Tuesday, July 25, 2023


JESUS’ LAST WILL

LEGAL, BINDING & UNALTERABLE!

by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

“This cup is the New Testament in My blood; this ye do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He comes.” (1 Cor.11:25, 26)

“In Whom also we have obtained an INHERITANCE, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who works all things after the counsel of His own WILL: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.

“In Whom you also trusted, after that you heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also, after that you believed, you were SEALED with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the EARNEST of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:11-14)

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the spirit of ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

“The Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; HEIRS of God, and JOINT HEIRS with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Rom. 8:14-17)

“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God…Who hath also SEALED us, and given the EARNEST of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Cor.1: 20-22)

LEGAL, BINDING & UNALTERABLE!

The ‘Baptism in the Holy Spirit’, guarantees our eternal salvation, providing we, “continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” (Col.1: 22-23; John 8:31)

The Blessed HOLY SPIRIT is the Guarantor of our Salvation. The glorious ‘Holy Spirit Baptism’ is the EARNEST or ‘down payment’ that God gives to those who are “heirs of eternal life” (Heb.1: 14; James 2:5; Titus 3: 7; Gal. 3: 29)

JESUS made a legal, binding and unalterable Will or Last Testament before He died on Calvary's cross, for the sins of the world! He included us in His all encompassing, yet exclusive WILL!

Even though Jesus Christ died for everyone, only those who believe the Gospel and receive Him as Lord and Saviour are included in His Last Will and the ‘New Testament’ in His blood.

The Bible says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

 JESUS’ LAST WILL and TESTAMENT includes all believers: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My Word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do because I go into My Father.

"And whatever you shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. At that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you." (John 14: 11-14, 20)

 THE CROSS: SATAN’S TOTAL DEFEAT!

Before our Lord Jesus died on Golgatha, He cried out: “It is finished.” (John 19:30) He spoke in the Greek language, employing the word: ‘tetelestai’, which is taken from the verb ‘teleo’. The verb ‘teleo’ has three essential meanings:

1). “To bring to an end, finish or complete something.”

2). “To carry out, accomplish perform, fulfill.”

3). “To pay what is owed.”

When Jesus cried, “IT IS FINISHED”, He was declaring our liberty. He had purchased our complete and eternal salvation through His sufferings and death on the cross!

The blood was already flowing and His victory over Satan, death, hell and the grave was already assured! No longer could Satan rule the world with impunity. His little ‘red wagon’ was wrecked. His kingdom was destroyed and the ‘foolish one-time archangel’ who had wanted “to be God”, was like “the emperor without clothes”!

IT IS FINISHED! Redemption was an accomplished fact! The 332 Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah (61 major ones) had been FULFILLED! And our sin debt had been PAID IN FULL, by the shed blood of ‘The Christ; the God-Man’; the Saviour of the world!

St. Paul makes it clear: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (He was God in human flesh): But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

“That at the name of JESUS, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil.2: 5-11)

 JESUS’ BLOOD DEFEATED SATAN!

The all-powerful blood of Jesus Christ, which did not die (“saw no corruption” – Acts 2:31), stripped the devil of all authority over every human being who calls upon the name of the Lord for mercy, and receives Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour!

 The Bible says: “And you are complete in Him (Christ), Who is the head of all principality and power:  “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has He quickened (made alive) together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; “And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly (Satan and his forces), triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2:10, 12-15)

Writing to the Hebrews, St. Paul, states emphatically that Jesus Christ not only destroyed Satan’s works (1 John 3:8), but the EVIL ONE’ as well:

“Forasmuch then as the children (that’s us) are partakers of flesh and blood, He (Jesus Christ) also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through DEATH, He might DESTROY him that had the power of death, that is, the DEVIL; And DELIVER them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14, 15)

Christ’s Victory and Satan’s Defeat is Our Liberty! The Bible says: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 32,36). The Holy Spirit lets us in on a very important truth concerning the works of the devil versus the workings of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit!

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 10)

Who is the THIEF that Jesus is referring to? The Holy Spirit answers that question so well: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ vigorously opposed and defeated these enemies: sin, fear, sickness, death, poverty, demons and Satan himself!

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, Who went about doing good and healing all who were OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10: 38)

Some people have questioned where sickness and disease comes from! We know that before the “fall of our first parents”, there were neither SICKNESS nor DEATH! With sin, came fear, pain, sickness, disease, death and sorrow!

One thing we know: The Holy Spirit always tells the truth. He states unequivocally, that all the sick and diseased people that Jesus healed, were OPPRESSED and made SICK by Satan! Satan made them all sick, but Jesus made them all well! Hallelujah to the Lamb!

JESUS IS TESTATOR: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EXECUTOR OF HIS WILL!

These Scriptures prove without a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus Christ, Who made the WILL that includes us all, died and rose again! He is ALIVE and is seated on God's right hand, and the Holy Spirit is the Executor of His WILL!

Therefore, we can be assured that what Jesus died to provide for us, will be given to us, without fear of duplicity, trickery or unethical practice on the part of relatives, interested parties or dishonest judges, lawyers, advocates or executors!  Hallelujah!

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and He is the Executor of Jesus' WILL!  The Bible says that He convicts us of sin, convinces us of the reality of heaven and hell, invites us to repent and return to the Father, through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the 'cursed tree'!

 The Holy Spirit always causes us to glorify Jesus and share His gospel with others. He intercedes to the Father on our behalf, praying through us with ‘groanings’ that cannot be uttered! He leads, guides and directs us through the Word of God and the gifts of the Spirit!  He comforts us.  He fills us with joy, peace, love and power, and HEALS US!

In Canada, an executor of a WILL is entitled to an agreed specific amount up to 15% of the total amount of the will! The Holy Spirit does not take anything for His work. He will give us 100% of what Jesus died to provide for us!  And our Lord Jesus Christ works together with the Holy Spirit, to make absolutely sure that we receive what is Biblically, legally and rightfully ours!

JESUS CHRIST SITS ON THE FATHER'S RIGHT HAND!

The Bible says:  “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). JESUS is alive and is presently seated on the right hand of the Majesty on High (Heb. 1:3; 8:1), and oversees the righteous implementation of His own WILL!

It is impossible for Jesus Christ not to keep His Word, since He is the ‘Way, Truth and Life’, and because it is His WILL to do so! He has promised to meet every need of His believing saints, who are “heirs of God and joint heirs” with Himself! (Matt. 11:28)

And since He is in Heaven NOW, with God the Father, He will do whatever His legal, binding, eternal WILL declares! No one can break, contest or alter His LAST WILL and TESTAMENT! Anyone who tries to do so is a thief, blasphemer and liar. No one can steal the inheritance of God's ‘blood washed’ children!

I trust Almighty God, my Heavenly Father and the Blessed Holy Spirit – the executor of Jesus’ Will - to deliver to myself and all born - again believers, what is legally ours through inheritance, as "Children of God, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ"!

The Bible says: "There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

"The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs of God; and joint heirs with Jesus Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." (Rom.8: 1,2,14-17)

The Word of God declares: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:1,2)

 HE IS IN US, WE ARE IN HIM: WE ARE HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD!

The Bible says: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." (Col. 3:1-4)

St. Paul enunciated one of the greatest truths that human ears and minds, could hear and understand, when he wrote: “For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Eph. 5:30,32)

He was instructing the church in ‘family matters’, regarding a man’s relationship to his wife! He said: For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” (v. 31)

After God had performed surgery on Adam, in order to create a woman out of his rib, the man said: “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” (Gen.2: 23)

It is clear, that as the first Adam identified his wife as, “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh”, Jesus Christ, Who was the second and last Adam (1 Cor.15: 45-47), identifies himself with the CHURCH which is His body, just as closely!

We are one with Christ. He is in us and we are in Him, and we are hid with Christ in God! He is the “Head of the Church and we are His body” (Eph. 1:22-23; Col.1: 18). He is “the Vine and we are the branches” (John 15:5). We are bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh! (Eph. 5:30)

He has no sin in His life, nor should we. He has no sickness in His body, nor should we! He has no cancer in His flesh. He has no broken bones or incurable disease and since we are bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh, we receive His spiritual life (which is against sin) and physical healing and health because, BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. (Isa.53:4,5: Matt. 8:16,17: 1 Pet. 2:24)

In His high priestly prayer to His Heavenly Father, Jesus prayed: “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) And St. John stated: “…because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:170

 THERE IS NO DENYING IT!  We who are 'born again' are "one with Christ". We are "in Him" and "He is in us" and we are ONE with the Father and the Holy Spirit! Jesus Christ is "our life"!  We are "hid with Christ in God"!  You can’t get any closer than that! We are safe and secure in Him!

The Bible says: “That they may be ONE, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be ONE in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be ONE even as We are ONE: I in them and Thou in Me…” (John 17: 21-23)

This is why God’s Word says: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (the evil spirits): because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:1). Greater is Jesus Christ, My Lord and Saviour, Who purchased my salvation and has the title deed to my life! Greater is the Holy Spirit, Who is within me, directing me, leading me and protecting me, than the devil and all his evil power that is within the world!

Greater is the Word of God that is within my spirit-man and the BLOOD OF JESUS that cleanses me, covers me and protects me, than all the demons of hell! And greater are God’s angels that protect me, from all the onslaughts of the enemy!

 The Bible says: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." (Ps.119: 7)  Hallelujah!      God's Word states: "For in Him we live, we move, and have our being..." (Acts 17:28) A gospel song says: "I can't even walk without Him (the Lord) holding my hand." Our lives are in God's hands and what a wonderful place to be!

The Bible says: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper: and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement, thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." (Is. 54:17) 

“There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh unto thy dwelling.  Because he hath set His love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation." (Ps.91:10,14-16)

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness;

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rear guard. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here am I..." (Isa.41:10; 58:8-9)

THE BIBLE SAYS: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal.3:13,14)

St. Paul wrote so confidently: "Now thanks be unto God, Who always causeth us to TRIUMPH IN CHRIST, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish." (2 Cor. 2:14,15)

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUORERS through Him that loved us.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:35-39) 

THE WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE!

God’s Word does not change to meet the ever changing times, fashions, and whims of mankind! His laws are fixed, immutable and sure

A number of years ago, I discussed the importance of praying for the sick with several fellow ministers. I stated that God’s promises to answer our prayers for the sick and suffering are found in many and varied places in the Bible, even in a familiar passage like Hebrews 4:12. They were amazed when I pointed it out to them.

“For the Word of God is quick (alive) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Jesus is the living Word of God, and the Bible is the written Word of God. It is alive and so effective that it can minister to the various needs of our soul (intellect, emotions and will) and our spirit (inner spirit-man), and is a discerner of our very thoughts and intents! God’s Word also brings peace, rest and divine healing to our body (physical), as well as our spirits and souls!

I said:  “There may be sin in our hearts, minds or spirits, but what about our joints and the marrow of our bones? There is NO SIN there, but there may be arthritis, cancer or some other dread disease there. We may have broken bones that need to be mended! The Word of God gets into those areas and heals us, just like the Bible says!”

The Word of God says: “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses. He sent His Word and HEALED them, and delivereth them from their destructions.” (Ps. 107: 19,20)

WHAT IS OUR INHERITANCE?

God’s promises to us today, are the same as for those of any other age! He has not changed, cannot change and will not change! God has not lied, He cannot lie and He will not lie! He has not failed, cannot fail and will not fail! He is no respecter of persons, places or times. What He has done for others, in different places or times, He will do for us, if we believe and trust Him! God is always ready to help us. He is not on vacation or sleeping. He is available 24 hours a day and best of all, He loves us!

I had wonderful parents, who were always there for their children. If anyone needed help - of any kind - they were always available and ready to respond!  But, sadly, as the years passed, they got old, became ill and finally died!  God, however, cannot die!

God is much like my parents, with several exceptions: God is better than they were. He is perfect and totally good, gracious and kind. And He loves us unconditionally! Secondly, He has the power to save us, forgive us, protect us, heal us and prosper us!

And finally, God doesn’t get tired or old. He will never die and leave us to fend for ourselves! Jesus promised: “…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt.28: 20)

The writer to the Hebrews (probably Paul), expands upon Jesus’ promise: “…for He (Jesus) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13: 5). In the original Greek text, Jesus used a double imperative to express how strongly He felt about giving of Himself to His followers! He said, “I will never, no never leave thee. I will never, no never forsake thee…”

WHAT DID JESUS PROVIDE OR US, IN HIS LAST WILL?

1). Peace – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27). “These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one Body. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Col.3: 15; Rom.5: 1). “And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 4: 7)

2). Love Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth, is born of God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us and His love is perfected in us.” Herein know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. (1 John 4: 7-13); “            And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.” (Rom.5: 5)

3). Joy – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5: 22,23). “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 15: 11; 16: 24)

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost.”(Rom.14: 17). “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding JOY.” (Jude 24; James 1: 2; 1 Pet. 4:13)

4). Divine Healing “…for I am the Lord that healeth thee…and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee; And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.” (Ex. 15:26; 23: 24-25; Duet. 7: 15)

“Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquitites; who healeth all thy diseases; He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Ps. 103: 2,3; 107: 20)

“Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (kholee - heb.), and carried our pains (makob – heb.): yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes, we are healed.” (Is. 53: 4,5)

“When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, Saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8: 16,17)

 “Who His (Jesus) own Self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes we were healed.” (1 Pet. 2: 24)

JESUS CHRIST GAVE HIS POWER TO HEAL the sick, to the twelve apostles (Matt. 10: 8; Mark 6: 7, 12,13, to the seventy disciples (Luke 10: 17-19) and to all believers Mark 16: 17-20)

The Bible instructs the Church in the procedure of bringing Divine Healing to its members: “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save (gr. sozei, the future, 3rd. singular of sozo – to ‘save, heal, protect, make well’) the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5: 14,15)

John Wesley - founder of the Methodist Church - in ‘His Notes on the New Testament’, commenting on James 5: 14, says: “Having anointed him with oil” – this single conspicuous gift, which Christ committed to His apostles (Mark 6:13), remained in the church long after the miraculous gifts ceased. It seems to have been designed to remain always; and St. James directs the elders, who were the most gifted men, to administer it. This was the whole process of physic in the Christian church, till it was lost through unbelief.”

5). Holy Ghost Baptism: Fire and Power “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8)

“…He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” (Luke 3: 16) “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, (parakletos, gr. – One sent along side to help) that He may abide with you forever;

“Even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

“But the Comforter (One just like Jesus) Which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” (John 14: 16-18,26; 15:26; 16:7)

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2: 38,39)

 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Eph. 5: 18,19)

“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you that there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

“These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But, ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 17-21)

 6). Fellowship with God, and Believers “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sins.” (1 John 1: 3,6,7). “God is faithful, by Whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1: 9)

7). Eternal Life “That whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 25,16)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, Which gave then Me, is greater than all: and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are One.” (John 10: 26-30)

“As Thou hast given Him (God’s Son) POWER OVER ALL FLESH, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.” (John 17: 2,3)

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the WORD OF LIFE: “For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, Which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;” (1 John 1: 1,2)

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the TRUE GOD and ETERNAL LIFE.” (1 John 5: 10-13,19,20)

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by HIS OWN BLOOD He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the ETERNAL SPIRIT offered Himself without spot to GOD (the Father), purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

“And for this cause He is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.“For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

“For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath HE APPEARED TO PUT AWAY SIN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the Second Time without sin unto salvation.” (Heb. 9: 12,14-18,24-28). Amen.

Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside, Edmonton, AB T65V 1N6; Email:[email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Youtube; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make donation to [email protected]. May God bless you! 

Friday, July 21, 2023

              SIN:                                            An Ugly Three-Letter Word!

                      by Pastor Max Solbrekken,D.D.

SIN IS REAL, says famed psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger. The highly-acclaimed psychiatrist is distressed by modern society's failure to understand that many of man's problems are caused by sin.  It annoys him to hear people discuss morality without so much as mentioning the word "SIN".

 Menninger believes that in order to raise civilization's moral tone and deal with depression, anxiety and worry, people must learn the root cause of their problems.

And the root cause in many instances is a person's unwillingness to take responsibility for his own actions, but rather lay the blame on someone - or something – else."

Several decades ago, George W. Cornell of the Associated Press (AP) wrote a column titled Word Sin Disappears But Remains A Fact’in which he quoted at great length Dr. Karl Menninger’s beliefs on this subject.

“He says the realities of personal guilt and sin have been glossed over as symptoms of emotional illness or environmental conditioning for which the individual is not considered responsible, but he adds:

“There is sin…which cannot be subsumed under verbal artifacts such as ‘disease’, ‘delinquency’, ‘deviancy’. There is immorality. There is unethical behaviour. There is wrong doing.”

Cornell states: “He calls for a reaffirmation of the concept of sin and of personal responsibility for it. In a new book published by Hawthorne called ‘Whatever Became of Sin?’ he declares:

“If the concept of personal responsibility and answerability for ourselves and for others were to return to common acceptance, hope would return to the world with it.”

We have the father of psycho-analysis, Sigmund Freud - who was battling his own weird and kinky imaginations and habits - to thank for much of that!

The founder of the Menninger Centre in Topeko, Kansas, is seeking to correct the situation by addressing the problem.

His latest book, Whatever Became of Sin?, describes the subject as "a transgression of the law of God; disobedience of the divine will; moral failure...Sin has a defiant, or disloyal quality; someone is defiled or offended or hurt".

Modern psychiatry often lets people off the hook. And failure to bring offenders face to face with their error could produce a sense of vindication, without coming to grips with the problem; the need to change lifestyles.

Menninger has successfully treated thousands of clients for more than a half century and has proven that acceptance of responsibility coupled with repentance, often brings freedom from guilt and anxiety. The refusal to confront the problem only compounds it by giving at the very best, temporary relief.

Thousands of years ago, King Solomon stated: "He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy, but he that covereth his sin shall not prosper". (Prov. 28:13)

Forgiveness is vital to good mental. We must forgive others if we expect God to forgive us, as well as being to forgive ourselves!

A leading psychiatrist noted that 90% of the mentally ill could be immediately well if they were able to forgive themselves and others and to receive forgiveness! It is difficult for an individual to forgive himself without the assurance that God has forgiven him.

That is why the gospel - CONFESSION, REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS - is so relevant and necessary!

The Bible states emphatically: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. (1 John 1:9)

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin”. (1 John 1:7)

Some health officials, in explaining their AIDS program, go to great lengths promoting condoms, as well as sexual abstinence. Then they usually add: "THIS IS NOT A MORAL ISSUE".

How stupid. Of course, it's a moral issue!

If our young people had higher morals there wouldn't be a drug abuse, fornication or homosexual problem, putting themselves at risk to the AIDS virus.

And if people were more moral and stuck with the Bible standard of "one woman - one man", there wouldn't be such a dramatic increase in sexually-transmitted diseases.

It goes without saying, violence would be almost non-existent and crime, rape and child abuse would drop drastically.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS IS A MORAL REVOLUTION!

And there are signs that one is coming. During an earlier Canadian election, former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was accused of lying. Constituents were sending politicians the message: "We won't tolerate dishonesty".

 And during the last general election in Canada, P.M. Jean Chretien was accused of breaking three earlier election promises which included the promise to scrap the hated “GST”. In the recent US Presidential election, nearly all candidates were speaking about values. Why? People understand that a sense of moral values is not only important, but necessary.

P.S. This article was written before the notoriously corrupt and scandel-driven Liberal Government finally rotted away so the honest, godly Stephen Harper was able to bring some respect to Canada once more. Now in 2015, we are shocked at the corruption in the Canadian Senate! 

The situation in the US Government is out of control. Barack Obama is called Liar-in-Chief and the batttle between him and Hillary Clinton is which one is the biggest Liar!

America's annual "SIN BILL" topped more than a half a trillion dollars in 1987.

Dr. Charles Ewing of The National Statesman said that Americans spent $144 billion for liquor, $177 billion on gambling, $110 billion on drugs, $73 billion on tobacco and $40 billion on pornography!

AND TEENAGERS - OUR GREATEST COMMODITY - ARE BEING THREATENED BY MURDER, DRUGS, ALCOHOLISM AND SUICIDE!

An article by Dr. Robert Blum in the Journal of American Medical Association states: "Over the past 30 years, adolescents have been the only population in the US who have not experienced improvement in their health status".

 According to Blum, 77% of adolescent deaths were caused by accidents and violence, including self-inflicted violence. And there was a shocking four-fold increase in suicides and murders!

A US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report states: "Of the 10,250 kids born today...one will die and four will sustain serious or crippling injuries in an alcohol related crash before they reach the age of 24".

This is a very sobering, serious warning about sin, accidents and death! May we all take a lesson from these tragic statistics, realizing that "The wages of sin is death".

You may say, “All you have stated is true! But what must I do to be forgiven and freed from my sins?” The Bible says, “If we confess our sins (to God) He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”(1 John 1:9)

George W. Cornell writes: “Menninger says that just as it is inadequate for a clergyman to give only pastoral counseling to a schizophrenic, it is inadequate for a psychiatrist to treat a symptom like sleeplessness of a man involved in wicked rascality.

REPENTANCE VALUABLE!

It does little good to repent a symptom, but it may do great harm not to repent a sin. Vice-versa, it does little good to merely psychoanalyze a sin and sometimes a great harm to ignore a symptom;

He says recognizing the fact of voluntarily willed sin is “the only hopeful view”, since it implies the possibility of repenting and correcting it. He adds:

The logical reasonable effective solution for tension reduction in such circumstances is to make atonement, as the theologians call it, or as we say, by restitution, acknowledgement and revised tactics.”

As the situation now is “vague amorphous evil appears all around us” with the presumption that “no one is responsible, no one guilty” and that there is “just nothing to do”.

BUT, THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO!

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin”. (1 John 1:7)

The Bible says: “... But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (Rom. 6:23) 

CHRIST HAS DIED. CHRIST IS RISEN. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!

 Max Solbrekken World Mission Box 44220 RPO Garside, Edmonton, AB T5V IN6 ; Email:[email protected]; comehometojesus.ca; Facebook; youtube; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Send donation to [email protected]; May God bless you.