2 Peter 3:8-9

3:8. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

This is a message that is being written to a group of believers who are growing a little complacent. They are letting some of the doubts of the world creep in, and having their patience stretched. Their minds need to be stirred up. Take time to remember the words of the prophets of old, the words of the apostles, the commandments, even the words of the savior himself.

It’s easy to say to ourselves that God spoke to early, ancient people, but they are long dead and the world keeps plugging along without much change. Seasons come and go, years come and go, and miracles seem to not happen anymore. Where are the things promised, When is the last days going to be? Don’t rush things. The earth was created long ago, and was designed to endure for a long, long time. In fact the promise is that seasons will continue for as long as it takes. the earth will continue, just as it has, preserved, until God destroys it with fire, when he comes to judge all people.

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Leviticus 6:2-5

6:2. “If a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor,
6:3. “or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins:
6:4. “then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found,
6:5. “or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering.
–NKJ

In this key passage, the key point is in the last two verses. In the first part we have an outline of some finer points of doing things that defraud your fellow man. It contains a nasty mixture of lies, theft, trust, extortion, and other such things. The main point of these few verses is to point out that there are consequences for our actions. Sometimes the punishment for breaking a law are serious, and get the death penalty. Most have a lesser punishment such as this one about lieing and stealing Crime and sin have consequences, and deserves punishment.

We are told of these harsh things because unfortunately, in our society there are some people out there who just don’t abide by the ethical and moral teachings of either God’s law, or any law. The punishments need to be fair and fit the crime. The punishments also serve to protect the guilty party to a degree. Maybe the person will consider it a wake up call and learn to reform his ways. It should at least be fair based on the extent of the crime that was done. From the victim’s point of view, there might be a large amount of emotional sentiment attached to the item lost, or devastation at being violated. The punishment is to regulate the punishment and not punish the guilty person beyond the real weight of the crime.

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Isaiah 2:4. He shall judge between the nations, and shall rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into

plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they

learn war anymore.
–NKJ

Here’s a well known verse that speaks to a future time when a worldwide peace will occur. Swords and lances being remanufactured and beaten into garden implements. Nations will no longer rise up against each other. and even the skills of the battlefield won’t be taught because that peace will be so secure.

What will it take to have all the diverse types of humans and nations to come together? What common ground will be needed for people to put away their differences? It will have to be a time when they all find a common ground. Not just any common ground, but one so powerful that all people of all nations will feel secure enough in it to lay down the tools of war, make them into tools of peace, and feel comfortable enough to not even teach about war. You know… just in case.

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Isaiah 9:6-7

9:6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
9:7. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
–NKJ

Isaiah talks about a king who will come in the future. One that we know as the person of Jesus Christ. He will arrive as a child who is born in the usual way. A gift of joy and pleasure to his parents. He will be a son who is to carry the weight and burden of governmental authority.

He will be the kind of person deserving of the names listed here. I looked up the original words and the list reads like this:

Miraculous, Counselor, Strong, Warrior, Father being Forever, Prince of Peace.

The comma’s (,) separate the individual words of his name.

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James 4:11-12.

 4:11.  Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
 4:12.  There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Leave the Judging to God.

In any situation with a group of people, of any size, there needs to be some kind of round rules. When rules are in place, a rule will eventually be broken. Anybody can raise a complaint, but somebody will have to hold the place of judge, make a decision, and administer a punishment. That’s the way laws work.

Let’s not talk about religious things for a moment. In our civic laws we have one that involves stop signs. When that rule is not followed, someone reports it. A policeman writes a ticket. The ticket is your summons to see a judge. The judge determines guilt and assigns a punishment.

I think that most often Christians are acting as the policemen in the situation. We are out on the streets, we see things happen, and have to use enough judgement to recognize an infraction of the law. We rush to the offender and get on their case about the deed that was done. We issue the ticket for that person to appear in God’s court.

The problem is that people misunderstand us Christians. They see the policeman as the judge. They don’t recognize the real authority of the real judge, God. They think the ticket is the actual punishment. It carries no weight because they feel no gilt over it. Still, if you’ve ever got a ticket, it is still an infraction of the law. Ignorance of law is no excuse. Your case still goes on the books. Your court date still rolls around. Now your judgement is assured, a warrant is issued and there is no avoiding the judge or your punishment. Try standing in the courtroom and facing the judge, and telling him that you never gave his authority over you any credit. Try to explain how his law doesn’t apply to you for whatever reason that you can rationalize. You just might find yourself angry and still rationalizing over it as your walet is emptied of the full amount of the fine, or sitting in a jail cell for a little while.

In the big picture of things, only God is judge. As Christians we are not to take the law into our own hands. We should never be the ones to declare the punishment. We have no authority to send someone off to their doom. We can identify an infraction. We can try to warn people from making a mistake. We should send out encouraging words to motivate people to make the right decisions. That’s all we can do.

Is it possible that you, a Christian, are putting yourself into the position as judge? Stop it. You will know you are if you accost a sinner, and say harsh words, evil words against that person. Our words, even harsh, or strong ones, have no authority to condemn that person. We shouldn’t even tell them that ‘God’ll get you for that.’ God just might, but not until that final day. God’s grace and mercy is new each day.

God loves us before we loved him. He loved us when we were still sinners. Once we turn to a godly lifestyle, we start seeing how unnatractive and shameful sin really is. When we see that sin in another we get an idea of how offensive sin is to ‘god. Still, god loved us, even when we once had that exact same, shameful look of sin about us that we may be seeing in the person we might be judging… Oops, I mean observing as a police officer.  God’s mercy is new each day. He gave us a chance. Show mercy and grace to that person.

Sadly, the guilty person might mistake the policeman as the heavy. He might mistake the warning of the crime as the end judgement. All you can do is to understand your position. Leave any condemnation in the hands of God.

If you were a police officer, and somebody gave you a hard time about being a judge, or argue why you don’t leave them alone as they robbed a house, or ran that stop sign, what would you do or say? That’s the kind of reaction we should have. Sometimes it might require explaining how the legal system works, sometimes it takes a little reasoning, sometimes there’s not much that can be done. No matter what, stand your ground. a policeman who looks the other way and let crime take place has no place on his job.

James 2:13
 2:13.  For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Mercy or Judgement

Judgment is good. It is the ability we use to tell if something meets a certain standard. Go to the grocery store and watch people buying fresh produce. You’ll see all kinds of judgement as people pick out just the right apple, or watermellon, or head of lettuce. The idea is to find the one that is freshest, looks best, and will taste good, and not be spoiled or rotten. It’s only smart and healthy to be discerning over food.

God has a specific standard that we each need to meet. When we don’t, he passes us over and we can’t be part of his shopping cart. God is in the place to judge. He knows both the inside and outside of our lives. We only know what is on the outside of those around us. We don’t have any authority to judge. We have a clue, because of the things written in the Bible. If judgement exists, let it be between God, and each individual.

Despite God’s judgement, he is also merciful. His mercy extends to all of us. None of us deserve it. When the opportunity to judge, or show mercy arises, choose mercy. Behavior that goes against God’s standards don’t have to be encouraged, or condoned. If it really bothers you, speak to the other person as a friend and show mercy and kindness. That’s the attribute of God that we need to reflect.

When in doubt, always be merciful.

Romans 8:1–17; Galatians 5:16–26

Summary:
They that are in Christ, are free from condemnation.
What harm comes of the flesh;
and what good of the Spirit.
but rather love, which is the sum of the law.
He reckons up the works of the flesh,
and the fruits of the Spirit,
and exhorts to walk in the Spirit.

8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
8:2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
8:3. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
8:4. that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

8:5. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
8:6. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
8:7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8:8. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
8:9. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
8:10. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
8:11. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
8:12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

8:13. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
8:14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
8:15. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
8:16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
8:17. and if children, then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

5:16. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
5:17. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
5:18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

5:19. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness,
5:20. idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
5:21. envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
5:23. gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
5:24. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

5:25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
5:26. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Comments:

The opening verses today are some that we have seen before. In general, There is a new law, the law of the spirit. Under the old law, we can only hope for death as the burden of our sins ile up. In the new law, there is no judgement, no condemnation. The law of the flesh weighs us down. The law of the spirit sets us free.

People who live by the rules only see the “Thou Shalts” and the “Thou Shalt Nots” of life. They see life as a rule book and think, wrongly, that if you do enough good things, it will balance your score card for the better and you make it to heaven. The law can only define human actions. Doing this is a good act. Doing that is a bad act. The spirit cuts to the motivation behind the act. It gets to the emotion and mental activity that builds up and leads to the action that pours out of us. By the time we do the deed, the idea, and attitude has already existed in us. That is the law of the spirit. Controling those unseen factors before they lead to actions.

Having a mind set on pleasing the desires of the body, even a mind that is set on doing the old testament laws is one that is hostile to God. Often the attitude is, ‘OK, I’m doing what it says, but not because I want to. I’m doing the right thing, but I don’t like it.’ As soon as watchful eyes are gone, that forced behavior is tossed out. True behavior comes out behind our closed doors.

As believers we can strive to abide in Christ. We can learn the concepts and the things that motivated him, and make those thoughts our own as well. The best way to relearn a behavior is to make it our desire. A student who does poorly in school can improve, but onlyonce they suddenly come to realize the importance of learning and make the learning experience their own. People who are adicted to a substance often go right back to it, even after extensive rehab sessions. They can come to terms with breaking the habit, only once the motivation to leave it behind comes from the desire within. That is the spiritual law. What the body wants doesn’t matter anymore. It’s dead. The spirit is now alive.

Spiritual laws and living control our unseen attitudes. We can really have right living when we focus on the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. He is the power that we can rely on to practice these right ways now, and lead us into our place in his kingdom. His kingdom is real, and we can be in it.

The last passage goes further to define some fleshly behaviors, and contrasts those with fruits of the spirit. Such behaviors are contrary. Just notice that the evil behavior are a list of actions, verbs, things we do. The list of the fruits of the spirit are attitudes, emotions, unseen things, nouns. If the internal ways are set right, by self discipline in Jesus and his spiritual ways, then when we get squeezed by the stresses of life, good things come out in our behavior.

Nobody can make a law that ensures the law of the spirit. There is no law that makes a list of good behaviors. When our thoughts are focused on God’s ways the possibilities of doing good are endless. Stay in Jesus, abide in his ways.

Romans 2:5–11

Summary:
No escape from judgment.

 2:5.  But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
 2:6.  who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
 2:7.  eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
 2:8.  but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath,
 2:9.  tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
 2:10.  but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
 2:11.  For there is no partiality with God.

Comments:

Hard hearts. Never a good thing with God. At times he has hardened hearts, always those who were enemies of Israel. God then used those heard hearts to be easily broken and defeated. Israel had a case of hard heart and they found themselves in exile and captivity in Babylon. Please keep your heart from getting hard, it will only bring God’s wrath upon yourself. It is the only treasure that will await you. Those aren’t my own mere mortal words. It’s a well documented judgement of God.

God knows the works of each of us. Many people think if their works are good enough, they make it to heaven. How good is good enough? Can you really trust that method? There is only one way to heaven, that’s Jesus.

Now, if we seek, patiently, to do good, it is a sign that we will make it to heaven. It’s not the work that does it, but the work is the proof, the reflection of our inner, changed attitude. An inner desire to do well for God.

Those who are rebellious, and broken into their own little groups, and serve themselves, and not the truth, they are doomed. God’s wrath is their only reward. Tribulation and anguish of the soul. It doesn’t matter whether the person is Jew or Greek. Meaning one of the group of people known as God’s chosen ones, or if an outsider.

Glory, honor, and peace awaits any person who does do those good things. Keep a soft heart toward God. Stay obedient to him. It doesn’t matter whether if you are an insider or outside of the traditional chosen group. God doesn’t regard who you are, or who you came from. He cares for people who choose to live right. It doesn’t matter if you claim a label of Christianity, or any other religion, or denomination. Even if you don’t claim to be any religion at all. God’s judgements will go well for people who seek after him and live according to his ways, and against those who     don’t.