The NATURE and CHARACTER of GOD

 

Outline

 

The DIFFERENCE between the NATURE and CHARACTER of  GOD, and

      

WHAT DIFFERENCE IT MAKES:

 

 

TO KNOW HIS NATURE WITHOUT HIS CHARACTER IS TO KNOW A MACHINE THAT IS CAPABLE OF ANYTHING BUT WITHOUT A PURPOSE OR DESIGN.

 

TO KNOW HIS CHARACTER WITHOUT HIS NATURE IS TO KNOW A PERSON CAPABLE OF THINKING AND ACTING WITH PURPOSE AND DESIGN, BUT UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING.

 

 

       WHAT IS NATURE?

 

       Essence, Substance---

               Physical or Mental

 

       Nature is NOT PRAISE-WORTHY

               Beauty---Muscular--color--  "NATURE"

                      It can be appreciated, admired, etc.

                      But it can not be praised ,

                      Because---

 

               It is Involuntary--

 

       Nature is NOT BLAME-WORTHY

               It is not wrong.  --- It is not evil  ---   It is not to be punished for its existence

                      Because--

 

               It is Involuntary.

 

There is no difference between a rock and a nose.  Both are part of NATURE, but no credit                       goes to the rock or the nose or its existence. Nor does any Blame go to the rock or nose for its existence.

 

 

       A. What is an Attribute?

               The permanent quality of something.

      

       B.  What is a Natural Attribute?

               The permanent quality of a person's Nature. [not the temporal body]

THE NATURE OF GOD: What God Is.

 

His NATURAL Attributes, Qualities

ATTRIBUTE: A Permanent Quality--Example:  A Roof on a House

 

————————————————————————————————

 

 

1. IMMORTAL: ETERNAL: SELF-EXISTENCE--Unchangeable Nature---

                          THE UNCONDITIONED/THE ABSOLUTE--#3

                  No Cause for His Existence: UNCAUSED: Uncreated: Always Existing: No Beginning: 

                          Not SELF-CAUSED/ NOT SELF-CREATED

                          ENDLESS DURATION OF TIME. —(NOT TIMELESS)---Issue of Time!!!

                  1 Tim. 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, {be} honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Tim. 6:16 who alone possesses immortality

SELF-EXISTENT NATURE,

A NECESSARY EXISTENCE---THE FIRST CAUSE

NO ONE IS THE "MOTHER OF GOD"

#13--INDEPENDENT

                                                                                                                        

 

 

 

2. INVISIBLE: GOD IS SPIRIT                              [He has SPIRITUAL ESSENCE]

                  1 Tim 6:16...and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see.

                          John 1:18 No man has seen God at any time.

                          John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."                     

 

 

 

 

3. UNCHANGEABLE: IMMUTABLE, CANNOT BE DIFFERENT BY NATURE.

GOD'S SELF-EXISTENT NATURE CANNOT BE CHANGED OR CHANGE ITSELF.

                          James 1:17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of         lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. PERFECT MEMORY---HE Remembers all things

                          Heb 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

                          Heb 8:      "I will remember their sins no more" = not take Òinto accountÓ

 

5. PERFECT IMAGINATION--He can conceive of all Possibilities.

 

 

 

 

6. ALL-ABLE: ALL-POWERFUL: OMNIPOTENCE   --[ALL MEANS UNLIMITED]

                  Able to Do Anything and Everything Necessary to Accomplish His Wise and Benevolent Purpose.

                  Power To Create Something When there is Nothing.

                  All power TO KEEP HIS PROMISES,

                  All Power TO ENFORCE HIS LAW and

                  All Power TO SUSTAIN HIS GOVERNMENT. 

                  WHAT GOD CANNOT DO: A NATURAL IMPOSSIBILITY---[BY DEFINITION--a Triangle has 3 sides and cannot be a square which has 4 sides] Cannot make a Rock to big to move.

                          The OBJECT OF POWER is Creation and Government of Material Universe

                                                                                            Creation of a Universe of Moral Agents---

                                                                                                   ------but not the Government of Moral Agents

 

 

 

 

7. EVERYWHERE PRESENT: HE IS EVERYWHERE:  OMNIPRESENCE

                  [in EVERY PLACE---UNLIMITED PRESENCE.]

                  He is in Every Place that Exists—He is HERE NOW. He is WHEREVER you ARE. —

                          "---IN HIM we live and move and exist"-Acts 17:28

                                 [Before CREATION: GOD IS ALL THAT IS--"Pantheism"--Lewis]

                                 [CREATION IS WHERE GOD PUT IT---IT IS NOT INFINITE]

 

 

 

 

 

8. ALL-KNOWING: IGNORANT of NOTHING—OMNISCIENCE—(Perfect Knowledge of ALL THAT EXISTS)

                  THIS IS BECAUSE AND A RESULT OF GOD BEING EVERYWHERE PRESENT:

                  All Ideas and Objects and Events are Known to Him as they Exist or Happen: He Knows all of your THOUGHTS, INTENTS, ACTIONS, WORDS—ALL OF THEM.

                  He knows when each sparrow falls.

                  He numbers each hair on your head.

                  He knows all JUSTICE and INJUSTICE/ALL SUFFERING AND EVIL.

                                        ISSUE OF FOREKNOWLEDGE HERE

                                                BY DEFINITION: THE FUTURE DOES NOT EXIST AND

                                                                                            IS UNKNOWN and UNKNOWABLE

 

 

 

 

9. INFINITE (Unlimited)(Perfect) REASON/INTELLIGENCE— "NATURAL"  DIVINE REASON--Come let us Reason Together

                      ALL INTELLIGENT REASONING, CONCEPTS, PRECEPTS, POSSIBILITIES, THEORIES, LOGICAL THINKING, ETC.—

                      ARE HIS IN PERFECTION.---

                      HE PERCEIVES ALL POSSIBLE OPTIONS OFFERED TO WISDOM.

                      HE IS A PERFECT REASONER, A PERFECT IDEA THINKER

                                     HE HAS PERFECT PERCEPTION OF THE GREATEST GOOD[THE END]. THE BEST MEANS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GREATEST GOOD---GOD'S PERFECT PLAN

 

 

THE FOLLOWING NATURAL ATTRIBUTES QUALIFY GOD AS A MORAL AGENT:

 

                  MORAL AGENCY OF GOD:  PERSONALITY, HE IS A PERSON

                                                                                                          WE ARE PERSONS, THEREFORE OUR CREATOR                                                                                                     MUST BE PERSONS LIKE US.

 

                  [INCLUDE #9 INFINITE INTELLIGENCE]

 

 

10. FREE-WILL. — He has LIBERTY to choose in either direction.  He has RESPONSIBILITY for the choices He makes.   GOD Has The Ability To Make Choices— THEREFORE: HE can have Character.  God DECIDED to make Man, He DECIDED to make a PROMISE to Abraham, David, etc.

 

 

11. SENSIBILITIES—

                  GOD Experiences Sensibilities Common To All Moral Agents.—HE Feels And Desires, Etc.(Grief, Joy, Delights, etc.)   Desires that all men be saved.   Takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

                  GOD'S FEELINGS, DESIRES, COMPASSIONS, SORROWS ARE INFINITE IN DEGREE.

 

 

 

12. CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS—HE Knows that He knows

                   HE LACKS NO KNOWLEDGE OF HIS OWN ACTIVITIES.  HE PERFECTLY KNOWS HIMSELF.

 

 

 

13. CONSCIENCE—  THE "MORAL REASON" -----Source of the MORAL LAW

                          PERCEIVES AND DICTATES TO GOD THE MORAL OBLIGATION UPON HIM TO BE BENEVOLENT

                          GIVES HIM KNOWLEDGE OF THE MORAL LAW, AND IMPOSES OBLIGATION:

                          PRONOUNCES GUILT IF THERE IS DISOBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW;

                          PRONOUNCES PRAISE FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW.

                          THIS IS THE SOURCE OF GOD'S JOY.       

                          It is A LAWGIVER----A JUDGE

CHARACTER:

 

THE NEXT QUESTION IS:

WHAT IS CHARACTER?

      

       It is the result of Choice.

       It is a moral quality.

       Character is either BLAME-WORTHY or PRAISE-WORTHY.

       BECAUSE---

       Character is Voluntary.

       Character is either virtue or vice

 

               LOVE is Virtue

               SELFISHNESS is Vice

      

       Character is either obedience or disobedience to Moral Law.

       CHARACTER is Relationship

 

       Character is how you choose to relate to Other People

 

       NATURE is what a Person IS.

 

       CHARACTER is WHY a Person DOES.

 

       NATURE IS ----- WHAT!  What you ARE.

 

       CHARACTER IS ----- WHY!  Why you ACT.

      

 

THE NEXT QUESTION IS:

WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF CHARACTER:

 

1. WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF CHARACTER?

2. HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT CHARACTER A PERSON HAS?

3. THERE HAS TO BE A MEASURE TO DETERMINE CHARACTER.

4. THE ONLY MEASURE OF CHARACTER IS: The Moral Law of God.

 

 

The MORAL LAW of GOD: IT IS THE MEASURE OF CHARACTERS

 

1. THE MORAL LAW CANNOT BE SET ASIDE.

2. THE MORAL LAW DOES NOT COME FROM GOD'S WILL, BUT FROM GOD'S NATURE.

3. IT IS AN IDEA IN THE DIVINE INTELLIGENCE AND CONSCIENCE.

4. IT CAN ONLY BE DESTROYED OR CHANGED IF THE NATURE OF GOD CAN BE                                            DESTROYED OR CHANGED.

 

 

 

THE NEXT QUESTION IS:

WHAT DOES THE MORAL LAW REQUIRE?

 

ANSWER:

THE MORAL LAW COMMANDS US TO LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR.

 

 

 

THE NEXT QUESTION IS:

WHERE DO WE FIND THE MORAL LAW?

 

 

1. It is found in OUR NATURES:

 

IN the NATUE of every Moral Agent there is a CONSCIENCE. This Conscience contains the knowledge of the MORAL LAW, and gives pressure of MORAL OBLIGATION, to obey this MORAL LAW.

The CONSCIENCE then PRAISES the moral agent for obeying the MORAL LAW, or else it CONDEMNS the MORAL AGENT for disobeying it.

 

 

This is also declared in the BIBLE:

Romans 2:14-15 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the LAW written in their hearts, their CONSCIENCE bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

 

 

 

1.  It is found in the revealed TEN COMMANDMENTS

       1. ÒYou shall have no other gods before Me.

       2.  ÒYou shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. ÒYou shall not worship them or serve them;

       3. ÒYou shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

       4. ÒRemember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

       5. ÒHonor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

       6. ÒYou shall not murder.

       7. ÒYou shall not commit adultery.

       8. ÒYou shall not steal.

       9. ÒYou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

       10.  ÒYou shall not covet your neighborÕs house; you shall not covet your neighborÕs wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.Ó

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  It is reinforced and affirmed by JESUS:

                 Mt 5:17 ÒDo not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.

And:

                Matt 22:36-40 ÒTeacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?Ó

                And He said to him, ÒÔYOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND                  WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.Õ

                ÒThis is the great and foremost commandment.

                ÒThe second is like it, ÔYOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.Õ

                ÒOn these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.Ó

 

3.  It is ratified and affirmed by PAUL:

       Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

               For this, ÒYOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,                    YOU SHALL NOT COVET,Ó and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ÒYOU SHALL                     LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.Ó  LOVE DOES NO WRONG to a neighbor;

               love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

 

 

THE MORAL LAW COMMANDS US TO LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR.

 

 

The NEXT QUESTION IS:

WHAT IS LOVE:

 

               THE DEFINITION OF JESUS:

1. Matthew 5:43-44. ÒYou have heard that it was said, ÔYOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.Õ ÒBut I say to you, LOVE your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.

 

2. Luke 6:27-35  ÒBut I say to you who hear, LOVE your enemies, DO GOOD TO THOSE who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ÒWhoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. ÒGive to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. ÒAnd just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.

 ÒAnd if you LOVE THOSE who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

 ÒAnd if you DO GOOD to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

 ÒAnd if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount.

 ÒBut LOVE your enemies, and DO GOOD, and lend, EXPECTING NOTHING in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

 

 

 

A PRACTICAL DEFINITION OF LOVE:

 

               1. It is the Decision of the will -- [a choice to obey the command of the Law.]

               2. to promote the GOOD of another person, -- [not just be happy if it happens]

               3. expecting nothing in return.-- [motive: no selfish intent]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NEXT QUESTION IS:

WHAT IS THE GOOD?

 

           The GOOD is the Well-being of a person. It is called happiness, blessedness.

 

THE NEXT QUESTION IS:

HOW IS IT MEASURED?

 

       JESUS ANSWERS:

Matthew 7:12 ÒTherefore, however you want people TO TREAT YOU, so TREAT THEM, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

                 

 

The COMMAND of the MORAL LAW to UNCONDITIONALLY PROMOTE the GOOD of another PERSON is the OBLIGATION of every MORAL AGENT, and the MEASURE of CHARACTER.

 

THEREFORE:

 

IF A PERSON OBEYS THE MORAL LAW, HIS CHARACTER IS GOOD.

       IF HE DISOBEYS THE MORAL LAW, HIS CHARACTER IS EVIL.

 

 

THE NEXT QUESTION IS:

CAN A PERSON HAVE A CHARACTER THAT IS PARTLY GOOD [HOLY] AND PARTLY EVIL [SINFUL] AT THE SAME TIME?

 

       ANSWER OF JESUS: No, a person is either good or evil.

 

           Matthew 6:24: ÒNo one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

 

           Matthew 7:16-18 ÒYou will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? ÒEven so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ÒA good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

 

 

 

The CHARACTER of GOD

 

       A. What is Character?

               It is the Moral Quality of the free-will choice of a Moral Agent

                      to OBEY or DISOBEY, THE MORAL LAW.

      

       B. What is an Attribute?

               The permanent quality of something.

 

       C.  What is a Moral Attribute?

               The permanent quality of a person's Character.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER OF GOD.

 

       God's CHARACTER is described in one word: LOVE

 

           ÒGod is LOVEÓ – 1 John 4:8, 16

 

DEFINITION OF LOVE: [Given above]

      

               1. It is the Decision of the will -- [a choice to obey the command of the Law.]

               2. to promote the GOOD of another person, -- [not just be happy if it happens]

               3. expecting nothing in return.-- [motive: no selfish intent]

 

 

 THE DEFINITION OF JESUS:

Luke 6:27-35  ÒBut I say to you who hear, LOVE your enemies, DO GOOD TO THOSE who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ÒWhoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. ÒGive to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. ÒAnd just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.

 ÒAnd if you LOVE THOSE who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

 ÒAnd if you DO GOOD to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

 ÒAnd if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount.

 ÒBut LOVE your enemies, and DO GOOD, and lend, EXPECTING NOTHING in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

 

 

 

THE NEXT QUESTION IS:

WHAT ARE THE MORAL ATTRIBUTES OF  LOVE? –

      

                      Or: WHAT ARE THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD'S CHARACTER

 

              

      

The CHARACTER of GOD:

WHY God DOES

 what He DOES

 

His MORAL Attributes, Qualities

Attribute: a Permanent Quality--Example: a Roof on a House

 

GOD IS LOVE

1 JOHN 4:8, 16

 

LOVE —  DISINTERESTED BENEVOLENCE — UNSELFISH GOOD-WILLING

The Commitment to Promote the GOOD of Another for Its OWN SAKE --- expecting Nothing in Return.

 

1.  ATTRIBUTES of LOVE

 

      THE LOVE OF GOD IS:—

 

1. VOLUNTARY— It is an Exercise of the Will. IT is a CHOICE.

 

2. LIBERTY— The MIND is FREE and Spontaneous in its EXERCISE. The opposite choice could have been made as easily.

 

3. INTELLIGENT— The choice of the END chosen is made INTELLIGENTLY.  Reason is exercised.

 

4. VIRTUE— A term that expresses the moral character of Benevolence, of its conformity to the MORAL LAW.

 

5. DISINTERESTED— Not UNinterested; but DIS-SELF-INTERESTED. The END is chosen for its own sake, and NOT so that the GOOD will belong to SELF. .

 

6. IMPARTIAL— Other things being equal, it matters not to whom the GOOD belongs. "But I say to you, love your enemies...."

 

7. UNIVERSAL— It excludes none from its regard. It seeks the highest practicable amount of good—when the higher good of the greatest number does not forbid it.

 

8. EFFICIENT— It is impossible that it would not.produce outward action to secure its end.

 

9. COMPLACENCY— Willing the highest ACTUAL blessedness of the Holy Being, upon condition of his moral excellence.

 

10. OPPOSED TO SIN— Opposition to Sin cannot coexist with any degree of sin in the heart.[ See Moral Unity]

 

11. COMPASSION FOR THE MISERABLE— Benevolence in relation to Misery and to Guilt. Willing Particularly that the Miserable should be happy.

 

12. MERCY—A Disposition to pardon crime. Good will viewed in relation to one who deserves punishment. It is the OPPOSITE of JUSTICE when viewed in relation to CRIME

 

13. JUSTICE—It is the OPPOSITE of MERCY when viewed in relation to CRIME. A disposition to treat every moral agent according to his intrinsic desert or merit. JUSTICE would punish for the PUBLIC GOOD.

 

14. VERACITY—Conformity of the will to the REALITY of things. TRUTH in statement and action. The willing of all things according to the reality or facts in the case.

 

15. PATIENCE—The quality of constancy, fixedness, bearing up under trials, afflicitons, crosses, persecutions or discouragements. Perseverance.

 

16. MEEKNESS—Forbearance under injurious treatment. It is the opposite of resistance to injury and retaliation.

 

17. HUMILITY—a willingness to be known and appreciated according to our real character. The consent of the will to be known, to confess, to take our proper place in the scale of being.

 

18. SELF-DENIAL—The abandonment of the spirit of self-seeking, or selfishness. Willingness to do without anything to promote good.

 

19. CONDESCENSION—The tendency to descend to the poor, the ignorant, or the vile, for the purpose of securing their good.

 

20. STABILITY—A New Heart, New Birth, New Creature vs. Death to  Sin, Crucifixion of the Old Man, etc.

 

21. HOLINESS—Moral Purity. Consecrated, Set Apart for sacred use only.

 

22.  WISDOM—The choice of the most valuable end, and the most efficient means to secure that end.

 

 

2. ATTRIBUTES OF LOVE From 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8

 

 

 

LOVE:

 

    GOD:

 

 

 

Love is patient,

 

God Is PATIENT

Love is kind

 

God Is KIND

Love is not jealous

 

God Is NOT JEALOUS

Love does not brag

 

God Does not Brag

Love is not arrogant

 

God Is not Arrogant

Love does not act unbecomingly

 

God does not act unbecomingly

Love does not seek its own

God

God does not seek its own.

Love is not provoked

 

God is not provoked

Love does not take into account a wrong suffered

Go

God does not take into account a wrong suffered

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness

G

God does not rejoice in unrighteousness

Love Rejoices with the truth

 

God rejoices with the truth

Love Bears all things

 

God bears all things

Love Believes all things

 

God believes all things

Love hopes all things

 

God hopes all things

Love endures all things

 

God endures all things

Love never fails

 

God never fails

 

 

WHAT ARE THE NECESSARY CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATION TO LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR?:

 

 

1. The FIRST NECESSARY CONDITION to LOVE ANOTHER PERSON, is THE EXISTENCE OF ANOTHER PERSON.

 

              It is not possible to LOVE a person, unless there is ANOTHER PERSON to love.

              Therefore, we must have relationships with other people to be obligated to love them.

 

2. The SECOND NECESSARY CONDITION to love another Person, is the KNOWLEDGE of what is GOOD FOR A PERSON.

 

           Unless you know what is GOOD FOR A PERSON, you wonÕt know how to PROMOTE THE GOOD OF ANOTHER, THAT IS, YOU WONÕT KNOW HOW TO LOVE THEM.

 

3. The THIRD NECESSARY CONDITION to love another Person, is FREE-WILL. That is the ABILITY to CHOOSE to PROMOTE their GOOD, expecting nothing in return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE ÒGROUNDÓ OF THE OBLIGATION TO LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR?

 

ANSWER:  THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF THE ÒGOODÓ. THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF BLESSEDNESS, HAPPINESS, MENTAL SATISFACTION.

 

 

 

IMPLICATION OF THESE TRUTHS:

 

 

A. GOD IS LOVE, THEREFORE THE ONE GOD MUST EXIST IN MORE THAN ONE PERSON TO LOVE.

 

B. THEREFORE, GOD MUST HAVE ETERNALLY BEEN THE TRINITY AS REVEALED IN THE GOSPEL.

 

 

THE CONSEQUENCE OF ÒGOD IS LOVEÓ:

 

The EXPERIENCE of a GOD OF LOVE is JOY. A Moral agent who is in entire conformity to the Moral Law, has the APPROVAL of his CONSCIENCE. From his Conscience, He receives PRAISE, ADORATION, "Well done thou good and faithful servant" praise. This is the source of the Joy of God. He has experienced this infinite JOY Eternally. GOD is HAPPY.

 

This JOY in God, is such an experience of BLESSEDNESS, HAPPINESS, PLEASURE, and MENTAL SATISFACTION, that nothing is lacking in the most exquisite experience of existence.

 

For this reason, God designed to duplicate and multiply this HAPPINESS and BLESSEDNESS, by creating other MORAL AGENTS who would be able to experience this same JOY.

 

"God wanted to multiply His love and character through the men and women He created"-- Dean Harvey

 

               FOR THIS PURPOSE:  God created MAN.

 

 

 

 

 

THE CREATION OF MAN:

     

      The "BENEVOLENT DESIGN" of the Universe:

           To Increase the Happiness that exists in the Universe.

 

METHOD:

1. To increase the number of people for God to love,

2. To increase the number of Moral agents who would experience the Happiness/Joy/Blessedness of loving others.

 

Man is Created in the IMAGE of GOD.

 

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, ÒLet Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.Ó And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

             

MAN HAS A NATURE:

 

              1. MAN has natural attributes like God.

                       God's are unlimited, Man's are limited.

             

              2. Man's NATURAL attributes are;

1. Immortal-- he will never cease to exist, but man is not eternal. Man had a cause for his existence, God does not.

 

                                     2. Invisible--his body can be seen, but his mind/soul/spirit cannot.

 

3. Immutable--he cannot change his nature. However, his body will die, but not his mind/SOUL/SPIRIT.

 

                                     4. Limited-potent---Limited Power

 

                                     5. Limited-present--Limited to a particular space/place.

 

                                     6. Limited-scient

       Knows what exists that he presently experiences, thinks.

 

                                     7. Limited Intelligence: Natural Reason

                                                   Limited Capacity of Logic, Reasoning, Concepts, Possibilities, Theories, Ideas

 

                                     8. Free-Will:

                                                   Man has liberty to choose between objects of choice --- His character is a choice

 

                                     9.  Sensibilities:

                                                   Man experiences emotions, pain, pleasure, desires

 

                                     10.  Consciousness:

                                                   Man is conscious of his existence, his thoughts, his choices, his feelings, etc.

 

                                     11. Conscience:

                                            The source of the Moral Law to man. The Moral Reason.

 

                                     12. Limited Memory:

                                                  

 

MAN HAS CHARACTER:

 

              MAN IS A MORAL AGENT:

                      

                 1. Man has a Conscience which commands man to obey the Moral Law

 

2. Man has Free-will that is Capable to choose to obey or disobey the Moral Law revealed by his conscience.

                 

3. Man has Consciousness by which he knows his Moral Obligation and that he is able to choose to obey the Moral Law.

                 

                       4. Man has Sensibilities/Desires to tempt him to choose to pursue only his own Good.

 

5. Man must choose between the dictates of his conscience and the appeal of his Sensibilities/Desires. Choice is unavoidable to a person whose moral understanding is developed.

 

6. There exists other Moral Agents which therefore obligates man to love his neighbor as himself.

 

7.  God exists which therefore obligates man to Love God supremely.

 

8. Under these conditions, man must choose, and when he chooses, man has CHARACTER.

 

 

 

MORAL GOVERNMENT:

 

              When God created MORAL AGENTS [MAN], God brought into existence something that had not existed before:

 

              His Responsibility to be a MORAL GOVERNOR over a MORAL GOVERNMENT.

 

              MORAL GOVERNMENT EXISTS WHEN THESE FIVE THINGS EXIST:

 

                       1. Moral Agents -- angels, man

                                     Beings who have a nature that is subject to the Moral Law.

 

2.  Moral Law --  the Rule of action for a Moral Agent.  Must include sanctions to be law, otherwise it is only suggestion.

 

3.  Moral Obligation -- Ability and relations by which a moral agent must choose to Love God and Love his neighbor.

 

4. Moral Character -- That quality of character when a Moral Agent chooses to obey or disobey the Moral Law.

 

5. Moral Governor -- A Being who must proclaim the Moral Law, and execute the Sanctions for obedience or disobedience.

 

                      WHEN ANY ONE OF THESE FIVE THINGS DO NOT EXIST,

                                     MORAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT EXIST.

 

             

THE NEXT QUESTION IS:

WAS MAN CREATED UNDER MORAL GOVERNMENT?

 

                   MORAL LAW and MORAL GOVERNMENT:  

                         MG: The existence of 1. MORAL GOVERNOR  2. MORAL LAW   3. MORAL AGENT  4.  MORAL OBLIGATION  5. MORAL CHARACTER

Gen. 2:15 Then the \Lord\ God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

Gen. 2:16 And the \LORD\ GOD--[1. GOVERNOR]

           COMMANDED--[2. MORAL LAW existed] 

           THE MAN---[3. MORAL AGENT existed]--saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;

Gen. 2:17 but from the tree of the knowledge of GOOD and evil

           YOU SHALL NOT EAT,---[COMMAND, MORAL LAW]-- for in the day that you eat from it

           YOU SHALL SURELY DIE."--[SANCTION=LAWS]

           [4. MORAL OBLIGATION existed]—

                Man HAD THE ABILITY to obey implied because God commanded, and

                MAN HAD THE LIGHT or knowledge of obligation by hearing the command and sanction]

           [5. MORAL CHARACTER existed]--Adam obeyed: see vs. 3:6 and she gave also to her husband with her,--[HIS PRESENT CHARACTER WAS OBEDIENCE]-- and he ate.]

 

ANSWER: YES, Man was created under Moral Government

 

 

QUESTION: DOES GOD HAVE THE RESPONSIBLILTY OF MORAL GOVERNOR?

              ANSWER: Yes.

 

              WHY?

 

                  Because the person most qualified to Administer the Moral Law and Moral Agents has the Responsibility to be Moral Governor.

 

                  God is the Most Qualified to be Moral Governor, therefore God is Obligated to be Moral Governor.

 

1. If God did not, His Conscience would condemn Him.

2.  If God did not, He would display contempt for the Holy, Just and Good Moral Law.

3.  If God did not, he would not be promoting the GOOD of those whom He created.

3.  If God did not, all created beings would disapprove of God's character, who created beings under Moral Obligation, but did nothing to uphold that Law.

4. If God did not, the Universe would be a lawless place, God being the chief Law Breaker.   

 

QUESTION:

DOES GOD'S MORAL GOVERNMENT EXIST NOW?

 

              "Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth, as IT IS in Heaven."

                 See other Bible verses.

 

QUESTIONS:

 

              1. DID GOD SUCCEED TO CREATE OTHERS WHOM HE COULD LOVE, AND

2. TO CREATE OTHERS WHO COULD ENJOY BLESSEDNESS BY LOVING OTHERS?

 

 

              ANSWER: YES.

 

                 LOVE SUCCEEDED.!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE REBELLION OF MAN AGAINST GOD:

                      The ENTRANCE of SIN INTO THE WORLD

 

 

QUESTION: IS A PERSON A SINNER—

                                                   BECAUSE HE SINS?

                                                                         OR,

                                                                  DOES A PERSON SIN—

                                                                  BECAUSE HE IS A SINNER?

 

HOW SIN ENTERED THE WORLD: THE TEMPTATION AND SIN

Gen. 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the \Lord\ God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, HAS GOD SAID, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"

Gen. 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

Gen. 3:3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.'" [HER PRESENT CHARACTER WAS OBEDIENCE]

Gen. 3:4 And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die!--[GOD IS A LIAR,-- GOD IS NOT A LAW GIVER--THERE IS NO SUCH SANCTION--NOR IS GOD A GOVERNOR]

Gen. 3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, --[ANOTHER LIE--SHE WAS ALREADY LIKE GOD IN IMAGE]--knowing GOOD and evil."

Gen. 3:6 When the woman SAW that the tree was GOOD for food, and that it was a DELIGHT TO THE EYES, and that the tree was DESIRABLE to make {one} wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her,-- [HIS PRESENT CHARACTER WAS OBEDIENCE]-- and he ate.  [EVERYONE IS NOW A SINNER]

THE CONSEQUENCES

Gen. 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and THEY KNEW [CONSCIENCE, CONSCIOUSNESS]- that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

Gen. 3:8 ¦ And they heard the sound of the \Lord\ God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife HID THEMSELVES from the presence of the \Lord\ God among the trees of the garden.

Gen. 3:9 Then the \Lord\ God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"

Gen. 3:10 And he said, "I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I WAS AFRAID [CHANGE IN ADAM] because I was naked; so I hid myself." [ACTION OF ADAM]   [AFRAID GOD WOULD KEEP HIS WORD OF SANCtION]

Gen. 3:11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

THE CONFESSION / EXCUSES

Gen. 3:12 And the man said, "The woman whom Thou gavest {to be} with me, SHE GAVE ME from the tree, and I ate."

Gen. 3:13 Then the \Lord\ God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent DECEIVED ME, and I ate."

THE SANCTIONS

Gen. 3:14 And the \Lord\ God said to the serpent, # "Because you have done this, CURSED ARE YOU more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly shall you go, And dust shall you eat All the days of your life;

Gen. 3:15 And I WILL PUT ENMITY Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel. "#

Gen. 3:16 To the woman He said, # "I WILL GREATLY MULTIPLY YOUR PAIN in childbirth, In pain you shall bring forth children; Yet your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you."

Gen. 3:17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; #CURSED IS THE GROUND because of you; IN TOIL YOU SHALL EAT OF IT All the days of your life.

Gen. 3:18 "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field;

Gen. 3:19 By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN. "#

Gen. 3:20 Now the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all {the} living.

Gen. 3:21 And the \Lord\ God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

Gen. 3:22 ¦ Then the \Lord\ God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing GOOD and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"--

Gen. 3:23 therefore the \LORD\ GOD SENT HIM OUT FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.

Gen. 3:24 So HE DROVE THE MAN OUT; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life.

 

 

DISOBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW OF IMPLIES:

 

 

1. A REJECTION OF THE INFINITE KNOWLEDGE/REASON OF GOD

 

           THUS THERE IS A PREFERENCE TO THE FINITE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CREATURE

 

2. REJECTION OF THE AUTHORITY OF GOD To COMMAND THE LAW.

 

           THUS THERE IS A PREFERENCE TO THE SINNER'S OWN AUTHORITY

 

3. REJECTION OF GOD'S RIGHT TO GOVERN BY THE LAW. THUS A REJECTION THAT GOD IS QUALIFIED TO GOVERN.

 

           THUS PREFERING HIS OWN RIGHT TO GOVERN, WHICH HE REALLY DOES NOT HAVE

 

4. REJECTION OF THE MORAL LAW AND ITS AUTHORITY.

 

5. REJECTION OF THE HAPPINESS, WELL-BEING, OF ALL HOLY BEINGS.

 

6. RESISTANCE TO THE DICTATES OF REASON.

 

7. RESISTANCE TO THE DEMANDS OF CONSCIENCE.

 

8. RESISTANCE TO GOD WHO COMMANDS THE MORAL LAW.

 

9. IT IS MINDING THE FLESH--WHICH IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD. --ROMANS 8

 

 

HOW IS SIN DEFINED?

 

               WHAT IS REBELLION?

 

 

               SIN IS MEASURED BY THE MORAL LAW

 

               1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

 

Rom. 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for THROUGH THE LAW {comes} the knowledge of sin.

 

Rom. 7:7 ¦ What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "\You shall not covet.\"

 

WHAT IS THE MORAL CHARACTER OF A SINNER?

 

      WHAT ARE THE MORAL ATTRIBUTES OF A PERSON WHO DISOBEYS THE MORAL LAW?

 

              1. VOLUNTARINESS: SELFISHNESS IS A PHENOMENON OF THE WILL, AND CONSISTS IN COMMITTING THE WILL TO THE GRATIFICATION OF THE DESIRES

 

                  2. LIBERTY: THE CHOICE OF SELF-GRATIFICATION IS NOT NECESSITATED BY DESIRE.  But the will is always free to choose in opposition to desire.

                 

                  3. INTELLIGENCE: THE CHOICE IS MADE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MORAL CHARACTER THAT WILL BE INVOLVED IN IT.  THE MIND KNOWS ITS OBLIGATION TO MAKE AN OPPOSITE CHOICE.

                 

                  4. UNREASONABLENESS: IT DETHRONES HUMAN REASON, AND WOULD DETHRONE THE DIVINE, AND PLACE MERE BLIND LUST UPON THE THRONE OF THE UNIVERSE.

 

                  5. INTERESTEDNESS: IS MEANT SELF-INTERESTEDNESS.  IT IS NOT THE DISINTERESTED CHOICE OF GOOD, THAT IS, IT IS NOT THE CHOICE OF THE GOOD OF BEING IN GENERAL AS AN END, BUT IT IS THE CHOICE OF SELF-GOOD, OF GOOD TO SELF.

                 

                  6. PARTIALITY: GIVING THE PREFERENCE TO CERTAIN INTERESTS, ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR BEING EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLLY THE INTERESTS OF SELF.

 

                  7. OPPOSITION TO BENEVOLENCE OR TO VIRTUE: THE WILL CANNOT REMAIN IN THE EXERCISE OF THIS SELFISH CHOICE, WITHOUT AS IT WERE BRACING AND GIRDING ITSELF AGAINST THAT VIRTUE.

 

                  8. CRUELTY: A RECKLESS DISREGARD OF THE WELL-BEING OF GOD AND THE UNIVERSE.

 

                  9. INJUSTICE: IT IS THAT QUALITY OF SELFISHNESS WHICH DISPOSES IT TO TREAT THE PERSONS AND INTERESTS OF OTHERS INEQUITABLY, AND A DISPOSITION TO GIVE THE PREFERENCE TO SELF-INTEREST, REGARDLESS OF THE RELATIVE VALUE OF THE INTERESTS. IT IS THE PRACTICAL PREFERENCE OF A PETTY SELF-INTEREST OVER INFINITE INTERESTS.

 

                  10. FALSEHOOD: IF ANY SINNER, AT ANY TIME, AND UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, TELLS THE TRUTH, IT IS FOR A SELFISH REASON. HIS CHOICE AFFIRMS THAT GOD HAS NO RIGHTS, THAT HE OUGHT NOT TO BE LOVED AND OBEYED, THAT HE HAS NO RIGHT TO GOVERN THE UNIVERSE, BUT THAT GOD AND ALL BEINGS OUGHT TO OBEY AND SERVE THE SINNER.

                 

                  11. PRIDE: A PROUD BEING SUPREMELY REGARDS HIMSELF.  HE WORSHIPS AND CAN WORSHIP NO ONE BUT SELF.  HE DOES NOT, AND REMAINING SELFISH, HE CANNOT, PRACTICALLY ADMIT THAT THERE IS ANY ONE SO GOOD AND WORTHY AS HIMSELF.

 

                  12. ENMITY AGAINST GOD: "the carnal mind (minding the flesh) is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). SELFISHNESS IS OPPOSITION TO GOD'S EXISTENCE.  Opposition to a government, is opposition to the will of the governor.  It is opposition to his existence in that capacity.  It is, and must be, enmity against the existence of the ruler, as such.  Selfishness must be enmity against the existence of God's government, and as He does and must sustain the relation of Sovereign Ruler, selfishness must be enmity against His being.

 

                  13. INTEMPERANCE: INTEMPERANCE CONSISTS IN THE UNDUE OR UNLAWFUL INDULGENCE OF ANY PROPENSITY.

 

                  14. TOTAL MORAL DEPRAVITY: BY THIS I INTEND THAT EVERY SELFISH BEING IS AT EVERY MOMENT AS WICKED AND AS BLAMEWORTHY AS WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE HE CAN BE.

             

 

 

WHAT TEMPTS A PERSON TO SIN?

 

              James 1:13-15

Let no one say when he is tempted, ÒI am being tempted by GodÓ; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own LUST/DESIRE.

Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

 

 

ARE DESIRES SINFUL?

 

                      Desires are a part of the nature which God created.

                      God cannot create anything sinful.

                      Therefore, desires are not sinful.

 

                      Jesus had desires

                      Jesus did not sin,

                      Therefore, desires are not sinful.

 

                      The desires are not sinful, but a part of our nature called the Flesh

                      Having the desires is not sinful.

                      To fulfill the desires of the flesh is sinful.

                      "Walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh: Gal 5:16

                                     That is, you will not sin.

 

 

WHEN ADAM SINNED, DID HIS NATURE CHANGE?

 

                      1. SIN IS a Decision to obey the Flesh. [Desires]

 

                             2. SIN IS NEVER a material substance.

 

3. A. Nothing can change our nature except the Creator who used his power to create our original nature.

B. God, our creator, is holy, and would never use His power to make anything to be sinful.

C. Therefore, there is no possible way our nature can change without God's power.

D. And there is no possible way God would use His power to make our natures sinful.

E. Therefore, we do not have a sinful nature.

 

4. JESUS CHRIST had a Human Nature.

           Jesus Christ had no sin.

           Therefore our human nature is not sinful.

 

5. JESUS CHRIST was born of a virgin because He already had a Father.

           He was not born of a virgin to avoid a sinful nature.

 

 

 

ARE MEN BORN SINNERS AS PUNISHMENT FOR THE SIN OF ADAM?

                

              NO!  If they are, then Jesus was born a sinner.

                                     If they are, then Jesus was not human, for He had no sin.

                                     If they are, then sin is an involuntary act.

                                     If they are, then they are born victims of the actions of others.

                                     If they are, then it is contrary to what God said.

Ezekiel 18:20 ÒThe person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the fatherÕs iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the sonÕs iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

Deut. 24:16 ÒFathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death FOR HIS OWN SIN.

 

 

 

WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENTAL SANCTIONS/PENALTY FOR DISOBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW?

 

                  THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH! Romans 3:23

 

                  WHAT IS THE DEATH REFERRED TO HERE?

 

     1. IT IS NOT MERELY NATURAL DEATH FOR:

(1.) THIS WOULD, IN REALITY, BE NO PENALTY AT ALL.  BUT IT WOULD BE OFFERING A REWARD TO SIN.  If natural death is all that is intended, and if persons, as soon as they are naturally dead, have suffered the penalty of the law, and their souls go immediately to heaven, the case stands thus: IF YOUR OBEDIENCE IS PERFECT AND PERPETUAL, YOU SHALL LIVE IN THIS WORLD FOREVER; BUT IF YOU SIN, YOU SHALL DIE AND GO IMMEDIATELY TO HEAVEN.  "This would be hire and salary," and not punishment.

 

(2.) If natural death be the penalty of God's law, THE RIGHTEOUS, WHO ARE FORGIVEN, SHOULD NOT DIE A NATURAL DEATH.

 

(3.) If natural death be the penalty of God's law, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FORGIVENESS, BUT ALL MUST ACTUALLY ENDURE THE PENALTY.

 

(4.) If natural death be the penalty, THEN INFANTS AND ANIMALS SUFFER THIS PENALTY, as well as the most abandoned transgressors.

 

 

2. THE PENALTY OF GOD'S LAW IS NOT SPIRITUAL DEATH.

(1.) Because spiritual death is a state of entire sinfulness.

 

(2.) To make a state of entire sinfulness the penalty of the law of God, would be to make the penalty and the breach of the precept identical.

 

(3.) It would be making God the author of sin, and would represent Him as compelling the sinner to commit one sin as the punishment for another, and forcing him into a state of total and perpetual rebellion, as the reward of his first transgression.

 

 

 

3. BUT THE PENAL SANCTION OF THE LAW OF GOD IS

              ENDLESS DEATH,

 

OR THAT STATE OF ENDLESS SUFFERING WHICH IS THE  NATURAL AND GOVERNMENTAL RESULT OF SIN OR OF SPIRITUAL DEATH.

 

 

LET US EXAMINE THIS QUESTION IN THE LIGHT OF REVELATION.

 

The Bible, in a great many ways, represents the future punishment of the wicked as eternal, and never once represents it otherwise.  It expresses the duration of the future punishment of the wicked by the same terms, and, in every way, as forcibly as it expresses the duration of the future happiness of the righteous

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and EVERLASTING CONTEMPT" (Daniel 12:2).

"Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink.  And these shall go away into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25:41, 42, 46). 

"And if thy hand offend thee, cut, it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into HELL, into the fire that never shall be quenched; where their worm dieth not, and THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED" (Mark 9:43, 44)."

"For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is {the} Son of Man. "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice and shall come forth; those who did the good {deeds} to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil {deeds} to A RESURRECTION OF JUDGMENT. (John 5:27-29.)

                  "And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

 

 

WHEN GOD EXECUTES THE PENALTY UPON SINNERS FOR THEIR REBELLION:

1. HE IS FULFILLING HIS RESPONSIBLITIES AS GOVERNOR.

2. HE IS GIVING ALL HOLY BEINGS REASONS TO TRUST HIM AS GOVERNOR.

3. HE IS GIVING ALL HOLY BEINGS REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THE LAW IS WORTHY OF OBEDIENCE AND HONOR.

4. HE IS FULFILLING JUSTICE WHICH IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF LOVE.

5. HE IS GIVING ALL HOLY BEINGS REASON TO BE CONFIDENT THAT GOD'S GOVERNMENT IS UPHOLDING RIGHTEOUSNESS.

6. ALL HOLY BEINGS CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT GOD IS DEEPLY INTERESTED IN THE PUBLIC GOOD.

 

 

IF GOD DID NOT EXECUTE THE PENALTY UPON SINNERS FOR THEIR REBELLION:

1.  HOLY BEINGS WOULD LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE HONOR OF THE LAW.

2.  HOLY BENGS WOULD LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE CHARACTER OF THE                          GOVERNOR.

3. WITHOUT CONFIDENCE IN THE LAW, THE LAW GIVER, AND THE GOVERNOR, GOD'S MORAL GOVERNMENT WOULD COLLAPSE IN REVOLT.

 

 

THE SINNER IS CONDEMNED TO ETERNAL MISERY AND SUFFERING AS THE JUST PUNISHMENT FOR HIS REBELLION.

 

THE RECONCILIATION OF MAN TO GOD.

 

                      CAN REBELLIOUS MAN BE RECONCILED TO A HOLY GOD?

 

                             If so, HOW?

 

 

 

HOW DOES ALL OF THIS WORK IN THE MORAL GOVERNMENT OF GOD?

 

              ALL GOVERNMENTS HAVE THREE BRANCHES:

                      1. The Legislative

                      2. The Judicial

                      3. The Executive

 

 

QUESTION: HOW DOES THE SINNER RECEIVE THE ÒCONDEMNATIONÓ FOR SIN ?

                                    

ANSWER: CONDEMNATION COMES THROUGH THE FIRST TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT:

 

                  1. THE LEGISLATIVE

                  2. THE JUDICIAL

 

                  1.  LEGISLATIVE BRANCH: THE LAW MAKERS

                             IT ENACTS LAW, AND PUTS THEM INTO EFFECT.

                             IT AUTHORIZES SANCTIONS IF DISOBEYED.

 

                  2.  JUDICIAL BRANCH: THE JUDGMENT

IT PUTS SUSPECTED LAW-BREAKERS ON TRIAL TO DETERMINE IF THEY VIOLATED THE LAW.

 

A. THE PEOPLE INVOLVED ARE:

                             A.  THE JUDGE and possibly JURY

                             B.  THE PROSECUTOR for the Government

                             C.  THE DEFENDANT—the Accused

                             D.  THE DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY

 

                             B. THE PROCEDURE:

                                     THE TRIAL     

                                           

                                     1. THE PROSECUTION GOES FIRST:

                                            The Accusation

                                            What Law was disobeyed.

                                            The Evidence--

                                                   Motive--Occasion--Opportunity--weapon--DNA--fingerprints--witnesses--etc.

                                           

                                     2. THE DEFENSE GOES NEXT:

                                                   Two Pleas:  

                                                           1. I Didn't Do It.

                                                           2.  I Did it but with a Good and Sufficient Reason.

                                                                  a.  Self Defense   b. Insanity   c.  ingnorance   d. accident  e.  forced by another

 

                             C. THE VERDICT: Announced at the end of the trial.

                                                           1. IF Not Guilty – Accused goes free

                                                           2. IF ÒGuiltyÓ –  The convicted is put under confinement

 

                             D. THE PENALTY IF GUILTY: Announced at a subsequent hearing of the convicted.

                                                           The Penalty pronounced is ÒDEATHÓ --

                                                           This is the CONDEMNATION.  He is CONDEMNED to death.

 

                                                           Verdict and Penalty are two Different Things and Events.

                                                           No one can be condemned unless he is found ÒguiltyÓ.

                                                           Everyone found ÒguiltyÓ must be condemned.

 

QUESTION: ONCE THE PERSON IS ÒCONDEMNEDÓ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

 

ANSWER: THE CONDEMNED IS HANDED OVER TO THE JURISDICITON OF THE EXECUTIVE/GOVERNOR for the EXECUTION of the PENALTY/CONDEMNATION.

 

 

QUESTION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD?

 

ANSWER: The term RECONCILED means to ÒAdjust Differences.Ó Like ÒreconcilingÓ a checkbook with a bank statement.

                                  Man Is Reconciled To God When The Differences Between God And Man Are ÒAdjustedÓ In An Acceptable Manner.

 

 

QUESTION: HOW DOES THE CONDEMNED SINNER BECOME RECONCILED TO GOD?

 

 

ANSWER: RECONCILIATION OF MAN TO GOD COMES THROUGH THE THIRD BRANCH OF GODÕS MORAL GOVERNMENT.

                       THE ÒEXECUTIVEÓ BRANCH

 

 

RECONCILIATION OF MAN TO GOD,

                   IS AN ACT OF GRACE AND MERCY BY GOD, the GOVERNOR,

                               TO THOSE WHO DESERVE JUSTICE.

 

                This ACT of RECONCILIATION is called: ÒGOSPEL JUSTIFICATIONÓ

 

 

                    WHAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH CAN DO:

 

                      3.  EXECUTIVE BRANCH: the GOVERNOR --

 

                                     A. Has the Authority and Responsibility to Enforce the Obligation to obey the LAW.

 

B. Has the Authority and Responsibility to dispense REWARDS for obedience to the LAW.

 

C. Has the Authority and Responsibility to Execute PENALTIES to those CONDEMNED by the COURT.

 

                                     D.  Has the Authority to PARDON/FORGIVE a CONDEMNED criminal.

                                           

                                            1. The GOVERNOR DOES NOT have the AUTHORITY does set aside the VERDICT.

 

2.  The GOVERNOR DOES have the AUTHORITY to set aside the EXECUTION of the PENALTY/CONDEMNATION.

 

                            

                      WHAT IS A PARDON/FORGIVENESS? An exercise of MERCY.

 

WHAT IS MERCY?

 

                  IT IS ACT OF GOD AS GOVERNOR, WITHHOLDING or SETTING ASIDE, THE EXECUTION OF THE PENALTY—the ÒDEATHÓ -- the ÒCONDEMNATIONÓ

                 

           THE ACT OF MERCY IS CALLED PARDON OR FORGIVENESS.—They are SYNONYMOUS TERMS.

Matt. 18:32 "Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, 'You wicked slave, I FORGAVE you all that debt because you entreated me.

Matt. 18:33 'Should you not also have had MERCY on your fellow slave, even as I had MERCY on you?

                 

                  THE SINNER IS ÒDEADÓ TO GOD BECAUSE OF HIS CONVICTION OF CRIME. He has no direct access to God.

 

                  MERCY WITHHOLDS THE EXECUTION OF ÒDEATHÓ UPON THE SINNER.

 

WHAT CAUSES MERCY?  

 

                                     LOVE !

 

Eph. 2:4 But God, being rich in MERCY, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE with which He loved us,

Eph. 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

 

      '

 

 

WHAT IS THE RESULT OF MERCY/PARDON/FORGIVENESS?:

 

                                     LIFE!

 

                  MERCY RESTORES THE SINNER TO ÒLIFEÓ SO THAT HE AND GOD RELATE TO EACH OTHER ÒAS IFÓ THE SINNER HAD NEVER SINNED.

                  THE SINNER PASSES FROM ÒDEATHÓ TO ÒLIFE.Ó

                  THE SINNER IS ÒMADE ALIVEÓ UNTO GOD.

 

Eph. 2:4 But God, being rich in MERCY, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE with which He loved us,

Eph. 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, [MERCY] MADE US ALIVE together with Christ

1 Pet. 1:3 ¦ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great MERCY has caused us to be BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 

WHAT IS GRACE?

 

                             IT IS GOD GOVERNMENTALLY TREATING THE CONVICTED AND CONDEMNED SINNER, ÒAS IFÓ HE HAD NEVER SINNED.

 

                             THE SINNER HAS BEEN CUT OFF FROM THE BENEFITS OF THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF HIS CONVICTION OF CRIME.

 

                             GRACE RESTORES THE SINNER TO THE FAVOR OF GOD AND HIS GOVERNMENT AS A FREE GIFT. A GRATUITY.

                            

                             Eph. 2:7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of HIS GRACE IN KINDNESS toward US in Christ Jesus.

                             Eph. 2:8 For by GRACE you have been SAVED through faith; and that [SALVATION] not of yourselves, {it is} THE GIFT of God.

 

 

WHAT IS THE RESULT OF GRACE?

 

                             GODÕS UNMERITED FAVOR. GRANTING TO THE SINNER PEACE WITH GOD, AND THE BLESSINGS OF GODÕS GOVERNMENTAL REWARDS.

 

Eph. 2:7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of HIS GRACE IN KINDNESS TOWARD us in Christ Jesus.

 

Rom. 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 John 1:3 GRACE, MERCY {AND} PEACE will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

 

QUESTION:

              HOW DOES A CONDEMNED SINNER  RECEIVE THIS GRACE AND MERCY FROM GOD THE GOVERNOR?

 

 

                

ANSWER: THERE ARE FOUR CONDITIONS THAT MUST BE FULFILLED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THIS RECONCILIATION TO GOD BY THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD.

                     

                      THE FIRST CONDITION IS FULFILLED BY GOD HIMSELF:

                 

                  1. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.

 

THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH CONDITION MUST BE FULFILLED BY THE SINNER.

 

                  2. THE SINNER MUST BELIEVE GOD.

 

                  3. THE SINNER MUST STOP HIS REBELLION AND OBEY GOD.

 

4. THE SINNER MUST CONTINUE TO BELIEVE AND OBEY GOD IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD.

 

 

QUESTION: WHY IS THE DEATH OF THE SON OF GOD NECESSARY FOR THE CONDEMNED SINNER TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD?

 

              THE BIBLE GIVES US THREE PICTURES TO UNDERSTAND WHY JESUS DIED FOR THE SAKE OF  SINNERS.

 

              PICTURE #1

 

                  THE PASSOVER:

                             PAUL the apostle says that:

1 Cor. 5:7 Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are {in fact} unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.

 

IN THIS PICTURE, WHY DID CHRIST DIE?

              TO SET THE SINNER FREE FROM ÒSLAVERYÓ TO SIN AND THE "DEATH" THAT RESULTS.

God promised, that everyone who would kill an innocent Lamb, and put its blood on the doorpost, and the sides of the door frame, God would Òpass overÓ that house and not kill anyone inside.

Because the people believed God, they killed the lamb as instructed, and God kept His promise, and no one in the houses where the blood was, was killed.

So the Picture is for us, that the blood of Christ, is to us, the blood of the passover Lamb. By trusting in the promise of God that we would be saved from ÒdeathÓ and ÒbondageÓ through the blood of Christ, God keeps His promise to every person who trusts God and sets those free who are in ÒdeathÓ and ÒslaveryÓ to sin.

 

                 PICTURE #2

 

                      THE DAY OF ATONEMENT:

 

Once a year in the Nation of Israel, there had to be what was called a ÒDay of AtonementÓ. Only on that day, only once a year, only one priest, the High Priest, could go into the Holy of Holies with blood of a Goat to ÒcleanseÓ the temple. This is described in Leviticus chapter 16.

 

THIS WAS A PICTURE OF CHRIST AS OUR HIGH PRIEST.

 

THIS WAS A PICTURE OF CHRIST AS AN INNOCENT ANIMAL THAT WAS KILLED TO PROVIDE BLOOD FOR CLEANSING AND FORGIVENESS.

 

THIS WAS A PICTURE OF CHRIST AS A ÒSCAPEGOATÓ TO CARRY OUR SINS AWAY, AS ÒFAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WESTÓ.

 

      THE BOOK OF HEBREWS REVEALS TO US THAT CHRIST IS THE HIGH PRIEST ORDAINED BY GOD, TO ENTER AND CLEANSE GODÕS TEMPLE, AND CLEANSE US OF ALL SIN.

 

Heb. 9:11 ¦ But when Christ appeared {as} A HIGH PRIEST of the good things to come, {He entered} through THE GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TABERNACLE, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;

Heb. 9:12 and NOT through the blood of GOATS and calves, but through HIS OWN BLOOD, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Heb. 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,

Heb. 9:14 how much more will THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through the eternal Spirit OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT BLEMISH to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb. 9:23 ¦ Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Heb. 9:24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a {mere} copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

Heb. 9:25 nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own.

Heb. 9:26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Heb. 4:14 ¦ Since then WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Heb. 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as {we are, yet} without sin.

Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive MERCY and may find GRACE to help in time of need.

 

                                     IN THIS PICTURE, WHY DID CHRIST DIE?

To Provide the Blood that was Necessary to cleanse the People and the Temple of God.

To be the High Priest who would take in the Blood to Cleanse it.

 

                     

 

                      PICTURE #3

 

                      THE BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

 

                      THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A ÒCOVENANTÓ AND A ÒTESTAMENTÓ

 

                      1.  A ÒCOVENANTÓ IS:

 

                             A. A ÒCOVENANTÓ IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE TO FULFILL PROMISES.

                             B.  THE ÒCOVENANTÓ IS ONLY IN FORCE WHILE THE PARTIES ARE ALIVE.

                             C.  THE ÒCOVENANTÓ IS NOT ENFORCEABLE AFTER ONE OF THE PARTIES ÒDIESÓ.      

                             D.  EXAMPLE:  MARRIAGE IS A ÒCOVENANTÓ

 

                      2. A ÒTESTAMENT IS:

 

                             A. THE ÒLAST WILLÓ OF A PERSON

                             B. IN THE ÒWILLÓ, THERE ARE PROMISES MADE TO GIVE TO OTHERS WHAT THE PERSON HAS.

                             C.  WHAT IS PROMISED CAN ONLY BE GIVEN TO THE PERSON NAMED WHEN THE GIVER DIES.

                             D. A ÒTESTAMENTÓ IS NOT ENFORCEABLE UNTIL THE GIVER ÒDIESÓ.

Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.--KJV

                                           

 

WHAT IS THE ÒNEW TESTAMENTÓ?

 

IT IS PROMISES MADE BY GOD TO PEOPLE,

               TO BE RECEIVED BY THE PEOPLE,  UPON HIS DEATH.

 

 

       WHAT ARE THE PROMISES GOD HAS MADE?

 

Jer. 31:31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the \Lord\, "when I will make a NEW [covenant] TESTAMENT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,

Jer. 31:32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, "declares the \Lord\.

Jer. 31:33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the \Lord\,

                  1. "I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM, and

                  2. ON THEIR HEART I WILL WRITE IT; and

                  3. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

Jer. 31:34 "And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the \Lord\,' for

4. THEY SHALL ALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST OF THEM TO THE GREATEST OF THEM," declares the \Lord\, "for

                  5. I WILL FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY, AND

                  6. THEIR SIN I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."

 

This is repeated in HEBREWS 8:8-12

 

       ARE THERE MORE PROMISES? -- YES

 

Ezek. 36:25 "Then

7. I WILL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER ON YOU, AND YOU WILL BE CLEAN;

8. I WILL CLEANSE YOU FROM ALL YOUR FILTHINESS AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLS.

Ezek. 36:26 "Moreover,

9.  I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU; and

10. I WILL REMOVE THE HEART OF STONE FROM YOUR FLESH AND

11. GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH.

Ezek. 36:27 "And

12. I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

 

 

 

HOW IS THIS A PICTURE OF THE DEATH OF JESUS?

      

                                                  

                                            1. JESUS IS THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW TESTAMENT.

 

Heb. 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on BETTER PROMISES.

 

Heb. 8:13 When He said, "A NEW TESTAMENT{COVENANT}," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

 

 

                                            2.  THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

 

Lu 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the NEW TESTAMENT in MY BLOOD, which is shed for you.

 

1 Cor 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the NEW TESTAMENT in MY BLOOD: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.--KJV

 

 

3. THE DEATH OF JESUS, PROVEN BY HIS SHED BLOOD, PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT GOD HAS ÒDIEDÓ, AND WHAT HE HAS PROMISED CAN NOW BE RECEIVED. THE INHERITANCE IS NOW AVAILABLE.

 

4. THE ÒNEW TESTAMENTÓ HAS BEEN RATIFIED BY THE DEATH OF JESUS.

 

.

 

OK, THE FIRST CONDITION TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD IS FULFILLED:            THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST HAS OCCURRED.

 

 

 

THE SECOND CONDITION IS: THE SINNER MUST BELIEVE GOD.

 

                 QUESTION: WHAT IS THE SINNER TO BELIEVE?

 

                             DEFINITION:  When a person  Believes, he "has" Faith.

                                                                         When a Person "has" faith, it means that they are Believing something.

              

                      ANSWER:  The Sinner is to BELIEVE:

 

1.  There is a MORAL LAW that he is under obligation to obey.

2.  God's character can be depended upon to uphold this MORAL LAW, and will execute the Penalty to those who don't obey.

3.  The sinner has not obeyed the MORAL LAW, and therefore he deserves to receive the Penalty.

4.  The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ was for the sake of the sinner to receive this Grace and Mercy of reconciliation from God.

5.  God promises to give Grace and Mercy to those who Believe in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ as done for the sinnerÕs sake.

6.  GodÕs Character can be depended upon to give what God has Promised, when the conditions are fulfilled.

 

 

 

THE THIRD CONDITION IS: REPENTANCE.

 

                 QUESTION: WHAT IS REPENTANCE? 

                                       THE WORD MEANS: ÒCHANGE OF MINDÓ.

 

                      ANSWER:

 

1. IT IS RAISING THE WHITE FLAG OF ÒSURRENDERÓ TO GOD.

 

2. IT IS CONFESSING FROM THE HEART TO GOD: ÒYOU ARE RIGHT, AND I AM WRONGÓ.

 

3. IT IS TURNING FROM DISOBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW, TO OBEYING THE MORAL LAW FROM THE HEART.

 

4. IT IS A ÒCHANGE OF MINDÓ WHICH RESULTS IN LOVING GOD WITH ALL THE HEART, AND LOVING ONEÕS NEIGHBOR AS ONEÕS SELF.

 

                                             

 

 

THE FOURTH CONDITION IS: CONTINUATION IN FAITH AND REPENTANCE

 

                      QUESTION: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

 

1.  A SINNER CONTINUES TO TRUST IN GOD TO KEEP HIS PROMISES OF GRACE AND MERCY THROUGH THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

 

2.  A SINNER CONTINUES TO LIVE IN THE ÒCHANGE OF MINDÓ TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL HIS HEART, AND LOVE HIS NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF.

 

3. Col. 1:22 yet He has NOW RECONCILED YOU in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--

    Col. 1:23 IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

 

 

WHEN A SINNER CONTINUES TO DO THIS, GOD WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE RECONCILIATION OF GRACE AND MERCY TO THE SINNER.

 

 

IF THE SINNER STOPS DOING THIS,

 

                             1.  HE RETURNS TO REBELLION AGAINST GOD AND HIS LAW.

 

                             2. THE CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING FULFILLED,

 

3. GODÕS CHARACTER IS OBLIGATED TO WITHDRAW THE RECONCILIATON FROM A SINNER WHO HAS RETURNED TO REBELLION.

 

 

 

 

WHEN CAN THESE PROMISES BE RECEIVED?

 

                             1. CONDITION NUMBER ONE IS ALREADY FULFILLED.

 

2. AS SOON AS THE SINNER FULFILLS CONDITIONS NUMBER TWO AND THREE, HE WILL RECEIVE RECONCILIATION.

 

3. AS LONG AS THE SINNER CONTINUES TO FULFILL CONDITION NUMBER FOUR, HE WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECONCILIATION.