Titus 3:5 NASB1995
[5] He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
After I admitted I wasn’t perfect and I needed a perfect savior and accepted Jesus as the rightous one who died as sacrifice for my sins I became justified in the eyes of God the Father. Following this first step of faith- is the sanctification process of becoming more like Jesus. When I was a child I had the faith of a child. When I became an adult I had to rededicated my life to Christ. I confessed my sins, my idolatry, my utter weakness and foolishness. Leaning on my own understanding wasn’t working for me anymore. As Dr Phil says: “how’s that working for you?” Proverbs 3:5-8 NASB1995[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. [7] Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. [8] It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
The sanctification process is not becoming morally superior to others. The moment our feelings turn to pride and arrogance we have put off the breast plate of righteousness due to the belt of truth slipping. When we feel like we are better than someone else and in position to judge and condemn them we don’t have Jesus’s righteousness- that comes from the sanctification process of knowing truth. Jesus is truth John 14:6. Instead we have put on self righteousness and that’s old nature. Our natural tendency before justification. Ephesians 2:8 NASB1995
[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no man may boast.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB1995[17] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
We are easily deceived, manipulated and fooled into doing Satan’s bidding. All he has to do is tempt with what we want. We start to act like the father of lies rather than the God of love. When we think we are are own God and live by our own standard we play judge and condemn in unjust ways. We reject, shame, degrade and isolate people we deam morally inferior. This is how the learders in the temple were like in Jesus’s day, towards Jesus! They gathered fake evidence of evil “blaspheme” We mistreat, hate, violate their rights they have not earned the loss of, exploit them as examples of what evil looks like, but THEY are evil. They have no right to condemn. John the Baptist called the temple leaders a brood of vipers. They were constantly questioning Jesus with trick questions.
Self righteousness is seeking good feelings about ourselves and so we look good to others. So others arent controlling us and we feelin control. Instead when we humble ourselves under the truth of who God is we are upheld with his righteous right hand. Isaiah 40:10. That’s a promise we can stand on fearlessly. I can’t control anything but myself. It’s actually a fruit of the spirit. I’m not going to waste time trying to manipulated people under my control. It’s not what God has called us to do. God won’t ask me about your sins and you won’t have to answer for mine.
1 Peter 1:6-9 NASB1995[6] In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, [7] so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [8] and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, [9] obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Psalms 66:10 NASB1995[10] For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.
Isaiah 48:10 NASB1995[10] Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Angels the original messengers of God and God’s army are present and active from Genesis to Revelation. Angels are still active today in God’s rescue plan for humanity and helping us in the sanctification process just as the holy spirit is. The first time I saw an angel was when a girl in our neighborhood who was my age about 3rd grade who neither me or my other friends in the neighborhood played with because she was weird. I didn’t know her well at all. She was never out playing with the rest of us. She was the oldest of two sisters. She made a police report that a young man had flashed her and he drove a red car. I witnessed angels when two police officers rang the front door of our home. When I opened it the two officers were more surprised to see me than I was to see them. They asked if my dad was here and I told them yes. I asked them about the many officers behind them positioned across our front yard. They barely looked behind them knowing they didn’t bring more officers with them and more sternly asked for my dad. My dad came to the front door and he left with them. I told my mom about the dark figures standing in strategic positions across the front yard, but the officers said weren’t there. She was crying and she asked me why I wasn’t upset about two police officers coming to our home? I said why would I? My dad wore the same uniform and gun belt they did everyday except his his brown because he was a correction officer in the prison system. My dad was traumatized by the interrogation. Years later, he shared that he said he finally stood up, banged his fist on the table and said I’ve answered your questions, if you are going to arrest me, arrest me already! I was an adult by then and as he reenactmented it he was red face, traumatized emotion. I told him about the dark figures who stood in position. He was shocked and processing. Our church stopped talking to us after that police interrogation. It’s why by the time I was in 8th grade I didn’t know anyone and didn’t want to go to church anymore. My parent’s eventually quit going to church too, but then one day God told them the church needed them and to go back. Soon after this false accusation my dad was in a terrible car accident. He was driving to work and passed in the fog. He was in a comma. He broke 3/4 rib cages and the bones in his face. It looks months for him to recover from that. He said one day afterwards he was driving to work and an angel appeared to him. White light shown all around and him not to fear, that everything will be alright. When my parents returned to the church my dad went up to the pastor to shake his hand and tell him they they were returning. The pastor said: “why would you do that?” My dad and him never got along after that. My dad was still involved with the church as he had been in the church he grew up in with his mother. He however always felt as if people were condemning him for that girl’s false accusation. What was he supposed to be embarrassed for? Driving a red car? Having a mustache? Not being above reproach? A false accusation isn’t reproach. He wasn’t arrested or charged for it. He was released after questioning and that was the end of the polices interest in him. But that humiliation tortured my dad for the rest of his life. An accusation isn’t the same as finding fault. When my parents died the parents of that girl still lived in the neighborhood too. The younger daughter lived with them and she said the accuser lives in Miami, is physically beautiful and still falsely accusing men of harming her. The hurt from the rejection of the church is still present. The pastor of the church told me I need to write my book, because they need to hear it. Guilty people without repentance feel no shame. Shamelessness is not righteousness. Wrongfully accused people who don’t fight back with a righteousness indignation shy away with shame as a polite way of not burdening others with such ungodliness. My dad was a gentleman and wouldn’t force anyone to address the situation. So it sat as the elephant in the room.
1 Corinthians 3:13 GNBDC[13] And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.
1 Corinthians 4:4-5 GNBDC[4] My conscience is clear, but that does not prove that I am really innocent. The Lord is the one who passes judgement on me. [5] So you should not pass judgement on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgement must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people’s minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve.
1 Corinthians 4:14 GNBDC[14] I write this to you, not because I want to make you feel ashamed, but to instruct you as my own dear children.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 GNBDC[16] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, [17] so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.
Our church didn’t do what God instructs His church to do when maters arise. There was also a minister in the church who wanted it to be true and lead others to falsely judge and condemn just because he didn’t like him. As the meme says: it’s ok not to like someone. It’s not ok to dehumanize and recruit others not to like them.
Matthew 18:15-17 GNBDC[15] “If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back. [16] But if he will not listen to you, take one or two other persons with you, so that ‘every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses,’ as the scripture says. [17] And if he will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally, if he will not listen to the church, treat him as though he were a pagan or a tax collector.
Why wasn’t this confrontation process done? Because it wasn’t a sin against a brother? Than why condemn as a gentile or tax collector? Because it would be a sin against his brothers if it was true because that would mean my dad wasn’t who he said he was. Or wasn’t living a Godly life as he claimed. So then men of the church should have visited him to ask about the incident. Instead they believed whatever they wanted and condemned as they saw beneficial for them.
https://youtu.be/lEFNQE76Us4?si=scU9TS1O8HAAdC4V Brandon Lake Wait and See
Why would God allow this to happen? My dad and us were the only victims. She wasn’t ever even flashed. If you knew my dad you would know he would never do that or force himself in any manner. The suffering didn’t come from the false accusation it came from being exiled from the church. Who did they think they were helping? Her? Other children? We weren’t really exiled, just condemned to rejection and exclusion from fellowship.
Psalms 55:12-14 NASB1995[12] For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. [13] But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend; [14] We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.
I don’t think we ever learned the lesson from this great, and long lasting trial. Except maybe long suffering. A pastor in the church once said that the truth from the trial may not come until heaven. Well, I refuse to continue to live a lie to be polite and considerate to my brother’s and sisters feelings about not repenting for what they have done. Im tired of not wanting to rock the boat. I’d rather walk on water. They believed a lie based on who told them and wanting to be in their discipleship. It wasn’t on facts of the case or witness or even talking to anyone involved. I’m not responsible for what they choose to believe. I don’t want to live condemned so they don’t have to admit they wrongfully convicted in the court of public opinion a man innocent of a crime that didn’t even happen.
1 Corinthians 3:4 NASB1995[4] For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
They cared more about appeances. If our church loved truth they would have done what Jesus said to do: to go to him one on one, then with testimony of two or more witnesses for honesty, then to take it before the church. Then the church is allowed to exile. It’s not unbiblical to exile someone who refuses to live by God’s Precepts. It is unbiblical to judge without evidence and condemn without even allowing repentance once confronted. When someone has committed a crime it shouldn’t go unpunished and when the tried crime is proven true it should be known to the church. Even mental illness is not an excuse from punishment for a crime committed. If you do the crime/sin you do the time. This punishment was for wanting to be above a false accusation. Its the crucible. We haven’t learned from the past? We haven’t evolved into more sophisticated understanding of truth? It’s the sin of the Pharisees. The Pharisees didn’t care that Jesus is truth. They cared about their appearances and their reputation and control of the people. This condemnation motivates me to want to testify against blindness and self righteousness. It makes me love truth and want to stand with truth no matter the world’s rejection, because gossip is not truth. Where there is no truth Jesus isn’t there. Gossip requires no foundation. No evidence. Just a desire to use it for your own benefit is what keeps it going. Now, you’ve been deceived, repeating it makes you a liar (abomination), condemning based on it makes you judgemental and it will be measured unto you. Matthew 7:2 NASB1995[2] For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Wouldn’t you want people to vett what people heard about you? Do you think you are above being gossiped about? Do you just want to align yourself with a person? If that person isn’t aligned with Jesus you’ve are on the side of truth. You can draw a line in the sand, but are you on Jesus’s side?
It’s good that today there is a lot of discussion about hurt from the church that made people stop attending. Since there is no fellowship or connection the desire to attend a church dies too. People will say they don’t have to go to church too be a Christian and just because someone goes to church doesn’t mean they have accepted Jesus and the holy spirit. However we can’t grow outside of fellowship with other believers.
Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB1995[23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; [24] and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, [25] not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Dont you know Satan wants to break fellowship? That because when we assemble together we build each other up? That we stimulate each other to do more good deeds and to love? John 13:35 NASB1995[35] By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” When we are gossiping and isolating people than we are crippling the hands and feet of Jesus and Satan is patting himself on the back. 1 Corinthians 12:27 NASB1995[27] Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. There are people who think they get to decide if someone is apart of the body of Christ. They Pharisees thought Jesus shouldn’t be a part of their religion so they had His body nailed to a Roman cross. I can hear these people saying some need to be cast out from our midst, which is something God has commanded; but not on hasty judgement. Jesus’s fate was determined by an illegal trial too.