I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU
CHOOSING TO LEAVE GOD, PART 1
“…God has said “Never will I leave [my people ]; never will I forsake [them]…” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). “…I AM WITH [my people]... ALWAYS, to the very end…"(Matthew 28:20 NIV).
“... IN LATTER TIMES “SOME” SHALL DEPART FROM the FAITH!!!!...” (1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV).
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The bottom line is that God, the Holy Spirit, “NEVER” leaves of forsakes his people EVER. Yet, God, the Holy Spirit, REMAINS faithful to them.“… he remains ...(STAYS)... faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).
This means God, the Holy Spirit, sticks to or adheres to his WORD. “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit, will KEEP every covenant promise he has made with EACH one of his people. “...Jesus Christ (God’s WORD) is the same yesterday and today and forever…” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).
God, the Holy Spirit, will NEVER wane, waiver, or weaken on ANY responsibility or obligation of his position as SOVEREIGN RULER to his people. “…He has granted to [his people]… His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB). “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit, is immutably TRUSTWORTHY! “…All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are TRUSTWORTHY (dependable)….” (PSALMS 111:7 NLT).
He KEEPS his WORD to his people. “…God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship (covenant unity through) ... his Son Jesus Christ our Lord (God’s living Word)…” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).
Faithfulness is an attribute of God, the Holy Spirit. He NEVER changes. “… “I AM WHO I AM …” (Exodus 3:14-15 NASB). “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit’s FAITHFULNESS is both an ATTRIBUTE and a righteous STANDARD which expresses and demonstrates his commitment to his “covenant unity” with his people. “...His faithful promises are your armor and protection…” (Psalms 91 NLT).
God, the Holy Spirit, himself, the KING of kings, the LORD of lords, and the GOD of gods, CHOOSES, on his OWN sovereign volition, to be FAITHFUL to his people. .“… he remains ...(STAYS)... faithful, …” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).
He willingly BOUNDS himself, faithfully, to his people. .“… he [is]... faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).
FAITHFULNESS is a HOLY STANDARD that God sticks to and adheres to. It is also an ATTRIBUTE that is a WITNESS to his HOLY nature or character. “...God is faithful... (HE is the STANDARD) ...” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV). “…But the fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness ...(It is an ATTRIBUTE of God’s)...” (Galatians 5:22-23).
“...Great is his faithfulness... (both his standard and attribute)...” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT).
“… “I AM WHO I AM …” (Exodus 3:14-15 NASB).
God, the Holy Spirit “IS” who he SAYS he is. “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).
God will NEVER change his HOLY STANDARD or HOLY ATTRIBUTE regarding faithfulness. “… he remains ...(STAYS) ... faithful …(it is his STANDARD)...” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “…he cannot deny who he is…(it is his ATTRIBUTE)...” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).
So when his people willingly choose to commit and practice APOSTASY what happens to the “covenant unity” relationship with God, the Holy Spirit? The bible DOES SAY. “... [His people]... “WERE” SEALED ...WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.…” (Ephesians 1 NLT).
However, the bible also SAYS: “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off from God. …” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). God says, “…I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).
“…MY [faithful]...WORD … that goeth forth out of my mouth: it SHALL NOT return unto me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV).
“…It’s YOUR [ongoing practice of]... SINS that have cut you off from God. …” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
“…[God is faithfully]... WATCHING over [his] word to PERFORM it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). T
herefore, “... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
The WORD of God is truth and will FAITHFULLY do what it says it will DO. Thus, THE WORD SAYS: “... the word of God quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, ...piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
“…It was for freedom that Christ set [his people] free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Look! I, Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who has himself circumcised, that he is obligated to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).
“... I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit...” (Galatians 5:4-5 MSG).
Apostasy can be viewed as any form of rejection, departure, rebellion or defection of God’s holy commandments.
It also means the spiritual duties and responsibilities of the person of God has been willfully forsaken and abandoned by them. “… [God’s people]… FORGOT all about [HIM],” says the Lord…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT). “…They ABANDONED the Lord… they turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT). “...[His OWN]...people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching....” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT). “... They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT). “...They will reject the truth and chase after myths...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).
“...some will turn away from the true faith...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).
“...they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).
“...These people [who CLAIM to be God’s people]... are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).
“…[They are saying “we will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires”…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
“…[God said: My people would not listen to me. They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
Apostasy can be viewed as any form of rejection, departure, rebellion or defection of God’s holy commandments.
It is also a spiritual process, a person of God takes, when they begin renouncing and disassociating themselves from God, the Holy Spirt, his righteousness and his holy ways. “... a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).
“...Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).
“...the people replied, “…We will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
“…my people would not listen to me. They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
God’s OWN people, just like in the Old Testament, willfully CHOOSE to abandon and forsake the “covenant unity” relationship with God and return to a life without HIM or his indwelling Holy Spirit. “...For if, after they (those who were in a “covenant unity” relationship with God) have escaped ... they (those who were in a “covenant unity” relationship with God) are AGAIN entangled in them (their former sinful lifestyles practices) ... it would be better for them (those who were in a “covenant unity” relationship with God) not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from (by choice) the holy commandment ... It has happened to them (those who were in a “covenant unity” relationship with God) according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT (apostasy),” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire (apostasy) ...” (2 Peter 2:20-23 NASB). “... EVERYONE (NO EXCEPTIONS) who practices sin (any form of apostasy) also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ... the one who practices sin is of the devil ... No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him (her); and he (she) cannot sin, because he (she) is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).
“…what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ (the HOLY Word of TRUTH) with Belial (the unholy DEVIL or Father of LIES)? Or what part hath he (she) that believeth (one that depends upon God) with an infidel (one who doesn’t depend upon God)?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).
“…My people would not listen to me. They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
“…It’s [THEIR ongoing practice]... SINS that have cut [them] off from God. …” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). “......piercing ... asunder ...soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB). Remember SIN and HOLINESS naturally SEPARATE; just like oil and water. “…[they]... have been cut off from Christ! …” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).
Apostates have also CHOSEN to abandon previously held beliefs (vows) and have decided to defy or rebel against the practice of those same beliefs.“...dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God...” (Hebrews 3:12-13 NLT).
“...God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it...” (Hebrews 4:1 NLT).
The reason for APOSTASY, varies, but could entail anything from a desire to continue to practice a sinful lifestyle to ongoing spiritual infidelity. “... They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT). “...They will reject the truth and chase after myths...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).
“…For years on end my people have FORGOTten ME…” (Jeremiah 2:32 NLT). “…They ABANDONED the Lord to serve Baal (other objects of faith)…” (Judges 2:13 NLT). “…Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually ABANDONED ME and followed other gods (other objects of faith)…” (1 Samuel 8:8 NLT). “…For my people have ABANDONED ME and offered sacrifices to pagan gods (other objects of faith)…” (2 Kings 22:17 NLT).
In the instant of spiritual APOSTASY against God, the Holy Spirit, only one party wants to forsake or abandon the covenant relationship. God, the Holy Spirit concedes to the other party’s willful CHOICE. "… I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel..." (Malachi 2:16 NASB). “…[Yet]...GOD GAVE THEM OVER to a reprobate mind (apostasy) to do those things which are convenient...being filled with all unrighteousness...” (Romans 1:28 KJV). “…, …We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “… my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and ABANDONED me….” (JEREMIAH 5:23 NLT). “…They kept doing whatever they wanted…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
God’s people can willfully CHOOSE to LEAVE God, the Holy Spirit, but God, the Holy Spirit, doesn’t ever LEAVE or FORSAKE them. “…I am with you always, to the very end…"(Matthew 28:20 NIV). God will “…Never leave nor forsake you…” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV). “…Behold, I am with … [you] and will keep … [you] whithersoever [you]… goest…I will not leave [you] ..." (Genesis 28:15 ASV).
However, God, the Holy Spirit, concedes, to his people’s CHOICE to LEAVE HIM. “...The Lord said, My [Holy]...Spirit shall not always strive with man…” (Genesis 6:3 KJV). “…They DID NOT like to retain God in their knowledge (MINDS), GOD GAVE THEM OVER to a reprobate mind (wicked, unrepentant mind)…” (Romans 1:28 KJV). “...God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them...” (Romans 1:24 NASB). “...God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper...” (Romans 1:28 NASB). “....I gave them over to worthless decrees and regulations that would not lead to life...” (Ezekiel 20:25 NLT).“...It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire...” (2 Peter 2:20-23 NASB).
“… I will remove thy candlestick out of his place…” (Revelation 2:5 KJV). “… the dividing asunder of soul and spirit…” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).“…[god’s people, by their own choice]... have been cut off from Christ! …” (Galatians 5:4 NLT). “…[They, by their own choice,] have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).
The bible presents the scenario, in regard to, human relationships, which says if you are married to someone who is NOT believing STAY committed to them. However, “...if the unbelieving one leaves, let him (her) leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?” (1 Corinthians 7:15-16 NASB).
Similarly, God, the Holy Spirit, concedes to the man or woman’s willful CHOICE to LEAVE him, yet he REMAINS faithful to his covenant promises to them. “…If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).
God, the Holy Spirit’s, LOVE also remains UNCONDITIONALLY. “… [Nothing] …will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…”(Romans 8:31-39 NASB).
God, the Holy Spirit, would NEVER let his “covenant unity” people perish or let anyone SNATCH them out of his hands. “...I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me...” (John 10:28 NLT).
However, if God’s “covenant unity” person chooses to LEAVE his hands, he concedes to their desires. “...Remain in me, and I will remain in you...” (John 15:4). “...Abide in me and I in you...” (John 15:4 KJV). “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). …If a man (woman) abide NOT in me, ‘he (she) is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned…” (John 15:6 KJV).
God’s FAITHFUL and LOVING role in the “covenant unity” relationship with his people is SOLID.” “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “...[My Word to my people].... is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).
However, God’s people have been given a human will to CHOOSE. “…Choose you (through human will) this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
Every “covenant unity” vow and promise God makes, through his WORD, to his people, is TRUSTWORTHY. “…MY WORD … that goeth forth out of my mouth: it SHALL NOT return unto me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV).
God says, I “…am WATCHING over my word to PERFORM it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…He has granted to [his people]… His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB).
“…As many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes …also … Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NASB). “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made … failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).
Nonetheless, God’s people’s vows and promises to HIM are NOT SOLID or TRUSTWORTHY. “... You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight (THE NEXT VERSE REQUIRES HUMAN WILL OR HUMAN CHOICE) “If” ye (CHOOSE TO) continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister...” (Colossians 1:21-23 KJV). “... Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters (God’s people)...” (Hebrews 3:12 NLT). “...Take heed, [people of god], lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing (LEAVING) from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (any form of apostasy). For we are made partakers of Christ, (THE NEXT VERSE REQUIRES HUMAN WILL OR HUMAN CHOICE) “if” we (CHOOSE TO) hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end...” (Hebrews 3:12-14 KJV). .“...HE (SHE) THAT “SHALL” ENDURE (THROUGH HUMAN WILL OR HUMAN CHOICE) UNTO THE END SHALL BE SAVED...” (Matthew 24:13 KJV).
The bottom line is that any form of continual APOSTASY can cause the dissolution of the “covenant unity” relationship with God. God’s people willfully CHOOSE to FORSAKE or ABANDON the “covenant unity” relationship with God in order to END it. “…If you love me, you will (CHOOSE TO.) keep my commandments…” (John 14:15). However, “…My people would not listen to me. They kept (CHOOSING TO DO) ...whatever they wanted…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “… The people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to (CHOOSE TO) live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “…Thus saith the Lord; ‘Cursed be the MAN (or woman) ... whose HEART (WILLFULLY) departeth from the Lord…” (Jeremiah 17:5 KJV) Thus, “…They (MY PEOPLE) broke [THEIR] ... covenant [WITH ME BY CHOICE], though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord…” (Jeremiah 31:32 NASB).
“… to ... those who were once enlightened— AND THEN [CHOOSE TO]...TURN AWAY…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT). “… repent and DO the first works (CHOOSING to ABIDE with God, the Holy Spirit)…” (Revelation 2:5 KJV).
“…Choose you (through human will) this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
“... REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…” (Acts 3:19 NASB). “ ... Return ... to the Lord ... [your] ... God... [AND HE] ... will heal [your] ... apostasy ....” (Hosea 14:1-4 NLT). “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, [God’s people]... shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV).
The “covenant unity” relationship with God is like that of marriage. It is also a binding agreement that was meant to join man’s soul and God’s SPIRIT together forever. Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30). The bible says, “…that they (the redeemed) may ALL BE ONE; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, …” (John 17:21-23 NASB).
The soul in a “covenant unity” relationship, with God, who is SPIRIT, has accepted Christ, been reconciled with God, has become restored to the indwelling Holy Spirit and has been made WHOLE again. The redeemed soul decides to show their love, to God, the Holy Spirit, by keeping his commandments. “…Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and … believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved...” (ROMANS 10:9 KJV). “...But he(she) that is joined (in a covenant) unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT...” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “...If you love me, you will keep my commandments…” (John 14:15).
KEEPING God’s commandments is one of the commitments, God’s people, lovingly choose to DO to show their LOVE for God. “…If you love me, you will keep my commandments…” (John 14:15).
The redeemed soul willfully chooses to trust in and depend upon, the indwelling Holy Spirit, to empower them to keep this life-long “covenant unity” with God, the Holy Spirit. “... For it is God who worketh in [his people], both to will (to desire to keep the covenant) and to do (to actually keep it) of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit and the redeemed soul are bonded by love and connected through HIS indwelling Holy Spirit. “… Love ...the perfect BOND of unity…” (1 Corinthians 6:17 NASB). “... But he that is joined (in a covenant with) unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT...” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).
While God, the Holy Spirit has an unconditional, immutable, committed role in the “covenant unity” relationship; the redeemed soul DOES NOT, however, both roles include certain responsibilities that RELY solely on character and CHOICE. “…I am the vine, you are the branches…” (John 15:1-11 NASB). “… abide in me, and I in you…” (John 15:4 KJV).
Most covenant relationships are bilateral, with equal and equitable responsibilities allotted to each party. The covenant, God, the Holy Spirit, makes with the redeemed soul SEEMS unilateral because HE remains FAITHFUL regardless of what the redeemed soul does or not.
The unilateral-like covenant God makes with the redeemed soul seems to FAVOR them, BLESS them, and GIFT them. The role one of the redeemed soul seems to be MERELY of trust, dependency upon God, and obedience to his commandments. God, the Holy Spirit becomes the husbandman, who TOTALLY provides, and supports EVERY need of his people or redeemed souls.
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