" tells us that what I've done is just 'filthy rags'." I thought that was good insight and Oh so true.

Filthy Rags Folks. Just Filthy Rags.

1 Cor 13:3 "If I give all I possess to the poor ..., but have not love [agape], I gain nothing. [why?] 4 Love...is not proud. 5 It is not...self-seeking..."

Human love wants to be noticed. Why? Because at the center of human love is the love of self! Take Paul's example of someone who gives all his possessions to the poor. Outwardly his act looks wonderful, but what's the motive?

If it's human love you can be sure that it's centered in pride and self-seeking. Human love does seemingly good things, but for self-centered reasons. Human love is proud..it is boastful.

Let's see if we can find (clue: it's in red) these sinful attributes in the following quote from Matthew:


Matthew 19:16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 18 "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" 20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Did you notice this man's answer? I've done it all...what do I lack? That's pride speaking...he is seeking the attention of those around him. He wants credit for his righteousness, but Jesus lays it on the line once again by exposing human love and the self-righteous it produces with what the law requires. That's why Jesus said if you want to be perfect in love, give up all your goodies and give them to the poor and come and follow Me in my self-denial.

That's exactly what Jesus did. He gave up heaven (not that He lusted it). He gave up everything for His enemies so that one day we could have heaven. That's love - agape love. Truely we are falling short of God's love.

Therefore none of us are good enough to enter heaven after death. We are void of agape. We can't generate it...we can't produce it. We are bankrupt of true love. The only thing we can do is experience it as we learn to walk in the Spirit. But, I'll tell you this, the moment "self" is seen (i.e., pride, self-seeking, and all expressions that bring attention to one's self) that moment you are no longer experiencing agape.

You're on the right track brother. Keep it comin.

"The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF) is the largest transparently operated charitable foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates in 2000 and doubled in size by Warren Buffett in 2006. The primary aims of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and, in the United States, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology."

Okay, not to pick on Bill, etc...let's look at what he is doing (see red lettering).

Can we read motive? No, but I can tell you this - if Christ isn't controlling Bill's human nature in this area of his life then all Bill does (even though outwardly good) is to bring attention to himself. If that's the case then in heaven's eyes his act is nothing more than filthy rags.

I just read that Madonna gave a free concert....Sounds wonderful, but why free? Was it really free? No, not if you read the whole article. She did it for self-promotion.

Now before we jump on Bill or Madonna let's look at our own lives. That job you have...how did you get it? Did you sell yourself to get hired? Did you compete? Well, then you are doing the same thing...

Food for thought,

Rob

Speakin of "filthy rags".

Hey whadja think of the lessons this week? I thought it clealy articulated the value of works as filthy rags.

If...Christ isn't controlling Bill's nature in this area of his life. For Bill to be experience agape he first must accept Christ by faith. I don't if he has or not.... Secondly, to experience agape, he must allow Christ to have his human nature in this area of his life. It's called walking in the Spirit.



I haven't seen them....I know of a text that is misquoted concerning this subject. It's Mat 7:22,23

7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

What does to "work iniquity" mean? Let's assume Bill Gates doesn't need Christ and He's not in Bill's life. Are Bill's many wonderful works (and they are impressive) good works or works of iniquity? Remember, I said without Christ!

Well, we must understand what iniquity means:

As a result of the fall, man by very nature is spiritually “bent,” so that the driving force of his very nature is love of self. Paul defines it as “the law of sin and death” [Romans 7:23; 8:2]. It is this condition that is the basis of all our sinning, and which makes us slaves to sin [Romans 3:9-12; 7:14].

Everyone of us has gone astray, since we have all turned or bent “to his own way.” This own-way-ness (i.e., self-centeredness) is synonymous with iniquity, which was laid upon Christ our sin bearer; and it was this “sin in the flesh” that Christ “condemned” on the cross [Romans 8:2-3].

Iniquity, therefore, is simply seeking our own way, a condition we are born with and which (without a Saviour) makes it impossible to do genuine righteousness, since the law of God requires even our motives to be pure [Matthew 5:20-22, 27-28]. In contrast to iniquity or self-seeking is agape (divine love) which is of God and which “seeketh not her own” [1 Corinthians 13:5].

Because man by nature is “shapen in iniquity,” all the righteousness produced by him through his own efforts is like filthy rags before God, because it is polluted with self-love. According to Zech. 3:3, 4, “filthy garments” are equated with iniquity. In contrast to these filthy garments of ours (self-righteousness), the white raiment of Christ (His righteousness) is offered to the Laodicean church so that they may be truly clothed, and “the shame of [their] nakedness do not appear” before the judgment seat of God [Revelation 3:18; 10:3-4].

Self-righteous acts camouflaged or disguised in the name of Christ are exposed in the judgment and clearly identified as works of iniquity (i.e., works motivated by self-love). All Christians must consider this text seriously. Do our works originate from Christ and therefore motivated by agape, or are they the “fair shew in the flesh” [Galatians 6:12]? Are our works the result of a genuine relationship with Christ (i.e, works of faith) or are we working in His name but we really don’t know Him? [See also Luke 13:25-28.]


The essence of Lucifer’s sin was self-exaltation, what the Bible defines as iniquity, which in Hebrew means bent to self [Isaiah 53:6]. Hence, the love of self is the underlying principle of all sin, in complete opposition to the principle of God’s government which is founded upon selfless love or agape [see 1 John4:7, 8, 16]. Sin therefore may be rightly interpreted as rebellion against God or His agape. According to 1 Corinthians 13:5, there is no love of self in agape.

How is it that we will be able to be with Him in Paradise?

Not by works of the law.

Gal.2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. "

This is one verse the lesson referred to this week.

I would add that when we are weak ... we are strong. We will be weak. But it is the times that we allow the strength of God in our lives .... it is then that we experience strength. When we are empty ... it is then that we are filled. And filled with that which is truly good.