The Natural Man

 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (KJV)

In 1984 a movie was released entitled “The Natural.” This movie starred Paul Newman and became a big hit with sports fans and non-sports fans alike. The plot of this movie was that of a man who appeared to come out of nowhere to lead a team into Championship greatness. The main character (played by Paul Newman) appeared to be a natural at the game of baseball. He played brilliantly with little to no effort. It was evident to all that he had a natural born talent (in him) for the game.

If you have ever picked apples from an apple orchard or some other type of fruit like plums, you may have bit into a piece of the fruit and suddenly saw a worm inside. Well, the immediate reaction of most people is to spit out the fruit and throw away the remainder of the fruit and pick another piece. Well, that worm was somehow born in the fruits seed. This describes the nature of man. Man's corrupt nature is born in him from his mothers womb. Every little baby born on the planet looks so sweet, gentle, cuddly, warm, and harmless. However, inside the nature of each sweet little baby lyes a raging volcano the likes of Mount St. Helen's always ready to erupt. When Ted Bundy was born to his mother, she never would have dreamed that he would grow up to brutally murder many young women. This is the heart of every little baby born into this world. The natural birth of every man or woman is worthless, filthy, dirty, vile, abominable, and without any good thing in it at all.

Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.] (Quick Amplified Bible)

The Apostle Paul (illuminated by the Spirit of God) discovers even after having walked with the Lord Jesus Christ for almost eighteen (18) years that our corrupt nature is absolutely worthless. There is no redeeming value in our old nature at all. The nature we all inherited from Adam never wants to perform anything that is good (morally excellent or morally virtues). Before Adam's disobedience, he had Almighty God living in him and he had absolutely no knowledge of evil.

God knows and understands evil, but there is no trace of any evil in His nature. Well, Adam had the nature of God in him constantly and evil was foreign to him. Here is what Matthew Henry (1662-1714) said of Adam before the fall: “Man had a habitual conformity of all his natural powers to the whole will of God. His understanding saw divine things clearly and truly, and there were no errors or mistakes in his knowledge. His will complied readily and universally with the will of God, without reluctance or resistance. His affections were all regular, and he had no inordinate appetites or passions. His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects, and there was no vanity or ungovernableness in them.”

All natural men and women are walking and living in the dark. For example, if you turn out the lights in any room in your home, you cannot see anything in the room. Well, we must understand that this is the reality of every natural man or woman. Sin comes natural to them and they see nothing wrong with sin and cannot understand a person who does not desire sinful indulgence in their lives. The Bible talks in 2 Corinthians Chapter 3 about a veil being over the eyes of the ancient people in the reading of the Old Testament. Well, we know that a veil is something that obscures the view. Every natural man or woman has a veil over their spiritual eyes, blinding them from seeing the majesty, splendor, glory, and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ and His love which surpasses knowledge and understanding.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine on them. (NKJV)

Here is what Albert Barnes (1798-1870) had to say about 1 Corinthians 2:14; “The passage here proves that while a man is thus sensual, the things of the Spirit will appear to him to be folly; it proves nothing about his ability, or his natural faculty, to see the excellency of these things, and to turn from his sin. It is the affirmation of a simple fact everywhere discernible, that the natural man does not perceive the beauty of these things; that while he remains in that state he cannot; and that if he is ever brought to perceive their beauty, it will be by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Such is his love of sin, that he never will be brought to see their beauty except by the agency of the Holy Spirit.”

The English word natural comes from the Greek word psuchikos, which means man's lower or bestial nature; sensual nature. This word describes man as being under the influence of an animal nature or desires. When Adam disobeyed, the earth, the animal kingdom, and all humanity was immediately thrust into a curse.

Romans 8:20-22 For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it--[yet] with the hope that nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God's children. We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now. (Quick Amplified Bible)

Now, the Bible defines man's flesh or corrupt nature as racked with moral and physical frailty. We know that frailty is defined as that which is weak or feeble physically or morally. The Natural Man is weak physically and morally and requires a super natural miracle to make him strong morally.

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul). (Quick Amplified Bible)

The physical weakness of man's flesh will continue to deteriorate due to the curse mentioned above in Romans 8:20-22. What does every Natural Man need to gain this moral strength? He needs regeneration. He must be regenerated. What is regeneration? The word regeneration is only used twice in the entire Bible and on both occasions in the New Testament. This word comes from the Greek word paliggenesia, which means the state or act of a spiritual rebirth; a spiritual renovation or restoration. How is the Natural Man regenerated? Well, Titus 3:5-7 tells us how every natural man and woman can and will be regenerated.

Titus 3:5-7 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by the cleansing bath of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out so richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. And He did it in order that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved), [that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to our hope. (Quick Amplified Bible)

The Holy Spirit must convict the natural man or woman that their sin is not against man, but against a Holy and Righteous God. The Holy Spirit is the only one that can convince the natural man or woman of their need for deliverance. The natural man or woman can never come to true repentance in their own strength. Sin has them in chains and only the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit can loose or free them from those chains.

Luke 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, He called [her to Him] and said to her, Woman, you are released [loosed or fully freed] from your infirmity! (Quick Amplified Bible)

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). (Quick Amplified Bible)

Now we see that all natural men and women are hopeless and helplessly lost unless a miraculous change takes place in their lives and in their hearts. This is why a natural man or women can easily be trapped by any sin and become addicted and dependent on that behavior or substance. The soul of every natural man or woman is crying out inside for release. Christ has come to provide that release for every yearning and longing soul.

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], to proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord. (Quick Amplified Bible)

Christ is the only solution for every natural man or woman. Remember our earlier example of the apple or plum containing the worm on the inside, well this was a picture of the condition of every natural man born into the earth. But thanks to the mercy of God, he did not leave us floundering (like fish out of water) in this condition permanently. But through Christ, God has provided a remedy to our corrupt natural state. Praise the Lord that we through Christ can become new creatures with new moral desires and be free from our old natural condition.

John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. (Quick Amplified Bible)

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Peter Warns All Believers Against False Teachers Within and Exhorts Us to be Steadfast Volume 2

 Greeting all the Faithful Brothers and Sisters 'in Christ' Part 2 

2 Peter 1:3 According as His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: KJV Note: NKJV=New King 👑 James Version 

This like precious faith that we have obtained through our union with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is not just a gift 🎁 that is lackluster, lame, or lifeless as may be some earthly human 🎁 gifts. The gift 🎁 of faith from God to us through Christ produces something. It produces much, for the Apostle Peter now says in 2 Peter 1:3 that "His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." First of all our redemption took the Divine Power of God. The little English word 'power' is translated by the Greek word dunamis which actually means (as used here) specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself). The salvation of every sinful soul is performed by the miraculous Power of God the Holy Spirit whereby He reaches down 👇into the inner man ♂️ and inner woman ♀️ and places Himself there and causes them/us to come to life out of their/our spiritual death to God and now we are alive to God for the first time ever and this union with God through Christ can never be severed or broken (John 10:27-30). Here is what the annotation in the Amplified Bible has to say of God's Divine Power, "This power is identified as the 'power of His resurrection' (Philippians 3:10; 4:13). This power is the third resource for godly living that Peter lists in this letter 💌. glory and excellence. These words suggest the qualities of Jesus that attract believers to Him. The glory that John saw in Jesus (John 1:14) was His Authority and power." Here also is what the annotation of Ezekiel 37:6 in the Amplified Bible says, "You may come alive. This passage is not about resurrection from physical death, but rebirth from spiritual death brought about by Divine Power. Psalm 87 is another text that speaks of spiritual rebirth. The point of Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John 3 was that he should have known and understood the concept of the second birth." The spiritual life of God is what gives us strength to walk or live a life of godliness. The goal of the Gospel of Christ/Grace can be summed up best by these words the Apostle Paul wrote to Brother Titus, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age," (Titus 2:11-12) (NKJV). As I said earlier, God's Divine Power produces something and this is the something produced. The Expositor's Bible Commentary says this, "There is a free gift 🎁 of Divine Power for all our needs, everything to foster the spiritual life and to guide into the way of holiness. Wisdom will be given that we may understand God's will and choose aright, strength to persevere in the midst of trial, boldness to make confession of the Lord before men, and watchfulness lest we, as did the teachers of error, wax overconfident. All things are granted; all things may be ours." 

In the second half of 2 Peter 1:3, the Apostle reiterates part of what he declared in verse 2 speaking 🗣️ of the Knowledge of God, whereas he says it with these words this time, "through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" We expounded on the word knowledge in Volume 1 and declared it to be full discernment. Peter wants to make us see and know that God's knowledge is all encompassing and we are to allow His gift 🎁 of grace to give us discernment in all things to give us the power to live a godly life in this world 🌎 as the Apostle Paul declared in this manner to the Philippians, "That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world 🌍," (Philippians 2:15) (NKJV). Light 🕯️ exposes and dispels darkness and this is what our life should be as we have been made new creatures 'in Christ', the walking, that is, living in newness of life (Romans 6:4). This newness of life did not originate with us or come from us, for it was given to us freely by Jesus Christ our Lord who bid us or called us from the darkness, but it is our responsibility to live in it (by His grace and by yielding to the Holy Spirit) and cultivate this life of virtue. This little English word 'virtue' is translated by the Greek word arete which properly means manliness (valor), that is, excellence which has been graciously imputed to us by God. God woke us up from our spiritual sleep 💤😴/slumber and made us real men and real women through His very own glory and virtue. Amen!!! Here also is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of God's glory and virtue, "Here the same full knowledge (epignosis) of which the Apostle has just been speaking 🗣️ is to become the channel of all our blessings: to know God, who has made Himself to be known through Christ Jesus. God's glory and virtue - that is, His Divine Power - have been manifested in Him. The disciples beheld them in Christ's miracles. 'This beginning of His signs did Jesus, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed on Him,' (John 2:2) and of His whole life St. John says, 'We beheld His glory, glory as of the only-begotten from the Father. He dwelt among us full of grace and truth.' (John 1:14) This is what St. Peter means by 'virtue.' And still in the hearts of men through the Spirit the same manifestation is given. He illumines them, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray 🙏 this from your heart ❤️ to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking 🗣️ directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn 🛞 from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart ❤️ and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen!!!

Jesus Crucified - Barabbas Goes Free

Mark 15:6-15

Word pictures are a very clear and illuminating way to convey a message to an audience. Here in this gospel written by John Mark, God the Holy Spirit (moving this man along) paints for us a crystal clear picture of the substitutionary atonement or payment for sin our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. Our Lord has been taken by the Jewish religious leaders and now handed over to the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. The Romans at this time had many Jews in custody for the commission of varies types of crimes. Also during this time of the feast of Passover, Pilate was accustomed to releasing one Jewish prisoner as an offer of good will perhaps to stay in somewhat amicable co-existence with the Jews.

Pilate after communicating with our Lord earlier saw and found nothing in Him deserving of death. He had also been warned by his wife who had a dream about our Lord and maybe was the means God the Father used to give this man one last chance to repent (change his mind). The mercy of God the Father was still extended to Pilate, the religious rulers, and the crowd even up to the point of our Lord being nailed to the cross. They were all given one final opportunity of repentance. Therefore, Pilate being pricked in his conscience by the few words from our Lord and by what his wife had spoken to him, brought forth one of the vilest, vicious, and vulgar of the criminals (Barabbas) in their custody. Pilate was sure that even though these religious Jews handed Christ Jesus over to him that they surely would not call for the release of this despised Jew Barabbas over Jesus, the King of the Jews. However, he did not realize it was for these very words (Jesus, the King of the Jews) that these Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees wanted our Lord dead.

Acts 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. NKJV

They did not see Him a lowly peasant in their eyes as the King of Israel. They were sure their King (Messiah) would come as a refined, regal, and royal conqueror. They miss-interpreted the Old Testament, the Psalms, and the Prophets words as many do today with the gospel and all the other Scripture to their own destruction. The man Barabbas was chained with his fellow rebels (see the article entitled “Chained with His Fellow Rebels”, http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=92559 ) and he was a murderer. So it was already factually proven that this man deserved death, but we know our Lord was innocent and even Pilate found no fault in Him. Now the Jewish leaders and the people cried out for Barabbas (the proven criminal) to be released and for our Lord to be crucified. Pilate, even though his conscience was speaking to him telling him to release our Lord, through fear and intimidation wanting to appease the crowd (see the article entitled “Wanting to Gratify the Crowd”, http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=95038 ) and squash any potential uproar released Barabbas and scourged our Lord brutally and crucified Him.

They did it for evil but God the Father before the foundation of the world purposed this act to show forth clearly how the innocent Man Jesus dies in the place of the guilty man Barabbas. It is the picture of the invisible, irrevocable, and inarguable love of God for the profane, wicked, immoral, and sinful human beings that recognize themselves as sinners and come to the cross broken, contrite, and repentant desiring to have their sin placed there on Jesus and receive His righteousness. This is Substitutionary Atonement and it is what God’s love demonstrates to criminals like Barabbas, and you, and me. Everyone need but place their name in Barabbas’ place and they too will live truly for the first time as they will realize the weight of their sin and its power lifted from their soul and taken away in the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 23:6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. NKJV

Hebrews 7:26-27 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. NKJV

1 Peter 1:17-21 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. NKJV

1 Peter 2:21-25 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness --- by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. NKJV

“You never hear Jesus say in Pilate’s judgment hall one word that would let you imagine that He was sorry that He had undertaken so costly a sacrifice for us. When His hands are pierced, when He is parched with fever, His tongue dried up like a shard of pottery, when His whole body is dissolved into the dust of death, you never hear a groan or a shriek that looks like Jesus is going back on His commitment.” Charles Spurgeon

“God has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense.” “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” C. S. Lewis

“If you are ready to partake of grace you have not to atone for your sins--you have merely to accept of the atonement. All that you want to do is to cry, ‘God have mercy upon me,’ and you will receive the blessing.” D. L. Moody

“The death of Christ is the wisdom of God by which the love of God saves sinners from the wrath of God, and all the while upholds and demonstrates the righteousness of God.” John Piper

“Christ did not die simply that you might be saved from a bad conscience, or even to remove the stain of past failure, but to ‘clear the decks’ for Divine action.” Major Ian Thomas

“For God does not want to save us by our own but by an extraneous righteousness, one that does not originate in ourselves but comes to us from beyond ourselves, which does not arise on earth but comes from Heaven.” Martin Luther

“I am ready to meet God face to face tonight and look into those eyes of infinite holiness, for all my sins are covered by the atoning blood.” R. A. Torrey

“With regard to the question of sin, man is not required to do anything. He need only consider this an accomplished fact and he will reap the effectiveness of the death of Jesus in being wholly delivered from the power of sin.” Watchman Nee

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reader, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Warns All Believers Against False Teachers Within and Exhorts Us to be Steadfast Volume 1

 Greeting all the Faithful Brothers and Sisters 'in Christ' Part 1

2 Peter 1:1-2 Simon Peter, a servant and Apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the Righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord, KJV Note: NKJV=New King 👑 James Version 

 The Apostle Peter now has been commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ to write ✍️ a second letter 💌 to the believers not only to exhort further, but to urgently warn them about the many false teachers who have made themselves at home 🏠 with them, yet they are not true sheep 🐏 like them/us. Peter had just warned at the end of his first letter 💌 that we must be steadfast in our resistance to the devil 👿 and all of his plans, plots, and purposes to harm our walk with our Lord Jesus Christ. This enemy of ours does not only attack from the outside with various spiritual and physical persecutions, but he has sent false/fake 🤥 believers among us in the inside of visible Christendom to try to lead the true sheep 🐑 of God into error. Peter wants to see all of us live lives of godliness which is what the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of Grace produces (1 Timothy 6:3). Peter first greets us in 2 Peter 1:1 as the 'servant' of Jesus Christ and this little English word is translated by the Greek word doulos which means a literal slave of Jesus Christ our Lord. All of us true believers 'in Christ' are His slaves, for He is the Master and we but subjects. Therefore, Peter is doing what our Lord Jesus commanded him to do in John 21:17, "Feed My sheep 🐑." Peter calls all of us of whom he is writing to, "them that have obtained like precious faith with us" and the little English phrase 'like precious' is translated by the Greek word isotimos (used this one time only right here in the entire New Testament) meaning of equal value and honor: - like precious. In other words, Peter who stood in the physical presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and was an eyewitness to His Glory and Majesty on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 3:3-8) declares to everyone of us who have been born from above (John 3:3-8) that his faith and ours are of equal value even though we have never yet seen our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. It is of the same value because it has been given to us as a free gift 🎁 (Ephesians 2:8-9) in the same manner as to Peter and that is "through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ", for Jesus is our deliverer from sin and from the wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 1:10) just as He is for Peter and Paul and any other sinner made a saint. For each one of us can say of ourselves what the Prophet Jeremiah said of Jerusalem with these words, "In those days Judah/Clifford, Sr. will be saved, And Jerusalem/Clifford, Sr. will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she/he Clifford, Sr. will be called: THE LORD OUR/MY RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jeremiah 33:16) (KJV). Likewise, each one of us can say of ourselves what the Prophet Isaiah declared with these words, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2) (KJV). Here is what John Wesley said of 2 Peter 1:1, "To them that have obtained - Not by their own works, but by the free grace of God. Like precious faith with us - The Apostles. The faith of those who have not seen, being equally precious with that of those who saw our Lord in the flesh. Through the righteousness - Both active and passive. Of our God and Saviour - It is this alone by which the justice of God is satisfied, and for the sake of which He gives this precious faith."

The Apostle Peter wants us to be furnished with much of the grace of God which produces His peace 🕊️ in our lives as we rest in Him, for Peter says, "Grace and peace 🕊️ be multiplied unto you" in 2 Peter 1:2 and Peter simply means may it increase and increase more and more. When you add two equal numbers, you double them, but when you multiply ❌ the same two numbers 🔢 they more than double, so is Peter wanting us to have as much grace as we can get from the Throne of Grace, as it is written, "Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) (NKJV). In this world 🌍 of woe there is always time of need for grace. Peter says this grace and peace 🕊️ is "through the Knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord", that is, the English phrase 'the Knowledge' is translated by the Greek word epignosis meaning recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment. This is to halt or stop 🛑 us from seeking after some extra or super knowledge as the gnostics were doing during that day of Peter 🖋️ penning this letter 💌. Gnostics today and of every generation still exist and do the same thing of trying to go beyond or above what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6) in the text or Word. Full discernment will come from God to us through His Word and His Spirit. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of 2 Peter 1:2, "That is, grace and peace 🕊️ abound to us, or may be expected to be conferred on us abundantly, if we have a true knowledge of God and of the Saviour. Such a knowledge constitutes true religion: for in that we find 'grace' - the grace that pardons and sanctifies; and 'peace' - peace 🕊️ of conscience, reconciliation with God, and calmness in the trials of life." Here also is what Adam Clarke had to say of 2 Peter 1:2, "God's favor; peace 🕊️- the effects of that favor in the communication of spiritual and temporal blessings. Through the Knowledge of God - By the acknowledging of God, and of Jesus our Lord. For those who acknowledge Him in all their ways, He will direct their steps. Those who know Christ; and do not acknowledge Him before men, can get no multiplication ❌ of grace and peace 🕊️." 

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray 🙏 this from your heart ❤️ to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking 🗣️ directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn 🛞 from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart ❤️ and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen!!!

Jesus Gives Life to the Dead

John 5:21-30

Death is a reality to all of us and it is an ever present truth because we all have buried loved ones and know certainly that physical death is sure. Each of us mourns the death of those we know and love differently but nevertheless we do mourn because they have been taken away from us here on the earth. We are unable to talk with them or laugh with them because of their physical death. When God created man, he was not meant to suffer the death of his physical body but God made him to live in fellowship and communion with Him perpetually here on the earth in the wonderful Garden of Eden God prepared for the man (Genesis 1:26-28). However, man was given only one command from God at that time that forbid him to pick fruit from only one tree, but God provided the man with an abundance of other trees that he could freely eat from as much and as often as he desired.

Well, the man and woman rebelled or sinned against that command and ate from that forbidden tree and in so doing brought death to themselves (Genesis 2:16-17). Their sin and rebellion brought to them two kinds of death, spiritual death and physical death. The death that they experienced immediately was not the physical death but it was the spiritual death. As soon as they sinned they lost their connection, communion, and companionship with God which plunged them into a life of guilt, shame, depravity, and corruption. The life of comfort, peace, tranquility, and purity that was theirs because of their continuous connection to the source of that life God through obedience was severed. Instantly from that moment they began the process of decay in their physical bodies which led to their physical death and their bodies returning to the earth from which it was made. Because these were the original man and woman all subsequent human beings come from them and have inherited the same curse of spiritual and physical death.

Every beautiful, lovely, and innocent baby born anywhere in this world is born disconnected from, depraved in nature to, and dead in trespasses and sins before the One True Holy God. We must not blame God for our disconnection, depravity, or deadness because we human beings disobeyed Him and plunged ourselves into this reality. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses (Ephesians 2:4) has made a way for us to overcome our spiritual death and physical death because God came to earth (in the person of Jesus Christ) and became the sacrifice for our sinful hearts Himself and will give freely to anyone who comes to Him new life or resurrection life in Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the author of life and it was through and by His power that the first man and woman were made and it is also through and by His power only right now that a sinful man or woman can receive life that will instantly make them alive form their deadness in trespasses and sins (John 5:21-23; Ephesians 2:1-3).

Psalms 68:20 God is to us a God of deliverances {and} salvation; and to God the Lord belongs escape from death [setting us free]. QAB

1 John 3:14-15 We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death. Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him. QAB

Our Lord Jesus gives His life to whomever He wills and no race, gender, socioeconomic, religious, political, or cultural barrier or any other perceived barrier can prevent a soul from receiving this great resurrection life. From the first moment of our Lord’s own bodily resurrection from the dead, His voice speaks through the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) to every sinner calling them to life in Him. The bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ proves that physical death has been defeated and destroyed and the one who had the power of death (the devil) (Hebrews 2:14) has been deposed or forced to leave his office forever. Right now every sinner can come to our Lord Jesus Christ acknowledging their sin and repenting or turning away from their sin and trusting Him alone and they will immediately be given new life and be no longer spiritually dead, but made alive spiritually to the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:24-25).

Psalms 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. QAB

To refuse or resist this only way to be made alive to God the Father is spiritual suicide and it is what billions are doing today by listening to the Dali lama, Buddha, a spiritist, a psychic, scientology, other new age mysticism, or any other spiritual path that deceives you into thinking you are being drawn to the light or to “god” which all represent lies and false gods who are but demons masquerading in disguise. True spiritual life is found in the Lord Jesus Christ and in Him only can a soul pass from death into life (John 5:26). I have said this so many times and I believe it is the will of my Heavenly Father to keep saying it as often as I can and that is that God made one and only one way for human life to exist (through the womb of a woman) and it is absolutely certain that God also made One and Only One Way for true spiritual life to Him to exist and that is through Jesus Christ and Only through Jesus Christ (John 5:27). At the moment of physical death the eternal destination has been sealed forever and it cannot be changed not even the Lord Jesus Christ can change it (John 5:28-29). This life is but a brief vapor and then you will spend forever in either heaven or @#!*% . The Lord Jesus Christ is the life giver and when you receive His life you are assured of spending eternity in heaven with Him, but if you reject or resist His life and go on in pursuing the pleasures of sin for the season of earthly life you are granted, then His righteous judgment that is impartial and true must give you the eternal death you so coveted by continuing in your love of sensuality, spiritlessness, and sinfulness (John 5:30).

Psalms 9:7-8 But the Lord shall remain {and} continue forever; He has prepared {and} established His throne for judgment. And He will judge the world in righteousness (rightness and equity); He will minister justice to the peoples in uprightness. QAB

Psalms 96:11-13 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all the things which fill it; Let the field be exultant, and all that is in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes, for He comes to judge {and} govern the earth! He shall judge the world with righteousness {and} justice and the peoples with His faithfulness {and} truth. QAB

“What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we have in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? To know God. What is the best thing in life? To know God. What in humans gives God most pleasure? Knowledge of himself.” J. I. Packer

“I believe that nothing happens apart from divine determination and decree. We shall never be able to escape from the doctrine of divine predestination - the doctrine that God has foreordained certain people unto eternal life.” “Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life by virtue of God’s grace.” Charles Spurgeon

“To Christianity, ‘he that hath the Son of God hath Life, and he that hath not the Son hath not Life.’ This, as we take it, defines the correspondence which is to bridge the grave. This is the clue to the nature of the Life that lies at the back of the spiritual organism. And this is the true solution of the mystery of Eternal Life.” Henry Drummond

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reader, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 57

 Final Greeting and Peace 

1 Peter 5 12-14 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. The Church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you, and so doth Marcus my son. Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. KJV Note: NKJV=New King 👑 James Version 

The Apostle Peter now sends his final greeting to all the brothers and sisters 'in Christ' who will read this his first letter 💌 to them. Peter wants everyone to know of how much he loves them and wants to see them flourish in their walk with Christ despite the brutal conflicts, controversy, and commotions that have come their way and will continue to do so because of their/our alliance, allegiance, and association with the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus Christ our Lord. Peter declares to them and to us that he has written this first letter 💌 through the hands of a faithful brother 'in Christ' Silvanus who also was mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his letter 💌 to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians. Peter probably dictated this letter 💌 to Silvanus to write ✍️ down because he was skilled in short hand and it made it possible for Peter to get his message throughout the various wide spread regions that those saints had been scattered into much quicker as we recall his first words of greeting to them when he wrote, "Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia 🌏, and Bithynia," (1 Peter 1:1) (KJV). This Silvanus was most likely Silas who spent most of his time on missionary work with the Apostle Paul. This letter 💌 was most important to the Apostle Peter and the urgency of the believers receiving said letter 💌 was of utmost importance to him, for he wanted them to be encouraged, energized, and emboldened because of the 🔥 fiery trials, test, and tribulations that were occuring with all of them because of their turning to Christ. Here in 1 Peter 5:12 he says, "I have written briefly,  exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand." Peter wanted them to know that what he has written in the entirety of this first letter 💌 is the truth and nothing but the truth that they can stand firmly, faithfully, and forever upon despite being physically persecuted vehemently by their own Jewish brethren whose spiritual eyes 👀 were still closed to the truth of Jesus Christ being the Messiah. Peter used the English word 'testifying' (used this one time only right here in the entire New Testament) here in 1 Peter 5:12 and it is translated by the Greek word epimartureo meaning to attest further, that is, corroborate: - testify or to be a witness to the truth. To what truth is Peter speaking 🗣️ of here? That truth he has written throughout this first epistle that it is 'the true grace of God wherein ye stand.' For example, when he wrote this in Chapter one, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5) (KJV). The TRUE GRACE of GOD within them and within us is incorruptible by any foe visible or invisible 🫥 and they/we are kept or guarded/garrisoned more securely than Fort Knox or any fortified military 🪖 post 🏣 where troops are stationed. Like wise the Apostle said this in the first Chapter of this letter 💌 declaring the TRUE GRACE of GOD, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold 🪙, from your vain conversation/conduct and behavior received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a  lamb 🐑 without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world 🌎, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do you believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21) (KJV). Lastly these words of the Apostle Peter also declare everything written in this first epistle to be the TRUE GRACE of GOD, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." (1 Peter 1:23) (KJV). This is why they were receiving such vile, vicious, and violent persecution from their fellow Jewish people because they (the persecutors had not yet been 'born again', but were still spiritually dead to God. This is the very same reason throughout the centuries up to this very day that those of us who have been 'born again' receive the same vile, vicious, and violent persecution from those who are still spiritually dead. Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of 1 Peter 5:12, "The grace in its several stages has just been summarized: the calling, the perfecting, stablishing, strengthening; and the whole letter 💌 is occupied in showing that at every advance God puts His servants to the test. But the Apostle knows that the agents of the adversary are busily scattering the tares of doubt and disbelief where God has sown His good seed. The wrestling is not against flesh and blood alone, but against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual host of wickedness. Hence the form of his exhortation: 'Stand fast.'" 

The Apostle Peter declares in his final greeting to all of these scattered Jewish brothers and sisters 'in Christ' that they are graciously greeted by Gentile believers in the 'Church at Babylon' and Marcus (who is most likely John Mark) the ✍️ writer of the Gospel of Mark. The Apostle Peter wanted them to know that their fellow brothers and sisters 'in Christ' of the Gentiles were aware of their persecutions and themselves endured like persecutions from their own fellow Gentiles who also were still spiritually dead. Peter in 1 Peter 5:13 says of them that they are 'elected together with you', that is, they too have been 'born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.' (1 Peter 1:23) just as you Jewish believers. This little English phrase 'elected together with' is translated by the Greek word suneklektos (used this one time only right here in the entire New Testament) meaning chosen in company with, that is, co-elect (fellow Christians): - elected together with. Here is what Alexander McLaren had to say of 1 Peter 5:13, "'The Church that is in Babylon' was in a very uncongenial place. Thank God, no Babylon is so Babylonish but that a Church of God may be found planted in it. No circumstances are so unfavourable to the creation and development of the religious life but that the religious life may grow 🪴 there. An orchid will find footing upon a bit of stick, because it draws nourishment from the atmosphere; and they who are fed by influx of the Divine Spirit may be planted anywhere, and yet flourish in the courts of our God. So 'the Church that is in Babylon' gives encouragement as to the possibility of Christian faith being triumphant over adverse conditions. But it also gives a hint as to the obligation springing from the circumstances in which Christian people are set, to cultivate the sense of belonging to a great brotherhood. Howsoever solitary and surrounded by uncongenial associations any Christian 👞 may be, he may feel that he is not alone, not only because his Master is with him, but because there are many others whose hearts throb with the same love, whose lives are surrounded by the same difficulties. It is by no means a mere piece of selfish consolation which this same Apostle gives in another part of his letter 💌, when he bids the troubled so be of good cheer, as remembering that the 'same afflictions were accomplished in the brotherhood which is in the world 🌍.' He did not mean to say, 'Take comfort, for other people are as badly off as you are,' but he meant to call to rememberance of the solitary sufferer the thousands of his brethren who were 'dreeing the same weird' in the same uncongenial world 🌍. If thus you and I, Christian men, are pressed upon on all sides by such worldly associations, the more need that we should let our hearts go out to the innumerable multitude of our fellows, companions in the tribulation, and patience, and Kingdom of Jesus Christ." 

Lastly, the Apostle wants holy love to manifest itself among all of them Jewish converts to Christ and Gentile converts to Christ having these words in mind as written by the Apostle Paul when he said, "There is neither Jewish nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28) (NKJV). So, Peter says to them and to us, "Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Peter 5:14) (KJV). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of 1 Peter 5:14, "He exhorts them to fervant love and charity one towards another, and to express this by giving the kiss 😘 of peace 🕊️, according to the common custom of those times and countries, and so concludes with a benediction, which he confines to those that are in Christ Jesus, united to Him by faith and sound members of His Mystical Body. The blessing he pronounces upon them is peace, by which he means all necessary good, all manner of prosperity; to this he adds his Amen, in token of his earnest desire and undoubted expectation that the blessing of peace would be the portion of all the faithful."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray 🙏 this from your heart ❤️ to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking 🗣️ directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn 🛞 from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart ❤️ and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen!!!

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 56

 Submit to God, Resist the Devil Part 4

1 Peter 5:10-11 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. KJV Note: NKJV=New King 👑 James Version 

After all that our dear brother Peter has commanded us and has exhorted us into and has implored us to live in and to live by, he now 🙏 prays for us coming to the end 🔚 of this his first letter 💌 to those early believers and to all of us who have come to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ after them. Peter knows that it is his Father/God and our Father/God that can and will keep him and us faithful until the very end 🔚 of each and everyone of us as we come to the end 🔚 of our pilgrimage and sojourn here on the earth 🌍 as aliens in a foreign land. Let us remember this prayer 🙏 King 👑 David lifted up to our Father/God in Heaven and meditate upon, that is, mull it around in our minds/hearts 💕 thinking 🤔 deeply about his words and letting them bring comfort to each and every one of us who have become the true children of God by a miracle spiritual birth from above, "'Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in Heaven and in earth 🌎 is Yours; Yours is the Kingdom. O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your Hand ✋ is power and might; In Your Hand ✋ it is to make great And to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious Name. But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth 🌍 are as a shadow, And without hope." (1 Chronicles 29:10-15) (NKJV). Surely this prayer 🙏 or one of many others like this one did the Apostle Peter have in mind when he wrote these words to us, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:10-11) (NKJV). When the Apostle writes the little English phrase 'who hath called us' this little phrase is translated by the Greek words kaleo and hemas which means to 'call' (properly aloud directly): - to bid or call forth each one of us individually out of spiritual death, that is, to resurrect us to spiritual life in Himself. In other words, we were dead to God, but when we heard the 'Gospel of our salvation' (Ephesians 1:13) we were made alive to Him by what Christ Jesus our Lord did on the Cross and we were then sealed for all eternity 'with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.' (Ephesians 1:13-14) (NKJV). All of this was done in the Mind of God before the foundation of the world 🌎 for each one of us individually. When our Lord Jesus Christ stood outside of the tomb of Lazarus who had been dead for 4 days, and said these words, "'Lazarus, come forth!'" (John 11:43) Lazarus came out of the tomb alive from physical death and so it is with each one of us who are spiritually dead to God from our Mother's womb, He (Christ) said to me, "'Clifford Sr. come forth'" and I was made alive to God/Jesus from that very moment for all eternity and my Lord Jesus Christ is now and forever my life just as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words to the Colossians, "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:4) (NKJV). 

Here is what the Apostle Peter wants us to fix our focus and our fervor upon and that is that the 'GOD of ALL GRACE' will do this and bring us through all of our sufferings to eternal glory 'in Christ' forever, for this suffering is for a very little while here and now on the earth 🌍 compared to eternity, as Paul declared to the Church @Rome with these words, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) (NKJV). Our Father who is in Heaven and called us in His Son Jesus Christ already sees us glorified as Paul also wrote these words to the Church @Rome as well, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also GLORIFIED." (Romans 8:29-30) (NKJV). The Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 5:10 that it is He/God/Abba who will 'make you perfect' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word katartizo which means to complete thoroughly, that is, repair (literally or figuratively) or adjust: - fit, frame, mend, prepare, restore. In other words, God the Father is in the business of repairing, reforming, and restoring our old wrecked lives (which we wrecked because of our slavery to sin) into something glorious for Himself. It is like the people who take old broken down cars from the fifties or sixties and they restore them to their original condition and in so doing the cars are now referred to as classic cars. The Apostle Peter says also in 1 Peter 5:10 that He/God/Abba will 'stablish' and 'strengthen' and 'settle' us and these little English words are translated by the Greek words sterizo and sthenoo (used this one time only right here) and themelioo and they mean to set fast, that is, (literally) to turn 🛞 resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: - fix, and stedfastly set; to strengthen; to lay a basis for, that is, (literally) erect, or (figuratively) consolidate: - lay the foundation, ground, settle. In other words, we will be made resolute, that is, firm in our belief in the truth of the Word of God and our spiritual knowledge and power we will extract from the Word of God as the Spirit of God teaches/illuminates us daily. We will not be moved away from what it declares (we will be grounded and settled in its truth) and we will become as the Apostle Paul declared to the Ephesians grown up believers and no longer children or babes 'in Christ', as it is written, "That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking 🗣️ the truth in love 💕, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ." (Ephesians 4:14-15) (NKJV). It is to Him ALONE be the Glory and Dominion and Power forever and ever Amen!!!

Here is what John Wesley had to say of 1 Peter 5:10-11, Now the God of all grace - By which alone the whole work is begun, continued, and finished in your soul. After ye have suffered a while - A very little while compared with eternity. Himself- Ye have only to watch and resist the devil 👿: the rest God will perform. Perfect - That no defect will remain. Stablish - That nothing may overthrow you. Strengthen - That ye may conquer all adverse power. And settle you - As an house 🏠 upon a rock. So the Apostle, being converted, does now 'strengthen his brethren.'"

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray 🙏 this from your heart ❤️ to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking 🗣️ directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn 🛞 from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart ❤️ and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord,  Savior, and my God. Amen!!!