The Pharisees

The dictionary defines them as:

noun

plural noun: Pharisees

1. a member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law, and commonly held to have pretensions to superior sanctity.
   • a self-righteous or hypocritical person

The letter of the law before the principle, the law before Agape Love, scantimonious because of their privilege and education. They described the ordinary Jews and people as the dirt they walked on in he streets. Too ignorant for salvation and beyond the love of God.

Today we have many Pharisees, these educated and privileged ones who think that they have cornered the means of morality, who can set new standards. For example, if you have strong views about marriage, gender and what morality means in the family, you’re immediately attacked for being prejudiced, narrow minded, creating and perpetuating hate. Social Justice and Intellectual Self righteous philosophy have warped society.

Christian interlopers – Modern Pharisees

Why interloper? “a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.” Well let the Bible expalin what the Christians believed in the time of the Apostles 1 Corinthians 6: 9 “Or do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality,10 thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom.11 And yet that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean; you have been sanctified; you have been declared righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God.12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful for me, but I will not let myself be controlled by anything.”

Chapter 7 requires that someone practing these things are put out of the congregation. The individual can live that style of life but not as a Christian.

Today the Christian Churches allow these practices, condone them by appointing Priests, and Bishops who openly preach that these things are no longer sin.

So how moral attitudes need to change with society. Tradition over the scripture, somehow religious people think that God has changed the more civilised we have become.

These practices were as common in the time of the Apostles as they are today, they were tied up with false religious practices and Christians shunned the practice.

The Apostle John encouraged the Christians not to break bread with those who corrupt the congregation of God.

Does Jesus Ransom extend to Pharisees?

Did you pick up on the point “that is what some of you were”? These ones who practiced these things including holding to the traditions of the day had given them up, they had changed their lives, they had washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb.

Note Romans 12: 1 “Therefore, I appeal to you by the compassions of God, brothers, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason.2 And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We make the changes, we do not dilute the standards to meet our view, we bring our standards up to align with Gods.

Romans 13: 11 “And do this because you know the season, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers.12 The night is well along; the day has drawn near. Let us therefore throw off the works belonging to darkness and let us put on the weapons of the light.13 Let us walk decently as in the daytime, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in immoral intercourse and brazen conduct, not in strife and jealousy.14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be planning ahead for the desires of the flesh.”

We are assured salvation through Christ is open to all of us but we need to come into line. I have to ensure examination standards are met when marking work, I have a narrow range of possible answers anything less than this is a fail. There are no near fails it is clear, they meet the standard or they don’t, I send the work back to them with the mark, if they wish to resubmit the student must adjust and ammend the information presented.

God’s standards are clear, no matter what the traditionalists and modern libertarians of the Church say, God does not change, because he and his laws are perfect.

If his standards changed he could have just accepted that Adam and Eve had been wrong, rebelled and accomodated the new relationship. Rather he sent his son Jesus Christ to die for all humans and ensure that we have the chance of life as intended.

Conclusion

Those who are not wanted are the self righteous, those who make the opportunity for salvation on their own terms and promote their own superiority and thoughts. Scantimonious because their views are more appropriate than the Bible. Let the word of God speak, it is alive and exerts real power.

Find out more about the meaning of Christs sacrifice on our behalf join the more than 21,000,000 people gathering person or on zoom to comemorate the meorial of Christs death and the Last Supper,Friday 15th April as the sun has set.

A Lie

All of us have experienced the damage a lie causes, whether we tell it or we’re told it. The problem is that the information has two key points:

1. Based on a grain of truth
2. Not easy to verify immediately

It has the needed impact initially but when they unwind and the truth becomes apparent we have often done damage that is difficult to resolve. We have lost the trust of others which is bad enough, but we have also created a situation where the resulting compensation is worse than telling the truth in the first instance.

Motivation

Why we lie is interesting, have you asked yourself why you try to use words in this way to defend actions, omissions and responsibility?

• Often to save face
• To avoid the consequences of an error
• To deceive

The first lie recorded was designed to deceive and steal at the same time. Note how the deception started in Genesis 3: 1 “Now the serpent was the most cautious of all the wild animals of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it said to the woman: “Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” What appears to be an innocent question, Eve knew the answer and responded positively.

However, the counter-response was clinical Genesis 3: 4 “At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die.5 For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” Three parts to the lie:

• You won’t die
• God is withholding something you have a right to
• You’ll be like God

Two elements wouldn’t stand up or bear real scrutiny but it was the deception that God was holding something back that Adam and eve had a right to. Eve couldn’t check if she was going to die, she also couldn’t validate the idea that she would be like God. However, the idea that God was keeping something from them aroused her interest. Their rights were being withheld and they wanted everything that was theirs.

Eve had already said God gave them everything but one Tree, his tree and Satan the Devil (Slanderer and Resister) had achieved his goal. Separating humanity from the creator.

The consequence of the lie?

The verses in Genesis 3: 19 “In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.”20 After this Adam named his wife Eve, because she was to become the mother of everyone living.”

Hereditary (the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another) means we the offspring of Adam and Eve have been given a gift that never stops taking – the greatest scam in history still affects everyone because as Romans 5: 12 says “That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned”

James 3: 2 “For we all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle also his whole body.3 If we put bridles in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide also their whole body” We stumble and fall, our words are not always what they should be. So what is the answer?

Importance of Prayer

James 1: 5 “So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him.6 But let him keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about.” Prayer is our life line and by it we seek the wisdom of God. What does that achieve note the words of James 3: 17 “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical.18 Moreover, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peaceful conditions for those who are making peace.”

Without a personal relationship with God, we can’t escape the consequences of Satan’s first lie.

How does prayer make that possible? 1 John 1: 7 “However, if we are walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we do have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses our sins, Adam brought sin to us and Jesus takes it away, how? 1 John 2: 1 “My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one.2 And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s.3 And by this we realize that we have come to know him, namely, if we continue observing his commandments.” What is a “propitiatory sacrifice for our sins”? The dictionary explains that ‘having the power to atone for or offered by way of expiation or propitiation’ is an appropriate understanding in this context.

Jesus’ blood at his death because he was without sin, he never lied and never thought of deceiving others covers the value of Adam’s rebellion. He did this willingly.

The Last Supper

After the Passover of 33 AD on the same night of Nisan 14 Jesus entered into a covenant or agreement with his Apostles that explained the purpose of his death, and what it would accomplish for all of us. To understand what it means for each of us we need to explore and understand the significance of the Bread and the Wine. So on April 15 after sunset locally join more than 21 million people globally who will be gathered to commemorate the “The Lords Evening Meal” at a venue close to you.

Listen as the Bible is used to explain the reason for his death and the value to every one of us, past, present and future.

Then begin to study the bible and Enjoy Life Forever.

Beyond Redemption?

Are any of us beyond redemption? Surprisingly the answer is both yes and no! Because the choice is ours.

Jesus’ death provided the payment in full but there are those who are so attached to the captor that they have a form of Stockholm Syndrome.

2 Corinthians 4: 3 If, in fact, the good news we declare is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing,4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.

The ruler of this world is successfully deceiving millions in thinking:

1. there is no God
2. there is no Devil
3. Humans have no need for a ransom
4. Humans are accountable only to history when they are long dead

The list could go on. What this demonstrates is like the first woman Eve – many have been deceived, enticed by the idea that a short lifespan without God is to be preferred over eternity.

The search begins with a reliable source of information

The Choice

Jesus explained what we are faced with when he is quoted at John 8: 44 “You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie.” Succumbing to the Devil’s propaganda sadly aligns us with his outcome.

How do you distinguish truth from lies? Personally, I look for a reliable source of information, cross-check the facts they refer to and establish the honesty and accuracy of the source.

It is simple to read or see something today and believe it. For example, millions were convinced that a face mask would not provide any protection for themselves or others from COVID19. The Government, Media, education, religion and science intentionally deceived the public because it was for the greater good. Being honest may have saved millions from infection and debilitating illness possibly death.

Yet this same set of sources explains that God forgives all and that he accepts all regardless of their behaviour.

What happens in a hostage situation where some of the hostages refuse to believe they are being liberated, often they side with the captors and lose what had been redeemed.

Consequently, we need to find accurate information about God, his purpose and why the ransom was paid. None of us is beyond redemption right now but we need to search for God, set matters straight with God, exercise faith in the Father of tender mercies and of course recognise that through Jesus’ death we have been set free.

So beautifully summed up by the writer of Ecclesiastes 12: 13 “The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man.14 For the true God will judge every deed, including every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad.”

Act now to Enjoy Life Forever, find out more about the ransom and what it means for us and why it is the hostage that needs to make the change to benefit from the redemption.

One of the great deceptions used in WW2 was the fighting forces appeared to be in greater numbers because they ensured that their captives looked like the troops or militia, the human shield, is still used today, we need to accept that we could be part of that shield because we have no idea where we stand. Search for Truth because the Bible explains that salvation is not far from any of us.

“Though your sins are like scarlet”

Isaiah 1: 18 is a reminder to all of us that we do make serious mistakes. That although these may just be too big for us to see past and yet as described God is looking to erase those sins.

We have Bible accounts that demonstrate his capacity to forgive, they serve as a reminder of the words of the Apostle John wrote at 1John 3: 20 “regarding whatever our hearts may condemn us in, because God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.”

Forgiveness through a Sacrifice

Once our first family members had chosen to remove themselves from the support and guidance the creator/maker had provided things started to go downhill.

Often this has been likened to when we switch off a fan and it takes some time for the blades to stop rotating. We are close to the complete standstill.

So we needed to reconnect to the power source – to the creator but we had changed the plug. This was when God came to our rescue, providing the promise of the connection through a mediator Jesus Christ.

“Washed in the Blood of the Lamb”

We identify those who become connected to God through Christ when we look at Revelation 7: 9 “After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands.10 And they keep shouting with a loud voice, saying: “Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

The Angel explains who these ones are to John in Revelation 7: 13 “In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?”14 So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15 That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.”

John uses the expression “Great tribulation” here just as Jesus did to provide the sign of his second coming. It is evident that these survivors are in a special relationship with Christ so they worship the one on the throne because of Jesus.

So Salvation is through the Blood of the Christ. This is something we need to know more about. How does Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection address our need and restore us to that original relationship with God?

Every year Jesus disciples – yes Christians who follow the pattern Jesus set, meet to commemorate his death and review why this one takes away the sins of the world though they be scarlet because through his death we can wash or cleanse ourselves to enjoy the glorious freedom of the children of God.

The promise is that we see God’s Name Jehovah sanctified and his rightful position as the one worthy of worship and praise vindicated. The reward for those who do is to “Enjoy Life Forever”

Pathway is clear for those who understand the sacrifice

Clean earth with the real-life ahead of those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb www.jw.org

The Blind See!

Jesus asked the Disciples of John the Baptist to let him know that Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy in recorded in Isaiah 29: 18 “In that day the deaf will hear the words of the book, And out of the gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.”

It is interesting that today the Blind can see and the deaf hear – Jesus’ message is achieving something that individuals continue to strive for – real freedom – through the truth. Notice what his words express in John 8: 31 Then Jesus went on to say to the Jews who had believed him: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples,32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

A time of new hope and life

Role as the Ransom

The UK recently paid a sum to Iran – defined as a debt for the release of two detainees. That debt payment was the cost of their freedom, yes it was the ransom that had to be paid.

Humankind deliberately stepped away from God, and what that achieved created a substantial debt. The balance of the payment was beyond the collective contribution of all those who have ever lived.

Humans who want to restore their relationship with God must balance the scales of Justice and we must willingly pay that price for our freedom.

Adam sacrificed perfect human life for self-determination and the right to ignore Jehovah God, he looked for independence, he bought it and we’re stuck with it. It is like having the best health possible and deciding to get infected with a deadly virus.

To restore good health it is going to take some action.

Jesus became that ransom, he sacrificed his perfect life to buy those who wanted to restore what we had at first. Like the voluntary act of Adam to surrender that good condition Jesus voluntarily gave his whole life. He ceased to exist.

The healing today

Understanding the meaning of the sacrifice is so important – he died so we may live, but not just in the future, live right now.

We enjoy freedom from:

• false teachings
• traditions
• confused moral standards
• despair

Knowing why we need the ransom is critical, on Friday 15th April your local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses commemorates the death of Jesus in line with the admonition in Luke 22: 19 “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”​ They invite you to locate and attend the closest meeting where the significance of this sacrifice is explained.

How we respond to the ransom that has been paid is evidence of our desire to be healed at this time. Spiritual blindness cripples the world leaders, society and destroys hope, stopped up ears achieve a result that ultimately leads to disaster.

Jesus made the point clearly our hope and freedom is based on remaining in his word – to find out more attend the Memorial of Jesus’ Death in your community, if you can’t get to the venue ask Jehovah’s Witnesses to provide you with access to a streamed event and participate through the online connection.

This is the most important date of the year for Christians because at his death Jesus established our opportunity for redemption and everlasting life, he restored our sight and unstopped our ears, healed us spiritually. Take advantage of the opportunity to find out more and discuss the importance of this day.

The Bread of Life

We are still living in very difficult times, the pandemic affects are impacting in every part of the world.

However, at this time of the year much is said about the death of Jesus. Religious people hail him as the saviour of the world and recognize that he died for everyone of us.

But how can this be so? How does the death of one person 2,000 years ago offer hope and salvation to you and me?

The Ransom

Briefly, humanity lost the specialist position it had with God when our first parents rejected him. To say they sinned is too simplistic – Adam like Satan the Devil Rebelled against God. He took a stand that affected you and I, those effects are impacting on us today.

The deliberate act of disobedience left us all making decisions for ourselves with little or no guidance. This is the origin of sin. As Adam’s direct descendants we are separated from God. To balance the scales of justice Jehovah God provided a ransom in exchange or a payment for this sin. This had to be the same value as Adam – what he paid for his independence from God. A perfect Human who willingly chose to serve God in the face of extreme pressure and temptation. Adam suffered after his rebellion, Jesus because of Adam’s rebellion. Perfect Life for Perfect Life

Jesus Christs’ sacrifice

1. is a payment for sin – 1 Cor 7: 33 “You were bought with a price; stop becoming slaves of men”.
2. a release from suffering – Col 1: 14 “by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins“.
3. the value corresponding value – Rom 5: 19 “For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one person many will be made righteous”.

The annual commemoration of this sacrifice made by Jesus is March 27 after sunset where you are.

We warmly invite you to join the more than 20 million already committed to attending this event. To find the closest location to you please follow this link, or find the broadcast in your own language.

This year the commemoration is being held via Zoom to join the attendees you will need to contact one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who will provide you with the information you require.

Study the bible online

Understanding God’s Love

Church leaders around the world will be addressing their followers in the Easter period for many reasons, most will focus on the state of the world and assign some measure of accountability to humans and our flawed state.

Yet few will focus on how the world we live in is evidence that we are at a personal tipping point.

The Gift God Gave!

We find ways to look at Jesus birth and death as isolated events, the priests, clergy and religious minds have used these celebrations as ways to generate income not faith.

Remember the words of the Angels to the Shepherds at Jesus birth: Luke 2: “10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.”

Christ the Saviour – he made that clear when he stated at Matthew 20: 28 “even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.“

God promised this ransom when Adam and Eve rebelled against his lawful rulership.

Why a time of hope?

Jesus words again explain at Luke 21: 28 “But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.“

What things?

Let the context explain Luke 21: 10 “Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.”

At the point of salvation humanity will have faced a series of unparalleled events. These began in the 20th Century and have accelerated to this period in 2021.

So why commemorate the death of Jesus Christ in 33 CE in March 2021? The Psalmist puts it this way in Psalm 2: 7 “Let me proclaim the decree of Jehovah; He said to me: “You are my son; Today I have become your father. 8 Ask of me, and I will give nations as your inheritance And the ends of the earth as your possession. 9 You will break them with an iron sceptre, And you will smash them like a piece of pottery.” 10 So now, you kings, show insight; Accept correction, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Honour the son, or God will become indignant And you will perish from the way, For His anger flares up quickly. Happy are all those taking refuge in Him.”

The raised Jesus Christ opens the only route to salvation and how we accept his role and rulership determines whether we are to be judged as righteous or face the consequences on rejecting “the Gift of God” his son who suffered and died for each of us.

It will soon be too late to recognise Christ as our saviour because as the Psalm 2 tells us he goes subduing his enemies. God doesn’t delight in the fact that billions will take no note and will lose their precious lives.

Follow this theme in part 2

Why did Jesus die for me?

I know my flaws, errors and failings. I am aware that even when I don’t intend to be mean I am. As the apostle Paul says I am at war with myself.

Does this make me irredeemable?

Pauls heart warming words at 1 Timothy 1: 15 “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these, I am foremost.” I would say we all feel that we run him a close second, maybe even a photo finish.

Jesus Died for Sinners!

It is interesting that when Jesus spoke to the Jewish Religious and political leaders they understood themselves to be above the people, superior, righteous and pious, not that they weren’t sinners but they weren’t SINNERS like everyone else.

The Christian who somehow feels superior to others fails to understand that knowing we sin in just one point separates us from our God and we need redemption as much or even more than others. Simply because we know how we should behave.

To illustrate – on a public road where the speed limit is 40kph but there aren’t any signs to say that the locals know, a visitor hasn’t seen signs doesn’t know the area and is caught in the speed trap doing 60kph, at the same time a local is caught in the speed trap going at 70kph. Who is more culpable?

The same in life, once we are aware we are sinners, we recognize the need for a ransom, someone who can compensate for our sins until we are taught to be perfect.

John 3: 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”

That single verse changes our prospects of life, look at the true sentiment, God (Jehovah) is a aware of our sins, yet he provider a ransom in his son who came to earth to die for those who accept the sacrifice and put faith in him.

Jesus died once for all of us. That death isn’t a free pass to sin as much as we want rather it requires us to try harder not to sin.

Love of god and neighbour are our two basic principles in life.

So how do we recognize the meaning of his sacrifice? We need to learn from Jesus understand how his life and ministry, death and resurrection are the real answer to our human issues.

So start with the value of his sacrifice – next week globally the discourse Have You Found a “Pearl of High Value”? [This event will be held virtually. To learn more, ask one of Jehovah’s Witnesses or visit www.jw.org.] Just how much are we prepared to surrender for the opportunity to secure this treasure. It is followed by understanding how Jesus explained his sacrifice and you are invited to join the more than 20,000,000 individuals globally for the Memorial of Jesus’ Death on Saturday March 27 – the local memorial is a virtual event – to find out more:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert: Because of the pandemic, this event will be held virtually. To learn how to connect to this event, ask one of Jehovah’s Witnesses or follow this link

Then come to understand what Jesus meant in his prayer at John 17: 3 “This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”

Salutations

Please stay well, stay safe and remember COVID is a gift we just don’t want to pass on to others so don’t be in too great a hurry to get back to normal.

May Jehovah God bless your desire to find out more about his son, the sacrifice and his love for humankind.

We enter a new period of reflection with over 6,100,000 deaths and waras across the world. Never has there been a greater need for the truth of why Jesus died for us – yes we have a choice God’s Kingdom or more misery following men – join us to find out more April 15 2022