In Truth: In Christ: Recent Episodes
His Servant - Rob McKee
This podcast exists for the purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ, The Word of God. There are many teachings in the world today concerning the things of God. Unfortunately, there is also a heap of hypocrisy! The reality is that, when compared in the light of The Holy Scripture, all spiritual teachings will fall into one of two very different categories: fact or fiction.I am here as a witness to the Truth of the things found within God's Word. I challenge all who listen: read God's Word for yourself, that together we "may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2 KJV. May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with all who can hear. Amen.His Servant - Rob McKee
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. -Hebrews 10:36 KJV
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. - Matthew 10:22 KJV
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Romans 3:3-4 KJV
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Definition of “righteousness” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/righteousness
1: acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin
**2: morally right or justifiable
Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.**
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Galatians 3:23-26 But before faith came, we were kept under The Law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it isimpossible to please Him: for he that cometh to Go
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Psalms 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
John 14:27-29 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
**Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.**
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you **in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 KJV**
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is **in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15-17 KJV**
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with **fire
Matthew 3:11 KJV**
**But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV**
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is **the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV**
And ye shall seek me, and find me**, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 KJV**
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: **But made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:5-8 KJV**
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Proverbs 14:15 KJV
Who shall separate us from The Love of Christ? shall **tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from The Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39 KJV**
Jesus said, Matthew 18:3 KJV -And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
**He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16 KJV**
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Romans 7:22-24 KJV
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is **with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:8-9 KJV**
**No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44 KJV**
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly , righteously , and godly , in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.Titus 2:11-14 KJV
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. -Proverbs 28:13 KJV
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
-John 8:31-32 KJV
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. -1 Corinthians 5:7-8 KJV
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. -Matthew 15:8-9 KJV
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
God is saving us from this world by recreating us again in His image, just as He did Adam in the beginning.
Fear comes in many different shapes and forms. Many types of fear can terrify us. The Bible even tells us that “fear hath torment” (1 John 4:18). In essence, fear impacts our behavior.
So, why then did God create us with the ability to fear? Because some fears are healthy for us! Some fear is healthy because it allows us to recognize other things or beings that are more powerful than we are. We can also recognize things that we have no power over through fear. Who holds the ultimate healthy fear factor? God Himself. Fear of Him will do marvelous things!
The battle between good and evil… how many people know that the spiritual battle that we have all been placed on this earth to fight takes place in our minds? It is true, what we believe influences what we think. Not only what we think, but how we think it! What we think influences our actions.
For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
-Hebrews 10:14 KJV
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed. -Matthew 16:4 KJV
There is a lot of controversy in the world over the subject of law-keeping. The keeping of the ordinances of The Law of Moses was come to an end with the true and final sacrifice that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made on Calvary. This is because, by keeping the ordinances of the Law of Moses, it only kept those law-keepers in a certain place before God as they waited on the coming of Christ.
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. -Titus 1:15-16 KJV
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Ezekiel 36:27 KJV
In our modern day and for many generations past, and perhaps since Christ walked this earth: there seems to always have been a great controversy over this word “works”. There are those that claim to be saved by Christ and God with no works what so ever. There are also those who claim that some works are needful for salvation, but others are not. Then, lastly, are those who say that works are very much a necessity, if you want to live out eternity with the Most High. Of course, there is a truth here among these, as always. However, if one version is true (and it is), then the other two are in error. Amen?
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12 KJV
It is important to note here: that repentance and conversion are two totally different things! And - water baptism is part of repentance. Spiritual baptism is part of conversion. Repentance has been acknowledged and accepted by God throughout all ages of mankind’s existence.
Basically, “righteousness” is the state of being or doing what is “right.” Hearing this definition makes me think on this question… doesn’t everyone do what they think is right? Some may answer that they know that they are not doing what is right, but the majority will most likely always do whatever they think is best in any given situation, correct? So, even though I may think that it is not alright to j-walk, another person may believe that it is perfectly fine to do so. Have we discovered a problem? Yes, the problem is that people often have different opinions of what “right” is. This can even be found in and amongst many who claim to serve God and Christ.
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
-Romans 10:1-3 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
-Hebrews 11:1 KJV“Substance” is something that we can see in action, or possibly even: touch. If someone were to say to you, “I see your faith”, what they mean is that they see it in action. Otherwise they only hear your testimony. Both are important, and both are necessary in our walk with The Lord.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. -John 3:5 KJV
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. -John 7:16-17 KJV
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
-2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2 KJV
How do we prove what is good in the sight of Our Lord? How do we know what is really "good" in His sight?
Stay tuned as we explore God's Word for these answers!
The world talks a lot about legacy these days. One question that is often asked is “what do you want to be known for?” Another is, “what will your legacy be? The choice is yours.” Why do you suppose people are concerned about these things?
Through the eyes of Christ, I can see two sides to these ideas. Bear in mind:
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luke 21:20-22 KJV
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven
-Luke 6:37 KJV
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again **unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
John 14:27-29 KJV**
Many are celebrating the resurrection of Christ this time of the year (April 2020.) They often start by rehearsing the death, burial, and then the resurrection; referring to this as "The Gospel of Christ". While it is, indeed, the Gospel of Christ, it is the 30,000-foot view of the Truth.
We find deeper details of what these three significant events hold in the role of the salvation of mankind inside God's Holy Word. Jesus Christ's resurrection represents His pure life that could not be "holden of death" (Acts 2:24.) This is the life that Jesus came to this earth and died to give us! Let's remember and honor Him by seeking Truth and obeying His commandments...
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is **right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
W**hat, really, is the difference between God’s Will and our own will? God’s Will, through Jesus Christ, His Word, yields life (and that more abundantly). Please remember that, in God’s sight: we are born dead into this world in sins and trespasses. Since we only know the things of this world within ourselves and our own knowledge, it is impossible for us to ‘know the way’ or understand the way of life – this is without God’s Will in our lives, of course!
So, it’s not God’s Will for any of mankind to perish, BUT He did give us a choice: to choose His Will, or our own will. We can choose to direct our actions and emotions in a way that lines up with The Lord’s instruction, or we can choose to do things our way. One or the other.
Which will you choose?
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto The Father, but by me.We see that this statement made by Jesus indicates that there is only one (the) way, one (the) truth, and one (the) life that He claims to be. This is very important to this discussion and the points being proved herein. There is only one Jesus Christ, and there is therefore only one Truth. We find this in everything that we encounter. Of truths there is always one - of counterfeits, perhaps hundreds, thousands, or even hundreds of thousands! This, of course, depends on what we are speaking about.
Is perfection without sin, really attainable in this life? Remember that God came to restore mankind back to the state that Adam was in at creation; He came “to redeem us from all iniquity.”
Ezekiel 28:15 KJV Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Let me ask you this: what does God really care about in the life of a man or woman on this earth? What does He ‘prefer’? Does He care if we forget to tie our shoes? Does He care if we can drive a car flawlessly? Play a piece of music without missing a note? What about deliver the perfect speech? And – if we could do these things ‘perfectly’, would they merit salvation in His sight? I do believe that all here can probably agree that the answer to all of these questions is “no”. These things are ‘our works’, and not the work of God. Neither is He interested in these. We know that ‘our works’ will save no one; it is the work of God that saves!
“A peculiar people.” What makes them peculiar? It says right here: “zealous of good works”. What good works are we talking about here? Let’s ask this question… is it peculiar for people to claim to be sinners? It is clear that God’s people will not be part of “the world”, correct?
This is why Jesus tells us not to love this world! We cannot be a servant of sin and a servant of righteousness at the same time! So, God’s people will be “peculiar”. What is peculiar about them again? Good works – but not just any good works; these must be the good works that God has ordained of us…
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
-1 Peter 4:12-13 KJV
Was the cross enough? Well, which cross? His or yours? Did you know that Jesus tells us that there is more than one cross involved in our salvation? So, is His death and forgiveness enough to get you to pick up your cross to follow Him?
Perhaps the better question is: IS the cross enough? Is the example that Jesus left you on the cross enough to convince you to lay down your own life and to suffer with Him? Is it enough to cause you to be willing to suffer for Him, like He did for you? What about suffering for the brethren? Your friends? Your neighbor?
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Matthew 9:37 Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are **few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.**I’ve heard it said before, “everyone wants to be a Christian, but not very many of these want to serve Christ.” Sad to say, this appears to be very true. The bible is filled with the word “works”. The unfortunate thing is that this word refers to many different types of “works” as found in context pertaining to the many different subjects in which it appears in the bible. "Unfortunate" I say, because most individuals get these many different kinds of "works" confused and so begin to call evil good, and good evil.
In this podcast, we explore what labor is ordained of those that want to truly love and serve God.
Spiritual baptism is the work that we perform through and by the power of God with the guidance of His Holy Spirit. It involves the renewing of the mind with God’s Word. We can only retain a certain amount of knowledge. So, what would happen if we were to get it so full of God’s Word that not much else would fit? -We would then have the mind of Christ – and THAT, is the goal of the spiritual baptism that Christ will perform in a true believer's life!
Water Baptism is an outward act (outward repentance) in obedience to God’s instruction. It is our consent to accept the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We are stating our belief of the Gospel and acknowledging our decision to follow Christ (outward repentance).
When we consent to water baptism and cause it to take place by participating in it as the person being baptized, we are making a public statement that we believe The Truth, The Way, and The Life, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are consenting to the ‘entering in’ of a relationship with Christ outwardly. -We basically just said “Yes, I will marry you”! At this point, we are the giver and He is the receiver of this beautiful display of obedience to His Word.
Praise God! I want to thank The Lord that we can all be here today (wherever and whenever that might be for you.) Before we get started I would also like to say that the subject we are about to discuss is not a common teaching found in the world today. I am telling you this, because it may be the first time that you are hearing the things being said. If so, you will most likely be challenged to accept or reject what you do hear. Let’s let God be true and count all others as lies. Amen? If you have not heard before, why?
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
BUT as for me… Job 27:11 says I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
AND… Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
What is the difference between God’s Way and mankind’s way? His way is perfect and ours is not…
Psalms 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
So, how much different (really) is God’s way than ours? Man will tell you “faith plus nothing”. Is this truly God’s Way though? Notice that there is no patience involved in what I said man’s way is? No suffering either, is there? Just how much work would it be to be God, the creator of our universe, and to humble yourself to be made a man, be despised by your creation, rejected, spit upon, and then – yes, crucified! Pitiful, isn’t it?
Thank God! James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Let me ask again, who’s way is being proclaimed in this world that says faith plus nothing merits salvation in the sight of God? Jesus said this (below) about the cross. As you read, ask yourself this: where did the cross lead Him? Are you better than He is? He came here to set an example for us…
Luke 9:23-26 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
This is another teaching in this collection entitled "The Process of Salvation".
The Law of Sin and Death is a teaching found within the book of Romans. Of late on this blog and podcast, we talk a lot about “counting the costs” and otherwise being prepared to give our all to The Lord. Rather than blindly saying that we “accept” Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we realize that, though scripture, there is much more to this thing called “The Salvation of God” than the world in general would have us to believe.
This message is part of a group of teachings that I have entitled, “The Process of Salvation”. The first of these was the previous message that was released last week entitled, “God’s Drawing, Leading, and Pursuit – Know the Difference”. Both the blog entry and podcast versions can be found at www.INTRUTH.site
It is no big secret that God takes His time doing things (with patience) and that this often involves working things out through processes that He has, no doubt, designed to yield a just and perfect result every time. Ever wonder why God did not make the earth and everything therein in a split-second of time? He could have, right? But no, He chose to perform that work in 6 days, and then to rest. Why is that?
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The more we learn of the spiritual realm through His Word, we can also see how that God has no beginning or ending. Basically, time does not exist where God resides, yet He chooses to do things through patience. I am not sure that we can fully understand His patience in work from our vantage point, but it is clear that He does like things to be done a certain way. He definitely has His own methods. Doing things in a ‘methodical way’, over a period of time, is called a “process”.
1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Today’s world-wide web is filled with the ‘modern’ misconception that says that God “pursues” His people to have a relationship with them. This, no doubt, came about with the many, many new (so called) English bible translations; which appear to be more like interpretations of the original English texts rather than actual translations from the original Greek and Hebrew scripts.
...Now, let’s look up some scriptures from our good old King James Bible on this subject of “pursue” to see how this word was used there. In doing so, I think that we may find that the truth of the matter is a little different than what the modern world would have us to believe.
A shocking Truth: The word "pursue" is no where to be found in the New Testament scripture of the King James Bible!
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" - Titus 2:11-12Salvation (which is the end-result of what we are discussing here) has all to do with the redemption of a man (or woman) from their sinful life, so that they might trade that life in for the life that Christ gave for us and wants us to have.