JESUS and sinners

 

JESUS said heaven rejoices 

over ONE sinner who repents:

Luke 15:7

King James Version

7 I say unto you, 

that likewise joy shall be in heaven 

over one sinner that repenteth, 

more than over ninety and nine just persons, 

which need no repentance.

Do you know how much JESUS loves us?

Do you know how much sinners matter to Him?

Never mind if He's criticized for it:

Luke 15:1-2

King James Version

15 Then drew near unto him 

all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, 

saying, 

This man receiveth sinners, 

and eateth with them.

As always, the LORD teaches in parables.

Luke 15:3-6

King James Version

3 And he spake this parable unto them, 

saying,

4 What man of you, 

having an hundred sheep, 

if he lose one of them, 

doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, 

and go after that which is lost, 

until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, 

he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he cometh home, 

he calleth together his friends and neighbours, 

saying unto them, 

Rejoice with me; 

for I have found my sheep 

which was lost.

Proof of how much sinners matter to the LORD can be found through these verses:

Mark 2:16-17

King James Version

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees 

saw him eat with publicans and sinners, 

they said unto his disciples, 

How is it that he eateth and drinketh 

with publicans and sinners?

17 When Jesus heard it, 

he saith unto them, 

They that are whole have no need of the physician, 

but they that are sick: 

I came not to call the righteous, 

but sinners to repentance.

Luke 19:10

King James Version

10 For the Son of man is come to seek 

and to save that which was lost.

John 3:16-17

King James Version

16 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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world 

to condemn the world; 

but that the world through him 

might be saved.

2 Peter 3:9

King James Version

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 

as some men count slackness; 

but is longsuffering to us-ward, 

not willing that any should perish, 

but that all should come to repentance.

If you are a sinner, you are not unusual.

Who isn't?

We're all sinners.

But do we have to remain as one?

Romans 3:10

King James Version

10 As it is written, 

There is none righteous, 

no, not one:

Romans 3:23

King James Version

23 For all have sinned, 

and come short of the glory of God;

1 John 1:8

King James Version

8 If we say that we have no sin, 

we deceive ourselves, 

and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:10

King James Version

10 If we say that we have not sinned, 

we make him a liar, 

and his word is not in us.

We are to have compassion for each other.

For the weakness of our flesh.

For the corruptibility of our minds.

For the flightiness of our souls.

JESUS teaches compassion:

Matthew 7:1-5

King James Version

7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, 

ye shall be judged: 

and with what measure ye mete, 

it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote 

that is in thy brother's eye, 

but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, 

Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; 

and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, 

first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; 

and then shalt thou see clearly 

to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Every day we're still on earth, is pure GRACE.

We can only thank the LORD, for His mercy.

It's time to get right with the LORD now.

For a purpose JESUS made clear.

The RAPTURE can happen, any moment.

Even as we speak.

Matthew 24:39-42

King James Version

39 And knew not until the flood came, 

and took them all away; 

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; 

the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; 

the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: 

for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Mark 1:15

King James Version

15 And saying, 

The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand: 

repent ye, 

and believe the gospel.

How many more reminders do we need?

Every sinner matters.

We are all matter, thus, we sin.

It's now time to be born again.

That we may be of GOD's SPIRIT.

John 3:3-7

King James Version

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, 

How can a man be born when he is old? 

can he enter the second time 

into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

From sinhood, to sainthood?

It is possible.

ONLY through JESUS.

1 John 1:9

King James Version

9 If we confess our sins, 

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Related material:

REPENTANCE

SALVATION 

JUDGMENT

JESUS

The SHEEP

On ANGELS

Image: Wallpaper Access

The ANCIENT paths

 

Jeremiah 18:15

King James Version

15 Because my people hath forgotten me,

 they have burned incense to vanity, 

and they have caused them to stumble in their ways 

from the ancient paths, 

to walk in paths, 

in a way not cast up;

What are the "ancient paths"?

What does the Bible say?

Come, let us go up the mountain.

And let SPIRIT teach us GOD's ways:

The PATH of FOCUS.

Joshua 1:7-8

King James Version

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, 

that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, 

which Moses my servant commanded thee: 

turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, 

that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; 

but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, 

that thou mayest observe to do 

according to all that is written therein: 

for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, 

and then thou shalt have good success.

The PATH of LIFE.

Psalm 16:11

King James Version

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: 

in thy presence is fulness of joy; 

at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The PATH of PERFECTION.

Psalm 18:30

King James Version

30 As for God, 

his way is perfect: 

the word of the Lord is tried: 

he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

The PATH of MERCY and TRUTH.

Psalm 25:10

King James Version

10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth 

unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

The PATH of ABUNDANCE.

Psalm 65:11

King James Version

11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; 

and thy paths drop fatness.

The PATH of PROPHETS and PRIESTS.

Psalm 77:19-20

King James Version

19 Thy way is in the sea, 

and thy path in the great waters, 

and thy footsteps are not known.

20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock 

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

The PATH of UPRIGHTNESS.

Psalm 143:10

King James Version

10 Teach me to do thy will; 

for thou art my God: 

thy spirit is good; 

lead me into the land of uprightness.

The PATH of JUSTICE.

Proverbs 2:8

King James Version

8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, 

and preserveth the way of his saints.

The PATH of the RIGHTEOUS.

Proverbs 2:20

King James Version

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, 

and keep the paths of the righteous.

The PATH of PEACE.

Proverbs 3:17

King James Version

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 

and all her paths are peace.

The PATH of WISDOM.

Proverbs 4:11

King James Version

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; 

I have led thee in right paths.

The PATH of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Psalm 23:3

King James Version

3 He restoreth my soul: 

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness 

for his name's sake.

Proverbs 8:20

King James Version

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, 

in the midst of the paths of judgment:

The PATH of LIGHT.

Isaiah 2:1-5

King James Version

2 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw 

concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, 

that the mountain of the Lord's house 

shall be established in the top of the mountains, 

and shall be exalted above the hills; 

and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 And many people shall go and say,

Come ye, 

and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 

to the house of the God of Jacob; 

and he will teach us of his ways, 

and we will walk in his paths: 

for out of Zion shall go forth the law, 

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 And he shall judge among the nations, 

and shall rebuke many people: 

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, 

and their spears into pruninghooks: 

nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 

neither shall they learn war any more.

5 O house of Jacob, 

come ye, 

and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

The PATH of FAITHFULNESS and TRUTH.

Isaiah 25:1

King James Version

25 O Lord, 

thou art my God; 

I will exalt thee, 

I will praise thy name; 

for thou hast done wonderful things; 

thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 42:16

King James Version

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; 

I will lead them in paths that they have not known: 

I will make darkness light before them,

and crooked things straight. 

These things will I do unto them, 

and not forsake them.

The PATH of the JUST.

Isaiah 26:7

King James Version

7 The way of the just is uprightness: 

thou, most upright, 

dost weigh the path of the just.

The PATH to GOOD.

Jeremiah 6:16

King James Version

16 Thus saith the Lord, 

Stand ye in the ways, 

and see, 

and ask for the old paths, 

where is the good way, 

and walk therein, 

and ye shall find rest for your souls. 

But they said, 

We will not walk therein.

The PATH of HEALING.

Hebrews 12:11-13

King James Version

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, 

but grievous: 

nevertheless afterward 

it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness 

unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, 

and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, 

lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; 

but let it rather be healed.

The PATH of HOLINESS.

Hebrews 12:14

King James Version

14 Follow peace with all men, 

and holiness, 

without which no man shall see the Lord:

Related material:

WALK in the SPIRIT

BORN AGAIN articles

GOD's GLORY blogs

Image: Pxhere

VOICE of GOD

 

Psalm 104:1

King James Version

104 Bless the Lord, 

O my soul. 

O Lord my God, 

thou art very great; 

thou art clothed 

with honour and majesty.

The LORD's voice comes in many forms.

In many ways we had not imagined.

Here's what Scripture says:

Exodus 19:16-19

King James Version

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, 

that there were thunders and lightnings, 

and a thick cloud upon the mount, 

and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; 

so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought forth the people 

out of the camp to meet with God; 

and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, 

because the Lord descended upon it in fire: 

and the smoke thereof ascended 

as the smoke of a furnace, 

and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, 

and waxed louder and louder, 

Moses spake, 

and God answered him by a voice.

Job 40:9

King James Version

9 Hast thou an arm like God? 

or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

Psalm 18:13

King James Version

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, 

and the Highest gave his voice; 

hail stones and coals of fire.

Psalm 29:3-9

King James Version

3 The voice of the Lord 

is upon the waters: 

the God of glory thundereth: 

the Lord is upon many waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; 

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; 

yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; 

Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.

8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; 

the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, 

and discovereth the forests: 

and in his temple doth every one speak 

of his glory.

Psalm 77:18

King James Version

18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: 

the lightnings lightened the world: 

the earth trembled and shook.

Psalm 104:7

King James Version

7 At thy rebuke they fled; 

at the voice of thy thunder 

they hasted away.

Isaiah 30:21

King James Version

21 And thine ears shall hear 

a word behind thee, saying, 

This is the way, walk ye in it, 

when ye turn to the right hand, 

and when ye turn to the left.

Ezekiel 43:2

King James Version

2 And, behold, 

the glory of the God of Israel 

came from the way of the east: 

and his voice was like a noise of many waters: 

and the earth shined with his glory.

Revelation 1:10

King James Version

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, 

and heard behind me a great voice, 

as of a trumpet,

Revelation 1:15

King James Version

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, 

as if they burned in a furnace; 

and his voice

as the sound of many waters.

Revelation 4:1-2

King James Version

4 After this I looked, 

and, behold, 

a door was opened in heaven: 

and the first voice which I heard 

was as it were of a trumpet 

talking with me; which said, 

Come up hither, 

and I will shew thee things 

which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: 

and, behold, 

a throne was set in heaven, 

and one sat on the throne.

Revelation 14:2

King James Version

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, 

as the voice of many waters, 

and as the voice of a great thunder: 

and I heard the voice of harpers 

harping with their harps:

Revelation 19:4-6

King James Version

4 And the four and twenty elders 

and the four beasts fell down 

and worshipped God 

that sat on the throne, saying, 

Amen; Alleluia.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, 

saying, 

Praise our God, all ye his servants, 

and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice 

of a great multitude, 

and as the voice of many waters, 

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, 

saying, 

Alleluia: for the Lord God 

omnipotent reigneth.

To listen to thunder, click here.

More on GOD's VOICE here.

Related material:

Bible DISCOVERY 26: When GOD speaks

God's VOICE

Image: Wallpaper Flare

Like MANY WATERS

 

Ezekiel 43:2

King James Version

2 And, behold, 

the glory of the God of Israel came 

from the way of the east: 

and his voice was like a noise of many waters: 

and the earth shined with his glory.

GOD's voice is "like a noise of many waters".

What did that mean?

Like a waterfall?

Let's listen to what other Bible versions have to say:

Ezekiel 43:2

Christian Standard Bible

2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice sounded like the roar of a huge torrent, and the earth shone with his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

Common English Bible

2 where the glory of Israel’s God was coming in from the east. Its sound was like the sound of a mighty flood, and the earth was lit up with his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

Complete Jewish Bible

2 There I saw the glory of the God of Isra’el approaching from the east. His voice was like the sound of rushing water, and the earth shone with his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

Contemporary English Version

2  where I saw the brightness of the glory of Israel's God coming from the east. The sound I heard was as loud as ocean waves, and everything around was shining with the dazzling brightness of his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

Darby Translation

2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east; and his voice was like the voice of many waters; and the earth was lit up with his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

Easy-to-Read Version

2 There the Glory of the God of Israel came from the east. God’s voice was loud like the sound of the sea. The ground was bright with the light from the Glory of God.

Ezekiel 43:2

1599 Geneva Bible

2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel, came from out of the East, whose voice was like a noise of great waters, and the earth was made light with his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

Good News Translation

2 and there I saw coming from the east the dazzling light of the presence of the God of Israel. God's voice sounded like the roar of the sea, and the earth shone with the dazzling light.

Ezekiel 43:2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice sounded like the roar of mighty waters, and the earth shone with His glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

International Children’s Bible

2 And I saw the greatness of the God of Israel coming from the east. God’s voice was like the roar of rushing water. His greatness made the earth shine.

Ezekiel 43:2

International Standard Version

2 and the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. His voice sounded like roaring[a] water, and the land shimmered from his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

The Message

The Meaning of the Temple

43 1-3 The man brought me to the east gate. Oh! The bright Glory of the God of Israel rivered out of the east sounding like the roar of floodwaters, and the earth itself glowed with the bright Glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

New Catholic Bible

2 and there I beheld the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. The sound of his coming was like the sound of a mighty torrent of waters, and the earth shone with his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

2 And there, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east; the sound was like the sound of mighty waters; and the earth shone with his glory.

Yechezkel 43:2

Orthodox Jewish Bible

2 And, hinei, the Kavod Elohei Yisroel came from the derech of the east; and His voice was like a kol mayim rabbim and ha’aretz was radiant with His Kavod.

Ezekiel 43:2

Tree of Life Version

2 and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters. The earth was radiant with His glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

The Voice

2 There, I witnessed the glory of the God of Israel storming from the east. His voice thundered like a great waterfall. The entire earth reflected His shining glory.

In SUMMARY, "like a noise of many waters" means:

like the roar of a huge torrent

like the sound of a mighty flood

like the sound of rushing water

as loud as ocean waves

like the voice of many water

like the sound of the sea

like a noise of great waters

like the roar of the sea

like the roar of mighty waters

like the roar of rushing water

like roaring[a] water

like the roar of floodwaters

like the sound of a mighty torrent of waters

like the sound of mighty waters

like a kol mayim rabbim

like the sound of many waters

thundered like a great waterfall

The next post will tell us more about the VOICE of GOD, wherein Scripture compared it to many other things.

Related material:

God's VOICE

We also discovered some JEWISH songs dedicated to the LORD's voice, "like many waters":

Nava Tehila - Mikolot Mayim Rabim מקולות מים רבים - נאוה תהילה

Mikolos Mayim Rabim (Shabbat song)

Image: Ivan Torres

OBEYING God's VOICE

 

The LORD JESUS said:

John 10:27-28

King James Version

27 My sheep hear my voice, 

and I know them, 

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; 

and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man pluck them 

out of my hand.

What happens when we listen to GOD?

What happens when we obey Him?

What happens when we don't?

These verses tell us more.

Jeremiah 7:23-34

King James Version

23 But this thing commanded I them, 

saying, 

Obey my voice, 

and I will be your God, 

and ye shall be my people: 

and walk ye in all the ways 

that I have commanded you, 

that it may be well unto you.

24 But they hearkened not, 

nor inclined their ear, 

but walked in the counsels 

and in the imagination of their evil heart, 

and went backward, 

and not forward.

25 Since the day that your fathers came forth 

out of the land of Egypt unto this day 

I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, 

daily rising up early and sending them:

26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, 

nor inclined their ear, 

but hardened their neck: 

they did worse than their fathers.

27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; 

but they will not hearken to thee: 

thou shalt also call unto them; 

but they will not answer thee.

28 But thou shalt say unto them, 

This is a nation that obeyeth not 

the voice of the Lord their God, 

nor receiveth correction: 

truth is perished, 

and is cut off from their mouth.

29 Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, 

and cast it away, 

and take up a lamentation on high places; 

for the Lord hath rejected and forsaken 

the generation of his wrath.

30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, 

saith the Lord: 

they have set their abominations in the house 

which is called by my name, 

to pollute it.

31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, 

which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, 

to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; 

which I commanded them not, 

neither came it into my heart.

32 Therefore, behold, the days come, 

saith the Lord, 

that it shall no more be called Tophet, 

nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, 

but the valley of slaughter: 

for they shall bury in Tophet, 

till there be no place.

33 And the carcases of this people 

shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, 

and for the beasts of the earth; 

and none shall fray them away.

34 Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, 

and from the streets of Jerusalem, 

the voice of mirth, 

and the voice of gladness, 

the voice of the bridegroom, 

and the voice of the bride: 

for the land shall be desolate.

Ever heard GOD's voice?

Does GOD really talk to us?

What is His voice like?

Find out on the next post.

Related material:

God's VOICE

Image: Clipart Max