What Are “Treasures in Heaven”?

Greek Interlinear: Hebrew/Greek Interlinear

In psalm 41:1 (Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.) Please what can you comment corresponding to Dr. Nicholas article. It's also an alms given but the effect of it is "deliver from trouble".

Contact SDHS (the Society for the Distriution of Hebrew Scriptures)
They will be able to supply you with a suitable bilingual copy of the scriptures for a nominal charge to cover the printing and distribution costs. Although I am not sure if they actually cover Nigeria.

I think you are right and the author of this article is not. There is no 'payment' to get to heaven as that debt has been paid providing you follow the teachings of the Christ. Jesus was the 'Blood Atonement' for sin. Repentance is our responsibility. The Path is narrow.

Thanks for your good questions, Jasmine. Jesus gives his life as a "ransom" (Matt 20:28) and thereby "saves his people from their sin" (Matt 1:21). In other words, Jesus is the ransom payment that eliminates the debt in heaven. While almsgiving can pay down sin-debt incrementally, Jesus' sacrifice obliterates sin completely. Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount prior to his death, so when he notes that charity pays down sin-debt, he's doing so before he offers himself as payment, and he's simply being true to the Judaic sin-debt/charity system that he knows from texts like Tobit. Almsgiving was one of several ways that one could have their sins pardoned; sometimes, just asking did the trick (e.g., Numbers 14:19-20). Thus, the notion that one "must" give to the poor to secure forgiveness is unwarranted. Finally, there's a difference between "forgiveness" and "atonement" -- Jesus notes (rightly) that charity can lead God to "forgive" (ἀφίημι; aphiemi; cf. Matt 6:12), but "atonement" is something that humans do (via blood manipulation) to purge away sin completely (cf. Lev 17:11). This is why Jesus tells his disciples, "This is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the remission (ἄφεσις; aphesis) of sins" (Matt 20:28). For Matthew, God can grant forgiveness for any reason (including almsgiving), but atonement comes through Jesus.

I think some people may be getting the misunderstanding what Dr Nicholas is saying, He’s not saying Jesus doesn’t or has not paid for our sin, He’s telling us how the ancient would of viewed this, our LORD Jesus used ideals and principles of the Torah/Instruction and expounded on them, revealing a deeper truth. Jesus paid for sin, we walk under this covering, but we still commit sin/not practice sin, now that sin is paid for we are made acceptable before GOD and able to offer ourselves/the works of our hands (our grain offering if you will) in righteousness (right acts, as defined by the Word of GOD) and truth. Remember how Paul said count yourselves dead to sin and alive to God, Paul also said offer yourselves as an instrument of righteousness, Peter said ..In Sanctification (making holy) of the Spirit for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, later in the same chapter it says, Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love etc, purified your soul from what? From the sin of guilt (asham offering) that spots our garments, caused by our offenses against our neighbor, James says, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins, Peter again says, And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” They Peter, James etc reference Proverbs 10:12, obedience to the LORD’s Word are our acts of love, all this to say yes we are saved (delivered) from sin, by grace (favor obtain through trusting Jesus) through faith/trust apart from works, so walk like it is so, thus purified and being purified, holy and being made holy (sanctified and sanctification). May the LORD guide us all to the knowledge and truth of HIMSELF, let us grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, May the LORD bless Israel and protect her, may the hearts of those who come against her “turn” to the GOD of Israel through Jesus “the Word made flesh”.

A similar thought went through my mind when I was reading this article. If Jesus "paid it all" for us, then what's the need for another treasure which stores up treasures in heaven which can take away your debt since the account balance on the debit side is already nil.

I think Jasmine Seda’s thought process/heart is correct about investing in the Kingdom of Heaven, which includes giving towards the poor & needy, widows & orphans – these things were practiced in the Second Century Churches. Self-righteousness/Works is condemned throughout the Bible kindly refer Ez 33:13 - Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die, Rom 3:27, Titus 3:5. Paul explained that we cannot do anything to save ourselves, but our salvation comes only because of God’s grace. Eph 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. Immediately thereafter Paul proclaims in v10 “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”. Our salvation is not the result of any of our efforts, abilities, intelligent choices, personal characteristics, or acts of service we may perform. However, as believers, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works”—to help and serve others. While there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, God intends that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are saved not merely for our own benefit but to serve Christ and build up the church Eph 4:12 - to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. This reconciles the seeming conflict between faith and works. Our righteous acts do not produce salvation but are, in fact, evidence of our salvation James 1:22 - 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. We must recognize that even our righteous acts come as a result of God within us, not of ourselves. On our own, our “righteousness” is simply self-righteousness, and vain, hypocritical religion produces nothing more than “filthy (iddah) rags.” Ancient Jewish thought is not the same as what Lord Jesus Christ spoke. Aramaic Targum is not the same as Scripture, whether Lord Jesus Christ had a targumic understanding or not – maybe/maybe not (I think this is an assumption). I respectfully disagree with the last statement in the article that has been ascribed to the Lord Jesus Christ “giving to the poor helps to pay down the debt of sin by building up treasures in heaven”. There is no record in the Gospels that Lord Jesus Christ ever made such a statement “giving to the poor helps to pay down the debt of sin by building up treasures in heaven”.

But what are "spiritual riches" in Heaven exactly? What is exactly a "treasure" in Heaven? That is the question that I have had for a long time, but no one can answer. Is there a verse that explicitly says what is considered a "treasure" in Heaven? Thanks for your comment!

Thanks, Surya. See my response to Jasmine above.

Perhaps you should read Romans 11:20-22 which is written to BELIEVERS. "You stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, TAKE HEED LEST HE SPARE NOT YOU (Believers). Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them that fell, severity; BUT TOWARD YOU GOODNESS, IF YOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS: OTHERWISE YOU ALSO SHALL BE CUT OFF." Matthew 10:22. And you will be hated of all men for my name's sake: but HE THAT EDURES TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED. Matthew 25:30. and cast the UNPROFITABLE SERVANT into outer darkness. It seems Mr Vincent that you have the same doctrine that I was taught. Kind of like once saved always saved because you accepted Christ's payment for your sins. READ YOUR BIBLE, I implore you Mr. Vincent ... it doesn't say that. Revelations 12:17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST. If believers are all good to go once they accept Christ's atonement, why are they judged? 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD: and if it FIRST BEGIN AT US, what shall the end be of them THAT OBEY NOT THE gospel of God? You must OBEY and do good works as Revelations 12:17. The road is so extremely narrow that almost nobody can even find it. Look up the GREEK MEANINGS for Matthew 7:14 and it will change your thinking: 'narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and FEW there be that FIND IT.' FINAL MIND BOGGLER: Why, in the 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth, are they STILL OFFERING SACRIFICES FOR SIN WHILE THE MESSIAH IS SITTING RIGHT THERE WITH THEM ON EARTH????? (Ezekiel 43-45) Do not be deceived Mr Vincent, God is not mocked, whatever a man SOWS that shall he REAP. There IS a difference between atonement and forgiveness. And if Christ died for sin which according to 1 Jn 2:3 sin is transgression of the law, he died so we no longer transgress, and if we believe we are all good to go because Jesus died for our sins, and none will be held against ourselves, "we deceive ourselves". Study your Bible, I was one of those people who totally believed and taught others the same doctrine. But read your Bible and you will see we do have to do works, and there are few in the kingdom. Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you ONE OF A CITY, and TWO OF A FAMILY, and I will BRING YOU TO ZION:Luke 13:23 'Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for MANY, I say unto you, WILL SEEK TO ENTER IN, and SHALL NOT BE ABLE.
Love, a friend in Christ

See my response to Jasmine, Leslie. We're looking forward to having you as a student this fall.

Thanks for these comments, Susan.

Amen and amen

Thanks for studying with us, Ivonne. See my response to Jasmine.

Thanks for your question, Betty. According to Matthew, Jesus' death removes the debt of sin through blood atonement (cf. Matt 1:21; 20:28; 26:28). The shedding of blood serves as a ransom payment to God for the debt of sin (see Lev 17:11). However, "forgiveness" and "atonement" are two different (but related) phenomena. Human beings make atonement, and then God forgives. God can grant forgiveness without blood (e.g., Num 14:19-20), but only blood atones. In New Testament theology, followers of Jesus ask for forgiveness for sins based on the payment of Jesus' blood sacrifice (see Heb 4:14-17).

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