The Line Is Crossed

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Bible Tools Metaphysics Metamath Creationism Revelation The Gospels Commentary
The Gospels What Failure, Why? The Gospel According To Matthew Introduction The Baptisms, The Temptation Of Christ, New Wine Raca, Thou Fool Children In The Marketplace, Blasphemy And Casting Out Devils One Wiser Than Solomon Logic In The Gospels Kingdoms Divided The Line Is Drawn The Line Is Crossed The Family Of God Empty The Man, The Man Won't Rest, The Rest Won't Fail The Mustard Plant, Leaven In The Meal No Wedding Garment, Whose Resurrection? Ten Virgins, Ten Talents The Gospel According To Mark Introduction Bridegroom And Fasting, Christ The Testator Demons By Demons, Candles And Bushels The Sower – Reaping And Mustard Trees Corban ‘The Gift’ – Rewards In This Life, But Not $$$ A Close Comparison To Matthew 24 The Gospel According To Luke Introduction Temptation Of Christ, Dropping The Bombshell Bridegrooms, Garments, Children In Marketplaces Who Say Ye That I Am? – Mary And Martha Opinion, Expectation, Purpose, Division Judgement Already Happened In Part Mustard Trees, Leaven, Hate What You Have The Dishonest Steward Priceless Articles Of Faith, Marriage And Resurrection Matthew 24’s Companion In Luke, - Confirmation With Mark The Gospel According To John Introduction Born Of The Spirit, Where The Wind Blows, You See? Samaritan Woman – We Know What We Worship – Contrasts The Son Is Revealed As God – and Glorified In The Father Bread From Heaven, Flesh And Blood: Consumed Whole The Identity Of The Son Of God – Appearances Not Deceptive Those That See, Sheep Hear The Shepherd’s Voice Cryptic; Any Connection With Anselm? – the Holy Trinity Was Paul Truly A Christian? Introduction The Mystery Religions In the Days Of These Kings Why Christianity Won Saul, Part Of The Problem? Were Paul Not In Christ, Why Would He Risk It All? Conclusion New Testament In Christ Introduction Doctrinal Fundamentals The Sealing – Hit The Ceiling! The Right Hand Of Power Coming On The Clouds Of Heaven You've Got It Totally Upside Down! The Dumbest Thing I Ever Heard Introduction Many Paths To God - What Utter Bullshit Blood Of Christ Man, That’s Dumb! Should Have Been More Careful Paying For Yourself There? These Three Agree In One The Head Of The Corner No Marriage In Heaven Ye Do Therefore Greatly Err Strength In Numbers, Ha! Jesus Paid The Price, (And Gave Me Credit) My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? Shortcomings And Stumbling Blocks Introduction Gay Marriage A Stumbling-Block Trouble Dividing The Sexes Is There Freedom Of Religion? The Power Of The Cross Introduction Christ Obedient To The Cross Grace The Gift Of God Shadows And Substance Propitiation For Sins The Suffering Servant The Urim And Thummim Acts and Epistles I Introduction The Book Of Acts I The Book Of Acts II Moving On To Romans	The Line Is Crossed Jesus now compares the end result of the accusation with reality. The newly healed man is compared to the end result of what would occur if satan indeed cast out satan. We may read elsewhere that when a stronger man comes to spoil the house of a strong man, He spoils his goods and breaks up all the armour in which the former inhabitant trusted. That armour in view is the strength of the devil or the armour of God. The case has to be the one or the other, it can not be both. Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (KJV) We have two possibilities, if Jesus has healed the man and the stronger spirit of God has spoiled the strong man (the demon) that indwelt the man, then the man's reason has now returned and He is ministered to by the sevenfold spirit of God. Otherwise the original spirit has gone to find seven other spirits more wicked to indwell the man with greater strength so that it may more adequately defend itself within the man after its return. This seven fold wickedness is new "armour" for the unclean spirit to indwell the man with. It is a false god in whom the man will initially place his trust only to be disappointed by them in the future. What is in view is that the unclean spirit finds no rest or respite (as thirst in dry places) whilst it is out of the man and will return to an empty dwelling. That is, unless the man is inhabited by a stronger spirit (God) after the saving work of Christ. By exorcism, the man is prepared for habitation (swept and garnished) for the man's "reason" to return (inhabit). In view then is the possibility that the man's reason (now returned) is slanderously reported as a demon (that was ejected), and the sevenfold spirits of God are slandered as wicked spirits. If Jesus did not cast out with the spirit of God then the man is empty and "unarmoured" and the end result is the eightfold possession. Yet if Jesus casts out with God then the man's reason is indeed returned, along with the ministration of God's sevenfold Spirit, whom has armoured the man with stronger armour in which he may reasonably place his trust. This trust is on the armour of God, the result of sanctification by the healing of Christ - and the end result of salvation. So then, as the man is healed and in His right mind, the demon is cast out. It has not returned again because the man is not empty - He is healed and newly armoured with salvation through faith on Christ. If the man is indeed well, then the accusation is baseless, but to believe Christ saved the man from the demon is to state that he is not healed in the manner that the pharisees' children would cast out demons. They do not produce a man with stronger armour - only an empty dwelling to which a demon may return stronger: The result is that the inability of the pharisees to exorcise men as did Christ (unable as also Christ's apostles were on occasion) shows that they are not in good standing, that the shameful armour (their hypocrisy) in which they themselves trust is indicative of a more general lack of sanctification: For the people of Israel are all under condemnation of the law. Jesus states that this is the case also for this "wicked generation" - they will side with the pharisees over Christ because they have the same faulty armour. They will not be able to repeat the work of Christ, even when calling upon His name. They have not fully accepted the kingdom of God and have not received the full armour of God themselves, but only a corrupt form of "demonically received" armour, formed from seven other wicked spirits indwelling the "corrupt tree" of physical Israel, rather than the true Spirit of God found in Christ. A corrupt God is the reward of a corrupt tree, (its fruit.) Continue To Next Page Return To Section Start Return To Previous Page