“CRAFT OF SATAN”

And Yeshua spoke: “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves and them that were entering in ye hindered.“

The more fully we know the doctrine of Yeshua, as taught by the Holy Ghost, the more closely we shall cleave to it. When we know the afflictions of believers only in part, they tempt us to decline the cause for which they suffer.

A form of godliness, a profession of Christian faith without a godly life, often is allowed to pass, while the open declaration of the truth as it is in Yeshua, and resolute attention to the duties of godliness, stir up the scorn and hostility of the world.

As good men, by the grace of God, grow better, so evil men, through the craft of Satan, and the power of their own

corruptions, grow worse. The way of sin is down-hill; such go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Those who deceive others, deceive themselves, as they will find at last, to their cost. The history of the outward church fully shows that the apostle spake this as he was moved by the Holy Ghost.

The character of Christians fully implied: they are such as have the faith of our Lord Yeshua (Jesus Christ) they embrace it they receive it they govern themselves by it they entertain the doctrine, and submit to the law and government, of Christ they have it as a trust they have it as a treasure.

How honourably James speaks of Yeshua (Jesus Christ) he calls him the Lord of glory for he is the brightness of his Father’s glory and the express image of his person. Christ is the Lord of glory should teach us not to respect Christians for anything so much as their relation and conformity to Christ.

You who profess to believe the glory of our Lord Yeshua (Jesus Christ), which the poorest Christian shall partake of equally with the rich, and to which all worldly glory is but vanity, you should not make men’s outward and worldly advantages the measure of your respect.

In professing the faith of our Lord Yeshua (Jesus Christ), we should not show respect to men, so as to cloud or lessen the glory of our glorious Lord: how ever any may think of it, this is certainly a very heinous sin.

A man that is distinguished by his dress, and who makes a figure, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment, and you act partially, and determine wrong, merely because the one makes a better appearance, or is in better circumstances than the other”
Observe hence 1. God has his remnant among all sorts of people, among those that wear soft and gay clothing, and among those that wear poor and vile raiment

2. In matters of belief, rich and poor stand upon a level no man’s riches set him in the least nearer to God, nor does any man’s poverty set him at a distance from God. With the Most High there is no respect of persons, and therefore in matters of conscience, there should be none with us.

3. All undue honouring of worldly greatness and riches should especially be watched against in Christian societies. James does not here encourage rudeness or disorder.

CLOSING STATEMENT by Robert 

We have the greatness of this sin set forth, James 2:4,5. It is great partiality, it is injustice, and it is to set ourselves against God, who has chosen the poor, and will honour and advance them (if good), let who will despise them.

1. In this sin there is shameful partiality: Are you not then partial in yourselves? The question is here put, as what could not fail of being answered by every man’s conscience that would put it seriously to himself.

According to the strict rendering of the original, the question is, “Have you not made a difference? And, in that difference, do you not judge by a false rule, and go upon false measures? And does not the charge of a partiality condemned by the law lie fully against you? Does not your own conscience tell you that you are guilty?”

Appeals to conscience are of great advantage, when we have to do with such as make a profession, even though they may have fallen into a very corrupt state

2. This respect of persons is owing to the evil and injustice of the thoughts. As the temper, conduct, and proceedings, are partial, so the heart and thoughts, from which all flows, are evil: “You have become judges of evil thoughts that is, you are judges according to those unjust estimations and corrupt opinions which you have formed to yourselves.

Trace your partiality till you come to those hidden thoughts which accompany and support it, and you will find those to be exceedingly evil. You secretly prefer outward pomp before inward grace and the things that are seen before those which are not seen” The deformity of sin is never truly and fully discerned till the evil of our thoughts be disclosed: and it is this which highly aggravates the faults of our tempers and lives–that the imagination of the thoughts of the heart is evil, Genesis 6:5.

Remember, these messages are given by a humble servant obedient to our Lord

Yeshua as a Watchman. I pray for all. ”Our Heavenly Father brings us to the river which bringeth forth fruit so we may partake of its sustenance and be filled spiritually with nurturing wisdom, and humble dedication in service to Yeshua. “Blessings to All.” As you go forward in peace, knowledge, and strength

Robert