Officer Wesley Cheeks says, "Welcome to The People's Republic of Obama!!"

....Or, as it used to be called, "America."

The police officer in this video is a perfect example of how the voters in this country sold us out for bread and games. This officer's quote at the end of the video is typical of the attitude of many who have "Obama" stickers on their cars.

Protester: "This used to be America"
Officer Wesley Cheeks: "It ain't no more, OK?"

Nope. This is The People's Republic of Obama.

Hat Tip Michelle Malkin:



Will Obama come out and say this cop "acted stupidly?" Don't hold your breath.

Now, notice the media silence on this. A black college professor gets arrested because he refuses to cooperate with a white police officer when said officer investigates a possible break in at his residence and it's all over the news.

But here, a black officer prevents a white man from exercising his Constitutional rights, and nary a peep from Chrissy Matthews or Keith Olbermann.

But, nah, there's no liberal bias in the Media. Here is some contact info--

Fairfax County Public Schools:
24-Hour Dispatch/Call Center (703) 764-2400
Main Office (703) 658-3760

Jim McLain
Security Coordinator
email: Jim.McLain@fcps.edu
(703) 658-3769

Lt. Daniel Townsend
Fairfax County Police/School Liaison Commander
email: Daniel.Townsend@fcps.edu
(703) 658-3707

Major James A. Morris
Fairfax County Police Department
(703) 246-2918

Or you can file one at the Fairfax County website.

What exactly DOES 1st Corinthians 9:19-22 mean, anyway?

Ohhhhh, the ways this passage is twisted, and perverted, and turned on its head by the oh-so-hip, oh-so-cool, oh-so-relevant "pastors" of the many seeker-sensitive, non-offensive, cross-less "churches" that pepper the American religious community today. They take the words of the apostle Paul, and they use them as an excuse to perform all kinds of free-for-alls by inviting all kinds of filthy, heathen, Satanic methods into a place that is supposed to be sanctified, consecrated, and set apart for the worship of Almighty YHVH.

And what is their excuse? "See??? Paul said he was 'all things to all men!' So take that you Bible-thumping Pharisee!" And we who love the precious word of God and consider ourselves slaves to it, shake our heads and groan on the inside, knowing that one more person has just allowed themselves to be conformed to this evil world, whilst trying to hold on to Christ. So, for the sake of clarity, let us examine just exactly what the apostle meant. Here are his actual words:

1st Corinthians 9:19-22 (New King James Version)--19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

But, let's take the attitude of those who would say, "Of course they played Marilyn Manson music in church this morning! They were reaching out and being relevant to Marilyn Manson fans! I mean, how else are they going to draw them?" And let's draw it out to its inevitable conclusion. This is what they would have Paul say--

1st Corinthians 9:19-22 (New Seeker-Sensitive Version)--19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I may win more; 20 and to the murderers I became a murderer, so that I might win murderers; to the blasphemers, as a blasphemer, so that I might win the blasphemers; 21 to the pornographers, as a pornographer, so that I might win pornographers. 22 To the pagans and Wiccans and Druids, I became a pagan and Wiccan and Druid that I might win the pagans and Wiccans and Druids; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

But is that what Paul was saying? If you think it is, then stop reading right now and go back to reading Rob Bell or Doug Paggitt. Because you will not like what I am about to say. Paul was not saying that he committed acts that were sinful, neither was he saying that he brought Satanic rituals into the church, nor is he saying that we should be conformed to this world so that we can be "all things to all men."

Verse 19. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. Here Paul hearkens back to the words of our LORD Jesus. For what did He tell the two brothers who would have had Him give them thrones? Matthew 20:26-27--"Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave." Paul would later tell the church at Philippi to Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5 NASB). So, in order that the gospel may do its perfect work in saving those whom the Father is drawing, Paul says that he has become less than the ones he preaches to.

Verse 20a. ...and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews... Now, we know that he was born a Jew. That he was circumcised the 8th day. This is obvious from even a cursory reading of Scripture. Romans 9:3-4--I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites... Philippians 3:4-5--If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews... But Paul is not talking about how he was born. Keeping context in mind, he has made himself a slave to the Jews by "becoming as a Jew." In other words, when he went to the Jews to preach the gospel, he set his mind to teach them from what they knew--the OT Scriptures. His thinking, going in, was "These men know the Tanakh. They know all the rituals and sacrifices and offerings. I will show them how these things point to Christ." Which he did in 1st Corinthians 5:7--For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. And in Galatians 3:15-16--Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. And, if Paul is indeed the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, he spelled out how pretty much the entire Tanakh was nothing more than a foreshadowing of Moshiach.

Verse 20b. ...to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law... He was an expert in the Mosaic Law. And as he was studying that Law so fiercely under Gamaliel, and seeking to become the greatest teacher of the Mosaic Law that the world of Judaism would ever know, he did not think that God was the one who was making him that expert. But now, he is an expert, and can dialog with the experts in that Law almost as well as the author of that law, the LORD Jesus Christ Himself. Philippians 3:4-6--If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel...concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Acts 22:3-5--"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished."

But, what happened one day as he was carrying the extradition papers to bring the Damascene Christians to Jerusalem to face the sword? Acts 22:6-11--"Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'" He was called by the risen Christ, and shown that salvation does not come by keeping the Law, but by faith in Christ. And upon learning this great truth, he gave himself all the more to the study of the OT, to the Law and the prophets, to show those who were still slaves to the Law and the prophets the true way to life eternal. Romans 3:27-28--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 apart from the deeds of the law. Galatians 3:21-22--Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

And in the Scriptures, we have an illustration of Paul showing these who were "under Law" just how useless the keeping of that Law is. In Acts 16:1-3, Paul and Silas meet a young man named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. There was just one problem. Because Timothy's father was Greek, he did not have his son circumcised. And in order to have this young man heard by the Jews in that area, he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. And what is so ironic about this incident is that Paul had, in his hands a decree from the apostles James and John and Peter (as well as Paul himself) stating that a man does not need to be circumcised to be a Christian. In fact, I doubt the ink was even dry on the parchment. But, since circumcision is NOT against the Law, he talked Timothy into being circumcised. And this, as if to say, "Fine! Now look, you've mutilated the poor man. But Men of Israel, this man is no more saved now that you have mutilated him than he was before. And he would have been no less saved if you had sheathed your knives!" What would Paul say later about these men? Philippians 3:2--Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! Galatians 5:12 (NASB)--I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.

Verse 21. ...to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law. Here he is speaking of the Gentiles. These are the ones "without law." Romans 2:14--for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves. Do the Gentiles also have a part in the Kingdom of God? Well, of course!! Romans 3:29-30--Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. And now, Paul having been shown that salvation is apart from the law, and is not for the Jews only, has gone to the Gentiles preaching faith in Christ Jesus. And that these Gentiles are not bound by Law, but are actually free from the Law. Colossians 1:8-16--Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ...Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

And of course, there would still be many Gentile Christians who would think that if they did not keep the Law perfectly, they would again fall under the wrath and condemnation of God. So to dispel that notion, he wrote Romans 8:1-4--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. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 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, 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.

Verse 22a. ...to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak... What about the one whose faith is not a threefold cord, but is rather a slender thread? He has taken them into account. In fact, he rebuked the apostle Peter for acting in a way that had the potential to damage the faith of the weak Jewish Christians. Galatians 2:11-13--Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Paul had a compassion for weak brethren that was as near to equaling that of our LORD Jesus as is possible in a man. And he was not shy about letting that be known. In fact, in this same letter to these Corinthians, he says Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you (1st Corinthians 11:20-22). If this is not a rebuke of "bring anything you want into the house of God" doctrine that many churches follow, I don't know what is. Here were people bringing evil into a gathering of the body of Christ--and Paul rebuked them for it!

He would go on to tell the Roman saints, Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks (Romans 14:1-6). He would go on to say, in that same chapter, that It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak (Romans 14:21). In other words, if there is a chance that a weak brother may come into the house you claim to be a church, and they hear you playing Satanic music, and they walk out and go back to their old sinful lifestyle--you have made that brother stumble, and you will give an account!! those aren't my words. Those are the words of Scripture.

Verse 22b. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. If you have not gathered, from the preceding verses, how mixed up and muddled the "Anything Goes in the House of God" crowd has made this verse, then please go back and read it again. I don't know how much clearer I could make it. Or have you seen something in Paul's actions--ANY of them--that have given you even a hint that he would allow satanic practices in the house of God. "Oh, but I was drawn to this church by them playing AC/DC music!" Really? Then you have given the glory to Satan. You are saying that it was Satan who was responsible for you going to that "church." Does it mean you aren't saved? I can't make that call. But if you continue to listen to Satanic music, and you do not repent and if you do not call that which is Satanic "Satanic," then I do fear for your soul.

And don't give me that lame old "Well, Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and God used it for good!" That is an excuse. That is a very tired, very old excuse used by those who want to hold onto the things of this world while still claiming to be Christian. I will allow God's word to answer that. James 4:4-5--Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously? 1st John 2:15-16--Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18--Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. "Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters," says the LORD Almighty."

And yet, there will still be those who will search for loopholes in the word of God. They will craft arguments so as to avoid the clear teachings of Scripture. They will appeal to their own intellect and their own reasoning and their own desires in order to nullify the word of God. And they will push the boundaries God has laid down so that they may appeal to the basest instincts of those who follow them. They will be popular. They will win applause and admiration from men. They will go through life thinking that they are doing something good and noble (no pun intended). And they will not consider that one day God just may push back.

God's courtroom

As I type this, the sentencing phase of the Letalvis Cobbins trial is talking place. If the system works as it should, he will receive the death penalty. Why? Because that is what he deserves for the crimes he has committed. They were heinous, barbaric, abominable, and not simply inhumane--but inhuman. And because of the inhumanity with which he and his accomplices acted toward Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, they should all be removed from society and sentenced to death. (And before you say that the death penalty is "unbiblical" I would direct you to Romans 13:1-4).

Right now, his sister is pleading on his behalf, that he not be sentenced to death. She, along with the rest of his family, is pleading that the judge and jury spare his life. And they may succeed. They may play on the sympathies of the judge and the jury, or the judge and jury may be so soft-hearted that they will sentence Cobbins to life without parole. And as this unfolds, several thoughts come to mind.

First, is Letalvis Cobbins any worse than we are? Consider this for one moment. Letalvis Cobbins committed one of the most despicable murders in the history of Knoxville, or Tennessee, or the United States for that matter. But is that so very different from the ways we break God's laws? Without the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; without the Holy Spirit of God holding back the wicked hearts of evil men, there is not one person on the face of the earth--past, present, future--who has not been capable of doing everything Letalvis Cobbins did--and worse.

Second, as much as he deserves the death penalty for his crimes, are we any less deserving of eternal punishment for trampling over the laws of Almighty God? Which of us can say that we are "not as bad" as he is? We may not appear to ourselves or to other humans to be as bad. But who is the final decider on what and who is "good?" Which brings me to.........

Third. On the day when we stand before God to give an account, there will only be two possible scenarios for us:

1) We can stand there, alone, with no one to plead our cause. When the books are opened, and the charges read, we will not have an attorney. We will not have friends and family pleading with The Judge that we were a "good person." And even if our friends and family could stand there and plead for us, God will not see us as a "good person." Why? "No one is good but One, that is, God" (Mark 10:18). Our friends will do no good pleading our cause. Our family will do no good pleading our cause. Not even the Virgin Mary will do any good pleading our cause. Without the spotless Lamb of God, the Great Mediator (1st Timothy 2:5) and Advocate (1st John 2:1), then all the pleading on our behalf is useless. Because when God judges, He does not offer compassion. He does not offer mercy. If anything, when we stand there and beg for mercy, He will say, "I offered you mercy. I gave you My Son, and you wanted nothing of Him. Now, I want nothing of you."

And then what will they cry? "‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’" (Matthew 7:22). And they will cry, and they will weep, and they will gnash their teeth (Luke 13:28). All to no avail. For He will cast His fiery gaze at them and declare, for all to hear, "‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you worker of iniquity!’" (Matthew 7:23).

No mercy.
No compassion.
No retrial.

No appeal to a higher court. For there is no higher court than the one presided over by that Great and Perfect Judge, Almighty YHVH. And they will be cast into a Lake burning with fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:15), and their torment will be eternal, and the smoke of it will rise like incense to the heavens (Revelation 14:11), as a memorial to the perfect justice of a perfect and holy God. And His justice is perfect, because all men are judged by the same Law, by the same Judge, and with no respect of person (Romans 2:11; Romans 3:19-20; Deuteronomy 1:17; 2nd Samuel 14:14; 2nd Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Revelation 20:12).

So I ask you, my friend, who is pleading for you?
Mother?
Father?
Friend?
Priest?
Joseph Smith?
Your "good works?"

Unless it is the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord which is pleading to the Father on your behalf, be sure that you will receive nothing less than what you are due: eternal punishment for transgressing the eternal Law of an eternal God.

OR.........

2) As guilty and as heinous as the crimes committed by Cobbins et al, there is an even greater One who will plead for us to that eternal and Almighty God if we ask. The name of that advocate is Jesus Christ the Lord. If He is pleading for us, we can stand there, with our sins forgiven, having been paid for on the cross of Golgotha. Those who have acknowledged Christ Jesus as Savior AND LORD will have their debts wiped off the books. And when they stand before the Great and Almighty Judge of all, they can hear their final verdict read--"NOT GUILTY!!" 1st Timothy 2:5--For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. And that Mediator is seated at God's right hand, ever ready to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). And as many as He draws, and as many enter into Him for rest, and as many as He saves, He saves to the uttermost.

We will face consequences for our actions here on earth. But be assured, friend, that there is hope even for one like Letalvis Cobbins. And there is even hope for one like you.

Verse-by-verse through Philippians (2:8-2:9)

Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that lethal injection, as performed in the state of Tennessee, does not constitute “cruel and unusual punishment.” I wonder what the people who think that lethal injection is “cruel and unusual” would think of the Roman practice of crucifixion. Today we’re going to examine the medical aspects of crucifixion. And we are going to begin talking about how God used the crucifixion to glorify Himself through the death of Christ. Philippians 2:8-9—He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. Today, people think that sticking a needle in someone’s arm and putting that person to sleep is “cruel and unusual.” They have no idea what Jesus went through as He died on the cross for our sins.

There are some things we always need to remember about the crucifixion of Christ. First, it was not a surprise to Christ. Many times He told His disciples that He must die. Matthew 16:21—From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Mark 9:31—He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day." Second, He went willingly. When the soldiers came to arrest Him, did He try to grab Peter and run and hide? In fact, when Peter took out his dagger and cut off the ear of Malchus, Jesus said, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" (John 18:11).

Another thing to remember is this: whenever you see one of those old paintings of the crucifixion. Where He’s just kinda hanging there. You see Him, He’s got this look on His face like He’s thinking, “Oh gee, this is really uncomfortable! Oh, ow, this hurts! Could somebody get me a Band-Aid®?” Got a little slit over here—more like a paper cut. Golgotha is a very tranquil scene, very peaceful. Not a lot of busyness going on. His mother Mary, and maybe John the apostle, looking kinda disappointed. That is a load of baloney! I want to share with you what happened to Christ the day He was crucified. See, it didn’t start at the cross. It ended there.

First, as He was praying in Gethsemane, preparing Himself to bear the wrath of God for sinners, He began to sweat. The stress was so great that His blood pressure became such that it caused the capillaries in His forehead to burst. It's similar to what happens with diabetics; their blood pressure gets so high that the small capillaries in their kidneys and their feet and their eyes burst, leading to the resultant problems in those areas. And when the capillaries in His forehead burst, blood began to seep out of the pores of His skin. This is a condition called hematidrosis.

Then when He was arrested, they brought Him before the High Priest Annas. When Annas couldn’t get anything out of Christ he sent Him to Caiaphas. When Caiaphas couldn’t find two people that could agree on their testimony, he ordered the soldiers to beat Him and then send Him to Pilate, hoping that Pilate would pronounce a death sentence on Him. But Pilate was a rather weak-willed governor. There had been many uprisings under his rule. And He surely did not need another one, especially as big as this one was getting. So when he finds out that Jesus was from Galilee, he sends Jesus to Herod. Now, this was not the Herod who was over Galilee when Jesus was born. This was his son Herod Antipas—the man who had John The Baptist beheaded. He examined Him, found nothing particularly special about Him. Herod’s soldiers mocked Him. And He was sent back to Pilate.

Keep in mind, Jesus had not slept yet. He was arrested the previous evening. And here He is walking back and forth from Gethsemane to the house of Annas, then to Caiaphas, then to Pilate, then Herod and now back to Pilate. Pilate was none too happy to see Him. He thought he’d gotten clear of the whole deal. But here again is this man. And he’s got to do something fast. So He tells the people about their tradition that of letting one man go, and tells them to choose between Christ and the criminal Barabbas. Matthew 27:20-23—But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" Of course, Jesus had not broken any Roman laws—the only laws He was accused of breaking were Jewish religious laws. So, Pilate could not order Christ to be crucified, because according to Roman standards, He did not deserve such a punishment.

But the people were not going to be satisfied until Jesus was put on a cross. So they appealed to Pilate’s devotion to Rome. And they called out, in John 19:12-13, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat. But, to please the people and to maybe appeal to any human sympathy they may have, He had his soldiers take Jesus to the side and scourge Him.


Scourging was a whole lot different than a simple whipping. The victim would be strapped to a post, with the skin of their back exposed and stretched tight. Then two men, called lictors, would take an instrument that resembled a cat-o-nine-tails. It was called a flagellum. But this was different from the cat-o-nine-tails because this would have little pieces of bone or animal’s teeth or something sharp. It also had lead balls attached to give weight to the strap. Kinda like if you take a piece of thread, you can't get it going too fast. But if you tie a lead washer to it, you can do some damage. So what happened was the lead balls would cause severe bruising, and would help the bones sink into the skin. Then came the painful part of it. Once the teeth sank into the skin, the lictor would yank the flagellum back, causing it to rip chunks of skin off the victim’s back. If you’ve ever gotten a fish hook caught in your finger—multiply that by 10,000.

There was no limit to how many lashes the victim could receive. But they were commanded to not kill the person. Although, many times, the person did die from either the sudden, horrendous pain causing cardiac arrest, or from bleeding to death. The lictors started at the shoulders, and worked their way down the back and, if they could, would wind up at the feet. And what you had when you were done was places where the muscle and even the bones would be visible. You can see already why those paintings are a farce.

But the soldiers weren’t done with Him. They took Him to the Praetorium, or judgment hall, and Matthew 27:28 says They put a scarlet robe on Him. And then they took a branch from a thorn bush and twisted it into a crown. I'm sure some of us have picked berries in our day. What’s the worst part about picking berries? The briers. These weren’t briers. There are thornbushes in the Middle East that produce thorns that are anywhere from 1-1/2 to 2 inches long and are so hard they can be driven through drywall. If you want to know what this crown of thorns was like, imagine taking a nail and scraping it down your head.

Then they took and hit Him and punched Him and struck Him with a reed—a staff. The kind of staff you walk with. Like a cane. He has these thorns jabbing into His head—and they use this cane to drive them in even further. Then as yet another insult, they spit on Him. Not just a little slobber. If they can be this cruel, do you think they're going to stop until they’ve covered His face? It was probably also at this time when they ripped chunks of hair out of His beard. Isaiah 50:6—I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. There is no limit to the depths of the unrestrained human heart.

Then, in Mark 15:20, when they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. They took the robe off Him. This robe that they had covered His bare, bleeding, back. Remember, the skin on His back was gone from the scourging. They had covered it with this robe, and now they yank it off. If you’ve ever had a deep gash in your skin, and the doctor packs a dressing in it, when they take it off it is going to hurt. A lot. Have you ever ripped off a scab?

And then they led Him to Golgotha. But the trip there was no easy task either. As part of the humiliation of those to be crucified, they were ordered to carry their own cross. They didn’t carry the whole thing. The upright post was already there. The person only carried the cross-beam, or patibulum. It wasn’t a 2X4. It wasn’t even a 4X4. This was a large piece of lumber, probably 8 inches wide, 8 inches high, and about 8 feet long. And it weighed anywhere from 80 to 100 pounds. And He carried this thing just under a half-mile. Along the way, when His physical strength gave out, the Roman soldiers—who were not exactly the most courteous civil servants—they wanted to get this thing over with, so in Matthew 27:32, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. Try carrying 100 pounds for a half-mile in the best of health. And you will understand what He had to do after having no sleep, going through everything He’s gone through. And let’s not forget the fact that at no point in time up to now has He even had the chance to sit down.

From the time was arrested in Gethsemane, He was taken to the house of Annas the high priest. Then over to stand before the Sanhedrin. Over to Pontius Pilate who sent Him to Herod who sent Him back to Pilate. And now He would carry His cross for a half-mile. In all, from the time He was arrested until the time they laid Him on His cross, He walked over 4 miles. And has been on His feet for hours. His blood is pouring out the whole time; he has had nothing to drink. The Book of Psalms contains what some call “Messianic prophecies.” In other words, it’s King David writing, but he’s writing what Jesus would say some time later. Psalm 22 is one of these. And in Psalm 22:15, he writes, My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws. And the worst is yet to come.

You may be asking, “How much more can a man take?” The real question is, “How much more can man dish out?” The truth of the matter is, each and every one of us is capable of doing everything the Romans did to Jesus—and a whole lot more. There is not one person who could honestly say, “I would never do that to the man.” Don’t flatter yourself. Jeremiah 17:9—The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? I'm sure Mr. And Mrs. Hitler didn’t think little Adolph would grow up to be the monster he was.

A doctor named David Terasaka has put together a very comprehensive explanation of the ways in which Jesus suffered during this ordeal, using Scripture and medical science. I’m going to give you some clips from his research:

“The patibulum was put on the ground and the victim laid upon it. Nails, about 7 inches long and with a diameter of 1 cm (roughly 3/8 of an inch) were driven in the wrists. The points would go into the vicinity of the median nerve, causing shocks of pain to radiate through the arms. It was possible to place the nails between the bones so that no fractures occurred. Studies have shown that nails were probably driven through the small bones of the wrist, since nails in the palms of the hand would not support the weight of a body (Davis). At the crucifixion sites would be upright posts, called stipes, standing about 7 feet high. (Edwards) In the center of the stipes was a crude seat, called a sedile or sedulum, which served a support for the victim. The patibulum was then lifted on to the stipes. The feet were then nailed to the stipes. To allow for this, the knees had to be bent and rotated laterally, being left in a very uncomfortable position. A titulus was hung above the victim's head.”

The titulus was the plaque that spelled out the charges, the reason the person was being crucified. If you ever see a picture of the cross, with the letters INRI above it. INRI is the abbreviation for the crime Jesus was charged with—Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum. “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Dr. Terasaka continues:

“When the cross was erected upright, there was tremendous strain put on the wrists, arms and shoulders, resulting in a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints. (Metherall) The arms, being held up and outward, held the rib cage in a fixed end inspiratory position which made it extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath. The victim would only be able to take very shallow breaths. (This may explain why Jesus made very short statements while on the cross). As time passed, the muscles, from the loss of blood, last of oxygen and [because of] the fixed position of the body, would undergo severe cramps and [spasms].”

The arms of the person being crucified were stretched as far as they could be stretched so that the body didn’t sag down too far, and the person didn’t die too quickly. And they weren’t always very gentle. Pull on someone’s shoulder real hard and see what happens to it. Psalm 22:14—I am poured out like water, all My bones are out of joint. But for Christ, the worst was yet to come. If you recall, I mentioned that Jesus, when He was praying in Gethsemane, that the stress was so great that blood began to seep out of the pores of His skin. He wasn’t agonizing over the physical aspects of what He would go through. He was anticipating the moment when the Father would place the sins of all who believe upon Him. And in Mark 15:34, when the sixth hour had come—that’s about noon—there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour—3 PM. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

He had spent the last three years being rejected by men. But since all the way back in eternity past, He had never, ever, ever done anything worthy of being the object of the wrath of His Father. Until now. Leviticus 16:21, talking about the Day of Atonement, when the sins of the people were laid upon the head of a goat, says that the high priest shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness. At about noon, God laid His hands on the head of His Son, confessed over Him all the sins of all those who would ever believe in His Son, and put them on the head of His Son.

Then at about 3 o’clock, The Lord Jesus Christ entered into the wilderness of death. John 19:30—So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

And died.

If one needed any more confirmation that Jesus died ON THE CROSS, I give you John 19:31-34—Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. Roman soldiers who were charged with crucifying a criminal knew what they were doing. They all had PHD’s—they were trained in Pain, Humiliation and Death. They were experts. They knew how to cause pain. They knew how to cause humiliation. And they knew how to bring death. There was a shortcut they could take if they didn’t want a person hanging on a cross any longer.

You see, when someone hung there for days, they would be in pain. They would perhaps be crying out for mercy. After hearing that for a while, it tends to get on your nerves. And so you want to end it—just so they will shut up. And if they wanted the person to die quickly, the soldiers would break the person’s legs. By doing this, the person could not push up in order to exhale—and they would quickly suffocate.

But when they got to Jesus—He was already dead! But, just to make sure, this soldier takes his spear and thrusts it into Jesus’ side. This was a spear, not a pocket knife. And he didn’t just kinda poke Him to see if He was alive. He pushed the spear in hard enough and far enough to cause blood and water to come out. The blood probably came from His heart. The water was probably fluid that had built up in His lungs and around His heart. There was no doubt about the fact that He was dead. However, the fact that He died after such a short time was almost unprecedented. Dr. Terasaka:

“The average time of suffering before death by crucifixion is stated to be about 2-4 days (Tenney), although there are reported cases where the victims lived for 9 days (Lipsius). The actual causes of death by crucifixion were multifactorial; one of the most significant would have been the severity of the scourging. (Edwards) Jesus died a quick physical death. While many of the physical signs preceding death were present, one possibility is that Jesus did not die by physical factors which ended His ability to live, but that He gave up His life of His own accord. His last statement, ‘Into your hands I commit my Spirit’ seems to show that Jesus' death occurred by giving Himself up. In John 10, He states that only He has the power to lay down His life. He proved His power over death by His resurrection. Truly, God is the one who has power over life and death.”

John 10:17-18—“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” John 2:19—“Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.” And in Mark 15:44—Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. Now, why was it important that the soldiers didn’t break His bones? Well, we read in 1st Corinthians 5:7—Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. The Passover that the people of Israel kept way back in the book of Exodus was a picture, a foreshadowing of Christ. When God commanded the first Passover, here was one of the commands in Exodus 12:46—In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. After the first Passover, the people were set free from bondage to Pharaoh. Likewise, Christ sets us free from sin when we accept His death for ours, and we worship Him as Lord and Savior.

Jesus was obedient to death, even the death of the cross. But don’t forget one thing: He was not only obedient to the Father’s command to die. He was obedient to the authorities that put Him through all that. A snap of His fingers, a word from His mouth—and every angel in Heaven would descend and slaughter every soldier in the Roman Empire—and even the emperor himself. But the reason He went through all of that is simple. The reason—is you. And you. And you.

And me.

Jesus Christ is Lord.
Amen.

First of Christian-Newsom murderers found guilty

The first of the four accused of the torture and murder of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom has been found guilty.--

KNOXVILLE - Jurors this morning convicted Letalvis Cobbins of first-degree murder in the torture-slaying of Knox County couple Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.

The verdicts were announced before a packed crowd, including the Christian and Newsom families, in Knox County Criminal Court.

Jurors will now shift into a penalty phase before Judge Richard Baumgartner in which they will consider evidence about whether he should be executed.

Cobbins was dry-eyed looking at family as the verdicts were read to a silent courtroom. His family was weeping and was hustled out of the courtroom by security as the judge recessed for the day.

[...]

In the death-penalty phase which will not begin until Wednesday, prosecutors Takisha Fitzgerald and Leland Price will try to show his crimes are so heinous he deserves death, while defense attorneys Scott Green and Kim Parton will try to counter with mitigating facts.

There is truly no limit to the depths of the unrestrained human heart. This man, and his accomplices, are examples of that. But let us not forget, friends, that were it not for God's restraining hand upon us, we would be even worse than Cobbins. Jeremiah 17:9-- The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?

We can make all kinds of excuses for this behavior. We can blame it on his childhood, or some mental shortcoming, or the fact that he never knew his father. But the truth is, there is no excuse. He was simply doing what his heart led him to do. The desire to do the things he did was already planted within him--the fact that he acted on his desires is simply a testament to the depravity of sinful man.

Those who would say that man is "basically good" are so very far from the truth. We humans have nothing inside of us that wants to do good. In fact, it is just the opposite. If left to our own desires, we would be even worse than Letalvis Cobbins. In fact, we would be even worse than Adolf Hitler. And the world will see this one day, when Christ comes to call His church up out of the earth, removes any restraint on the human heart, and allows the lot of mankind to fall into seven of the most dreadful and destructive years it will ever see.

The people of Knoxville, as well as the families left behind, demanded justice be served. Of course justice should be served, and it has been thus far. But just imagine this: suppose the judge says, "Well, Mr. Cobbins, you have had such a tough time, I'm going to let you go free because I am a loving judge, and I don't really want to punish you!" We would be outraged. And we should be. So why do so many people think that when we break God's laws, and we sin against Him, and we do things that are no less evil than what Letalvis Cobbins did, that God looks at us and says, "Well, I'm going to let you go free because I am a loving judge, and I don't really want to punish you! I love you too much to punish you! So, welcome to My kingdom!" Should God not be just as outraged and angry when we break HIS laws as we are when men break the laws of men?

OH.....DUDE.....IT'S FOR REAL......TRON 2!!!!!!

No, friend, I kid you not. Next year (2010) will see the release of "Tron: Legacy," (also called "TR2N"), the sequel to Tron, the way-cool, first-ever computer-animated movie. This isn't something some computer geek cooked up in his basement (although, sometimes, those are better than the real thing). This is the actual, honest-to-goodness trailer for the actual, honest-to-goodness movie, which stars Jeff Bridges (reprising his role as Kevin Flynn) and Bruce Boxleitner, as Alan Bradley (the human alter-ego of Tron).

(And if at some later date the embedded video doesn't work, you can watch it here).

The Friday Stoopid: Breaking news about the President!!!

According to anonymous sources, at approximately 9:35 a.m. this morning, President Barack Obama blew his nose. It has not been disclosed whether he used one tissue or two, and information pertaining to the brand of tissue he used is being kept confidential. More details are forthcoming, and full coverage can be found at NBC Nightly News.

Is it just me, or is the mainstream media's doe-eyed fascination with All Things Obama getting waaaayyyy out of hand? It seems like there isn't a week that goes by without some gear in the Obama spin machine trumpeting their "EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!!"

Ummmmm......if every network takes you "inside the White House," how "exclusive" can it be? And maybe--just maybe--if these mouthpieces for the liberal way actually considered the presidency of the United States to be a serious position, and maybe--just maybe--if President Obama didn't keep himself busy cozying up to Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood, and maybe--just maybe--if people understood the mistake this country made last November by electing a man to the highest office in the land--a man who had no experience and who has no business governing this country then maybe--just maybe--we can actually get something done.

And who cares what kind of shorts Michelle Obama wears???? She was in Arizona in August. Hellllloooo!!!!

Verse-by-verse through Philippians (2:5-2:8)

The last two weeks we have been splitting hairs if you will. And for people like me, that’s not easy. We've been looking at these words that kinda sorta mean the same thing but not quite. We have many words in the English language that refer to the act of using our sense of sight. We can stare, or glance, or look, or watch, examine, peer, gaze, etc. I can stare at Richard, glance at the door or look out the window or watch for someone to come down the street. All these are kinda the same—but not quite. And when Paul uses the various words he used to talk about Christ becoming man, and how He looked when He walked the earth, he chooses his words carefully. Or, rather, the Holy Spirit was very careful in leading Paul to use the words he did, and when he used them.

There was a reason for using so many different words that we think of as being exactly the same. Words like form, likeness, appearance. And why he didn’t use some other words like image or shape. Remember, Philippi was a city in Greece, but it was under Roman control. Everything about it was Roman—especially the mythology. In Roman mythology and in Greek mythology, their so-called “gods” would sometimes come down in the shape of some animal. But they would only look like that animal. After the ruse was over, they would take their old shape. But when Christ walked the earth, He was truly a man. He did not simply take the outward appearance of a man. He did not trick people into thinking He was a man. He was a man, just as much as you or me. And even after He died and ascended to the Father—He was still a man! (see 1st Timothy 2:5). Which is one reason Paul didn’t use the word that means “outward appearance”—he wanted the people to know that there was no doubt about the fact that Jesus was fully God, but also fully human.

That was, quite frankly, a humongous step down for He who was God. Which makes for a perfect illustration of the humility that Paul was urging these Philippian believers to have themselves. Philippians 2:3-8—Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

We saw last week that Jesus never even considered not coming to earth. He did not hold on to His rights as God. But there’s even more to it than that. Even when He was wrapped in flesh, He did not have any of those desires we have, that lead us to sin. He never submitted to the flesh. He always submitted to the will of the Father. Even to the point that He experienced something as a man that He could never experience as God. He had to become human so He could die. And even as He hung there, He was obeying the will of the Father. Because that was why He came—He came to die. Romans 6:23—the wages of sin is…what? Death. The reason we die is because we sin. If you don’t want to die, don’t sin. Oops, too late. We’re going to look at some Scriptures that show why Christ died. First, Galatians 3:13-14—Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The phrase "having become"—having become a curse for us—that word is γίνομαι (ginomai). It’s where we get words like Genesis, generate, generation. To “make something come about.” Christ became a curse for us. Philippians 2:7 says that Christ took the form—rather, became the form—of a slave. Same word. John 1:14—and the Word became [γίνομαι (ginomai)] flesh. Same word. 2nd Corinthians 5:21—[God] made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become [γίνομαι (ginomai)] the righteousness of God in Him. We became the righteousness of God in Christ. Same word. Now, a better, and actually the literal, way to read this part of Galatians 3:13 is that Christ has paid the price to recover us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse—watch this—becoming a curse over us. AT Robertson says,

“Here the graphic picture is completed. We were under a curse, Christ became a curse over us, and so between us, and the overhanging curse which fell on him instead of on us. Thus he bought us out and we are free from the curse which he took on himself.”

In other words, when He hung on that cross, he got in between us and the wrath of Almighty God. How cool is THAT! See, the word “curse”—what are some ideas people have about that word? “That team is cursed to never win” or “That family is cursed to always have trouble.” It ususally has some connotation of perpetually bad fortune. When we talk about a “curse” in the Bible, when you get right down to it, refers to the act of rejecting. A “curse” is the same thing as a “rejection.” When talk about a “curse,” it literally means “to pray that something bad happens another person.” One way to curse someone would be to tell them, “I hope you burn in Hell.” At the root of it, that’s what a curse is. If anyone does not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, they are the subject of a curse from God: when that person stands before Him, He rejects that person, and commands that they be sent to Hell. That is “the curse of the Law.”

But for those of us who do accept Christ and His blood as payment for our sins—He didn’t simply remove the curse. He became the curse. He did not suffer in Hell. We’ll get to that later. He became the rejection. He didn’t just offer a payment for our sins—He became the payment. Christ doesn’t just stand at our side while we bear the wrath of God ourselves. He took the wrath of God for us. In other words, the only thing standing between us and the wrath of God is the cross of Christ. Two boards and three nails are all that separate us from eternal damnation. From eternal curse. One more illustration to show. Suppose you see your child getting beat up, kicked, pummeled. The only way to stop those hooligans from beating your child is to throw yourself over that child. And to take the beating for them. You save that child from the curse of being beaten by becoming the one they beat. And you take upon yourself the wrath of those doing the beating. You become a curse over your child. Christ became a curse over us.

We were under the Law, and under sin. Therefore, we were under the curse of—the penalty of—the Law and we were under the curse of—the penalty of—sin. Which is why Paul says in Galatians 4:4 that Christ was born under the Law. How could He be obedient to a Law He didn’t have to keep Himself? Christ obeyed the Law of God perfectly. Why? Because He had to! Because He was bound by the same Law. Now, in order for us to be made righteous with God, we needed to be absolutely sinless. Psalm 5:4—You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. Habakkuk 1:13—“You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.” Psalm 130:3—“If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” All these Scriptures say that to escape the eternal wrath of Almighty God, we must be perfect. In fact, didn’t Jesus say something like that? Matthew 5:48—“Be ye perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” Is anyone “perfect?” So there’s a problem. We have a ledger full of sins. Is there any way to go back and undo them?

So what has to be done? Today we would say our record needs to be expunged.The one we answer to must forget what we did. Act like it never happened. Let’s say I bust into your house. Take an axe, break your windows, bust up your furniture, steal your TV. I stand before the judge, and he takes my case file and throws it in the trash. All gone! That’s an act of mercy. But what’s missing? That’s an act of mercy. To me. Is it an act of justice? No. And in fact, it’s not true mercy because only one side is shown any mercy. The judge has not given any consideration to the homeowner. The windows have to be fixed, the furniture must be replaced, you need a new TV for the one I stole. Payment must be made to settle the debt I owe. So unless justice is handed out to both sides, there is really no justice and really no mercy. But when it comes to justice and mercy, who does both things perfectly? He shows us mercy by wiping away our sins. But He shows justice because those sins do not go unpunished.

See, in a human court, once we settle the ledger, it’s over and done—but what about the eternal judge? Over and above what I did to you, I ultimately sinned against God! And here’s something about the OT Law. Let’s say I sneak into your sheepfold or your cattle pen, and I stole your sheep or your cattle. I had to make restitution to YOU. But then I had to bring an offering to God. In Leviticus 6:6-7, after I restore what I took, And he shall bring his trespass offering to YHVH, a ram without blemish from the flock…as a trespass offering, to the priest. So the priest shall make atonement for him before YHVH, and he shall be forgiven for any one of these things that he may have done in which he trespasses. I had to bring an offering to GOD. And why? Because, were those ultimately YOUR sheep and YOUR cattle? No. Who did they belong to? GOD! They belonged to GOD! Besides, I didn’t just offend you—I sinned against God!

You see, the purpose of the OT Law was not only to make things equal with the person you wronged. It was for you to pay for the sin you committed. Leviticus 6:2-5—If a person sins and commits a trespass against YHVH 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, 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: then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore…And he shall bring his trespass offering to YHVH, a ram without blemish from the flock.

In the OT Law, when someone sinned, something had to die. It’s either you, or an animal. But the thing is, if you take that animal to the priest so he can kill it, cut it up, do everything he has to do—that covers exactly one sin!

If you sin again—you bring another animal, the priest kills it, cuts it up, burns it.
You sin again—bring another animal; the priest kills it, cuts it up and burns it.
You sin again—bring another animal; the priest kills it, cuts it up and burns it.
You sin again—bring another animal; the priest kills it, cuts it up and burns it.
I think you get the idea.

And each animal you bring takes care of EXACTLY ONE SIN! Lots of blood, lots of smoke, lots of death. All because of sin. Then on Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement, one day out of the whole year—the high priest kills a bull and a goat to cover any other sins you may have forgotten about. So, long story short, where there is sin—there has to be death. Because, as we said at the outset, the wages of sin is… And when you bring an animal without spot or blemish to the priest—did that animal do anything wrong? That animal died because of you. But, in God’s eyes, by bringing that animal, your sin was credited to an animal that had never sinned. And that animal was put to death, and its blood was shed to pay for your sin.

Do you see where I'm going with this?

When the Lamb of God was brought before the high priest—was there any spot or blemish upon that Lamb? Had that Lamb done anything wrong? Had that Lamb ever sinned? That Lamb died because of us. But, in God’s eyes, by bringing that Lamb to be killed, our sin was credited to a man that had never sinned. And that man was put to death, and His blood was shed to pay for our sin.

In fact, on Yom Kippur, you had the two goats—the goat for YHVH, and the scapegoat. The goat for YHVH was killed, his blood sprinkled on the mercy seat atop the Ark of the Covenant. The scapegoat was led out into the wilderness—and abandoned. When Christ died, He was both goats. He was the Lamb of YHVH that was killed, and His blood spilled upon the cross. And He was the scapegoat that was led into the wilderness of death, and this was how He became the curse. Not by suffering in Hell, but by suffering death. He became obedient unto death. Which must have felt like abandonment to Him. Which is why, in Mark 15:34, Jesus quotes Psalm 22:1—And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” But all that stuff in Leviticus is so boring, and doesn’t have anything to do with us today!

Just one more parallel. Leviticus 16:21—Aaron shall lay both hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. Who took Jesus’ body off the cross? Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Were they “suitable men?” Christ was led into the wilderness of death. For a bunch of people that would spend most of their lives drawing close with their lips, even though our hearts were far from Him. But was He left there? Psalm 16:10—For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stand in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

There were more prophecies fulfilled by the cross than we could ever count. But did they take His life? No. John 10:17-18—“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” He obeyed His Father and He died. Albert Barnes said this—

He obeyed even when obedience terminated in death. The point of this expression is this: One may readily and cheerfully obey another where there is no
particular peril. But the case is different where obedience is attended with
danger.

Especially when you have done nothing wrong, and you are suffering because of something somebody else did—and you suffer willingly. You don’t even think about NOT suffering. All for a bunch of sinful, backstabbing, hateful creatures. That’s us. Romans 5:7-8—No one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He didn’t die a glorious death. He didn’t die with a sword in His hand. Mark 15:27-28—With Him they also crucified two thieves, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, And He was numbered with the transgressors. He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. And it pleased the Father to bruise Him. Because by bruising Him, He saved us.

Jesus Christ is Lord.
Amen.

Refuting the cry of "Make Jesus Lord Today!"

Have you ever heard one of these "preachers" as they stand there and try to sound all hip and cool and relevant by saying that you should "Make Jesus Lord today!!!" That is about one of the most unbiblical statements a person can make. We don't "make" Jesus Lord--

HE ALREADY IS!!!!!!!!

Acts 2:36-"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Over 100 times in the New Testament, Jesus is called "LORD." Philippians 2:11--...and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ IS LORD... Friend, you CANNOT be saved WITHOUT confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. Romans 10:9--IF you confess Jesus Christ as LORD, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dea, you will be saved. Does Paul say "If you confess Jesus Christ as savior" you will be saved? NO. He says, "If you confess Him as LORD" you will be saved. See that? We don't make Jesus Lord--we confess that he IS Lord!!!!!!!!!

Here is Dr. John MacArthur exposing the error that is taught throughout modern American evangelicalism today.

Verse-by-verse through Joel (2:31-3:8)

Joel 2:31-3:8--2:30 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of YHVH. 32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of YHVH shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as YHVH has said, among the remnant whom YHVH calls. 3:1 For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. 3 They have cast lots for My people, have given a boy as payment for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. 4 Indeed, what have you to do with Me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia? Will you retaliate against Me? But if you retaliate against Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your retaliation upon your own head; 5 because you have taken My silver and My gold, and have carried into your temples My prized possessions. 6 Also the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem You have sold to the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their borders. 7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place to which you have sold them, and will return your retaliation upon your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off; for YHVH has spoken."

Blood and fire and pillars of smoke returned to the land after God commanded His army to leave. We know that the blood and fire and pillars of smoke were even greater than before. But, the "blood and fire and pillars of smoke" were the result of the animal sacrifices. The fact that God had restored the sacrifices of grain and animals and blood was good for the people of Judah. It meant that they now had a way to cover over their sins. Of course, sometimes, a little freedom isn't such a good thing. After all, why did the blood and fire and pillars of smoke return? Because the people were bringing sacrifices. And why were they bringing sacrifices? Because they were sinning. Which would God prefer: a person bringing an animal sacrifice? Or the person not needing to bring an animal sacrifice? Let's allow the Scriptures to answer that question. Psalm 51:17--The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise. Hosea 6:6--"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." And He would later say through the prophet Isaiah, "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says YHVH. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats...Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them" (Isaiah 1:11-14). God would rather we not have to bring a sacrifice to Him, then to continually weary Him with our dead bulls and goats. He would rather we enter His presence with praise, than enter with blood.

But, He would one day bring an end to these sacrifices, so that all nations would be able to entreat Him for mercy and forgiveness. All nations would be able to live in holiness to YHVH, and He would dwell within them and be their God. That neither circumcision would be necessary, nor sacrifice. But, verse 2:32, it shall come to pass that These words would be echoed by the apostles Peter (Acts 2:21) and Paul (Romans 10:13), who quote the Septuagint and say/write, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. And who, exactly, is that Lord? Of course, it is Christ. Now, I wasn't planning on doing a study of the deity of Christ, but like I always say, God laughs at the plans of men. Hold your place here in Joel, and turn to Romans 10. Because Paul demonstrates the deity of Christ without actually coming out and saying, "Jesus is God." And no, for all you who have ever had dealings with Jehovah's Witnesses, the Bible does not contain the exact phrase, "Jesus is God." But, we find the fact that Jesus is God all throughout the NT. Here is one example.

Romans 10:9-13--if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. What does he say in verse 9? If you confess...the Lord Jesus. This is not negotiable. The modern heresy that is so popular today, that we can separate confessing Christ as Savior from confessing Him as Lord, is truly an abomination. No one can be saved apart from confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. We do not make Him Lord--He already IS! Acts 2:36--"This Jesus whom you have crucified, God has made Him both LORD and Christ." So we confess Jesus as Lord. Verse 11. Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. Believes on who? Jesus. John 3:16--"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in HIM...will have everlasting life." Acts 16:31--"Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you will be saved." So what Lord is it we are called upon and commanded to believe and confess? We are called upon to believe and confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD. This is the promise to all nations, verse 12--For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. Sensing a pattern here. Who is this "Lord of all?" Acts 10:36--The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is LORD of all. Philippians 2:10-11--that at the name OF JESUS, every knee should bow...and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father. So every tongue will confess--whether in love or in agony--that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is, indeed, Lord of all, and verse 13--whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Who is Lord? Jesus. That's what Paul has been saying, even if you go back to verse 1 of Romans 10. This whole section is about Christ. Christ is the end of the Law (Romans 10:4). Christ is Lord. Christ is Lord over all. And if you call on the name of the Lord Christ you will be saved. It is faith in Christ that leads to salvation. Who did Paul say we must confess as Lord in verse 9? The Lord Jesus. Let's keep going to Romans 10:14--How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? Who is it that people must believe in? Christ. Paul's unbroken theme for this entire section of his letter to the Romans is about proclaiming the name of Christ, believing in Him and confessing Him as Lord. And whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Now, flip back to Joel 2:32. Whoever calls on the name of YHVH shall be saved. What have we just finished looking at in Romans 10? That Paul is letting it be known that Jesus Christ is Lord. That whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, and if we want to make it even clearer to the reader or listener, whoever calls on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved. Yet God says through Joel that whoever calls on the name of YHVH shall be saved. Can there be a clearer display of the deity of Jesus Christ than this?

Can there be a clearer display of the mercy of God than this? For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as YHVH has said, among the remnant whom YHVH calls. Who is the remnant? The NT church! Hold your place again, and turn to Romans chapter 11. Here we see Paul giving a picture of the Jewish people embracing Jesus as Messiah. Romans 11:1-7--I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? (see 1st Kings 19:10, 14) But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal" (see 1st Kings 19:18). Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Poor Elijah. Sitting all alone in the cave, feeling sorry for himself, thinking that God was too weak to save His people. Thinking that all of Israel was doomed. Thinking that he would be the last Jew who would ever worship God.

But what did God tell him? He said, "Hey, look, I've still got 7000 men who have not deserted me." And Paul is letting it be known that God has not finished building the body of Christ with Jewish believers. Look at the end of verse 1--I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. He expands this identification with Israel in Philippians 3:5--circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee. What nation were the apostles from? Israel. What nation was the Lord Jesus born into? Romans 9:3-5--I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites...from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. Paul was an Israelite. Jesus was, in flesh, an Israelite. Has God cast away His people? Certainly not! Verse 5, Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

So why don't Jews accept Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah? Skip ahead to Romans 11:11-12--I say then, have they [the Israelites] stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! The Jews have not believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ of God for one simple reason: so that the Gentiles may be saved through faith. Will the Jews be forever disbelieving? Romans 11:25-26--For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins" (see Isaiah 59:20-21). One day, light will come to the Israelites, and there will be a massive revival in Israel, just before the return of the Lord Christ. Back to Joel.

Chapter 3 verses 1 and 2. For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. Much speculation has been spent on properly defining where/what is meant by the "Valley of Jehoshaphat." Some say it is meant to be the valley that was later given this appellation. I would have to respectfully disagree, since that was not so named until some 300 years after the resurrection of our Lord. If it is meant to be applied to the valley where God overcame the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites (2nd Chronicles 20:11-22), then this would be the Valley of Berachah (2nd Chronicles 20:26). Others believe Joel to be speaking of the Kidron Valley.

But still others hold to a view I tend to gravitate towards. That this "Valley of Jehoshaphat" is none other than the Har Megiddo, where God the Son will come and judge the nations--not with mercy or compassion--but with a sword. For the name Jehoshaphat means "YHVH judges." In the very last days--and I have not studied the chronological order of the occurrence of these things, so don't let that sidetrack the conversation--light will come to the Israelites, so that many will worship Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ of God. Another significant event will occur when the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt. Israelites from all around the world will descend on Jerusalem, and establish residence there because the animal sacrifices will return, with the resultant blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The Antichrist will sit as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2nd Thessalonians 2:4). The seething, blaspheming, Antichrist-worshipping Gentile nations will increasingly rage against Israel, will seek to utterly destroy them, will give away the land to the highest bidder. They will rage against God and against His Christ. They will dare God to come down and do something about it...........and He will. Revelation 19:11-16--Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself....Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron...And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And thus, God will gather all nations, and He will bring them down to the Valley, and He will enter into judgment with those who have scattered His people among the nations and those who have divided up His land.

And what will be the charges He will bring against those who ravaged His people and divided His land? Verses 2-8. "On account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. They have cast lots for My people, have given a boy as payment for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. Indeed, what have you to do with Me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia? Will you retaliate against Me? But if you retaliate against Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your retaliation upon your own head; because you have taken My silver and My gold, and have carried into your temples My prized possessions. Also the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem You have sold to the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their borders. Behold, I will raise them out of the place to which you have sold them, and will return your retaliation upon your own head. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off; for YHVH has spoken."

A two-fold revelation. In the immediate context, God speaks of the nations who carried away the people of Judah and Jerusalem, and sold them and got whatever they could out of the deal. For which God was so very patient in exacting His vengeance upon such vile men. It is said that when Jerusalem was overthrown in 70 AD,

Titus disposed of the prisoners, whose number reached 97,000 in the course of the war, in the following manner: Those under seventeen years of age were publicly sold; of the remainder, some were executed immediately, some sent away to work in the Egyptian mines, some kept for the public shows to fight with wild beasts in all the chief cities of Rome; and only the tallest and most handsome for the triumphal procession in Rome (compare Josephus, The Jewish Wars, vi. 9, 2, 3). And the Jews who were taken prisoners in the Jewish war in the time of Hadrian, are said to have been sold in the slave-market at Hebron at so low a price, that four Jews were disposed of for a measure of barley.

--From Keil & Delitzch, Commentary on Joel 3:2-8.

But it is not only for the Israelites that God will recompense the nations. We are all--those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior--Israelites. This is a great truth. A truth that we should all understand, for God has promised to ransom Israel. For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God (Romans 2:28-29). There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:28-29). Romans 11:26, 29--And so all Israel will be saved...For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Matthew 1:21--"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Does God make a promise and go back on it? He has even promised those who have lost their lives for the sake of the Lord Jesus that He will avenge them (see Revelation 6:9-10, Revelation 19:2).

We have His word that these things will happen. The end of verse 8, "...for YHVH has spoken." Do we need any further evidence than the fact that God said it? What will the Postmodern or the Emergent have to answer in that day? They who do not believe that simply trusting in the word of God is enough. They who seek some higher truth. As if there is any! There is NO higher truth than that which comes from God. And there is no other truth than that which God calls truth. You may say, "Oh, but look at all these laws of logic! Look at all these laws of physics and mathematics and..." so on and so forth. What? You think man makes a truth and God has to live by it? Who are you, O man, to question God? If it is a truth--of physics, of mathematics, of economics, of geometry, of logic--then it is only because it has been decreed to be truth by God. For apart from Him, there is no truth.

Why does the physical world obey the laws of physics? Because God orders things to act in a certain way. Why does 2+2 ALWAYS equal 4? Because God ordered that numbers whould behave in a certain way. Why does a certain amount of money, earning a certain amount of interest, over a certain amount of time, compounded at certain periods, earn a certain amount of interest? I suppose you will say "Because that's what banks and lending institutions have determined." And you would be so wrong that the distance between your assertion and the true reason could not be measured by human measurements. Meausre the distance in light years--you will be no closer to the truth than the ant crawling across the sidewalk will come to the farthest reaches of our galaxy. That money earns however much interest it does because God has determined that those numbers--calculate them however you will--can only equal one fixed number. Whatever laws of truth we think that we have invented--at their rock bottom and foundation, exist for one simple reason--"...for YHVH has spoken."

And if it is YHVH who has determined the truths of the physical world, how much more has He determined the things concerning Himself. What, you think some guy over in Rome, sitting in a big chair and surrounded by his acolytes dressed in cardinal red, determines what the Scriptures mean? You think it is the woman in Revelation 17:1-2 who holds the last word on who enters Heaven and who doesn't? No mere man determines anything of God. Only the word of God is sufficient to speak of the things of God. "...for YHVH has spoken."