My favorite “go-to” verse for the forgiveness of sins is 1st John 1:9, no doubt about that. It’s absolutely classic! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What amazing, even thrilling, Truth!

But in the Book of Proverbs I learn even more about this “sins” issue. I do mean the word to be plural, “sins.” Those pesky little “shortcomings” we Christians constantly battle.

In the Old Testament Reference the word remains plural, but a key verb is added. See if you can spot it …

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and FORSAKETH them shall have mercy.” Here (Proverbs 28:13) confession is complemented by the action word “forsaketh.” And in Hebrew “azab” means “to let loose, to leave, to refuse!”

Telling God about our sins, naming them (the main idea behind that Greek word “confess” in 1st John 1:9) … is easily done. But just confessing them (then continuing to practice them) is not enough! Surely some sorrow, repentance must be involved! (Like Paul’s term “godly sorrow” in 2nd Corinthians 7:10, clearly written to Christians.)

Yes indeed, name them … then get rid of them! “Forsake them!” Now I go back to Paul, who once even says “mortify them,” kill them or crucify them! See Colossians 3:5 for the “mortify” verb.

Confession to the Lord … good!

Confession and forsaking … better, much better!

Oh, how those “sins” cost us as Christians! They rob us of joy, peace, answers to prayer … stealing from us victory in so many areas.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. BUT YOUR INIQUITIES have separated between you and your God, and YOUR SINS have hid His Face from you, that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2

Then by all means let’s add Proverbs 29:13 to our Bible Memory Bank, right alongside 1st John 1:9. A very wise move …

Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Watch the contrasts and similarities in the following verses …

Matthew 10:38 … “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

Mark 8:34 … “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Mark 10:21 … “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

Luke 9:23 … And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 14:27 … “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

In three of these Instances Jesus is personally teaching His Disciples. In two of them (parallel accounts) our Lord is preaching to an individual who apparently wanted to be saved, the “rich young ruler” we often call him.

But all of these Texts involve cross bearing!

Two are negative … if you do NOT take up your cross, consequences follow.

Three of them are positive … simply bold, sacrificial commands! “Take up thy cross.”

In my opinion, the Gospel of Mark uses the most stringent terms. (Mark being the Gospel of the servant, the Lord “ministering unto” others!) The second Gospel uses the indefinite pronoun “whosoever!” No exceptions! Then “one thing thou lackest,” a ponderous requirement!

But they all (a total of five New Testament references) involve the Christian and a cross! Four times “his cross,” once “the cross.” (And “her cross” would apply as well.)

But what does it mean, this cryptic command?

Do note that every verb concerning our “cross” is framed in the active voice!

This “cross” is not something hard you’re enduring with no choice! That’s a burden, a hardship! The Cross the Gospel writers is presenting us here (Jesus really is presenting the Idea) is a voluntarily decision and resultant action on our part! (Just as the Cross was a Choice for our dear Lord Jesus!)

Listen to Paul longing, praying … “That I may know HIM, in the fellowship of HIS SUFFERINGS.” Philippians 3:10, surely a “taking up one’s cross” kind of thought.

By the way, Jesus’ Cross saves sinners, redeems … because of the Power of His sinless Blood. Our “crosses” do not.

But our “crosses” do identity us with our Leader, our dear Lord and Saviour!

Have I chosen an area in life where I plan to willingly “die to self?” To, as it were, “take up my cross?”

Not with a martyr complex! Self-pity and gloom!

But solely “for Jesus’ sake!”Joyfully so!

Sure sounds like a disciplined life, doesn’t it?

This idea may be linked with a difficult statement Paul made in Colossians 1:24, about his desire to “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” Sounds like some kind of “cross-bearing” to me!

(I suspect there’s so much about the Christian life we have not yet experienced. Not yet practiced! And cross-bearing is one of those “blind spots.” At least for Christians in America. So far, anyway …)

Paul lived such a cruciform life … knowing personally the truth Jesus proclaimed in John 12:24 … “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” There’s that cross again, certainly in a measure!

Am I bearing any kind of a cross for Jesus’ sake? I wonder!

Something to ponder this Friday morning.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Colossians 1:24, cited above, is the Text for our next Evening Meditation Bible Class. Watch it on our social media Page.

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The Old Testament “Messiah” is the New Testament “Jesus.” That’s the Christian perspective, anyway.

And this interpretation certainly highlights Daniel 9:26. Where we are simply told “Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.”

And sure enough, many years later, Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin, the Messiah had come.

God’s “Anointed One,” the meaning of “Mashiyach” in Hebrew.

But instead of immediately being declared a King, Victor, Emancipator (as the Jews thought He would be) … our Lord was crucified on a cruel Cross!

The verb “cut off” (spelled “karath”) certainly means “killed.” Murdered by the Jews, the Romans, at least they thought so!

But Jesus (come to learn … this was God’s Plan all along) died … “not for Himself!”

Not for any crime He had committed. He was indeed spotless, completely without guile!

Was His Death then a waste?

Far from it!

He died, not for Himself, but for you!

And for me!

Biblically speaking, He died for everyone!

For “whosoever” will come to Him, in faith bdelieving.

Have YOU been saved?

The Messiah has come … and died!

So that John 5:24 could be your life story … “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” These are Jesus’ Words,

Hear and believe!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Psalm 74:16 says so, clearly …

“The day is thine, the night also is thine.” (King James Version)

Yes, every human being on earth has some “night” times in his or he life. Especially because we live in such a sin-laden world.

But my point today is that even Christians face these dark days, occasionally anyway.

And when we do, let us remember that God is in control, and that He only plans that which is “good” for us … that even our “nights” are sanctified! In the words of our Text today, “the night also is thine.”

Here’s a concrete Old Testament example of a saint of God going through one of those “dark/night” times. This is helpful …

Isaiah 50:10 begins like this: “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant,?” See! This is a man or woman who “fears” God, worships God, reverences Him, knows Him and even follows (“obeys”) Him!

Then Isaiah 5-:10 continues, really it darkens: “that walketh in darkness, and hath no light?” Night has come to this godly life! “No light,” astounding! Even though saved, obedient, and submissive as a Christian! Walking (a word generally describing a “way of life,” even if only a temporary one) in darkness! Folks, this happens again and again, I suspect, even to us Believers. “Night” comes our way.

Now Isaiah 50:10 tells us WHAT to do when in a such a “troublesome” period of life. “Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” Wow! The verb “trust” basically means “to feel secure,” but also “to have such confidence in Someone that you lose all sense of worry or fretfulness!” And the word “stay?” That means “to lean on” Someone, here obviously the Lord. “To rely” on Him! Three times in the Bible it means “to rest” on Him!

Thrilling!

Now, the verse reassembled … “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10

If we can learn to live like this … spiritual “night” will not be so difficult, not as hard to navigate!

After all Lord … ” the night is thine.”

Do recall, when we are in the valley of the shadow death, possible meaning any super dangerous time, HE IS WITH US! HE WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! Even in the night!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Next time you are rejoicing that … “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills” also remember … “the night is Thine also!”

Praise the Lord!

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We Bible believers know God can judge sin, and quickly!

King Herod, wicked to the core, is an example … “And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost.” Acts 12:23

In the future, “Babylon” (as a rebuilt city or perhaps as a rebuilt religious system based on Babylon of old) will be brought down in an hour, one short hour! “Standing (certain observers) afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.” Revelation 18:10

Sodom, that eponymous city, fell (better that I say burned) quickly! “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven.” Genesis 19:24

On the other hand …

God also is known for waiting (patiently so) prior to sending His stern judgment on a land!

In fact, He is being particularly tolerant of the United Staes of America, with all her blatant sin!

I might add … the same sins as Herod, as Babylon, as Sodom or Gomorrah!

I personally suspect God’s Hand of Judgment could hit America any minute! I already sense its eminence.

No nation is exempt …

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Quoting Psalm 9:17.

We are living in an explosive world. And a few people (so-called leaders) are playing with matches!

Beware, Country of my birth, that I still love. Consider thyself warned!

Well readers, I have found a verse that perhaps explains God’s “waiting.”

He certainly has promised judgment! “And 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.” 2 Peter 3:9

God is waiting (being longsuffering, slow to anger) … providing the opportunity for another soul to be saved, to be redeemed by the Bloof of Jesus.

God’s waiting to whip (if not neutralize) once-Christian America is not due to the lightness of our sin … but to the depth (heaviness) of His amazing LOVE!

He waits … for others to come to repentance!

But (ask Noah) God’s longsuffering can finally be exhausted!

When?

Only He knows, and whether the demise of the United States is to be soon or not-so-soon … that FALL is certain!

A Fall that will negatively affect our children and grandchildren … if not us!

Matthew 7:27 may prove to be more than just a Parable! “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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