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Discussion Forum : Scriptures and Doctrine : No One Will See the Lord.......Unless

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 No One Will See the Lord.......Unless

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Hebrews 12:24 (NASB)

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.


Matthew 22:11-14New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are [a]called, but few are chosen.”

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If we were to receive an invitation to a firmal dinner. The invitation will specify formal attire required. For men this would generally mean a black tie and a tuxedo.  For women this will generally mean a formal gown. Let us say a modest formal gown for the sake of our sisters. One would not think of showing up at the formal dinner with t-shir, cutoffs, and flip-flops on. Chances are you would not be admitted to the dinner. If you did get past the receptionist or security. You, no doubt, would be escorted promptly off the premises.

Such a thing did happen in the account of the wedding feast that Matthew writes about. But it had eternal consequences. The person at the wedding feast did not have on the required wedding apparel.  Because of that he was thrown outside into the outer darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. We can only assume that he was thrown into hell.

One may ask what is Jesus getting out here?  What is the big deal about not having the proper wedding clothes on? Revelation 19:8 gives the answer,


It was given to her to clothe yourself and find linen, bright and clean; for the final inning is the righteous acts of the Saints.


Jesus had in mind the wedding feast that would be taking place when He would come to receive His bride, that would be the church. The required wedding garments would be the righteous acts of the saints.

This is what the writer of Hebrews is getting at when he says to pursue sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Given the context of this verse and the chapterr, what is implied is a practical sanctification that issues forth in righteous deeds. 

The word sanctification means set apart. In the scriptures sanctification mans being set apart for the Lord. Other words that may be used are holiness and consecration. Again meaning set apart. And again meeting set apart as for the Lord.

In the Old Testament when the Tabernacle and the temple were being built. Implements that were used to worship the Lord had to be consecrated or sanctified. Nothing impure or unclean or profane were to touch these implements. To use an uncleansed Implement in the worship of God  in the Tabernacle would have devastating consequences. Often the death of the priest that was using it. This happened in the case of the strange fire that was offered before the Lord.

Also the priests themselves where to be consecrated or sanctified to the Lord. They had to observe a very strict cleansing regimen to minister as unto the Lord.

In light of the discussion on the Christian and drinking taking place in the forum, Leviticus 10:9 comes to mind,


... Do not drink wine nor strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die--- it is a perpetual statue it throughout your generations---


This is something that we need to give serious thought to as we are kings and priests under the new covenant.. But it seems to me that the Old Testament saints had a greater understanding of holiness and consecration then we do. That is those of us that are under the new covenant of grace.

The writer of Hebrews gives us a very serious admonition and exhortation. He says without sanctification one will not see the Lord. That would imply that without the righteous deeds that would come from a heart that is changed in Jesus no one will be in the presence of Christ.

The serious admonition comes out of Hebrews 12:14. This is the Word of God. This is not a book about beer making as one has jokingly suggested in the forum. 

Brothers and sisters this is an example of us not taking seriously the holy things of God. When we start joking about the word of God and treating it with contempt. Where do we draw the line?

If we truly desire to see the Lord Jesus Christ. Then let us pursue the practical sanctification that He requires for us to be in His presence.  Let us not look for justification to defend lawful practices such as drinking. But instead let us look for means to crucify the lawful. So that His holiness will be reflected in us as yielded vessels before him.

This morning I woke up with my digital New Testament playing. The verse that came to my mind as I woke up was put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh.

So in essence this is the required wedding garment that we should be wearing in preparation for his soon return. That would be putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh.  Putting on Jesus will be necessary if we are to see Him.


Simply my thoughts from the foot of His cross.

 2016/8/13 18:09
proudpapa
Member



Joined: 2012/5/13
Posts: 2936


 Re: No One Will See the Lord.......Unless

RE: ///In light of the discussion on the Christian and drinking taking place in the forum...,///


I would strongly encourge you not to use the Scriptures to insinuate condemnation on others and exaltation of yourself


edit : shortend the quote

 2016/8/13 19:23Profile
TMK
Member



Joined: 2012/2/8
Posts: 6650
NC, USA

 Re:

Lev 10:8-9: Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, ***when you go into the tabernacle of meeting***, lest you die.

(my emphasis)

Bear, even this verse cannot be used to make the point you want to make.

You are trying to argue that drinking an alcoholic beverage is **unholy**, per se. That simply is not true because Jesus himself drank alcohol and these Hebrew priests did as well, outside the tabernacle of meeting.

How about this verse: "I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Mt. 26:9

When Jesus offers you the cup, what are you going to do?


_________________
Todd

 2016/8/13 20:47Profile
MrBillPro
Member



Joined: 2005/2/24
Posts: 3422
Texas

 Re:

Quote:
proudpapa I would strongly encourage you not to use the Scriptures to insinuate condemnation on others and exaltation of yourself


What I don't understand is why just alcohol? The majority of Christians I know, take enough prescription meds, they could start their own pharmacy, and trust me they're not just blood pressure and diabetes meds. Shouldn't we addressing it all, not just alcohol? Why is the Church so quite about drugs?


_________________
Bill

 2016/8/13 20:57Profile
TMK
Member



Joined: 2012/2/8
Posts: 6650
NC, USA

 Re:

Great question Bill. I agree 100% with your sentiment.


_________________
Todd

 2016/8/13 21:00Profile
JFW
Member



Joined: 2011/10/21
Posts: 2009
Dothan, Alabama

 Re:

Brother Todd- That was exactly the thought that came to my mind when I read brother Bears words-

I mean honestly to all who may read these words;

If you have a heavy heart for alcohol abuse in the church or for our weaker brothers then by all means please share that and encourage us to join with you in prayer and supplication as a unified faithful body of believers and even admonish us to be mindful of our weaker brothers IF we in Liberty have a glass of wine and you will be met with agreement and that would be a profitable venture in faith towards our Lord that will advance the cause of Christ.

But please dear brothers and sisters, stop with this incessant baiting and line drawing, for there is nothing profitable that can come from exalting oneself through abstinence while condemning your brethren who are covered by the same blood as you.

Brother Bear,
I totally get what you are sayin and where you're coming from and it's not that I disagree with the thrust of your writing in that we all should be willing to lay down anything that might hinder us from giving our utmost for His highest as it were, but none of us are to require that from anyone but are to encourage it in all gentleness and meekness and by our examples and not by our commands or attempts to coherce our brethren. If you wanna preach against drunkeness, praise God! No one would oppose you here but to unilaterally revoke a liberty afforded by the blood of our dear Lord is not an advisable endeavor.


_________________
Fletcher

 2016/8/13 21:20Profile









 Re:

Bear,
While I love your enthusiasm & heart for the issue, there are some major issues with connecting the dots with scripture the way you did. Those same priests also couldn't eat shellfish, or pork, or lie with their wife during her menstrual period, nor trim their beard, nor a list of over 700 other Laws in the OT period. In fact, the Nazrite vow was one of the strictest vows of consecration one could take. And it said you couldn't cut your hair. Are you refraining from cutting your hair Blaine to "go all the way"? Interesting how that would actually contradict what is taught in 1 Corinthians about men with long hair (& women with short hair). And if you REALLY wanted to do all that the Law commanded, and you find out a woman committed adultery, you would have grounds for stoning her! No bacon. No oysters. And circumcision is the most important outward sign of consecration under the old covenant. I'm not trying to be funny, but the way you are connecting these scriptures demands we connect these other requirements of the Law too. If you don't want to drink to consecrate yourself to God, then praise God! If want to warn people of the dangers of alchohol use & not being sober (ie "drunkeness" as the scriptures speak of), praise God! If you want to use the OT Law to try to forbid others' having a private drink occasionally when neither their conscience (nor the Lord) condemns them, then I really think you should give that some more thought brother. I appreciate your passion though brother. Just be careful you neither condone drunkeness, nor use the Law & the guilt & shame of it to try to convince believers with New Covenant Born Again Grace (& a Bible) that because they don't adhere to OT Law requirements for the Levitical priests. That by definition is legalism (forbidding for others that which God has not specifically forbid with NT New Covenant doctrine).
God Bless you Bro!
Jeff

 2016/8/13 22:55









 Re:

Fletcher,
It's interesting that I did not even read your post when I wrote mine but we said almost exactly essentially the same thing. And the reason for that is not because were looking for excuses for anyone, but that we know what the Scriptures do and do not teach on the subject.

 2016/8/13 22:59
dohzman
Member



Joined: 2004/10/13
Posts: 2132


 Re: Why is the Church so quite about drugs?

Luk 8:25
And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

These experienced fisherman had plenty of faith in their own abilities, in the ship in the.......etc... Jesus asked them "where" is your faith. When it comes to faith and pharma drugs I believe it is safe to allow for the individual believer to work out their own salvation. In the late 80 s I attended a church in Indiana where faith for healing was preached and at times I believed misapplied, perhaps????? There were some who died some parents imposed their faith on their children and the children died, eventually the state stepped in and placed parents in the prison system where a child died etc....pretty messy at the time. I am not sure that the church as a whole can do anything outside of teaching, the pharma drugs that are prescribed by doctors may be seriously dangerous but not taking them may be also for some people. If a local pastor has a deep conviction about this and has spent quality time before the Lord asking Him to pour out deliverance and healing I wouldn't see any reason God wouldn't answer such a prayer. BUT to impose a "Law" rule teaching where we end up measuring ourselves by are selves, that's not wise either. On a personal note this is a subject that can be pretty touchy with a ton of pitfalls and traps. I do understand what you are saying though, I have spent a good many hours through the years thinking over issues like this and asking the Lord what He thinks, seeking from His Word some rhema but still on this subject I personally tread pretty lightly.


_________________
D.Miller

 2016/8/13 23:04Profile
TMK
Member



Joined: 2012/2/8
Posts: 6650
NC, USA

 Re:

Bear-

One thing that I did want to clarify-- you seem to be under the impression that those of us here who believe the scriptures cannot be read to demand total abstinence from alcohol are, by taking that position, somehow encouraging the use of alcohol.

That is simply not true. I am convinced that John Mac takes the position he does because he is fearful that if he does not he will appear to be encouraging alcohol use. Of course neither he, nor his denomination, want to appear to be encouraging the use of alcohol. I certainly understand that.

But there is an honest and dishonest way to discourage the use of alcohol. I don't have any problem whatsoever with a brother or sister discouraging the use of alcohol, as long as they do it honestly without twisting scriptures.

I personally think the best argument against the use of alcohol is that it is simply unwise. Although it is not forbidden by scripture to drink alcohol, an argument can be made that it is unwise to do so, primarily because it is very difficult to determine when a permissible use of alcohol slides into impermissible use (drunkeness). Those of us who have drank alcohol would have to admit this fact.

The other think that is difficult to determine is what does drunkenness mean. We know the classic symptoms- slurring speech, unsteadiness, change in personality, doing dumb things with fireworks, etc. But short of those stereotypical symptoms, it is more difficult to say. So it is arguably unwise to test those waters. Not forbidden, but unwise.


_________________
Todd

 2016/8/13 23:20Profile





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