Spots and Wrinkles

 

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The true church is “without spot or wrinkle.”   So, what is a spot, or wrinkle?

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Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

A spot or blemish is something wrong on a human, that is not supposed to be there. It is a sign of infection. In the spirit, it is sin.

A wrinkle is extra material on the surface, which changes the original appearance to something else.

It is “excess flesh.” In the spirit, it is our fleshly nature, which opposes the Holy Spirit. So, it is also sin.

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We are first told that animal sacrifices were to be without spot or blemish

Exd 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take [it] out from the sheep, or from the goats:

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We are then introduced to spots and blemishes in the Old Testament, as an affliction of the flesh of the physical body – something is wrong in the internal portion of the body, and it shows even on the surface.

Lev 13:2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh [like] the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:

Spots also represent evil

Jer 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

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So, spots, wrinkles and blemishes can also represent the spirit as well.

And what is deep inside will come to the surface, just like leprosy.

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Examples:

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Spots and blemishes are unrighteousness, uncleanness, and deceivings by false teachers. The false teachers despise true spiritual authority, and set themselves up as leaders. They betray, for profit. Their victims are described as “merchandise.”

2Pe 2:1 ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you…

2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

2Pe 2:12 ¶ But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

2Pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

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Spots are greedy frauds, with bad fruit, and false prophecy

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jud 1:8 Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Jud 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Jud 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Jud 1:16 ¶ These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling [words], having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

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*** Note:

And what is the error of Balaam? He was willing to curse Israel, or PROPHESY against him, for reward; but God stopped him and turned his cursings into blessings err they left his mouth! (Numbers, chapters 22 & 23)

And, What is the connection between Balaam and Core (Korah) ? Korah taught (as modern hirelings) that anyone had a right to prophesy whether he was called of God or not. (Numbers 16) Thus the Scriptures connect unholy ministers with greed over filthy lucre.

It is God alone who calls and qualifies His ministers, and if any are called of Him they will be found having His qualifications.

All others, not having these qualifications “run when they have not been sent” and are guilty of the sin of Korah (Numbers 16:3)

Of all the qualifications of God-called men, one is: “not greedy of filthy lucre.” (I Tim. 3:3 and Titus 1:7)

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Spots are those who think gain is godliness

1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1Ti 6:11 ¶ But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1Ti 6:14 That thou keep [this] commandment without spot, un-rebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

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Spot is perverse, faithless, disobedient, and crooked

Deu 32:5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot [is] not [the spot] of his children: [they are] a perverse and crooked generation.

Deu 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods], with abominations provoked they him to anger.

Deu 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new [gods that] came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Deu 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end [shall be]: for they [are] a very froward generation, children in whom [is] no faith.

“Froward”- definition: habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

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Spot is fear due to iniquity

Job 11:14 If iniquity [be] in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

Job 11:15 For then shall thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

We must remember that God has given us the spirit of love, not fear.

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.

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Christ has no spot

Hbr 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

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Conclusion:

If we are to enter the kingdom of heaven, we clean to “clean up” our spirits.

Holiness cannot co-exist with spots, blemishes and wrinkles.

We must know the Word of God, to know the Will of God.

Ignorance is a choice.

We must reject all sin and worldliness as evil, and give God our minds, bodies, and spirits in total love and commitment.

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The Bride should be like Christ

Sgs 4:7 Thou [art] all fair, my love; [there is] no spot in thee

Spot = blame, spotless = blameless

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

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Other sources about this topic:

http://elshaddaiministries.us/audio/spots.html

http://www.pristinegrace.org/media.php?id=393