© 16 Colin Melbourne
Where is it in the Bible?
Q: Is the phrase, “Holier than thou” actually in the Bible? If so, who said it, and to whom?
A: Indeed it is, Is. 65:5 KJV;
Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Here it is in the Holy Bible context, Is. 65:1-7 KJV;
I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
Who said it?
The LORD, through His prophet Isaiah, was rebuking the Jews because of their attitude to Him.
Reprobate Jews
The LORD called, and delivered the Jews from bondage in Egypt, but they had become obstinate, self-righteous, idolatrous people (which they remain to this day). The LORD, through Isaiah His Prophet, was warning the Jews He was about to judge them, and offer His salvation to those who had never sought Him: Praising God for His grace, I count myself amongst those blessed Gentiles.
Perhaps, like me, you know from personal experience exactly what He meant by that opening verse. …
I am found of them that sought me not…
Halleluia! For His mercy endures forever!
He chose to draw us to Himself as a result of the rebellion of the Jews, to whom He spread out His Hands for centuries, imploring them to come to Him.
Jewish Idolatry Judged
Instead, they preferred to worship the work of their own hands, and sacrificed to Pagan “gods” amidst the groves, tombs, shrines, and high places of The Promised Land.
They rebelled against the LORD, and chose their own way to “serve God”, instead of humbly obeying and coming to Him His way.
In doing so, they acted arrogantly, saying, in effect, that they knew better than He, and were therefore holier than Almighty God!
The Mosaic Law has been Fulfilled and Finished
Observant Jews are still doing that; traditional religious Jews wailing at the remains of the Temple Wall in Jerusalem, and trying to observe the Torah, the Law of Moses: Continuing in willful idolatry two millennia since their Messiah bled and died in Jerusalem, and God unequivocally fulfilled and declared the Law finished (Jn. 19:30, 2 Co. 3:13).
The Jews, and followers of Judaism, are reprobate, spiritually blind, and dead, because their fathers rejected and crucified the Messiah: The LORD Jesus Christ.
His Blood guilt remains on them, just as they requested, Mtt. 27:25 KJV;
Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Why The Jews Are Persecuted
That is the reason the Jews were driven out of their Land yet again, scattered, and persecuted remorselessly amongst the nations.
Because of their unrepentant stubborness the LORD hardened their hearts (Jn. 12:40, Rom. Ch. 11), and since His Resurrection, has opened the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Their self-inflicted curse has become our blessing (Rom. 11:11), and sinners the world over are welcoming the opportunity to know Almighty God and be made clean by the faith of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Gentiles Holier than Jesus?
However, some Gentiles have the same heart attitude as the Jews, and brush off God’s attempts to open their spiritual eyes.
“Leave me alone, I have my own way of worshipping God: He knows I’m sincere in my heart.”
Indeed: Sincerely wrong in heart!
Do you know people who respond to your witnesss like that? They have a personal God, one they designed to fit their own ideas about Him, and nudged along by religious demons, they embrace that idol, and reject the Living Christ revealed in the Holy Bible.
Some even claim to believe in Christ, but their filthy, selfish lives prove otherwise.
Deliver a word from the LORD to them, and move on to those who want to know the Living God: Time is too short to waste on those who stubbornly pretend to be holier than Jesus: THE Way.
What did Christ do between the Cross and His Resurrection?
Q: When Jesus died, what did He do in the three days He was dead? Donna
A: A marvellous question Donna.
He redeemed us from sin, He bought believers back by giving His Life for us. Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14, Heb. 9:12. He redeemed us from the curses of the Law. Gal. 3:13. He suffered the full punishment for the sins of the world. Gal. 1:4, 1 Co. 15:3, He bore the consequences of the guilt of mankind to set believers free from sickness, fear, loneliness, and death. Heb. Chs. 7-10. He crushed and defeated our enemy the Devil and satisfied all the claims of Justice against anybody who truly believes in Him and receives Him as their Lord. Ro. Ch.5, Col. 1:13, 2:15, Jn. 3:16-18.
That is merely a brief over-view, please study what redemption really means, and your love for Him and wisdom will grow.
When you understand the meaning of redemption, you will have perfect peace always.
I recommend every Christian read E.W. Kenyon’s little book called Identification, where he elaborates beautifully on what this means.
Q: Is Pope Francis The AntiChrist?
A: An antiChrist, like all popes, but not The AntiChrist who will rule the world in the Last Days.
Why Catholics are Not Christian.
Why the Catholic Mass is Idolatry.
My view is that the final pope will be the False Prophet (Rev. 19:20) who assists the AntiChrist. The Roman Catholic leader will represent the religious arm of the AntiChrist’s world government. The AntiChrist himself will be a non-religious Jew claiming to be God, according to my understanding of Daniel and Paul’s descriptions of him.
However, Christians who become fascinated unravelling End-Times prophecies, not only become distracted by having their eyes on news reports, but neglect the primary purpose we have in these Final Days.
We have one reason for remaining here on Earth: To get the Gospel of Christ to the lost wherever they are.
With both eyes fixed on Jesus, and our spiritual ears attentive to Him, we cannot but prophecy.
© 16 Colin Melbourne
