Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is a man that I know very little about. Though an extremely important man in Jesus' life, not much is recorded about him. But in these 2 short passages one character trait of Joseph can clearly be identified with all certainty:
Joseph was an obedient man!
Not only did Joseph obey the angel of the Lord, but he obeyed with complete compliance, and he obeyed with a great sense of urgency! Joseph didn't just hear the angel telling him what to do next, but he immediately jumped into action with a preciseness that calls my own obedience into account.
In the first passage, the angel of the Lord declares his message to Joseph using 4 verbs that can clearly direct Joseph's next moves:
"Rise, Take (the child and his mother), Flee (to Egypt), and Remain (there until I tell you)." -- Matthew 2: 13
You only need to read to the next verse to see what Joseph's response would be. His complete compliance and urgency show up in verse 14. Without a second thought, Joseph began to respond, the very moment he awakened from his dream. So just what did he do? With laser precision, Joseph rose, and taking Jesus and Mary, by night, he departed quickly to Egypt, the place to which the angel had told him to flee.
Did you notice that the obedient actions of Joseph mimic exactly the command of the angel? And if these actions were not enough to convince us of Joseph's quick and compliant disposition, then we are given another passage that proves it.
In Matthew 2: 19-23, we are shown once again the heart of Joseph. An angel appears again to Joseph in a dream, but this time Joseph is in Egypt. The angel gave new directions to the father of Jesus, a second 'This-way'-kind-of-a-dream.' Joseph's impeccable desire to obey God is shown to us another time as he "rose, took, and went," back to Bethlehem. And listening to yet a third warning, Joseph does not stay in Bethlehem, but takes his family to Nazareth in Galilee for the safety of Jesus.
Yes, we can tell by these 8 verses that Joseph lived to obey whatever God told him, quickly and completely! Surely Joseph received a great reward for responding to God with obedience.
O Lord, tell me clearly, even as you did Joseph, what my 'way' is in 2014, in every part of my life. I want to hear and respond to your directives with the same accuracy as Joseph . . . rapidly and completely!
ONLY GOD FORGIVES SINS
ReplyDeleteContrary to what men believe, only God can forgive the sins that have been committed against Him. Joseph Smith nor Brigham Young can forgive sins. Catholic priests cannot forgive sins. Lutheran ministers cannot forgive sins. There are no men dead or alive who can forgive the sins that men commit against God.
ONLY GOD FORGIVES SINS!
Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.
ONLY GOD FORGIVES SINS!
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity...
Only God pardons iniquity. Joesph Smith, Brigham Young, Catholic priests, nor Lutheran ministers have the authority to pardon iniquity.
Daniel 9:98 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;
Mankind has rebelled against God and He alone can grant forgiveness.
THE SCRIBES UNDERSTOOD ONLY GOD COULD FORGIVE SINS!
Mark 2:6-11..the scribes...7...He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone? ....10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins"---He said to the paralytic, 11 "I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home."
The problem with scribes was they did not realize that Jesus was God in the flesh. Joesph Smith, Brigham Young, Catholic priests, Lutheran ministers, nor any other men, are or were, God in the flesh.
DID JESUS GRANT THE APOSTLES THE AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS? NO HE DID NOT.
Acts 8:18-22 ....20 But Peter said to him....22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
The apostle Peter did not grant forgiveness to Simon, he told Simon to pray to God for forgiveness. Note, Simon was already a Christian.
THE PROOF TEXT.
John 20:19-23 ....23 If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."
Jesus was not giving Peter and the rest of the apostles the power to grant forgiveness of sins to men on an individual bases, Jesus was not ordaining them as priests with that power. Jesus was giving Peter and the apostles the authority to proclaim the terms for forgiveness of sins. Peter and the apostles did just that on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:22-41...36 Therefore let the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ---this Jesus whom you crucified. 37...Peter and the rest of the apostles....38 Peter said to them , "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)
Peter and the apostles did not forgive sins on the Day of Pentecost nor on any subsequent day. They declare God's terms for pardon.
FAITH: John 3:16
REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38
CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10
WATER BAPTISM: Acts 2:38
Christians are not asked to confess to Joesph Smith, Brigham Young, Catholic priests, Lutheran ministers, nor any other men, in order to have their sins against God forgiven!
Christians are to confess their sins to God in order to receive forgiveness. (1 John1:5-9 ....God is light... 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness.)
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between men, the man Christ Jesus,
The only priest standing between men and God is the high priest, Jesus Christ.
NOTE: Confessing sins and asking God for forgiveness is only available to Christians. Non-Christians must have FAITH, REPENT, CONFESS JESUS AS LORD, BELIEVE IN HIS RESURRECTION AND BE BAPTIZED IN WATER IN ORDER TO THEIR SINS FORGIVEN.
ONLY GOD FORGIVES SINS!
( All Scripture quotes from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)