THIS IS NOT A POST..... it's actually the background foundation for an upcoming post that has been over 18 months in the working.  In light of Dan's (@TheTheologiansCafe) post regarding whether or not some people are "Born Evil"  I thought it might be good to finally finish this and offer it up for all to everyone's consideration.

In September of 2011 I posted up a question post that got no comments.  I followed it by a response post, which got many comments -- mostly in argument against what the Bible actually states plainly. 

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  (Matthew 7:11)  (Jesus speaking to the crowd during the Sermon on the Mount.  See also John 3:19)

That argument led to over a year long study by me on what the Bible calls "EVIL".  I literally wrote out every Bible verse that uses the word "EVIL" and started verse by verse to jot down notes.  This post is a compilation of my notes, both for the foundation of the upcoming post and likewise for anyone out there who might want the information at their fingertips.

Here is the basic structure for my notes:

Verse    ---   Who is in Mind? (Or: Who is speaking)   ---   What is viewed as Evil?

Key verses or key thoughts are set out in this color.

I have to state up front that there are 479 verses in the Bible that use the word "EVIL" --- using the New International Version as my standard.   Just for the record:

Picking the NIV seemed reasonable since it was most commonly used, and had a average number of uses for the term.  It's also the version I am most familiar with, having spent nearly 20 years in it's pages.  The "extra" verses in the Good News Version that use the word evil come down to (A) it being a simplified translation which uses the simplest language possible to express a concept and (B) the translation of the word "Wicked" into "evil" in that version.  Were I to include the word "Wicked" from the NIV it would add another 459 (more or less, considering some passages use both words) verses.

---

Genesis 2:9    ---   General Reference  ---  Knowledge of Good and Evil

Genesis 2:17  ---   Adam   ---  Tree of Knowledge

Genesis 3:5   ---   General Reference   ---   Satan Tempts Eve

Genesis 3:22   ---   Adam & Eve   ---   Fall of Man

Genesis 6:5   ---   All Mankind   ---   Thoughts and intents of the heart

Genesis 8:21   ---   All Mankind   ---   Evil Thoughts and imagination

Genesis 44:4   ---   Brothers of Joseph   ---   Theft

Exodus 10:10   ---   Moses   ---   Accused of evil plans

Exodus 32:12   ---   God   ---   Accused of evil by the Egyptians

Exodus 32:22   ---   Israel   ---   Intent to do evil by idolatry

Leviticus 5:4   ---   All Men   ---   Vows to do evil

Numbers 32:12   ---   Israel   ---   Evil acts judged

Deuteronomy 1:35   ---   Israel   ---   Doubt

Deuteronomy 4:25   ---   All Israel   ---   Idolatry (The making of Idols)

Deuteronomy 9:18   ---   All Israel   ---    committed evil before God

Deuteronomy 13:5   ---   False Prophets   ---   Leading men astray

Deuteronomy 13:11   ---   Anyone   ---   Idolatry (Seeking to server 'another' god)

Deuteronomy 17:2,5,7   ---   Anyone   ---   Worshiping the sun or moon or stars or other gods (Idolatry)

Deuteronomy 17:12   ---   Anyone   ---   refusing to obey authority or leadership

Deuteronomy 19:19-20   ---   Anyone   ---   seeking to malign another by false witness

Deuteronomy 21:21   ---   A son   ---   Rebellion to parents

Deuteronomy 22:21   ---   A daughter   ---   sexual promiscuity

Deuteronomy 22:22   ---   Any man   ---   Adultery

Deuteronomy 22:24   ---   Anyone   ---   sexual promiscuity

Deuteronomy 24:7   ---   Anyone   ---   kidnapping

Deuteronomy 28:20   ---   Anyone   ---   forsaking God

Deuteronomy 31:29   ---   Israel   ---   Disobedient to the Law of God

Joshua 23:15   ---  

Judges 2:11   ---   Israel   ---   Served Ba'al's

Judges 2:19   ---   Israel   ---   Evil acts

Judges 3:7   ---   Israel   ---   Idolatry

Judges 3:12   ---  Judges 4:1   ---   Judges 6:1   ---   Judges 13:1

Judges 10:6   ---   Israel   ---   Idolatry

Judges 20:13   ---   Men of Gibeah   ---   Rape

1 Samuel 12:17,19-20   ---   Israel   ---   Seeking a King

1 Samuel 12:25   ---  

1 Samuel 15:19  ---  Saul  --- Greed & Disobedience

1 Samuel 15:23  ---  Key Passage ---  All men, but Saul in Mind  ---  Idolatry, Rebellion

1 Samuel 16:14-16, 23; 18:10; 19:9

1 Samuel 24:13  ---  Key Passage ---

1 Samuel 25:21  ---  Nabal  --- repaying kindness with bitterness or anger

1 Samuel 30:22

2 Samuel 3:39

2 Samuel 12:9  --- David  --- Lust, Adultery, murder & lies

2 Samuel 14:17  --- General Reference  --- General Reference

2 Samuel 22:22  --- General Reference  --- Turning away from God

2 Samuel 23:6  --- General Reference  --- General Reference

1 Kings 1:52  ---  Adonijah  ---  General Reference

1 Kings 11:6  ---  Solomon  ---  Idolatry

1 Kings 13:33  ---  Jeroboam, King of Israel  ---  Idol Worship

1 Kings 14:9  ---   Jeroboam, King of Israel  ---  Leading Israel to worship false gods

1 Kings 14:22  ---   Judah  ---   Idolatry, prostitution, sexual immorality

1 Kings 15:26  ---   Nadab, King of Israel  ---  General Reference

1 Kings 15:34; 16:7  ---   Baasha, King of Israel  ---  General Reference

1 Kings 16:19  ---   Zimri, King of Israel  --- General Reference

1 Kings 16:25  ---  Omri, King of Israel  --- General Reference

1 Kings 16:30  ---   Ahab, King of Israel  ---  Idolatry

1 Kings 21:20, 25  --- Ahab, King of Israel  --- General Reference

1 Kings 22:52  --- Ahaziah, King of Israel  --- Idol worship

2 Kings 3:2  --- Joram, King of Israel  --- General Reference

2 Kings 8:18  ---  Jehoram, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 8:27  ---  Ahaziah, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 13:2  ---  Jehoahaz, King of Israel  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 13:11  ---  Jehoash, King of Israel  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 14:24  ---  Jeroboam 2, King of Israel  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 15:9, 18, 24, 28  ---  Zechariah, Menahem, Pekahiah & Pekah Kings of Israel  ---  General References

2 Kings 17:2  ---  Hoshea, King of Israel  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 17:13, 17  ---  Israel & Judah as nations  ---  Worshiping Idols

2 Kings 21:2, 6, 9  ---  Manasseh, King of Judah  ---  Witchcraft, Idolatry, Astrology & more

2 Kings 21:11,15  ---  Manasseh, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 21:16  ---  Manasseh, King of Judah  ---  Murder

2 Kings 21:20  ---  Amon, King of Judah  ---  Disobedience & Idolatry

2 Kings 23:32  ---  Jehoahaz, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 23:37  ---  Jehoiakim, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 24:9  ---  Jehoiachin, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

2 Kings 24:19  ---  Zedekiah, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

1 Chronicles 21:7  ---  King David  ---  Numbering the warriors

2 Chronicles 12:14  ---  Rehoboam  ---  Not purposely seeking God's desires.

2 Chronicles 21:6  ---  Jehoram, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

2 Chronicles 22:4  ---  Ahaziah, King of Judah  ---  General Reference

2 Chronicles 29:6  ---  Judah, being spoken of generally by Hezekiah  ---  Unfaithfulness

2 Chronicles 33:2,6   ---  Manasseh, King of Judah   ---  Sorcery, Divination, Witchcraft & mediums

Verse 2 states that he followed after the ways of other nations and this was evil.  Verse 6 expands on that by say that he sacrificed his sons in the valley of Ben Hinnom, that he consulted mediums, practiced divination, sorcery & witchcraft and much more.

2 Chronicles 33:9   ---  Judah   ---  General Reference

All of Judah followed after King Manasseh in doing evil.

2 Chronicles 33:22   ---  Amon, King of Judah   ---  Idolatry

He followed in the ways of his father, which was said to be evil.

2 Chronicles 36:5   ---  Jehoiakim, King of Judah   ---  General Reference

Not specifically stated, just that he did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 36:9   ---  Jehoiachin, King of Judah   ---  General Reference

Same as above

2 Chronicles 36:12   ---  Zedekiah, King of Judah   ---  General Reference

while mostly general, it is mentioned that he did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah

Nehemiah 9:28   ---  Israel (in General)   ---  Unspecific

Honestly unsure here.  It is a reference to Israel in the past with no specific aim to a particular sin.

Nehemiah 9:35   ---  Israel (in captivity)   ---  Unspecific

Man did not serve God nor turn from their evil ways

Nehemiah 13:7   ---  Eliashib, the priest   ---  Improper use of the temple

Eliaship allowed Tobiah, enemy of Israel & Nehemiah, space within the temple even though the law forbid such   --- esp. in respect to Ammonites because they sought to curse Irael through Ba'laam

Esther 8:3   ---  Haman   ---  Plotting to kill all Jews (Murder)

Haman's plot to end the Jewish race was called evil

Esther 9:25   ---  Haman   ---  Plotting to kill all Jews (Murder)

Same as above

Job 1:1,8   ---  Job   ---  General Reference

Job is said to have shunned all evil.

Job 4:8   ---  (Eliphaz Speaking from ignorance)   --- 

Eliphaz is speaking from ignorance, but his words ring as a mirror to Galatians 6:7-8.  What (Evil) men sow, they shall definitely reap judgment.

Job 8:20   ---  (Bildad speaking from ignorance)   --- 

Bildad makes the observation that God does not reject the penitent man, nor does He take the hand of the evildoer.  While fundamentally correct, Bildad's application of the principle to Job is wrong

Job 11:11,14   ---  (Zophar speaks from Anger)   --- 

Zophar makes a passionate call to Job to repent of his evil, even though Job (rightly) has none to confess.  Zophar is angered by Job's repeated denials of sin and thus he confronts boldly and with the aim to restore the sinner to God   --- not understanding that even calamity plays a part in God's economy.

Job 16:11   ---  (Job Speaking from perplexity)   --- 

Trying to make sense of what's happening, Job assumes (?) that God has surrendered him over to evil men.

Job 18:21   ---  (Bildad speaking accusingly)   --- 

Bildad states that Job must have done evil & know nothing of God, seeing all that has befallen him.

Job 20:12   ---  (Zophar speaking from irrelevance)   --- 

Zophar talks (truthfully) on how the evil men will savor their sin like a sweet candy or exquisite food.  While what he says is true, it is totally irrelevant to Job's situation

Job 21:30   ---  (Job speaking in Defense)   --- 

Job responds by asking Zophar if he's never asked an evil traveler about the many ways his own life has been spared.

Job 22:15   ---  (Eliphaz speaking)   --- 

Eliphaz accuses Job of following the same path that evil men have gone down

Job 24:20   ---  (Job Speaking)   --- 

Job reminds his friends that in time evil men are forgotten.

Job 28:28   ---  (Job speaking)   --- 

Job summarizes wisdom as fearing the Lord and understanding as shunning evil.

Job 30:26   ---  (Job speaking)   --- 

Job tries to understand how, when he had hoped for good, evil came instead.

Job 34:8,10,22   ---  (Elihu speaking)   --- 

Elihu uses "Evil" three times in this passage. 

1. He falsely accuses Job of keeping company with Evildoers.
2. Elihu rightly states that God does no evil.
3. Elihu rightly states that there is no place where Evildoers can hide from God. 

Job 36:10,21   ---  (Elihu speaking)   --- 

Elihu makes two more references to Evil. 

1. Speaking on behalf of 'God', Elihu states that God commands evil men to repent.
2. He warns Job to beware of turning to evil.

Psalms 5:4   ---  God   ---  General Reference

God takes no pleasure in evil.  Wicked men cannot dwell with God.

Psalm 6:8   ---  General (Prayer)   ---  General Reference

David tells evildoers to stay away for God has heard his prayer.

Psalm 7:14   ---  General (Prayer)   ---  General Reference

David reminds men that if they plan evil, God will judge them.

Psalm 10:7   ---  Wicked men   ---  Spoken evil

The psalmist reminds us that a wicked man's tongue is bent towards evil (Re: curses, lies & threats).

Psalm 10:15   ---  Wicked men   ---  General Reference

The psalmist prays for Justice to come upon the evil or wicked man.  (Literally "Break the arm of the evil man.")

Psalm 14:4,6   ---  General (Prayer)   ---  Those who ignore God

David prays regarding evildoers, men who devour others, & who do not call on God, those who oppress the poor.  (Literally "those who frustrate the plans of the poor")

Psalm 18:21   ---  (David, speaking of himself)   ---  Turning away from God

David claims to have not done the "Evil" of turning away from God.

Psalm 21:11   ---  General   ---  General Reference

David says that men plot evil against God.

Psalm 22:16   ---  (Messianic Psalm Reference)   --- 

David foreshadows Christ's crucifixion, specifically that his hands & feet would be pierced.

Psalm 23:4   ---  General (Prayer)   ---  General Reference

David says that by his trust in God, he fears no evil.

Psalm 26:5   ---  (David Praying)   ---  General Reference

David says in prayer that he abhors the assembly of evildoers.

Psalm 27:2   ---  General   ---  General Reference

David confidently asserts that when evil men come against him, they will fail because the lord is is light, salvation & stronghold.

Psalm 28:3-4   ---  (David Praying)   --- Deceitfulness 

David asks the Lord not to take him away with the wicked or evil men, those who speak deceitfully with their neighbors, or who show no regard for the works of God.

Psalm 34:13-14,16,21   --- (Instructional Psalm)   --- 

David seeks to instruct his children by telling them to turn from Evil to do good & to keep their tongue from evil & speaking lies.  He also reminds them that God turns His face away from evildoers.

The end result is that wicked men will come to an evil end.

Psalm 35:12   ---  (David Praying)   --- 

David prays for the Lord to contend with his enemies, who repay him evil for good.

Psalm 36:4   ---  Wicked men   ---  General Reference

David comprehends the ways of wicked men and how they pursue sin, even on their bed they plot evil deeds, committing his heart to evil plans.

David continues by remembering the love, faithfulness, righteousness & justice of God and concludes by remembering that evildoers always meet their end by the judgment of God.

Psalm 37:1,8-9,27   ---  (Instructional Psalm)   --- 

David begins by telling us not to worry about evil men or to be envious of men who do wrong.

David proceeds by telling us to commit our plans to God, to trust him, to be still before Him and wait for God.  David tells us to refrain from anger, wrath & worry, which only lead to evil, & then reminds us that evildoers have no future with the Lord.

In the end, David tells us to turn from evil, which he spends verses 12-21 defining.  By doing this we find that the Lord remains faithful to help us.

Psalm 38:20   ---  (David Praying)   ---  General Reference

David asks the Lord to deliver him from men who "repay my good with evil."

Psalm 49:5   ---  (Instructional Psalm)   --- 

The psalmist simply asks why he should fear when evil days come.

Psalm 50:19   ---  (The Lord speaks in condemnation)   ---  Using our mouths for evil

God says (a) that we hate instruction (b) cast God's word away (c) join a thief in his sin (d) make adulterers our companions (e) use our mouths for evil (f) lie to deceive (g) speak in slander of our own families and in the end we assume that God is like us.

Psalm 51:4   ---  (David praying)   ---  Murder, adultery, deceit

David assumes responsibility for the evil of his sin against God.

Psalm 52:1,3   ---  General   ---  General Reference

David questions why men boast of evil & prefer evil over good.  It could be that "prefer telling lies rather than truth" is the evil that David refers to.

Psalm 53:4   ---  (David Reflecting)   ---  Those who turn from God

David starts by reminding us that fools claim there is no God and moves froward to exlaim that NO MAN seeks after God.

Evildoers, David says, never learn, never call on God & only see people as a means to their own ends.

Psalm 54:5   ---  (David Prays)   ---  Slander

David simply asks God to return the evil upon those who slander him.

Psalm 55:15   ---  (David Prays)   ---  General Reference

David simply says that evil dwells among his enemies.

Psalm 59:2   ---  (David Prays)   ---  General Reference

David asks God to deliver him from evildoers.

Psalm 64:2,5   ---  (David Prays)   ---   Multiple sins

David asks God to hid him from evildoers who (a) use their tongues as swords, (b) use their words to inflict death, (c) ambush the innocent, (d) do not fear in harming others, (e) encourage one another in doing evil, (f) make plans to commit evil and (g) boast about their plans.

Psalm 71:4   ---   (Prayer)   ---  General Reference

The psalmist prays for deliverance from evil and cruel men.

Psalm 73:7   ---  The wicked & arrogant    ---  General Reference

Asaph states that the evil conceit of men's minds knows no limits.

Psalm 92:7,9   ---  (Speaking of God)   ---  General Reference

The psalmist praises the works of God by remembering that evildoers, though they flourish & prosper, will certainly face a day of judgment.

Psalm 94:4,16   ---  General   ---  Boasting and arrogance

Evildoers are arrogant & full of boasting, crushing others by oppression.

The psalmist then says that were it not for the Lord, evildoers would have overwhelmed him.

Psalm 97:10   ---  (A call to the Righteous)   --- 

The psalmist reminds us that if we love the Lord, we should hate evil.

Psalm 101:4,8   ---  (David vows)   --- 

David vows to the Lord to walk blameless before Him.  This includes keeping away from faithless men who are seen as evil.

Psalm 109:5,6,20 --- (David Prays) ---

Psalm 119:101, 115 --- (Unknown writer extols God's word) ---

Psalm 125:3,5 --- (Unknown writer looks forward to God's Kingdom) ---

Psalm 139:20  ---  (David Prays)  ---  Misusing God's Name ----

Psalm 140:1,2  ---  (David prays for protection)  ---

Psalm 141:4-5,9 ---  (David Prays) ---

Proverbs 2:14 --- All men ---   General Reference

Proverbs 3:7 ---  All men  ---  General call to repentance

Proverbs 4:14,16,27  ---  General  ---  General Reference

The teacher warns us that we should not walk as evil men do, and tells us that evil men cannot sleep till they have done evil.  We should make every effort to stay away from doing evil.

Proverbs 5:22  ---  General  ---  General Reference

A wicked man is trapped by his evil deeds.  His sin holds him bound.

Proverbs 6:14  ---  General  ---  Deceit & dissension

A scoundrel / villain plots evil with deceit on his mind.  He speaks with a corrupt mouth and he causes divisions everywhere he goes.   ----->  Disaster will overtake him when he does not expect it.

Proverbs 6:18  ---  (God Despises...)  ---  General Reference... but...

Famous passage about that which God finds abominable.  #5 Feet that rush to do evil. 

Proverbs 8:13  ---  (Wise Counsel)  ---  General Reference... but...

To "fear" God is to hate evil.  As defined by God as pride, arrogance, evil behavior & perverse speech.

Proverbs 10:23  ---  Fool  ---  Evil actions / manners

Only a fool takes pleasure in evil conduct.

Proverbs 10:29  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Ruin shall come upon those who do evil.

Proverbs 11:6  --- Unfaithful men  --- Evil desires

Unfaithful men are trapped by their evil desires.

Proverbs 11:19  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Death ultimately comes upon those who pursue or chase after evil.

Proverbs 11:27  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Those who chase evil find it.

Proverbs 12:12  ---  Wicked men  ---  General Reference

Wicked men lust after the plunder of evil men.

Proverbs 12:13  ---  Evil Men  ---  Sinful talk

Sinful talk traps evil men.

Proverbs 12:20  ---  General  ---  Deceit

Those who plan evil practice deceit.

Proverbs 13:19  ---  Fools  ---  General Reference

A Fool hates turning from evil.

Proverbs 14:16  ---  Wise Men  ---  General Reference

Wise men fear God & shun evil.

Proverbs 14:19  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Evil men will bow in the presence of the righteous.

Proverbs 14:22  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Those who plot evil go astray.

Proverbs 15:28  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Evil pours out of the mouth of wicked men & the wicked give no thought to their responses.

Proverbs 16:6  ---  (Advice for avoiding Evil)

The fear of the Lord helps a man avoid evil.

Proverbs 16:17  ---  (Advice for avoiding Evil)

If we guard our way, we avoid evil.

Proverbs 16:27  ---  General  ---  General Reference

A scoundrel plots evil and those who wink their eye or purse their lips (look this up later....) are intent on evil.

Proverbs 17:4,11,13  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Wicked men listen to evil advice & set their hearts toward rebellion.  Those who pay back evil for good shall find that evil will always follow them.

Proverbs 19:28  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Hard to understand -- the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil --- need to review later.

Proverbs 20:8  ---  (Spoken about God???)

When the king sits on the throne of judgment, he eliminates evil with his eyes.  Does this speak of God on Judgment day?

Proverbs 20:30  ---  (Literal or Figurative?)

Blows and wounds purge evil.

Proverbs 21:10  ---  General  ---  General Reference

A wicked man craves evil & his neighbors gain no relief from his scheming.

Proverbs 21:15  --- General  --- General Reference

Evildoers despise justice, it terrifies them.

Proverbs 21:27  ---  (God rejects evil men's sacrifices)

God looks upon a man's intentions when they offer sacrifices.  A wicked mans offerings are detestable to God.

Proverbs 24:8  ---  General  ---  Scheming to do evil

A man who plots evil shall be known as a schemer.  Foolish schemes are sinful

Proverbs 24:19-20  ---  (A reminder to the righteous)

Do not worry because of evil men or be envious of them, for they have no future hope.

Proverbs 26:23  ---  General  ---  General Reference

I honestly have to admit that I don't understand this one.  Here's my attempt:  A man's lips may profess Christ, but God looks not to a man's lips but upon his evil heart.

Proverbs 28:5  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Justice is lost on evil men, they just don't get it.  Righteous men understand fully what God's justice means.

Proverbs 28:10  ---  General  ---  General Reference

A curse rests upon those who would lead righteous men down evil paths.

Proverbs 29:6  ---  General  ---  General Reference

An evil man will be trapped by his own sin.  It will judge him before God.

Proverbs 30:32  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Those who plan evil, or who play the fool by self-exaltation -- ought to be ashamed of their actions, for by stirring up anger they produce strife.

Ecclesiastes 4:3  ---  (Unborn men are blessed)

Those who have not been born are blessed for having not known evil.

Ecclesiastes 5:13,15  ---  General  ---  Greed

It is seen as evil to hoard wealth.  Those who strive to hoard do so to their own detriment.
All that a man strives to gain will not gain him anything when he dies.  This, too, is viewed as evil.  It all comes down to man's greed.

Ecclesiastes 6:1  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Though a man be given wealth, power & fame, he gains no enjoyment from them for he lacks God in his life.  This is viewed as evil.

Ecclesiastes 9:3  ---   Key Passage

The hearts of men are full of evil.

Ecclesiastes 9:12  ---  General  ---  Evil Times

Men are trapped by the evil times that fall upon them.

Ecclesiastes 10:5  ---  (The evil of band leadership)

When fools are put in charge the lands suffer.  This is viewed as evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:14  ---  (God will judge all men)

God will bring all men to judgment for all that they do, good or evil.

Isaiah 1:4  ---  Israel  ---  Evildoers

All of Israel is viewed as evildoers, given over to corruption --- they have all forsaken God.

Isaiah 1:13  --- (God speaking to Israel)

God calls Israel's offerings meaningless, their incense as detestable & their religious holidays as evil.

Isaiah 1:16  ---  (Before the great proclamation of grace comes a call to repentance...)

Take your evil deeds out of my sight, God says, & stop doing wrong.  Vs 18 goes on to say "Come let us reason together", so the invitation of grace is always preceded by the call to repentance.

Isaiah 5:20  ---    Key Passage   Judgment is pronounced upon those who call evil as good & good as evil.

When evil becomes the way of a mans life so that he defends his sin, when a man justifies his actions AGAINST what God has said and decides that evil things are preferable to righteousness --- then judgment comes.

Isaiah 13:11  ---  Key Passage  God will judge men for their evil & their sins.

God states bluntly that the world will be punished for it's evil, the wicked for their sin  --- drawing comparison between sin & evil.  Specifically mentioned are arrogance & pride.

Isaiah 26:10  ---  Key Passage

Even though God shows or extends grace to the wicked, they do not learn what righteousness is, but they continue to do evil, ignoring God.

Isaiah 29:20  ---  General  ---  General Reference

All who have an eye for evil will face judgment.  Specifically mentioned are those who bear false testimony against innocent men.

Isaiah 31:2  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Judgment will fall upon & against the wicked & evildoers, no matter where they run to hide.

Isaiah 32:6  ---  The fool  --- General Reference

An interesting verse which states that a fools mind is busy with evil, practicing ungodliness & spreading error concerning God.  He leaves those who listen to him empty and without God.

Isaiah 32:7  ---  The Scoundrel  ---  General Reference

The scoundrel's methods are wicked & his schemes are evil.

Isaiah 33:15  ---  The Righteous

Those deemed "righteous"... "Shut their eyes against contemplating evil."

Isaiah 55:7  ---  General  ---  General Reference

A call for men to turn from their ways, specifically for evil men to forsake his thoughts and turn to God for mercy.

Isaiah 56:2  ---  The Righteous  ---  General Reference

A blessing is extended to men who strive to uphold the law, keep the sabbath & keep his hand from doing evil.

Isaiah 57:1  ---  The righteous  ---  General Reference

Men do not ponder the death of the righteous, who are spared from evil & who rest in peace upon their death.

Isaiah 59:4,6-7,15  ---  General  ---  General Reference

No one looks at himself honestly to see their evil.
God looks at our thoughts & sees only evil thoughts, he looks at our deeds and sees only evil deeds & if anyone seeks to turn away from their sin & evil, people mock them & scorn them.   For this reason God will not listen to men's prayers. (start of the chapter, Isaiah 59:2)

Isaiah 65:12  ---  (God speaking to Israel & all)  ---  General Reference

Those who seek God will be blessed, but he who does evil in God's sight displeases God & will be destined for Judgment.

Isaiah 66:4  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

Companion verse of Isaiah 65:12 saying virtually the same thing.

Jeremiah 2:19  ---  (A Warning to one and all)

Evil (in a general sense) comes upon us when we forsake the Lord.

Jeremiah 3:5  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

Though our mouths call upon God, we yet pursue evil.  In this is our hypocrisy shown.

Jeremiah 3:17  ---  (God speaking)

Our hearts will one day no longer stubbornly pursue evil.

Jeremiah 4:4  ---  (Warning)

A call to repentance saying that "The evil (we) have done" will bring upon us the wrath of God.

Jeremiah 4:14  ---  Jerusalem  (Call to repentance)

Jerusalem is called to wash their hands of evil & to turn from their wicked hearts.

Jeremiah 4:22  ---  God's people  ---  General Reference

We do not know God, we are like children who only want to play in the mud.  We are senseless, not knowing anything about the way of doing good --- only how to do evil.

Jeremiah 5:28  ---  House of Jacob  ---  Evil deeds

Our evil deeds know no limits & will bring God's wrath.

Jeremiah 7:24,26  ---  Israel  ---  General Reference

Though God displayed mercy on Israel as He brought them out of Egypt --- they still chose to follow the stubborn desires of their evil hearts.
As Israel progressed, their evil increased all the more, as did their stubbornness.

Jeremiah 7:30  ---  Israel  ---  Idolatry

Idolatry is evil in the eyes of God.

Jeremiah 8:3  ---  Israel  ---  General Reference

God states bluntly that Israel is an evil nation.

Jeremiah 11:8  ---  Israel  ---  General Reference

Israel did not listen or pay attention to God's ways or calling, but instead they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

Jeremiah 11:17  ---  Israel  ---  idolatry

God's judgment will fall upon Israel for the evil of their idolatry.

Jeremiah 13:23  ---  Key Passage  General  ---  General Reference

Man can no better change his ways from doing evil to doing good than a leopard can willingly change his spots or an African change the color of his skin.

MARK THIS:  God grants us repentance, otherwise we only do evil all the time in all that we do.

Jeremiah 16:12  ---  Israel  ---  Disobedience

Disobedience is the bent of our stubborn evil hearts.

Jeremiah 18:8,10,11,12  ---  (God's promise to those who repent)

God says that if we repent of our evil then He will extend mercy and grace.  But to the nation that does evil in God's sight, then God's judgment comes.
So while God calls men to repent of their evil ways, men will stubbornly pursue the evil in their hearts.

Jeremiah 18:20  ---  General  ---  General Reference

Jeremiah prays saying that the Good he does is repaid with evil .

Jeremiah 21:12  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God says that the evil we do, if continued, will bring about His wrath like an unquenchable fire.   An early reference to hell.

Jeremiah 23:2,10  ---  (God speaking)  ---  False Shepherds

God declares that because men had led His people astray, He will punish them for this evil.
They have abused their positions to gain power for themselves.

Jeremiah 23:14  ---  (God speaking)  ---  False shepherds

Carrying through the whole chapter, these false shepherds not only sin, but encourage others to do so as well.

Jeremiah 23:22  ---  KEY VERSE!!!

God speaks saying that the aim of true shepherds is to turn men from their evil ways and deeds.  This is the role of a true man of God.

Jeremiah 25:5  ---  (God speaking)

God has previously spoken via the prophets of old, calling all men everywhere to turn from their evil ways & deeds.

Jeremiah 26:3  ---  (God speaking)  A call to repentance

God tells Jeremiah to preach repentance in the hopes of reaching some & turning them away from their evil ways & not bring about the coming wrath due their evil deeds.

Jeremiah 32:30,32  ---  (God speaking)  Israel, including Judah  ---  Idolatry

God says that the people have only done evil to provoke Him to anger by their idolatry.

Jeremiah 44:3  ---  (God speaking)  ---  Idolatry.

For burning incense & worshiping false gods, God says Israel & Judah was judged as evil. 
In Verse 4, God says He sent the prophets to call Israel away from this "detestable thing that I hate."

Jeremiah 52:5  ---  Zedekiah  ---  General Reference

King Zedekiah is said to have done evil in the eyes of God.

Jeremiah 52:31  ---  This reference is merely to someone named "Evil-Merodach" who became king over Babylon.

Ezekiel 3:18-20  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God calls Ezekiel to raise his voice against the sinfulness of Israel, to call them away from their evil ways.

Ezekiel 6:9  ---  (God speaking) Future reference to Israel's repentance.

At some point in the future, Israel will see their sinfulness & will hate themselves for the evil that they have done.

Ezekiel 11:2  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

General reference on the actions of Israel's leaders.

Ezekiel 13:22  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God speaks judgment against false prophets for how they have led people astray by not calling men away from their evil ways.

Ezekiel 20:43-44  ---  (God speaking) Future reference

At some point in the future, Israel will see their sinfulness & will hate themselves for the evil of their ways.

Ezekiel 30:12  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God simply says that He will turn Egypt over to Babylon who will then turn the land over to evil men.

Ezekiel 33:11  ---  (God speaking)  ---  against sinful men

God says that he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they would turn from their evil ways.  This echos 2 Peter 3.

Ezekiel 33:13  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God says that if a righteous man starts to pridefully trust in his own righteousness & does evil --  He will die for the evil he has committed.

Ezekiel 33:15  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God says if a wicked man turns from his evil ways & continues in this way of repentance -- that man shall surely live and not die.

Ezekiel 33:18  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

A reaffirming of the above two statements.

Ezekiel 36:31  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God says that the House of Israel will remember their former evil ways, wicked deeds & detestable practices & they will mourn and be ashamed for their actions.

Ezekiel 38:10  ---  (God speaking)  ---  Unprovoked violence

God calls "evil" the scheming to provokingly attack the villages living in peace in order to plunder & loot them.

Daniel 11:27  ---  (God revealing a future event)  Two future kings

Simply put: 2 future kings will have their hearts intent on evil for what they plan to do.

Hosea 7:2  ---  (God speaking)

God states that Israel's sins & evil are always before Him & that He always remembers them.  Specifically mentioned in this passage is thievery, robbery, deceit, adultery & drunkeness.

Hosea 7:15  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God speaking of how men do not turn to Him, but rather plot evil against Him.

Hosea 10:9  ---  (God speaking)  ---  General Reference

God references the judgement of a former nation of evildoers.

Hosea 10:13  ---  Law of sowing & reaping

God says that they have sown wickedness & will reap evil from it, all because they sought to be independent of God.

Amos 3:13  ---  General  ---  KEY VERSE  Echos Isaiah 5:20

Amos says we all should seek after good & not evil, that we ought to hate evil and love good & make sure the two are not perverted in the judicial system.

Amos 6:3  ---  A warning to Israel

God warns Israel that they are no better than the nations He judged & they are only forestalling the day of evil that is coming.

Amos 9:4  ---  (God speaking)

God asks if He is as men that He should pursue His enemies with evil intent.

Jonah 3:8,10  ---  The King of Nineveh calls for repentance & God responds

In one of the most beautiful displays of God's response to a repentant heart, Nineveh repents of it's evil & god relents of the judgment pronounced beforehand.

Micah 2:1  --- everyone  ---  General Reference

Those who plot evil, who seek to plan & scheme sin & iniquity, shall see the wrath of God come against them.

Micah 3:2,4  ---  (God speaking) Against the leaders & rulers of Israel

God declares judgment against rulers, leaders & false prophets who hate good & love evil.  When calamity comes upon them & they call out to God to rescue them, God will not listen to their cries because of the evil they have done in the name of God in leading people astray.

Micah 7:3  ---  everyone  ---  General Reference

Micah, lamenting over the state of Israel, says of men that our hands are skilled at working evil.  Rulers, judges & the powerful all seek the blood of their fellow man.  From this comes the warning:   Put no hope in your fellow man, look solely to God to be your salvation.

Nahum 1:11  ---  Against Nineveh

Unsure of how this reference plays out.   Someone is coming from Nineveh who plots against God.  Who are they and what evil they plot is unrevealed.

Habakkuk 1:13  ---  KEY VERSE  ---  Habbakkuk  speaking about God.

God's eyes are too pure to look upon evil, & He cannot & will not tolerate the sinful ways of men.

Zechariah 1:4  ---  (God speaking)  Israel  ---  General Reference

God says to Israel that they should not be like their forefathers who would not leave their evil ways & evil practices, who would not listen to what God had said.

Zechariah 7:10  ---  (God speaking) Israel  ---  Thinking Evil

God warns Israel that they should not think evil of each others in their hearts.

Zechariah 8:17  ---  (God speaking) Judah  ---  General Reference

God tells Judah not to plan evil against their neighbors.

Malachi 2:17  --- KEY VERSE!!! (God speaking)  ---  Calling evil "good"

God says He has grown weary by our saying "God accepts everyone despite what they do."  & "God is pleased with all men, good or evil."

God is not pleased with all men, nor does He accept all men as they are!!

Malachi 3:15  ---  (God speaking)  ---  Arrogance

Israel says to themselves, "What point is there to serving God when the arrogant & evildoers do as they please & are seemingly blessed and prosperous?"

Malachi 4:1  ---  (God speaking)  Judgment comes

Simply put:  the day of the Lord will come upon the arrogant & evildoers & not one of them will remain in God's coming kingdom.

---

What an interesting ending to the Old Testament comments on Evil.  Men grow weary of doing right and following God ... and judgement follows.  It's the same thing we see today and preach as Christians --- God's day of Judgment comes, repent while you have the opportunity.  Turn from your evil ways, stop calling "Good" what God has labelled evil, and seek God's mercy while you still can.

As for what is "Evil", thus far

• Unprovoked violence
  
• murder
• kidnapping
  
• rape
  
• prostitution
  
• lust
• adultery
  
• idolatry
  
• greed
  
• arrogance / pride
  
• deceit
  
• lieing
  
• being a false witness
  
• dissension
  
• theft
  
• sexual promiscuity 
• rebellion (both towards God and towards one's parents)
  
• boasting
  
• sorcery
  
• divination
  
• witchcraft
  
• mediums
  
• slander
• refusing to obey civil authority
  
• and finally leaving God to follow after idols. 
• As well, leading people away from God is seen as evil, as are all people who simply ignore God.

Evil is seen in

• our thoughts
• our actions
• our deeds
• our hearts
• our vows
• our imagination
• and our speaking. 
• Some people are even seen as plotting evil as they try to sleep!

In short, nearly everything that men do naturally seems to be pictured or called "Evil" by God at some point.  Have an affair, you've committed evil and you're an evildoer.  Lie.... same thing.  Boast.... same thing.  On and on it goes.   God calls things evil which men naturally like to do, follow, pursue and act on.  This is why we're called to repent --- the Greek word for which means "to change one's mind, opinion or thoughts about things."   When our very thoughts are pictured as "evil" --- repentance (as defined by Greek) makes sense (Isaiah 55:7; 59:4,6-7,15; Jeremiah 23:22).

We seem to live in an age when everything that God calls "Evil", we deem a virtue worthy of esteem, praise and pursuit.  We seem to be where the Israelites were near the end of the Old Testament --- Malachi 2:17, read my footnote above.

---

Here's a link to the first draft of this post which was started in June of last year.  I had originally privatized the post as I wasn't finished, now that I am I do so that you may see (A) that I've been working on this for quite a long while and (B) that there have been changes along the way.... including even the title.

First one for 2013 --- they're coming later and later now it seems.  I once wrote 450 poems in one month.  Now I'm good if I do 2 a year. 

4-13-2013  11:48 AM  (Closing thoughts on Sinless Perfection)

Have I given my all
Have I given my best?
Have I surrendered completely
to the aim of my grasp?
Have I made living for you
some simplistic task...
Have I given my all
Have I given my best?

Have I sought you completely
with all of my heart?
Have I laid myself down
to all that you are?
Have I pursued you with hunger
that's grown by singular desire...
Have I sought you completely
with all of my heart?

So many pointless distractions
so many aimless pursuits
so many deadly attractions
aimed at stealing my youth
so many subtle temptations
sooooo.... many.... sins.....
It is no wonder we feel
so empty within.

There is no one who's righteous
no, not even one  (Romans 3:10)
There is no one who seeks God (Romans 3:11)
unless first drawn by the Son (John 12:32; 6:44)
There is no one who's "good"  (Jeremiah 17:9-10; Isaiah 64:6)
..... not even me
there's no one exempt  ---
there's no one who's free.  (Romans 3:23)

Yet the beauty of Christ
is that He takes all this
these distractions and questions
and unrighteousness....
He took all of these things
upon himself on the cross
thereby making us holy (Romans 10:4; Hebrews 10:10)
thereby making us "blessed".  (Matthew 25:34)

Have I given my all?
Have I given my best?
I gave you my weakness,
you gave me ---
Grace and forgiveness.

I didn't consider writing any more on the matter of Sinless Perfection.  I wrote the original two posts (Linked Here and Here) and felt that would cover the matter.  My last post was merely a reaction to further prompting from someone caught in that trap and so I continued the topic.  To be honest, I wrote more than I thought I needed to, but the topic seemed to flow from what I knew from scripture, and so I simply allowed it to go as it would.

Today I was studying and I hit upon a verse that made me stop and say "Wow, it all makes sense."   and then to further reflect on the whole Sinless Perfection matter --- and then to consider a post I wrote nearly 2 years ago regarding what Holiness is not (linked here:  "False Standards of Piety: What Holiness is not".)   To be honest, it's a post I wish more people would read and comprehend.

Anyway, I was reading in Hebrews 10 regarding the sacrifice of Jesus and how it alone atones for our sins because it was a once, for all time event (as compared to the daily sacrifices of the old covenant).  (Sorry, my Catholic friends, but the mass is NOT even remotely necessary for our salvation --- Jesus finished the work on the Cross.... your priest doesn't pull him down from Heaven in order to re-sacrifice him anew.)  And suddenly verse 10 came alive in a manner I'd never seen before.

God's will was for us to be made Holy.   How?  Not by self-effort.   Not by self-imposed standards of pseudo-piety.   Not by striving to keep or maintain the law.   No.... we are made holy by Jesus own sacrifice!!!  The work for our holiness was completed on the cross.   Under the old system men strive to keep the law and be seen as holy  --- but David showed us in the Psalms that this wasn't what God wanted when he said:

This is why Jesus says to us

When we come to God through faith in Christ --- when we trust in God as our means for our salvation --- when we fully throw ourselves upon the mercies of God ---- we find that we need not strive or struggle or fight or claw or scratch or even work hard in order to please him..... simple faith does just that. 

Our Faith pleases God, but more than that....  our faith is the victory over the world!!!

Our freedom doesn't come in striving hard to BE holy.   Our freedom comes by trusting God because ONLY  GOD IS HOLY.... and by faith we understand this and accept the gift of holiness he's bestowed upon us through Christ because we understand our utter sinfulness.  That's the whole meaning of Hebrews 10:10 that I mentioned above.  Our Faith makes us holy in God's sight ---- not by works we have done...... remember this verse??

Our faith makes us holy simply because God imparts the holiness of Christ upon us.  That's the beautiful picture of our being "Yoked" with Christ --- we are paired with him, we are side by side with him, we are being helped along by HIS strength, HIS power, HIS endurance, HIS holiness, HIS sinlessness, HIS love  --- it has NOTHING to do with anything of our own, for we have nothing we can bring to the table to offer.   A yoke like what Christ is referring to is built for two animals, side by side, to encourage them to work in tandem in the same direction.   Christ calls for us to share his yoke --- but more so, to allow him to shoulder the burden of the work and for us to simply rest in him thus.

Someone caught in the trap of Sinless perfection has to believe that OUR efforts, OUR striving's, OUR work has an impact upon OUR salvation.   We have to be sinless because it's a standard set ..... BY THE LAW.   But they forget the verse in Galatians which reminds us ---

You can keep the law as well as you are able --- but the law's purpose wasn't to be a standard for our obtaining the promises of God.   The law's purpose was to show us how greatly we stood in need of a savior!!!!  (Galatians 3:19,21-22)  

Thus we come back to the issue of freedom.   God gave us freedom from having to strive to keep the law.  In our Faith we overcome this perpetual self-effort to "SHOW" ourselves as being holy among men.... when in truth, we are not.   We have found rest.  We have ceased our frantic and manic struggle to be something we could not ever be --- perfect.   If perfection were attainable through keeping the law (re: attempting to be holy) --- then Christ's death was pointless.   That's the same conclusion Paul comes to in Galatians 2 just before he gave us the picture of what the Law was here for!!!!

Brothers, Sisters --- we have glorious freedom because of our faith.  Our faith obtains holiness for us THROUGH CHRIST --- not through self-effort.   We trust in the promise that God has given that He will work in and through us for His own glory and purpose.  (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 8:28)

Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.  (Romans 10:3-4) 

What glorious freedom our faith establishes --- and end to the laws demands upon us so that we might know God's righteousness as our own.  We trust that God will save us, not because we're special or  holy or perfect --- but simply because God is merciful and we are unable to keep the law.   We become, in effect, the tax collector unable to look up towards heaven but instead beating his breast and praying ---

‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’  (Luke 18:13 NLT)

Jesus said that this man went home justified (Luke 18:14) --- not because of what he'd done, not because of his efforts to be holy, not because he was special, not because he deserved it ---- not because of anything other than his simple faith that God was there, and that God .... God alone .... was holy... and he was not.

Freedom, by faith.  Not by self-effort.

Amen! Indeed Amen!

Legend: This is to help those who want to understand my color coding of Scripture, it is a separate Key apart from what I post below merely to help give understanding of why I highlight things the way I do, namely so as to bring out greater clarity from the Word of God.  Here's the Key:

• Any shade of BLUE = Judgment of God on or over sin.
  
• Any shade of GREEN = grace, forgiveness, salvation, redemption.
• Any shade of RED =  sin, lawlessness, transgression, evil
• Any shade of ORANGE = the Character or Nature of God --- Who God is.
• Any shade of PURPLE = commands to obey, passages that speak with authority on how a Christian should live.
• White on Black is merely there for emphasis.  Kind of zeroing in on the key part of a passage.

Please likewise note, this only applies to Scripture passages.  What I write of my own is merely off-colored to give greater emphasis to certain thoughts.  Sometimes this highlighting does follow my themes.... just as often it doesn't.

---

Putting Facebook away and actually maintaining the separation has given me a new freedom that is refreshing.  Whereas I used to spend about 40 minutes in the morning, 90 minutes throughout the day and then another 3 hours or so at night viewing and reviewing things on friends and "Liked" pages --- now I find I have plenty more time to delve into things I've wanted to but didn't for lack of time.   It's nice.

But this post isn't about the freedom of Time.   It's about the freedom of Christ.  Our freedom in Christ.  Freedom to do away with worry, fear, doubt and a sheer number of other things that come upon us like plagues of locusts.   It's about a freedom that the world can't honestly know --- because it only comes upon those whom the Spirit of God rests.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:7)

Peace - Freedom - Rest.   The ability to cease striving and simply walk in the Lord's presence trusting that He will lead you wherever is right  <---This leads to this---> not worrying about where, or when you'll get there, or even how.  Freedom to lay yourself into the care of God and not fear what happens next --- because you know / understand / comprehend that God works all things to the good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)

Freedom is also something precious beyond words.   I'm talking about something more than what I just defined in the paragraph above.  I'm talking about the precious knowledge that our Sins have been covered by the blood of the Lamb.  I'm talking about freedom from both the sting of sin (Death) and the power of sin (The Law) ---- while the flesh awaits and groans for it's eventual redemption to complete the freedom from sin in total.

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.  (Romans 8:23)

It's humorous, but the very Xanga member who claims that we can live without sin ..... who claims we can live sin-free lives, that it's actually EXPECTED of us by God ...... pointed me to Romans 8 last week --- wherein I actually found the direct opposite of his statements to be true.   Instead of proving that believers are empowered to live SIN-FREE lives --- I found that we groan in anticipation of being set free from our bodies that ARE STILL PRONE TO SIN.   This led me even further backwards in this book to Chapter 7 which portrays the struggle that the believer faces which is summed up best in these verses:

 I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  (Romans 7:22-23)

This isn't the end of it, but it's a good stopping place for the moment as we pause to think through what Paul is writing ---- There are now two powers at war in the Christian wherein there used to only be one: Sin.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.  (Romans 8:1-2)

 

Today's facebook status reads that I am temporarily closing down and not sure when I'll be back.  That I want to focus on the "LIFE" going on around me and not the LIVES happening miles and miles away.

Lately I have been plagued by sins that have both annoyed, angered and frustrated me.  It has led me to question how much sin is acceptable in a believers life, and from there to question whether someone who shows constant failings can indeed call himself "Christian"?  Someone here on Xanga argued with me months back that a "Christian" has overcome sin, and no longer deals with it.  That man pointed to Matthew 5:48 "You shall be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect" to prove his point. 

If you remember, that led to two posts on the matter of "sinless perfection" --- "The Pronoun 'WE' and the myth of Sinless Perfection" and also "Jesus speaks to 'Sinless Perfection'."  both of which show that a believer will deal with sin.

But what of sin that shows up as a pattern of life?  What of sin that has warred against one's soul for many decades?  What of sin that seems to constantly win victories over you?  How do these things show that you are "Christian" --- even if no one else sees or knows about them?   Christianity isn't an outward show of "we've-got-it-all-figured-out" which smacks more of hypocrisy than truth --- rather Christianity is an honest struggle to live in obedience where we hear the voice of God speak through His Word. (RE: The Scriptures, The Bible).

It has only been late in life that I have come to accept Calvinism and understand that all Calvin did was codify Scriptural truth into an organized and understandable system of doctrine that shows the honest bent of all Scriptures.   Thus I believe in the total depravity of man, that mankind is a slave to sin, and that without an act of God, no man would move towards him --- but rather we all tend towards a downward spiral into idolatry.  (The Second Law of Thermodynamics has some fascinating ramifications here...)   I believe in the total Sovereignty of God, that God can do and will do as He pleases over that which He has created, much like a potter with clay.

I also, therefore, believe in the perseverance of the saints --- That those whom God has chosen to save, He is likewise able to keep until that day of their redemption as Sons of the Kingdom.   Philippians 1:6 makes this clearest --- "He (God) who began a good work in you (re: salvation) will be faithful to complete it."    Once a person is truthfully in the Hands of God, who in all creation would have the power to take them away from Him?  (John 10:28-29)   Who could possibly be more powerful than God?

But this all beggars back to my question of how much sin is "acceptable" in a believers life?  Can a believer struggle with the same sin for decades and show only little victory over it?  

Faith is the trust that God is able to do in you all that He has promised.   Has God promised us FULL AND COMPLETE victory over our sin --- in this life? 

Which brings us right back to the sinless perfection issue and what's been digging at my heart since December when I wrote against it.   What is the standard of Christianity?   Is it complete victory over sin (something that 1 John kind of points to in chapters 3-5) ---- or ---- is it, rather, the repentance, grief & sorrow that grows from having fallen into sin and seeing our need of a Savior with clear understanding of our inability to escape sin without His Grace, without His forgiveness.  Is it that we KEEP coming back for forgiveness, because we see how prone to failure we truthfully are without Him?

What is the standard?

Facebook was taking time away from what ultimately was important, namely pondering these questions to find answers --- AND --- pursuing holiness with all my heart in my daily life.  Purity of THOUGHT as well as deed.  It's not that Facebook was a sin for me --- rather, Facebook distracted me from the important matter of actually dealing with sin in my life.

God isn't looking for those who've painted the outside show of their lives white.... but left the inside foul and unclean.    God is looking for those willing to do the harder work of submitting entirely to His truthful eye, and willing to reform themselves where necessary even though the effort be painful.

Facebook beckons me to spend time on it that ultimately needs to be spent on more important things.   Friends are important, knowing their lives is important -- but I don't think it comes down to knowing which K-Pop tune is presently popular, which TV show is everyone currently talking about, and which commercial products I've "liked".    And loving God is far more than simply plastering your Facebook timeline cover with some bumper-sticker mentality God-speak.

This day I simply choose God --- to cultivate my relationship with Him.  To seek (anew) to know His "likes" (the Facebook Blue is a pun, you can laugh now), His "Dislikes", His desires and plans and feelings regarding my life.   I want a friendship with God ---- and God isn't on Facebook for me to look to, to know him requires effort in seeking Him as He's revealed Himself --- In scriptures. 

So, for now, and who really knows how long --- I surrender my time on Facebook, and instead look to the Creator of faces in His Book.  Amen.

The following pictures were from yesterday's quake.  We had a 6.1 here in central Taiwan, middle of the island, and thankfully not shallow.  Most of the damage was kept to a few towns near the epicenter, but as you can see from the following pictures... there was quite a bit of damage regardless.

This Earthquake comes on the heals of major protests in Taiwan against a new Nuclear Reactor the government wants to build.  In light of Fukushima's disaster after the March 2011 Earthquake in Japan, it's amazing any government on a earthquake faultline would want to add more reactors.... but Taiwan's Pro-China government doesn't seem to get the message.

 

Anyway, here's the strength of what we had....

And here's some pictures of the damage.....  There are some pictures I am still trying to find which show grocery stories with their aisles full of broken bottles and another car that was crushed, that one was pretty graphic, but it's not showing up yet in Google search....  The building that split in half will have to do for now I guess.

Please keep Taiwan in your prayers.  To be honest, and I mean this.... I don't think this is "The Big One" I've been calming discussing as coming over the last 2 years.

Yet another reposting of my thoughts from facebook.  Seems I'm spending more time thinking over there than expounding over here lately.

Being a Christian isn't about being nice. Being a Christian isn't about being good or perfect. Being a Christian is about being honest.... first with God, then with yourself, and lastly with others. Honest about your true spiritual condition. Honest about your sinfulness. Honest about your inability to do anything "Good" on your own.

True Christianity starts with complete and utter honesty. Anything less than this is unacceptable to God. (Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:6,10)

"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I AM A SINNER.' (Luke 18:13)

This is another repost of thoughts I wrote out at facebook which I thought were worth sharing.

Someone asked me who I considered a "Hero". My "heroes" are not the people you'd expect. My "heroes" are people like Pastor Tim Wills (Joyce) who spent 26 years preaching the gospel in a single church, in obscurity, in near poverty, and holding forth what today is a very unpopular belief system (Calvinism). Tim was my pastor for nearly 15 years... believing in me when no one else would. Supporting me, when no one else wanted to. And ultimately drawing out of me more than I daresay I ever really believed to be there.

My "heroes" are people like Sondi Digrazia --- mother of three, who invested all she had into everyone she knew, to help one and all grow and mature in Christ. Not one person was ever turned away from her door, not one phone call was ever ill-timed for her. And her simple faith in God inspired all who knew her. Sondi was my mentor in Christ, my role model and my best friend.

My "heroes" are people like Lucy & Matt Burton --- Matt, who left his job late in life to go back to college so as to take a lesser paying job as a Youth Pastor.... all so that he could reach people with the message of the cross. Matt was my Bible study leader for nearly 6 years... and constantly challenged me to be real and practical with my faith. Lessons I keep on my heart to this day. And Lucy... was just a blessing to be around in any respect and a dear support to her husband when he wasn't working and was slaving away on Greek verb tenses in College. (ROFL)

My "heroes" are people like Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, George Muller, Hudson Taylor, Dwight L Moody, Charles Spurgeon and A W Tozer ---- people who didn't seek after wealth, fame or popularity, but rather sought to enlighten men of the gospel of Christ and the importance of correct and sound doctrine. People whom few know today, which is tragic, and fewer yet listen to --- which is more tragic still.

My "heroes" are those who've challenged me to be real with my faith, to take seriously the Bible, and to always remember that God is sovereign over all creation, and ultimately worthy of our praise. My "heroes" have changed my life ---- not for the simple here and now.... but for all of eternity. And that..... is something worthy of my respect and admiration.

I also need to add this comment from all that was said after I posted the above to my status.

Matt - Lucy - Joyce --- I wasn't honestly trying to encourage you guys specifically ... but rather to get others to think about just who has served to change their own lives that deserve some thanks / credit / recognition. (but.... you guys do deserve to be encouraged, so yeah...)

All to often lately we name our heroes as "Iron Man"! or Superman, or Harry Potter..... created people who really have no actual life beyond the written page. I wanted to give actual faces to my "heroes"... those who really have had a serious impact on my life.

I likewise forgot Chris Paschen who has stood by my side for over 30+ years now ---- long before I was a Christian ---- and who has never ceased to give me encouragement and support. One of these days, Chris, we really do need to get "www.bethelabba.com" up and running. I have some ideas still...

And this last one.

Robert Pingel,  is another one of my heroes, who invested himself into my life at critical points in order that I might view in all honesty what Christians ought to be like. From a simple place to lay my head, to helping me save money (unbeknownst to myself at the time... ROFL), to long talks on what living the Christian life really means..... Bob Pingel showed me the honest tenderness of Christ and the true devotion of a whole-hearted approach to living for Jesus.

So I am sitting here in class and suddenly my chair starts rocking back and forth.  I think: Class is in session, so it can't be a kid playing with my chair.... earthquake?!?!?  No one else seems alarmed, heck, no one else even seems to feel it.

I calmly walk (the ground does seem to be moving....) to the computer and go to Taiwan's weather / earthquake / typhoon website.... wait a few  minutes... and sure enough...

A pretty big one, fairly shallow..... and.... right in the middle of the island.   Most of the Earthquakes I have reported in the past have had their epicenter in the pacific ocean.  Today, dead center of the Island.  That means there will be some damage to buildings and personal injuries.

Keep Taiwan's Haulien County (& City) in your prayers today.  thanks.

For the record --- the Earthquake that hit Los Angeles in 1987 and toppled the highway, destroyed the Marina and did billions of dollars in damage ...... was only a 5.9.    At 5.6... this earthquake is really something to take seriously.

 

I have been chewing on this post for over a year now, maybe longer.  In that time I have dwelt upon just this passage, turning it over and over in my mind.  My first observation that I pulled from this will actually be part two or three of this series... but it was a powerful one, and gave me enough food for thought that I decided to stay in this passage and see what else was there.  What I learned floored me.

The parable is straight forward enough.  We've all heard it preached on.  We've all read it time and again.  It's mere name "The parable of the soils" is enough to give you an indication of what it's about... and thus most of us tend to read over it with no careful study.   Jesus explained it... what else is there to add?

Plenty.

My Blog title gives the impression that there is something lacking in this parable.  That's not entirely true.  While something is "missing", it's not missing in the sense of lacking, it's missing in the sense of "information not given."  There is something here that is specifically left unattended... almost on purpose I would hasten to say.

Before I get ahead of myself, here's the parable and it's interpretation.  I am using the version from Matthew 13, but will cross reference the Luke and Mark versions as well.  I will note those when I use them.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  He who has ears, let him hear.”  (Matthew 13:1-9)

Ok, that's the parable --- here's the given interpretation.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  (Matthew 13:18-23)

So what's "missing"?  Well, there's two sides to this coin.   First --- what is missing from the parable.  Second --- what is missing from the Church's modern day response to this parable?

Let's set this out.

The Seed ---- Luke 8:11 tells us plainly that the seed is the Word of God, which Matthew defines (because he's speaking to Jewish believers... Luke is writing to Gentiles... different audience requires a different manner of speaking the same thing.) as "The message about the Kingdom."  Mark simply says "The farmer sows the Word."  (Mark 4:14)

The Birds ---- Matthew says it best in my opinion --- The Evil One.  We already know this to be Satan or the Devil, Mark and Luke confirm this.  Mark uses "Satan" (Mark 4:15) while Luke uses "The Devil"  (Luke 8:12) --- but I really like Matthew's direct statement to the intent of our adversary.  He is Evil.  There is nothing good in him, nothing noble about his intentions, and there is nothing but craftiness to his purpose.  He is not your friend, he is your enemy, intent on stealing from you that which would give you eternal life.  He is pure Evil.  Is it any wonder that James says "Anyone who seeks to make the world their friend becomes an enemy of God"?  (James 4:4)  Partner yourself with Satan -- and God abandons you to your folly.

The Path ---- Mark tells us that the path represents "some people".  Luke states "the ones who hear".   Matthew broadens only slightly to say "Anyone who hears the message....".   It's pretty clear who this point refers to, there's no ambiguity about it.

The Rocky soil ---- Now our explanations deepen.  Whereas before this point all our definitions were 2 or 3 words, here we have to say more to clarify and be specific.

• the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root.  They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. (Luke 8:13)
• Others... hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  (Mark 4:16-17)
• the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  (Matthew 13: 20-21)

We know the type -- emotional, given to ecstatic outbursts, "religious", given to showing off, likes attention..... but doesn't like taking a hardline stand when it might affect their reputation.  They will join a cause, any cause, so long as it brings them some semblance of popularity.  But when the heat is on... they fold, cash in their chips and hit the road quickly so as not to tarnish their self-esteem.

To this crowd, there is emotional connection, but no honest commitment. 

They love the passion --- but only so long as it doesn't require self-sacrifice, commitment or taking the backseat so that others might shine.

I hate to say it --- but this sounds like a lot of the Charismatic Church today, where "Speaking in Tongues" is merely verbal masturbation to stroke one's ego and prove how "spiritual" you are.  The same could be said of "Laughing in the Spirit", "Being Slain in the Spirit" and any number of other folly that's passed around today as "spirituality."  It is all a sort of "look at me, I belong here *wink, wink*" expression of religion that actually has little to do with the real thing.  (you know, clothing the poor, visiting prisoners, feeding orphans, visiting widows.... that sort of thing?  Matthew 25:34-36; James 1:26-27)

The Thorny Soil --- Again with the longer explanations. 

• those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.  (Luke 8:14)
• hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.  (Mark 4:18-19)
• The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  (Matthew 13:22)

This is the sort for whom the word has no depth.  They like the message --- Heaven is nice and all, ya know --- and even like being around people who aren't always out to cut their throats, steal their meals, put a knife in their back... the sort of thing that the corporate business world thrives on today.   It's nice having the Church to go to for a bit of relaxation from the daily grind.  But that is where it stops.  These folks have no faith.  "The worries of this life...."  You don't even need to go further.  Jesus told us not to worry.  Many times told us that God will provide for our needs, just like he does the sparrows.  But to these people --- no trust in God means they believe they will have to make it on their own.  They do not trust God.... they trust only in themselves.

I hate to say it, but this could very easily be said of the Health and Wealth preachers today who subject God to their bidding.... who've placed God under their own power and say that whatever they "claim" is theirs for the asking... because God is subject to the power of their words.

What self-centered, egotistical folly is this that condenses God down to a personal genie, rather than the Sovereign Lord of the Universe, from whom we deserve nothing and likewise all that we do receive is merely Grace or Mercy extended to us for His own Glory, not ours.

Ok, so there you have everything that is generally known about the Parable of the soils.  You ask yourself --- What's missing?

Do you find it at all interesting that Jesus defined EVERYTHING in this parable.... except who the sower was?  The sower can't be Christ, because the implication is that the sower has direct access to the seed (the Word of God).... which at that point had not yet been fully written.

The sower could possibly be the Church, but I don't believe that's quite it either.  The implications of this would be that those on the path would "Come into the Church" to hear the word.... in order to have it snatched away.  I don't believe that is the honest intent of this passage since Christ said the Sower "goes out to spread the word". 

I actually think that given the evidence of the passage (the Sower has the word of God and spreads it around to other places...) that Christ had us in mind when He spoke this parable.  We are the missing link.  We are supposed to be taking God's Word to the world.  That's right --- if the seed is the Bible.... this parable makes it our responsibility to be taking it with us wherever we go.

But.... this isn't the only thing "missing" in this parable.  What is the fruit?  Again, Jesus doesn't give us an explanation.  He only told the Disciples what was necessary at the time.  (I'm guessing.)   It's easy to infer "WHAT" the fruit is, but let me first state up front what the fruit is not.

Over my life I've heard many times that the fruit represents reproduction of disciples --- that is to say, that by bringing others to Christ, I am therefore producing fruit.   To many, the fruit would then be simply the multiplication of believers by other believers.

But isn't that God's job?

In the Book of Acts, time and again it is stated:   And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.  (Acts 2:47)   God saves people.  God brings them into the church.  So if the "fruit" of the parable of the soils was meant to be the salvation of others ---- why is that placed upon us?   Paul put it nicely in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

This passage likewise gives us the clear indication that the responsibility of sharing the Word of God with others falls squarely upon us.  Paul wasn't a disciple when Christ gave the parable of the soils --- but he clearly understood his roll as the sower.  "I planted." 

The key understanding here is that fruit is what's born of our lives that proves us to be genuine.  Thorny soil produced no fruit.  Rocky soil produced no fruit.  And the path was given no time for the seed to even germinate.  Something grows from the good soil that proves it's value.

Like I said, this one is fairly easy, because Paul also mentions "Fruit".... of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

This parallels nicely with what Peter says in 2 Peter 1 ---

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,  to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:5-8)

The Fruits of the Spirit are the evidences that the Word of God has grown in your life.  Think about it this way.   As I learn to be more like Christ, the more I evidence in my life those character qualities that are perfected in Him.... the more I show that God is indeed working in me.

This is a confession.  Before I came to know Christ, but while I was still active in the church, was a lying, self-centered, egotistical, arrogant manipulator that few people could stand to be around.  This is true.  I didn't care about who I hurt, so long as it got me where I wanted to be.  All that changed so dramatically when I became a Christian that one friend confided in me years later that before I was converted, I was his role model ---- of what a Christian SHOULD NOT BE.   My own ex-wife said of me "If Jesus can turn dragons into puppies, then there's hope for the world yet."

I was a dragon.  Now I am a puppy.  That wasn't because I went to a 12 step program to draw upon some made up higher power.  It's because I submitted myself to the Word of God and allowed it to change my life from the inside out.  The fruit of the Spirit has changed me into a far more tolerable man than I ever was.... and shows that Christ is indeed working in me.

Sower and Fruit.   Jesus felt that everything else in the parable needed to be explained, but he knew (in advance) that enough would be said in the Scriptures yet to be written that would help us understand what these two things would be.

Now before I leave this to rest --- there is one more thing I said was missing.   This I implied was in the Church.   Here it is, and I'll only frame it as a question, with not much said beyond that for clarity.

IF ---- I-F ---- the Word of God is the seed that brings about both conversion and growth in the lives of people.... then why is it that the church today feels no need to preach, teach or explain the Word of God to men?   Why is it that the "seeker friendly" movement believes that it can do away with the Bible.... and still draw men to Christ, through entertainment, through skits, through art or any other number of silly man-centered dramas?

That.... is a question that will ultimately haunt millions come Eternity when they find that they've nothing to hang on to.... saying "Lord, Lord, did we not ... in your Name"  And Jesus says to them: Away from me, you E-V-I-L-doers." (Matthew 7:22-23) 

Ouch.  No wonder scripture says "Judgment begins with the House of God."