This blog will take a quick look at something that God requires ALL Christians to know. Let’s see if they do or don’t. Based on my upbringing and my tenure in Christian religion, I’m convinced that not only did I NOT learn this vital information, but I also did NOT know. Maybe you are in this same condition? So what is it that God REQUIRES all Christians to know?
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE HOLY AND PROFANE
THE CLEAN AND UNCLEAN
Now take a moment and reflect on that by asking yourself if you can DEFINE IN MEASURABLE TERMS the difference between the HOLY vs. the PROFANE. Then ask yourself if you know the difference between the CLEAN vs. the UNCLEAN. If the answer is ‘yes’, then do this: List all the elements you can think of in both categories. Then ask yourself if you OBSERVE those elements in your daily life.
That, my friend, is how you MEASURE whether or not you are pleasing God, that is, in at least one area of your SPIRITUAL LIFE. Just so you know I’m not blowing smoke in your face, let me show you where you find this in the Bible:
8 The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 “Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations— 10 and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them through Moses.”
Leviticus 10
Granted, that’s talking about the Aaronic Priesthood and ancient Israel. But when you consider the statements in the NT about WHO the priesthood WILL BE in Jesus’ kingdom, then you have no choice but to accept this ‘as gospel’ for Christians TODAY. In case you can’t remember what Peter said, check it out for yourself in 1 Peter 2: 5 & 9. Also check out Revelation 20:6 … somewhat of a final statement on the matter. Now back to the texts.
Her [Israel’s] priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
Ezekiel 22:26
Moreover, they [the priesthood] shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
Ezekiel 44:23
Remember that the latter verse occurs in the chapters of Ezekiel that are talking about a FUTURE time when God establishes His Temple (his Capitol) on earth to make the whole world His Theocracy (by design from the days of creation), where Jesus will be the appointed Monarch.
Just in case you think there’s no mention of this in the NT, check out what the Apostle Paul says on the subject:
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
1 Timothy 1
The CONTEXT of this quote is instructions to Paul’s appointed delegate (Timothy), who is designated to manage Paul’s covenant communities (churches) so their proceedings will ensure the people are all doing what God requires of them. Note the immediate context is instructions on dealing with people who are LAW PERSONS (most likely lawyers, bureaucrats and judges). So, the immediate context is a discussion about THE LAW. Huh? The law? Aren’t Christians FREE FROM THE LAW? Uhh … Nooooot! That’s the point here. Knowing the difference between the clean and unclean, the holy and profane is a matter of KNOWING AND OBEYING GOD’S LAW. Once you do that, you will know this subject without having to do much thinking about it.
Finding the clean and the unclean in the NT is a bit tricky, b/c it was so much a part of the Apostles’ lives and thinking, that they wove it into the fabric of their teachings, which an informed person will see in the NT texts. Here are some verses to read for yourself, so you can see what I’m talking about: Acts 18:6, Rom. 14:20, 1 Co. 5:7, Heb. 10:22. Make sure you read these verses IN CONTEXT and fully understand the issues at large. Otherwise you won’t be able to see what I’m talking about.
Now if you don’t know any of this, or are ‘lean’ on your knowledge, then you best get busy learning these things, because I am convinced that you will be required to answer to God about all this on Judgment Day. And if God finds you fell short of His standard, then I wouldn’t want to be in your position!
And, if you think you can EXCUSE YOURSELF from these REQUIREMENTS on the basis that this LAW doesn’t apply to you, but only applies to Jews (Israel), then you’re WRONG, and you need to re-think your ‘position’ on it. But even if you think my view on it is wrong, why would you want to risk CONDEMNATION by the Almighty ON JUDGMENT DAY, when you can do a little changing now, so you can fare well in the future?
The way I see it is, if God considers these subjects important, then so should we. Just something to think about that most (if not all) mainstream Christians have no idea about.
Thanx for stopping by, and see you in the next blog!
Reality Bible 